Unassociated Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed
by the Registrant ¨
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Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant x
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Check
the appropriate box:
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o
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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x
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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PARKS!
AMERICA, INC.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Larry
Eastland
EDLA
Family Limited Partnership
Jay
Pitlake
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x
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No
fee required.
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act
Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Total
fee paid:
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
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(1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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Filing
Party:
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Date
Filed:
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NOTE
This
filing is being made to correct the Edgar codes used in connection with our
first filing on June 25, 2009.
On June
25, 2009, Larry Eastland issued a press release relating to Parks! America,
Inc., which is filed herewith as Exhibit 2 and made a demand to the Company’s
board of directors to call a special meeting for the purpose of electing 5 new
directors to the board, which demand is filed herewith as Exhibit
3.
SECURITY
HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO
THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY LARRY EASTLAND AND HIS AFFILIATES FROM THE
STOCKHOLDERS OF PARKS! AMERICA, INC. FOR USE AT ITS SPECIAL MEETING OR IN
CONNECTION WITH A CONSENT SOLICITATION, WHEN AND IF THEY BECOME AVAILABLE,
BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN ANY SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION. WHEN AND IF COMPLETED, A
DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND A FORM OF PROXY WILL BE MAILED TO STOCKHOLDERS OF
PARKS! AMERICA, INC. AND WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION’S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV/.
INFORMATION RELATING TO THE POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS IN A POTENTIAL PROXY
SOLICITATION IS CONTAINED IN EXHIBIT 1 HERETO.
EXHBIT
1
POTENTIAL
PARTICIPANTS
In
addition to the Nominees named in the Press Release filed herewith as Exhibit 2
(the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this Exhibit
1), the potential participants in the potential solicitation of proxies (the
“Participants") with regard to Parks! America, Inc. (“Issuer”) may include the
following: EDLA Family Limited Partnership, Larry Eastland and Jay
Pitlake.
EDLA
Family Limited Partnership (“EDLA”) is an Idaho Limited Partnership principally
engaged in the business of investing. EDLA is controlled by Larry Eastland. EDLA
is the direct beneficial owner of 10,020,000 shares of the Issuer, par value
$0.001 common stock (“Shares”). Mr. Eastland, through his control of EDLA, may
be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner of the Shares which represents
approximately 19% of the outstanding voting shares of the Issuer as of the close
of business on June 25, 2009 (and all share information contain herein is as of
such time). Mr. Eastland and his wife, Beverly Eastland, are the sole limited
partners of EDLA and share a pecuniary interest in the Shares.
Jay
Pitlake is the direct beneficial owner 3,575,000 Shares which represents
approximately 7% of the outstanding voting shares of the Issuer.
Louise
Pitlake, Mr. Pitlake’s spouse, is the beneficial owner of 225,000 Shares. Ms.
Pitlake has sole voting and dispositive power with regard to her shares. Mr.
Pitlake, by virtue of his relationship to Ms. Pitlake, may be deemed to
beneficially own the shares which Ms. Pitlake owns. Mr. Pitlake disclaims
beneficial ownership of such shares for all purposes.
Jack
Klosterman, one of the nominees, is the direct beneficial owner of
716,526.
EXHIBIT
2
EASTLAND
SENDS OPEN LETTER TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PARKS! AMERICA, INC.
Los
Angeles, CA. June 25, 2009
LOS
ANGELES, June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Larry Eastland today announced that the
following letter was delivered today to Parks! America, Inc. ("Company") with
the attached biographies of 5 nominees for the Company's board. Eastland served
the Company with a demand for a special meeting of the shareholders. Mr.
Eastland is the beneficial owner of approximately 19% of the issue shares of the
company Parks! America.
SECURITY
HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATED TO
THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY LARRY EASTLAND AND HIS AFFILIATES FROM THE
STOCKHOLDERS OF PARKS! AMERICA, INC. FOR USE AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF ITS
SHAREHOLDERS OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONSENT SOLICITATION OF SHAREHOLDERS,
WHEN AND IF THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN ANY SUCH
PROXY SOLICITATION. WHEN AND IF COMPLETED, A DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND A
FORM OF PROXY WILL BE MAILED TO STOCKHOLDERS OF PARKS! AMERICA, INC. AND WILL
ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION’S
WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.
INFORMATION RELATING TO THE POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS IN A POTENTIAL PROXY
SOLICITATION IS CONTAINED AS EXHIBIT TO THE SCHEDULE 14A BEING FILED TODAY WITH
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
June 25,
2009
Dale W.
Van Voorhis, Chairman
Parks!
America, Inc.
Wild
Animal Safari, Inc.
1300 Oak
Grove Road
Pine
Mountain, GA 31822
Dear Mr.
Van Voorhis,
It has
become clear to me that the board of directors (“Board”) of Parks! America, Inc.
(“Company”) has acted in its own best interest and has lost the faith and
support of its shareholders. The board’s actions during the past several months
shows a complete disregard for the Company’s shareholders and is indicative of
actions taken by an entrenched board more concerned with the individual
directors own well being rather than that of the shareholders at whose
discretion they serve.
I believe
at the root of this problem is a series of insider actions undertake by a
majority of the current Board. Specifically, the current members have
systematically appointed themselves as officers of the Company and have
appointed other officers of the Company as additional Board members. The
singular purpose of which has been to entrench themselves at the Company in
disregard to all principles of independence and accountability. What naturally
follows in such circumstances is for this same group of directors and officers
to vote for themselves contracts, compensation, benefits and issue to themselves
shares that rob the corporation of potential profits and further dilute the
value of the shares of the shareholders who have invested significant capital to
acquire them.
Of
particular importance, it should be noted that none of the current Board has
ever been elected and qualified by the shareholders of the Company as required
on an annual basis. They have been appointed by each other, their service as
officers has been approved by each other, and the terms of their service as
officers, including compensation, has been approved by each other. To my
knowledge, no independent nomination or governance committee has been
established by the Board to present individuals to the Board or shareholders for
consideration or to identify other disinterested individuals capable and willing
to serve as officers of the Company.
Further,
during the past several months the Company’s stock price has continued its
precipitous decline. As you are well aware, a key component to the Company’s
business plan was the continued acquisition of parks via the issuance of common
stock. At present levels, the execution of the business plan is all but
impossible as an acquisition would result in significant dilution to the current
shareholders. This does not even address the issue that possible acquisition
targets look at our stock price and balance sheet and conclude that the Company
is on the verge of insolvency thereby further complicating issues. The current
Board has presented no plan either to the shareholders or in public documents
which would address the continuing historically low stock value – either by
proposing an expansion strategy or an acquisition strategy to increase
profitability. I believe this stems from the fact that at present, the Company
generates enough cash to pay the salaries and benefits of current board members
and little else. Accordingly, the Board has no incentive to increase shareholder
value as their needs are being addressed.
Over the
past two weeks, I have taken the following actions: (i) I have formed a 5 person
slate which I will seek to have appointed to the Board; (ii) I have begun the
retention of legal counsel in Nevada to initiate an action under the Nevada
Revised Statute (“NRS”) Section 78.345 (“Election of directors by order of court
upon failure of regular election”) to have the current Board removed and have my
slate appointed by the court with the consent of a majority of the Company’s
shareholders; (iii) I have begun the process to undertake a consent solicitation
of the Company’s current shareholders for purposes of electing my 5 person
slate; and (iv) I am, along herewith, providing demand for a special meeting of
the Company’s shareholders pursuant to Section 78.310 of the NRS and Section 3.2
of the Company’s bylaws. Attached hereto is the biographical information of my
nominee slate.
I thank
you in advance for your time.
Sincerely,
/s/
Larry Eastland
Larry
Eastland
Nominee Biographies
Larry
L. Eastland, Ph. D.
Dr.
Eastland, age 66, is Chairman of the Board of LEA Capital Advisors, Inc., a
business management and capital advisory company, and served as its
predecessors’ Managing Director from inception in 1978. He was President, CEO
and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Parks! America, Inc. (FKA Great
American Family Parks, Inc.) from December 23, 2003 to March 30, 2009. Dr.
Eastland has engaged in a variety of entrepreneurial pursuits since leaving the
White House in 1977, where he served as Staff Assistant to President Gerald
Ford. He was the President of TBAY Holdings, Inc., from January 2002 until
December 2004, during which time the company was under contract with the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida to assist in the
sale of assets. Dr. Eastland received a B.A. in Political Science and
International Relations from Brigham Young University in 1967, and an M.A. and
Ph.D. in quantitative behavioral research from the University of Southern
California in 1973 and 1976, respectively. He is the father of Christopher L.
Eastland, a member of the Board of Directors of Parks! America,
Inc.
Queenie
Lai, Esq.
Queenie
Lai, age 30, is an international attorney with Slaughter and May in London,
England (2008-2009) as well as a Associate with Yorkshire Capital Limited, Hong
Kong and London (2008-2009) where she acts as the coordinator to raise funds for
corporate clients from a diverse range of industries, including Yunnan mining
project, Fujian paper manufacturing company, Thailand distressed fund, carbon
trading initiative in Asia. Previously, Ms. Lai was Associate Solicitor, Private
Equity Group, Clifford Chance, London where she acted as the lead legal review
coordinator in mergers and acquisitions for several companies in 2006-2007. From
2003-2004 she was an Associate Solicitor, Corporate Group Clifford Chance,
Shanghai. She earned a Master of Laws from Georgetown University, a Postgraduate
Certificate in Law from the University of Hong Kong, a Bachelor of Arts in Law
and Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge, U.K. and an International
Baccalaureate from the United World College of South East Asia,
Singapore.
Roderick
D. Davies
Roderick
Davies, age 61, is President of Timex Assets and Services, Inc. (2009), a U.S.
public company with operations in Vietnam. From 2003 to present, he has been the
owner of New Horizons LLC. and Asian Sources LLC. He has more than ten years of
experience in construction management with his own company (Architectural
Special Products, Inc. in Florida) (1985-1995) providing consulting services to
architects, and is a certified Construction Documents Technologist.
Additionally, he is an advisor to a Boston-based group (2008 to present) that
has developed software for convenience store operations in addition to
convenience store market research. His international experience is wide and
varied including managing contracts, and process and conflict resolution for
U.S. companies acquiring assets in China. Mr. Davies is a mechanical engineer by
training at both Brigham Young University and the University of Michigan. He was
a Fellow at Taunton College in Somerset, England, and has advanced educational
certification by the Construction Specifiers Institute as a Construction
Documents Technician (CSI-CDT).
Michael
Lempres, Esq.
Mike
Lempres, age 49, serves as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of Aegis,
LLC (July 2008 to present). He brings decades of government and private sector
experience to his role at Aegis. Previously, he led the international division,
and was Executive Managing Director and Counsel to The Carmen Group, Inc. (2006
– July 2008), a major Washington, D.C. lobbying and investment consulting firm.
In government, he has served in senior appointments in three Presidential
administrations in positions ranging from: Vice President at the U.S. Overseas
Private Investment Corporation (2002-2005); Deputy Associate Attorney General
(1992-1993); Director of the Office of International Affairs at the U.S.
Department of Justice (1991-1992); Executive Commissioner of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (1989-1991); and White House Fellow (1988-1989). Upon
leaving the Department of Justice, he was awarded the Edmund J. Randolph
Memorial Award, the Department’s highest honor for outstanding service and
contribution to the cause of justice. Outside of government, he has served as an
attorney and business leader. Lempres worked as the General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary of the Pacific Exchange, a national securities exchange, and
helped guide the exchange through a demutualization and merger into what became
part of the New York Stock Exchange (2000-2002). He is a graduate of Dartmouth
College (1981) and the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California
(1985).
Jack
Klosterman
Jack
Klosterman, age 58, has over 35 years of experience working with a wide range of
businesses beginning in 1972 to present as a Partner in Klosterman Business
Management, Los Angeles, California. He has been Managing Partner since 1977.
Since June 2007 he has also been the CFO of KFS, Inc. From December, 2003
through March, 2006 he was Corporate Secretary/Treasurer of Great American
Family Parks, Inc. From January, 2002 through December, 2004, Mr. Klosterman was
Corporate Secretary/Treasurer for TBAY Holdings, Inc. until its acquisition of a
Shanghai-based cell phone manufacturer and distributor. He attended California
State University, Northridge in accounting.
Contact:
Ashley
Hull 310.450.9100 ashley@leacapital.com
SOURCE
Larry Eastland
EXHIBIT
3
WRITTEN
DEMAND FOR
SPECIAL
MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF
PARKS!
AMERICA, INC.
TO: Corporate
Secretary of Parks! America, Inc.
Demand is
hereby given pursuant to Section 3.2 of the bylaws of Park! America, Inc.
(“Company”) for a special meeting (“Special Meeting”) of the shareholders. The
purpose of the special meeting is to elect the following 5 nominees (“Proposal”)
to serve on the Company’s board of directors (“Board”):
1. Larry
Eastland;
2. Queenie
Lai;
3. Michael
Lempres;
4. Jack
Klosterman; and
5. Roderick
Davies.
Pursuant
to Section 3.2 of the Company’s bylaws, the undersigned holder, constituting at
least ten percent (10%) of all the votes entitled to vote on the Proposal,
hereby demand a meeting to be held for the purpose described herein. We are
requesting that the meeting date be July 24, 2009.
Attached
hereto is the biographical information for the above individuals to be included
in the Company’s notice for special meeting. Additionally, please contact Mr.
Larry Eastland with regard to any additional information needed for the drafting
of the proxy materials as required by Section 14 of the Exchange
Act.
The
undersigned are also advising the Company that if notice of the Special Meeting
to vote upon the Proposal is not provided to the shareholders of the Company
within 10 days of the delivery hereof, the undersigned shareholder reserves its
rights to provide notice on behalf of the Company, at the sole expense of
Company, as provided for in Section 3.6(b) of the bylaws.
/s/ EDLA Family Limited
Partnership
EDLA
Family Limited Partnership
Shares
Owned: 10,020,000
Certificate
No:
A1101,
A1453 and 66
Nominee Biographies
Larry
L. Eastland, Ph. D.
Dr.
Eastland, age 66, is Chairman of the Board of LEA Capital Advisors, Inc., a
business management and capital advisory company, and served as its
predecessors’ Managing Director from inception in 1978. He was President, CEO
and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Parks! America, Inc. (FKA Great
American Family Parks, Inc.) from December 23, 2003 to March 30, 2009. Dr.
Eastland has engaged in a variety of entrepreneurial pursuits since leaving the
White House in 1977, where he served as Staff Assistant to President Gerald
Ford. He was the President of TBAY Holdings, Inc., from January 2002 until
December 2004, during which time the company was under contract with the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida to assist in the
sale of assets. Dr. Eastland received a B.A. in Political Science and
International Relations from Brigham Young University in 1967, and an M.A. and
Ph.D. in quantitative behavioral research from the University of Southern
California in 1973 and 1976, respectively. He is the father of Christopher L.
Eastland, a member of the Board of Directors of Parks! America,
Inc.
Queenie
Lai, Esq.
Queenie
Lai, age 30, is an international attorney with Slaughter and May in London,
England (2008-2009) as well as a Associate with Yorkshire Capital Limited, Hong
Kong and London (2008-2009) where she acts as the coordinator to raise funds for
corporate clients from a diverse range of industries, including Yunnan mining
project, Fujian paper manufacturing company, Thailand distressed fund, carbon
trading initiative in Asia. Previously, Ms. Lai was Associate Solicitor, Private
Equity Group, Clifford Chance, London where she acted as the lead legal review
coordinator in mergers and acquisitions for several companies in 2006-2007. From
2003-2004 she was an Associate Solicitor, Corporate Group Clifford Chance,
Shanghai. She earned a Master of Laws from Georgetown University, a Postgraduate
Certificate in Law from the University of Hong Kong, a Bachelor of Arts in Law
and Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge, U.K. and an International
Baccalaureate from the United World College of South East Asia,
Singapore.
Roderick
D. Davies
Roderick
Davies, age 61, is President of Timex Assets and Services, Inc. (2009), a U.S.
public company with operations in Vietnam. From 2003 to present, he has been the
owner of New Horizons LLC. and Asian Sources LLC. He has more than ten years of
experience in construction management with his own company (Architectural
Special Products, Inc. in Florida) (1985-1995) providing consulting services to
architects, and is a certified Construction Documents Technologist.
Additionally, he is an advisor to a Boston-based group (2008 to present) that
has developed software for convenience store operations in addition to
convenience store market research. His international experience is wide and
varied including managing contracts, and process and conflict resolution for
U.S. companies acquiring assets in China. Mr. Davies is a mechanical engineer by
training at both Brigham Young University and the University of Michigan. He was
a Fellow at Taunton College in Somerset, England, and has advanced educational
certification by the Construction Specifiers Institute as a Construction
Documents Technician (CSI-CDT).
Michael
Lempres, Esq.
Mike
Lempres, age 49, serves as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of Aegis,
LLC (July 2008 to present). He brings decades of government and private sector
experience to his role at Aegis. Previously, he led the international division,
and was Executive Managing Director and Counsel to The Carmen Group, Inc. (2006
– July 2008), a major Washington, D.C. lobbying and investment consulting firm.
In government, he has served in senior appointments in three Presidential
administrations in positions ranging from: Vice President at the U.S. Overseas
Private Investment Corporation (2002-2005); Deputy Associate Attorney General
(1992-1993); Director of the Office of International Affairs at the U.S.
Department of Justice (1991-1992); Executive Commissioner of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (1989-1991); and White House Fellow (1988-1989). Upon
leaving the Department of Justice, he was awarded the Edmund J. Randolph
Memorial Award, the Department’s highest honor for outstanding service and
contribution to the cause of justice. Outside of government, he has served as an
attorney and business leader. Lempres worked as the General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary of the Pacific Exchange, a national securities exchange, and
helped guide the exchange through a demutualization and merger into what became
part of the New York Stock Exchange (2000-2002). He is a graduate of Dartmouth
College (1981) and the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California
(1985).
Jack
Klosterman
Jack
Klosterman, age 58, has over 35 years of experience working with a wide range of
businesses beginning in 1972 to present as a Partner in Klosterman Business
Management, Los Angeles, California. He has been Managing Partner since 1977.
Since June 2007 he has also been the CFO of KFS, Inc. From December, 2003
through March, 2006 he was Corporate Secretary/Treasurer of Great American
Family Parks, Inc. From January, 2002 through December, 2004, Mr. Klosterman was
Corporate Secretary/Treasurer for TBAY Holdings, Inc. until its acquisition of a
Shanghai-based cell phone manufacturer and distributor. He attended California
State University, Northridge in accounting.