WALLACE COMPUTER SERVICES INC
DEFA14A, 1996-10-30
MANIFOLD BUSINESS FORMS
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )
 
    Filed by the Registrant / /
    Filed by a party other than the Registrant / /
 
    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    / /  Definitive Proxy Statement
    /X/  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant to 240.14a-11(c) or 240.14a-12
 
                       Wallace Computer Services
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/ /  No fee required

/ /  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) 
     and 0-11

    (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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    (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
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/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
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    previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
    or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

    (1) Amount Previously Paid:

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    (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

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    (4) Date Filed:

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[Logo] Wallace


October 29, 1996

Dear Shareholder:

As an institutional investor, you are no doubt aware that the annual meeting 
for Wallace Computer Services will be held next Wednesday, November 6. You 
have also likely spent some time considering two by-law proposals by Mr. 
Wyser-Pratte, and have heard him espouse his views on shareholder rights.

Whether or not you generally support expanding shareholders' voices in 
corporate affairs, the tender offer by-law proposal put forth by Wyser-Pratte 
goes too far, and is not in the best interests of you or any other 
shareholder except the arbitrageurs. Consider the likely scenarios and 
outcome of a hostile takeover attempt if Wyser-Pratte's tender offer by-law 
is adopted:

    --   Wyser-Pratte's 90-day, drop-your-gloves clause destroys the 
         Board's negotiating power. A hostile bidder would have 
         absolutely no incentive to negotiate or reason to raise its 
         offer. The bidder could stonewall any negotiating attempts by 
         the Board, knowing that it merely has to wait 90 days to buy 
         the company at a lower price than the Board could negotiate.

    --   Wyser-Pratte's proposed by-law sets an artificially low 
         premium hurdle of 25%. This condition, along with the 90-day 
         termination clause, effectively assures that Wallace 
         shareholders would receive only a 25% premium, AND NOTHING MORE, 
         even though the average takeover premium for the industry is 
         higher, and Wallace is recognized by analysts as one of the 
         standouts in the industry.

    --   The by-law is unworkable from the perspective of maximizing 
         shareholder value because the 90-day time limit is inadequate. 
         The Board, even if determined to seek a high offer, would be 
         unable to effectively negotiate the sale of the company and at 
         the same time solicit proxies to enable them to continue to do 
         so.



INFORMATION MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS, SERVICES, SOLUTIONS.

<PAGE>

    --   This by-law proposal would make it practically impossible to 
         keep the company independent, even if that were the best 
         alternative for shareholders. Wyser-Pratte says that the Board 
         can try to "convince" shareholders that remaining independent 
         is right. However, to do this, the Board would almost 
         certainly have to disclose confidential information about 
         future strategies and prospects that would harm the company 
         and benefit competitors.

         For example, a major software application might be in 
         development and a year away from introduction. The Board could 
         not reveal this information to shareholders without destroying 
         its competitive advantage and all future earnings and 
         shareholder value that would be generated. Similarly, any 
         acquisitions, strategic alliances or major new customers in 
         development would be equally compromised.


The net effect of this by-law is that if a hostile offer is made, the company 
is very likely to be sold, and SOLD CHEAP, substantially below full value and 
without an appropriate control premium for you.

Wyser-Pratte is only interested in his own agenda, not generating full, fair 
value for all investors. Think about his motives for this proxy battle and 
the by-law changes he has put forward. He wants you to vote for these 
proposals to give him and his fellow takeover speculators MORE POWER AND 
CONTROL in hostile takeovers.

Arbitrageurs actively talk among themselves and often vote as one block. 
Wyser-Pratte knows that other investors are less structured in their approach 
to tender offers, and less homogenous in their voting and tendering. Based on 
that, Wyser-Pratte knows that this by-law proposal, if adopted, will give him 
and his fellow speculators a significant advantage in a takeover fight. This 
is particularly true since Wyser-Pratte's proposal permits a takeover bidder 
to vote all of its shares against the company's continued resistance. Thus a 
takeover bidder with a substantial holding in the company's stock could, 
along with the arbitrageurs, force a sale of the company whether or not it was 
advantageous to the other shareholders.


We request that you do not vote for Wyser-Pratte's nominees and his by-law 
proposals. If you have already done so and hold you shares in the name of a 
bank, broker or other nominee, please direct the party responsible for your 
accounts to vote the WHITE proxy card as recommended by management.


Sincerely,


/s/ Ted Dimitriou                 /s/ Bob Cronin
- -----------------                ----------------
  Ted Dimitriou                    Bob Cronin
Chairman of the Board            President and CEO




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