HEILIG MEYERS CO
10-Q, EX-10, 2000-11-27
FURNITURE STORES
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                                                                   Exhibit 10(a)


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     THIS  EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT (the  "Agreement"),  dated as of July 21, 2000,
between  Donald S.  Shaffer  (the  "Executive")  and  Heilig-Meyers  Company,  a
Virginia corporation (the "Company"), recites and provides as follows:

     WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of the company (the "Board")  expects that
the Executive will continue to make substantial  contributions to the growth and
prospects of the Company, and

     WHEREAS,  the Board  desires  that the Company  retain the  services of the
Executive,  and the  Executive  desires  to  continue  his  employment  with the
Company, all on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

     NOW THEREFORE,  in consideration  of the foregoing  premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

1.   Employment  Period.

     The Executive's  term of employment shall continue until December 31, 2003,
     unless  terminated in accordance  with the terms hereof.  The term shall be
     automatically  renewed for successive one (1) year periods  thereafter (the
     "Employment  Period"),  unless  either party gives notice to the other that
     the  terms  shall  not be  renewed  at  least  six (6)  months  before  the
     Employment Period (including automatic renewal thereof) expires.

2.   Terms of Employment.

     (a)  Position and Duties.

          (i)  During the Employment  Period,  the Executive  shall serve as the
               Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company as well as in such other
               executive positions as directed by the Board.

          (ii) The Board  agrees  that  during  the  Employment  Period it shall
               nominate the  Executive  for election to the Board at each annual
               meeting  of  shareholders  and use its best  efforts to cause the
               Executive to be duly elected to the Board at each such meeting.

          (iii)During  the  Employment  Period,  and  excluding  any  periods of
               vacation  and  leave to which  the  Executive  is  entitled,  the
               Executive agrees to devote  reasonable  attention and time during
               normal  business hours to the business and affairs of the Company
               and, to the extent  necessary to discharge  the  responsibilities
               assigned  to the  Executive  hereunder,  to use  the  Executive's
               reasonable  best efforts to perform  faithfully  and  efficiently
               such responsibilities.  During the Employment Period it shall not
               be a violation of this  Agreement  for the Executive to (A) serve
               on corporate,  civic, charitable,  furniture industry association
               or professional  association  boards or committees  (provided the
               Executive  obtains  prior  approval  of the  Board),  (B) deliver
               lectures,  fulfill  speaking  engagements or teach at educational
               institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such
               activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of
               the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in
               accordance  with this Agreement.  It is expressly  understood and
               agreed  that to the  extent  that any such  activities  have been
               conducted  by the  Executive  prior to the  Effective  Date,  the
               continued   conduct  of  such   activities  (or  the  conduct  of
               activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the
               Effective  Date shall not  thereafter be deemed to interfere with
               the  performance  of  the  Executive's  responsibilities  to  the
               Company.

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<PAGE>
     (b)  Compensation.

          (i)  Base Salary.  During the Employment  Period,  the Executive shall
               receive an annual base salary of seven hundred  thousand  dollars
               ($700,000.00)  ("Annual  Base  Salary"),  which  shall be paid in
               equal  installments  on a monthly  basis.  During the  Employment
               Period,  the  Annual  Base  Salary  shall  be  reviewed  at least
               annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time
               as shall  be  substantially  consistent  with  increases  in base
               salary  generally  awarded in the ordinary  course of business to
               other  peer   executives  of  the  Company  and  its   affiliated
               companies.  Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to
               limit or reduce any other  obligation to the Executive under this
               Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such
               increase  and the term  Annual  Base  Salary as  utilized in this
               Agreement  shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased.  As
               used in this Agreement,  the term  "affiliated  companies"  shall
               include any company  controlled  by,  controlling or under common
               control with the Company.

          (ii) Annual  Bonus.  In addition to Annual Base Salary,  the Executive
               shall  be  awarded,  for  each  fiscal  year  ending  during  the
               Employment  Period,  an annual  bonus  opportunity  (the  "Annual
               Bonus") under the Company's Annual  Performance-Based  Bonus Plan
               at least equal to his bonus opportunity immediately preceding the
               Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive,  under any
               plans,  practices,  programs  and policies of the Company and its
               affiliates  in  effect  generally  from  time to time  after  the
               Effective  Date with  respect  to other  peer  executives  of the
               Company and its affiliated companies.

          (iii)Incentive,  Savings and Retirement  Plans.  During the Employment
               Period,  the Executive  shall be entitled to  participate  in all
               incentive  (including,   without  limitation,  stock  incentive),
               savings and retirement  plans,  practices,  policies and programs
               applicable  generally to other peer executives of the Company and
               its  affiliated  companies,  but in no event  shall  such  plans,
               practices,  policies  and  programs  provide the  Executive  with
               incentive  opportunities  (measured  with respect to both regular
               and special incentive opportunities,  to the extent, if any, that
               such  distinction  is  applicable),   savings  opportunities  and
               retirement benefit  opportunities,  in each case, less favorable,
               in the  aggregate,  than the most  favorable of those provided by
               the Company and its affiliated  companies for the Executive under
               such plans, practices,  policies and programs as in effect at any
               time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective
               Date  or if  more  favorable  to the  Executive,  those  provided
               generally  from time to time  after the  Effective  Date to other
               peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

          (iv) Welfare  Benefit  Plans.   During  the  Employment   Period,  the
               Executive  and/or  the  Executive's  family,  as the case may be,
               shall be  eligible  for  participation  in and shall  receive all
               benefits  under welfare  benefit plans,  practices,  policies and
               programs  provided by the Company  and its  affiliated  companies
               (including, without limitation,  medical,  prescription,  dental,
               disability,  salary  continuance,   employee  life,  group  life,
               accidental   death  and  travel  accident   insurance  plans  and
               programs)  to the  extent  applicable  generally  to  other  peer
               executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no
               event shall such plans, practices,  policies and programs provide
               the Executive  with  benefits  which are less  favorable,  in the
               aggregate,  than the most  favorable  of such  plans,  practices,
               policies  and  programs in effect for the  Executive  at any time
               during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date
               or, if more favorable to the Executive,  those provided generally
               from  time  to time  after  the  Effective  Date  to  other  peer
               executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

          (v)  Expenses.  During the Employment  Period,  the Executive shall be
               entitled  to  receive  prompt  reimbursement  for all  reasonable
               employment  expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with
               the most  favorable  policies,  practices  and  procedures of the
               Company and its affiliated  companies in effect for the Executive
               at any time during the 90-day  period  immediately  preceding the
               Effective  Date or, if more  favorable  to the  Executive,  as in
               effect  generally from time to time after the Effective Date with
               respect  to  other  peer   executives  of  the  Company  and  its
               affiliated companies.

                                       36
<PAGE>
          (vi) Fringe  Benefits.  During the  Employment  Period,  the Executive
               shall be entitled to fringe  benefits in accordance with the most
               favorable plans, practices,  programs and policies of the Company
               and its  affiliated  companies in effect for the Executive at any
               time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective
               Date  or,  if  more  favorable  to the  Executive,  as in  effect
               generally from time to time after the Effective Date with respect
               to  other  peer  executives  of the  Company  and its  affiliated
               companies.

          (vii)Office and  Support  Staff.  During the  Employment  Period,  the
               Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and
               with  furnishings  and  other  appointments,   and  to  exclusive
               personal secretarial and other assistance,  at least equal to the
               most favorable of the foregoing  provided to the Executive by the
               Company  and its  affiliated  companies  at any time  during  the
               90-day period  immediately  preceding  the Effective  Date or, if
               more favorable to the Executive,  as provided generally from time
               to time  after the  Effective  Date with  respect  to other  peer
               executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.

          (viii) Vacation.  During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
               entitled to paid vacation in accordance  with the most  favorable
               plans,  policies,  programs and  practices of the Company and its
               affiliated  companies as in effect for the  Executive at any time
               during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date
               or, if more  favorable to the Executive,  as in effect  generally
               from time to time after the Effective  Date with respect to other
               peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.


3.   Termination of Employment.

     (a)  Death  or  Disability.  The  Executive's  employment  shall  terminate
          automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period.
          If the Company  determines  in good faith that the  Disability  of the
          Executive has occurred during the Employment  Period  (pursuant tot he
          definition  of  Disability  set  forth  below),  it  may  give  to the
          Executive  written  notice in  accordance  with  Section  11(b) of its
          intention to terminate the Executive's employment.  In such event, the
          Executive's  employment with the Company shall terminate  effective on
          the 30th day  after  receipt  of such  notice  by the  Executive  (the
          "Disability Effective Date"),  provided that, within the 30 days after
          such  receipt,  the  Executive  shall not have  returned to  full-time
          performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
          "Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive's duties with the
          Company on a full-time  basis for 180  consecutive  business days as a
          result  of  incapacity  due to  mental or  physical  illness  which is
          determined  to be total and  permanent by a physician  selected by the
          Company  or  its  insurers  and  acceptable  to the  Executive  or the
          Executive's legal  representative  (such agreement as to acceptability
          not to be withheld unreasonably).

     (b)  Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the
          Employment  Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement,  "Cause"
          shall mean (i) a material  breach by the Executive of the  Executive's
          obligations  under  Section 2(a) (other than as a result of incapacity
          due to physical or mental illness) which is  demonstrably  willful and
          deliberate on the Executive's part, which is committed in bad faith or
          without reasonable belief that such breach is in the best interests of
          the Company and which is not remedied in a  reasonable  period of time
          after  receipt of written  notice  from the  Company  specifying  such
          breach or (ii) the  conviction of the Executive of a felony  involving
          moral  turpitude.

                                       37
<PAGE>
     (c)  Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by
          the Executive,  shall be  communicated by Notice of Termination to the
          other  party  hereto  given in  accordance  with  Section  11(b).  For
          purposes of this Agreement,  a "Notice of Termination" means a written
          notice which (i) indicates the specific termination  provision in this
          Agreement  relied upon, (ii) to the extent  applicable,  sets forth in
          reasonable  detail  the facts and  circumstances  claimed to provide a
          basis  for  termination  of  the  Executive's   employment  under  the
          provision  so  indicated  and  (iii)  if the Date of  Termination  (as
          defined  below)  is other  than the date of  receipt  of such  notice,
          specifies the  termination  date (which date shall be not more than 15
          days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or
          the  Company  to set forth in the  Notice of  Termination  any fact or
          circumstance shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company
          hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company from asserting such
          fact or  circumstance  in enforcing the  Executive's  or the Company's
          rights hereunder.

     (d)  Date  of  Termination.   "Date  of  Termination"   means  (i)  if  the
          Executive's  employment is terminated by the Company for Cause,  or by
          the Executive, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any
          later  date  specified  therein,  as the  case  may  be,  (ii)  if the
          Executive's  employment  is  terminated  by the Company other than for
          Cause  or  Disability,  the Date of  Termination  shall be the date on
          which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (iii)
          if the  Executive's  employment  is  terminated  by reason of death or
          Disability,  the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the
          Executive  or the  Disability  Effective  Date,  as the  case  may be.

4.   Obligations of the Company upon Termination.

     (a)  Termination by Company Other than for Cause or Death.  The Company may
          terminate the Executive's  employment during the Employment Period for
          other  than Cause or Death.  If,  during the  Employment  Period,  the
          Company shall  terminate  the  Executive's  employment  other than for
          Cause or death:

          (i)  The  Company  shall  pay to the  Executive  in a lump sum in cash
               within 30 days after the Date of  Termination  the sum of (1) the
               Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to
               the  extent  not   theretofore   paid;  (2)  to  the  extent  not
               theretofore  paid,  the  product  of (A) the  greater  of (x) the
               Annual  Bonus  paid  or  payable,  including  by  reason  of  any
               deferral,  to the Executive  (and  annualized for any fiscal year
               consisting  of less  than  twelve  full  months  or for which the
               Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for
               the most  recently  completed  fiscal year during the  Employment
               Period,  if any, and (y) the average  annualized  (for any fiscal
               year  consisting  of less than twelve full months or with respect
               to which the  Executive  has been  employed  for less than twelve
               full  months)  bonus paid or payable,  including by reason of any
               deferral,  to the  Executive  by the Company  and its  affiliated
               companies  in  respect  of the  three  fiscal  years  immediately
               preceding the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs
               (such  greater  amount  shall be  hereinafter  referred to as the
               "Highest  Annual  Bonus") and (B) a fraction,  the  numerator  of
               which is the number of days in the current  fiscal  year  through
               the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365; (3)
               any compensation  previously  deferred by the Executive (together
               with any accrued interest or earnings  thereon) to the extent not
               theretofore paid; and (4) any accrued vacation pay, to the extent
               not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses
               (1),  (2),  (3) and (4) shall be  hereinafter  referred to as the
               "Accrued Obligations"); and

          (ii) The Company shall pay to the Executive in lump sum in cash within
               30 days after the Date of Termination the greater of (1) the Base
               Salary  otherwise  payable to the  Executive for the remainder of
               the  Employment  Period or (2) one  million  nine  hundred  fifty
               thousand  dollars  ($1,950,000.00),  being the amount to which he
               was entitled under his prior contract in the event of termination
               by the Company other than for Cause; and

                                       38
<PAGE>
          (iii)For the remainder of the Employment Period, or such longer period
               as any plan, program, practice or policy may provide, the Company
               shall continue  benefits to the Executive  and/or the Executive's
               family at least equal to those which would have been  provided to
               them in  accordance  with  the  plans,  programs,  practices  and
               policies   described  in  Section  2(b)(iv)  if  the  Executive's
               employment  had not been  terminated in accordance  with the most
               favorable plans,  practices,  programs or policies of the Company
               and  its  affiliated   companies  as  in  effect  and  applicable
               generally to other peer  executives and their families during the
               90-day period  immediately  preceding  the Effective  Date or, if
               more  favorable to the Executive,  as in effect  generally at any
               time  thereafter  with  respect to other peer  executives  of the
               Company  and  its  affiliated   companies  and  their   families,
               provided,  however, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with
               another  employer  and is  eligible  to receive  medical or other
               welfare  benefits  under  another   employer-provided  plan,  the
               medical and other  welfare  benefits  described  herein  shall be
               secondary  to those  provided  under such other plan  during such
               applicable  period  of  eligibility  (such  continuation  of such
               benefits  for the  applicable  period  herein set forth  shall be
               hereinafter referred as to "Welfare Benefit  Continuation").  For
               purposes of determining  eligibility of the Executive for retiree
               benefits  pursuant  to  such  plans,   practices,   programs  and
               policies,  the  Executive  shall be  considered  to have remained
               employed  until  the  end of the  Employment  Period  and to have
               retired on the last day of such period; and

          (iv) To the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall
               timely  pay or provide to the  Executive  and/or the  Executive's
               family  any other  amounts  or  benefits  required  to be paid or
               provided or which the Executive and/or the Executive's  family is
               eligible  to receive  pursuant  to this  Agreement  and under any
               plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the
               Company and its affiliated  companies as in effect and applicable
               generally to other peer  executives and their families during the
               90-day period  immediately  preceding  the Effective  Date or, if
               more  favorable  to  the  Executive,   as  in  effect   generally
               thereafter  with respect to other peer  executives of the Company
               and its  affiliated  companies  and their  families  (such  other
               amounts  and  benefits  shall be  hereinafter  referred to as the
               "Other Benefits").

     (b)  Failure to Renew. In the event that the Employment Period shall end as
          a result of the failure of either party to renew this Agreement,  then
          the Company shall pay to the  Executive  within thirty (30) days after
          the end of the  Employment  Period a cash lump sum of one million nine
          hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,950,000.00) as a severance benefit.

     (c)  Death.  If the  Executive's  employment is terminated by reason of the
          Executive's death during the Employment  Period,  this Agreement shall
          terminate  without  further   obligations  to  the  Executive's  legal
          representatives  under  this  Agreement,  other  than for  payment  of
          Accrued  Obligations (which shall be paid to the Executive's estate or
          beneficiary,  as  applicable,  in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of
          the Date of  Termination)  and the timely  payment or provision of the
          Welfare Benefit Continuation and Other Benefits.

     (d)  Resignation.  If  Executive's  employment  is  terminated by Executive
          during  the  Employment  Period,  the  Company  shall pay him his Base
          Salary to the date of  termination  and pro rata bonus for the year of
          termination as determined under section 4(a)(i).

     (e)  Cause.  If the  Executive's  employment  shall be terminated for Cause
          during the Employment  Period,  this Agreement shall terminate without
          further  obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay
          to  the  Executive  his  Annual  Base  Salary   through  the  Date  of
          Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by
          the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid.

     (f)  Time of Payment.  The Company shall make all payments required by this
          Section 4 within the time periods  provided in Section 4(a),  4(b) and
          4(c);  provided,  however,  that in the event  that any such  payments
          would become  non-deductible  to the Company  under the  provisions of
          Section  162(m) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
          "Code"),  and the  Executive  is a  "covered  employee"  as defined in
          Treas. Reg. Section 1.162-27(c)(2) for the taxable year of the Company
          during which the Date of Termination  occurred or for the  immediately
          preceding  year,  the Company  shall make any such payment not earlier
          than 90 days  following the end of the  Company's  taxable year during
          which the Executive last was a "covered  employee."

                                       39
<PAGE>
5.   Nonexclusivity of Rights.

     Except as provided in Sections  4(a)(iii),  4(b) and 4(c),  nothing in this
     Agreement  shall  prevent  or limit the  Executive's  continuing  or future
     participation  in any plan,  program,  policy or  practice  provided by the
     Company or any of its affiliated  companies and for which the Executive may
     qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as
     the Executive may have under any contract or agreement  with the Company or
     any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which
     the  Executive is  otherwise  entitled to receive  under any plan,  policy,
     practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company or any
     of this  affiliated  companies at or subsequent to the Date of  Termination
     shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy,  practice or program
     or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

6.   Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes.

     (a)  The  Company's  obligation  to make the payment  provided  for in this
          Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not
          be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other
          claim,  right  or  action  which  the  Company  may have  against  the
          Executive or others.  In no event shall the  Executive be obligated to
          seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of
          the amounts  payable to the Executive  under any of the  provisions of
          this  Agreement  and,  except as  provided in Section  4(a)(iii)  with
          respect to Welfare Benefit  Continuation and Section 8(a) with respect
          to  non-competition,  such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not
          the Executive obtains other employment.  The Company agrees to pay, to
          the full  extent  permitted  by law,  all  reasonable  legal  fees and
          expenses that the  Executive  may incur to enforce this  Agreement and
          that result from a breach of this Agreement by the Company;  provided,
          however  that the  reasonableness  of the fees  and  expenses  must be
          determined  by  an  independent   arbitrator,   using  standard  legal
          principles,  mutually  agreed upon by the Company and the Executive in
          accordance   with  rules  set  forth  by  the   American   Arbitration
          Association.

     (b)  If there shall be any dispute between the Company and the Executive in
          the event of any  termination  of the  Executive's  employment  by the
          Company or by the Executive,  then, unless and until there is a final,
          nonappealable  judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction declaring
          that  such  termination  was for  Cause,  the  Company  shall  pay all
          amounts,  and  provide  all  benefits,  to the  Executive  and/or  the
          Executive's  family or other  beneficiaries,  as the case may be, that
          the Company  would be  required to pay or provide  pursuant to Section
          4(a) as though such  termination  were by the Company without Cause or
          by the  Executive;  provided,  however,  that the Company shall not be
          required to pay any disputed amounts pursuant to this paragraph except
          upon  receipt  of an  undertaking  (which may be  unsecured)  by or on
          behalf  of the  Executive  to repay  all  such  amounts  to which  the
          Executive  is  ultimately  adjudged by such court not to be  entitled.

7.   Confidential  Information.

     The  Executive  shall hold in a fiduciary  capacity  for the benefit of the
     Company all secret or confidential information,  knowledge or data relating
     to the Company or any of this affiliated  companies,  and their  respective
     businesses,  which  shall have been  obtained by the  Executive  during the
     Executive's  employment by the Company or any of its  affiliated  companies
     and which shall not be or become  public  knowledge  (other than by acts by
     the  Executive  or  representatives  of the  Executive in violation of this
     Agreement).  After  termination  of the  Executive's  employment  with  the
     Company,  the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the
     Company or except as may  otherwise  be required  by law or legal  process,
     communicate  or divulge any such  information,  knowledge or data to anyone
     other than the  Company  and those  designated  by it. In no event shall an
     asserted  violation of the  provisions of this Section 7 constitute a basis
     for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive
     under this Agreement.

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<PAGE>
8.   Non-Compete; Non-Solicitation.

     (a)  Except  as is set forth  below,  for a period  commencing  on the date
          hereof and ending on the date 36 months after the Executive  ceases to
          be  employed  by  the  Company  (the  "Non-Competition  Period"),  the
          Executive  shall not in the  United  States of  America,  directly  or
          indirectly,  either for  himself  or any other  person,  own,  manage,
          control,  materially  participate in, invest in, permit his name to be
          used by, act as consultant or advisor to, render material services for
          (along or in association with any person,  firm,  corporation or other
          business  organization)  or otherwise  assist in any manner any entity
          that engages in or owns,  invests in,  manages or controls any venture
          or enterprise  engaged in the retail furniture  industry (or any other
          business of the type that  constitutes  a  substantial  portion of the
          Company's  business at the date the Executive ceases to be employed by
          the Company) (collective, a "Competitor"); provided, however, that the
          restrictions set forth above shall immediately  terminate and shall be
          of no  further  force or effect  (i) in the event of a default  by the
          Company in the  payment of any  compensation  or benefits to which the
          Executive is entitled hereunder, which default is not cured within ten
          (10) days after written notice thereof, or (ii) at the election of the
          Executive if the  Executive's  employment  has been  terminated by the
          Company  other than for Cause and if the  Executive  (A) gives written
          notice  to the  Company  during  the  Non-Competition  Period  that he
          desires to accept  employment  with a Competitor;  and (B) agrees that
          the severance  payment  specified in Section  4(a)(i)  hereof shall be
          mitigated by the amount of salary and pro rata target bonus payable to
          the Executive by the Competitor and attributable to employment  during
          the  Non-Competition  Period (it being  understood  that the amount of
          such mitigated severance shall be paid by the Executive to the Company
          in a lump-sum  payment  within  thirty  (30) days after the  Executive
          commences  employment  with  the  Competitor).  Nothing  herein  shall
          prohibit the Executive  from being a passive owner of not more than 2%
          of the equity  securities  of a  corporation  engaged in such business
          which is publicly traded, so long as he has no active participation in
          the business of such corporation.

     (b)  During the  Non-Competition  Period, the Executive shall not, directly
          or  indirectly,  (i)  induce or  attempt  to  induce or aid  others in
          inducing  an  employee  of the  Company  to leave  the  employ  of the
          Company,  or in any way interfere  with the  relationship  between the
          Company and an employee of the Company  except in the proper  exercise
          of the  Executive's  authority,  or (ii) in any way interfere with the
          relationship between the Company and any customer,  supplier, licensee
          or other  business  relation  of the  Company.

     (c)  If, at the time of  enforcement  of this Section 8, a court shall hold
          that the duration, scope, area or other restrictions stated herein are
          unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that
          the maximum  duration,  scope, area or other  restrictions  reasonable
          under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration,
          scope, area or other restrictions.

     (d)  The  covenants  made  in  this  Section  8 shall  be  construed  as an
          agreement  independent of any other provision of this  Agreement,  and
          shall  survive  the  termination  of  this  Agreement.  Moreover,  the
          existence of any claim or cause of action of the Executive against the
          Company or any of its  affiliates,  whether or not predicated upon the
          terms  of this  Agreement,  shall  not  constitute  a  defense  to the
          enforcement of these covenants.

9.   Indemnity.

     The Company will indemnify the Executive, in his capacity as an officer and
     director of the Company,  to the fullest extent  permitted by the Company's
     Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

10.  Successors.

     (a)  This  Agreement  is  personal to the  Executive  and without the prior
          written  consent  of  the  Company  shall  not  be  assignable  by the
          Executive  otherwise  than  by  will or by the  laws  of  descent  and
          distribution.  This  Agreement  shall  inure to the  benefit of and be
          enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives.

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<PAGE>
     (b)  This  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
          Company and its successors and assigns.

     (c)  The Company will require any successor  (whether direct or indirect by
          purchase, merger,  consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially
          all of the business  and/or assets of the Company to assume  expressly
          and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
          extent  that the  Company  would be  required to perform it if no such
          succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall
          mean the  Company as  hereinbefore  defined and any  successor  to its
          business  and/or  assets as  aforesaid  which  assumes  and  agrees to
          perform  this   Agreement   by   operation   of  law,  or   otherwise.

11.  Miscellaneous.

     (a)  This Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in accordance  with
          the  laws  of the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  without  reference  to
          principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not
          part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.  This
          Agreement may not be amended or modified  otherwise  than by a written
          agreement   executed  by  the  parties  hereto  or  their   respective
          successors and legal representatives.

     (b)  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
          shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or
          certified mail, return receipt requested,  postage prepaid,  addressed
          as follows:

          If to the Executive to:                If to the Company to:

          Donald S. Shaffer                      Heilig-Meyers Company
          c/o Heilig-Meyers Company              12560 West Creek Parkway
          12560 West Creek Parkway               Richmond, Virginia 23238
          Richmond, Virginia  23238              Attention:  Corporate Secretary

          or to such other  address as either party shall have  furnished to the
          other in writing in  accordance  herewith.  Notice and  communications
          shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

     (c)  The invalidity or  unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
          shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
          of this Agreement.

     (d)  The Company may withhold from any amount  payable under this Agreement
          such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withhold
          pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

     (e)  The  Executive's  or the  Company's  failure  to  insist  upon  strict
          compliance  with any provision  hereof or any other  provision of this
          Agreement  or the  failure  to assert any right the  Executive  or the
          Company may have hereunder, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such
          provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

     (f)  Any entitlements to the Executive  created under Section 2(b) shall be
          contract  rights to the extent not  prohibited  by law.  However,  the
          Company shall not be required to amend, or refrain from amending,  any
          of its plans to so provide the contract rights.

     (g)  The Executive  and the Company agree that as of the date hereof,  this
          Agreement  supersedes and terminates the Employment  Agreement between
          the Company and the Executive dated September 22, 1999.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Executive has hereunto set the  Executive's  hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors,  the Company has
caused  these  presents to be executed in its name on its behalf,  all as of the
day and year first above written.

                                             HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY
                                             /s/ Robert M. Freeman
                                             -----------------------------
                                             By:  Robert M. Freeman
                                             Title: Chairman, Compensation
                                             Committee of the Board of Directors

                                             /s/ Donald S. Shaffer
                                             -----------------------------
                                             Donald S. Shaffer


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