SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14D-9
(Amendment No. 7)
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement Pursuant to
Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
WLR FOODS, INC.
(Name of Subject Company)
WLR FOODS, INC.
(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)
Common Stock, No Par Value
(including the associated preferred stock purchase rights)
(Title of Class of Securities)
929286 10 2
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Delbert L. Seitz
Chief Financial Officer
WLR Foods, Inc.
P.O. Box 7000
Broadway, Virginia 22815
(703) 896-7001
(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to
receive notice and communications on behalf of the person(s)
filing statement)
Copies to:
Neil T. Anderson, Esq. John W. Flora, Esq.
Sullivan & Cromwell Wharton, Aldhizer & Weaver
125 Broad Street 100 South Mason Street
New York, New York 10004 Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801
(212) 558-4000 (703) 434-0316
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This Amendment No. 7 amends and supplements the
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, dated
March 14, 1994, as amended (the "Schedule 14D-9"), filed by
WLR Foods, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the "Company"),
relating to the tender offer disclosed in the Schedule 14D-1,
dated March 9, 1994, as amended (the "Schedule 14D-1"), of the
bidder, Tyson Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Bidder"), to, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, WLR
Acquisition Corp., purchase all of the outstanding Shares upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer
to Purchase, dated March 9, 1994, and the related Letter of
Transmittal (together, the "Offer"). Capitalized terms used
and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in
the Schedule 14D-9.
Item 9. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
Item 9 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding
thereto the following:
Exhibit 23 -- Form of Letter to Shareholders of the Company,
dated April 11, 1994.
Exhibit 24 -- Form of Letter to Poultry Producers, dated
April 11, 1994.
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SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my
knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth
in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: April 11, 1994
WLR FOODS, INC.
By: /s/ James L. Keeler
Name: James L. Keeler
Title: President and Chief
Executive Officer
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 23
[WLR FOODS, INC. LETTERHEAD]
April 11, 1994
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
As you likely know, on April 7, 1994, Tyson Foods announced that it has
extended its hostile tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock
of WLR Foods until June 3, 1994. Tyson's highly conditional offer was
originally scheduled to expire at midnight, April 8, 1994. The offer is the
same -- $30 cash and lots of conditions -- but the deadline for tendering
has been pushed back by close to two months.
We note with great interest that a mere 732,765 shares, or less than 7% of
WLR Foods outstanding common stock, had been tendered into Tyson's offer. We
are extremely gratified that WLR Foods shareholders have demonstrated such
overwhelming support for the Company by not tendering their WLR Foods shares
to Tyson. Your Board of Directors continues to urge shareholders to reject
Tyson's offer as inadequate and not in the best interest of WLR Foods
shareholders.
In our view, WLR Foods shareholders have sent Don Tyson a resounding message
- -- "No." Like your Board did, you have told Don Tyson that the Tyson offer
seeks to deny WLR Foods shareholders the true long-term value of their
stock. We are indeed fortunate to have so many long-term shareholders and
your Board of Directors deeply appreciates your support. While we regret
that Tyson has decided to continue its offer for another two months -- an
offer that has been decisively rejected by WLR Foods shareholders -- we will
continue to oppose Tyson's inadequate offer for as long as it takes.
Once again, we thank you for your commitment to WLR Foods and your support.
Your resolve and the commitment of the entire WLR Foods family is a
continuing source of strength. Whenever you have questions, just give us a
call.
Sincerely,
WLR FOODS, INC.
Charles W. Wampler, Jr. James L. Keeler
Chairman, Board of Directors President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 2
NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF SHARES OF WLR FOODS, INC.
TENDERED TO WLR ACQUISITION CORP., A WHOLLY-OWNED
SUBSIDIARY OF TYSON FOODS, INC.
To: IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, Depositary:
Please withdraw ________________ shares of common stock of WLR Foods, Inc.
(number of shares)
representing all shares tendered pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, dated
March 9, 1994, of WLR Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tyson
Foods, Inc., by the undersigned and return the certificate(s) representing
such shares to the address of the undersigned as recorded on the Letter of
Transmittal which accompanied the tendered shares.
_______________, 1994 ___________________________ __________________________
Today's Date Print Name(s) of Tendering Signature(s) of Tendering
Shareholder(s) Shareholder(s)*
___________________________ __________________________
Print Name(s) of Tendering Signature(s) of Tendering
Shareholder(s) Shareholder(s)*
____________________ ___________________________
Certificate Number(s) Print Name(s) of Registered
Shareholder(s) if
different than Tendering Signature(s) Guaranteed:
Shareholder(s)
____________________ ___________________________ By:_______________________
Certificate Number(s) Print Name(s) of Registered Authorized Signatory
Shareholder(s) if different
than Tendering Shareholder(s)
*INSTRUCTIONS. Please sign your name as it appeared on the Letter of
Transmittal. Your signature should be guaranteed. If you have any questions,
please call D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (800) 669-5550. This form must be
sent to IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company. See reverse side for addresses.
TO INSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE WITHDRAWN, THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY
IBJ SCHRODER BANK & TRUST COMPANY NO LATER THAN 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK
CITY TIME, ON FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1994.
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You may send this notice by mail, courier or facsimile transmission. The
addresses are as follows:
By Mail-- IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company
Attn: Reorganization Operations Department
P.O. Box 84
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-0084
By Courier--IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company
Attn: Securities Processing Window, Subcellar One
One State Street
New York, NY 10004
By Facsimile-- (212) 858-2611
To confirm Facsimile Transmissions call: (212) 858-2103
(for Eligible Institutions only)
Since this notice is effective upon its receipt by the Depositary, it is
recommended that it be sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt
therefore confirmed or mailed registered mail with return receipt requested.
TO INSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE WITHDRAWN, THIS NOTICE SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY
IBJ SCHRODER BANK & TRUST COMPANY NO LATER THAN 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK
CITY TIME, ON FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1994.
WITHDRAW YOUR WLR FOOD SHARES
If you have tendered you shares to Tyson and wish to withdraw them, please
use this form. You may withdraw your shares at any time prior to midnight on
June 3, 1994. If you need help or have questions, call D.F. King toll-free
at (800) 669-5550. D.F. King will be pleased to assist you in getting back
your shares.
If your shares are held by a brokerage firm or bank, only your broker or
bank can withdraw them. Please call your broker or banker to instruct them
to effect the withdraw on your behalf.
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 24
[WLR FOODS, INC. LETTERHEAD]
April 11, 1994
Dear Poultry Producer:
Words cannot express how grateful we are at WLR Foods for the tremendous
support you have given us during Tyson Foods' hostile takeover attempt.
Producers here in the Valley presented us with petitions of support signed
by 543 people. I am enclosing the ad we printed from those petitions so
that you may have your own personal copy. In addition, included are news
articles that appeared later in the week regarding the survey results which
many of you participated in for the Daily News-Record. I am convinced no
other company has a producer team like the Wampler-Longacre team! On
behalf of all of us, thanks!
You might have heard that WLR Foods was named to Fortune magazine's list of
the 500 largest United States industrial corporations, but especially
pleasing to me was that we were the second fastest growing food company in
sales and in profits on the list. Our media release is enclosed for you to
see the results of your excellent work.
We know that Don Tyson and his representatives have called and visited and
continue to call on you. Don Tyson knows what your loyal commitment means
to the success of WLR Foods. We were very pleased to learn that Tyson
failed to get the support of even 7% of our shares. I just don't know how
many ways our shareholders can say no to him before he understands. Once
again, thanks for your continuing support.
Sincerely,
James L. Keeler
President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 2
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The poultry producers of WLR Foods started with a single petition of
support a couple weeks ago and this week presented signatures from all of
these people to us. Originally it started as a statement from the
Shenandoah Valley Wampler-Longacre producers and on this page you will see
names of other neighbors who insisted on having their name included.
Altogether, 543 people signed as of publication of this newspaper. We are
so touched by the leadership and courage of these people. Their support
symbolizes what has always been the WLR Foods way. We want to thank
everyone.
Charles W. Wampler, Jr. Herman D. Mason James L. Keeler
Chairman, Board of Directors Vice Chairman, Board President and Chief
of Directors Executive Officer
"WLR Supporters
We the undersigned producers, feel strongly about keeping honest
competition between poultry processors in the Valley. Competition will be
good for all poultry producers -- WLR, Rocco, and Tyson.
WLR directors and supervisors are local men and women that are
community involved. Mr. Wampler and others have spent their entire life
improving the poultry industry.
We of the WLR family have a good contract and opportunity to grow
with them. We should have choice for whom we grow and we choose WLR."
<TABLE>
<C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Benjamin Adamson Duane Blosser Mrs. John Chrostophel Shirley R. Cubbage Beverly Evans
Cathy Alger Ronnie Blosser William L. Clark Stephen Cubbage Frederick Evick
J.E. Alger Robert Bobo Larry Clayton Terry R. Cubbage William F. Evick, Jr.
Luella C. Alger Cecil Bogge, Jr. Sheldon J. Cline Vada Cubbage Jim Eye
Darl D. Alt Michael Boggs Russell M. Coffey Virgil R. Cubbage Robert L. Farley, Jr.
Darren Alt Brent Borg Bruce Coleman Hazel Cullers Sharon Feaster
George W. Anderson Jim Bowers Carl Collins Norman Cullers Allen O. Fitzwater
Mary Anderson John F. Bowers Randall L. Comer James R. Cunningham Douglas L. Flory
Paul R. Arbogast Lucille H. Bowers I.J. Conley Matt Curry Greg Foltz
Sam Arey Charles Bowman Lt. James D. Conley Steve Darnell Terry Forren
Charles Armstrong Philip L. Bowman Darvin Cook Donna Davis Michael Fortino
Cole Armstrong T.J. Bowman Donald Cook Ralph J. Davis, Jr. Bobby Fox
Raymond E. Ault William H. Bowman Iana Cook Arno Delawder John Fox
Jerry R. Auville Chris Brown Jessie Cook N.L. Dinges, Jr. Kirby Fox, Jr.
Raymond W. Ayers J. Darryl Brumback Mike Cook Vicki Dinges Jason Franz
Edward R. Baker John J. Brumback Nicole Cook Daryl Dinsmore Lucy Freed
Alton Bare Carl Burgess Randy Cook Allen C. Dove Alice Gardner
June K. Bare Donald Burgess Scott T. Cook Andrew H. Dove Barbara Gardner
Kent Bare Boyd Burkholder Linda S. Couch Donna Dove Everett L. Gardner
Don Bazzle Brent Burkholder Elaine E. Craig Eileen Dove Hershel H. Gardner
Donnie Bazzle Brian Burkholder Stanley L. Craig Paul W. Dove Arthur W. Garner
J.E. Bazzle Jessie Byerly Dorold Crawford, Sr. Ralph R. Dove John Geil, Jr.
Belle Meade Farm Joseph Trent Byerly R.V. Crump Jean S. Dovel John Geil, Sr.
Nolan Paul Bennett Matha M. Byerly Sarfield Ralph Cubage Russel H. Driskill, Jr. Bennie I. Getz
D. Benzinger Lorenzo Caldwell Earl Cubbage Norlyn Driver Ceryl Gilliam
Valerie L. Benzinger Steven Caldwell Erman Cubbage David A. Dyer Mick Gilliam
Cathy Berg Jake Caplinger, Jr. Gerald L. Cubbage Charles Eberly Sherry Gilliam
Denver Bergdoll Marvin Carr Gregory Cubbage Lelia Eberly Dennis Gochenour
Tom Billhimer Mike Carr James K. Cubbage Sonya Eberly Reggie Goldizen
Lawrence Blaire Mary H. Cassell Janie Cubbage Warren Eberly Buddy Vance Good
Nancy H. Blakemore Jeff Chandler Jeanette Cubbage Allen V. Evans Cindy Good
Carroll Blosser Kathy Chandler Ronnie W. Cubbage Larry M. Good
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 3
Lucien L. Good Beverly Keiter Joseph F. Minnick, IV Glenn Riggleman Larita M. Shuler
Patricia A. Good H.D. Keplinger Aaron Minor Judy Riggleman Jeffery Shumate
Robert Graves Kevin S. Keplinger Bruce A. Minor Pearl Riggleman Robert S. Shutterworth
John R. Greenwalt Lonnie Keplinger, Jr. Kathy Minor Shannon Riggleman Floyd J. Simmons
Charles H. Hagerty Lonnie Keplinger, Sr. Shawn A. Minor J.W. Riley, Jr. Orpha Simmons
D. Wayne Hamilton Ralph T. Keplinger Alice Mongold Winston Ringgold Boyd D. Siron
Dawn H. Hamilton Randy A. Keplinger Clites Mongold George Ritchie Ann Sites
Mark C. Hamric Sara Keplinger John Mongold Greg Ritchie Bud Sites
Freda L. Harman Denver Ketterman John D. Mongold James Ritchie Eddie Sites
John H. Harman Paul Ketterman Sandra Mongold Richard W. Ritchie Jesse Sites
Paul W. Harman Tina Ketterman Wes Mongold Alvin Roadcap Michael D. Sites
Richard G. Harman Carl Kimble Larry Moore Robert E. Roe Earl Skiles
Steve Harper Reed Kimble M.A. Moore Rodney Rohrbaugh Ben R. Smelser
Doug Hartman Phillip Kiracofe Robert Moran Clifford S. Rohrer Chester R. Smith
Bill Haviland Beatrice Kite Gwen Motts Amanda Rose David L. Smith
Darmon Hedrick Bobby Kite Allen T. Moyer, II Robert Rowe Debra Smith
Paul Hedrick Debra Kite Barbara H. Moyer Shannon Rose Earl P. Smith
Wesley S. Henkel Otis Kite Eugene K. Moyer J. Ruddle Gail E. Smith
Debra Hensley Bill M. Kitts Franklin W. Moyer Richard Ruddle Gary Smith
Richard Hesse Lela M. Kitts Kevin E. Moyer Thomas Lee Ruleman Ken Smith
Eric D. Hevener Ed Knicely Carroll A. Moyers Vate L. Ruleman Larry G. Smith
Keith A. Higgs Everett D. Knicely Lois S. Moyers Dwayne R. Runion Margaret Smith
Luanne Higgs Marion Knicely John F. Murphy Arthur J. Ryan Michelle Smith
Karol Hill Ervin Koogler Rose Mary Murray Carolyn L. Ryan Randal C. Smith
Mike Hill Mark Lambert D.J. Myers Rodney R. Ryan Rodney Smith
Randell Hill Mary Beth Lambert Leona Myers Susan C. Sager David F. Snell
Lilliard Hilliard Edgar Lamma, Jr. Richard Myers Delane Sampsell Ed Snell
Joe Hines Ada LaPage Bessie Nelson Gerald Scarborough Millard Sonifrank
Buzz Hinkle Joe LaPage Peggy Nelson Bruce E. Secrist Brian Sorells
Annette Laverne Hoch Robert Lambert, Jr. Bob Nesselrodt Gene See, II Richard Sorells
James Holsinger, Jr. Tony Layman Roger Nesselrodt Grover M. See Cheryl J. Sours
Charlotte Hoover David A. Lewis L.B. Newman Jane Cauley Seegar Rex A. Sours
Charles E. Horn Richard B. Lory Kimberley H. Nixon David Seymour William P. Spitler
Charles E. Horn, Jr. R.W. Lough Robert T. Nixon, II J.G. Shank Jod B. Sponaugle
Faye H. Horn Gerald Mallow Doug Orndoff Bonnie J. Sharpes Harry B. Sponougle
J. Craig Hott Dave Martin Foster E. Orndorf Don Sharpes James K. Sponougle
Jeff Hott Elmer Martin Clyde Ours Donald Sharpes James Strawderman
Kimbra A. Hott J.C. Martin Clyde Ours, Jr. Ronald Sharpes Paula Strawderman
Paula Hott James L. Martin Duane E. Painter Buddy L. Shaver, Jr. Ray Strawderman
Franklin L. Housden John G. Martin Richard B. Parkinson David R. Shiflett Roda Strawderman
Johnnie F. Housden Joyce Martin John Pence Kitra A. Shiflett Lee Roy Strickler
Lynn D. Housden Ken Martin Walter Petit Mrs. Robert J. Rodney M. Stultz
Sue Housden Leonard C. Martin R.C. Phares Shiflett Ruth P. Stultz
Deborah Huffman Martha Martin Arthur Pitsenbarger R.J. Shiflett Kathy Stump
Glenn Huffman Wililam C. Martin Ron Pitsenbarger A.D. Shinaberry, Jr. Ray Stump
Joe Huffman Chuck Mathias Tam Plaugher D.F. Shinaberry Larry C. Sullivan, Jr.
Rickie Huffman Lowell Mathias Loy R. Poling H.L. Shinaberry, Jr. Larry C. Sullivan, Sr.
Robert Huffman Vickie Mathias Orville Price Eleanor Shipe David F. Swecker
Robert Huffman Durwood May Charles F. Props Freel Shipe William L. Switzer
Wayne Huffman Jacob E. May Jerry S. Propst, Jr. Richie Shoemaker Dwight D. Swope
Bob Hughes Ronald McCoy Robert L. Propst Allen Showalter Richard K. Swope
David Hughes Gloria McCully James Puffenbarger Dale Showalter Roy W. Swope
John W. Hughes Betty McDonald Franklin D. Ray David F. Showalter John Z. Taylor
Noah Hughes Doug McNett Todd Reamer Dorothy Showalter Mark A. Taylor
Brown Hupp Linda McNett Jane Reedy Eua Showalter W.C. Taylor
Gale Hupp Sonny Meyerhoeffer Dale Reeves Harry H. Showalter William H. Taylor
Craig Hutchinson Donald W. Michael Ernie Reeves Leonard Showalter Alice Teter
Scott Ijames Imogene Michael Rick Reeves Mark Showalter, Jr. David Tetter
Wes Jamison James I. Michael Sharon Reeves Marie Showalter Jeff Thomas
David Jenkins Nancy Michael Elaine Rexrode Mike Showalter Julian Thompson
Winton E. Joseph Bradley Miller Charles A. Rhoads Reba Showalter Tommy Thompson
Tim Judy Jerry Miller Jay Rhodes, Jr. Ron Showalter Dennis Trissel
Juniper Hill Farms Kevin Miller Kenny F. Rhodes Ruel J. Showalter Greg Trissel
V.L.D. Kagey Norris E. Miller Robert Rhodes S. Frank Showalter Daniel C. Turner
N. Keith Karicofe P. Nelson Miller Timothy P. Rhodes Wayne Showalter Danny Turner
Barry Keiter Charlie S. Mills, Jr. Fred Riggleman Kenneth W. Shuler David Turner
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 4
Ikey Turner Hillary Verwall Donald Watson Malcolm Wilfong David Workman
Jerry P. Turner Raymond Via Tony O. Weakley Charles B. Williams Aaron Yoder
Noah Turner Sylvia J. Via Bruce Weimer John Williams Steve Yoder
Rodney J. Turner Estelle Wagner Sheldon Wenger Rennick C. Williams And our apologies to
Sue Turner Sherman Walker Wilda Wenger Robert E. Williams eight other people
Wayne A. Turner Amos Wampler Garnett W. Whetzel Robert R. Williams whose signatures we
Steven Tusing Daniel L. Wampler Kathleen Whetzel Samuel S. Williams couldn't read very
Valley Pike Farm Dorothy W. Wampler Randy L. Whetzel C. Ron Wilson well.
Ralph L. Vance, Sr. Kenneth L. Wampler William Ray Whetzel Mark Wimer
Hoppy VanMeter Ronald Wampler Daniel B. Whitmore Wilma Wimer
Steven E. Varner D. Mason Ware Danny Wilburn Carl D. Witmer
</TABLE>
[Logo of Wampler - [Logo of WLR Foods] [Logo of Cassco Ice &
Longacre] Cold Storage]
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 5
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Thursday April 7, 1994
GROWERS SOLID FOR WLR AGAINST TYSON
FARMERS BACK LOCAL FIRM'S INDEPENDENCE
BY OVERWHELMING MARGIN IN SURVEY
by Pat Murphey
News-Record Staff Writer
[Photo]
W.L.R.
The Growers Speak
First In A Three-Part Series
The survey form was prepared by the Daily News-Record, and a copy,
cover letter explaining the survey and an addressed, stamped envelope was
mailed March 25 by WLR Foods to each of its 751 growers. The completed
survey forms were returned to the Daily News-Record, which compiled the
statistics. All surveys received by Tuesday were included.
The growers who produce the chickens and turkeys for WLR Foods
overwhelmingly favor the company remaining independent.
In a survey conducted by the Daily News-Record, 95 percent of the
growers who responded said they want WLR to remain independent rather than
being taken over by Tyson Foods.
Competition was a major reason growers cited for keeping the two
companies separate.
A chicken grower, who also indicated he is a WLR stockholder, seemed
to sum up the sentiment: "Competition is good for everyone. Without
competition our hope for growth and prosperity would be dim."
WLR's local roots also were frequently cited by those who want the
company to remain independent.
"We had much rather deal with local people than with a corporate that
is far away & only looks at the bottom line," wrote one grower.
A chicken grower commented, "WLR is a good community minded company."
"Think WLR!!" another grower printed on the outside of the envelope
in which the survey was returned.
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<PAGE> 6
However, not all growers gave such enthusiastic support.
"WLR is no picnic - but Tyson Foods would be a lot worse," wrote one.
The the survey questionnaire was mailed to WLR's 751 growers, and 385
(51 percent) filled out and returned the form.
In addition to the Tyson takeover question, WLR growers were asked to
rate their relations with the company excellent, satisfactory or poor, and
if they felt they were treated fairly by the company.
On the relations question, 63 percent rated their dealings with the
company as excellent. Thirty-one percent gave a "satisfactory" rating, and
only 5 percent gave a "poor" rating. The remainder did not answer the
question or wrote in some other response.
Eighty-seven percent of the growers said they had been treated
fairly. Ten percent said they had not, and the remainder did not answer or
wrote in another reply.
The survey contained a blank for growers to write in their own
comments, and more than 60 percent sent messages. Some even included
additional pages of comments.
While WLR mainly received praise, there also were words of criticism
and even outright condemnation.
Pay - or lack of it - was a frequently raised complaint.
A chicken grower who rated his relations with WLR as excellent put
the money issue simply: "We need a raise."
A turkey grower went into more detail. "Considering the investment
in land, buildings, equipment, electricity, water, insurance, maintenance
and time (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), grower payments have not
realistically reflected the increased cost of living nor the overall
profitability of the company."
The final two questions on the survey asked the growers whether they
raised chickens or turkeys and whether they owned stock.
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<PAGE> 7
Chicken growers outnumbered turkey producers by 206-178 (58.5 percent
to 46.2 percent). The question was not answered on one form.
Nearly 41 percent of the growers who returned forms said they owned
WLR stock.
There was one ominous sign for WLR in the survey. Eight of the 10
people who favored a Tyson takeover were WLR stockholders.
"WLR's grower contract is unfair. Tyson couldn't screw us anymore
than WLR is doing right now," commented a turkey grower who owns WLR stock.
Even thought the eight stockholders favor a Tyson buyout, the
overwhelming majority of the WLR stockholders who responded in the survey
said they want the company to remain independent.
"Will go with WLR to the very end," wrote a chicken grower who owns
stock, rates the company excellent and said he has been treated fairly. "I
like the people I work with."
Stockholders had differing views of the $30 a share offer Tyson is
dangling.
"Sure would like to get $30 or more for stock," wrote one.
However, another commented: "Tyson's $30/share offer is a joke. I'm
not sure even $50/share is enough based on WLR's expansion. . . Tyson
wants to steal a good company."
There were several blunt messages aimed at Tyson Foods Chairman Don
Tyson.
"Bug off Tyson!! Leave us alone," wrote one.
"Tyson stay home," wrote another.
Some of the messages carried political tones reflecting Tyson's
association with the Clintons.
"Don Tyson reminds me of Slick Willie," was written across one of the
surveys.
Said another, "The people of Virginia are already stuck with more
from Arkansas than they want."
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 8
Several of the growers indicated they also had worked with other
poultry companies.
"We have worked with Rocco and Holly Farms and prefer Wampler over
both," wrote a chicken grower.
"I used to work for Holly Farms when Tyson took over. Don Tyson told
us it would be so much better. He is not a man of his word," wrote another
chicken grower.
A third grower had kinder words for Tyson: "I raise chickens for
both WLR & Tyson - We get better chickens from Tyson - I like doing
business with both companies." The grower, who also is a WLR stockholder,
rated his relations with the company as excellent and said he has been
treated fairly.
Of the 39 growers who said they had not been treated fairly, 15 are
WLR stockholders and 23 are not. The other one did not answer the
question.
While non-stockholders were more likely to feel they had not been
treated fairly, stockholders were quicker to rate relations with the
company as poor.
Twelve of the 19 who rated relations as poor are stockholders.
The stockholder-non-stockholder split for those who rated relations
with the company as excellent was very close to the proportion of
stockholders and non-stockholders in the survey.
Excellent ratings were given by 76 non-stockholders and 66
stockholders. One person who did not answer the stockholder question also
rated relations with the company as excellent.
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 9
Appendix
[Photo] Drawing of a large chicken labeled Tyson shaking its fist in a
menacing manner at a smaller chicken labeled WLR which is
shaking its fist at the Tyson chicken.
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 10
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Friday April 8, 1994
WLR, TYSON FAR APART IN GROWERS' EYES
by Pat Murphey
News-Record Staff Writer
[Photo]
W.L.R. vs. Tyson
The Growers Speak
Second In A Three-Part Series
WLR is an eagle. Tyson is a turkey.
That's about how the two companies were rated by their growers in two
separate surveys.
Almost 87 percent of the WLR Foods growers who responded to a Daily
News-Record survey this week said they are treated fairly by the company.
A survey conducted for Tyson last year by an independent research
firm found that only 47 percent of the growers trust the accuracy of feed
weights and not quite 50 percent trusted the scale weights of their birds
sent to market.
"Clearly WLR growers are a lot happier than Tyson growers," said
Daniel M. Spitzer Jr., a Bridgewater College business administration
professor who examined the findings of both surveys.
Because questions were different, direct comparison of the surveys is
difficult, said Spitzer, who is chairman of Bridgewater's George S.
Aldhizer II Department of Economics and Business.
However, he added, "The general tenor, weights and fact that nearly
half (of the Tyson respondents) said they didn't have any idea of what was
happening in the company sort of says to me quite strongly the Tyson
growers do not feel nearly as much a part of the overall . . . company."
"WLR growers don't feel that way," Spitzer said.
Among key findings in the WLR survey was that almost 87 percent of
the growers rated their relations with the company as excellent and another
30 percent rated them satisfactory. Only 10 percent said they had poor
relations with WLR.
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 11
There were no corresponding question on the Tyson survey. However,
more than 50 percent of the growers said Tyson's reputation is good among
growers and within their respective communities.
The Tyson survey also asked whether growers, from their past
experiences, felt that upper management would respond to key findings of
the study.
One-third said they thought management would respond. Nearly half
doubted whether management would.
WLR and Tyson representatives had predictable comments Thursday about
the WLR survey. Jim Keeler, WLR's chief executive officer, was "smiles ear
to ear. He was absolutely thrilled," reported spokeswoman Gail Price.
She said company officials were not surprised by the survey's
findings but were "tremendously gratified by this support."
WLR has "always been a grower-oriented company," Price added. "We
know without their investment and quality birds, we would be out of
business."
Archie Schaffer, Tyson's public relations director, said he did not
see anything in the WLR survey that "particularly shocked me."
He noted that just over half of WLR's 751 growers mailed back survey
forms and added, 'We would assume the vast majority who responded supported
WLR.'
Of the 385 who responded in the survey, 367 (95 percent) indicated
they want WLR to remain independent.
One person who was surprised by the WLR results is Mary Clouse of
Moncure, N.C., who has been a frequent critic of poultry companies.
"The 93.5 percent saying the company is OK or better than OK . . .
that's a quite amazing figure," Clouse said. She was referring to the
percentage of WLR growers who said their relations with the company are
satisfactory or excellent.
The 87 percent of WLR growers who said they have been treated fairly
by the company also is "just amazing to me," she added.
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 12
Clouse started the Poultry Growers Newsletter three years ago. It
has led to the National Contract Poultry Growers Association, which has
chapters across Southern states, including Virginia.
The Tyson survey apparently was the first a poultry company has taken
of its growers, and there is little other than the WLR survey to compare it
with.
Bridgewater professor Spitzer said the Tyson survey results would not
be too bad if compared to employer-employee relationships.
"Employee-employer relations vary all over the map . . . 40 to 50
percent levels are not all that uncommon," he added.
However, in business surveys of customers, "the level of satisfaction
has to be way up in 80 or 90 percent," Spitzer said. A retailer with a 40
to 50 percent rating "would go out of business."
"Customers have a choice. Growers can't walk away for a contract,"
he noted of comparing shoppers with poultry growers.
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Appendix
[Photo] Drawing of a large chicken labeled Tyson shaking its fist in a
menacing manner at a smaller chicken labeled WLR which is
shaking its fist at the Tyson chicken.
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<PAGE> 14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Gail Price, Director of
Corporate Communication
Phone: 703-896-0403
WLR FOODS NAMED TO FORTUNE 500
Broadway, Virginia, April 8, 1994 - WLR Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: WLRF) today
announced that it has been named for the first time to Fortune magazine's
list of the 500 largest United States industrial corporations. Ranked
498th, WLR Foods is one of only 13 Virginia-based companies included in the
Fortune 500 and the first central Shenandoah Valley-based corporation to
make the nationally renowned list.
Of the 49 food companies included in the Fortune 500 list, WLR Foods ranked
second in sales increase, growing 20% over fiscal 1992, and second in
profits increase, growing 148% over fiscal 1992.
In announcing these achievements to employees, President and Chief
Executive Officer James L. Keeler stated, "This is a remarkable
accomplishment for all of us as well as another promising indicator of the
full potential of WLR Foods. The Tyson hostile takeover attempt, while
distracting in many ways, makes us ever more appreciative of the way we do
business and of the many, many people to whom we owe all of our success.
With our proven strengths and strategies, the future of WLR Foods has never
been brighter. This growth and achievement clearly underscores why it is
the wrong time to sell WLR Foods."
WLR Foods is a fully integrated provider of high quality turkey and chicken
products primarily under the Wampler-Longacre(r) label and retail ice under
the Cassco(r) label. This Fortune 500 company, with current annual
revenues of over $700 million, exports to more than 40 countries and has
processing operations in Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, close to
its major mid-Atlantic markets.
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Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Saturday April 9, 1994
GROWERS ALL AGREE -- BIGGER ISN'T BETTER
by Pat Murphey
News-Record Staff Writer
[Photo]
W.L.R. vs. Tyson
The Growers Speak
Last Of A Three-Part Series
If there is a universal gospel among poultry growers, it is that
bigger is bad.
From Virginia to Oklahoma, and chicken and turkey houses between,
growers complain that when poultry companies merge and competition
dwindles, so do profits.
The complaints apparently are not just the wailings of a vocal group
of malcontents.
The Texas Department of Agriculture stated in a 1990 study of the
broiler industry in eastern Texas that when an area loses competition, "The
inevitable result is to shrink the earning of growers and seriously deflate
the benefits of the industry to local economies."
Not only do dollars go down, so do relations with the company.
"By and large, the smaller companies have a better working relation
with growers because company executives often have an intimate relationship
with growers," said John Morrison, executive director of the National
Contract Poultry Growers Association.
The poultry grower organization has spread to eastern Virginia, where
competition became a casualty of Tyson Foods' 1989 takeover of Holly Farms.
"Everything has gone downhill" since Tyson took over, reported Barton
Easter of Amelia, who has grown for both companies.
"Most people, for the most part, were happy with Holly Farms....
Now, there are some angry growers in this region," added Easter, who heads
the newly-formed Virginia poultry growers group.
Easter denies charges that the organization is a union or is out to
wreck the poultry companies.
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<PAGE> 16
"We need the integrators. We can't do without them," he said.
However, he added that growers are "struggling day to day.... We
stay in debt all the time."
Easter said he has been growing broilers for Holly Farms and Tyson
for 18 years and is "still $200,000 in debt."
Debt, caused by periodic demands from companies that new equipment be
installed or new buildings put up, was an almost universal complaint by
growers.
Mary Clouse of Moncure, N.C., described poultry growing as "debt
bondage."
She and her husband cared for breeder flocks for Townsends Inc. until
they decided three years ago they couldn't afford the latest demands by the
company. The Clouses' poultry houses are now sitting empty, and she is
working to organize poultry growers.
Contracts also were frequent sources of complaints.
"The way we are getting paid is an intricate shell game," said
Marinelle Strain, a Tyson broiler grower in Valliant, Okla.
"There are changing nuances in your contract that growers are not
aware of....There's nothing you can do."
Strain cited an energy allowance raise that was granted for two
flocks raised during the winter that was coupled with lower overall pay all
year.
Stain was one of four Tyson growers from Oklahoma and Texas who
called the Daily News-Record to urge WLR growers to avoid Tyson.
"I can't tell you how much I'm dissatisfied with growing for Tyson,"
she said.
Strain said she began raising chickens for the Lane company eight
years ago. After it went "belly up," the operation went into receivership,
then was taken over by Tyson.
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<PAGE> 17
"When they took over, Tyson said everything would remain the same.
It didn't remain the same for long," she said.
Ron Harrell, who is conducting a poultry grower survey for the
Louisiana Farm Bureau, indicated that Strain's experience is typical.
"I think you will find in an area where you have several companies
doing business, producers have more options" and are happier, he said.
In Mississippi, the poultry industry is still "mostly family-type
operations. They don't seem to have the problems" of areas dominated by
one large company, Harrell said.
However, even areas where there is competition are not immune from
dissatisfied growers. The Daily News-Record's survey of WLR growers
indicated that.
Although growers overwhelmingly rated relations with the company as
excellent or satisfactory and said they are treated fairly, there were
dissents.
"No way are we treated fair on our present contracts," wrote a turkey
grower. He rated relations with WLR as poor.
A chicken grower, who also is a stockholder and rated relations as
poor, commented, "Our present contract makes it very hard to survive."
Some of the former Rockingham Poultry Cooperative and Pennsylvania
growers WLR acquired in its own expansions said that relations are not as
good now as they were with the smaller organizations.
One disgruntled turkey grower, who did not indicate whether he had
ever been with another company, wrote, "I don't know if Tyson buyout is
really the answer to our problem. WLR needs to recognize and share more
with their growers. It's the growers that help make it possible WLR are
what they are.
"In the past years more is required of the growers (work that is) and
less and less pay. Maybe it's coming home to them. If we're going to play
ball, let's play fair on both sides. My question is could Tyson possibly
be any worse."
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<PAGE> 18
For Barton Easter of Amelia and Don Timmons of Nacogdoches, Texas,
the answer is yes.
"I'm just afraid if Tyson gets hold of Wampler its going to be
drastic" for growers, said Easter.
Timmons, who once grew for Holly Farms and Valmac and now grows for
Tyson, volunteered this advice for WLR growers who own shares in the
company: "If they sell the stock, they had better sell the farm and get
out."
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 19
Appendix
[Photo] Drawing of a large chicken labeled Tyson shaking its fist in a
menacing manner at a smaller chicken labeled WLR which is
shaking its fist at the Tyson chicken.
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 20
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Friday April 8, 1994
TYSON EXTENDS WLR TENDER OFFER
ARKANSAS POULTRY POWER POTENTIALLY
CONTROLS 12 PERCENT OF LOCAL PRODUCER
by Chris Edwards
News-Record Staff Writer
A day and a half before it would have expired, Tyson Foods Inc.
announced a two-month extension of its tender offer for WLR Foods Inc.
stock.
The terms, including the $30-per share price offered WLR's
shareholders, remain unchanged from the March 9 offer.
At 3 p.m. Thursday, Tyson said it had received tenders of 732,765 of
WLR's approximately 11 million shares -- meaning shareholders pledged to
sell them to Tyson if Tyson can meet all its conditions for buying WLR.
An additional 600,063 shares had been purchased on the NASDAQ market
by Tyson, giving the Arkansas chicken giant a potential 12 percent control
over the Rockingham County poultry company it hopes to acquire.
Interpretations differed on the significance of the number of $30-
per-share tenders, which came despite the fact that the market selling
price of WLR shares, apparently driven up by the takeover bid, has hovered
slightly higher in recent weeks, closing Thursday at $30 3/8.
Tyson spokesman Archie Schaffer III said Thursday he believes the
number tendered is what company officials had expected.
But WLR President James Keeler said the number of tenders is so small
as to "confirm an overwhelming lack of support" by shareholders for Tyson's
bid.
As Keeler interprets the response, "Our shareholders emphatically
said no." Industry analyst Kenneth Gassman, with the Davenport & Co.
brokerage, said Tyson's extension means three things, one of which is the
company feels it might lose the takeover bid right now.
Gassman said it also means Tyson's management does not view current
federal probes of possible insider trading in
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 21
WLR stock to be significant -- and that "They do want WLR badly."
The pre-expiration date announcement was made "to avoid
inconveniencing shareholders that customarily rush to tender their shares
just prior to the expiration date," according to Tyson's news release.
Gassman said it is difficult to guess how many more stock tenders
would have come in at the eleventh hour if Tyson had waited on its
extension announcement until after the original deadline of midnight
tonight.
But he noted arbitrageurs -- "hot money" investors who simultaneously
buy and sell large blocks of stock -- will usually wait until the last
minute to tender shares.
"Now the question is how many shares are in the hands of hot money,"
Gassman said.
Tyson chose June 3 as the expiration date because it is after a May
26 court appearance on Tyson's suit against WLR's anti-takeover defenses,
according to a Tyson news release Thursday.
Judge James H. Michael is to decide that day whether the Virginia
Control Shareholder Acquisition Statute allows voting by WLR board chairman
Charles W. Wampler Jr. and three other directors, all of whom resigned as
paid WLR employees in order to be able to vote their shares of stock.
He will also decide if WLR can set meeting dates in a fashion
designed to limit the voting power of new stockholders, such as Tyson.
Earlier this week, following media reports of a probe into suspected,
illegal insider trading by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Tyson and WLR spokesmen both
confirmed they had given the NASD a requested list of about 200 traders.
Those traders purchased WLR stock during recent, suspicious surges in
market activity before Tyson's purchase offer was made public. Schaffer
called NASD's investigation routine and said Tyson had no reason to suspect
wrongdoing.
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<PAGE> 22
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Saturday April 9, 1994
[Cartoon depicting a drawing
of a chicken labeled WLR Producers
strutting away from a chicken
holding flowers labeled Tyson Foods]
