Williams Controls Receives Offers for Agriculture Equipment Business

1 February 2000
Williams Controls Receives Offers for Agriculture Equipment Business
    PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 1 -- Williams Controls, Inc.
today announced that it has received two offers to purchase the
Agriculture Equipment business of Hardee Williams Inc. and certain related
assets.  Both offers are subject to additional due diligence, execution of
definitive agreements, and requisite approvals.  The Company has accepted both
offers while not granting exclusivity to either buyer.  This will allow either
buyer to close as soon as their documentation and due diligence process is
completed.  Both offers are equivalent in value, and neither offer would
result in any loss in addition to those already taken on the disposal of the
assets.
    Gerard Herlihy, Williams Controls Chief Financial officer stated, "We are
pleased that we have found potential buyers that would continue to produce
Hardee's quality products and support Hardee's excellent dealer network.  The
potential buyers have indicated that they expect the due diligence period to
be completed within 60 days.  Concluding this sale would be another step in
Williams' continuing effort to focus its resources on the company's core
sensors and controls business."
    Williams Controls is a leading manufacturer and integrator of innovative
sensors, controls and communications systems for the transportation and
communication industries.  You can reach the company on the Web at
http://www.wmco.com .
    The statements included in this news release concerning predictions of
economic performance and management's plans and objectives constitute forward-
looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1934, as amended.  These statements involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements.  Factors which could cause or contribute to such
differences include, but are not limited to, factors detailed in the Company's
Securities and Exchange Commission filings; economic downturns affecting the
operations of the Company or any of its business operations, and the
unavailability of financing to complete management's plans and objectives.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as
of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.