1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8 - K CURRENT REPORT Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 13, 2000 -------------- Ablest Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) Delaware 0-7907 65-0978462 - ----------------- ------------ ------------- (State or other (Commission (IRS Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.) incorporation) 810 North Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida 33765 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (727) 461-5656 --------------- C.H. Heist Corp. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Exhibit Index: 2 2 Item 2: Acquisition or Disposition of Assets - ------- ------------------------------------ On March 13, 2000, the Company completed its sale of the C.H. Heist Corp. industrial maintenance businesses. Onyx Industrial Services, Inc. purchased substantially all of the Company's U.S. and Canadian industrial operations, as well as the "C.H. Heist" name. The total sales price, determined through arms-length negotiations, was $19.7 million in cash and approximately $2.6 million in assumed liabilities. Proceeds from the sale will be used primarily to pay down long-term debt and provide working capital for continuing staffing operations. Item 5: Other Events - ------- ------------ On March 13, 2000 the Company reincorporated in Delaware as Ablest Inc. Item 7: Financial Statements, Pro Forma Information and Exhibits - ------- -------------------------------------------------------- (a), (b) Separate pro forma statements for the Company were not available at the time of this filing and will be filed under cover of Form 8-K within 60 days. (c) Exhibits 2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger between C. H. Heist Corp. and Ablest Inc. dated February 4, 2000 10.1 Asset Sale and Purchase Agreement between C. H. Heist Corp. and Onyx Industrial Services Dated January 21, 2000 2 3 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Dated: March 22, 2000 ------------------ Ablest Inc. ----------- (Registrant) /S/ Mark P. Kashmanian ---------------------- Mark P. Kashmanian Treasurer, Chief Accounting Officer 3