HEILIG MEYERS CO
S-3, 1998-01-29
FURNITURE STORES
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 29, 1998

                                                    Registration No. 333-_______


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             -----------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         -------------------------------

                              HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                    Virginia
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
                                   54-0558861
                     (I.R.S. employer identification number)

                            12560 West Creek Parkway
                            Richmond, Virginia 23238
                                 (804) 784-7300
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                 including area code, of registrant's principal
                               executive offices)
                             -----------------------
                            David W. Robertson, Esq.
                     McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, L.L.P.
                                One James Center
                              901 East Cary Street
                            Richmond, Virginia 23219
                                 (804) 775-1000
                     (Name, address, including zip code, and
                    telephone number, including area code, of
                               agent for service)
                             -----------------------
                                   Copies to:

                               Elizabeth R. Perdue
                              McBride Baker & Coles
                       500 West Madison Street, 40th Floor
                          Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511


         Approximate  date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From
time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

         If the only securities  being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

         If this  Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed  pursuant  to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act  registration   statement  number  of  the  earlier  effective  registration
statement for the same offering. [ ]

         If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ]
<TABLE>

                                              CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
                                                                    Proposed           Proposed
                 Title of Each                                       Maximum            Maximum
              Class of Securities                  Amount to be   Offering Price   Aggregate Offering       Amount of
               to be Registered                     Registered     Per Share(1)        Price (2)         Registration Fee
               ----------------                     ----------     ------------        ---------         ----------------
Common Stock of Heilig-Meyers Company (par
value $2 per share) (1)                              2,019,182       $12.375           $24,987,377         $7,371.28

</TABLE>

         (1)      Each share of Common Stock being registered hereunder includes
                  a preferred share purchase right.

         (2)      Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of
                  1933,  based on the average  high/low  price of  Heilig-Meyers
                  Company Common Stock on January 28, 1998.

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

         THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE
OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS  EFFECTIVE  DATE UNTIL THE  REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY  STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.


<PAGE>



         INFORMATION  CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  RELATING  TO THESE  SECURITIES  HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION.  THESE  SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE  AN  OFFER  TO  SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION  OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.

                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 29, 1998

                                2,019,182 shares

                              HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY

                                  COMMON STOCK

         This  Prospectus  relates to 2,019,182  shares (the "Shares") of common
stock, $2 par value per share (the "Common Stock") of Heilig-Meyers Company (the
"Company"),  which may be offered from time to time by the selling  stockholders
named herein (the "Selling Stockholders"). The Common Stock is listed on the New
York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the Pacific Exchange, Inc. (the "PE") under
the trading  symbol  "HMY." On January 28, 1998 the last  reported sale price of
the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $12 7/16 per share.

         The Selling  Stockholders  have advised the Company that the Shares may
be sold from  time to time in  transactions  on the NYSE or PE or in  negotiated
transactions,  in each case at prices satisfactory to the Selling  Stockholders.
(See "Plan of Distribution.")


          THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
           SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
            COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
               OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
                  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
                        REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
                               A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


                 The date of this Prospectus is         , 1998.


<PAGE>



                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         The  Company  is  subject  to  the  informational  requirements  of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in
accordance therewith files reports,  proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  Such reports,  proxy
statements  and other  information  can be  inspected  and  copied at the public
reference  facilities  maintained by the  Commission at 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Room 1024,  Washington,  D.C. 20549; and at the Commission's regional offices at
500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606; and 7 World Trade Center, 13th
Floor, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained by mail
from the Public Reference  Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C.  20549, at prescribed  rates.  The Commission also maintains a
World  Wide  Web  site  at  http://www.sec.gov  containing  reports,  proxy  and
information statements and other information regarding registrants,  such as the
Company,  that file  electronically  with the Commission.  The Company's  common
stock is listed on the New York and Pacific  Exchanges,  and such  material  may
also be  inspected  at the  offices  of the New York  Stock  Exchange,  20 Broad
Street,  New York,  New York  10005 and the  Pacific  Exchange,  Inc.,  301 Pine
Street, San Francisco, California 94104.

         The Company has filed with the Commission a  Registration  Statement on
Form S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits,  referred to as the
"Registration  Statement")  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
"Securities Act"), of which this Prospectus  constitutes a part. This Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement,
certain parts of which are omitted in accordance  with the rules and regulations
of  the  Commission.   For  further  information,   reference  is  made  to  the
Registration Statement.

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following  documents  filed with the  Commission by the Company are
hereby incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:

          (a)       the  annual  report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended
                    February 28, 1997;
          (b)       the annual  report on Form 10-K/A,  Amendment No. 1, for the
                    fiscal year ended February 28, 1997;
          (c)       the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  periods
                    ended May 31, 1997, August 31, 1997 and November 30, 1997;
          (d)       the  quarterly  report on Form 10-Q/A,  Amendment No. 1, for
                    the quarterly period ended May 31, 1997;
          (e)       the current  reports on Form 8-K dated April 10, 1997,  July
                    17, 1997,  August 7, 1997,  August 13, 1997 and December 24,
                    1997;
          (f)       the current report on Form 8-K/A dated February 24, 1997;
          (g)       the  description  of  the  Common  Stock  contained  in  the
                    Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission
                    on  April  26,  1983  (File  No.  1-8484),   as  amended  by
                    amendments on Form 8, filed with the  Commission on April 9,
                    1985, February 23, 1988,  September 20, 1989, July 31, 1990,
                    August 6,  1992 and July 28,  1994,  respectively  (File No.
                    1-8484); and
          (h)       the description of the Rights to Purchase  Preferred  Stock,
                    Series A contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A
                    filed with the  Commission  on  February  23, 1988 (File No.
                    1-8484) as amended by an  amendment on Form 8 filed with the
                    Commission on September 20, 1989 (File No. 1-8484).

         All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the  termination  of the  offering  of  the  Shares  shall  be  deemed  to be
incorporated  by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
respective dates of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained herein or
in a  document  all or any  portion  of which is  incorporated  or  deemed to be
incorporated  by reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement  contained herein
or in any other  subsequently  filed  document  which also is or is deemed to be

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such earlier  statement.
Any  statement  so  modified  or  superseded  shall not be deemed,  except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

         The  Company  will  provide  without  charge to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other
than certain  exhibits to such  documents).  Requests for such copies  should be
directed to Heilig-Meyers Company, 12560 West Creek Parkway, Richmond,  Virginia
23238; Attention: Paige H. Wilson, Secretary, telephone (804) 784- 7500.


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                              HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY

                                    BUSINESS


General

         The Company is the nation's largest publicly held specialty retailer of
home  furnishings  with 1,189  stores (as of  December  31,  1997) in 38 states,
Washington,  D.C. and Puerto Rico. The Company  currently  operates stores under
five  formats.  The  "Heilig-Meyers"  name  is  associated  with  the  Company's
historical  format with a majority of the stores  operating  in smaller  markets
with a broad  line of  merchandise.  The  Company's  Heilig-  Meyers  stores are
primarily   located  in  small  towns  and  rural  markets  in  the   Southeast,
Southcentral,  Midwest,  West, Northwest and Southwest of the continental United
States.  All of the  Company's  Puerto Rico stores  operate  under the "Berrios"
name.  The Berrios  format is similar to the format used by the stores  operated
under the "Heilig-  Meyers"  name.  The "Rhodes" name is used for the 100 stores
operated by Rhodes,  Inc.,  which was  acquired  by the Company on December  31,
1996. The Rhodes retailing strategy is selling quality furniture to a broad base
of middle  income  customers.  The Rhodes  stores are  primarily  located in the
midsized markets and metropolitan  areas of 14 southern,  midwestern and western
states.  "The  RoomStore"  name and format is  utilized  for 23 stores in Texas,
Washington  and Oregon,  10 of which were acquired in February  1997, 8 of which
were  converted  from former  Rhodes stores and 5 of which were  converted  from
former Heilig-Meyers  stores. Stores using The RoomStore format display and sell
furniture  in  complete  room  packages,  which  are  arranged  by  professional
designers  and  sell  at  a  value  if  purchased  as  a  group.  The  "Mattress
Discounters"  name is used for 171 retail bedding stores  acquired in July 1997.
The Mattress  Discounters stores are located in ten states and Washington,  D.C.
The "Bedding  Experts"  name is used for 54 retail  bedding  stores  acquired in
January  1998.  The Bedding  Experts  stores are located in  Illinois,  Indiana,
Wisconsin  and South  Dakota.  As a result of the  acquisition  of  Rhodes,  The
RoomStore and Mattress Discounters, the Company now has the ability to expand by
matching   operating  formats  to  markets  with  appropriate   demographic  and
competitive  factors. The Company expects to expand these formats as appropriate
markets are identified.

         The  Company's  executive  offices  are  located  at 12560  West  Creek
Parkway, Richmond, Virginia 23238. The telephone number is (804) 784-7500.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The Company will not receive any of the  proceeds  from the sale of the
Shares by the Selling Stockholders.


                                       -4-

<PAGE>



                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         The following  table sets forth certain  information  as of the date of
this  Prospectus  with  respect to shares of Common  Stock  owned by the Selling
Stockholders  which are  covered  by this  Prospectus.  The  number of shares of
Common Stock offered  pursuant to this Prospectus for the account of the Selling
Stockholders  equals  the total  number of shares of Common  Stock  owned by the
Selling  Stockholders as of the date of this Prospectus.  No Selling Stockholder
owns one percent or more of the outstanding Common Stock.

                             Common Stock Ownership
                              Prior to The Offering

Name of Selling Stockholder                        Number(1)
- ---------------------------                        -------

  Robert J. D'Amico                               1,009,591

  Joseph Graziano                                 1,009,591

- -------------------
         1.  Includes  shares  placed in escrow  (100,959  shares by each of Mr.
D'Amico   and  Mr.   Graziano),   which  are  being   held  to  secure   certain
indemnification  obligations  of Messrs.  D'Amico and  Graziano  with respect to
representations  and warranties made by The Bedding  Experts,  Inc., an Illinois
corporation  ("Bedding  Experts")  in  connection  with its  acquisition  by the
Company.



         In connection  with the merger of Bedding  Experts with a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company,  Mr. D'Amico entered an employment agreement pursuant
to which he will serve as  Regional  Vice  President  of Bedding  Experts for an
initial term ending February 28, 2000, with automatic annual one-year extensions
thereafter,  unless  either  party  notifies  the other at least five  months in
advance that it does not wish to extend the term. Mr. D'Amico's annual salary is
initially  $175,000,  which  will be  reviewed  on an  annual  basis  and may be
increased, but not decreased.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         The Selling  Stockholders  have advised the Company that they may offer
Shares from time to time depending on market  conditions  and other factors,  in
one or more transactions on the NYSE, PE or other national securities  exchanges
on which the Shares are traded, or in negotiated transactions,  at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at negotiated  prices or at fixed prices.  Sales
of Shares may  involve (i) block  transactions  in which the broker or dealer so
engaged  will  attempt to sell the Shares as agent but may position and resell a
portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction,  (ii) purchases
by a  broker-dealer  as principal and resale by such  broker-dealer  for its own
account pursuant to this Prospectus,  (iii) ordinary brokerage  transactions and
transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers and (iv) privately negotiated
transactions.  To the  extent  required,  this  Prospectus  may be  amended  and
supplemented  from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.  In
connection  with the  distribution  of the  Shares  or  otherwise,  the  Selling
Stockholders  may  enter  into  hedging  transactions  with  broker-dealers.  In
connection with such  transactions,  broker-dealers may engage in short sales of
the Common  Stock in the course of hedging  the  position  they  assume with the
Selling  Stockholders.  The Selling  Stockholders may also sell the Common Stock
short and  redeliver the Shares to close out such short  positions.  The Selling
Stockholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers
which require  delivery to such  broker-dealer  of Shares offered hereby,  which
Shares  such   broker-dealer   may  resell   pursuant  to  this  Prospectus  (as
supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).  The Selling  Stockholders
may  also  pledge  shares  to  a  broker-dealer   and,  upon  a  default,   such
broker-dealer may effect sales of the pledged shares pursuant to this Prospectus
(as  supplemented  or amended to reflect such  transaction).  In  addition,  any
shares  that  qualify  for sale  pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144
rather than pursuant to this Prospectus.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



         Brokers and dealers may receive compensation in the form of concessions
or commissions  from the Selling  Stockholders  and/or  purchasers of Shares for
whom they may act as agent  (which  compensation  may be in excess of  customary
commissions).   The  Selling   Stockholders   and  any  broker  or  dealer  that
participates in the  distribution of Shares may be deemed to be underwriters and
any  commissions  received  by them  and any  profit  on the  resale  of  Shares
positioned by a broker or dealer may be deemed to be underwriting  discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.

         The Company has advised the  Selling  Stockholders  that  Regulation  M
under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of Shares and to the activities of the
Selling Stockholders or broker-dealers in connection therewith.

         Pursuant to the Registration  Rights Agreement,  dated as of January 2,
1998, by and among the Company and the Selling  Stockholders (the  "Registration
Rights  Agreement"),  the Company will pay  registration  expenses in connection
with the  registration of the Shares.  The Selling  Stockholders and the Company
have agreed to indemnify each other against certain civil liabilities, including
certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

         The  validity of the Shares to which this  Prospectus  relates  will be
passed upon for the Company by McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe LLP,  Richmond,
Virginia,  which  serves as general  counsel to the  Company.  As of January 28,
1998,  partners  and  associates  of McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe LLP,  who
performed  services in  connection  with the offering  made by this  Prospectus,
owned of record and beneficially 2,574 shares of Common Stock. Robert L. Burrus,
Jr., a director of the Company, is a partner of that firm.

                                     EXPERTS

         The  consolidated   financial  statements  and  the  related  financial
statement  schedule  incorporated  in this  Prospectus  by  reference  from  the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent  auditors, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by
reference,  and have been so  incorporated  in reliance  upon the report of such
firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

         The consolidated financial statements of Rhodes, Inc as of February 29,
1996 and  February  28,  1995 and for the three years  ended  February  29, 1996
incorporated by reference in this  Prospectus from the Company's  current report
on Form 8-K/A dated February 24, 1997 have been audited by Arthur  Andersen LLP,
independent  public  accountants,  as  indicated  in their  report with  respect
thereto and are incorporated  herein by reference in reliance upon the authority
of said firm as experts in giving said report.

         The financial  statements of the Weberg  Division (a division of Weberg
Enterprises, Inc., which was acquired by Rhodes, Inc. on November 1, 1995) as of
December  1994 and for the year then ended  incorporated  in this  Prospectus by
reference  from the Company's  current  report on Form 8-K/A dated  February 24,
1997 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated
in their report with respect thereto and are incorporated herein by reference in
reliance  upon the report of such firm given upon their  authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.


                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                                     PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

    SEC registration fee......................................       $  7,371
    Accountants' fees and expenses............................          5,000
    Attorneys' fees and expenses..............................          5,000
    Printing and engraving expenses...........................          2,000
    Miscellaneous.............................................          1,629
                                                                      -------
         Total................................................       $ 21,000
                                                                      =======
- --------------

       All fees and expenses other than the SEC registration fee are estimated.

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

    Article V of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company provides:

     1.  Definitions.  For  purposes of this Article the  following  definitions
shall apply:

         (a) "Corporation" means this Corporation only and no predecessor entity
or other legal entity;

         (b) "expenses"  include counsel fees, expert witness fees, and costs of
investigation,  litigation  and  appeal,  as well  as any  amounts  expended  in
asserting a claim for indemnification;

         (c)  "liability"  means the  obligation to pay a judgment,  settlement,
penalty,  fine, or other such obligation,  including,  without  limitation,  any
excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan;

         (d) "legal  entity" means a  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise;

         (e)  "predecessor  entity"  means a legal entity the existence of which
ceased upon its acquisition by the Corporation in a merger or otherwise; and

         (f) "proceeding"  means any threatened,  pending,  or completed action,
suit,   proceeding  or  appeal  whether  civil,   criminal,   administrative  or
investigative and whether formal or informal.

     2. Limit On Liability.  In every  instance  permitted by the Virginia Stock
Corporation  Act, as it exists on the date hereof or may  hereafter  be amended,
the liability of a director or officer of the  Corporation to the Corporation or
its shareholders  arising out of a single  transaction,  occurrence or course of
conduct shall be eliminated.

     3.  Indemnification  of  Directors  and  Officers.  The  Corporation  shall
indemnify  any  individual  who is, was or is threatened to be made a party to a
proceeding  (including  a  proceeding  by or in the  right  of the  Corporation)
because such  individual is or was a director or officer of the  Corporation  or
because such  individual  is or was serving the  Corporation  or any other legal
entity in any  capacity  at the request of the  Corporation  while a director or
officer of the  Corporation  against all  liabilities  and  reasonable  expenses
incurred in the proceeding, except such liabilities and expenses as are incurred
because of such  individual's  willful  misconduct  or knowing  violation of the
criminal law.  Service as a director or officer of a legal entity  controlled by
the Corporation  shall be deemed service at the request of the Corporation.  The
determination that indemnification under this Section 3 is permissible and the

                                      II-1

<PAGE>



evaluation  as to the  reasonableness  of expenses  in a specific  case shall be
made,  in the case of a  director,  as  provided  by law,  and in the case of an
officer, as provided in Section 4 of this Article; provided,  however, that if a
majority of the directors of the  Corporation  has changed after the date of the
alleged conduct giving rise to a claim for  indemnification,  such determination
and evaluation shall, at the option of the person claiming  indemnification,  be
made by special  legal  counsel  agreed upon by the Board of Directors  and such
person.  Unless  a  determination  has been  made  that  indemnification  is not
permissible, the Corporation shall make advances and reimbursements for expenses
incurred by a director or officer in a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking
from such director or officer to repay the same if it is  ultimately  determined
that  such  director  or  officer  is  not  entitled  to  indemnification.  Such
undertaking shall be an unlimited,  unsecured general obligation of the director
or  officer  and shall be  accepted  without  reference  to such  director's  or
officer's  ability  to  make  repayment.  The  termination  of a  proceeding  by
judgment,  order, settlement,  conviction,  or upon a plea of nolo contendere or
its  equivalent  shall not of itself  create a  presumption  that a director  or
officer  acted in such a manner as to make such  director or officer  ineligible
for  indemnification.  The  Corporation  is authorized to contract in advance to
indemnify  and make  advances  and  reimbursements  for  expenses  to any of its
directors or officers to the same extent provided in this Section.

     4. Indemnification of Others. The Corporation may, to a lesser extent or to
the same extent that it is required to provide indemnification and make advances
and  reimbursements  for  expenses to its  directors  and  officers  pursuant to
Section 3, provide  indemnification  and make  advances and  reimbursements  for
expenses to its employees and agents,  the  directors,  officers,  employees and
agents of its subsidiaries and predecessor entities,  and any person serving any
other legal  entity in any capacity at the request of the  Corporation,  and may
contract in advance to do so. The determination that indemnification  under this
Section 4 is permissible,  the  authorization  of such  indemnification  and the
evaluation as to the reasonableness of expenses in a specific case shall be made
as  authorized  from time to time by general or specific  action of the Board of
Directors, which action may be taken before or after a claim for indemnification
is made, or as otherwise  provided by law. No person's rights under Section 3 of
this Article shall be limited by the provisions of this Section 4.

     5.  Miscellaneous.  The rights of each person  entitled to  indemnification
under this Article shall inure to the benefit of such person's heirs,  executors
and administrators.  Special legal counsel selected to make determinations under
this  Article may be counsel for the  Corporation.  Indemnification  pursuant to
this Article  shall not be exclusive  of any other right of  indemnification  to
which any person may be entitled,  including indemnification pursuant to a valid
contract,  indemnification  by legal  entities  other than the  Corporation  and
indemnification  under  policies of insurance  purchased  and  maintained by the
Corporation or others.  However,  no person shall be entitled to indemnification
by the  Corporation  to the  extent  such  person  is  indemnified  by  another,
including an insurer.  The  Corporation  is  authorized to purchase and maintain
insurance against any liability it may have under this Article or to protect any
of the persons named above  against any liability  arising from their service to
the  Corporation  or any other legal  entity at the  request of the  Corporation
regardless of the Corporation's  power to indemnify against such liability.  The
provisions of this Article shall not be deemed to preclude the Corporation  from
entering into contracts otherwise permitted by law with any individuals or legal
entities,  including  those named above. If any provision of this Article or its
application  to any  person  or  circumstance  is held  invalid  by a  court  of
competent  jurisdiction,  the  invalidity  shall not affect other  provisions or
applications of this Article, and to this end the provisions of this Article are
severable.

     6.  Application;  Amendments.  The  provisions  of this  Article  shall  be
applicable from and after its adoption even though some or all of the underlying
conduct  or  events  relating  to a  proceeding  may have  occurred  before  its
adoption.  No amendment,  modification  or repeal of this Article shall diminish
the right  provided  hereunder  to any  person  arising  from  conduct or events
occurring before the adoption of such amendment, modification or repeal.

     The   Company   maintains    liability    insurance   which   may   provide
indemnification,   including   indemnification  against  liabilities  under  the
Securities  Act of 1933, to the officers and directors of the Company in certain
circumstances.

                                      II-2

<PAGE>



Item 16.  Exhibits

 4.1     Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, filed with the Commission
         as Exhibit 3(a) to Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
         year ended February 28, 1990 (No. 1-8484),  are incorporated  herein by
         this reference.

 4.2     Articles of Amendment to Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation,
         filed with the  Commission as Exhibit 4 to Company's  Form 8 (Amendment
         No. 5 to Form 8-A  filed  April  26,  1983)  filed  August 6, 1992 (No.
         1-8484), are incorporated herein by this reference.

 4.3     Articles of Amendment to Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation,
         filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3(c) to Company's Annual Report on
         Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1993 (No.
         1-8484), are incorporated herein by this reference.

 4.4     Articles of Amendment to Company's  Restated Articles of Incorporation,
         filed with the Commission as Exhibit 3(d) to Company's Annual Report on
         Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1995 (No.
         1-8484), are incorporated herein by this reference.

 4.5     Company's  By-laws,  as amended and restated on December 3, 1997, filed
         with the  Commission as Exhibit 3(a) to Company's  Quarterly  Report on
         Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended  November 30, 1997 (No. 1- 8484),  are
         incorporated herein by this reference.

 4.6     Rights Agreement dated as of February 17, 1988 (the "Rights Agreement")
         between  the Company and Crestar  Bank,  filed with the  Commission  as
         Exhibit  (2) to  Company's  Registration  Statement  on Form 8-A  dated
         February  19,  1988  (No.  1-8484),  is  incorporated  herein  by  this
         reference.

 4.7     Supplements Nos. 1-4 dated September 15, 1989 to Rights Agreement filed
         with the Commission as Exhibits  2(a)-(d) to Form 8 (No.  1-8484) filed
         with the Commission on September 20, 1989, are  incorporated  herein by
         this reference.

 5.1     Opinion and consent of  McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe LLP as to the
         validity of the Shares.

23.1     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2     Consent of McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe LLP  (included  as part of
         Exhibit 5.1).

23.3     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

23.4     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

24.1     Power of Attorney (see signature page).

Item 17.  Undertakings

     1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
     a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                (i) To include any  prospectus  required by Section  10(a)(3) of
         the Securities Act;

                                      II-3

<PAGE>



                (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
         after the  effective  date of the  registration  statement (or the most
         recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in the
         aggregate,  represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
         in the  registration  statement.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any
         increase  or  decrease  in volume of  securities  offered (if the total
         dollar  value of  securities  offered  would not exceed  that which was
         registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
         maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
         with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of
         1933 if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
         more than a 20%  change in the  maximum  aggregate  offering  price set
         forth in the  "Calculation of Registration  Fee" table in the effective
         registration statement.

                (iii) 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;

provided,  however,  that  paragraphs  (a)(i)  and  (a)(ii)  do not apply if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant  pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Exchange Act that are  incorporated  by reference in
the registration statement.

         (b) That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
     Securities Act, 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.

         (c) 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.

     2. The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for purposes of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
registrants'  annual  report  pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and,  where  applicable,  each filing of an employee  benefit plan's annual
report  pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) 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 that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

     3. Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be  permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
registrant  pursuant  to the  provisions  described  under  Item  15  above,  or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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  Securities  Act and will be  governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-4

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act, the Company  certifies
that it has reasonable  grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused  this  registration  statement  to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Richmond and Commonwealth of Virginia, on January 29, 1998.


                                        HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY

                                        By:      /s/ William C. DeRusha
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                 William C. DeRusha
                                                 Chairman of the Board
                                                 Principal Executive Officer

                                Power of Attorney

     Each individual  whose signature  appears below appoints William C. DeRusha
and Troy A. Peery,  Jr., and each of them, as such  individual's true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  with  full  power  of  substitution,   for  such
individual  and in his or her name,  place and stead,  in any and all capacities
stated  below,  to  sign  any  and  all  amendments  (including   post-effective
amendments)  to  this  registration  statement  and any  registration  statement
related to the offering  contemplated by this registration  statement that is to
be effective  upon filing  pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the  Securities  Act of
1933,  as amended,  and to file the same,  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and all
documents in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done,  as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person to enable the  Company to comply with the  Securities  Act of 1933 and
all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act,  this  registration
statement has been signed below by the following  persons in the  capacities and
on the date indicated.
<CAPTION>
   Signature                                                Title                   Date
   ---------                                                -----                   ----
<S> <C>
/s/ William C. DeRusha                         Chairman of the Board;               January 22, 1998
- ---------------------------------              Principal Executive
William C. DeRusha                             Officer; Director
                                 


/s/ Troy A. Peery, Jr.                         President; Director                  January 29, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Troy A. Peery, Jr.



/s/ Roy B. Goodman                             Senior Vice President                January 29, 1998
- ---------------------------------              and Chief Financial
Roy B. Goodman                                 Officer; Principal
                                               Financial Officer
                                 


/s/ William J. Dieter                          Senior Vice President,               January 29, 1998
- ----------------------------------             Accounting; Principal
William J. Dieter                              Accounting Officer
                                  


                                      II-5
<PAGE>



/s/ Hyman Meyers                               Director                             January 22, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Hyman Meyers



/s/ S. Sidney Meyers                           Director                             January 29, 1998
- ----------------------------------
S. Sidney Meyers



/s/ Nathaniel Krumbein                         Director                             January 29, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Nathaniel Krumbein



/s/ Alexander Alexander                        Director                             January 29, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Alexander Alexander



/s/ Robert L. Burrus, Jr.                      Director                             January 29, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Robert L. Burrus, Jr.



/s/ Benjamin F. Edwards, III                   Director                             January 29, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Benjamin F. Edwards, III



/s/ Alan G. Fleischer                          Director                             January 23, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Alan G. Fleischer



/s/ Lawrence N. Smith                          Director                             January 22, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Lawrence N. Smith



/s/ Charles A. Davis                           Director                             January 21, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Charles A. Davis



/s/ Beverley E. Dalton                         Director                             January 23, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Beverley E. Dalton



/s/ Eugene P. Trani                            Director                             January 29, 1998
- ----------------------------------
Eugene P. Trani


/s/ L. Douglas Wilder                          Director                             January 22, 1998
- ----------------------------------
L. Douglas Wilder
</TABLE>

                                      II-6
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
  No.                 Description
- -------               -----------
 5.1       Opinion and consent of McGuire,  Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP as to the
           validity of the Shares.

23.1       Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.  

23.2       Consent of McGuire,  Woods,  Battle & Boothe LLP (included as part of
           Exhibit 5.1).

23.3       Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

23.4       Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

24.1       Power of Attorney (see signature page).


                                                                     Exhibit 5.1


               [Letterhead of McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP]


                                January 29, 1998



Heilig-Meyers Company
12560 West Creek Parkway
Richmond, Virginia 23238

                     Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
                        2,019,182 Shares of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In  connection  with the  registration  of  2,019,182  shares of common
stock, par value $2.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Heilig-Meyers Company,
a Virginia  corporation  (the  "Company"),  under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"),  on Form S-3 to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof (the "Registration  Statement"),  and the offering
of such  Common  Stock as  described  in the  Registration  Statement,  you have
requested our opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.

         In connection  with this opinion,  we have relied,  among other things,
upon our examination of such records of the Company and certificates of officers
of the Company and of public officials as we have deemed appropriate.

         Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein,  it is
our opinion that as of the date hereof:

         1.       The Company is duly organized and validly existing
                  under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and

         2.       The  shares  of  Common  Stock  registered   pursuant  to  the
                  Registration  Statement  have  been  duly  authorized  and are
                  validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We also reaffirm our opinion regarding the rights to purchase preferred
stock,  series A, $10.00 par value, of the Company ("the  Rights"),  attached in
equal number to the shares of Common  Stock  registered  under the  Registration
Statement,  given to the Company's Board of Directors as confirmed in our letter



<PAGE>


Heilig-Meyers Company
January 29, 1998
Page 2


of  February  17,  1988,  attached  to our  opinion  filed as  Exhibit  5 to the
Heilig-Meyers Company Registration  Statement (No. 33-64616) on Form S-8. In our
opinion regarding the Rights, we discussed whether certain provisions of Section
13.1-638  of the  Virginia  Code might  prohibit  the  restrictions  on transfer
imposed  under the agreement  governing  the Rights.  The Virginia Code has been
amended to provide that,  notwithstanding  such provisions of Section  13.1-638,
the terms of rights issued by a corporation may include restrictions on transfer
by designated persons or classes of persons.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement and to reference to us under the heading relating to the
validity of the shares of Common Stock in the Registration  Statement (including
the applicable  Prospectus  relating to such shares).  We do not admit by giving
this consent that we are in the  category of persons  whose  consent is required
under Section 7 of the Act.

                                     Very truly yours,


                                    /s/ McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe LLP




INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT



We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
Heilig-Meyers  Company on Form S-3 of our report dated March 25, 1997, appearing
in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Heilig-Meyers  Company and subsidiaries for
the year ended  February  28, 1997 and to the  reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.


/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP


Richmond, Virginia
January 28, 1998



                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference in this  registration  statement of our reports  dated April 25, 1996,
incorporated by reference in Heilig-Meyers  Company's amended Form 8-K/A and our
reports dated June 26, 1997,  included in Heilig-Meyers  Company's  amended Form
10-K for the year ended  February 28, 1997 and to all  references to our Firm in
this registration statement


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
January 28, 1998




INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT



We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
Heilig-Meyers  Company on Form S-3 to be filed on or about  January  28, 1998 of
our report dated January 5, 1996 on the financial  statements of Weberg Division
(a division of Weberg  Enterprises,  Inc.) as of and for the year ended December
31, 1994 which is incorporated by reference in Amendment No. 1 to Form 8-K dated
February 24, 1997 of Heilig-Meyers Company.


/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP


Denver, Colorado
January 28, 1998



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