Draft of June 27, 1996

                              Heilig-Meyers Company
                                  Common Stock

                             Underwriting Agreement



                                                           ______________, 199_



To  the  Representatives  of the several  Underwriters  named in the  respective
    Pricing Agreements hereinafter described.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         From time to time Heilig-Meyers  Company,  a Virginia  corporation (the
"Company"),  proposes  to enter  into  one or more  Pricing  Agreements  (each a
"Pricing  Agreement")  in the form of Annex I hereto,  with such  additions  and
deletions as the parties  thereto may determine,  and,  subject to the terms and
conditions  stated  herein and therein,  to issue and sell to the firms named in
Schedule I to the applicable  Pricing  Agreement  (such firms  constituting  the
"Underwriters"  with  respect  to such  Pricing  Agreement  and  the  securities
specified therein) certain shares of its Common Stock, $2.00 par value per share
(the "Shares")  specified in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect
to such  Pricing  Agreement,  the "Firm  Shares").  If specified in such Pricing
Agreement,  the Company may grant to the  Underwriters  the right to purchase at
their  election  an  additional  number of  shares,  specified  in such  Pricing
Agreement  as  provided in Section 3 hereof (the  "Optional  Shares").  The Firm
Shares and the Optional Shares, if any, which the Underwriters elect to purchase
pursuant  to  Section 3 hereof are herein  collectively  called the  "Designated
Shares".

         The terms and rights of any  particular  issuance of Designated  Shares
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto.

         1. Particular sales of Designated  Shares may be made from time to time
to  the  Underwriters  of  such  Shares,   for  whom  the  firms  designated  as
representatives  of the  Underwriters  of such Shares in the  Pricing  Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the  "Representatives").  The term
"Representatives"  also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of
the  Underwriters  and to Underwriters who act without any firm being designated
as their representative.  This Underwriting  Agreement shall not be construed as
an  obligation  of the Company to sell any of the Shares or as an  obligation of
any of the  Underwriters  to purchase any of the Shares.  The  obligation of the
Company  to issue and sell any of the Shares  and the  obligation  of any of the
Underwriters  to purchase  any of the Shares  shall be  evidenced by the Pricing
Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares specified therein.  Each Pricing
Agreement  shall  specify the aggregate  number of the Firm Shares,  the maximum
number of Optional Shares, if any,




the initial public offering price of such Firm and Optional Shares or the manner
of  determining  such price,  the  purchase  price to the  Underwriters  of such
Designated  Shares, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Shares, the
names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, the number of such Designated
Shares to be purchased by each  Underwriter and the commission,  if any, payable
to the Underwriters  with respect thereto and shall set forth the date, time and
manner of  delivery  of such  Firm and  Optional  Shares,  if any,  and  payment
therefor.  The Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth
in the registration  statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of
such Designated  Shares. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed
writing (which may be in  counterparts),  and may be evidenced by an exchange of
telegraphic  communications or any other rapid  transmission  device designed to
produce a written record of communications  transmitted.  The obligations of the
Underwriters  under this Agreement and each Pricing  Agreement  shall be several
and not joint.

         2.       The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
         of the Underwriters that:

                  (a) A  registration  statement on Form S-3 (File No 33-....  )
         (the  "Initial  Registration  Statement")  in respect of the Shares has
         been  filed  with  the   Securities   and  Exchange   Commission   (the
         "Commission");    the   Initial   Registration    Statement   and   any
         post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered
         or to be delivered to the  Representatives  and,  excluding exhibits to
         such registration  statement,  but including all documents incorporated
         by reference in the prospectus included therein, to the Representatives
         for each of the other  Underwriters have been declared effective by the
         Commission in such form; other than a registration  statement,  if any,
         increasing  the  size of the  offering  (a  "Rule  462(b)  Registration
         Statement"),  filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of
         1933, as amended (the "Act"),  which became  effective upon filing,  no
         other  document with respect to the Initial  Registration  Statement or
         document  incorporated by reference  therein has heretofore been filed,
         or transmitted for filing, with the Commission (other than prospectuses
         filed  pursuant  to Rule  424(b) of the rules  and  regulations  of the
         Commission  under the Act each in the form heretofore  delivered to the
         Representatives); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or
         the  462(b)  Registration  Statement,  if any,  has been  issued and no
         proceeding  for that purpose has been  initiated or  threatened  by the
         Commission  (any  preliminary   prospectus   included  in  the  Initial
         Registration  Statement or filed with the  Commission  pursuant to Rule
         424(a) under the Act, is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus";
         the various  parts of the Initial  Registration  Statement and the Rule
         462(b) Registration  Statement,  if any, including all exhibits thereto
         and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained
         in the  Initial  Registration  Statement  at the time  such part of the
         Initial  Registration  Statement  became  effective or such part of the
         Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes
         effective,  each as amended  at the time such part of the  registration
         statement became  effective,  are hereinafter  collectively  called the
         "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Shares, in the
         form in which it has most  recently  been  filed,  or  transmitted  for
         filing,  with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement,
         is hereinafter  called the  "Prospectus";  any reference  herein to any
         Preliminary  Prospectus or the  Prospectus  shall be deemed to refer to
         and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to
         the applicable  form under the Act, as of the date of such  Preliminary
         Prospectus  or  Prospectus,  as the case may be; any  reference  to any
         amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
         shall be deemed to refer to and include any  documents  filed after the
         date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus,  as the case may be,
         under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the  "Exchange
         Act"), and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary  Prospectus or
         Prospectus,  as the case may be; any  reference to any amendment to the
         Registration  Statement  shall be  deemed to refer to and  include  any
         annual report of the Company  filed  pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)
         of the  Exchange  Act  after  the  effective  date of the  Registration
         Statement  that  is  incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Registration
         Statement;   and  any  reference  to  the   Prospectus  as  amended  or
         supplemented  shall be deemed to refer to the  Prospectus as amended or
         supplemented  in relation to the  applicable  Designated  Shares in the
         form in which it is filed with the  Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b)
         under the Act in  accordance  with Section 5(a) hereof,  including  any
         documents  incorporated  by  reference  therein  as of the date of such
         filing);

                  (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
         when they became  effective or were filed with the  Commission,  as the
         case may be, conformed in all material  respects to the requirements of
         the  Act  or the  Exchange  Act,  as  applicable,  and  the  rules  and
         regulations  of the Commission  thereunder,  and none of such documents
         contained an untrue  statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
         material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
         statements  therein not misleading;  and any further documents so filed
         and  incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Prospectus  or  any  further
         amendment or supplement  thereto,  when such documents become effective
         or are filed with the  Commission,  as the case may be, will conform in
         all material  respects to the  requirements  of the Act or the Exchange
         Act, as  applicable,  and the rules and  regulations  of the Commission
         thereunder and will not contain an untrue  statement of a material fact
         or omit to state a  material  fact  required  to be stated  therein  or
         necessary  to make the  statements  therein not  misleading;  provided,
         however,  that this  representation and warranty shall not apply to any
         statements or omissions  made in reliance  upon and in conformity  with
         information  furnished in writing to the Company by an  Underwriter  of
         Designated Shares through the Representatives  expressly for use in the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares;

                  (c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and
         any further amendments or supplements to the Registration  Statement or
         the  Prospectus  will  conform,   in  all  material   respects  to  the
         requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
         thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date
         as to the  Registration  Statement and any amendment  thereto and as of
         the  applicable  filing date as to the  Prospectus and any amendment or
         supplement  thereto,  contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to  state  a  material  fact  required  to be  stated  therein  or
         necessary  to make the  statements  therein not  misleading;  provided,
         however,  that this  representation and warranty shall not apply to any
         statements or omissions  made in reliance  upon and in conformity  with
         information  furnished in writing to the Company by an  Underwriter  of
         Designated Shares through the Representatives  expressly for use in the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares;

                  (d)  Neither  the  Company  nor  any of its  subsidiaries  has
         sustained  since the date of the latest  audited  financial  statements
         included or  incorporated  by reference in the  Prospectus any material
         loss or interference with its business from fire,  explosion,  flood or
         other calamity,  whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
         dispute or court or  governmental  action,  order or decree,  otherwise
         than as set forth or  contemplated  in the  Prospectus;  and, since the
         respective  dates as of which  information is given in the Registration
         Statement  and the  Prospectus,  there  has not been any  change in the
         capital  stock  or  long-term  debt  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its
         subsidiaries  or  any  material  adverse  change,  or  any  development
         involving a prospective  material  adverse change,  in or affecting the
         general affairs, management,  financial position,  stockholders' equity
         or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise
         than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus;

                  (e) The  Company  has been duly  incorporated  and is  validly
         existing  as a  corporation  in good  standing  under  the  laws of the
         Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  with power and  authority  (corporate  and
         other) to own its  properties  and conduct its business as described in
         the Prospectus and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for
         the  transaction  of business and is in good standing under the laws of
         each  other  jurisdiction  in which it owns or  leases  properties,  or
         conducts  any  business,  so as to require  such  qualification,  or is
         subject to no material  liability or disability by reason of failure to
         be so qualified in any such  jurisdiction;  and each  subsidiary of the
         Company  has  been  duly  incorporated  and is  validly  existing  as a
         corporation  in good  standing  under the laws of its  jurisdiction  of
         incorporation and has been duly qualified as a foreign  corporation for
         the  transaction  of business and is in good standing under the laws of
         each  other  jurisdiction  in which it owns or  leases  properties,  or
         conducts  any  business,  so as to require  such  qualification,  or is
         subject to no material  liability or disability by reason of failure to
         be so qualified in any such jurisdiction;

                  (f) The Company has an authorized  capitalization as set forth
         in the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the
         Company have been duly and validly  authorized and issued and are fully
         paid and  non-assessable  and conform to the  description  of the Stock
         contained in the  Prospectus;  and all of the issued  shares of capital
         stock of each  subsidiary  of the  Company  have been duly and  validly
         authorized and issued,  are fully paid and  non-assessable  and (except
         for directors'  qualifying  shares) are owned directly or indirectly by
         the  Company,  free and clear of all liens,  encumbrances,  equities or
         claims;

                  (g) The Shares  have been duly and  validly  authorized,  and,
         when  the  Firm  Shares  are  issued  and  delivered  pursuant  to this
         Agreement  and the Pricing  Agreement  with respect to such  Designated
         Shares  and,  in  the  case  of  any  Optional   Shares,   pursuant  to
         Over-allotment Options (as defined in Section 3 hereof) with respect to
         such Shares, such Designated Shares will be duly and validly issued and
         fully paid and  non-assessable;  the Shares conform to the  description
         thereof  contained in the  Registration  Statement  and the  Designated
         Shares  will  conform  to  the  description  thereof  contained  in the
         Prospectus as amended or  supplemented  with respect to such Designated
         Shares;

                  (h) The issue and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the
         Company  with all of the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  any  Pricing
         Agreement and each Over-allotment  Option, if any, and the consummation
         of the transactions  contemplated  herein and therein will not conflict
         with  or  result  in a  breach  or  violation  of any of the  terms  or
         provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,  mortgage,
         deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which
         the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any
         of the  property  or assets of the  Company is  subject,  nor will such
         action  result in any  violation of the  provisions  of the Articles of
         Incorporation  or By-laws of the  Company or any  statute or any order,
         rule or regulation of any court or  governmental  agency or body having
         jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; and no consent,
         approval,  authorization,  order,  registration or  qualification of or
         with any such court or governmental  agency or body is required for the
         issue and sale of the Shares or the  consummation by the Company of the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or
         any Over-allotment  Option, except such as have been, or will have been
         prior to each Time of  Delivery  (as  defined  in  Section  4  hereof),
         obtained  under the Act and such consents,  approvals,  authorizations,
         registrations  or   qualifications  as  may  be  required  under  state
         securities  or Blue  Sky  laws in  connection  with  the  purchase  and
         distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

                  (i) Other  than as set forth in the  Prospectus,  there are no
         legal or governmental  proceedings  pending to which the Company or any
         of its  subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company
         or  any of  its  subsidiaries  is the  subject,  which,  if  determined
         adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually
         or in the aggregate  have a material  adverse  effect on the current or
         future consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results
         of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries;  and, to the best of
         the  Company's  knowledge,   no  such  proceedings  are  threatened  or
         contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

                  (j)  Neither the  Company  nor any of its  subsidiaries  is in
         violation of its Articles of  Incorporation or By-laws or in default in
         the  performance or observance of any material  obligation,  agreement,
         covenant or condition  contained in any  indenture,  mortgage,  deed of
         trust, loan agreement,  lease or other agreement or instrument to which
         it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;

                  (k) The  statements  set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
         supplemented under the caption  "Description of Common Stock",  insofar
         as they purport to  constitute a summary of the terms of the  Company's
         common stock  (including  the  Shareholders  Rights Plan and  preferred
         stock  issuable  pursuant  thereto),  under the caption  "United States
         Taxation",   and  under  the  captions  "Plan  of   Distribution"   and
         "Underwriting",  insofar as they purport to describe the  provisions of
         the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate,  complete and
         fair;

                  (l)  The  Company  is not  and,  after  giving  effect  to the
         offering and sale of the Shares, will not be an "investment company" or
         an entity  "controlled" by an "investment  company",  as such terms are
         defined  in  the  Investment  Company  Act of  1940,  as  amended  (the
         "Investment Company Act");

                  (m)      Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates  does
         business with the government of Cuba or with
         any person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of the U.S.
         Treasury  Department's Cuban Assets Control Regulations,  the Cuban
         Liberty and Democratic  Solidarity  ("LIBERTAD") Act of 1996 or Section
         517.075,  Florida Statutes; and

                  (n) Deloite & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial
         statements of the Company and its subsidiaries,  are independent public
         accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission thereunder.

         3.  Upon the  execution  of the  Pricing  Agreement  applicable  to any
Designated Shares and authorization by the Representatives of the release of the
Firm Shares, the several  Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale
upon the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth in the  Prospectus  as  amended  or
supplemented.

         The  Company may specify in the  Pricing  Agreement  applicable  to any
Designated  Shares that the Company thereby grants to the Underwriters the right
(an  "Overallotment  Option") to purchase at their  election up to the number of
Optional Shares set forth in such Pricing  Agreement,  on the terms set forth in
the paragraph  above,  for the sole purpose of covering  over-allotments  in the
sale of the Firm Shares.  Any such election to purchase  Optional  Shares may be
exercised  by written  notice from the  Representatives  to the  Company,  given
within a period specified in the Pricing Agreement,  setting forth the aggregate
number of Optional  Shares to be purchased  and the date on which such  Optional
Shares are to be delivered, as determined by the Representatives but in no event
earlier  than the First Time of  Delivery  (as  defined in Section 4 hereof) or,
unless the Representatives  and the Company otherwise agree in writing,  earlier
than or later than the respective number of business days after the date of such
notice set forth in such Pricing Agreement.

         The number of Optional  Shares to be added to the number of Firm Shares
to be  purchased by each  Underwriter  as set forth in Schedule I to the Pricing
Agreement  applicable  to such  Designated  Shares  shall be, in each case,  the
number  of  Optional   Shares   which  the  Company  has  been  advised  by  the
Representatives have been attributed to such Underwriter;  provided that, if the
Company  has not been so advised,  the number of Optional  Shares to be so added
shall be, in each case,  that  proportion of Optional Shares which the number of
Firm Shares to be purchased  by such  Underwriter  under such Pricing  Agreement
bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares (rounded as the Representatives may
determine to the nearest 100 shares).  The total number of Designated  Shares to
be purchased by all the Underwriters pursuant to such Pricing Agreement shall be
the  aggregate  number of Firm  Shares set forth in  Schedule I to such  Pricing
Agreement plus the aggregate  number of Optional  Shares which the  Underwriters
elect to purchase.

         4.  Certificates  for the Firm  Shares  and the  Optional  Shares to be
purchased  by  each  Underwriter  pursuant  to the  Pricing  Agreement  relating
thereto,  in the form specified in such Pricing Agreement and in such authorized
denominations  and registered in such names as the  Representatives  may request
upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered
by or on behalf of the  Company to the  Representatives  for the account of such
Underwriter,  against  payment  by  such  Underwriter  or on its  behalf  of the
purchase  price therefor by wire transfer or certified or official bank check or
checks,  payable  to the order of the  Company  in the funds  specified  in such
Pricing Agreement, (i) with respect to the Firm Shares, all in the manner and at
the place and time and date specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other
place and time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in
writing, such time and date being herein called the "First Time of Delivery" and
(ii) with respect to the Optional Shares,  if any, in the manner and at the time
and date  specified by the  Representatives  in the written  notice given by the
Representatives of the Underwriters'  election to purchase such Optional Shares,
or at such other time and date as the  Representatives and the Company may agree
upon in writing,  such time and date, if not the First Time of Delivery,  herein
called the "Second  Time of  Delivery".  Each such time and date for delivery is
herein called a "Time of Delivery".

         5.       The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any
Designated Shares:

                  (a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended and  supplemented  in
         relation to the applicable  Designated Shares in a form approved by the
         Representatives  and to file such  Prospectus  pursuant  to Rule 424(b)
         under the Act not later than the Commission's  close of business on the
         second business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing
         Agreement   relating  to  the  applicable   Designated  Shares  or,  if
         applicable,  such earlier  time as may be required by Rule  424(b);  to
         make  no  further  amendment  or any  supplement  to  the  Registration
         Statement or  Prospectus as amended or  supplemented  after the date of
         the Pricing Agreement  relating to such Shares and prior to any Time of
         Delivery   for  such  Shares   which  shall  be   disapproved   by  the
         Representatives  for  such  Shares  promptly  after  reasonable  notice
         thereof; to advise the  Representatives  promptly of any such amendment
         or  supplement  after any Time of Delivery  for such Shares and furnish
         the  Representatives  with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports
         and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed
         by the Company with the Commission  pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),
         14 or  15(d)  of the  Exchange  Act for so long  as the  delivery  of a
         prospectus is required in connection  with the offering or sale of such
         Shares,  and during  such same  period to advise  the  Representatives,
         promptly  after  it  receives  notice  thereof,  of the  time  when any
         amendment  to the  Registration  Statement  has been  filed or  becomes
         effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus
         has been filed with the  Commission,  of the issuance by the Commission
         of any stop order or of any order  preventing or suspending  the use of
         any  prospectus  relating  to  the  Shares,  of the  suspension  of the
         qualification of such Shares for offering or sale in any  jurisdiction,
         of the  initiation  or  threatening  of any  proceeding  for  any  such
         purpose,  or of any  request  by the  Commission  for the  amending  or
         supplementing  of  the  Registration  Statement  or  Prospectus  or for
         additional  information;  and, in the event of the issuance of any such
         stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any
         prospectus relating to the Shares or suspending any such qualification,
         promptly  to use its best  efforts  to obtain  the  withdrawal  of such
         order;

                  (b)  Promptly  from  time to time to take  such  action as the
         Representatives  may  reasonably  request  to qualify  such  Shares for
         offering and sale under the securities  laws of such  jurisdictions  as
         the  Representatives  may request and to comply with such laws so as to
         permit  the   continuance  of  sales  and  dealings   therein  in  such
         jurisdictions  for  as  long  as  may  be  necessary  to  complete  the
         distribution of such Shares,  provided that in connection therewith the
         Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
         file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

                  (c) Prior to 10:00 a.m.,  New York City time,  on the New York
         Business Day next  succeeding  the date of this Agreement and from time
         to time, to furnish the  Underwriters  with copies of the Prospectus as
         amended  or  supplemented  in New York City in such  quantities  as the
         Representatives  may  reasonably  request,  and,  if the  delivery of a
         prospectus is required at any time in  connection  with the offering or
         sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as
         a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented  would
         include an untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any
         material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
         light of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made  when  such
         Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it
         shall be necessary  during such same period to amend or supplement  the
         Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document  incorporated
         by reference in the  Prospectus  in order to comply with the Act or the
         Exchange Act, to notify the  Representatives  and upon their request to
         file such  document and to prepare and furnish  without  charge to each
         Underwriter  and to any  dealer  in  securities  as many  copies as the
         Representatives  may from time to time reasonably request of an amended
         Prospectus  or a supplement to the  Prospectus  which will correct such
         statement or omission or effect such compliance;

                  (d) To make  generally  available to its  security  holders as
         soon as  practicable,  but in any event not later than eighteen  months
         after the effective date of the  Registration  Statement (as defined in
         Rule 158(c)  under the Act),  an earnings  statement of the Company and
         its  subsidiaries  (which need not be audited)  complying  with Section
         11(a)  of the Act and  the  rules  and  regulations  of the  Commission
         thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

                  (e) During the period  beginning  from the date of the Pricing
         Agreement for such  Designated  Shares and  continuing to and including
         the  later of (i) the  termination  of  trading  restrictions  for such
         Designated  Shares,  as notified to the Company by the  Representatives
         and (ii) the last Time of Delivery for such Designated  Shares,  not to
         offer,  sell,  contract  to sell or  otherwise  dispose  of,  except as
         provided   hereunder,   any   securities   of  the  Company   that  are
         substantially  similar  to the  Designated  Shares,  including  but not
         limited to any securities  that are  convertible  into or  exchangeable
         for,  or that  represent  the  right  to  receive,  Stock  or any  such
         substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to employee stock
         option plans  existing on, or upon the  conversion  of  convertible  or
         exchangeable  securities  outstanding  as of,  the date of the  Pricing
         Agreement for such Designated Shares) without the prior written consent
         of the Representatives; and

                  (f) If the  Company  elects  to rely  upon  Rule  462(b),  the
         Company  shall  file a Rule  462(b)  Registration  Statement  with  the
         Commission  in compliance  with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m.,  Washington,
         D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement,  and the Company shall at the
         time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule
         462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable  instructions for the
         payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.

         6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several  Underwriters that
the  Company  will  pay or  cause  to be  paid  the  following:  (i)  the  fees,
disbursements   and  expenses  of  the  Company's  counsel  and  accountants  in
connection  with the  registration  of the  Shares  under  the Act and all other
expenses  in  connection  with  the  preparation,  printing  and  filing  of the
Registration  Statement,  any  Preliminary  Prospectus  and the  Prospectus  and
amendments  and  supplements  thereto and the mailing and  delivering  of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers;  (ii) the cost of printing or producing
any Agreement among  Underwriters,  this Agreement,  any Pricing Agreement,  any
Blue Sky Memorandum,  closing documents (including compilations thereof) and any
other documents in connection with the offering,  purchase, sale and delivery of
the Shares;  (iii) all  expenses in  connection  with the  qualification  of the
Shares for offering and sale under state  securities laws as provided in Section
5(b)  hereof,   including  the  fees  and   disbursements  of  counsel  for  the
Underwriters  in connection with such  qualification  and in connection with the
Blue Sky  survey(s)  and any fees  charged by a securities  rating  services for
rating  the  Shares;  (iv)  any  filing  fees  incident  to,  and the  fees  and
disbursements  of counsel for the  Underwriters in connection with, any required
reviews by the National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. of the terms of
the sale of the Shares;  (v) the cost of preparing  certificates for the Shares;
(vi) the cost and  charges  of any  transfer  agent  or  registrar  or  dividend
disbursing  agent;  and (vii)  all other  costs  and  expenses  incident  to the
performance of its obligations  hereunder and under any  Over-allotment  Options
which  are  not  otherwise  specifically  provided  for in this  Section.  It is
understood,  however,  that, except as provided in this Section,  and Sections 8
and 11 hereof,  the  Underwriters  will pay all of their own costs and expenses,
including  the fees of their  counsel,  transfer  taxes on  resale of any of the
Shares by them, and any advertising  expenses connected with any offers they may
make.

         7. The obligations of the  Underwriters of any Designated  Shares under
the Pricing Agreement  relating to such Designated  Shares shall be subject,  in
the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all representations
and  warranties  and other  statements  of the  Company  in or  incorporated  by
reference in the Pricing  Agreement  relating to such Designated  Shares are, at
and as of each Time of Delivery for such  Designated  Shares,  true and correct,
the  condition  that the Company  shall have  performed  all of its  obligations
hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

                  (a) The Prospectus as amended or  supplemented  in relation to
         such  Designated  Shares  shall  have been  filed  with the  Commission
         pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the  applicable  time period  prescribed
         for such  filing  by the  rules  and  regulations  under the Act and in
         accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely
         upon Rule 462(b),  the Rule 462(b)  Registration  Statement  shall have
         become effective by 10:00 p.m.,  Washington,  D.C. time, on the date of
         this  Agreement;  no stop order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the
         Registration  Statement or any part thereof  shall have been issued and
         no proceeding  for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened
         by the Commission;  and all requests for additional  information on the
         part  of  the   Commission   shall  have  been  complied  with  to  the
         Representatives' reasonable satisfaction;

                  (b) Counsel for the  Underwriters  shall have furnished to the
         Representatives  such opinion or opinions (a draft of each such opinion
         is attached as Annex  III(a)  hereto),  dated each Time of Delivery for
         such  Designated  Shares,  with  respect  to the  incorporation  of the
         Company,  the validity of the Designated Shares being delivered at such
         Time of Delivery, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus,  and such
         other related matters as the  Representatives  may reasonably  request,
         and such counsel  shall have received  such papers and  information  as
         they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

                  (c)   Counsel   for   the   Company    satisfactory   to   the
         Representatives  shall  have  furnished  to the  Representatives  their
         written  opinions  (a draft of each such  opinion is  attached as Annex
         III(b) hereto), dated each Time of Delivery for such Designated Shares,
         respectively,    in   form   and   substance    satisfactory   to   the
         Representatives, to the effect that:

                           (i) The  Company  has been duly  incorporated  and is
                  validly  existing as a corporation  in good standing under the
                  laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, with power and authority
                  (corporate  and other) to own its  properties  and conduct its
                  business  as  described  in  the   Prospectus  as  amended  or
                  supplemented;

                           (ii) The Company has an authorized  capitalization as
                  set forth in the  Prospectus as amended or  supplemented,  and
                  all of the  issued  shares  of  capital  stock of the  Company
                  (including the Designated  Shares being delivered at such Time
                  of Delivery) have been duly and validly  authorized and issued
                  and are  fully  paid and  non-assessable;  and the  Designated
                  Shares conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus as
                  amended or supplemented;

                           (iii) To the  best of such  counsel's  knowledge  and
                  other than as set forth in the Prospectus,  there are no legal
                  or  governmental  proceedings  pending to which the Company or
                  any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of
                  the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is the subject which,
                  if  determined   adversely  to  the  Company  or  any  of  its
                  subsidiaries,  would  individually  or in the aggregate have a
                  material adverse effect on the current or future  consolidated
                  financial  position,   stockholders'   equity  or  results  of
                  operations  of the  Company and its  subsidiaries;  and to the
                  best of such  counsel's  knowledge,  no such  proceedings  are
                  threatened or  contemplated  by  governmental  authorities  or
                  threatened by others;

                                    (iv)   This   Agreement   and  the   Pricing
                  Agreement with respect to the Designated Shares have been duly
                  authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

                                    (v) The  issue  and  sale of the  Designated
                  Shares  being  delivered  at  such  Time of  Delivery  and the
                  compliance  by the Company with all of the  provisions of this
                  Agreement  and  the  Pricing  Agreement  with  respect  to the
                  Designated  Shares and the  consummation  of the  transactions
                  herein and  therein  contemplated  will not  conflict  with or
                  result  in a  breach  or  violation  of any of  the  terms  or
                  provisions of, or constitute a default  under,  any indenture,
                  mortgage,  deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
                  instrument  known to such  counsel  to which the  Company is a
                  party or by which the  Company is bound or to which any of the
                  property or assets of the  Company is  subject,  nor will such
                  action  result  in  any  violation  of the  provisions  of the
                  Articles  of  Incorporation  or By-laws of the  Company or any
                  statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel
                  of  any  court  or   governmental   agency   or  body   having
                  jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties;

                                    (vi) No  consent,  approval,  authorization,
                  order, registration or qualification of or with any such court
                  or  governmental  agency or body is required for the issue and
                  sale of the Designated  Shares being delivered at such Time of
                  Delivery   or  the   consummation   by  the   Company  of  the
                  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement or such Pricing
                  Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Act and
                  such consents,  approvals,  authorizations,  registrations  or
                  qualifications  as may be required  under state  securities or
                  Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution
                  of the Designated Shares by the Underwriters;

                           (vii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
                  is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws or
                  in default in the  performance  or  observance of any material
                  obligation,  agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
                  indenture,  mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement,  lease or
                  other  agreement  or  instrument  to which it is a party or by
                  which it or any of its properties may be bound;

                           (viii) The  statements set forth in the Prospectus as
                  amended or  supplemented  under the  caption  "Description  of
                  Common Stock", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary
                  of the  Company's  common stock  (including  the  Shareholders
                  Rights Plan and preferred  stock issuable  pursuant  thereto),
                  under the  caption  "United  States  Taxation",  and under the
                  captions "Plan of Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as
                  they  purport  to  describe  the  provisions  of the  laws and
                  documents  referred to therein,  are  accurate,  complete  and
                  fair;

                           (ix)     The Company is not an "Investment  Company"
                  or an entity "controlled" by an "Investment Company", as such
                  terms are defined in the Investment Company Act;

                           (x) The  documents  incorporated  by reference in the
                  Prospectus  as  amended  or   supplemented   (other  than  the
                  financial  statements  and related  schedules  therein,  as to
                  which such counsel need express no opinion),  when they became
                  effective or were filed with the  Commission,  as the case may
                  be,  complied  as to form in all  material  respects  with the
                  requirements  of the Act or the Exchange  Act, as  applicable,
                  and the rules and  regulations of the  Commission  thereunder;
                  and they have no reason to believe that any of such documents,
                  when they became  effective or were so filed,  as the case may
                  be, contained,  in the case of a registration  statement which
                  became  effective  under  the Act,  an untrue  statement  of a
                  material  fact or omitted to state a material fact required to
                  be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein
                  not misleading,  or, in the case of other documents which were
                  filed under the Act or the Exchange  Act with the  Commission,
                  an untrue  statement of a material  fact or omitted to state a
                  material  fact  necessary  in  order  to make  the  statements
                  therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under which they
                  were made when such documents were so filed,  not  misleading;
                  and

                           (xi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
                  amended  or  supplemented,  and  any  further  amendments  and
                  supplements  thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of
                  Delivery  (other  than the  financial  statements  and related
                  schedules  therein,  as to which such  counsel need express no
                  opinion),  comply as to form in all material respects with the
                  requirements   of  the  Act  and  the  rules  and  regulations
                  thereunder; although they do not assume any responsibility for
                  the  accuracy,  completeness  or  fairness  of the  statements
                  contained in the  Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus,
                  except for those  referred  to in the  opinion  in  subsection
                  (viii) of this  Section  7(c),  they have no reason to believe
                  that, as of its effective date, the Registration  Statement or
                  any further  amendment  thereto  made by the Company  prior to
                  such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and
                  related  schedules  therein,  as to which  such  counsel  need
                  express  no  opinion)  contained  an  untrue  statement  of  a
                  material  fact or omitted to state a material fact required to
                  be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein
                  not  misleading  or that,  as of its date,  the  Prospectus as
                  amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement
                  thereto  made by the  Company  prior to such Time of  Delivery
                  (other than the  financial  statements  and related  schedules
                  therein,  as to which such  counsel  need  express no opinion)
                  contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
                  state  a  material  fact  necessary  to  make  the  statements
                  therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under which they
                  were  made,  not  misleading  or  that,  as of  such  Time  of
                  Delivery,  either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
                  as  amended  or  supplemented  or  any  further  amendment  or
                  supplement  thereto made by the Company  prior to such Time of
                  Delivery  (other  than the  financial  statements  and related
                  schedules  therein,  as to which such  counsel need express no
                  opinion)  contains an untrue  statement of a material  fact or
                  omits  to  state  a  material  fact   necessary  to  make  the
                  statements  therein,  in the light of the circumstances  under
                  which they were made, not misleading;  and they do not know of
                  any  amendment to the  Registration  Statement  required to be
                  filed or any  contracts  or  other  documents  of a  character
                  required  to  be  filed  as an  exhibit  to  the  Registration
                  Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the
                  Prospectus  as  amended  or  supplemented  or  required  to be
                  described in the  Registration  Statement or the Prospectus as
                  amended or supplemented which are not filed or incorporated by
                  reference or described as required;

                  (d) On the date of the Pricing  Agreement for such  Designated
         Shares and at each Time of Delivery  for such  Designated  Shares,  the
         independent accountants of the Company who have certified the financial
         statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated
         by reference in the Registration  Statement shall have furnished to the
         Representatives a letter,  dated the effective date of the Registration
         Statement  or the  date  of the  most  recent  report  filed  with  the
         Commission   containing   financial   statements  and  incorporated  by
         reference in the Registration  Statement, if the date of such report is
         later  than  such  effective  date,  and a letter  dated  such  Time of
         Delivery, respectively, and with respect to such letter dated such Time
         of  Delivery,  as to such  other  matters  as the  Representatives  may
         reasonably  request  and in  form  and  substance  satisfactory  to the
         Representatives (the executed copy of the letter delivered prior to the
         execution  of this  Agreement  is attached as Annex II(a)  hereto and a
         draft of the form of letter to be  delivered on the  effective  date of
         any  post-effective  amendment to the Registration  Statement and as of
         each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex II(b) hereto);

                  (e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries  shall
         have  sustained  since  the  date  of  the  latest  audited   financial
         statements  included or  incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as
         amended  prior to the date of the  Pricing  Agreement  relating  to the
         Designated Shares any loss or interference with its business from fire,
         explosion,   flood  or  other  calamity,  whether  or  not  covered  by
         insurance,  or from any labor dispute or court or governmental  action,
         order or decree,  otherwise  than as set forth or  contemplated  in the
         Prospectus  as  amended  prior  to the  date of the  Pricing  Agreement
         relating to the Designated  Shares, and (ii) since the respective dates
         as of which  information is given in the Prospectus as amended prior to
         the date of the Pricing  Agreement  relating to the  Designated  Shares
         there shall not have been any change in the capital  stock or long-term
         debt of the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  or any change,  or any
         development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general
         affairs,  management,   financial  position,  stockholders'  equity  or
         results of  operations of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  otherwise
         than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to
         the date of the Pricing  Agreement  relating to the Designated  Shares,
         the effect of which,  in any such case described in Clause (i) or (ii),
         is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to
         make it  impracticable  or  inadvisable  to  proceed  with  the  public
         offering or the delivery of the  Designated  Shares on the terms and in
         the manner  contemplated  in the Prospectus as amended  relating to the
         Designated Shares;

                  (f) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement  relating to
         the  Designated  Shares (i) no  downgrading  shall have occurred in the
         rating accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any
         "nationally recognized  statistical rating organization",  as that term
         is defined by the Commission  for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)  under the
         Act, and (ii) no such organization  shall have publicly  announced that
         it  has  under   surveillance   or  review,   with  possible   negative
         implications,  its rating of any of the  Company's  debt  securities or
         preferred stock;

                  (g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement  relating to
         the  Designated  Shares  there  shall  not  have  occurred  any  of the
         following:  (i) a  suspension  or  material  limitation  in  trading in
         securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange;  (ii) a suspension
         or material  limitation in trading in the  Company's  securities on the
         New York  Stock  Exchange;  (iii) a general  moratorium  on  commercial
         banking  activities  declared by either Federal or New York or Virginia
         State  authorities;  or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of  hostilities
         involving the United States or the  declaration by the United States of
         a national  emergency or war, if the effect of any such event specified
         in this Clause (iv) in the  judgment  of the  Representatives  makes it
         impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
         delivery of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares or both on the terms and
         in the  manner  contemplated  in the  Prospectus  as first  amended  or
         supplemented relating to the Designated Shares;

                  (h) The Shares at each Time of  Delivery  shall have been duly
         listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange;

                  (i) The Company  shall have  complied  with the  provisions of
         Section 5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of  prospectuses  on
         the New York Business Day next  succeeding the date of this  Agreement;
         and

                  (j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished
         to the  Representatives  at each Time of  Delivery  for the  Designated
         Shares  certificates  of officers of the  Company  satisfactory  to the
         Representatives  as  to  the  accuracy  of  the   representations   and
         warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as
         to the performance by the Company of all of its  obligations  hereunder
         to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters
         set forth in  subsections  (a) and (e) of this  Section  and as to such
         other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request.

         8. (a) The Company will  indemnify and hold  harmless each  Underwriter
against any losses, claims,  damages or liabilities,  joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based  upon an untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue  statement  of a
material  fact  contained  in  any  Preliminary   Prospectus,   any  preliminary
prospectus supplement,  the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus  relating to the Shares,  or any amendment
or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission  to state  therein a material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each
Underwriter  for  any  legal  or  other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such
Underwriter  in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such action or
claim as such expenses are incurred;  provided,  however, that the Company shall
not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,  claim,  damage
or  liability  arises  out of or is based  upon an untrue  statement  or alleged
untrue  statement  or  omission  or  alleged  omission  made in any  Preliminary
Prospectus,  any preliminary prospectus supplement,  the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other  prospectus  relating to
the  Shares,  or any  such  amendment  or  supplement  in  reliance  upon and in
conformity with written information  furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
of  Designated  Shares  through  the  Representatives  expressly  for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Shares.

         (b) Each  Underwriter  will  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the Company
against  any losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  to which the Company may
become  subject,  under the Act or  otherwise,  insofar as such losses,  claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an  untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus,  any preliminary prospectus supplement,
the  Registration  Statement,  the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any
other prospectus relating to the Shares, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or arise out of or are based  upon the  omission  or alleged  omission  to state
therein a material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
statements  therein not misleading,  in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent,  that such untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement or omission or
alleged  omission  was  made  in any  Preliminary  Prospectus,  any  preliminary
prospectus supplement,  the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented  and any  other  prospectus  relating  to the  Shares,  or any such
amendment  or  supplement  in  reliance  upon  and in  conformity  with  written
information   furnished  to  the  Company  by  such   Underwriter   through  the
Representatives  expressly for use therein;  and will  reimburse the Company for
any legal or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred by the Company in  connection
with  investigating  or defending  any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a)
or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall,  if a claim in respect  thereof is to be made  against  the  indemnifying
party under such  subsection,  notify the  indemnifying  party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any  liability  which it may have to any  indemnified  party
otherwise than under such  subsection.  In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying  party of the
commencement  thereof,  the indemnifying  party shall be entitled to participate
therein  and,  to the  extent  that  it  shall  wish,  jointly  with  any  other
indemnifying  party  similarly  notified,  to assume the defense  thereof,  with
counsel  satisfactory to such indemnified  party (who shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified  party, be counsel to the indemnifying  party),  and,
after  notice  from  the  indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof,  the indemnifying  party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses,  in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified  party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent
of the indemnified party,  effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or  threatened  action or
claim  in  respect  of  which  indemnification  or  contribution  may be  sought
hereunder  (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party
to such action or claim)  unless such  settlement,  compromise  or judgment  (i)
includes an  unconditional  release of the indemnified  party from all liability
arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include any  statement  as
to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of
any indemnified party.

         (d)  If  the  indemnification   provided  for  in  this  Section  8  is
unavailable  to or  insufficient  to hold  harmless an  indemnified  party under
subsection  (a) or (b)  above in  respect  of any  losses,  claims,  damages  or
liabilities  (or actions in respect  thereof)  referred  to  therein,  then each
indemnifying  party  shall  contribute  to the  amount  paid or  payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect  thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative  benefits  received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
of the Designated Shares on the other from the offering of the Designated Shares
to which such loss,  claim,  damage or liability (or action in respect  thereof)
relates.  If,  however,  the allocation  provided by the  immediately  preceding
sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the  indemnified  party failed
to give the notice required under subsection (c) above,  then each  indemnifying
party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified  party
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative  benefits
but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the  Underwriters
of the  Designated  Shares on the other in  connection  with the  statements  or
omissions  which resulted in such losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  (or
actions  in  respect  thereof),   as  well  as  any  other  relevant   equitable
considerations.  The relative  benefits  received by the Company on the one hand
and such  Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion
as the total  net  proceeds  from  such  offering  (before  deducting  expenses)
received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received  by such  Underwriters.  The  relative  fault  shall be  determined  by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged  omission to state a material fact
relates  to  information  supplied  by the  Company  on the  one  hand  or  such
Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information  and  opportunity  to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the  Underwriters  agree that it would not be just and equitable
if  contributions  pursuant to this  subsection (d) were  determined by pro rata
allocation  (even  if the  Underwriters  were  treated  as one  entity  for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable  considerations  referred to above in this  subsection (d). The amount
paid or  payable  by an  indemnified  party as a result of the  losses,  claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this
subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d),
no  Underwriter  shall be  required  to  contribute  any amount in excess of the
amount by which  the  total  price at which  the  applicable  Designated  Shares
underwritten  by it and  distributed  to the public  were  offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages  which such  Underwriter  has  otherwise  been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution  from
any  person  who  was  not  guilty  of such  fraudulent  misrepresentation.  The
obligations of the  Underwriters of Designated  Shares in this subsection (d) to
contribute   are  several  in  proportion  to  their   respective   underwriting
obligations with respect to such Shares and not joint.

         (e) The  obligations  of the Company  under this  Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and  conditions,  to each  person,  if any, who controls any
Underwriter  within  the  meaning  of  the  Act;  and  the  obligations  of  the
Underwriters  under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any  liability  which
the respective  Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend,  upon the same
terms and  conditions,  to each  officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.
         9. (a) If any  Underwriter  shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Firm Shares or  Optional  Shares  which it has agreed to purchase  under the
Pricing  Agreement  relating to such Shares,  the  Representatives  may in their
discretion  arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase
such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such
default by any Underwriter the  Representatives  do not arrange for the purchase
of such Firm  Shares or  Optional  Shares,  as the case may be, then the Company
shall be  entitled  to a further  period of  thirty-six  hours  within  which to
procure another party or other parties  satisfactory to the  Representatives  to
purchase  such Shares on such terms.  In the event that,  within the  respective
prescribed  period,  the  Representatives  notify the Company  that they have so
arranged  for  the  purchase  of  such  Shares,  or  the  Company  notifies  the
Representatives  that it has so arranged for the  purchase of such  Shares,  the
Representatives  or the  Company  shall  have the  right to  postpone  a Time of
Delivery  for such Shares for a period of not more than seven days,  in order to
effect  whatever  changes  may  thereby be made  necessary  in the  Registration
Statement  or the  Prospectus  as  amended  or  supplemented,  or in  any  other
documents  or  arrangements,  and  the  Company  agrees  to  file  promptly  any
amendments or supplements to the Registration  Statement or the Prospectus which
in the opinion of the  Representatives  may thereby be made necessary.  The term
"Underwriter"  as used in this  Agreement  shall include any person  substituted
under this  Section  with like  effect as if such person had  originally  been a
party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Shares.

         (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting  Underwriter
or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection
(a) above,  the aggregate  number of such Shares which remains  unpurchased does
not exceed  one-eleventh of the aggregate  number of the Firm Shares or Optional
Shares,  as the case may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of Delivery,
then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase  the number of Firm Shares or Optional  Shares,  as the case may be,
which such Underwriter  agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement  relating
to such  Designated  Shares and, in  addition,  to require  each  non-defaulting
Underwriter  to purchase  its pro rata share (based on the number of Firm Shares
or  Optional  Shares,  as the case may be,  which  such  Underwriter  agreed  to
purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as
the case may be, of such defaulting  Underwriter or Underwriters  for which such
arrangements  have not been made;  but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.

         (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Shares or Optional Shares, as the case may be, of a defaulting  Underwriter
or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection
(a) above, the aggregate  number of Firm Shares or Optional Shares,  as the case
may be, which remains unpurchased  exceeds  one-eleventh of the aggregate number
of the Firm Shares or Optional  Shares,  as the case may be, to be  purchased at
the respective  Time of Delivery,  as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if
the Company shall not exercise the right  described in  subsection  (b) above to
require non-defaulting  Underwriters to purchase Firm Shares or Optional Shares,
as the  case may be,  of a  defaulting  Underwriter  or  Underwriters,  then the
Pricing  Agreement  relating  to such Firm Shares or the  Over-allotment  Option
relating to such Optional Shares, as the case may be, shall thereupon terminate,
without liability on the part of any non-defaulting  Underwriter or the Company,
except for the  expenses  to be borne by the  Company  and the  Underwriters  as
provided in Section 6 hereof and the  indemnity and  contribution  agreements in
Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from
liability for its default.

         10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company and the several  Underwriters,  as set forth
in this  Agreement  or made by or on behalf of them,  respectively,  pursuant to
this  Agreement,  shall  remain in full  force  and  effect,  regardless  of any
investigation  (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or  director  or  controlling  person of the  Company,  and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

         11.  If  any  Pricing  Agreement  or  Over-allotment  Option  shall  be
terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any
liability to any Underwriter  with respect to the Firm Shares or Optional Shares
with respect to which such Pricing  Agreement shall have been terminated  except
as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason, Designated
Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein,  the
Company will  reimburse the  Underwriters  through the  Representatives  for all
out-of-pocket  expenses  approved in writing by the  Representatives,  including
fees and  disbursements of counsel,  reasonably  incurred by the Underwriters in
making  preparations  for the  purchase,  sale and  delivery of such  Designated
Shares,  but the  Company  shall  then be  under  no  further  liability  to any
Underwriter  with  respect  to such  Designated  Shares  except as  provided  in
Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

         12. In all dealings hereunder,  the Representatives of the Underwriters
of Designated Shares shall act on behalf of each of such  Underwriters,  and the
parties  hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any  statement,  request,
notice  or  agreement  on  behalf  of any  Underwriter  made  or  given  by such
Representatives  jointly or by such of the  Representatives,  if any,  as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.

         All statements,  requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing  Agreement;  and if to the Company  shall be  delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile  transmission  to the address of the Company set forth in the
Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice
to an Underwriter  pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail,  telex or facsimile  transmission  to such  Underwriter at its address set
forth  in  its   Underwriters'   Questionnaire,   or  telex   constituting  such
Questionnaire,   which   address   will  be  supplied  to  the  Company  by  the
Representatives  upon  request.  Any  such  statements,   requests,  notices  or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

         13. This  Agreement and each Pricing  Agreement  shall be binding upon,
and inure  solely to the benefit of, the  Underwriters,  the Company and, to the
extent  provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof,  the officers and directors of the
Company and each person who controls the Company or any  Underwriter,  and their
respective  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  successors and assigns,  and no
other  person  shall  acquire  or have  any  right  under or by  virtue  of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement.  No purchaser of any of the Shares from
any  Underwriter  shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such
purchase.

         14.      Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing  Agreement.  As
used herein,  the term  "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's
office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

         15.      This Agreement and each Pricing  Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

         16. This  Agreement  and each Pricing  Agreement may be executed by any
one or more of the  parties  hereto and  thereto in any number of  counterparts,
each of which  shall  be  deemed  to be an  original,  but all  such  respective
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.




Very truly yours,

Heilig-Meyers Company


By:
 ...........................................
Name:
Title:









                    


                                     ANNEX I

             Pricing Agreement



[Names of Representatives]
   As Representatives of the several
      Underwriters   named  in   Schedule  I
hereto
[Address of Representatives]




                           ________ __, 199_

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Heilig-Meyers   Company,   a  Virginia   corporation  (the  "Company"),
proposes,  subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  stated  herein  and  in the
Underwriting Agreement,  dated ________ __, 1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
to  issue  and  sell  to the  Underwriters  named  in  Schedule  I  hereto  (the
"Underwriters")  the Shares  specified  in Schedule  II hereto (the  "Designated
Shares"  consisting of Firm Shares and any Optional Shares the  Underwriters may
elect to  purchase).  Each of the  provisions of the  Underwriting  Agreement is
incorporated  herein by reference in its  entirety,  and shall be deemed to be a
part of this  Agreement  to the same extent as if such  provisions  had been set
forth in full herein; and each of the  representations  and warranties set forth
therein  shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement,  except that each  representation  and  warranty  which refers to the
Prospectus in Section 2 of the  Underwriting  Agreement  shall be deemed to be a
representation  or  warranty  as of the date of the  Underwriting  Agreement  in
relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined),  and also a representation  and
warranty as of the date of this Pricing  Agreement in relation to the Prospectus
as amended or  supplemented  relating  to the  Designated  Shares  which are the
subject of this Pricing Agreement.  Each reference to the Representatives herein
and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference
shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein,  terms defined
in  the  Underwriting   Agreement  are  used  herein  as  therein  defined.  The
Representatives designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf
of each of the  Underwriters of the Designated  Shares pursuant to Section 12 of
the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in
such Section 12 are set forth in Schedule II hereto.

         An  amendment to the  Registration  Statement,  or a supplement  to the
Prospectus,  as the case may be, relating to the Designated  Shares, in the form
heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.

         Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth  herein  and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference,  (a) the Company agrees
to issue  and  sell to each of the  Underwriters,  and each of the  Underwriters
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and
place and at the  purchase  price to the  Underwriters  set forth in Schedule II
hereto,  the  number  of  Firm  Shares  set  forth  opposite  the  name  of such
Underwriter  in Schedule I hereto  and,  (b) in the event and to the extent that
the Underwriters  shall exercise the election to purchase  Optional  Shares,  as
provided  below,   the  Company  agrees  to  issue  and  sell  to  each  of  the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Company at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in
Schedule  II hereto that  portion of the number of  Optional  Shares as to which
such election shall have been exercised.

         The  Company  hereby  grants to each of the  Underwriters  the right to
purchase  at their  election  up to the  number  of  Optional  Shares  set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto on the terms referred
to in the paragraph  above for the sole purpose of covering  over-allotments  in
the sale of the Firm Shares.  Any such election to purchase  Optional Shares may
be exercised by written  notice from the  Representatives  to the Company  given
within a period of 30 calendar  days after the date of this  Pricing  Agreement,
setting  forth the aggregate  number of Optional  Shares to be purchased and the
date on which such  Optional  Shares are to be  delivered,  as determined by the
Representatives,  but in no event  earlier  than the First Time of Delivery  or,
unless the  Representatives  and the  Company  otherwise  agree in  writing,  no
earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,  please sign
and return to us [___]  counterparts  hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you,
on behalf of each of the Underwriters,  this letter and such acceptance  hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting  Agreement  incorporated  herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Company.  It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf
of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters,  the form of which shall be submitted to
the Company for examination,  upon request,  but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.





Very truly yours,

Heilig-Meyers Company


By:
 .......................................................
Name:
Title:




Accepted as of the date hereof:

[Names of Representatives]


By:
 .........................................................
         Name:
         Title:

         On behalf of each of the Underwriters





                     SCHEDULE I
 
 
  

                                                                                                Maximum Number
                                                                                                  of Optional
                                                                          Number of              Shares Which
                                                                         Firm Shares                May be
                           Underwriter                                 to be Purchased             Purchased
[Names of Representatives]
[Names of other Underwriters]
Total






                     SCHEDULE II

Title of Designated Shares:
Number of Designated Shares:
         Number of Firm Shares:
         Maximum Number of Optional Shares:
Initial Offering Price to Public:
         [$........ per Share] [Formula]
Purchase Price by Underwriters:
         [$........ per Share] [Formula]
[Commission Payable to Underwriters:
$........  per Share in  [specify  same form of funds
as in Specified Funds below]
Form of Designated Shares:
Definitive  form,  to be made  available for checking
[and packaging] at least  twenty-four  hours prior to
the  Time  of   Delivery   at  the   office  of  [The
Depository    Trust   Company   or   its   designated
custodian] [the Representatives]
Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
Federal (same-day) funds
[Describe  any  blackout  provisions  with respect to
the Designated Shares]
Time of Delivery:
 ........     a.m.     (New    York    City     time),
 ..............., 19..
Closing Location:
Names and Addresses of Representatives:
         Designated Representatives:
         Address for Notices, etc.:
[Other Terms:]














                                             ANNEX II

     Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the  Underwriting  Agreement,  the  accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

                  (i) They are independent  certified  public  accountants  with
         respect to the Company and its  subsidiaries  within the meaning of the
         Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

                  (ii)  In  their  opinion,  the  financial  statements  and any
         supplementary  financial  information  and  schedules  audited (and, if
         applicable,  financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information
         examined)  by them and  included or  incorporated  by  reference in the
         Registration  Statement  or the  Prospectus  comply  as to  form in all
         material  respects with the applicable  accounting  requirements of the
         Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the related published rules
         and regulations thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review
         in accordance with standards  established by the American  Institute of
         Certified  Public  Accountants of the  consolidated  interim  financial
         statements,  selected financial data, pro forma financial  information,
         financial forecasts and/or condensed financial  statements derived from
         audited  financial  statements of the Company for the periods specified
         in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon,  copies of which
         have  been  separately   furnished  to  the   representatives   of  the
         Underwriters (the "Representatives");

                  (iii)  They have made a review in  accordance  with  standards
         established by the American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants
         of  the  unaudited   condensed   consolidated   statements  of  income,
         consolidated  balance sheets and consolidated  statements of cash flows
         included in the Prospectus  and/or included in the Company's  quarterly
         reports on Form 10-Q  incorporated  by reference into the Prospectus as
         indicated in their reports thereon copies of which have been separately
         furnished  to  the  Representatives;  and  on the  basis  of  specified
         procedures  including  inquiries  of  officials of the Company who have
         responsibility  for financial and accounting  matters regarding whether
         the unaudited condensed  consolidated  financial statements referred to
         in  paragraph  (vi)(A)(i)  below  comply  as to  form  in all  material
         respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
         Exchange Act and the related  published rules and regulations,  nothing
         came to their  attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited
         condensed consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in
         all material  respects with the applicable  accounting  requirements of
         the Act and the  Exchange  Act and  the  related  published  rules  and
         regulations;

                  (iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect
         to the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
         Company  for  the  five  most  recent  fiscal  years  included  in  the
         Prospectus and included or  incorporated  by reference in Item 6 of the
         Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the most recent  fiscal year
         agrees  with  the  corresponding   amounts  (after   restatement  where
         applicable) in the audited  consolidated  financial statements for such
         five fiscal years which were included or  incorporated  by reference in
         the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;

                  (v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
         selected  captions with the disclosure  requirements  of Regulation S-K
         and on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing
         came to their  attention as a result of the foregoing  procedures  that
         caused them to believe  that this  information  does not conform in all
         material  respects with the disclosure  requirements of items 301, 302,
         402 and 503(d), respectively, of Regulation S-K;
                  (vi) On the basis of limited  procedures,  not constituting an
         examination in accordance with generally  accepted auditing  standards,
         consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
         information  referred  to below,  a  reading  of the  latest  available
         interim  financial  statements  of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries,
         inspection  of the minute  books of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries
         since the date of the latest audited financial  statements  included or
         incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,  inquiries of officials of
         the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries   responsible  for  financial  and
         accounting  matters and such other  inquiries and  procedures as may be
         specified in such letter,  nothing came to their  attention that caused
         them to believe that:

                           (A)  (i)   the   unaudited   condensed   consolidated
                  statements  of  income,   consolidated   balance   sheets  and
                  consolidated   statements  of  cash  flows   included  in  the
                  Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by reference in the
                  Company's  Quarterly  Reports  on Form  10-Q  incorporated  by
                  reference  in the  Prospectus  do not comply as to form in all
                  material respects with the applicable accounting  requirements
                  of the  Exchange  Act  and the  related  published  rules  and
                  regulations, or (ii) any material modifications should be made
                  to the unaudited condensed consolidated  statements of income,
                  consolidated  balance  sheets and  consolidated  statements of
                  cash flows  included  in the  Prospectus  or  included  in the
                  Company's  Quarterly  Reports  on Form  10-Q  incorporated  by
                  reference in the Prospectus, for them to be in conformity with
                  generally accepted accounting principles;

                           (B) any other  unaudited  income  statement  data and
                  balance  sheet items  included in the  Prospectus do not agree
                  with the  corresponding  items in the  unaudited  consolidated
                  financial  statements  from  which  such data and  items  were
                  derived,  and any  such  unaudited  data  and  items  were not
                  determined on a basis substantially  consistent with the basis
                  for the  corresponding  amounts  in the  audited  consolidated
                  financial  statements included or incorporated by reference in
                  the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent
                  fiscal year;

                           (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not
                  included  in the  Prospectus  but from which were  derived the
                  unaudited condensed financial statements referred to in clause
                  (A) and any unaudited  income statement data and balance sheet
                  items included in the Prospectus and referred to in Clause (B)
                  were not determined on a basis  substantially  consistent with
                  the basis for the  audited  financial  statements  included or
                  incorporated  by reference in the  Company's  Annual Report on
                  Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;

                           (D) any  unaudited pro forma  consolidated  condensed
                  financial  statements included or incorporated by reference in
                  the  Prospectus  do not  comply  as to  form  in all  material
                  respects with the applicable  accounting  requirements  of the
                  Act and the published rules and regulations  thereunder or the
                  pro forma  adjustments  have not been properly  applied to the
                  historical amounts in the compilation of those statements;

                           (E) as of a  specified  date not more  than five days
                  prior to the date of such letter,  there have been any changes
                  in the  consolidated  capital  stock (other than  issuances of
                  capital stock upon exercise of options and stock  appreciation
                  rights,   upon  earn-outs  of  performance   shares  and  upon
                  conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were
                  outstanding  on the date of the latest  balance sheet included
                  or  incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Prospectus)  or  any
                  increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company and
                  its subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated net current
                  assets or stockholders' equity or other items specified by the
                  Representatives,  or any  increases in any items  specified by
                  the  Representatives,  in each case as compared  with  amounts
                  shown in the latest balance sheet included or  incorporated by
                  reference in the Prospectus,  except in each case for changes,
                  increases or decreases  which the  Prospectus  discloses  have
                  occurred or may occur or which are  described  in such letter;
                  and

                           (F) for  the  period  from  the  date  of the  latest
                  financial  statements included or incorporated by reference in
                  the Prospectus to the specified date referred to in Clause (E)
                  there were any  decreases  in  consolidated  net  revenues  or
                  operating  profit  or  the  total  or  per  share  amounts  of
                  consolidated  net  income  or  other  items  specified  by the
                  Representatives,  or any  increases in any items  specified by
                  the  Representatives,  in  each  case  as  compared  with  the
                  comparable  period  of the  preceding  year and with any other
                  period   of    corresponding    length    specified   by   the
                  Representatives,   except  in  each  case  for   increases  or
                  decreases which the Prospectus  discloses have occurred or may
                  occur or which are described in such letter; and

                  (vii) In  addition  to the  examination  referred  to in their
         report(s)  included or  incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and
         the limited procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other
         procedures  referred to in paragraphs  (iii) and (vi) above,  they have
         carried  out  certain   specified   procedures,   not  constituting  an
         examination in accordance with generally  accepted auditing  standards,
         with respect to certain amounts,  percentages and financial information
         specified  by the  Representatives  which are derived  from the general
         accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in
         the Prospectus (excluding documents  incorporated by reference),  or in
         Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement
         specified  by  the  Representatives  or in  documents  incorporated  by
         reference in the Prospectus specified by the Representatives,  and have
         compared certain of such amounts, percentages and financial information
         with the  accounting  records of the Company and its  subsidiaries  and
         have found them to be in agreement.

         All  references in this Annex II to the  Prospectus  shall be deemed to
refer to the  Prospectus  (including  the  documents  incorporated  by reference
therein) as defined in the  Underwriting  Agreement as of the date of the letter
delivered on the date of the Pricing  Agreement  for purposes of such letter and
to  the  Prospectus  as  amended  or   supplemented   (including  the  documents
incorporated  by  reference  therein) in relation to the  applicable  Designated
Shares for  purposes of the letter  delivered  at the Time of Delivery  for such
Designated Shares.