TYSON FOODS INC
SC 14D1/A, 1994-07-22
POULTRY SLAUGHTERING AND PROCESSING
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<PAGE>

===============================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
                             ______________________


                                 SCHEDULE 14D-1

   
                                (AMENDMENT NO. 21)
    

                                       AND


                                   SCHEDULE 13D

   
                                (AMENDMENT NO. 22)
    

               TENDER OFFER STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(D)(1)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                              ____________________

                                 WLR FOODS, INC.
                            (Name of Subject Company)
                              ____________________

                              WLR ACQUISITION CORP.
                                    (Bidder)
                              ____________________

                           Common Stock, no par value
                         (Title of Class of Securities)
                              ____________________
                                   929286 10 2
                      (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
                              ____________________
                                 James B. Blair
                                Tyson Foods, Inc.
                             2210 West Oaklawn Drive
                        Springdale, Arkansas  72762-6999

                         Telephone Number (501) 290-4000
           (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
            Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Bidders)

                                   Copies to:

         Leslie A. Grandis, Esq.               Lawrence Lederman, Esq.
     McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe           Michael W. Goroff, Esq.
            One James Center               Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
          901 East Cary Street                 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
        Richmond, Virginia  23219             New York, New York  10005
       Telephone:  (804) 775-4322            Telephone:  (212) 530-5000

===============================================================================

<PAGE>


CUSIP No. 929286 10 2                 14D-1


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS

     TYSON FOODS, INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE
     INSTRUCTIONS)                                               (A)  / /
                                                                 (B)  /x/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3    SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------



4    SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)


     WC, BK
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
     PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(e) OR 2(f)                                   / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION


     DELAWARE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
     PERSON


     600,063 COMMON SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (7) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)                                        / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9    % OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)


     5.37%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

     CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>




CUSIP No. 929286 10 2                 14D-1


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS

     WLR ACQUISITION CORP.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE
     INSTRUCTIONS)                                               (A)  / /
                                                                 (B)  /X/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3    SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

     AF

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
     PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(e) OR 2(f)                                   / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

     DELAWARE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
     PERSON

     600,000 COMMON SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (7) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)                                        / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9    % OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

     5.37%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

     CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>


CUSIP No. 929286 10 2                 14D-1

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS

     TYSON LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE
     INSTRUCTIONS)                                               (A)  / /
                                                                 (B)  /X/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3    SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

     NOT APPLICABLE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
     PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(e) OR 2(f)                                   / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

     DELAWARE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
     PERSON

     600,063 COMMON SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (7) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)                                        / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9    % OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

     5.37%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

     PN
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>




CUSIP No. 929286 10 2                 14D-1

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS

     MR. DON TYSON
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE
     INSTRUCTIONS)                                               (A)  / /
                                                                 (B)  /X/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3    SEC USE ONLY
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

     NOT APPLICABLE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
     PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(e) OR 2(f)                                        / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

     UNITED STATES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
     PERSON

     600,063 COMMON SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (7) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)                                             / /
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9    % OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7)

     5.37%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

     IN
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


   

          This Statement constitutes Amendment No. 21 to the Statement on
Schedule 14D-1, dated March 9, 1994, as amended, filed by WLR Acquisition
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser"), and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Tyson Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Tyson"), and Tyson, relating to
the offer by the Purchaser to purchase all outstanding shares of Common Stock,
no par value (the "Shares"), of WLR Foods, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the
"Company"), at a price of $30.00 per share, net to the seller in cash, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated
March 9, 1994 (the "Offer to Purchase") and in the related Letter of
Transmittal.


    


   


          This Statement also constitutes Amendment No. 22 to the Statement on
Schedule 13D, dated March 4, 1994, as amended, filed by the Purchaser, Tyson,
Tyson Limited Partnership and Mr. Don Tyson, relating to their beneficial
ownership of Shares.


    


                                       6

<PAGE>


   

1. Item 5 is hereby amended to add the following:

   On July 21, 1994, Tyson and the Purchaser notified the Company of their
intention to nominate individuals for election to the Board of Directors of
the Company at the Company's 1994 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. A copy of
such notice and a related press release are filed as exhibits to this
Schedule 14D-1 and are incorporated herein by reference.

    
   
2. Item 11 is hereby amended to add the following:
    
ITEM 11. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.


   

     99.47 -- Notice to WLR Foods, Inc., dated July 21, 1994.

     99.48 -- Tyson Foods, Inc. Press Release, dated July 22, 1994.


    


                                       7


<PAGE>

                               SIGNATURE





          After due inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, the
undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.

                              WLR ACQUISITION CORP.



                              By  /s/ James B. Blair
                                --------------------------------

                                Name:  James B. Blair
                                Title: President


   

Dated:  July 22, 1994

    


                              TYSON FOODS, INC.




                              By  /s/ Gerald Johnston
                                --------------------------------
                                Name:  Gerald Johnston
                                Title: Executive Vice President,
                                       Finance


   

Dated:  July 22, 1994

    

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit                                                               Page No.
- ------                                                                --------

   

99.47 -- Notice to WLR Foods, Inc., dated July 21, 1994.

99.48 -- Tyson Foods, Inc. Press Release, dated July 22, 1994.

    



<PAGE>

   
                                   Cede & Co.
                       c/o The Depository Trust Company
                                7 Hanover Square
                            New York, New York 10004
    
   
                                                                   July 21, 1994
    

   
Mr. Delbert Seitz
Secretary
WLR Foods, Inc.
P.O. Box 7000
Broadway, Virginia 22815
    

   
          Re: Notice under Bylaws with respect to the 1994
              --------------------------------------------
              Annual Meeting of Shareholders of WLR Foods, Inc.
              -------------------------------------------------
    

   
Dear Mr. Seitz:
    

   
    Cede & Co., the nominee of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), is a
record holder of common stock (the "Common Stock") of WLR Foods, Inc., a
Virginia corporation ("WLR" or the "Company"). DTC is informed by its
Participant, Stephens Inc. (the "Participant") that on the date hereof, 600,000
of such shares (the "Shares") credited to Participant's DTC account are
beneficially owned by WLR Acquisition Corp., a customer of the Participant
("Acquisition Corp." or the "Customer").
    

   
    The purpose of this letter is to provide written notice to WLR, at the
request of the Participant and on behalf of the Customer, pursuant to Article
II, Section 4 of the Bylaws of the Company (the "Bylaws"), with respect to the
intention of Acquisition Corp. as beneficial owner of the Shares or Cede & Co.
as the record owner of the Shares to nominate eight (8) persons (the
"Independent Nominees") for election as directors of the Company at the 1994
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of WLR (the "Meeting").
    

   
    At the request of the Participant, and on behalf of the Customer, Cede
& Co. hereby gives notice under the Bylaws with respect to the following
nominations of director candidates:
    

   
Nomination of Director Candidates:
- ---------------------------------
    

   
    In accordance with Article II, Section 4 of the Bylaws, notice is hereby
given to the Secretary of the Company of the following:
    


<PAGE>

   
    1.  The name and address of Acquisition Corp. are as follows:

                   WLR Acquisition Corp.
                   c/o Tyson Foods, Inc.
                   2210 West Oaklawn Drive
                   Springdale, Arkansas 72764
    

   
    As of the date hereof, the shares of Common Stock, without par value,
beneficially owned by Acquisition Corp. are held in accounts of Acquisition
Corp. maintained with Stephens, Inc., which brokerage firm is a Participant in
The Depository Trust Company. Accordingly, the name and address of the holder of
record of such shares (the "Record Holder"), as it should appear in the
Company's books, is as follows:

                    Cede & Co.
                    P.O. Box 20
                    Bowling Green Station
                    New York, New York 10274
    

   
    2.  Acquisition Corp. is the beneficial owner of 600,000 shares of
Common Stock as of the date hereof and intends to be the beneficial owner of
Common Stock at all times from the date hereof to the date of the Meeting, and
is entitled to vote for the election of directors through the Record Holder.
Acquisition Corp. as the beneficial owner of the Shares (or Cede & Co. as the
record owner of the Shares) intends to appear in person (or, in the case of
Cede & Co, to cause, at the request of Participant, a duly appointed agent of
Cede & Co. to appear in person) or by proxy at the Meeting to nominate the
Independent Nominees.
    

   
    3.  At the Meeting, Acquisition Corp. as the beneficial owner of the Shares
(or Cede & Co. as the record owner of the Shares) intends to propose a
resolution (the "Resolution"), to be voted on by the Company's stockholders
pursuant to Article 13.1-675(C) of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act,
increasing the size of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board" or the
"Board of Directors") from ten (10) directors to fifteen (15) directors, in
accordance with Article II, Section 2, of the Bylaws.
    

   
     4.  Acquisition Corp. as the beneficial owner of the Shares (or Cede & Co.
as the record owner of the Shares) intends to nominate the persons listed below
as the Independent Nominees. The Independent Nominees have furnished to
Acquisition Corp. the following information concerning their principal
occupation and certain other matters. The Independent Nominees are citizens of
the United States.
    


                                  2



<PAGE>

   
Name and
Business Address            Age        Employment History
- ----------------            ---        ------------------

Fred Cameron                60         For the past five years, Mr. Cameron has
P.O. Box 265                           been self-employed as a private investor
National City, CA 91951                and a cattle rancher. Mr. Cameron is the
                                       former President of C&M Packing Company
                                       of San Diego (a meat packing company).


James Clark Irwin           67         From November, 1982 through present,
2401 Johnson Road                      self-employed owner and operator of a
Springdale, AR 72763                   poultry and beef farm. Mr. Irwin was the
                                       Vice-President of Live Production For
                                       Tyson Foods, Inc. for 22 years, and has
                                       been a broiler grower for Tyson Foods,
                                       Inc. for 33 years. Mr. Irwin serves as a
                                       director of the Bank of Fayetteville
                                       (Fayetteville, Arkansas).


Michael J. Levitt           63         For over twenty years, Mr. Levitt has
1 East Stow Road                       been the sole owner of Michaels Develop-
P.O. Box 994                           ment Company, Interstate Realty Manage-
Marlton, NJ 08053                      ment Co. and Continental Mortgage Corp.
                                       (national developers/owners/managers of
                                       government subsidized low income rental
                                       housing).


Hayden McIlroy              55         From March, 1986 through present, Mr.
25 Highland Park Village               McIlroy has been President of H.M.
Suite 100-341                          Investments (a private investment
Dallas, TX 75205                       company). Mr. McIlroy was previously
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer of
                                       McIlroy Bank & Trust (Fayetteville,
                                       Arkansas).
    


                                      3



<PAGE>


   
Name and
Business Address             Age           Employment History
- ----------------             ---           ------------------


Mitchell S. Rosenthal,      59         Dr. Rosenthal founded Phoenix House, one
M.D.                                   of the largest private, non-profit sub-
164 West 74th Street                   stance abuse services agencies in the
New York, NY 10023                     United States, in 1967, and has served
                                       as its chief executive and as President
                                       and Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix
                                       House Foundation since that time
                                       through the present. Dr. Rosenthal has
                                       also chaired the New York State
                                       Advisory Council on Substance Abuse
                                       since 1985, and has been a White House
                                       advisor on drug abuse and a special
                                       consultant to the Office on National
                                       Drug Abuse Policy.


P.R. Smith                  69         For over twenty years, Mr. Smith has
P.O. Box 593                           owned and operated family farms and
Winder, GA 30680                       agribusinesses. From 1973 through 1980,
                                       Mr. Smith served as a member of the
                                       Board of Regents of the University of
                                       Georgia System. From 1977 through 1980
                                       Mr. Smith was an Assistant Secretary of
                                       Agriculture of the United States. Mr.
                                       Smith is a past Vice President of the
                                       Georgia Farm Bureau and a past Chairman
                                       of the Georgia Cotton Commission. Mr.
                                       Smith is a member of the Board of
                                       Trustees and the Treasurer of Christian
                                       College of Georgia.
    


                                      4


<PAGE>

   
Name and
Business Address            Age        Employment History
- ----------------            ---        ------------------


Gerald A. Welch             59         Mr. Welch has been retired since April,
7355 Hidden Cove                       1994. From January, 1988 through
Kalamazoo, MI 49009                    February, 1992, Mr. Welch served as
                                       Senior Vice President, and from
                                       February, 1992 through April, 1994, he
                                       served as Executive Vice President, of
                                       the Pharmaceuticals, Seeds and Animal
                                       Health Products Division of the Upjohn
                                       Company. Mr. Welch serves as a director
                                       of Union Pump Co. (Battle Creek,
                                       Michigan), Biggs-Gilmore Advertising
                                       (Kalamazoo, Michigan) and Cytrex
                                       Corporation (Atlanta, Georgia).


Alan L. Wurtzel             60         Since 1994, Mr. Wurtzel has been Vice
2134 R Street, N.W.                    Chairman of Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Washington, DC 20008                   (electronics and appliances retailer)
                                       and from 1986-1994, he served as
                                       Chairman of Circuit City Stores, Inc.
                                       Mr. Wurtzel is also a director of
                                       Office Depot, Inc.
    



   
     5.  Acquisition Corp. as the beneficial owner of the Shares (or Cede & Co.
as the record owner of the Shares) intends to nominate each of Messrs. Levitt,
McIlroy and Welch for election to a three-year term as a Class A director of
the Company. The remaining Independent Nominees (namely, Messrs. Cameron,
Irwin, Rosenthal, Smith and Wurtzel) will be nominated to fill the five (5)
vacancies created by the Resolution, if the Resolution is approved by the
Company's shareholders. In that event, Acquisition Corp. as the beneficial
owner of the Shares (or Cede & Co. as the record owner of the Shares) intends
to nominate each of Messrs. Cameron and Irwin to a two-year term as a Class C
director of the Company; each of Messrs. Rosenthal and Smith to a one-year
term as a Class B director of the Company; and Mr. Wurtzel to a three-year
term as a Class A director of the Company; all in accordance with Article
THREE, Section One of the Articles of Restatement of the Company (the
"Restated Articles"). If elected, each of the Independent Nominees would
hold office until the annual meeting of the Company's shareholders at which
his term is scheduled to expire and until his successor shall be duly elected
and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.
    


                                      5


<PAGE>

   
     6.  Tyson Foods, Inc. ("Tyson") and Acquisition Corp. have entered into
agreements with each Nominee (the "Nominee Agreements"), pursuant to which
Tyson and Acquisition Corp. have agreed to promptly reimburse the Independent
Nominees for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses reasonably incurred by them
in connection with their nominations for election as directors of the Company
and related matters. The Nominee Agreements further provide that Tyson and
Acquisition Corp. will indemnify the Independent Nominees against all claims,
liabilities and expenses incurred by the Independent Nominees which arise out
of or relate to Tyson's and Acquisition Corp.'s solicitation of proxies in
connection with the Meeting, any proposed acquisition of the Company by Tyson
and/or Acquisition Corp., the Independent Nominee's nomination for election as
a director of the Company, the Independent Nominee's serving as a director of
the Company, or any related matter.
    

   
     Pursuant to the Nominee Agreements, Tyson, Acquisition Corp. and each
Independent Nominee have acknowledged and agreed that Tyson and Acquisition
Corp. intend to nominate such Independent Nominee for election as a director
of the Company and to solicit proxies in connection therewith upon the
understanding that if such Independent Nominee is elected as a director of the
Company, such Independent Nominee will take whatever actions are necessary,
appropriate and available to him in his capacity as a director of the Company
to (i) cause the Company to redeem the rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant
to the Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of February 4, 1994,
between the Company and First Union National Bank of North Carolina, as Rights
Agent, (ii) enter into a definitive merger agreement with Acquisition Corp.
(or another affiliate of Tyson) and Tyson providing for the acquisition of
the Company by Tyson (the "Proposed Merger"), (iii) cause the provisions of
Article 14 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act ("VSCA") (the "Virginia
Affiliated Transactions Law") and Article 14.1 of the VSCA (the "Virginia
Control Share Act") to be deemed inapplicable to the Proposed Merger or any
shares of common stock of the Company acquired by Tyson or Acquisition Corp. in
connection with their efforts to effect the Proposed Merger and (iv) otherwise
facilitate the acquisition of the Company by Tyson; all subject, in all events,
to the fulfillment of such Independent Nominee's fiduciary duties as a director
of the Company under applicable Virginia law.
    


   
     The Nominee Agreements provide that Tyson will pay each Independent
Nominee the amount of $12,000 upon the dissemination to shareholders of the
Company of a Proxy Statement relating to the nomination of the Independent
Nominees for election at the Meeting, and further provide that in the event
that such Independent Nominee is required to attend any meetings in connection
with his nomination prior to his election as a director of the Company
(including the Meeting), or to attend any hearings, depositions or the like in
connection with his nomination or service as a director, Tyson will pay such
Independent Nominee $1,000 per day plus his expenses incurred in connection
with his attendance at such meeting, hearing or deposition.
    

                                       6

<PAGE>

   
     The foregoing description of the Nominee Agreements is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Form of Nominee Agreement attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
    

   
     Except as described above, there are no other arrangements between
Acquisition Corp. and the Independent Nominees or between Acquisition Corp. and
any other person pursuant to which Acquisition Corp. makes or will make such
nomination.
    

   
     7.  Each of the Independent Nominees has consented to serve as a director
of the Company if so elected. Copies of the consents of the Independent
Nominees are enclosed herewith.
    

   
     Please direct any questions regarding this notice to John T. O'Connor,
Esq. of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York,
NY 10005, (212) 530-5548.
    

   
     While Cede & Co. is furnishing the notice stated herein as the
stockholder of record of the Shares, it does so at the request of Participant
and only as a nominal party for the true party in interest, the Customer.
Cede & Co. has no interest in this matter other than to take those steps which
are necessary to ensure that the Customer is not denied its rights as the
beneficial owner of the Shares, and Cede & Co. assumes no further
responsibility in this matter.
    

   
                                      Very truly yours,


                                      Cede & Co.


                                      By:
                                         ------------------------------
                                         Kenneth M. Scholl, partner
    

                                       7

<PAGE>


   
STATE OF NEW YORK     )
                      )  SS.
COUNTY OF NEW YORK    )
    


   
     Kenneth M. Scholl, partner, having been first duly sworn according to
law, deposes and says that he is a partner of Cede & Co., that he is
authorized to execute the foregoing notice and to make the designations,
authorizations and representations contained therein, and that the facts and
statements contained in the foregoing notice are true and correct.
    


   
                                       Cede & Co.

                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------
                                          Kenneth M. Scholl, partner
    

   
SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me
this 21st day of July, 1994


- ---------------------------------
          Notary Public

            SUE ANN VAJDA
  Notary Public, State of New York
           No. 41-4822492
     Qualified in Queens County
Commission Expires December 31, 1994
    




<PAGE>
   
                             [Tyson Letterhead]



                                NEWS RELEASE
                                ------------

                TYSON NOMINATES EIGHT CANDIDATES FOR WLR BOARD
               SEEKS TO INCREASE BOARD SIZE FROM 10 TO 15 SEATS

    SPRINGDALE, ARKANSAS (JULY 22, 1994) - Tyson Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:TYSNA)
announced today that it has delivered a notice to WLR Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:
WLRF), in accordance with WLR's By-Laws, stating its intention to nominate a
slate of eight candidates for election to WLR's Board of Directors at WLR's
Annual Meeting which Tyson expects to be held in late October. Tyson will
also submit a resolution at the Annual Meeting to increase the size of WLR's
Board from 10 seats to 15 seats. If elected, Tyson's eight nominees would
constitute a majority of the WLR Board.

   Tyson will nominate its candidates with the understanding that, within the
scope of their fiduciary responsibilities to all WLR shareholders, the
nominees will, if elected, cause WLR to redeem its "poison pill" shareholder
rights plan, enter into a definitive merger agreement with Tyson, and cause the
provisions of the Virginia Affiliated Transactions Act and the Virginia
Control Share Act to be deemed inapplicable to the proposed Tyson-WLR merger.

   Tyson's nominees are: Gerald A. Welch, the retired Executive Vice President
of the Pharmaceuticals, Seeds and Animal Health Division of The Upjohn
Company; Hayden McIlroy, the President of H.M. Investments in Dallas and former
President of McIlroy Bank and Trust of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Michael J.
Levitt, the owner of Michaels Development Company, a real estate development
firm; James Clark Irwin, a self-employed poultry and beef farmer; P.R. Smith,
the owner/operator of a number of agribusinesses; Fred Cameron, a
self-employed cattle rancher and private investor; Dr. Mitchell S. Rosenthal,
founder, Chairman and President of the Phoenix House Foundation, a private,
non-profit substance abuse services agency; and Alan L. Wurtzel, the Vice
Chairman of Circuit City Stores, Inc.

   Messrs. Welch, McIlroy and Levitt will stand for election in opposition to
management's candidates for the three seats up for reelection at the Annual
Meeting. The remaining five candidates will be nominated to fill the five
vacancies that would be created if the resolution to increase the size of the
Board is approved by WLR shareholders.

   Tyson beneficially owns 600,063 common shares of WLR, representing
approximately 5.4% of the Company.

   For further information, contact Tyson's Director of Media, Public and
Governmental Affairs, Archie Schaffer, III at (501) 290-7232 or Stanley J. Kay,
of MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at (212) 929-5940.

                                    -30-

                        [Feeding you like family logo]
    



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