TYSON FOODS INC
SC 14D1/A, 1994-05-03
POULTRY SLAUGHTERING AND PROCESSING
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===============================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
                             ______________________


                                 SCHEDULE 14D-1
   
                                (AMENDMENT NO. 9)
    
                                       AND


                                   SCHEDULE 13D
   
                                (AMENDMENT NO. 10)
    
               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

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

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

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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)

     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

     600,000 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. 9 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. 10 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.
    


     1. Item 11 is hereby amended to add the following:


ITEM 11.  MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

   
     (a) 99.29  --  Letter to Shareholders of WLR Foods, Inc. from Tyson
                    Foods, Inc. dated May 3, 1994.
    


                                        6

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                               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:  May 3, 1994
    

                              TYSON FOODS, INC.



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

   
Dated:  May 3, 1994
    


                                        7
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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

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


   
99.29     Letter to Shareholders of WLR Foods, Inc. from Tyson Foods, Inc.
          dated May 3, 1994.
    
                                       8


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                            [TYSON LETTERHEAD]

                                                                    May 3, 1994

           YOUR MESSAGES TO TYSON ARE COMING THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR

Dear WLR Shareholder:

   Thank you for taking the time to send your messages to us over the past
weeks. From them we have learned:

   1. Most of you want Tyson to keep bidding for your WLR stock.

   2. Many of you want a tax-free alternative from Tyson.

   3. All of you want a good corporate citizen committed to the Shenandoah
      Valley.

   4. Growers, you want and have Tyson's commitment to maintain grower pay and
      to allow your continued use of double-decker houses.

   Tyson is ready and willing to negotiate a deal with WLR today that you would
be pleased to vote "FOR." We are convinced that most of you want a friendly
deal between WLR and Tyson.

   James L. Keeler and the WLR Board want you to believe that Tyson is not
listening to you. THEY'RE WRONG. WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.

   James L. Keeler and the WLR Board are willing to have you gamble with the
value of your WLR investment. They are telling you to vote "AGAINST" our
proposal to see if Tyson will go away. If 50% or more of WLR's independent
shareholders fail to vote "FOR" our proposal:

   - Tyson will terminate its tender offer.

   - Tyson will sell its 600,000 WLR shares and take its losses along with you.

   - Tyson will invest the $330 million -- which it had planned to use to pay
     WLR shareholders -- elsewhere in plant expansions and other acquisitions
     to build a better future for its shareholders.


<PAGE>

              DON'T GAMBLE WITH THE VALUE OF YOUR WLR INVESTMENT.

   If Tyson goes away, so may more than $10 per share of your stock's value.
Remember -- a vote "FOR" Tyson's proposal does not mean you have to sell your
WLR shares to Tyson. A vote "AGAINST", however, may mean you will never have a
chance to sell at these prices.

                        VOTE "FOR" THE TYSON PROPOSAL

   Give us a chance to negotiate a deal that's fair to WLR shareholders and
growers. If we cannot reach a deal that a majority of you would support, we will
terminate our offer and sell our WLR stock.

   Send a message to the WLR Board. Sign, date and mail your BLUE proxy card.
Vote "FOR" the Tyson proposal and please provide any comments you may have on
the proxy card. We'll keep listening.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 Don Tyson
                                                 Chairman



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