HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES INC
S-8, 1994-05-12
FURNITURE STORES
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<PAGE>   1





      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 1994
                              Registration No. 33-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES, INC.   
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

               Maryland                               58-0821900
      ---------------------------------    -------------------------------
      (State or other jurisdiction         (I.R.S. Employer Identification
      of incorporation or organization)                Number)

   866 West Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia         30308     
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                (Zip Code)

                      1993 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN    
                      ------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                 RAWSON HAVERTY
                             Chairman of the Board
                        866 West Peachtree Street, N.W.
                            Atlanta, Georgia  30308
                                 (404) 881-1911             
                  -------------------------------------------
                  (Name, address, telephone number, including
                        area code, of agent for service)
                         ------------------------------
                              Copies Requested to:
                             Helen T. Ferraro, Esq.
                           Smith, Gambrell & Russell
                           3343 Peachtree Road, N.E.
                             Suite 1800, East Tower
                          Atlanta, Georgia  30326-1010
                                 (404) 264-2620    

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

                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=======================================================================================================================
                                                  Proposed Maximum            Proposed Maximum
 Title of Securities       Amount to be          Offering Price Per         Aggregate Offering            Amount of
   to be Registered         Registered                Share(1)                    Price(1)             Registration Fee
   ----------------         ----------                -----                       -----                ----------------
 <S>                          <C>                      <C>                       <C>                        <C>
 Options and Shares
 of $1.00 par value           500,000                  $13.75                    $6,875,000                 $2,371
 Common Stock                 Shares
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


       (1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
       fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the high and low
       reported prices of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market System
       on May 6, 1994.

================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.        Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

       The documents listed below are hereby incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement, and all documents subsequently filed by the
Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of
filing such documents:

       (a)     the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1993, together with those portions of the Company's 1993
Annual Report to Stockholders, including the audited financial statements
contained therein, which are incorporated by reference into the Company's Form
10-K;

       (b)     the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement, dated March 22, 1994,
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Company's 1994 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

       (c)     the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 1994, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

       (d)     the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 1986, to register the $1.00
par value Class A Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which Registration Statement contains a
description of the Common Stock and the Class A Common Stock.

Item 4.        Description of Securities.

       No response is required to this item.

Item 5.        Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

       Alex W. Smith, a director of the Company, is a partner of the law firm
of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, Atlanta, Georgia, which serves as general counsel
to the Company and receives legal fees for services rendered.




                                     II-1
<PAGE>   3
Item 6.        Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

       The Fifteenth Article of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company
provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law, no director or
corporate officer of the Company shall have any liability to the Company or its
stockholders for damages.  The Fifteenth Article further provides that the
company shall indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and corporate
officers  to the fullest extent that indemnification of directors is permitted
by Maryland law.

       Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law provides, under
certain circumstances, for the indemnification of any director made a party to
any proceeding by reason of serving as a director of a corporation against
judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually
incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.

       The Company maintains director and officer liability insurance.

Item 7.        Exemption From Registration Claimed.

       No response to this Item is required.

Item 8.        Exhibits.

       The following exhibits are filed with this Registration Statement.

       Exhibit
       Number           Description of Exhibit
       ------           ----------------------

       4.1              Registrant's 1993 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as 
                        amended.

       5.1              Opinion of Smith, Gambrell & Russell.

       23.1             Consent of Ernst & Young (included at page II-4 of this
                        Registration Statement).

       23.2             Consent of Smith, Gambrell & Russell (contained in 
                        their opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).

Item 9.        Undertakings.

       (a)     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

               (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
       being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to
       include any material information with respect to the plan of
       distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
       any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;




                                     II-2
<PAGE>   4
               (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability
       under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
       shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
       securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
       time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

               (3)      To remove from registration by means of a
       post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
       remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

       (b)     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the Registrant's Annual Report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

       (h)     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.




                                     II-3
<PAGE>   5



                        Consent of Independent Auditors



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 pertaining to the 1993 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan of Haverty
Furniture Companies, Inc. of our report dated February 1, 1994 with respect to
the financial statements of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. incorporated by
reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1993
and the related financial statement schedules included therein, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                 ERNST & YOUNG

May 11, 1994
Atlanta, Georgia




                                     II-4
<PAGE>   6
                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on this 12th day of May,
1994.

                                 HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES, INC.
                                
                                
                                
                                 By:  /s/ Rawson Haverty                    
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Rawson Haverty
                                      Chairman of the Board
                                            

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    Signature                                          Title                      Date     
- ----------------------------------         -------------------------         --------------
<S>                                        <C>                               <C>
/s/ Rawson Haverty                         Chairman of the Board             May 12, 1994
- ----------------------------------                                                       
(Rawson Haverty)


/s/ John E. Slater, Jr.                    President and Chief               May 12, 1994
- ----------------------------------         Executive Officer,                              
(John E. Slater, Jr.)                      Director (Principal                             
                                           Executive Officer)                              
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                           
/s/ Dennis L. Fink                         Senior Vice President             May 12, 1994
- ----------------------------------         and Chief Financial                           
(Dennis L. Fink)                           Officer (Principal      
                                           Financial Officer)      
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                           
/s/ Dan C. Bryant                          Controller (Principal             May 12, 1994
- ----------------------------------         Accounting Officer)                                              
(Dan C. Bryant)                            


/s/ Clarence H. Smith                      Vice President,                   May 12, 1994
- ----------------------------------         Regional Manager and
(Clarence H. Smith)                        Director
                                              

</TABLE>




                                     II-5
<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    Signature                                          Title                      Date     
- ---------------------------------          -------------------------         --------------
<S>                                        <C>                               <C>
/s/ Rawson Haverty, Jr.                    Vice President and                May 12, 1994
- ---------------------------------          Director                                      
(Rawson Haverty, Jr.)                                                                    
                                                                                         
                                                                                               
/s/ Fred J. Bates                          Regional Manager and                                
- ---------------------------------          Director                          May 12, 1994      
(Fred J. Bates)                                                                                
                                                                                               
                                                                                               
/s/ Frank S. McGaughey, Jr.                Director                          May 12, 1994      
- ---------------------------------                                                              
(Frank S. McGaughey, Jr.)                                                                      
                                                                                               
                                                                                                        
/s/ L. Phillip Humann                      Director                          May 12, 1994               
- ---------------------------------                                                                       
(L. Phillip Humann)                                                                                     
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
/s/ Dr. Kenneth Black, Jr.                 Director                          May 12, 1994               
- ---------------------------------                                                                       
(Dr. Kenneth Black, Jr.)                                                                                
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
/s/ John Rhodes Haverty, M.D.              Director                          May 12, 1994               
- ---------------------------------                                                                       
(John Rhodes Haverty, M.D.)                                                                             
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
/s/ Clarence H. Ridley                     Director                          May 12, 1994               
- ---------------------------------                                                                       
(Clarence H. Ridley)                                                                                    
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
/s/ Alex W. Smith                          Director                          May 12, 1994               
- ---------------------------------                                                                       
(Alex W. Smith)                                                                                         
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
/s/ Lynn H. Johnston                       Director                          May 12, 1994               
- ---------------------------------                                                                       
(Lynn H. Johnston)                                                                                      
                                                                                                        
                                                                                                        
/s/ William A. Parker, Jr.                 Director                          May 12, 1994               
- ---------------------------------                                                                       
(William A. Parker, Jr.)                                                                                
                                                                                                        
                                           
/s/ Robert R. Woodson                      Director                          May 12, 1994                                  
- ---------------------------------                                                                       
(Robert R. Woodson)                                          
</TABLE>                                                             
                                                                  



                                     II-6
<PAGE>   8
                                 Exhibit Index



<TABLE>
                                                                                        Sequential
Exhibit                           Description                                            Page No.
- -------        ----------------------------------------------------------------------   ---------                             

 <S>           <C>                                                                          
 4.1           Registrant's 1993 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, as amended             
                                                                                     
 5.1           Opinion of Smith, Gambrell & Russell                                  
</TABLE>                                                          

<PAGE>   1





                                  EXHIBIT 4.1
<PAGE>   2

                       HAVERTY FURNITURE COMPANIES, INC.
                      1993 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                  1.  PURPOSE

        The purpose of the Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., 1993 Non-Qualified
Stock Option Plan is to encourage and enable eligible directors, officers and
key employees of Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (the "Company") and its
subsidiaries to acquire proprietary interests in the Company through the
ownership of Common Stock of the Company.  The Company believes that directors,
officers and key employees who participate in the Plan will have a closer
identification with the Company by virtue of their ability as stockholders to
participate in the Company's growth and earnings.  The Plan is also designed to
provide motivation for employee participants to continue their employment and
for all participants to give greater effort on behalf of the Company.

                                2.  DEFINITIONS

        The following words or terms shall have the following meanings:

        (a)     "Agreement" shall mean a non-qualified stock option agreement
between the Company and a director, officer or key employee pursuant to the
terms of this Plan.

        (b)     "Average Market Price" shall mean the mean between the high
"bid" and low "ask" prices as of the close of business for the Company's shares
of Common Stock in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Automated Quotation System (or other
national quotation service).  If the Company's Common Stock is not regularly
traded in the over-the-counter market but is registered on a national securities
exchange, "Average Market Price" shall mean the closing price of the Company's
Common Stock on such national securities exchange.

        (c)     "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of the
Company or the Executive Committee of such Board.

        (d)     "Business Day" shall mean, for the purposes of this Plan, any
day upon which regular trading occurs on the New York Stock Exchange.

        (e)     "Committee"  shall mean the committee appointed by the Board of
Directors to administer the Plan.

        (f)     "Class A Common Stock" shall mean the $1.00 par value common
stock of the Company which is designated Class A Common Stock in the Sixth
Article of the Company's Articles of Incorporation.

        (g)     "Company" shall mean Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., a
Maryland corporation.

        (h)     "Eligible Participant(s)" shall mean a person or persons who
serve in the capacity of a director, officer or key employee of the Company or
one of its subsidiaries.

        (i)     "Non-Employee Director" shall mean a director of the Company who
is not a regular salaried employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries.
<PAGE>   3
        (j)     "Optionee" shall mean an Eligible Participant having a right to
purchase Common Stock under an Agreement.

        (k)     "Option" shall mean the right or rights granted to Eligible
Participants to purchase the Company's Common Stock under this Plan.

        (l)     "Plan" shall mean this Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc., 1993
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.

        (m)     "Shares," "Stock" or "Common Stock" shall mean shares of $1.00
par value common stock of the Company which is designated Common Stock in the
Sixth Article of the Company's Articles of Incorporation.

        (n)     "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation if the Company owns or
controls, directly or indirectly, more than a majority of the voting stock of
such corporation.

                               3.  EFFECTIVE DATE

        The Effective Date of the Plan shall be the date the Plan is adopted by
the Board of Directors or the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders of
the Company, whichever is earlier.  The Plan must be approved by the affirmative
vote of no less than a majority of all votes present and entitled to be voted on
the matter at a meeting of the Company's shareholders, which shareholder vote
must be taken within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by
the Board of Directors.  Such shareholder vote shall not alter the Effective
Date of the Plan.  In the event shareholder approval of the adoption of the Plan
is not obtained within the aforesaid twelve (12) month period, then any Options
granted in the intervening period shall be void.

                          4.  SHARES RESERVED FOR PLAN

        The shares of the Company's Common Stock to be sold to Eligible
Participants under the Plan may at the election of the Board of Directors be
either treasury shares or shares originally issued for such purpose.  The
maximum number of shares which shall be reserved and made available for sale
under the Plan shall be 500,000.  Any shares subject to an Option which for any
reason expires or is terminated unexercised may again be subject to an Option
under the Plan.

        In the event of a subdivision or combination of the Company's shares,
the maximum number of shares that may thereafter be issued and sold under the
Plan and the number of shares under option will be proportionately increased or
decreased, the terms relating to the price at which shares under option will be
sold will be appropriately adjusted, and such other action will be taken as in
the opinion of the Board of Directors is appropriate under the circumstances. 
In case of a reclassification or other change in the Company's shares, the Board
of Directors also will make appropriate adjustments.

                                5.  ELIGIBILITY

        Options may be granted only to Eligible Participants.





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   4
                              6.  TERM OF THE PLAN

        The Plan shall remain in effect until all shares subject or which may
become subject to the Plan shall have been purchased pursuant to Options granted
under the Plan provided that Options under the Plan must be granted within five
(5) years from the Effective Date.

                         7.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

        The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The Committee shall be
comprised of not less than three (3) members appointed by the Board of Directors
of the Company from among its members.  No member of such Board of Directors
shall be appointed or serve as a member of the Committee, and any such
appointment or service immediately and automatically shall terminate, in the
event that such person is, becomes, or has been within the immediately preceding
year, eligible, otherwise than as a Non-Employee Director hereunder, for the
allocation of stock or the grant of any option or stock appreciation right under
any other plan of the Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended).

        Within the limitations described herein, the Committee shall administer
the Plan, select the Eligible Participants to whom Options will be granted,
determine the number of shares to be optioned to each Eligible Participant and
interpret, construe and implement the provisions of the Plan.  Committee members
shall be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in the
administration of the Plan.

        The Committee shall select one of its members as Chairman and shall hold
its meeting at such time and place, and pursuant to such rules consistent with
the Plan, as it may determine.  A majority of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum, and acts of a majority of the members present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by a majority
of the members of the Committee, shall be the acts of the Committee.  The
Committee may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or
similar communications equipment, by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other.  Vacancies in the membership of the Committee
arising from death, resignation or other inability to serve shall be filled by
the Board of Directors.

                        8.  NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS

        All Options granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by Agreements
approved by the Committee and shall include such terms and conditions deemed
advisable by the Committee.  All Agreements shall include the following terms
and conditions:

        (a)     Price.  The purchase price for shares purchased upon the
exercise of an Option will be the Average Market Price on the day the Option is
granted, as determined by the Committee, but in no case less than the par value
of such stock.

        (b)     Number of Shares.  The Agreement shall specify the number of
shares which the Optionee may purchase under such Option.

        (c)     Exercise of Options.  The shares subject to the Option may be
purchased in whole or in part by the Optionee from time to time after
shareholder approval of the Plan, but in no event later than five (5) years from
the date of the grant of the Option.  No partial exercise may be less than one
hundred (100) shares of the Common Stock of the Company, or its equivalent.





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   5
        (d)     Medium and Time of Payment.  Stock purchased pursuant to an
Agreement shall be paid for in full at the time of purchase. Payment of the
purchase price shall be in cash or shares of the Class A Common Stock or Common
Stock of the Company, or a combination of cash and shares of the Class A Common
Stock or Common Stock of the Company.  Upon receipt of payment, the Company
shall, without transfer or issue tax, deliver to the Optionee (or other person
entitled to exercise the Option) a certificate or certificates for such shares.

        (e)     Rights as a Shareholder.  An Optionee shall have no rights as a
shareholder with respect to any shares covered by his or her Option until the
date of the issuance of the stock certificate to the Optionee for such shares. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, no adjustments shall be made
for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date
such stock certificate is issued.

        (f)     Nonassignability of Option.  No Option shall be assignable or
transferable by an Optionee except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.  During the lifetime of an Optionee, the Option shall be
exercisable only by him or her.

        (g)     Effect of Termination of Employment or Death. In the event that
an Optionee ceases to be an employee or director of the Company or of any
subsidiary of the Company during his or her lifetime for any reason, including
retirement, any Option or unexercised portion thereof which was otherwise
exercisable on the date of termination of employment or directorship (the
"Termination Date") shall expire unless exercised within a period of three
months from the Termination Date, but in no event after the expiration of five
(5) years from the date the Option was granted.  In the event of the death of an
Optionee during the option period, the Option shall be exercisable by his or her
legal representative, heirs or legatees within a period of twelve (12) months
from the date on which the Optionee died, but in no event after the expiration
of five (5) years from the date the Option was granted.

        (h)  Reorganization.  In case the Company is merged or consolidated with
another corporation and the Company is not the surviving corporation, or in case
the property or stock of the Company is acquired by another corporation, or in
case of a separation, reorganization, recapitalization or liquidation of the
Company, the Board of Directors of the Company, or the Board of Directors of any
corporation assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder, shall either (i)
make appropriate provision for the protection of any outstanding Options by the
substitution on an equitable basis of appropriate stock of the Company, or of
the merged, consolidated or otherwise reorganized corporation which will be
issuable in respect to the shares of Common Stock of the Company, provided only
that the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to
option immediately after such substitution over the purchase price thereof is
not more than the excess of the aggregate fair market value of shares subject to
option immediately before such substitution over the purchase price thereof, or
(ii) upon written notice to the Eligible Participant provide that the Option
must be exercised within sixty (60) days of the date of such notice or it will
be terminated.

        (i)     General Restriction.  Each Option shall be subject to the
requirement that if at any time the Board of Directors shall determine, in its
discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares
subject to such Option upon any securities exchange or under any state or
federal law, or the consent or approval of any government regulatory body is
necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of
such Option or the issue or purchase of shares thereunder, such Option may not
be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration,
qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of
any conditions not acceptable to the Board of Directors.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   6
                    9.  NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR PARTICIPATION

        The participation and eligibility of Non-Employee Directors of the
Company shall be limited exclusively to the following:

        On the last Business Day of October in each year during the term of this
Plan, each then Non-Employee Director of the Company shall be granted, without
the necessity of action by the Committee, an Option hereunder to purchase 3,000
shares of Common Stock at the Average Market Price of such stock on the date of
grant.

        Such options granted under this Plan shall be exercisable commencing on
the date of grant or, with respect to any option granted prior to shareholder
approval of the Plan, upon such shareholder approval, and thereafter until the
earlier of the following:  (i)  the date which is the fifth anniversary of the
date of grant; (ii) the date which is three calendar months following the date
upon which such Non-Employee Director ceases to be a director of the Company
otherwise than by reason of death; or (iii) the date which is the first
anniversary of the date on which such Non-Employee Director ceases to be a
director of the Company as a result of his or her death.

        In all other respects, options granted to Non-Employee Directors
hereunder shall conform to the terms of this Plan and no Non-Employee Director
shall be eligible to receive options hereunder except as provided in this
Section 9.

                           10.  AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN

        The Plan may at any time or from time to time be terminated, modified or
amended by the affirmative vote of no less than a majority of all votes present
and entitled to be voted on the matter at a meeting of the Company's
shareholders.  The Board of Directors may at any time and from time to time
terminate, modify or amend the Plan in any respect, except that without
shareholder approval the Board of Directors may not (i) increase the maximum
number of shares for which Options may be granted under the Plan either in the
aggregate or to any Eligible Participant (other than increases due to changes in
capitalization as referred to in Section 4 hereof), or (ii) change the class of
persons eligible for non-qualified stock options under Section 5 hereof, or
(iii) otherwise materially modify (within the meaning of Rule 16(b)-3 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) the requirements as to eligibility
for participation in the Plan, or (iv) otherwise materially increase (within the
meaning of Rule 16(b)-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) the
benefits accruing to participants under the Plan.  The termination or any
modification or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of an
Optionee, affect his or her rights under an Option previously granted to him or
her.  With the consent of the Optionee affected, the Committee may amend
outstanding option Agreements in a manner not inconsistent with the Plan.

                              11.  BINDING EFFECT

        All decisions of the Board of Directors or the Committee involving the
implementation, administration or operation of the Plan or any offering under
the Plan shall be binding on the Company, all Eligible Participants
participating in the Plan, and all persons eligible or who become eligible to
participate in the Plan.





                                      -5-

<PAGE>   1





                                  EXHIBIT 5.1
<PAGE>   2





                                  May 10, 1994



Board of Directors
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
866 West Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30308

                 RE:      Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
                          Registration Statement on Form S-8
                          500,000 Shares of $1.00 par value
                          Common Stock
                          1993 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan

Gentlemen:

                 We have acted as counsel for Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
(the "Company") in connection with the registration of 500,000 shares of its
$1.00 par value Common Stock (the "Shares") pursuant to a registration
statement filed on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the said shares.

                 In connection therewith, we have examined the following:

                 (1)      The Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as
                          amended, certified by the Secretary of State of the
                          State of Maryland;

                 (2)      The By-Laws of the Company, as amended, certified as
                          complete and correct by the Secretary of the Company;

                 (3)      The minute book of the Company, certified as correct
                          and complete by the Secretary of the Company;

                 (4)      Certificate of Good Standing with respect to the
                          Company, issued by the Secretary of State of the
                          State of Maryland; and
<PAGE>   3
Board of Directors
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
May 10, 1994
Page Two



                  (5)     The Registration Statement, including all exhibits
                          thereto, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
                          Commission.

                 Based upon such examination and upon examination of such other
instruments and records as we have deemed necessary, we are of the opinion
that:

                 (A)      The Company has been duly incorporated under the laws
                          of the State of Maryland and is validly existing and
                          in good standing under the laws of that state.

                 (B)      The Shares covered by the Registration Statement have
                          been legally authorized and when issued in accordance
                          with the terms described in said Registration
                          Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
                          nonassessable.

                 We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
aforementioned Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the reference to this
firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus.  In giving this
consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                        Sincerely,

                                        SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL



                                        /s/ Helen T. Ferraro
                                        --------------------
                                        Helen T. Ferraro


HTF/dkaw



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