Virginia
|
54-0251350
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(IRS
employer identification no.)
|
Large
accelerated Filer ¨
|
Accelerated
filer x
|
|
Non-accelerated
Filer ¨ (Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company ¨
|
Common
stock, no par value
|
10,771,912
|
(Class of common
stock)
|
(Number
of shares)
|
PART
I Financial Information
|
||
Item
1.
|
3
|
|
Item
2.
|
13
|
|
Item
3.
|
20
|
|
Item
4
|
20
|
|
PART
II Other Information
|
||
Item
6.
|
20
|
|
21
|
||
November
1,
|
February
1,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2009
|
|||||||
Assets
|
||||||||
Current
Assets
|
||||||||
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
$ | 34,730 | $ | 11,804 | ||||
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
|
||||||||
of
$1,688 and $2,207
on each date
|
26,248 | 30,261 | ||||||
Inventories
|
33,545 | 60,248 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
6,103 | 4,736 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
100,626 | 107,049 | ||||||
Property,
plant, and equipment, net
|
23,425 | 24,596 | ||||||
Intangible
assets
|
4,129 | 4,805 | ||||||
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies
|
14,364 | 13,513 | ||||||
Other assets
|
3,145 | 3,504 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 145,689 | $ | 153,467 | ||||
Liabilities
and Shareholders' Equity
|
||||||||
Current
Liabilities
|
||||||||
Trade acccounts payable
|
$ | 8,116 | $ | 8,392 | ||||
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits
|
2,847 | 2,218 | ||||||
Other
accrued expenses
|
2,713 | 2,279 | ||||||
Short-term
borrowing
|
111 | - | ||||||
Current
maturities of long-term debt
|
- | 2,899 | ||||||
Total current liabilities
|
13,787 | 15,788 | ||||||
Long-term
debt, excluding current maturities
|
- | 2,319 | ||||||
Deferred
compensation
|
6,346 | 5,606 | ||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
|
16 | 44 | ||||||
Total liabilities
|
20,149 | 23,757 | ||||||
Shareholders'
equity
|
||||||||
Common
stock, no par value, 20,000 shares authorized,
|
||||||||
10,772 shares issued and
oustanding on each date
|
17,055 | 16,995 | ||||||
Retained
earnings
|
108,180 | 112,450 | ||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
305 | 265 | ||||||
Total shareholders' equity
|
125,540 | 129,710 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$ | 145,689 | $ | 153,467 |
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
|
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
|
|||||||||||||||
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
|||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Net
Sales
|
$ | 52,605 | $ | 68,996 | $ | 150,646 | $ | 204,651 | ||||||||
Cost
of Sales
|
39,928 | 53,319 | 117,047 | 158,111 | ||||||||||||
Gross Profit
|
12,677 | 15,677 | 33,599 | 46,540 | ||||||||||||
Selling
and administrative expenses
|
10,894 | 11,530 | 32,329 | 35,580 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring
and asset impairment (credit) charge
|
- | (561 | ) | 613 | (819 | ) | ||||||||||
Operating
income
|
1,783 | 4,708 | 657 | 11,779 | ||||||||||||
Other
(expense) income, net
|
(93 | ) | 36 | (122 | ) | 391 | ||||||||||
Income before income taxes
|
1,690 | 4,744 | 535 | 12,170 | ||||||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
733 | 1,794 | 497 | 4,541 | ||||||||||||
Net income
|
$ | 957 | $ | 2,950 | $ | 38 | $ | 7,629 | ||||||||
Earnings
per share
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ | 0.09 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.68 | ||||||||
Diluted
|
$ | 0.09 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 0.68 | ||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
10,752 | 10,761 | 10,752 | 11,176 | ||||||||||||
Diluted
|
10,764 | 10,767 | 10,762 | 11,182 | ||||||||||||
Cash
dividends declared per share
|
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.30 |
Thirty-nine Weeks Ended | ||||||||
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
||||||||
Cash received from customers
|
$ | 154,522 | $ | 205,466 | ||||
Cash paid to suppliers and employees
|
(119,671 | ) | (199,035 | ) | ||||
Income taxes paid, net
|
(1,728 | ) | (5,031 | ) | ||||
Interest (paid) received, net
|
(262 | ) | 270 | |||||
Net cash provided by operating
activities
|
$ | 32,861 | $ | 1,670 | ||||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
||||||||
Additional payments related to the acquisition of Opus
Designs
|
- | (181 | ) | |||||
Purchase of property, plant, and equipment
|
(1,264 | ) | (1,755 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
received on notes issued for the sale of property
|
23 | - | ||||||
Proceeds from the sale of property and
equipment
|
10 | 17 | ||||||
Premiums paid on officers' life insurance
|
(1,352 | ) | (1,284 | ) | ||||
Proceeds received on officers' life insurance
|
986 | 357 | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(1,597 | ) | (2,846 | ) | ||||
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
||||||||
Purchases and retirement of common stock
|
- | (14,097 | ) | |||||
Cash dividends paid
|
(3,231 | ) | (3,382 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
|
4,493 | - | ||||||
Payments on short-term borrowings
|
(4,382 | ) | - | |||||
Payments on long-term debt
|
(5,218 | ) | (2,002 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in financing
activities
|
(8,338 | ) | (19,481 | ) | ||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
$ | 22,926 | $ | (20,657 | ) | |||
Cash
and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
|
11,804 | 33,076 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
|
$ | 34,730 | $ | 12,419 | ||||
Reconciliation
of net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 38 | $ | 7,629 | ||||
Depreciation
|
2,377 | 2,154 | ||||||
Non-cash restricted stock awards
|
61 | 54 | ||||||
Asset impairment charges
|
613 | - | ||||||
Restructuring (credit)
|
- | (819 | ) | |||||
Loss on disposal of property
|
115 | 122 | ||||||
Provision for doubtful accounts
|
850 | 1,475 | ||||||
Deferred income tax benefit
|
(107 | ) | (667 | ) | ||||
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect from
acquisitions:
|
||||||||
Trade accounts receivable
|
3,163 | (1,019 | ) | |||||
Inventories
|
26,703 | (5,416 | ) | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
(1,439 | ) | (122 | ) | ||||
Trade accounts payable
|
(276 | ) | (2,414 | ) | ||||
Accrued salaries, wages, and benefits
|
629 | 603 | ||||||
Accrued income taxes
|
- | 177 | ||||||
Other
accrued expenses
|
(644 | ) | (419 | ) | ||||
Deferred compensation
|
577 | - | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities
|
201 | 332 | ||||||
Net cash provided by operating activties
|
$ | 32,861 | $ | 1,670 |
1.
|
Preparation of Interim
Financial Statements
|
3.
|
Inventories
|
November
1,
|
February
1,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2009
|
|||||||
Finished
furniture
|
$ | 38,821 | $ | 64,865 | ||||
Furniture
in process
|
899 | 900 | ||||||
Materials
and supplies
|
6,995 | 8,207 | ||||||
Inventories
at FIFO
|
46,715 | 73,972 | ||||||
Reduction
to LIFO basis
|
13,170 | 13,724 | ||||||
Inventories
|
$ | 33,545 | $ | 60,248 |
November
1,
|
February
1,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2009
|
|||||||
Buildings
and land improvements
|
$ | 23,708 | $ | 23,676 | ||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
4,312 | 3,665 | ||||||
Furniture
and fixtures
|
27,605 | 26,656 | ||||||
Other
|
4,050 | 3,886 | ||||||
Total
depreciable property at cost
|
59,675 | 57,883 | ||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
37,728 | 35,695 | ||||||
Total
depreciable property, net
|
21,947 | 22,188 | ||||||
Land
|
1,357 | 1,357 | ||||||
Construction
in progress
|
121 | 1,051 | ||||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
$ | 23,425 | $ | 24,596 |
November
1,
|
February
1,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2009
|
|||||||
Non-amortizable
Intangible Assets
|
||||||||
Trademarks
and trade names - Bradington-Young
|
$ | 2,676 | $ | 3,289 | ||||
Trademarks
and trade names - Sam Moore
|
396 | 396 | ||||||
Trademarks
and trade names - Opus Designs
|
1,057 | 1,057 | ||||||
Total
trademarks and tradenames
|
4,129 | 4,742 | ||||||
Amortizable
Intangible Assets
|
||||||||
Non-compete
agreements
|
- | 700 | ||||||
Furniture
designs
|
100 | 100 | ||||||
Total
amortizable intangible assets
|
100 | 800 | ||||||
Less
accumulated amortization
|
100 | 737 | ||||||
Net
carrying value
|
- | 63 | ||||||
Intangible
assets
|
$ | 4,129 | $ | 4,805 |
November
1,
|
February
1,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2009
|
|||||||
Trade
accounts receivable
|
$ | 19,069 | $ | 24,408 | ||||
Receivable
from factor
|
8,867 | 8,060 | ||||||
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
|
(1,688 | ) | (2,207 | ) | ||||
Accounts
receivable
|
$ | 26,248 | $ | 30,261 | ||||
Short-term
borrowing
|
$ | 4,493 | $ | - | ||||
Repayments
|
4,382 | - | ||||||
Short-term
borrowing
|
$ | 111 | $ | - |
Thirteen Weeks Ended | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended | |||||||||||||||
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
|||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 957 | $ | 2,950 | $ | 38 | $ | 7,629 | ||||||||
Loss
on interest rate swap
|
- | (32 | ) | (26 | ) | (33 | ) | |||||||||
Portion
of swap agreement's fair value
|
||||||||||||||||
reclassified
to interest expense
|
- | 45 | 118 | 143 | ||||||||||||
Reclassification
to income of cumulative
|
||||||||||||||||
balance
related to ineffective swap
|
76 | 76 | - | |||||||||||||
Reclassification
to income of unamortized
|
||||||||||||||||
balance
of swap termination payment
|
61 | 61 | - | |||||||||||||
Unrealized
gain on interest rate swap
|
137 | 13 | 229 | 110 | ||||||||||||
Portion
of accumulated acturial gain on Supplemental
|
||||||||||||||||
Retirement
Income Plan reclassified to deferred
|
||||||||||||||||
compensation
expense
|
(55 | ) | - | (164 | ) | - | ||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income before tax
|
82 | 13 | 65 | 110 | ||||||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
(31 | ) | (4 | ) | (25 | ) | (42 | ) | ||||||||
Other
comprehensive income, net of tax
|
51 | 9 | 40 | 68 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive
net income
|
$ | 1,008 | $ | 2,959 | $ | 78 | $ | 7,697 |
Thirteen Weeks Ended | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended | |||||||||||||||
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
|||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 957 | $ | 2,950 | $ | 38 | $ | 7,629 | ||||||||
Less:
Unvested participating restricted stock dividends
|
2 | - | 6 | |||||||||||||
Net
earnings allocated to unvested participating
|
||||||||||||||||
restricted
stock
|
2 | - | ||||||||||||||
Earnings
available for common shareholders
|
953 | 2,950 | 32 | 7,629 | ||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding for basic
|
||||||||||||||||
earnings
per share
|
10,752 | 10,761 | 10,752 | 11,176 | ||||||||||||
Dilutive
effect of non-vested restricted stock awards
|
12 | 6 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding for diluted
|
||||||||||||||||
earnings
per share
|
10,764 | 10,767 | 10,762 | 11,182 | ||||||||||||
Basic
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.09 | $ | 0.27 | $ | - | $ | 0.68 | ||||||||
Diluted
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.09 | $ | 0.27 | $ | - | $ | 0.68 |
Whole Number of |
Grant-Date Fair Value |
Aggregate Grant-Date |
Compensation Expense |
Grant-Date
Fair Value Unrecognized
at |
||||||||||||||||
Shares
Issued on January 16, 2006
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Issued
|
4,851 | $ | 15.31 | $ | 74 | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited
|
(784 | ) | 15.31 | (12 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Vested
|
(4,067 | ) | 15.31 | (62 | ) | $ | 62 | |||||||||||||
Shares
Issued on January 15, 2007
|
4,875 | $ | 15.23 | 74 | 70 | $ | 4 | |||||||||||||
Shares
Issued on January 15, 2008
|
4,335 | $ | 19.61 | 85 | 52 | 33 | ||||||||||||||
Shares
Issued on January 15, 2009
|
10,474 | $ | 8.12 | 85 | 23 | 62 | ||||||||||||||
Shares
outstanding at November
1, 2009
|
19,684 | $ | 244 | $ | 207 | $ | 99 |
·
|
upon
execution of the amendment, we were required to repay in full the
remaining balance of the term loans outstanding under the agreement ($3.8
million, plus accrued interest);
|
·
|
effective
as of July 30, 2009, the Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio under the credit
agreement has been changed from 1.25:1.0 to 2.0:1.0;
and
|
·
|
effective
as of July 30, 2009, the Debt Service Coverage Ratio under the credit
agreement has been eliminated.
|
Notional
|
Interest
|
||||||||||||
Agreement
|
Amount
|
Rate
|
Expiration
Date
|
Fair
Value
|
|||||||||
Interest
rate swap
|
$ | 3,064 | 3.09 | % |
September
1, 2010
|
$ | (54 | ) |
Fair Value as of November 1, 2009 | ||||||||||
Carrying
Value and
|
Quoted
Prices in
|
Significant
|
||||||||
Balance
Sheet Location
|
Active
Markets
|
Other
|
Significant
|
|||||||
as
of November 1, 2009
|
for
Identical
|
Observable
|
Unobservable
|
|||||||
Other
Accrued
|
Instruments
|
Inputs
|
Inputs
|
|||||||
Expenses
|
(Level
1)
|
(Level
2)
|
(Level
3)
|
|||||||
Interest
rate swap
|
$ | (54 | ) | $ | (54 | ) |
Thirteen Weeks Ended | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended | |||||||||||||||
November 1, | November 2, | November 1, | November 2, | |||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
rate swap:
|
||||||||||||||||
Loss
recognized in other comprehensive income
|
$ | - | $ | (32 | ) | $ | (26 | ) | $ | (33 | ) | |||||
Loss
reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive
|
||||||||||||||||
income
into interest expense, net
|
- | 45 | 118 | 143 | ||||||||||||
Loss
recognized in net income
|
(130 | ) | - | (130 | ) | - | ||||||||||
Loss
recognized in net income on change
|
||||||||||||||||
in
fair value of derivative financial instrument
|
(22 | ) | - | (22 | ) | - |
·
|
the
2010 fiscal year or comparable terminology refer to the fiscal year that
began February 2, 2009 and will end January 31, 2010;
and
|
·
|
the
2009 fiscal year or comparable terminology refers to the fiscal year that
began February 4, 2008 and ended February 1,
2009.
|
·
|
Net
sales declined by $16.4 million, or 23.8%, to $52.6 million during the
fiscal year 2010 third quarter compared to net sales of $69.0 million
during the fiscal year 2009 third quarter. For the first nine
months of fiscal year 2010, sales declined $54.0 million, or 26.4% to
$150.6 million, compared to $204.7 million in the first nine months of
fiscal year 2009. This decline reflects the continuing
year-over-year declines in incoming order rates we have experienced in all
operating units since the fiscal 2006 third quarter, resulting from the
industry-wide slow down in business at retail. However, sales for the
fiscal 2010 third quarter increased approximately 14% over the fiscal year
2010 second quarter.
|
·
|
Gross
margins for the fiscal 2010 third quarter improved due primarily to lower
freight costs on wood and metal furniture; however, gross margins in our
upholstery units declined due to higher fixed costs as a percent of net
sales.
|
·
|
Selling
and administrative expenses decreased in absolute terms compared to the
fiscal year 2009 periods but increased as a percent of net sales due to
the effect of the fixed nature of certain selling and administrative costs
as a percent of the lower net sales reported in the fiscal 2010
periods.
|
·
|
Operating
income for the fiscal year 2010 third quarter was $1.8 million, or 3.4% of
net sales, compared to operating income of $4.7 million, or 6.8% of net
sales, in the fiscal year 2009 third quarter principally due to lower net
sales and higher fixed operating and domestic upholstery
overhead costs as a percent of net
sales.
|
·
|
For
the first nine months of fiscal year 2010, operating income was $657,000,
or 0.4% of net sales, compared to operating income of $11.8 million, or
5.7% of net sales, in the first nine months of fiscal year 2009
principally due to lower net sales, higher fixed operating and domestic
upholstery overhead costs as a percent of net sales and an impairment
charge of $613,000 related to the Bradington-Young trade name in the
fiscal year 2010 period compared to an $819,000 restructuring credit in
the fiscal 2009 period.
|
Thirteen Weeks Ended | Thirty-nine Weeks Ended | |||||||||||||||
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
November
1,
|
November
2,
|
|||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
Cost
of sales
|
75.9 | 77.3 | 77.7 | 77.3 | ||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
24.1 | 22.7 | 22.3 | 22.7 | ||||||||||||
Selling
and administrative expenses
|
20.7 | 16.7 | 21.5 | 17.4 | ||||||||||||
Restructuring
and asset impairment (credit) charge
|
- | (0.8 | ) | 0.4 | (0.4 | ) | ||||||||||
Operating
income
|
3.4 | 6.8 | 0.4 | 5.7 | ||||||||||||
Other
(expense) income, net
|
(0.2 | ) | 0.1 | (0.1 | ) | 0.2 | ||||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
3.2 | 6.9 | 0.3 | 5.9 | ||||||||||||
Income
tax expense
|
1.4 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 2.2 | ||||||||||||
Net
income
|
1.8 | 4.3 | - | 3.7 |
●
|
deferring,
reducing or eliminating certain spending
plans;
|
●
|
continuing
to refine the management of our supply chain, warehousing and distribution
operations; and
|
●
|
adjusting
our inventory levels to reflect current business conditions and lower
sales volumes.
|
● | pursuing additional distribution channels and offering an array of new products and designs that we believe will generate additional sales growth; |
● | taking actions to streamline our domestic upholstery operations, improve efficiency and reduce overhead; and, |
● | continuing to evaluate our manufacturing capacity utilization, work schedules and operating costs to better match costs to current sales volume levels. |
·
|
upon
execution of the amendment, we were required to repay in full the
remaining balance of the term loans outstanding under the agreement ($3.8
million, plus accrued interest);
|
·
|
effective
as of July 30, 2009, the Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio under the credit
agreement has been changed from 1.25:1.0 to 2.0:1.0;
and
|
·
|
effective
as of July 30, 2009, the Debt Service Coverage Ratio under the credit
agreement has been eliminated.
|
·
|
current
economic conditions and instability in the financial and credit markets
including their potential impact on our (i) sales and operating costs and
access to financing, (ii) customers and suppliers and their ability to
obtain financing or generate the cash necessary to conduct their
business;
|
·
|
general
economic or business conditions, both domestically and
internationally;
|
·
|
price
competition in the furniture
industry;
|
·
|
changes
in domestic and international monetary policies and fluctuations in
foreign currency exchange rates affecting the price of our imported
products and raw materials;
|
·
|
the
cyclical nature of the furniture industry, which is particularly sensitive
to changes in consumer confidence, the amount of consumers’ income
available for discretionary purchases, and the availability and terms of
consumer credit;
|
·
|
risks
associated with the cost of imported goods, including fluctuations in the
prices of purchased finished goods and transportation and warehousing
costs;
|
·
|
supply,
transportation and distribution disruptions, particularly those affecting
imported products;
|
·
|
adverse
political acts or developments in, or affecting, the international markets
from which we import products, including duties or tariffs imposed on
those products;
|
·
|
risks
associated with domestic manufacturing operations, including fluctuations
in capacity utilization and the prices of key raw materials,
transportation and warehousing costs, domestic labor costs and
environmental compliance and remediation
costs;
|
·
|
our
ability to successfully implement our business plan to increase sales and
improve financial performance;
|
·
|
achieving
and managing growth and change, and the risks associated with
acquisitions, restructurings, strategic alliances and international
operations;
|
·
|
risks
associated with distribution through retailers, such as non-binding
dealership arrangements;
|
·
|
capital
requirements and costs;
|
·
|
competition
from non-traditional outlets, such as catalog and internet retailers and
home improvement centers;
|
·
|
changes
in consumer preferences, including increased demand for lower quality,
lower priced furniture due to declines in consumer confidence and/or
discretionary income available for furniture purchases and the
availability of consumer credit;
and
|
·
|
higher
than expected costs associated with product quality and safety, including
regulatory compliance costs related to the sale of consumer products and
costs related to defective
products.
|
3.1
|
Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended March
28, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form
10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the quarter ended February 28,
2003)
|
|
3.2
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the quarter
ended August 31, 2006)
|
|
4.1
|
Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (See Exhibit
3.1)
|
|
4.2
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws of the Company (See Exhibit 3.2)
|
|
10.1
|
Fourth
Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2009, between the
Company and Bank of America N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) filed with the SEC
on August 13, 2009
|
|
10.2*
|
||
31.1*
|
||
31.2*
|
||
32.1*
|
HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION | |||
Date:
December 9, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/ E. Larry Ryder | |
E. Larry Ryder | |||
Executive
Vice President – Finance and
Administration
and Chief Financial Officer
|
|||
1.
|
Executive’s
employment has been terminated without cause by Employer effective
November 30, 2009, thereby discontinuing any employer/employee
relationship between the Employer and
Executive.
|
2.
|
This
Agreement is designed to provide Executive with additional benefits above
and beyond the benefits he is already entitled to receive prior to and
upon his termination in exchange for the consideration from Executive, as
specified below.
|
1.
|
Termination
Date. Your termination date will be November 30, 2009
(“Termination Date”). For purpose of the Consolidated Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1161 et seq., your
Termination Date shall serve as the “qualifying event” for the purpose of
any rights you might have under
COBRA.
|
2.
|
Special Severance
Benefits. Employer agrees to provide you with the
following benefits following your termination of
employment:
|
a.
|
Employer
will continue to pay you your normal salary, as of your Termination Date,
less required and authorized withholdings and deductions, for a period of
two months ($ 41,666.66). The salary continuation payments will
be made to you no later than January 15, 2010. The salary
continuation payments described in this sub-paragraph are compensation to
which you would not otherwise be entitled except under the terms of this
Agreement with Employer.
|
b.
|
In
addition to the two-month salary continuation payments described above,
Employer will waive the service vesting requirements under your Deferred
Bonus Agreement though January 31, 2010, thereby entitling you to receive
a payment of $50,000 on January 31, 2010 and a payment of $33,334 on
January 30, 2011. The $33,334 payment on January 30, 2011 shall
be expressly conditioned on your compliance with the requirements of
Paragraph 8 of this Agreement. Failure to comply with the
requirements of that paragraph will cause you to forfeit your right to
that payment.
|
c.
|
You
are entitled (in accordance with the provisions of the plan) to your
interest in the Company’s 401(k) Plan; please contact Fidelity Investments
at 800-835-5097 for instructions on distribution or rollover
options.
|
3.
|
Employee’s
Release. In consideration for the Special Severance
Benefits set forth above in Paragraph 2, and other consideration set forth
in this Agreement, you agree, on behalf of yourself, heirs, descendants,
executors, administrators, assigns and successors, to waive, release,
covenant not to sue, and forever discharge Employer, its parents,
subsidiaries, affiliates, owners, trustees, officers, directors,
attorneys, agents, employees, shareholders, and each of them individually
or collectively (“Released Parties”), from any and all claims, known or
unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, that you may have relating to or
arising out of your employment with Employer and termination thereof as of
the effective date of this Agreement (the
“Release”).
|
4.
|
Special Release
Notification. Paragraph 3 includes a release of all
claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and,
therefore, pursuant to the requirements of the ADEA, you acknowledge and
understand the following: (a) you have been advised that this release
includes, but is not limited to, all claims under the ADEA arising up to
and including the date of execution of this release; (b) that you have
been advised to consult with an attorney and/or other advisor of your
choosing concerning your rights and obligations under this release; (c)
that you have been advised to consider fully this release before executing
it; (d) that you have been offered ample time and opportunity, in excess
of twenty-one days, to do so; and (e) that this release shall become
effective and enforceable seven days following your execution of this
Agreement (the “Effective Date”), during which seven day period you may
revoke your acceptance of this Agreement by delivering written notice to
Anne Jacobsen, Vice President of Human Resources, at Hooker Furniture
Corporation, P.O. Box 4708, Martinsville, Virginia
24115.
|
5.
|
No Other
Payments. Executive understands and agrees that Employer
and the other Released Parties shall neither make nor cause to be made any
other payments him, his beneficiaries or dependents, or otherwise on his
behalf, except as specifically referenced herein. Executive
represents and warrants that he has not assigned to any person any of the
claims released herein.
|
6.
|
Taxes. To
the extent any taxes may be due on the payments provided in this Agreement
beyond any withheld (including, without limitation, any taxes due under
Code Section 409A), Executive agrees to pay such taxes and to indemnify
and hold Employer and its agents and affiliates harmless for any tax
payments owed, interest, penalties, levies or assessments resulting from
the payments provided hereunder or from any failure by you to pay such
taxes, interest, penalties, levies or
assessments.
|
7.
|
Company
Property. Executive acknowledges that you have returned
or will return on or before the Termination Date to Employer all property
of the Employer. For purposes of this paragraph, “property of
the Employer” includes, but is not limited to, keys, corporate credit
cards, equipment, books, supplies, computer programs, originals and copies
of all corporate documents, including financial records and information,
and any other materials, whether prepared by you or by others, but
excludes anything owned by you
individually.
|
8.
|
Non-Disparagement. The
Parties agree that they will not in any way disparage, make statements or
take action that could discredit each other or in any way damage their
respective reputations or ability to do business. Executive
understands and agrees that Employer is unable to guarantee compliance
with this provision by all employees of Employer, but Employer will take
reasonable steps to ensure that all upper management of Hooker Furniture
Corporation and its subsidiaries have been informed of and will comply
with this non-disparagement provision. A violation of this
provision constitutes a material breach of the terms of this Agreement and
voids any compensation or benefits provided under the terms of this
Agreement.
|
9.
|
No
admission. You understand and agree that Employer has
admitted no liability or obligation to provide any of the consideration
contemplated herein.
|
10.
|
Severability and
Consequences of Invalid Terms. Should any portion or
provision of this Agreement be found void or unenforceable for any reason
by a Court of competent jurisdiction, the Court should enforce all
portions and provisions of this Agreement to the maximum extent which
would have been enforceable in the original Agreement. If such
portion or provision cannot be so modified to be enforceable, the
unenforceable portion shall be deemed severed from the remaining portions
and provisions of this Agreement, which shall otherwise remain in full
force and effect. If any portion or provision of this Agreement
is so found to be void or unenforceable for any reason in regard of any
one or more persons, entities, or subject matters, such portion or
provision shall remain in full force and effect with respect to all other
persons, entities, and subject
matters.
|
11.
|
Complete
Agreement. This Agreement represents the complete
agreement between Executive and Employer regarding Executive’s employment
and separation of employment and supersedes any prior existent agreements,
whether oral or written. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Agreement is not intended to void any common law duties including, but not
limited to, duties or obligations to maintain confidentiality or refrain
from adverse use of any of Employer’s trade secrets or other confidential
information that you may have acquired in the course of your
employment.
|
12.
|
Governing Law and
Interpretation. This Agreement shall in all respects be
interpreted, enforced, and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia. The language of this Agreement shall be construed as
a whole, according to its fair meaning, and shall not be construed
strictly for or against either of the
parties.
|
13.
|
Understanding and
Authority. The Parties understand and agree that all
terms of this Agreement are contractual and are not a mere recital, and
represent and warrant that they are competent to covenant and agree as
herein provided. You understand, agree and represent that the
covenants made herein and the releases herein executed may affect rights
and liabilities of substantial extent and agrees that the covenants and
releases provided herein are in your best interest. You
represent and warrant that in negotiating and executing this Agreement,
you have had an opportunity to consult with competent legal counsel of
your choosing concerning the meaning and effect of each term and provision
hereof, and that there are no representations, promises, or agreements
between Employer and you other than those referenced or expressly set
forth in writing herein. The Parties have carefully read this
Agreement in its entirety, fully understand and agree to its terms and
provisions, and intend and agree that it be final and
binding.
|
14.
|
Counterparts;
Headings. This Agreement may be executed in a number of
identical counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original for all
purposes. The paragraph headings in this Agreement are for
reference and convenience only, and shall not modify or effect its
substantive terms.
|
Date:
December 9, 2009
|
/s/ Paul B.
Toms,
Jr.
|
Paul B. Toms, Jr.
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Date:
December 9, 2009
|
/s/ E. Larry
Ryder
|
E. Larry Ryder
Executive
Vice President - Finance and
Administration
and Chief Financial
Officer
|
a.
|
The
Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
and
|
b.
|
The
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
|
Date:
December 9, 2009
|
By: /s/ Paul
B. Toms,
Jr.
|
Paul B. Toms, Jr.
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
By: /s/ E.
Larry
Ryder
|
E. Larry Ryder
Executive
Vice President - Finance and
Administration
and Chief Financial Officer
|