ATRIA COMMUNITIES INC
8-K, 1998-04-27
OFFICES & CLINICS OF DOCTORS OF MEDICINE
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<PAGE>
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  April 19, 1998

                            ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>                       <C>
          Delaware                     0-21159                61-1303738
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)    (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                                    Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                       501 South Fourth Avenue, Suite 140
                          Louisville, Kentucky  40202

          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (502) 719-1600



         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

     On April 19, 1998, Atria Communities, Inc. ("Atria"), Kapson Senior
Quarters Corp. ("Kapson"), an affiliate of Lazard Freres Real Estate Investors
L.L.C., and KA Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kapson ("Sub"),
signed a definitive merger agreement under which Kapson will acquire Atria in a
transaction valued at approximately $750 million.  Under the terms of the merger
agreement, Sub will merge into Atria and the public stockholders of Atria will
receive $20.25 per share in cash. Vencor, Inc. ("Vencor"), which currently
beneficially holds approximately 42.8% of the currently outstanding common stock
of Atria, will also receive $20.25 per share in cash for approximately 88% of
its Atria shares (approximately $177.5 million), and will retain its remaining
shares of Atria after the closing of the merger.

     In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, Kapson entered
into support agreements with Vencor and certain officers and directors of Atria
collectively holding approximately 46.4% of the currently outstanding Atria
common stock under which Vencor and such directors and officers have agreed to
vote their shares in favor of the merger.  Atria has also agreed to pay Kapson a
break-up fee of  approximately $18.2 million and reimburse Kapson's expenses in
certain circumstances.

     In connection with this transaction, the Board of Directors of Atria has
amended Atria's Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement as provided in the
Second Amendment to Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement included herein as
Exhibit 99.4.

     The Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 19, 1998 by and among Atria,
Kapson and Sub, is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.  The Support Agreement dated
as of April 19, 1998, by and among Vencor, Vencor Assisted Living Holdings,
Inc., Kapson and Sub is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.2, and the Support
Agreement dated as of April 19, 1998 by and among Kapson, Sub and certain
directors and officers of Atria is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.3.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

     No financial statements are required to be filed as part of this Report.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      EXHIBIT NO.                              DESCRIPTION
- ------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>
          99.1            Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 19,
                          1998, by and among Atria Communities, Inc., Kapson
                          Senior Quarters Corp., and KA Acquisition Corp.
</TABLE> 
                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          99.2            Support Agreement dated as of April 19, 1998, by and
                          among Kapson Senior Quarters Corp., KA Acquisition
                          Corp., Vencor Assisted Living Holdings, Inc. and
                          Vencor, Inc.
 
          99.3            Support Agreement dated as of April 19, 1998 by and
                          among Kapson Senior Quarters Corp., KA Acquisition
                          Corp., and the individuals listed on Schedule A
                          thereto.
 
          99.4            Second Amendment dated as of April 19, 1998, to
                          Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of
                          February 15, 1998, between Atria Communities, Inc.
                          and National City Bank, as Rights Agent
 
          99.5            Press Release, dated April 20, 1998


                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                          ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.

                             
                          By:  /s/ W. Patrick Mulloy, II
                               ---------------------------------
                               W. Patrick Mulloy, II
                               President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated:  April 24, 1998

                                      -4-

<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 99.1



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
                                        
<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY
                                                                    CONFIDENTIAL

================================================================================



                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER



                          Dated as of April 19, 1998



                                     Among



                         KAPSON SENIOR QUARTERS CORP.,



                             KA ACQUISITION CORP.,



                                      And



                            ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.



================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C> 
Definitions and Usage.......................................................  

                        ARTICLE I [Intentionally Omitted]
                                  -----------------------

                              ARTICLE II The Merger
                                         ----------

SECTION 2.01.  The Merger...................................................   
SECTION 2.02.  Closing......................................................  
SECTION 2.03.  Effective Time...............................................   
SECTION 2.04.  Effects of the Merger........................................  
SECTION 2.05.  Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.....................   
SECTION 2.06.  Directors....................................................   
SECTION 2.07.  Officers.....................................................  
SECTION 2.08.  Supplemental Indenture.......................................
SECTION 2.09.  Parent's Election to Modify the Terms of the Merger..........

   ARTICLE III Effect of the Merger on the Capital Stock of the Constituent
               ------------------------------------------------------------
                    Corporations; Exchange of Certificates
                    --------------------------------------

SECTION 3.01.  Effect on Capital Stock......................................   
SECTION 3.02.  Exchange of Certificates.....................................  

                   ARTICLE IV Representations and Warranties
                              ------------------------------

SECTION 4.01.  Representations and Warranties of the Company................   
SECTION 4.02.  Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub............. 


              ARTICLE V Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business
                        -----------------------------------------

SECTION 5.01.  Conduct of Business.......................................... 
SECTION 5.02.  No Solicitation..............................................   
</TABLE> 

<PAGE>
 
                        ARTICLE VI Additional Agreements
                                   ---------------------
<TABLE> 
<S>                                                                         <C> 
SECTION 6.01.  Preparation of Proxy Materials............................... 
SECTION 6.02.  Access to Information; Confidentiality....................... 
SECTION 6.03.  Reasonable Efforts; Notification............................. 
SECTION 6.04.  Rights Agreement............................................. 
SECTION 6.05.  Stock Options................................................ 
SECTION 6.06.  Benefit Plans................................................ 
SECTION 6.07.  Indemnification.............................................. 
SECTION 6.08.  Fees and Expenses............................................ 
SECTION 6.09.  Public Announcements......................................... 
SECTION 6.10.  Transfer Taxes............................................... 
SECTION 6.11.  Support Agreements...........................................
SECTION 6.12.  Headquarters.................................................

                        ARTICLE VII Conditions Precedent
                                    --------------------

SECTION 7.01.  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger... 
SECTION 7.02.  Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub.................. 
SECTION 7.03.  Condition to Obligation of the Company....................... 

                 ARTICLE VIII Termination, Amendment and Waiver
                              ---------------------------------

SECTION 8.01.  Termination.................................................. 
SECTION 8.02.  Effect of Termination........................................ 
SECTION 8.03.  Amendment.................................................... 
SECTION 8.04.  Extension; Waiver............................................ 
SECTION 8.05.  Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver.... 

                         ARTICLE IX General Provisions
                                    ------------------

SECTION 9.01.  Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties................ 
SECTION 9.02.  Notices...................................................... 
SECTION 9.03.  Definitions.................................................. 
SECTION 9.04.  Interpretation............................................... 
SECTION 9.05.  Counterparts................................................. 
SECTION 9.06.  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries............... 
SECTION 9.07.  Governing Law................................................ 
SECTION 9.08.  Assignment................................................... 
SECTION 9.09.  Enforcement.................................................. 
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                                                                           Page 
                                                                           ----

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A               Form of Press Release Announcing the Transactions
Exhibit B-1             Form of Support Agreement with V Corp.
Exhibit B-2             Form of Support Agreement with Management Stockholders
Exhibit C               Form of Shareholders and Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit D               Form of Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving
                        Corporation

SCHEDULES

Schedule 4.01(a)        Organization, Standing and Corporate Power
Schedule 4.01(d)        Consents
Schedule 4.01(g)        Absence of Certain Changes or Events
Schedule 4.01(j)        ERISA Compliance
Schedule 4.01(k)        Taxes
Schedule 4.01(l)        Excess Parachute Payments
Schedule 4.01(r)        Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 4.01(s)(i)     Company Properties
Schedule 4.01(s)(ii)    Title Policies
Schedule 4.01(s)(iii)   Material Noncompliance
Schedule 4.01(s)(iv)    Material Demands
Schedule 4.01(s)(v)     The Projects
Schedule 4.01(t)        Environmental Matters
Schedule 4.01(u)        Labor Matters
Schedule 4.01(w)        Permits
Schedule 6.05(a)        Stock Plans
Schedule 6.05(d)        Rollover Options
<PAGE>
 
                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of April 19,
               1998, among KAPSON SENIOR QUARTERS CORP, a Delaware corporation
               ("Parent"), KA ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Sub")
               and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and ATRIA COMMUNITIES,
               INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

          WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the
Company have approved the acquisition of the Company by Parent on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

          WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the
Company have approved the merger (the "Merger") of Sub into the Company on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, whereby each
issued share of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (the
"Common Stock"), including the associated Rights (as defined in Section 4.01(c))
(except shares (i) owned directly or indirectly by Parent or the Company, (ii)
1,234,568 shares (the "V Corp. Retained Shares") of Common Stock owned by V
CORP. ("V Corp.") and its wholly owned subsidiaries, and (iii) shares held by
Dissenting Stockholders (as defined below)), shall be converted into the right
to receive $20.25 in cash;

          WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, Parent and Sub are entering into (i) a Support Agreement with V
Corp., in the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, and (ii) a Support Agreement with
certain officers and directors of the Company (collectively, the "Management
Stockholders"), in the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, pursuant to which V Corp. and
such officers and directors shall agree to take certain actions to support the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the "Support Agreements");

          WHEREAS, the respective Board of Directors of the Company, Parent and
V Corp. have approved the execution and delivery at the Closing (as defined
below) of the Shareholders and Registration Rights Agreement (the "Shareholders
Agreement" and together with this Agreement and the Support Agreements, the
"Operative Agreements") among the Company, Parent, V Corp. and the Management
Stockholders, in the form of Exhibit C;

          WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger.
<PAGE>
 
          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as
follows (certain terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in Section
9.03):


                                   ARTICLE I

                            [Intentionally Omitted]
                            -----------------------

                                  ARTICLE II

                                  The Merger
                                  ----------

          SECTION 2.01.  The Merger.  Upon the terms and subject to the
                         -----------                                   
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), Sub shall be merged with and into the
Company at the Effective Time of the Merger (as hereinafter defined). Following
the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease and the Company
shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") and
shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of Sub in accordance
with the DGCL. At the election of Parent, any affiliate of Parent may be
substituted for Sub as a constituent corporation in the Merger. In such event,
the parties agree to execute an appropriate amendment to this Agreement in order
to reflect the foregoing. The Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
the Operative Agreements are referred to in this Agreement collectively as the
"Transactions".

          SECTION 2.02.  Closing.  The closing of the Merger (the "Closing")
                         --------                                           
will take place at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be specified by the parties, which
(subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Sections 7.02
and 7.03) shall be no later than the fifth business day after satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 and no earlier than July 15,
1998 (the "Closing Date"), at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Worldwide
Plaza, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10019, unless another date or place is
agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.

          SECTION 2.03.  Effective Time.  As soon as practicable following the
                         ---------------                                      
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII, the parties
shall file a certificate of merger or other appropriate documents (in any such
case, the "Certificate of Merger") executed in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required
under the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the
Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Delaware Secretary of State, or at
such other time as Sub and the Company shall agree and specify in the
Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective being the
"Effective Time of the Merger").

           SECTION 2.04.  Effects of the Merger.  The Merger shall have the
                          ---------------------                            
effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               3

          SECTION 2.05.  Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.  (a)  The
                         -----------------------------------------          
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time of the Merger, shall be amended as of the Effective Time of
the Merger to read in the form of Exhibit D and, as so amended, such Certificate
of Incorporation shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable law.

          (b)  The By-laws of Sub as in effect at the Effective Time of the
Merger shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter
changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

          SECTION 2.06.  Directors.  The directors of Sub at the Effective Time
                         ----------                                            
of the Merger shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation, until the
earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

          SECTION 2.07.  Officers.  The officers of the Company at the Effective
                         ---------                                              
Time of the Merger shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, until the
earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

          SECTION 2.08.  Supplemental Indenture.  Prior to the Effective Time of
                         -----------------------                                
the Merger, the Company and the Trustee (as defined below) shall enter into a
supplemental indenture (the "Supplemental Indenture") to the Indenture dated as
of October 16, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and PNC Bank,
Kentucky, Inc., as trustee (the "Trustee"), pursuant to Section 15.6 of the
Indenture, which shall (i) become effective upon the Effective Time of the
Merger and (ii) provide that, from and after the Effective Time of the Merger,
each of the Company's outstanding 5.0% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2002
(the "Convertible Sub Notes") shall cease to be convertible into shares of
Common Stock, but shall be convertible solely into an amount of cash, without
interest, equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock into
which such Note was convertible immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
Merger and (y) the Merger Consideration (as defined below). The Company shall
give Parent a reasonable opportunity to comment on the form of the Supplemental
Indenture prior to the execution thereof, and shall not enter into the
Supplemental Indenture if Parent reasonably objects thereto.

          SECTION 2.09.  Parent's Election to Modify the Terms of the Merger.
                         ----------------------------------------------------
(a) If, at any time following the date of this Agreement and prior to the
initial mailing of the Proxy Materials to the Company's stockholders, Parent
shall determine, in its sole discretion, that the Surviving Corporation would
not be entitled to treat the Merger as a recapitalization under GAAP, Parent
shall have the right to modify the terms of the Merger as set forth in clauses
(i) and (ii) below:
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

          (i)  each holder of any issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
     of the Company (other than shares to be canceled or converted in accordance
     with Sections 3.01(b) and 3.01(c)) and other than V Corp. or any of its
     subsidiaries (the "Public Stockholders") will have right to elect to
     receive the Merger Consideration in the form of cash and/or shares of
     Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation ("New Public Shares"), valuing
     each such share at $20.25 per share, up to a maximum of 1,234,568 New
     Public Shares (or, at the option of Parent, 2,469,136 New Public Shares);
     provided, however, that (A) such elections shall be subject to proration
     --------  -------                                                       
     (based on the number of shares subject to election) if the Public
     Stockholders elect to receive more than 1,234,568 New Public Shares (or, at
     the option of Parent, 2,469,136 New Public Shares) and (B) at the option of
     Parent, no New Public Shares will be issued (and the Public Stockholders
     will receive Merger Consideration consisting solely of cash) if the Public
     Stockholders elect to receive less than 617,284 New Public Shares; and

          (ii) the number of V Corp. Retained Shares shall be reduced on share-
     for-share basis by the total number of New Public Shares issued to the
     Public Stockholders in the Merger (but not below zero).

          (b)  If Parent elects to modify the terms of the Merger as set forth
in paragraph (a) above, the parties agree to execute an appropriate amendment to
this Agreement in order to reflect such modification, which amendment shall
include (i) an extension of the Outside Date to December 31, 1998, (ii)
provisions relating to the preparation and filing by the Company with the SEC of
a Registration Statement on Form S-4, in which the proxy statement (including
any appropriate amendment to reflect the modified terms of the Merger) will be
included as a prospectus and (iii) such other provisions regarding the mechanics
and timing of the Merger as are customary for cash-election mergers.

          (c)  Parent and the Company each represents and warrants to the other
party that its Board of Directors has approved the Merger on the modified terms
set forth in this Section 2.09; provided, however, that each party acknowledges
                                --------  -------                              
that, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Board of
Directors of the Company has not, and is not obligated to, approve or recommend
any election by any stockholder of the Company to receive any Merger
Consideration in the form of New Public Shares.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               5

                                  ARTICLE III

               Effect of the Merger on the Capital Stock of the
               ------------------------------------------------
              Constituent Corporations; Exchange of Certificates
              --------------------------------------------------

          SECTION 3.01.  Effect on Capital Stock.  As of the Effective Time of
                         ------------------------                             
the Merger, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder of any shares of Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of Sub:

          (a)  Capital Stock of Sub.  Each issued and outstanding share of the
               ---------------------                                          
     capital stock of Sub shall be converted into and become 11,111.111 fully
     paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share,
     of the Surviving Corporation.

          (b)  Treasury Stock and Parent Owned Stock.  Each share of Common
               --------------------------------------                      
     Stock that is owned by the Company and each share of Common Stock that is
     owned by Parent or Sub (together, in each case, with the associated Right)
     shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and
     no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor. Each share of
     Common Stock that is owned by any subsidiary of the Company or Parent
     (other than Sub), together, in each case, with the associated Right, shall
     automatically be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable
     share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving
     Corporation.

          (c)  V Corp. Retained Shares.  Each V Corp. Retained Share, together
               ------------------------                                       
     with the associated Right, shall automatically be converted into and become
     a one fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock, par value $0.01
     per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

          (d)  Conversion of Common Stock.  Subject to Section 3.01(e), each
               ---------------------------                                  
     issued and outstanding share of Common Stock (other than shares to be
     canceled or converted in accordance with Sections 3.01(b) and 3.01(c)),
     together with the associated Right, shall be converted into the right to
     receive $20.25 in cash (the "Merger Consideration").  As of the Effective
     Time of the Merger, all such shares of Common Stock (and the associated
     Rights) shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled
     and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate
     representing any such shares of Common Stock (and the associated Rights)
     shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to
     receive the Merger Consideration, without interest.

          (e)  Shares of Dissenting Stockholders.  Notwithstanding anything in
               ----------------------------------                             
     this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Common Stock that are outstanding
     immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger and that are held by
     any 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               6

     person who objects to the Merger and complies with Section 262 of the
     DGCL concerning the right of holders of Common Stock to dissent from the
     Merger and require appraisal of their shares of Common Stock (a "Dissenting
     Stockholder") shall not be converted as described in Section 3.01(d) but,
     as of the Effective Time of the Merger, shall no longer be outstanding and
     shall automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist and
     shall become the right to receive such consideration as may be determined
     to be due to such Dissenting Stockholder pursuant to the laws of the State
     of Delaware; provided, however, that the shares of Common Stock (together
                  --------  -------                                           
     with the associated Rights) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
     Time of the Merger and held by a Dissenting Stockholder who shall, after
     the Effective Time of the Merger, withdraw his demand for appraisal or lose
     his right of appraisal, in either case pursuant to the DGCL, shall be
     deemed to be converted as of the Effective Time of the Merger into the
     right to receive the Merger Consideration. The Company shall give Parent
     (i) prompt notice of any written demands for appraisal of shares of Common
     Stock received by the Company and (ii) the opportunity to direct all
     negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such demands. The Company
     shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily make
     any payment with respect to, or settle, offer to settle or otherwise
     negotiate, any such demands.

          SECTION 3.02.  Exchange of Certificates.  (a)  Paying Agent.  Prior to
                         -------------------------       -------------          
the Effective Time of the Merger, Parent shall select a bank or trust company
reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as paying agent (the "Paying
Agent") for the payment of the Merger Consideration upon surrender of
certificates representing Common Stock. At the Effective Time, Parent shall
transfer funds (or provide for the transfer of funds) to Sub in an amount
sufficient to pay the Merger Consideration for every share of Common Stock to be
converted at the Effective Time into the Merger Consideration, and Parent hereby
represents and warrants to the Company that the Surviving Corporation will have
all such funds at the Effective Time.

          (b)  Surviving Corporation To Provide Funds.  The Surviving
               ---------------------------------------               
Corporation will provide to the Paying Agent on a timely basis, as and when
needed after the Effective Time of the Merger, funds necessary to pay for the
shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.01, it being understood that any
and all interest earned on funds made available to the Paying Agent in
accordance with this Agreement shall be turned over to Parent.

          (c)  Exchange Procedure.  As soon as reasonably practicable after the
               -------------------                                             
Effective Time of the Merger, the Paying Agent shall mail to each holder of
record of a certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective
Time of the Merger represented outstanding shares of Common Stock (the
"Certificates") whose shares were converted into the right to receive the Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 3.01, (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall
specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Paying
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               7

Agent and shall be in a form and have such other provisions as Parent may
reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for cancelation to the Paying Agent or to such other agent or agents
as may be appointed by the Parent, together with such letter of transmittal,
duly executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the
Paying Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in
exchange therefor the amount of cash into which the shares of Common Stock
theretofore represented by such Certificate shall have been converted pursuant
to Section 3.01, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled.
In the event of a transfer of ownership of Common Stock which is not registered
in the transfer records of the Company, payment may be made to a person other
than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered, if
such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for
transfer and the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other
taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than the registered
holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving
Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered
as contemplated by this Section 3.02, each Certificate shall be deemed at any
time after the Effective Time of the Merger to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender the amount of cash, without interest, into which the
shares of Common Stock theretofore represented by such Certificate shall have
been converted pursuant to Section 3.01. No interest will be paid or will accrue
on the cash payable upon the surrender of any Certificate.

          (d)  No Further Ownership Rights in Common Stock.  All cash paid upon
               --------------------------------------------                    
the surrender of Certificates in accordance with the terms of this Article III
shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining
to the shares of Common Stock theretofore represented by such Certificates, and
there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books
of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of Common Stock which were
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger.  If, after
the Effective Time of the Merger, Certificates are presented to the Surviving
Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in
this Article III.

          (e)  No Liability.  None of Parent, Sub, the Company or the Paying
               -------------                                                
Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any cash delivered to a public
official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
If any Certificates shall not have been surrendered prior to seven years after
the Effective Time of the Merger (or immediately prior to such earlier date on
which any payment pursuant to this Article III would otherwise escheat to or
become the property of any Governmental Entity (as defined in Section 4.01(d))),
the payment in respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear
of all claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

          
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               8

          (f)  Withholding Rights.  Parent or Sub, as the case may be, shall be
               -------------------                                             
entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any
holder of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement only such amounts as are
required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or under any
provision of state, local or foreign tax law.


                                  ARTICLE IV

                        Representations and Warranties
                        ------------------------------

          SECTION 4.01.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The
                         ----------------------------------------------     
Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:

          (a)  Organization, Standing and Corporate Power.  The Company and each
               -------------------------------------------                      
     of its subsidiaries is the type of entity listed on Schedule 4.01(a), duly
     organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
     jurisdiction in which it is organized and has the requisite power and
     authority to carry on its business as now being conducted.  The Company and
     each of its subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business and
     is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its
     business or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such
     qualification or licensing necessary, other than in such jurisdictions
     where the failure to be so qualified or licensed (individually or in the
     aggregate) would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  The
     Company has delivered to Parent complete and correct copies of its
     Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws and the certificates of
     incorporation and by-laws (or comparable charter or organizational
     documents) of its Significant Subsidiaries, in each case as amended to the
     date of this Agreement.  For purposes of this Agreement, a "Significant
     Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Company that constitutes a
     significant subsidiary within the meaning of Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of
     the SEC.

          (b)  Subsidiaries.  Schedule 4.01(a) lists each subsidiary of the
               -------------                                               
     Company. All the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity
     interests of each such subsidiary have been validly issued and are fully
     paid and nonassessable and, except as set forth in Schedule 4.01(a), are
     owned by the Company and/or one or more other subsidiaries of the Company,
     free and clear of all pledges, claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and
     security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively,
     "Liens").  Except for the capital stock or other equity interests of its
     subsidiaries and except for the ownership interests set forth in Schedule
     4.01(a), the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital
     stock or other ownership interest in any corporation, partnership, joint
     venture or other entity.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               9

          (c)  Capital Structure.  The authorized capital stock of the Company
               ------------------                                             
     consists of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share,
     and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share.  At the
     close of business on April 16, 1998, (i) 23,381,362 shares of Common Stock
     were issued and outstanding, of which 80,000 shares were shares of
     restricted stock granted to employees of the Company pursuant to the Stock
     Plans ("Restricted Shares"); (ii) no shares of preferred stock were issued
     and outstanding; (iii) no shares of Common Stock were held by the Company
     in its treasury; (iv) the outstanding Convertible Sub Notes were
     convertible into 6,889,858 shares of Common Stock (without giving effect to
     fractional shares) pursuant to the terms of the Indenture governing the
     Convertible Sub Notes; (v) Company Stock Options covering 2,255,875 shares
     of Common Stock were issued and outstanding, of which (x) Company Stock
     Options covering 223,374 shares of Common Stock are currently exercisable
     and (y) Company Stock Options covering 2,032,501 shares of Common Stock are
     currently not exercisable; and (vi) sufficient shares of Common Stock were
     reserved for issuance pursuant to the Convertible Sub Notes and the Company
     Stock Options and sufficient shares of preferred stock were reserved for
     issuance pursuant to the rights (the "Rights") to purchase shares of Common
     Stock issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated as of February 15, 1998
     (as amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company
     and National City Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").  Except as
     set forth above, no shares of capital stock or other voting securities of
     the Company were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding.  There are
     no outstanding stock appreciation rights granted under any Stock Plan.  All
     outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and all shares
     which may be issued pursuant to the Stock Plans will be, when issued, duly
     authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to
     preemptive rights. Except for the Convertible Sub Notes, there are not any
     bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the
     right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having
     the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of the Company may
     vote.  Except for the Rights, securities issued under the Stock Plans, the
     Convertible Sub Notes and as otherwise set forth above, as of the date of
     this Agreement, there are not any securities, options, warrants, calls,
     rights, commitments, agreements, arrangements or undertakings of any kind
     to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any
     of them is bound obligating the Company or any of its subsidiaries to
     issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold,
     additional shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the
     Company or of any of its subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security,
     option, warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement, arrangement or
     undertaking.  As of the date of this Agreement, there are not any
     outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of
     capital stock of the Company or any of 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              10

     its subsidiaries. The Company has delivered to Parent a complete and
     correct copy of the Rights Agreement as amended and supplemented to the
     date of this Agreement.

          (d)  Authority; Noncontravention.  The Company has the requisite
               ----------------------------                               
     corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to
     receipt of Company Stockholder Approval (as defined in Section 4.01(m)), to
     consummate the Transactions.  The execution and delivery by the Company of
     the Operative Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by the
     Company of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary
     corporate action on the part of the Company, subject to receipt of Company
     Stockholder Approval.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
     by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the
     Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms
     (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
     fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
     generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity,
     including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
     dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or in
     law).  The execution and delivery by the Company of the Operative
     Agreements to which it is a party do not, and the consummation by the
     Company of the Transactions and compliance with the provisions of the
     Operative Agreements to which it is a party will not conflict with, or
     result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of
     time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancelation
     or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under,
     or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets
     of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under, (i) the Certificate of
     Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or the comparable charter or
     organizational documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any loan or
     credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other
     agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license applicable
     to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or
     assets or (iii) except for the governmental filings and other matters
     referred to in the following sentence, any judgment, order, decree,
     statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other
     than, (A) in the case of clause (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts,
     violations, defaults, rights, losses or Liens that individually or in the
     aggregate would not (x) have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (B)
     with respect to the Company's obligation to repurchase the Convertible Sub
     Notes at the election of the holders thereof upon a "Change of Control" in
     accordance with the terms of the Indenture and (C) with respect to the
     Credit Agreement dated as of August 15, 1996, as amended, by and among the
     Company and the financial institutions listed therein (the "Credit
     Agreement").  No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
     registration, declaration or filing with, any Federal, state or local
     government or 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              11

     any court, administrative or regulatory agency or commission or other
     governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental
     Entity"), is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company
     of the Operative Agreements to which it is a party or the consummation by
     the Company of the Transactions, except for (i) the filing of a premerger
     notification and report form by the Company under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
     Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act"), (ii) the filing with
     the SEC of (x) a proxy or information statement relating to the adoption by
     the Company's stockholders of this Agreement (as amended or supplemented
     from time to time, the "Proxy Statement") and (y) such reports under
     Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
     "Exchange Act"), as may be required in connection with this Agreement and
     the Transactions, (iii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
     Delaware Secretary of State and appropriate documents with the relevant
     authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified to do
     business, (iv) such filings as may be required in connection with the taxes
     described in Section 6.10, (v) such filings as may be required under
     applicable state licensing and certificate of need laws, (vi) such other
     consents, approvals, notices, orders, authorizations, registrations,
     declarations and filings as are set forth on Schedule 4.01(d), and (vii)
     any such consent, approval, order or authorization, registration,
     declaration or filing that, if not obtained or made, individually or in the
     aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (e)  SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities.  The Company has filed
               ---------------------------------------                       
     all required reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents with
     the SEC since January 1, 1997 (the "SEC Documents").  As of their
     respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with
     the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), or
     the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the
     SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such SEC Documents, and none of
     the SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
     omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
     in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, not misleading.  The financial statements of
     the Company included in the SEC Documents comply as to form in all material
     respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules
     and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in
     accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as
     permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the
     periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and
     fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
     consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated
     results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended
     (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
     adjustments).  Except as set forth in the Filed SEC Documents (as 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              12

     defined below), neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any
     liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute,
     contingent or otherwise) required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated
     balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or in the
     notes thereto and which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a
     Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (f)  Information Supplied.  None of the Proxy Materials (as defined in
               ---------------------                                            
     Section 6.01), taken as a whole, will, at the respective times they are
     first published, sent or given to the Company's stockholders or at the time
     of the Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material
     fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
     circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, except that no
     representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to
     statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information
     supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference
     therein.  The Proxy Materials will comply as to form in all material
     respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
     regulations thereunder.

          (g)  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as disclosed in
               -------------------------------------                        
     Schedule 4.01(g) or in the SEC Documents filed and publicly available prior
     to the date of this Agreement (the "Filed SEC Documents"), since the date
     of the most recent financial statements included in the SEC Documents, the
     Company has conducted its business only in the ordinary course, and there
     has not been (i) any Material Adverse Change in the Company and its
     subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) any declaration, setting aside or
     payment of any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or
     property) with respect to, or any repurchase for value by the Company of,
     any of the Company's capital stock, (iii) any split, combination or
     reclassification of any of its capital stock or any issuance or the
     authorization of any issuance of any other securities in respect of, in
     lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock, (iv) (x) any
     granting by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any director,
     employee or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any
     increase in compensation, except in the ordinary course of business
     consistent with prior practice or as was required under employment
     agreements in effect as of the date of the most recent financial statements
     included in the Filed SEC Documents, (y) any granting by the Company or any
     of its subsidiaries to any such director, employee or officer of any
     increase in severance or termination pay, except as was required under any
     employment, severance or termination agreements in effect as of the date of
     the most recent financial statements included in the Filed SEC Documents or
     (z) any entry by the Company or any of its subsidiaries into any employment
     or termination agreement with any such director, employee or officer, (v)
     any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance, that
     has a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or (vi) any change in
     accounting methods, principles or practices by the Company 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              13

     materially affecting its assets, liabilities or results of operations,
     except insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP or other
     applicable law or regulation. The foregoing representation and warranty
     shall not be deemed to be inaccurate as of the Closing Date solely by
     reason of any action described in clauses (i)-(xiii) of Section 5.01 that
     is taken by the Company or any of its subsidiaries after the date of this
     Agreement with the consent of Parent.

          (h)  Litigation.  Except as disclosed in the Filed SEC Documents,
               -----------                                                 
     there is no suit, action or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the
     Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries (and the Company is not aware of any basis for any such suit,
     action or proceeding that is considered by the Company probable of
     assertion and which if asserted would have a reasonable probability of an
     unfavorable outcome) that, individually or in the aggregate, would (i) have
     a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) materially impair the
     ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
     (iii) prevent the consummation of any of the Transactions, nor is there any
     judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity or
     arbitrator outstanding against the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     having any such effect.

          (i)  Absence of Changes in Benefit Plans.  Except as disclosed in the
               ------------------------------------                            
     Filed SEC Documents, since the date of the most recent financial statements
     included in the Filed SEC Documents, there has not been any adoption or
     amendment in any material respect by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     of any collective bargaining agreement, employment agreement or any bonus,
     pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, incentive compensation,
     stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock, retirement,
     vacation, severance, disability, death benefit, hospitalization, medical or
     other plan, arrangement or understanding (whether or not legally binding)
     providing benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director
     of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, "Benefit Plans").
     Except as disclosed in the Filed SEC Documents, there exist no material
     employment, consulting, severance, termination or indemnification
     agreements, arrangements or understandings between the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries and any current or former employee, officer or director of
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

          (j)  ERISA Compliance.  (i)  Schedule 4.01(j) contains a list and
               -----------------                                           
     brief description of all "employee pension benefit plans" (as defined in
     Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
     amended ("ERISA")) (sometimes referred to herein as "Pension Plans"),
     "employee welfare benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and
     all other Benefit Plans maintained, or contributed to, by the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries for the benefit of any current or former employees,
     officers or directors of the Company 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              14

     or any of its subsidiaries. The Company has made available to Parent true,
     complete and correct copies of (v) each Benefit Plan (or, in the case of
     any unwritten Benefit Plans, descriptions thereof), (w) the most recent
     annual report on Form 5500 filed with the Internal Revenue Service with
     respect to each Benefit Plan (if any such report was required), (x) the
     most recent summary plan description for each Benefit Plan for which such
     summary plan description is required, (y) each trust agreement and group
     annuity contract relating to any Benefit Plan and (z) the most recent
     actuarial or financial valuation prepared with respect to any Benefit Plan.

               (ii)  Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.01(j), all Pension Plans
     have been the subject of determination letters from the Internal Revenue
     Service to the effect that such Pension Plans are qualified and exempt from
     Federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and no such
     determination letter has been revoked nor, to the knowledge of the Company,
     has revocation been threatened, nor has any such Pension Plan been amended
     since the date of its most recent determination letter or application
     therefor in any respect that would adversely affect its qualification or
     materially increase its costs.  Each Benefit Plan has been operated in
     material compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws, including
     ERISA and the Code.

               (iii) No Pension Plan that the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     maintains, or to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is obligated
     to contribute, other than any Pension Plan that is a "multiemployer plan"
     (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) (collectively, the
     "Multiemployer Pension Plans"), had, as of the respective last annual
     valuation date for each such Pension Plan, an "unfunded benefit liability"
     (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA), based on
     actuarial assumptions which have been furnished to Parent. None of the
     Pension Plans has an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as such term is
     defined in Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not
     waived. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any officer of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries, any trustee of any trust created under
     any of the Benefit Plans or any other fiduciary with responsibilities with
     respect to such trusts has engaged in a "prohibited transaction" (as such
     term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code)
     involving a Benefit Plan that is subject to ERISA (including the Pension
     Plans) or any other breach of fiduciary responsibility that could subject
     the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any officer of the Company or any
     of its subsidiaries to the tax or penalty on prohibited transactions
     imposed by such Section 4975 or to any liability under Section 502(i) or
     (l) of ERISA. Neither any of such Benefit Plans nor any trusts created
     thereunder has been terminated, nor has there been any "reportable event"
     (as that term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect thereto,
     during the 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              15

     last five years. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
     suffered or otherwise caused a "complete withdrawal" or a "partial
     withdrawal" (as such terms are defined in Section 4203 and Section 4205,
     respectively, of ERISA) since the effective date of such Sections 4203 and
     4205 with respect to any of the Multiemployer Pension Plans.

               (iv)  There are no pending claims or suits, or to the knowledge
     of the Company, investigations or threatened claims, suits or
     investigations regarding the Benefit Plans (other than claims for benefits
     in the ordinary course).

               (v)   Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.01(j), the consummation
     of the Transactions (either alone or with any other event) shall not
     entitle any director or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     to additional compensation or benefits or accelerate the vesting, payment
     or funding of any compensation or benefits.

               (vi)  Neither the Company nor any entity required to be treated
     with the Company as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code has any
     material unsatisfied liability under Title IV of ERISA.

               (vii) With respect to any Benefit Plan that is an employee
     welfare benefit plan, except as disclosed in Schedule 4.01(j), (x) each
     such Benefit Plan that is a "group health plan", as such term is defined in
     Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code, complies in all material respects with the
     applicable requirements of Section 4980B(f) of the Code and (y) each such
     Benefit Plan (including any such Plan covering retirees or other former
     employees) may be amended or terminated without material liability to the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries on or at any time after the consummation
     of the Merger upon not more than 30 days' notice to the participants in
     such Benefit Plan.

          (k)  Taxes.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.01(k), (i) each of the
               ------                                                          
     Company and each of its subsidiaries has timely filed all material tax
     returns and reports required to be filed by it, and as of the time of
     filing, each such return was true, complete and correct in all material
     respects; (ii) each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries has timely
     paid (or the Company has paid on its behalf) all material taxes in respect
     of such tax returns and all other material taxes; (iii) the most recent
     financial statements contained in the Filed SEC Documents reflect an
     adequate reserve (other than a reserve for deferred income taxes
     established to reflect differences between book basis and tax basis of
     assets and liabilities) for all material taxes payable by the Company and
     its subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof through the
     date of such financial statements;  (iv) no deficiencies for any taxes have
     been proposed, asserted or assessed against the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, and no requests for waivers of the time to assess any such
     taxes are pending; (v) to the knowledge of the Company, the 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              16

     Federal income tax returns of V Corp. and each of its subsidiaries
     consolidated in such returns have been examined by and settled with the
     United States Internal Revenue Service for all years through 1993; (vi) to
     the knowledge of the Company, all material assessments for taxes due with
     respect to such completed and settled examinations or any concluded
     litigation have been fully and timely paid; (vii) there are no material
     Liens for taxes (other than for current taxes not yet due and payable) on
     the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (viii) no Federal or
     state income tax returns of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with
     respect to a taxable period beginning on or after August 20, 1996 have ever
     been (and no such returns are currently being) examined by the United
     States Internal Revenue Service or any state taxing authority; and (ix)
     neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is bound by any agreement
     or arrangement with respect to taxes, other than the Tax Sharing Agreement
     dated August 20, 1996 (the "Tax Sharing Agreement"), by and between V Corp.
     and the Company. As used in this Agreement, "taxes" shall include all forms
     of taxation, whenever created or imposed, and whether of the United States
     or elsewhere, and whether imposed by a local, municipal, governmental,
     state, foreign, Federal or other body, or in connection with any agreement
     with respect to taxes, including all interest, penalties and additions
     imposed with respect to such amounts, and "tax return" shall mean all
     Federal, state, local, provincial and foreign tax returns, forms and
     information returns and any amended tax return relating to taxes.

          (l)  No Excess Parachute Payments; Waiver of Severance and Other
               -----------------------------------------------------------
     Payments.  (i) Other than payments that may be made to the persons listed
     ---------                                                                
     on Schedule 4.01(l) (the "Primary Executives"), any amount that could be
     received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a
     result of any of the Transactions by any employee, officer or director of
     the Company or any of its affiliates who is a "disqualified individual" (as
     such term is defined in proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1)
     under any employment, severance or termination agreement, other
     compensation arrangement or Benefit Plan currently in effect would not be
     characterized as an "excess parachute payment" (as such term is defined in
     Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).  Set forth in Schedule 4.01(l) is (i) the
     maximum amount that could be paid to each Primary Executive as a result of
     the Transactions under all employment, severance and termination
     agreements, other compensation arrangements and Benefit Plans currently in
     effect and (ii) the "base amount" (as such term is defined in Section
     280G(b)(3) of the Code) for each Primary Executive calculated as of the
     date of this Agreement.

               (ii)  No director or officer of the Company has any right to
     receive any severance or other payment as a result of the Transactions
     under any employment, severance or termination agreement, other
     compensation arrangement or benefit plan currently in effect, except that
     upon the consummation of the Merger (i) all outstanding Company Stock
     Options (other than Rollover 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              17

     Options (as defined in Section 6.05(d)) will become immediately exercisable
     and (ii) all restrictions applicable to outstanding Restricted Shares will
     immediately lapse.

          (m)  Voting Requirements.  (i) The affirmative vote of the holders of
               --------------------                                            
     a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock approving this
     Agreement (the "Company Stockholder Approval") is the only vote of the
     holders of any class or series of the Company's capital stock necessary to
     approve this Agreement and the Transactions.

          (n)  Approval by Board; State Takeover Statutes; Opinion of the
               ----------------------------------------------------------
     Company's Financial Advisor.  The Board of Directors of the Company, at a
     ----------------------------                                             
     meeting duly called and held, acting on the recommendation of the special
     committee of disinterested directors of such Board of Directors (the
     "Special Committee"), duly adopted resolutions (i) approving this
     Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions, (ii) determining that the
     terms of the Merger and the other Transactions are fair to and in the best
     interests of the Company and its stockholders and (iii) recommending that
     the Company's stockholders adopt this Agreement.  Such resolutions are
     sufficient to render inapplicable to this Agreement and the other Operative
     Agreements, the Merger and the other Transactions the provisions of Section
     203 of the DGCL.  To the Company's knowledge, no other state takeover
     statute or similar statute or regulation applies or purports to apply to
     the Company with respect to this Agreement and the other Operative
     Agreements, the Merger or the Transactions.  The Company hereby represents
     that the Board of Directors of the Company has received the opinion of BT
     Alex. Brown Incorporated, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect
     that, as of such date, the Merger Consideration to be received in the
     Merger by the holders of Common Stock (other than certain affiliates of the
     Company who will be continuing stockholders) is fair to such holders from a
     financial point of view, and a complete and correct signed copy of such
     opinion will be delivered by the Company to Parent promptly after receipt
     thereof by the Company.

          (o)  Rights Agreement.  The Company has taken all necessary action to
               -----------------                                               
     (i) render the Rights inapplicable to the Merger and the other Transactions
     and (ii) ensure that (y) neither Parent nor any of its affiliates is or
     becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) as a
     result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the announcement
     or consummation of the Merger or any of the other Transactions and (z) the
     Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement) does not occur by
     reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the announcement
     or consummation of the Merger or any of the other Transactions.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              18

          (p)  Compliance with Laws.  Neither the Company nor any of its
               ---------------------                                    
     subsidiaries has violated or failed to comply with any statute, law,
     ordinance, regulation, rule, judgment, decree or order of any Governmental
     Entity applicable to its business or operations, including, without
     limitation, with respect to any services reimbursable under the Medicare,
     Medicaid, or any other Federal or state funded health care program, except
     for violations and failures to comply that would not, individually or in
     the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (q)  Contracts.  Except as disclosed in the Filed SEC Documents, there
               ----------                                                       
     are no contracts or agreements that are material to the business,
     properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), results of
     operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a
     whole.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
     or in default under (nor does there exist any condition which upon the
     passage of time or the giving of notice would cause such a violation of or
     default under) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage,
     indenture, lease, permit, concession, franchise, license or any other
     contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding, to which it is a party
     or by which it or any of its properties or assets is bound, except for
     violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
     result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (r)  Transactions with Affiliates.  As of the date hereof, except in
               -----------------------------                                  
     connection with the Transactions or as disclosed on Schedule 4.01(r) or in
     the Filed SEC Documents, (i) there are no material outstanding amounts
     payable to or receivable from, or material advances by the Company or any
     of its subsidiaries to, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
     is otherwise a material creditor of or debtor to, V Corp. or any of its
     affiliates or any officer, director or employee of the Company and (ii)
     neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any
     transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding with V Corp. or any of
     its affiliates or any officer, director or employee of the Company, other
     than, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), in the case of officers,
     directors and employees, items arising out of the ordinary course of
     employment with the Company.

          (s)  Properties.  (i)  Schedule 4.01(s)(i) sets forth a complete and
               -----------                                                    
     accurate list and the address of all material real property and interests
     in real property owned in fee by the Company and the subsidiaries
     (individually, an "Owned Property").  Schedule 4.01(s)(i) also sets forth a
     complete list of all material real property and interests in real property
     leased by the Company and the subsidiaries (individually, a "Leased
     Property").  An Owned Property or Leased Property is sometimes referred to
     herein, individually, as a "Company Property" and, collectively, as
     "Company Properties".
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              19

               (ii)  The Company or one of its subsidiaries has good and
     insurable fee title to the Owned Properties, subject to (i) Permitted
     Liens, (ii) all matters of record and all matters which would be shown by a
     current survey or inspection of Owned Properties, (iii) all matters
     disclosed in the Filed SEC Documents and (iv) all other matters which, in
     the case of clauses (ii)-(iv) above, do not, individually or in the
     aggregate, (x) interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of any Owned
     Property or the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole or
     (y) detract materially from the value or usefulness of the Owned Properties
     to which they apply.  Set forth on Schedule 4.01(s)(ii) is a list of all
     title insurance policies which the Company has in its possession for the
     Owned Properties.  To the knowledge of the Company, such title insurance
     policies reflect material title exceptions and other matters relating to
     the Owned Properties as of the effective date of the policies and surveys.
     Since May 1, 1996, the Company has not created or consented to the creation
     of any title matters for the Owned Properties which it believes does or
     will materially and adversely affect the current use of the Owned
     Properties, other than Permitted Liens or as disclosed in the Filed SEC
     Documents or on Schedule 4.01(s)(ii).  With respect to the Leased
     Properties in which a leasehold estate is created under applicable law, the
     Company or one of its subsidiaries is the holder of good and valid title to
     such leasehold estate (or, with respect to any other Leased Properties, has
     the interest of the lessee under the applicable leases), and such party has
     not assigned, transferred, or encumbered its interest in the leases in any
     material way, except for (i) Permitted Liens, (ii) all matters of record
     and all matters which would be shown by a current survey or inspection of
     the Leased Properties, (iii) all matters disclosed in the Filed SEC
     Documents, and (iv) all other matters which, in the case of clauses (ii)-
     (iv) above, do not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) interfere
     materially with the ordinary conduct of any Leased Property or the business
     of the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole or (y) detract materially
     from the value or usefulness of the Leased Properties to which they apply.
     To the knowledge of the Company, the uses currently existing with respect
     to the Company Properties are permitted under applicable zoning laws.  The
     Company has made available to Parent for its review originals or copies of
     all title insurance policies, material exceptions referenced in such
     policies, surveys and title reports which the Company has in its possession
     for the Owned Properties.

               (iii) Schedule 4.01(s)(iii) contains a complete and accurate
     description of any noncompliance by any Company Property, to the Company's
     knowledge, with any law, ordinance, code, health and safety regulation or
     insurance requirement other than such noncompliance as would not,
     individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the
     Company.

               (iv)  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.01(s)(iv), there are no
     outstanding or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened requirements by any
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              20

     insurance company which has issued an insurance policy covering any Company
     Property, or by any board of fire underwriters or other body exercising
     similar functions, requiring any repairs or alterations to be made to any
     Company Property that would, individually or in the aggregate, (x)
     interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of any Company Property or
     the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole or (y) detract
     materially from the value or usefulness of the Company Properties to which
     they apply.

               (v)  Schedule 4.01(s)(v) contains a list of each Company Property
     which consists of or includes undeveloped land or which is in the process
     of being developed or redeveloped (collectively, the "Development
     Properties") and a brief description of the development or redevelopment
     intended by the Company or any subsidiary to be carried out or completed
     thereon (collectively, the "Projects"). The Company has made available to
     Parent all feasibility studies, soil tests, due diligence reports and other
     studies, tests or reports performed by or for the Company at any time since
     the Company's initial public offering which relate to the Development
     Properties or the Projects.

               (vi) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and
     marketable title to all the personal and non-real properties and assets
     reflected in their books and records as being owned by them, free and clear
     of all Liens, except for (i) Permitted Liens, (ii) Liens created in
     connection with the Credit Agreement and described in Schedule 4.01(s)(i),
     (iii) all matters disclosed in the Filed SEC Documents, and (iv) all other
     matters which, in the case of clauses (iii) and (iv) above, do not,
     individually or in the aggregate, interfere materially with the ability of
     the Company and its subsidiaries to conduct their businesses, taken as a
     whole, as currently conducted.

          (t)  Environmental Matters.  (i)  Except as set forth in the Filed SEC
               ----------------------                                           
     Documents or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
     Material Adverse Effect on the Company, neither the Company nor any of its
     subsidiaries has (x) placed, held, located, released, transported or
     disposed of any Hazardous Substances (as defined below) on, under, from or
     at any of the Company Properties or any other properties, (y) any knowledge
     of the presence of any Hazardous Substances on, under or at any of the
     Company Properties or any other property but arising from the Company
     Properties, or (z) during the preceding five years, received any written
     notice (A) of any violation of any statute, law, ordinance, regulation,
     rule, judgment, decree or order of any Governmental Entity relating to any
     matter of pollution, protection of the environment, environmental
     regulation or control or regarding Hazardous Substances on or under any of
     the Company Properties or any other properties (collectively,
     "Environmental Laws"), (B) of the institution or pendency of any suit,
     action, claim, proceeding or investigation by any Governmental Entity or
     any third party in connection with any 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              21

     such violation (collectively, "Environmental Claims"), (C) requiring the
     response to or remediation of Hazardous Substances at or arising from any
     of the Company Properties or any other properties, or (D) demanding payment
     for response to or remediation of Hazardous Substances at or arising from
     any of the Company Properties or any other properties, except in each case
     for the notices set forth in Schedule 4.01(t). For purposes of this
     Agreement, the term "Hazardous Substance" shall mean any toxic or hazardous
     materials or substances, including asbestos, buried contaminants,
     chemicals, flammable explosives, radioactive materials, petroleum and
     petroleum products and any substances defined as, or included in the
     definition of, "hazardous substances", "hazardous wastes", "hazardous
     materials" or "toxic substances" under any Environmental Law.

               (ii)  Except as set forth in the Filed SEC Documents or Schedule
     4.01(t), no Environmental Law imposes any obligation upon the Company or
     its subsidiaries arising out of or as a condition to any transaction
     contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, any
     requirement to modify or to transfer any permit or license, any requirement
     to file any notice or other submission with any Governmental Entity, the
     placement of any notice, acknowledgment or covenant in any land records, or
     the modification of or provision of notice under any agreement, consent
     order or consent decree, except for obligations that, individually or in
     the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
     Except as set forth in the Filed SEC Documents, or Liens that, individually
     or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
     Company, no Lien has been placed upon any of the Company's or its
     subsidiaries' properties under any Environmental Law.

          (u)  Labor Matters.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.01(u), there
               --------------                                                
     are no collective bargaining or other labor union agreements to which the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is
     bound.  To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 1993, neither the
     Company nor any of its subsidiaries has encountered any labor union
     organizing activity, or had any actual or threatened employee strikes, work
     stoppages, slowdowns or lockouts. There are no pending or, to the knowledge
     of the Company, threatened, claims, suits, grievances or investigations
     regarding the compliance by the Company or its subsidiaries with any
     federal, state or local labor or wage law or regulations, except for any
     claims, suits, grievances or investigations that, individually or in the
     aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (v)  Brokers.  No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
               --------                                                    
     other person, other than BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, the fees and expenses
     of which will be paid by the Company, is entitled to any broker's,
     finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in
     connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on
     behalf of the Company.  The Company has furnished 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              22

     to Parent a true and complete copy of all agreements between the Company
     and BT Alex. Brown Incorporated relating to the Merger and the other
     Transactions.

          (w)  Compliance with Law.
               --------------------

               (i)   Licenses and Permits.  The Company and each of its
                     --------------------                              
     subsidiaries has obtained, maintains in force, and has provided copies to
     Parent of all material licenses, permits, certificates of authority, orders
     and waivers required from any Governmental Entity ("Permits") to operate or
     manage, as the case may be, their respective businesses in the manner in
     which they are currently operated and to occupy, operate and use any
     buildings, improvements, fixtures and equipment owned or leased in
     connection with the operation of all operational assisted living
     facilities, independent living facilities, home health agencies and skilled
     nursing facilities of the Company and its subsidiaries.  Except as
     specified in Schedule 4.01(w), all of the Permits referenced in the
     foregoing sentence have been issued in the name of the Company or the
     applicable subsidiary having an ownership, leasehold, management or
     operational interest in the facilities referenced therein.  No such permits
     of the Company or any of its subsidiaries have been suspended, canceled or
     terminated and, to the knowledge of the Company, no suspension, cancelation
     or termination of any such Permit is threatened or imminent.  To the
     knowledge of the Company, each employee of the Company and each of its
     subsidiaries has obtained and maintains in force all licenses, permits or
     similar authorizations required to authorize such employee to perform his
     or her duties on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries with only such
     exceptions that individually and in the aggregate would not have a Material
     Adverse Effect on the Company.

               (ii)  Billing.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
                     -------                                               
     complied in all material respects with all applicable Medicare and all
     other third party billing policies, procedures, limitations and
     restrictions, and there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
     threatened recoupment or penalty action or proceeding against the Company
     or any of its subsidiaries under the Medicare program or any other third
     party payor program except for such noncompliance, actions or proceedings
     that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse
     Effect on the Company.

               (iii) No Kickbacks.  Neither the Company nor any of its
                     ------------                                     
     subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer
     or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries acting for or on
     behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has paid or caused to be
     paid, directly or indirectly, in connection with the business of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries, (i) any bribe, kickback or other
     similar payment to any Governmental Entity or any agent of any supplier or
     customer, except for payments to V. Corp 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              23

     and its affiliates that were in compliance with applicable law, or (ii) any
     contribution to any political party or candidate (other than from personal
     funds of directors, officers or employees not reimbursed by their
     respective employers or in compliance with applicable law).

               (iv)  No Investigations.  To the knowledge of the Company,
                     -----------------                                   
     neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is the subject of any
     investigation, proceeding or other action, nor has any investigation,
     proceeding or other action been threatened by any Governmental Entity or
     other person, regarding noncompliance with any law, and no reasonable basis
     exists for any such investigation or prosecution which would have a
     Material Adverse Effect on the Company.


          SECTION 4.02. Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub. Parent
                        -------------------------------------------------       
and Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

          (a)  Organization, Standing and Corporate Power.  Each of Parent and
               -------------------------------------------                    
     Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
     under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated and has the
     requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now
     being conducted.

          (b)  Authority; Noncontravention.  Parent and Sub have all requisite
               ----------------------------                                   
     corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
     consummate the Transactions.  The execution and delivery by Parent and Sub
     of the Operative Agreements to which they are parties and the consummation
     of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
     action on the part of Parent and Sub.  This Agreement has been duly
     executed and delivered by Parent and Sub and constitutes a valid and
     binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in
     accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws
     affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to
     general principles of equity, including concepts of materiality,
     reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether
     considered in a proceeding in equity or in law).  The execution and
     delivery by Parent and Sub of the Operative Agreements to which they are
     parties do not, and the consummation of the Transactions and compliance
     with the provisions of the Operative Agreements will not, conflict with, or
     result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of
     time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancelation
     or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a material benefit under,
     or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets
     of Parent or Sub under, (i) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or
     other comparable organizational documents) of Parent or Sub, (ii) any loan
     or credit agreement, note, bond, 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              24

     mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit,
     concession, franchise or license applicable to Parent or Sub or their
     respective properties or assets or (iii) except for the governmental
     filings and other matters referred to in the following sentence, any
     judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation
     applicable to Parent or Sub, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) or
     (iii), any such conflicts, violations, defaults, rights, losses or Liens
     that individually or in the aggregate would not (x) have a Material Adverse
     Effect on Parent, (y) materially impair the ability of Parent and Sub to
     perform their respective obligations under this Agreement or (z) prevent or
     materially delay the consummation of any of the Transactions. No consent,
     approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing
     with, any Governmental Entity is required by or with respect to Parent or
     Sub in connection with the execution and delivery by Parent or Sub of the
     Operative Agreements to which they are parties or the consummation by
     Parent or Sub, as the case may be, of any of the Transactions, except for
     (i) the filing of a premerger notification and report form under the HSR
     Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of the Proxy Materials and such reports
     under Sections 13 and 16(a) of the Exchange Act as may be required in
     connection with the Operative Agreements and the Transactions, (iii) the
     filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State
     and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in
     which the Company is qualified to do business, (iv) such filings as may be
     required in connection with the taxes described in Section 6.10 and (v)
     such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
     declarations and filings as may be required under the "takeover" or "blue
     sky" laws of various states.

          (c)  Information Supplied.  None of the information supplied or to be
               ---------------------                                           
     supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
     the Proxy Materials will, at the respective times they are first published,
     sent or given to the Company's stockholders, or at the time of the
     Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
     omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
     in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
     under which they are made, not misleading.

          (d)  Brokers.  No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
               --------                                                    
     other person, other than Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, the fees and expenses of
     which will be paid by Parent, is entitled to any broker's, finder's,
     financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection with
     the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or
     Sub.

          (e)  Financing.  At the Effective Time of the Merger, Parent and Sub
               ----------                                                     
     will have available all of the funds necessary for the acquisition of all
     shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, and to perform their
     respective obligations under this Agreement.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              25

          (f)  Management Arrangements.  Parent has provided the Board of
               ------------------------                                  
     Directors of the Company with a summary of the terms of all contracts,
     agreements and other arrangements proposed to be entered into between the
     Surviving Corporation (or any of its affiliates) and any of the officers,
     directors and employees of the Company (or any of its affiliates), and the
     Surviving Corporation shall not enter into any such contracts, agreements
     or arrangements on terms that are more favorable to such officers,
     directors and employees than those set forth in such summary.

          (g)  Financial Statements.
               ---------------------

               (i)   To the knowledge of Parent, (A) the financial statements of
     Parent for the year ended December 31, 1997 previously delivered to the
     Company by Parent ("Parent Financial Statements") comply as to form in all
     material respects with applicable accounting requirements and (if
     applicable) the published rules of the SEC with respect thereto, were
     prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the
     periods presented (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and
     fairly present the consolidated financial position of Parent and its
     subsidiaries, as of the dates thereof and the consolidated financial
     position of Parent and its subsidiaries, as of the dates thereof and the
     consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods
     then ended, and (B) except as set forth in the Parent Financial Statements,
     Parent and its subsidiaries had no liabilities or obligations of any nature
     (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) at December 31, 1997
     required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of the
     Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries or in the notes thereto and which
     have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

               (ii)  Concurrently with the acquisition of Parent by Prometheus
     Senior Quarters LLC ("Prometheus"), Prometheus contributed in excess of
     $175 million to the equity capital of Prometheus Acquisition Corp., which
     merged with and into Parent on April 7, 1998 (the "Equity Contribution").
     To the knowledge of Parent, between December 31, 1997 and the time of such
     contribution (the "Contribution Date"), Parent did not suffer any Material
     Adverse Change or incur any liability or obligation required by GAAP to be
     set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of Parent and its consolidated
     subsidiaries or in the notes thereto which would have a Material Adverse
     Effect on Parent, other than (i) liabilities and obligations for
     transaction-related expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition of
     Parent by Prometheus and (ii) other liabilities and obligations in an
     aggregate amount not in excess of $25 million.

               (iii) Between the Contribution Date and the date of this
     Agreement, Parent (A) did not (a) suffer any Material Adverse Change or (b)
     incur any liability 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              26

     or obligation required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance
     sheet of Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries or in the notes thereto
     which would have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent (other than (x)
     liabilities and obligations for transaction-related expenses incurred in
     connection with the acquisition of Parent by Prometheus and (y) other
     liabilities and obligations in an aggregate amount not in excess of $25
     million), or (B)(y) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any
     other distributions in respect of, any of its capital stock or other equity
     interests (including any distribution of any portion of the Equity
     Contribution to any person), or (z) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
     any shares of capital stock of Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any
     other securities thereof any rights, warrants or options to acquire any
     such shares or other securities or interests.

          (h)  Sub; No Prior Activities.  Sub was formed solely for the purpose
               -------------------------                                       
     of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  As of the
     date hereof and the Effective Time of the Merger, except for obligations or
     liabilities incurred in connection with its organization or to be incurred
     in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, Sub has not
     incurred any obligations or liabilities or engaged in any business activity
     of any type of any kind whatsoever or entered into agreements or
     arrangements with any person, other than the Operative Agreements.

          (i)  Certain Actions by Parent.  During the period of time from the
               --------------------------                                    
     date of this Agreement until the Effective Time of the Merger, Parent shall
     not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, (i) pay any
     extraordinary dividend, make any extraordinary redemption of any equity
     securities or make any other extraordinary distribution of cash or other
     property to its securityholders or (ii) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
     any of its assets out of the ordinary course of business unless it receives
     consideration equal to the fair market value of such assets (as determined
     in good faith by the board of directors of Parent).


                                   ARTICLE V

                   Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business
                   -----------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              27

          SECTION 5.01.  Conduct of Business.  (a)  Ordinary Course.  During the
                         --------------------       ----------------            
period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time of the Merger, the
Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, carry on their respective
businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same
manner as heretofore conducted and, to the extent consistent therewith, use all
reasonable efforts to preserve intact their current business organizations, keep
available the services of their current officers and employees and preserve
their relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees,
distributors and others having business dealings with them.  Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, during the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time of the Merger, the Company shall not, and shall
not permit any of its subsidiaries to:

          (i) (x) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other
     distributions in respect of, any of its capital stock, other than dividends
     and distributions by any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the
     Company to its parent, (y) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital
     stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect
     of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or (z)
     purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other securities thereof or any
     rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or other securities;

          (ii)  issue, deliver, sell, pledge or otherwise encumber any shares of
     its capital stock, any other voting securities or any securities
     convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights, warrants or options to
     acquire, any such shares, voting securities or convertible securities
     (other than (1) the issuance of Common Stock (and associated Rights) upon
     the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on the date of this
     Agreement in accordance with their present terms and (2) the issuance of
     Common Stock (and associated Rights) upon the exercise of Convertible Sub
     Notes in accordance with their terms);

          (iii) amend its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other
     comparable charter or organizational documents;

          (iv)  acquire or agree to acquire (x) by merging or consolidating
     with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any
     other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
     association or other business organization or division thereof or (y) any
     assets that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company
     and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except purchases of inventory (other
     than real property) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
     practice;

          (v) (A) grant to any employee, officer or director of Company or any
     of its subsidiaries any increase in compensation, except in the ordinary
     course of 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              28

     business consistent with prior practice or to the extent required under
     employment agreements in effect as of the date of the most recent financial
     statements included in the Filed SEC Documents, (B) grant to any employee,
     officer or director of Company or any of its subsidiaries any increase in
     severance or termination pay, except to the extent required under any
     agreement in effect as of the date of the most recent financial statements
     included in the Filed SEC Documents, (C) enter into any employment,
     consulting, indemnification, severance or termination agreement with any
     such employee having an annual salary greater than $75,000, officer or
     director, (D) establish, adopt, enter into or amend in any material respect
     any collective bargaining agreement or Benefit Plan or (E) take any action
     to accelerate any material rights or benefits, or make any material
     determinations not in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior
     practice, under any collective bargaining agreement or Benefit Plan, except
     as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation;

          (vi)  make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices
     materially affecting the reported consolidated assets, liabilities or
     results of operations of the Company, except insofar as may have been
     required by a change in GAAP or other applicable laws or regulations;

          (vii) sell, lease, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to any
     Lien or otherwise dispose of any of properties or assets of the Company and
     its subsidiaries having a fair market value in excess of $50,000, except
     sales or inventory (other than real property) in the ordinary course of
     business consistent with past practice;

          (viii) (y) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any
     such indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt securities or
     warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries, guarantee any debt securities of another person,
     enter into any "keep well" or other agreement to maintain any financial
     statement condition of another person or enter into any arrangement having
     the economic effect of any of the foregoing, other than any guarantee of
     indebtedness or debt securities of  Elder Healthcare Developers, LLC
     (including through the issuance of letters of credit) in an aggregate
     amount not to exceed $10,000,000, or (z) make any loans, advances or
     capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other than
     to the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the
     Company, in the case of clause (y) or (z) above is in an amount which
     exceeds $50,000;

          (ix)  make or agree to make any new capital expenditure or
     expenditures which, individually, is in excess of $500,000 or, in the
     aggregate, are in excess of $5,000,000;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              29

          (x)    make any material tax election, amend any material tax return
     or settle or compromise any material tax liability or refund;

          (xi)   pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims, liabilities or
     obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
     otherwise), other than required payments of interest under the terms of the
     Convertible Sub Notes or the payment, discharge or satisfaction, in the
     ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in accordance
     with their terms, of liabilities reflected or reserved against in, or
     contemplated by, the most recent consolidated financial statements (or the
     notes thereto) of the Company included in the Filed SEC Documents or
     incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
     or waive the benefits of, or agree to modify in any manner, any
     confidentiality, standstill or similar agreement to which the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries is a party;
 
          (xii)  except as part of the Transactions as contemplated by this
     Agreement, enter into any transaction, agreement, arrangement or
     understanding with V Corp. or any of its affiliates; or

          (xiii) authorize any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the
     foregoing actions (it being understood and agreed that the Company shall
     not be deemed to have breached the foregoing covenant by virtue of the
     Company's obligation to repurchase the Convertible Sub Notes at the
     election of the holders thereof following the consummation of the Merger in
     accordance with the "Change of Control" provisions of the Indenture).

          (b)  Other Actions.  The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
               --------------                                                 
of its subsidiaries to, take any action that would, or that could reasonably be
expected to, result in (i) any of the representations and warranties of the
Company set forth in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality
becoming untrue, (ii) any of such representations and warranties that are not so
qualified becoming untrue in any material respect or (iii) except as otherwise
permitted by Section 5.02, any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in
Article VII not being satisfied.

          (c)  Advice of Changes.  The Company shall promptly advise Parent
               ------------------                                          
orally and in writing of any change or event having, or which, insofar as can
reasonably be foreseen, would have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          SECTION 5.02.  No Solicitation.  (a) The Company shall not, nor shall
                         ----------------                                       
it permit any of its subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any
officer, director or employee of, or any investment banker, attorney or other
advisor or representative of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries to, (i)
directly or indirectly solicit, initiate, or encourage the submission of, any
takeover proposal, (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to any takeover
proposal or (iii) directly or indirectly participate in any discussions or
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              30

negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any information with respect
to, or take any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any
proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any
takeover proposal; provided, however, that, prior to the adoption of this
                   --------  -------                                     
Agreement by the stockholders of the Company, to the extent required by the
fiduciary obligations of the Board of Directors of the Company, as determined in
good faith by a majority of the disinterested members thereof based on the
advice of outside counsel, the Company may (x) in response to an unsolicited
request therefor, participate in discussions or negotiations with, or furnish
information with respect to the Company pursuant to a customary confidentiality
agreement (as determined by the Company's independent counsel) to, any person in
connection with any takeover proposal or potential takeover proposal or (y)
issue a press release or other public announcement disclosing the receipt by the
Company of any takeover proposal.  Without limiting the foregoing, it is
understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding
sentence by any executive officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, whether or not such person is purporting to
act on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise, shall be
deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.02(a) by the Company.  For purposes of
this Agreement, "takeover proposal" means any proposal for a merger or other
business combination involving the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries, any proposal for the issuance by the Company of additional equity
securities equal to 20% or more of the outstanding equity securities of the
Company as consideration for the assets or securities of another person or any
proposal or offer to acquire in any manner, directly or indirectly, additional
equity securities equal to 20% or more of the outstanding equity securities of
the Company, or 20% or more of the assets of the Company (and, with respect to
assets, its subsidiaries, taken as a whole), other than the Transactions.

          (b)  Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor any committee
thereof shall (i) withdraw or modify, or propose to withdraw or modify, in a
manner adverse to Parent or Sub, the approval or recommendation by such Board of
Directors or any such committee of this Agreement or the Merger or (ii) approve
or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, any takeover proposal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company (or any
committee thereof), to the extent required by the fiduciary obligations thereof,
as determined in good faith by a majority of the disinterested members thereof
based on the advice of outside counsel, may approve or recommend (and, in
connection therewith, withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of this
Agreement and the Merger) another takeover proposal; provided, however that the
                                                     --------  -------         
Board of Directors of the Company (or any committee thereof) may not approve or
recommend another takeover proposal, or withdraw or modify its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement, the Merger and the Transactions until 48 hours
after Parent shall have received the written notice set forth in Section 5.02(c)
below with respect to such takeover proposal.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              31

          (c)  The Company promptly shall advise Parent orally and in writing,
within 24 hours of receipt of any takeover proposal or any inquiry with respect
to or which could reasonably be expected to lead to any takeover proposal, and
the material terms and conditions of such proposal or inquiry (including any
change to the material terms of any such takeover proposal or inquiry).


                                  ARTICLE VI

                             Additional Agreements
                             ---------------------

          SECTION 6.01.  Preparation of Proxy Materials.  (a)  As soon as
                         -------------------------------                 
practicable following the execution of this Agreement, the Company will prepare
and file with the SEC a preliminary Proxy Statement and a Rule 13e-3 Transaction
Statement on Schedule 13E-3 (together with all amendments and supplements
thereto, the "Schedule 13E-3"; the Proxy Statement and the Schedule 13E-3 are
collectively referred to herein as the "Proxy Materials").  The Company will use
its best efforts to respond to any comments of the SEC or its staff and to cause
the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the Company's stockholders as promptly as
practicable after such filing.  The Company will notify Parent promptly of the
receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC
or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Materials or for
additional information and will supply Parent with copies of all correspondence
between the Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC
or its staff, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Materials or the
Merger.  If at any time prior to the adoption of this Agreement by the Company's
stockholders there shall occur any event that should be set forth in an
amendment or supplement to the Proxy Materials, the Company will promptly
prepare and mail to its stockholders such an amendment or supplement.  The
Company will not mail any Proxy Materials or any amendment or supplement thereto
if Parent reasonably objects thereto.  Each of the Company, Parent and Sub
agrees promptly to correct any information provided by it for use in the Proxy
Materials if and to the extent that such information shall have become false or
misleading in any material respect, and the Company further agrees to take all
steps necessary to amend or supplement the Proxy Materials and to cause the
Proxy Materials as so amended or supplemented to be filed with the SEC and to be
disseminated to the Company's stockholders, in each case as and to the extent
required by applicable Federal securities laws.  The Company agrees to provide
Parent, Sub and their counsel copies of any written comments the Company or its
counsel may receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy
Materials promptly after the receipt of such comments.

          (b)  Subject to any necessary SEC approvals of the Proxy Materials,
the Company will, as soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement,
duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the
"Stockholders Meeting") for the purpose of approving this Agreement and the
Transactions.  The Company will, 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              32

through its Board of Directors or a committee thereof, recommend to its
stockholders approval of this Agreement and the Transactions, except to the
extent that the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof shall
have withdrawn or modified its approval or recommendation of this Agreement or
the Merger as permitted by Section 5.02(b). Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, except as otherwise provided herein the Company agrees that its
obligations pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 6.01(b) shall not be
affected by (i) the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or
communication to the Company of any takeover proposal or (ii) the withdrawal or
modification by the Board of Directors of the Company of its approval or
recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger.

          SECTION 6.02.  Access to Information; Confidentiality.  The Company
                         ---------------------------------------             
shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to, afford to Parent, and to
Parent's officers, employees, accountants, counsel, financial advisers and other
representatives, reasonable access during normal business hours during the
period prior to the Effective Time of the Merger to all their respective
properties, books, contracts, commitments, personnel and records and, during
such period, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to,
furnish promptly to Parent (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration
statement and other document filed by it during such period pursuant to the
requirements of Federal or state securities laws and (b) all other information
concerning its business, properties and personnel as Parent may reasonably
request.  All such information shall be held in accordance with the
confidentiality agreement (the "Confidentiality Agreement") dated February 2,
1998, as amended.

          SECTION 6.03.  Reasonable Efforts; Notification.  (a) Upon the terms
                         ---------------------------------                     
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, unless, to the extent
permitted by Section 5.02(b), the Board of Directors of the Company (or a
committee thereof) approves or recommends another takeover proposal, each of the
parties agrees to use its reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all
actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the
other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate
and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Merger and
the other Transactions, including (i) the obtaining of all necessary actions or
nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from Governmental Entities and the
making of all necessary notifications, registrations and filings (including
filings with Governmental Entities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable
steps as may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an
action or proceeding by, any Governmental Entity, (ii) the obtaining of all
necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties, (iii) the defending
of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative,
challenging this Agreement or the consummation of any of the Transactions,
including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any
court or other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed and (iv) the execution
and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the
Transactions and to fully carry out the purposes of the Operative Agreements.
In connection with and without 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              33

limiting the foregoing, the Company and its Board of Directors shall (i) take
all reasonable action necessary to ensure that no state takeover statute or
similar statute or regulation is or becomes applicable to the Merger, any
Operative Agreement or any of the other Transactions and (ii) if any state
takeover statute or similar statute or regulation becomes applicable to the
Merger, any Operative Agreement or any other Transaction, take all reasonable
action necessary to ensure that the Merger and the other Transactions may be
consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by the
Operative Agreements and otherwise to minimize the effect of such statute or
regulation on the Merger and the other Transactions. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company (or any committee thereof)
shall not be prohibited from taking any action permitted by Section 5.02(b).

          (b)  The Company shall give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent or Sub
shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (i) any representation or warranty
made by it contained in this Agreement that is qualified as to materiality
becoming untrue or inaccurate in any respect or any such representation or
warranty that is not so qualified becoming untrue or inaccurate in any material
respect or (ii) the failure by it to comply with or satisfy in any material
respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by
it under this Agreement; provided, however, that no such notification shall
                         --------  -------                                 
affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties
or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

          SECTION 6.04.  Rights Agreement.  (a)  The Board of Directors of the
                         -----------------                                    
Company shall take all further action (in addition to that referred to in
Section 4.01(o)) reasonably requested in writing by Parent (including redeeming
the Rights immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger or amending the
Rights Agreement) in order to render the Rights inapplicable to the Merger and
the other Transactions.  Except as provided in this Agreement or requested in
writing by Parent prior to the Stockholders Meeting, the Board of Directors of
the Company shall not (i) amend the Rights Agreement or (ii) take any action
with respect to, or, except as specifically permitted by Section 6.04(b), make
any determination under, the Rights Agreement (including a redemption of the
Rights).

          (b)  If, to the extent permitted by Section 5.02(b), the Board of
Directors of the Company (or a committee thereof) approves or recommends a
takeover proposal, the Company may take any action in order to render the Rights
inapplicable to such takeover proposal; provided, however, that the foregoing
                                        --------  -------                    
shall not permit the Company to make any determination under, or take any action
with respect to, the Rights Agreement in order to render the Rights applicable
to the Merger or any of the other Transactions or to redeem the Rights.

          SECTION 6.05.  Stock Options.  (a)  Subject to Section 6.05(d), at the
                         --------------                                         
Effective Time of the Merger (and without any action by Board of Directors of
the 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              34

Company or any committee administering the Stock Plans), all outstanding stock
options to purchase shares of Common Stock ("Company Stock Options") heretofore
granted under any stock option or stock appreciation rights plan, program or
arrangement of the Company (collectively, the "Stock Plans"), shall be canceled
in exchange for the right to receive a cash payment by the Surviving Corporation
at that time of an amount equal to (i) the excess, if any, of (x) the price per
share of Common Stock to be paid pursuant to the Merger over (y) the exercise
price per share of Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option, multiplied
by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Company Stock Option
shall not theretofore have been exercised (the "Option Consideration")
(irrespective of whether and the extent to which any or all such options are
exercisable or will be exercisable at the Effective Time). Schedule 6.05(a)
identifies all Stock Plans in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

          (b)  All amounts payable pursuant to this Section 6.05 shall be
subject to any required withholding of taxes and shall be paid without interest.
The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all consents
of the holders of the Company Stock Options as shall be necessary to effectuate
the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, payment shall, at Parent's request, be withheld in respect of any
Company Stock Option until all necessary consents for such Company Stock Option
are obtained.

          (c)  The Stock Plans shall terminate as of the Effective Time of the
Merger, and the provisions in any other Benefit Plan providing for the issuance,
transfer or grant of any capital stock of the Company or any interest in respect
of any capital stock of the Company shall be deleted as of the Effective Time of
the Merger, and the Company shall ensure that following the Effective Time of
the Merger no holder of a Company Stock Option or any participant in any Stock
Plan or other Benefit Plan shall have any right thereunder to acquire any
capital stock of the Surviving Corporation except as set forth in Section
6.05(d).

          (d)  Notwithstanding anything the contrary contained herein, the
provisions of Section 6.05(a) shall not apply to the Company Stock Options
listed on Schedule 6.05(d) (the "Rollover Options").  The Rollover Options shall
remain outstanding after the Effective Time of the Merger as options to acquire
shares of the Surviving Corporation, except that the number of shares and the
exercise price with respect thereto shall be equitably adjusted by the Board of
Directors of the Surviving Corporation as of the Effective Time of the Merger in
order to preserve the aggregate spread with respect to each Rollover Option.
For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, (i) the aggregate "spread"
with respect to each Rollover Option immediately prior to the Effective Time of
the Merger shall be equal to the product of (x) the number of shares covered by
such Rollover Option and (y) the excess of the Merger Consideration over the
exercise price of such Rollover Option and (ii) the aggregate "spread" with
respect to each Rollover Option immediately following the Effective Time of the
Merger shall be equal to 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              35

the product of (x) the number of shares covered by such Rollover Option and (y)
the excess of the fair market value of one share of Common Stock of the
Surviving Corporation (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Surviving Corporation, provided that if Parent shall purchase any shares of
                           --------
Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation at or immediately following the
Effective Time of the Merger, the fair market value of one share of Common Stock
shall be deemed to be equal to the price per share paid by Parent) over the
exercise price of such Rollover Option. The Rollover Options shall be subject
after the Effective Time of the Merger to the same terms and conditions that
applied before the Effective Time of the Merger with the following exceptions:
(i) any provision or agreement providing for the accelerated vesting of such
Rollover Options as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall not be given effect (so that the original vesting schedule shall continue
to apply to such Rollover Options) and (ii) the shares of the Surviving
Corporation delivered upon exercise of the Rollover Options shall be subject to
the shareholder provisions set forth in the Shareholders Agreement. Before the
Effective Time of the Merger, the Company shall take any reasonable actions
(including obtaining any employee consent) as are necessary to implement the
provisions of this Section 6.05(d). The Surviving Corporation shall adopt a
stock option plan as of the Effective Time of the Merger that shall provide for
the issuance of the Rollover Options and by virtue of the Merger and without the
need of any further corporate action, the Surviving Corporation shall assume all
obligations of the Company under the Rollover Options.

          SECTION 6.06.  Benefit Plans.  Except as provided in Section 6.05(c),
                         --------------                                        
Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain for the period from the
Effective Time of the Merger through December 31, 1998 the Benefit Plans of the
Company and its subsidiaries in effect on the date of this Agreement or to
provide benefits to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries that are not
materially less favorable in the aggregate to such employees than those in
effect on the date of this Agreement.  For purposes of participation, vesting
and benefit accrual under any such plans, the service of the employees of
Company and its subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time shall be treated as
service with any employer participating in such employee benefit plans. Parent
also shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries to honor in
accordance with their terms all employment, severance, consulting and other
compensation contracts, agreements and other arrangements disclosed in the Filed
SEC Documents or in any schedule hereto between any of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and any current or former director, officer, or employee thereof,
and all provisions for vested benefits or other vested amounts earned or accrued
through the Effective Time under the Benefit Plans.

          SECTION 6.07.  Indemnification.  Parent and Sub agree that all rights
                         ----------------                                      
to indemnification for acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time
of the Merger now existing in favor of the current or former directors or
officers of the Company and its subsidiaries as provided in their respective
certificates of incorporation or by-laws (or 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              36

similar organizational documents) shall survive the Merger and shall continue in
full force and effect in accordance with their terms for a period of not less
than six years from the Effective Time of the Merger. Parent will cause to be
maintained for a period of not less than six years from the Effective Time of
the Merger the Company's current directors' and officers' insurance and
indemnification policy to the extent that it provides coverage for events
occurring prior to the Effective Time of the Merger (the "D&O Insurance") for
all persons who are directors and officers of the Company on the date of this
Agreement, so long as the annual premium therefor would not be in excess of 200%
of the last annual premium paid prior to the date of this Agreement (the
"Maximum Premium"). If the existing D&O Insurance expires, is terminated or
canceled during such six-year period, Parent will use all reasonable efforts to
cause to be obtained as much D&O Insurance as can be obtained for the remainder
of such period for an annualized premium not in excess of the Maximum Premium,
on terms and conditions no less advantageous than the existing D&O Insurance.
The Company represents to Parent that the Maximum Premium is $240,720.

          SECTION 6.08.   Fees and Expenses.  (a) Except as provided below, all
                          ------------------                                    
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger, this Agreement and the
Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether
or not the Merger is consummated.

          (b)  The Company shall pay to Parent upon demand a fee of $18,209,496,
payable in same day funds, plus all Expenses (as defined below) of the Company,
if (i) the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(f); (ii)
Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(c), provided that the
breach or failure to perform by the Company giving rise to such right to
terminate under Section 8.01(c) must be a deliberate breach or failure to
perform with the intent of frustrating the Closing; (iii) Parent terminates this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(d); (iv) any person makes a takeover proposal
that was not withdrawn more than ten days prior to the date of the Stockholders
Meeting and thereafter this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
8.01(b)(i); or (v) any person makes a takeover proposal that was not withdrawn
on the date 60 days prior to the Outside Date (as defined in Section
8.01(b)(ii)) and the Company Stockholder Approval is not obtained prior to
termination of this Agreement. Any fee payable to Parent by the Company pursuant
to this Section 6.08(b) is herein referred to as the "Termination Fee".

          (c)  For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Expenses" shall mean,
with respect to a party hereto, all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses
incurred or paid by or on behalf of such party or any of its affiliates in
connection with the Merger or the consummation of any of the Transactions,
including all fees and expenses of counsel, investment banking firms,
accountants, experts and consultants to such party or any or its affiliates and
all fees and expenses of banks, investment banking firms and other financial
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              37

institutions and their respective counsel, accountants and agents in connection
with arranging or providing financing (collectively, the "Expenses").

          (d)  Parent shall reimburse all of the Expenses of the Company upon
demand if this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section
8.01(e).

          SECTION 6.09.  Public Announcements.  Parent and Sub, on the one hand,
                         ---------------------                                  
and the Company, on the other hand, will consult with each other before issuing,
and provide each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, any press
release or other public statements with respect to the Transactions, including
the Merger, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public
statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by applicable
law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any
national securities exchange.  The parties agree that (a) the initial press
release to be issued with respect to the Transactions is set forth in Exhibit A
to this Agreement, (b) such initial press release shall contain a statement to
the effect that, to the extent required by the fiduciary obligations of the
Board of Directors of the Company, determined in good faith by a majority of the
disinterested members thereof based on the advice of outside counsel, the
Company may, in response to an unsolicited request therefor, furnish information
with respect to the Company to any person pursuant to an appropriate
confidentiality agreement, and (c) the Company shall be entitled to prepare (in
its sole discretion) and file a report on Form 8-K with the SEC pursuant to the
Exchange Act describing this Agreement and the Merger and file the Operative
Agreements as exhibits to such Form 8-K.

          SECTION 6.10.  Transfer Taxes.  Parent shall pay or cause Sub to pay
                         ---------------                                      
any state, local, foreign or provincial sales, use, real property transfer,
stock, transfer, stock or similar tax (including any interest or penalties with
respect thereto) payable in connection with the consummation of the Merger
(collectively, the "Transfer Taxes").  The Company agrees to cooperate with
Parent or Sub, as the case may be, in the filing of any returns with respect to
the Transfer Taxes, including supplying in a timely manner a complete list of
all real property interests held by the Company and its subsidiaries and any
information with respect to such property that is reasonably necessary to
complete such returns.  The portion of the consideration allocable to the assets
giving rise to such Transfer Taxes shall be agreed to by the Company and the
Parent.

          SECTION 6.11.  Support Agreements.  Parent and Sub hereby represent
                         -------------------                                 
and warrant to the Company that the Support Agreements, complete and correct
copies of which (including all amendments or other modifications thereto) are
attached hereto as Exhibits B-1 and B-2, are the only contracts, agreements,
arrangements or other understandings currently in effect related to the
Transactions by and among Parent and/or any of its affiliates, on the one hand,
and V Corp. and/or any other stockholder of the Company, on the other hand.
Parent and Sub will not (directly or indirectly) amend either or both of the
Support Agreements, or enter into any other contract, agreement, 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              38

arrangement or other understanding related (directly or indirectly) to the
Transactions with any stockholder of the Company (record or beneficial), without
the prior written consent of the Company.

          SECTION 6.12.  Headquarters.  Parent, Sub and Surviving Corporation
                         -------------                                       
hereby covenant that from and after the Effective Time of the Merger until the
date that is three years after the Effective Time of the Merger, the corporate
headquarters and principal offices of the Company and, after the Effective Time
of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation, shall remain in the Louisville,
Kentucky, metropolitan area.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                             Conditions Precedent
                             --------------------

          SECTION 7.01.  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the
                         ---------------------------------------------------
Merger.  The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject
- -------                                                                         
to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:

          (a)  Stockholder Approval.  The Company shall have obtained the
               ---------------------                                     
     Company Stockholder Approval.

          (b)  HSR Act.  The waiting period (and any extension thereof)
               --------                                                
     applicable to the Merger under the HSR Act shall have been terminated or
     shall have expired.

          (c)  No Injunctions or Restraints.  No temporary restraining order,
               -----------------------------                                 
     preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
     competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing
     the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; provided, however, that
                                                        --------  -------      
     each of the parties shall have used its reasonable efforts to prevent the
     entry of any such injunction or other order and to appeal as promptly as
     possible any injunction or other order that may be entered.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              39

          SECTION 7.02.  Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub.  The
                         --------------------------------------------     
obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the
following conditions:

          (a)  Representations and Warranties.  There shall not exist
               -------------------------------                       
     inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the Company set forth
     in the Agreement, in each case as of the Closing Date (except for
     representations and warranties confined to a specified date, which speak
     only to such date), such that the aggregate effect of such inaccuracies
     has, or is reasonably likely to have, a (A) Material Adverse Effect on the
     Company or (B) material adverse impact on the ability of the Company (i) to
     perform its obligations under this Agreement or (ii) to consummate the
     Merger (disregarding for purposes of such determination any exceptions for
     materiality or Material Adverse Effect contained in such representations
     and warranties so as not to "double-count"), and Parent shall have received
     a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive
     officer and the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.

          (b)  Performance of Obligations of the Company.  The Company shall
               ------------------------------------------                   
     have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
     performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and
     Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by
     the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company
     to such effect.

          (c)  No Litigation.  There shall not be pending any suit, action or
               --------------                                                
     proceeding by any Governmental Entity or any other person, or before any
     court or governmental authority, agency or tribunal, domestic or foreign,
     in each case that has a reasonable likelihood of success, (i) challenging
     the acquisition by Parent or Sub of any shares of Common Stock, seeking to
     restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Merger or any of the other
     Transactions, or seeking to obtain from the Company, Parent or Sub any
     damages that are material in relation to the Company and its subsidiaries
     taken as a whole, (ii) seeking to prohibit or limit the ownership or
     operation by the Company, Parent or any of their respective subsidiaries of
     any material portion of the business or assets of the Company, Parent or
     any of their respective subsidiaries, or to compel the Company, Parent or
     any of their respective subsidiaries to dispose of or hold separate any
     material portion of the business or assets of the Company, Parent or any of
     their respective subsidiaries, as a result of the Merger or any of the
     other Transactions, (iii) seeking to impose limitations on the ability of
     Parent or Sub to acquire or hold, or exercise full rights of ownership of,
     any shares of Common Stock, including, without limitation, the right to
     vote the Common Stock purchased by it on all matters properly presented to
     the stockholders of the Company, (iv) seeking to prohibit Parent or any of
     its subsidiaries from effectively controlling in any material respect 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              40

     the business or operations of the Company or its subsidiaries, or (v) which
     otherwise has a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

          (d)  Material Filings and Notices.  There shall have been made by the
               -----------------------------                                   
     Company and its subsidiaries, as applicable, all material filings and
     notifications required to be made to any Governmental Entity in connection
     with the Merger, and all material consents, approvals, authorizations and
     Permits required to be obtained by the Company and its subsidiaries from
     any Governmental Entity at or prior to the Effective Time of the Merger
     shall have been obtained.

          SECTION 7.03.  Condition to Obligation of the Company.  The obligation
                         ---------------------------------------                
of the Company to effect the Merger is subject to the following conditions:

          (a)  Parent and Sub shall have performed in all material respects all
obligations to be performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the
Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of Parent and Sub by their respective chief executive officers and chief
financial officers to such effect.

          (b)  Representations and Warranties.  There shall not exist
               -------------------------------                       
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of Parent and Sub set forth
in this Agreement, in each case as of the Closing Date (except for
representations and warranties confined to a specified date, which speak only to
such date), such that the aggregate effect of such inaccuracies has, or is
reasonably likely to have, a (A) Material Adverse Effect on Parent or (B)
material adverse impact on the ability of Parent or Sub, respectively, (i) to
perform their respective obligations under this Agreement or (ii) in the case of
Parent and Sub, to consummate the Merger (disregarding for purposes of such
determination any exceptions for materiality or Material Adverse Effect
contained in such representations and warranties so as not to "double-count"),
except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Sub by the chief executive
officers and chief financial officers of Parent and Sub, respectively, to such
effect.

          (c)  Solvency Opinion.  The Company shall have received a solvency
               -----------------                                            
letter, dated as of the Closing Date, from a nationally recognized valuation
firm, as to the solvency of the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time
of the Merger, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              41

                                 ARTICLE VIII

                       Termination, Amendment and Waiver
                       ---------------------------------

          SECTION 8.01.  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any
                         ------------                                         
time prior to the Effective Time of the Merger, whether before or after approval
of matters presented in connection with the Merger by the stockholders of the
Company:

          (a)  by mutual written consent of Parent, Sub and the Company;

          (b)  by either Parent or the Company:

               (i)   if, upon a vote at a duly held Stockholders Meeting (or any
          adjournment thereof), the Company Stockholder Approval shall not have
          been obtained;

               (ii)  if the Merger is not consummated on or before October 31,
          1998 (the "Outside Date"), unless the failure to consummate the Merger
          is the result of a wilful and material breach of this Agreement by the
          party seeking to terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that the
                                                     --------  -------          
          passage of such period shall be tolled for any part thereof during
          which any party shall be subject to a nonfinal order, decree, ruling
          or action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
          consummation of the Merger;

               (iii) if any Governmental Entity issues an order, decree or
          ruling or takes any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or
          otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or
          other action shall have become final and nonappealable; or

               (iv)  if any condition to the obligation of such party to
          consummate the Merger set forth in Section 7.02 (in the case of
          Parent) or 7.03 (in the case of the Company) becomes incapable of
          satisfaction prior to the Outside Date; provided, however, that the
                                                  --------  -------          
          terminating party is not then in wilful and material breach of any
          representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement);

          (c)  by Parent, if the Company breaches or fails to perform in any
     material respect any of its representations, warranties or covenants
     contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would
     give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.02(a) or
     7.02(b) and (ii) cannot be or has not been cured within 30 days after the
     giving of written notice to the Parent of such breach (provided that Parent
     is not then in wilful and material breach of any representation, warranty
     or covenant contained in this Agreement);
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              42

          (d)  by Parent:

               (i)  if the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee
          thereof withdraws or modifies in a manner adverse to Parent its
          approval of recommendation of this Agreement or fails to recommend to
          the Company's stockholders that they give the Company Stockholder
          Approval, or such Board of Directors or any committee thereof resolves
          to take any of the foregoing actions; or

               (ii) if the Board of Directors of the Company fails to reaffirm
          publicly and unconditionally its recommendation to the Company's
          stockholders that they give the Company Stockholder Approval within
          five business days of Parent's written request to do so (which request
          may be made at any time following public disclosure of a takeover
          proposal, which public reaffirmation must also include the
          unconditional rejection of such takeover proposal);

          (e)  by the Company, if either Parent or Sub breaches or fails to
     perform in any material respect of any of its representations, warranties
     or covenants contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to
     perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in
     Section 7.03(a) or 7.03(b) and (ii) cannot be or has not been cured within
     30 days after the giving of written notice to Parent of such breach
     (provided that the Company is not then in wilful and material breach of any
     representation, warranty or covenant in this Agreement); or

          (f)  by the Company prior to receipt of the Company Stockholder
     Approval in accordance with Section 8.05(b); provided, however, that the
                                                  --------  -------          
     Company shall have complied with all provisions thereof, including the
     notice provisions therein.

          SECTION 8.02. Effect of Termination.  In the event of termination of
                        ----------------------                                
this Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 8.01, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability
or obligation on the part of Parent, Sub or the Company, other than the
provisions of Section 4.01(v), Section 4.02(d), the last sentence of Section
6.02, Section 6.08, this Section 8.02 and Article IX and except to the extent
that such termination results from the wilful and material breach by a party of
any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the
Operative Agreements.

          SECTION 8.03.  Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended by the
                         ----------                                      
parties at any time before or after receipt of the Company Stockholder Approval;
provided, however, that after any such approval, there shall not be made any
- --------  -------                                                           
amendment that by law requires further approval by such stockholders without the
further approval of such stockholders.  This Agreement may not be amended except
by an instrument in 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              43

writing signed on behalf of each of the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
without the written consent of V Corp., the parties shall not make any amendment
to this Agreement that (i) reduces the Merger Consideration or changes the form
of the Merger Consideration provided herein, (ii) changes the number of V Corp.
Retained Shares or the number of shares of Common Stock into which the V Corp.
Retained Shares shall be converted as of the Effective Time of the Merger or
(iii) amends Section 6.05.

          SECTION 8.04.  Extension; Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective
                         ------------------                                    
Time of the Merger, the parties may (a) extend the time for the performance of
any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement
or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) subject to the
proviso of Section 8.03, waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained in this Agreement.  Any agreement on the part of a party to
any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of such party.  The failure of any party to this
Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall
not constitute a waiver of those rights.

          SECTION 8.05.  Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or
                         --------------------------------------------------
Waiver.  (a)  A termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, an
- -------                                                                   
amendment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.03 or an extension or waiver
pursuant to Section 8.04 shall, in order to be effective, require (a) in the
case of Parent, Sub or the Company, action by its Board of Directors or the duly
authorized designee of its Board of Directors and (b) in the case of the
Company, action by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company who were members thereof on the date of this Agreement and remain as
such hereafter or the duly authorized designee of such members.

          (b)  The Company may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.01(f) only if (i) the Board of Directors of the Company has received a
takeover proposal, (ii) in light of such takeover proposal a majority of the
disinterested directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith,
based upon the advice of outside counsel, that the Board of Directors of the
Company should withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the Merger
or this Agreement in order to comply with its fiduciary duty under applicable
law, (iii) the Company has notified Parent in writing of the determinations
described in clause (ii) above, (iv) at least 48 hours following receipt by
Parent of the notice referred to in clause (iii) above, and taking into account
any revised proposal made by Parent since receipt of the notice referred to in
clause (iii) above, a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company has
again made the determinations referred to in clause (ii) above, (v) the Company
is in compliance in all material respects with Section 5.02 and (vi) the Company
has previously paid the fee due under Section 6.08.  Acceptance by Parent of the
fee due under Section 6.08 shall constitute acceptance by Parent of the validity
of any termination of this Agreement under Section 8.01(f) and this Section
8.05(b).
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              44

                                  ARTICLE IX

                              General Provisions
                              ------------------

          SECTION 9.01.  Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties.  None of
                         ----------------------------------------------         
the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time of the
Merger.  This Section 9.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the
parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time of
the Merger.

          SECTION 9.02.  Notices.  All notices, requests, claims, demands and
                         --------                                            
other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given if delivered personally or sent by overnight courier (providing
proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

          (a) if to Parent or Sub, to

                    Kapson Senior Quarters Corp.                     
                    242 Crossways Park Drive                         
                    Woodbury, NY 11797                               
                    Attention:  Glenn Kaplan and Ray DiGuardi        
                    Telecopy:  (516) 921-8998                        
                    Telephone:  (516) 921-8900                       
                                                                     
                    with copies to:                                  
                                                                     
                    Lazard Freres Real Estate Investors L.L.C.       
                    30 Rockefeller Plaza, 63rd Floor                 
                    New York, NY 10020                               
                    Attention:  Robert P. Freeman and Murry N. Gunty 
                    Telecopy:  (212) 332-5980                        
                    Telephone: (212) 632-6000                         
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              45

                    and                               
                                                      
                    Cravath, Swaine & Moore           
                    Worldwide Plaza                   
                    825 Eighth Avenue                 
                    New York, NY 10019                
                    Attention:  Kevin J. Grehan, Esq. 
                    Telecopy: (212) 474-3700          
                    Telephone: (212) 474-1490          

          (b) if to the Company, to

                    ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.              
                    501 South Fourth Avenue              
                    Suite 140                            
                    Louisville, KY 40202                 
                    Attention:  William C. Ballard Jr.   
                               W. Patrick Mulloy, II     
                               Audra J. Eckerle, Esq.    
                    Telecopy:  (502) 719-1699            
                    Telephone:  (502) 719-1600           
                                                         
                    with a copy to:                      
                                                         
                    Alston & Bird LLP                    
                    One Atlantic Center                  
                    1201 West Peachtree Street           
                    Atlanta, GA 30309-3424               
                    Attention:  J. Vaughan Curtis, Esq.  
                    Telecopy:  (404) 881-4777            
                    Telephone: (404) 881-7397             

          SECTION 9.03.  Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement:
                         ------------                                 

          (a)  an "affiliate" of any person means another person that directly
     or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled
     by, or is under common control with, such first person (it being understood
     and agreed that a person shall be deemed to "control" (i) any corporation
     of which such person owns at least 40% of the outstanding equity interests
     and (ii) any partnership or limited liability company of which such person
     is the general partner or managing member, as applicable; provided,
                                                               --------
     however, that V Corp. shall not be deemed to be an affiliate of the
     -------
     Company);
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              46

          (b)  "Company Stock Option" has the meaning assigned thereto in
     Section 6.05(a).

          (c)  "Company Stockholder Approval" has the meaning assigned thereto
     in Section 4.01(m).

          (d)  "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting
     principles;

          (e)  "Material Adverse Change" or "Material Adverse Effect" means,
     when used in connection with the Company or Parent, any change or effect
     (or any development that, insofar as can reasonably be foreseen, is likely
     to result in any change or effect) that (i) is materially adverse to the
     business, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), results
     of operations or prospects of such party and its subsidiaries taken as a
     whole, (ii) would materially impair the ability of such party to perform
     its obligations under this Agreement or (iii) would prevent or materially
     delay the consummation by such party of any of the Transactions.

          (f)  "Medicaid" means that means-tested entitlement program under
     Title XIX of the Social Security Act that provides federal grants to states
     for medical assistance based on specific eligibility criteria. (Social
     Security Act of 1965, Title XIX, P.L. 89-97, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 1396 et
     seq.).

          (g)  "Medicare" means that government-sponsored entitlement program
     under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act that provides for a health
     insurance system for eligible elderly and disabled individuals.  (Social
     Security Act of 1965, Title XVIII, P.L. 89-87, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1395
     et seq.).

          (h) "Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens (other than Liens imposed under
     ERISA or any Environmental Law, or in connection with any Environmental
     Claim) for taxes or other assessments or charges of Governmental Entities
     that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by
     appropriate proceedings, in each case, with respect to which adequate
     reserves are being maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries to the
     extent required by GAAP, (ii) statutory Liens of landlords, carriers,
     warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens (other than Liens
     imposed under ERISA or any Environmental Law or in connection with any
     Environmental Claim) imposed by law and created in the ordinary course of
     business for amounts not yet overdue or which are being contested in good
     faith by appropriate proceedings, in each case, with respect to which
     adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained by
     the Company or its subsidiaries to the extent required by GAAP, (iii)
     easements, rights-of-way, covenants and restrictions which are customary
     and typical for properties similar to the Company Properties and which do
     not (x) interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of any Company
     Property or the business of 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              47

     the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole or (y) detract materially from
     the value or usefulness of the Company Properties to which they apply, (iv)
     Liens described or disclosed on Schedule B of any title insurance policy
     held by the Company and its subsidiaries and provided to Parent and (iv)
     the other Liens, if any, described in Schedule 4.01(s)(i);

          (i)  "person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited
     liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated
     organization or other entity;

          (j)  "Proxy Materials" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section
     6.01(a).

          (k)  "Stockholders Meeting" has the meaning assigned thereto in
     Section 6.01(c).

          (l)  a "subsidiary" of any person means another person, an amount of
     the voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership
     interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board
     of Directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting
     interests, 50% or more of the equity interests of which) is owned directly
     or indirectly by such first person;

          (m)  "takeover proposal" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section
     5.02.

          SECTION 9.04.  Interpretation.  When a reference is made in this
                         ---------------                                  
Agreement to a Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to a
Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated.  The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever the words "include", "includes" or
"including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words "without limitation".

          SECTION 9.05.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or
                         -------------                                          
more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and delivered to the other parties.

          SECTION 9.06.  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  The
                         -----------------------------------------------     
Operative Agreements and the Confidentiality Agreement, taken together, (a)
constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter of the Transactions and (b) except for the provisions of Article
III and Sections 6.06 and 6.07 and the last sentence of Section 8.03, are not
intended to confer upon any person other than the parties any rights or remedies
hereunder.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              48

          SECTION 9.07.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by,
                         --------------                                      
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless
of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflict
of laws thereof.

          SECTION 9.08.  Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the
                         -----------                                       
rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in
whole or in part, by operation of law or otherwise by any of the parties without
the prior written consent of the other parties, except that Sub may assign, in
its sole discretion, any of or all its rights, interests and obligations under
this Agreement to Parent or to any affiliate of Parent, but no such assignment
shall relieve Sub of any of its obligations under this Agreement.  Any purported
assignment without such consent shall be void.  Subject to the preceding
sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be
enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

          SECTION 9.09.  Enforcement.  The parties agree that irreparable damage
                         ------------                                           
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United States
located in the State of New York or the State of Delaware or in Delaware state
court, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at
law or in equity.  In addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to
submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any Federal court located in the
State of New York or the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court in the
event any dispute arises out of any Operative Agreement or any of the
Transactions, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such
personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court
and (c) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to any Operative
Agreement or any of the Transactions in any court other than a Federal or state
court sitting in the State of New York or the State of Delaware or a Delaware
state court.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              49

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first written above.


                                   KAPSON SENIOR QUARTERS CORP.,

                                    by  /s/ Evan A. Kaplan
                                        _______________________________
                                        Name: Evan A. Kaplan
                                        Title: President


                                   KA ACQUISITION CORP.,

                                    by  /s/ Evan A. Kaplan
                                        _______________________________
                                        Name: Evan A. Kaplan
                                        Title: President


                                   ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.,

                                    by  /s/ W. Patrick Mulloy, II
                                        _______________________________
                                        Name: W. Patrick Mulloy, II
                                        Title: President and Chief Executive 
                                        Officer

<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 99.2



                               SUPPORT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                    SUPPORT AGREEMENT dated as of April 19, 1998, among KAPSON
               SENIOR QUARTERS CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), KA
               ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Sub"), Vencor, Inc.,
               a Delaware corporation ("Vencor), and Vencor Assisted Living
               Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("VALH") (each of Vencor
               and VALH, a "Stockholder" and, collectively, the "Stockholders").


          WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and Atria Communities, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended or supplemented,
the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement) providing for the merger of Sub
with and into the Company;

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the outstanding capital
stock of Sub will be converted into 11,111,111 shares of Common Stock of the
Surviving Corporation and the Stockholders will retain 1,234,568 shares of
Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation;

          WHEREAS, each Stockholder owns the number of shares of Common Stock
set forth opposite its name on Schedule A hereto (such shares of Common Stock,
together with any other shares of capital stock of the Company acquired by such
Stockholder after the date hereof and during the term of this Agreement, being
collectively referred to herein as the "Subject Shares" of such Stockholder);
and

          WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger
Agreement, Parent and Sub have requested that each Stockholder enter into this
Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          SECTION 1.  Representations and Warranties of Each Stockholder.  Each
                      ---------------------------------------------------      
Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as of the date
hereof as follows:

          (a)  Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability.  The
               --------------------------------------------------     
Stockholder has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution
and delivery by the Stockholder of this Agreement and consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Stockholder.  The Stockholder has duly
executed and delivered this Agreement, and this
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2


Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Stockholder, enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms
(subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including,
without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
The execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a
right of termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss
of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of
the properties or assets of the Stockholder or any of its subsidiaries under,
(i) the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Stockholder or the
comparable charter or organizational documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii)
any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other
agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license applicable to
the Stockholder or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or
assets or (iii) subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred
to in the following sen tence, any judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Stockholder or any of its
subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case
of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, violations, defaults, rights,
losses or Liens that individually or in the aggregate would not (x) have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Stockholder, (y) impair the ability of the
Stockholder to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement or (z)
prevent the consummation of any of the Transactions. No consent, approval, order
or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any
Governmental Entity is required by or with respect to the Stockholder or any of
its subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
by the Stockholder or the consummation by the Stockholder of transactions
contemplated hereby, except for the filing with the SEC of such reports under
Section 13(d) and 16(a) of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection
with the Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (b)  The Subject Shares.  The Stockholder is the record and/or
               -------------------                                      
beneficial owner of, and has good and valid title to, the Subject Shares, free
and clear of any Liens. The Stockholder does not own, of record or beneficially,
any shares of capital stock of Company other than the Subject Shares.  The
Stockholder has the sole right to vote the Subject Shares, and none of the
Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or
restriction with respect to the voting of the Subject Shares, except as
contemplated by this Agreement.

          SECTION 2.  Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub. Parent
                      -------------------------------------------------       
and Sub hereby represent and warrant to each Stockholder as follows: Parent and
Sub have all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               3

consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of Parent and Sub. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by Parent and Sub and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its
terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including,
without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
The execution and delivery of the Operative Agreements do not, and the
consummation of the Transactions and compliance with the provisions of the
Operative Agreements will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or
default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise
to a right of termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation or to
loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any
of the properties or assets of Parent or Sub under, (i) the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws (or other comparable organizational documents) of
Parent or Sub, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise
or license applicable to Parent or Sub or their respective properties or assets
or (iii) subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred to in
the following sentence, any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance,
rule or regulation applicable to Parent or Sub, other than, in the case of
clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, violations, defaults, rights, losses
or Liens that individually or in the aggregate would not (x) have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent, (y) impair the ability of Parent and Sub to perform
their respective obligations under this Agreement or (z) prevent the
consummation of any of the Transactions. No consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental
Entity is required by or with respect to Parent or Sub in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by Parent or Sub,
as the case may be, of any of the Transactions, except for (i) the filing with
the SEC of the Proxy Materials and such reports under Sections 13 and 16(a) of
the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with the Operative Agreement
and the Transactions, (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Delaware Secretary of State and appropriate documents with the relevant
authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified to do business,
(iii) such filings as may be required in connection with the taxes described in
Section 6.10 of the Merger Agreement and (iv) such other consents, approvals,
orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be
required under the "takeover" or "blue sky" laws of various states.

          SECTION 3.  Covenants of Each Stockholder.  Subject to Section 5
                      ------------------------------                      
hereof, each Stockholder covenants and agrees as follows:

          (a)  The Stockholder hereby permits the Company, Parent and Sub to
publish and disclose in the Proxy Materials (including all documents and
schedules filed
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

with the SEC) its identity and ownership of the Subject Shares and the nature of
its commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement.

          (b)  (1)  At any meeting of the stockholders of the Company called to
seek the approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger (the "Company
Stockholder Approval") or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent
or other approval with respect to the Merger Agreement, any other Operative
Agreement, the Merger or any other Transaction is sought, the Stockholder shall
vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares in favor of granting the Company
Stockholder Approval.

          (2)  The Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints,
Parent, Robert P. Freeman and Murry N. Gunty, or any of them, and any individual
designated in writing by any of them, and each of them individually, as the
Stockholder's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for
and in the name, place and stead of the Stockholder, to vote the Subject Shares,
or grant a consent or approval in respect of the Subject Shares in a manner
consistent with this Section 3.  The Stockholder understands and acknowledges
that Parent is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the
Stockholder's execution and delivery of this Agreement.  The Stockholder hereby
affirms that the irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 3(b) is given in
connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable
proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of the Stockholder under
this Agreement.  The Stockholder hereby further affirms that the irrevocable
proxy is coupled with an interest and may under no circumstances be revoked,
except as provided herein.  The Stockholder hereby ratifies and confirms all
that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.  Such irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable in
accordance with the provisions of Section 212(e) of the DGCL.  The irrevocable
proxy granted hereunder shall automatically terminate upon the termination of
Sections 3(b) and 3(c).

          (c)  At any meeting of stockholders of the Company or at any
adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which the Stockholder's
vote, consent or other approval is sought, the Stockholder shall vote (or cause
to be voted) the Subject Shares against (i) any merger agreement or merger
(other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger), consolidation, combination,
sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of or by Company, (ii) any "takeover proposal" (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) and (iii) any amendment of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or other proposal or transaction
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which amendment or other
proposal or transaction would in any manner impede, frustrate, prevent or
nullify any provision of any Operative Agreement, the Merger or any other
Transaction or change in any manner the voting rights of any class of capital
stock of the Company.  The Stockholder shall not commit or agree to take any
action inconsistent with the foregoing.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               5

          (d)  Other than this Agreement, the Stockholder shall not (i) sell,
transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of (including by gift)
(collectively, "Transfer"), or enter into any agreement, option or other
arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the
Transfer of, any Subject Shares to any person other than pursuant to the Merger
or (ii) enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or
otherwise, with respect to any Subject Shares and shall not commit or agree to
take any of the foregoing actions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Stockholder may Transfer the Subject Shares to the Vencor Operating Company (as
defined below) or one of its wholly owned subsidiaries in connection with the
transactions described in the Vencor Proxy Statement (as defined below);
provided, however, that the Vencor Operating Company (or such subsidiary, if
- --------  -------                                                           
applicable) shall execute and deliver to Parent a supplement to this Agreement
agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof.  "Vencor Operating Company" means the
corporation referred to as the "Operating Company" in the Vencor Proxy
Statement.  The "Vencor Proxy Statement" means definitive proxy statement
included in the Schedule 14A of Vencor, as amended, filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on March 26, 1998.

          (e)  The Stockholder shall not, nor shall it authorize or permit any
officer, director or employee of, or any investment banker, attorney or other
adviser or representative of, the Stockholder to, (i) directly or indirectly
solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of, any takeover proposal, (ii)
enter into any agreement with respect to any takeover proposal or (iii) directly
or indirectly participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or
furnish to any person any information with respect to, or take any other action
to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or
may reasonably be expected to lead to, any takeover proposal.  The Stockholder
promptly shall advise Parent orally and in writing of any takeover proposal or
inquiry made to the Stockholder with respect to or that could reasonably be
expected to lead to any takeover proposal and the material terms of any such
takeover proposal or inquiry.

          (f)  The Stockholder shall use its reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or
advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner
practicable, the Merger and the other Transactions.

          (g)  The Stockholder hereby consents to and approves the actions taken
by the Board of Directors of the Company in approving the Merger Agreement, the
Merger and the other Transactions.  The Stockholder hereby waives, and agrees
not to exercise or assent, any appraisal rights under Section 262 in connection
with the Merger.

          SECTION 4.  [Intentionally Omitted]
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               6

          SECTION 5.  Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate upon the
                      ------------                                         
earliest of (i) the Effective Time, (ii) the termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms and (iii) the Outside Date, other than
with respect to the liability of any party for breach hereof prior to such
termination.

          SECTION 6.  Additional Matters.  (a)  The Stockholder shall, from time
                      -------------------                                       
to time, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such
additional or further consents, documents and other instruments as Parent may
reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions
contemplated hereby.

          (b)  Concurrently with the Closing of the Merger, each Stockholder and
Parent shall enter into the Shareholders and Registration Rights Agreement, in
the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.

          (c)  No Stockholder shall be deemed to make any agreement or
understanding herein with respect to any director or officer of such Stockholder
in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company.  Each
Stockholder signs solely in its capacity as the record holder and beneficial
owner of, or the trustee of a trust whose beneficiaries are the beneficial
owners of, such Stockholder's Subject Shares and nothing herein shall limit or
affect any actions taken by any director or officer of such Stockholder in his
or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company (to the extent not
specifically prohibited by the Merger Agreement).

          SECTION 7.  General Provisions.
                      -------------------

          (a)  Amendments.  This Agreement may not be amended except by an
               -----------                                                
instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto and consented to by
the Company.

          (b)  Notice.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
               -------                                                         
in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or sent by
overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to Parent or Sub in accordance
with Section 9.02 of the Merger Agreement and to the Stockholder at its address
set forth on Schedule A hereto (or at such other address for a party as shall be
specified by like notice).

          (c)  Interpretation.  When a reference is made in this Agreement to
               ---------------                                               
Sections, such reference shall be to a Section to this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated.  The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.  Wherever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are
used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
"without limitation".
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               7

          (d)  Severability.  If any term or other provision of this Agreement
               -------------                                                  
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public
policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless
remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of
the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially
adverse to any party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end
that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.

          (e)  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
               -------------                                               
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement.  This
Agreement shall become effective against Parent and Sub when one or more
counterparts have been signed by Parent and Sub and delivered to each
Stockholder.  This Agreement shall become effective against any Stockholder when
one or more counterparts have been executed by such Stockholder and delivered to
Parent and Sub.   Each party need not sign the same counterpart.

          (f)  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement
               -----------------------------------------------                
(i) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and (ii) is not intended to confer upon any person other
than the parties hereto (and, with respect to Section 7(a) and (h) only, the
Company) any rights or remedies hereunder.

          (g)  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
               --------------                                          
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
law thereof.

          (h)  Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
               -----------                                               
interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in
part, by operation of law or otherwise, (i) by Parent or Sub without the prior
written consent of the Stockholders and the Company (except that Parent or Sub
may assign, in its sole discretion, its rights and obligations hereunder to any
affiliate of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent or Sub of its
obligations hereunder without the consent of the Stockholders and the Company)
or (ii) by any Stockholder without the prior written consent of Parent and the
Company (except that any Stockholder may assign, in its sole discretion, its
rights and obligations hereunder to the Vencor Operating Company or one of its
wholly owned subsidiaries in connection with any Transfer permitted by the last
sentence of Section 3(d), but no such assignment shall relieve such Stockholder
of its obligations hereunder without the consent of Parent and the Company), and
any purported assignment without such consent shall be void.  Subject to the
preceding sentences, this
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               8

Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by,
the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

          (i)  Enforcement.  The parties agree that irreparable damage would
               ------------                                                 
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any New York state court, any
Federal court located in the State of New York or the State of Delaware or in
any Delaware state court, this being in addition to any other remedy to which
they are entitled at law or in equity.  In addition, each of the parties hereto
(i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any New York state
court, any Federal court located in the State of New York or the State of
Delaware or any Delaware state court in the event any dispute arises out of this
Agreement or any Transaction, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or
defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any
such court, (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this
Agreement or any Transaction in any court other than a New York state court, any
Federal court sitting in the State of New York or the State of Delaware or any
Delaware state court and (iv) waives any right to trial by jury with respect to
any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party has duly executed this Agreement, all
as of the date first written above.


                                                 KAPSON SENIOR QUARTERS CORP.,

                                                  by /s/ Evan A. Kaplan
                                                     ___________________________
                                                  Name: Evan A. Kaplan
                                                  Title: President

                                                 VENCOR, INC.,

                                                  by /s/ W. Bruce Lunsford
                                                    ___________________________ 
                                                  Name: W. Bruce Lunsford
                                                  Title: Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               9

                                                   KA ACQUISITION CORP.,

                                                    by /s/ Evan A. Kaplan
                                                      ____________________
                                                      Name: Evan A. Kaplan
                                                      Title: President
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE A
                                  ----------

                                   Number of Shares of
Name and Address of Stockholder    Common Stock Owned
- -------------------------------    -------------------
Vencor                                                       
3300 Aegon Center
400 West Market Street                      0 
Louisville, KY 40202

VALH                                                   
3300 Aegon Center
400 West Market Street                 10,000,000 
Louisville, KY 40202

<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 99.3



                               SUPPORT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXECUTION COPY
 

                    SUPPORT AGREEMENT dated as of April 19, 1998, between KAPSON
               SENIOR QUARTERS CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), KA
               ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Sub"), and the
               individuals and other parties listed on Schedule A hereto (each,
               a "Stockholder" and, collectively, the "Stockholders").


          WHEREAS, Parent, Sub and Atria Communities, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of the date hereof (as the same may be amended or supplemented,
the "Merger Agreement"; capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement) providing for the merger of Sub
with and into the Company; and

          WHEREAS each Stockholder owns the number of shares of Common Stock set
forth opposite his, her or its name on Schedule A hereto (such shares of Common
Stock, together with any other shares of capital stock of the Company acquired
by such Stockholder after the date hereof and during the term of this Agreement,
being collectively referred to herein as the "Subject Shares" of such
Stockholder); and

          WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger
Agreement, Parent has requested that each Stockholder enter into this Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          SECTION 1.  Representations and Warranties of each Stockholder.  Each
                      --------------------------------------------------       
Stockholder hereby, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to Parent
and Sub as of the date hereof in respect of himself, herself or itself as
follows:

          (a)  Authority; Execution and Delivery; Enforceability.  The
               --------------------------------------------------     
Stockholder has all requisite power and authority to execute this Agreement and
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The Stockholder has duly
executed and delivered this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against the
Stockholder in accordance with its terms  (subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to
general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of
materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The execution and delivery of
this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and compliance with the provisions of this Agreement will not, conflict
with, or result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse
of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2
                                                                               
termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation or to loss of a
material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
properties or assets of the Stockholder or any of its subsidiaries under, (i)
any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other
agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license applicable to
the Stockholder or any of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or
assets or (ii) subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred to
in the following sentence, any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance,
rule or regulation applicable to the Stockholder or any of its subsidiaries or
their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii)
and (iii), any such conflicts, violations, defaults, rights, losses or Liens
that individually or in the aggregate would not (x) have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Stockholder, (y) impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform
their respective obligations under this Agreement or (z) prevent the
consummation of any of the Transactions. No consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental
Entity is required by or with respect to the Stockholder or any of its
subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by
the Stockholder or the consummation by the Stockholder of transactions
contemplated hereby, except for the filing with the SEC of such reports under
Section 13(d) and 16(a) of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection
with the Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. If the Stockholder
is married and the Subject Shares of the Stockholder constitute community
property or otherwise need spousal or other approval to be legal, valid and
binding, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and
constitutes a valid and binding agreement of, the Stockholder's spouse,
enforceable against such spouse in accordance with its terms. No trust of which
the Stockholder is a trustee requires the consent of any beneficiary to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. The Stockholder will execute a power of
attorney in favor of at least two other Stockholders with respect to the matters
covered by Sections 3(a) and 3(b) in the event of incapacity of the Stockholder.

          (b)  The Subject Shares.  The Stockholder is the record and beneficial
               -------------------                                              
owner of, or is the trustee of a trust that is the record holder of, and whose
beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of, and has good and marketable title
to, the Subject Shares set forth opposite his, her or its name on Schedule A
attached hereto, free and clear of any Liens. The Stockholder does not own, of
record or beneficially, any shares of capital stock of the Company other than
the Subject Shares set forth opposite his or its name on Schedule A attached
hereto.  The Stockholder has the sole right to vote such Subject Shares, and
none of such Subject Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement,
arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting of such Subject Shares,
except as contemplated by this Agreement.

          SECTION 2.  Representations and Warranties of Parent.  Parent and Sub
                      -----------------------------------------                
hereby represent and warrant to each Stockholder as follows:  Parent and Sub
have all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to consummate
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               3

the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of Parent and Sub. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by Parent and Sub and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its
terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity, including,
without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
The execution and delivery of the Operative Agreements do not, and the
consummation of the Transactions and compliance with the provisions of the
Operative Agreements will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or
default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise
to a right of termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation or to
loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any
of the properties or assets of Parent or Sub under, (i) the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws (or other comparable organizational documents) of
Parent or Sub, (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise
or license applicable to Parent or Sub or their respective properties or assets
or (iii) subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred to in
the following sentence, any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance,
rule or regulation applicable to Parent or Sub, other than, in the case of
clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, violations, defaults, rights, losses
or Liens that individually or in the aggregate would not (x) have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent, (y) impair the ability of Parent and Sub to perform
their respective obligations under this Agreement or (z) prevent the
consummation of any of the Transactions. No consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental
Entity is required by or with respect to Parent or Sub in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by Parent or Sub,
as the case may be, of any of the Transactions, except for (i) the filing with
the SEC of the Proxy Materials and such reports under Sections 13 and 16(a) of
the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with the Operative Agreement
and the Transactions, (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Delaware Secretary of State and appropriate documents with the relevant
authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified to do business,
(iii) such filings as may be required in connection with the taxes described in
Section 6.10 of the Merger Agreement and (iv) such other consents, approvals,
orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be
required under the "takeover" or "blue sky" laws of various states.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

          SECTION 3.  Covenants of each Stockholder.  Subject to Section 5
                      -----------------------------                       
hereof, each Stockholder, severally and not jointly, covenants and agrees as
follows:

          (a)  The Stockholder hereby permits the Company, Parent and Sub to
publish and disclose in the Proxy Materials (including all documents and
schedules filed with the SEC) its identity and ownership of the Subject Shares
and the nature of its commitments, arrangements and understandings under this
Agreement.

          (b)  (1)  At any meeting of the stockholders of the Company called to
seek the approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger (the "Company
Stockholder Approval") or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent
or other approval with respect to the Merger Agreement, any other Operative
Agreement, the Merger or any other Transaction is sought, the Stockholder shall
vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Shares of the Stockholder in favor of
granting the Company Stockholder Approval.

          (2)  The Stockholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints,
Parent Robert P. Freeman and Murry N. Gunty, or any of them, and any individual
designated in writing by any of them, and each of them individually, as the
Stockholder's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for
and in the name, place and stead of the Stockholder, to vote the Subject Shares
of the Stockholder, or grant a consent or approval in respect of the Subject
Shares of the Stockholder in a manner consistent with this Section 3.  The
Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Parent is entering into the Merger
Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder's execution and delivery of this
Agreement.  The Stockholder hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy set forth
in this Section 3(b) is given in connection with the execution of the Merger
Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of
the duties of the Stockholder under this Agreement.  The Stockholder hereby
further affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may
under no circumstances be revoked, except as provided herein.  The Stockholder
hereby ratifies and confirms all that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.  Such irrevocable proxy is executed and
intended to be irrevocable in accordance with the provisions of Section 212(e)
of the DGCL.  The irrevocable proxy granted hereunder shall automatically
terminate upon the termination of Sections 3(b) and 3(c).

          (c)  At any meeting of stockholders of the Company or at any
adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which the Stockholder's
vote, consent or other approval is sought, the Stockholder shall vote (or cause
to be voted) the Subject Shares against (i) any merger agreement or merger
(other than the Merger Agreement and the Merger), consolidation, combination,
sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of or by Company, (ii) any takeover proposal (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) and (iii) any amendment of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or other proposal or transaction
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which amendment or other
proposal or transaction
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               5

would in any manner impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of any
Operative Agreement, the Merger or any other Transaction or change in any manner
the voting rights of any class of capital stock of the Company. The Stockholder
shall not commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing.

          (d)  Other than this Agreement, the Stockholder shall not (i) sell,
transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of (including by gift)
(collectively, "Transfer"), or enter into any Contract, option or other
arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) with respect to the
Transfer of, any Subject Shares to any person other than pursuant to the Merger
or (ii) enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement or
otherwise, with respect to any Subject Shares and shall not commit or agree to
take any of the foregoing actions.

          (e)  The Stockholder shall not, nor shall it authorize or permit any
employee of, or any investment banker, attorney or other adviser or
representative of, the Stockholder to, (i) directly or indirectly solicit,
initiate or encourage the submission of, any takeover proposal, (ii) enter into
any agreement with respect to any takeover proposal or (iii) directly or
indirectly participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish
to any person any information with respect to, or take any other action to
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or may
reasonably be expected to lead to, any takeover proposal.  The Stockholder
promptly shall advise Parent orally and in writing of any takeover proposal or
inquiry made to the Stockholder with respect to or that could reasonably be
expected to lead to any takeover proposal and the material terms of any such
takeover proposal or inquiry.

          (f)  The Stockholder shall use its reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or
advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner
practicable, the Merger and the other Transactions.

          (g)  The Stockholder hereby consents to and approves the actions taken
by the Board of Directors of the Company in approving the Merger Agreement, the
Merger and the other Transactions.  The Stockholder hereby waives, and agrees
not to exercise or assent, any appraisal rights under Section 262 in connection
with the Merger.

          SECTION 4.  [Intentionally Omitted]

          SECTION 5.  Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate upon the
                      ------------                                         
earliest of (i) the Effective Time,  (ii) the termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms and (iii) the Outside Date, other than
with respect to the liability of any party for breach hereof prior to such
termination.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               6

          SECTION 6.  Additional Matters.  (a)  Each Stockholder shall, from
                      -------------------                                   
time to time, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such
additional or further consents, documents and other instruments as Parent may
reasonably request for the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions
contemplated hereby.

          (b)  Concurrently with the Closing of the Merger, each of J. Timothy
Wesley, Andy J. Schoepf, W. Patrick Mulloy, II, and Parent shall enter into the
Shareholders and Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached as Exhibit
A hereto.

          (c)  No Stockholder shall be deemed to make any agreement or
understanding herein in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the
Company.  Each Stockholder signs solely in his, her or its capacity as the
record holder and beneficial owner of, or the trustee of a trust whose
beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of, such Stockholder's Subject Shares
and nothing herein shall limit or affect any actions taken by any Stockholder in
his capacity as an officer or director of the Company (to the extent not
specifically prohibited by the Merger Agreement).

          SECTION 7.  General Provisions.
                      -------------------

          (a)  Amendments.  This Agreement may not be amended except by an
               -----------                                                
instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto and consented to by
the Company.

          (b)  Notice.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
               -------                                                         
in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or sent by
overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to Parent in accordance with
Section 9.02 of the Merger Agreement and to the Stockholders at their respective
addresses set forth on Schedule A hereto (or at such other address for a party
as shall be specified by like notice).

          (c)  Interpretation.  When a reference is made in this Agreement to
               ---------------                                               
Sections, such reference shall be to a Section to this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated.  The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.  Wherever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are
used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words
"without limitation".

          (d)  Severability.  If any term or other provision of this Agreement
               -------------                                                  
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule or law, or public
policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless
remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of
the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially
adverse to any party.  Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               7

parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to
effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an
acceptable manner to the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled
to the extent possible.

          (e)  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
               -------------                                               
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement.  This
Agreement shall become effective against Parent when one or more counterparts
have been signed by Parent and delivered to each Stockholder.  This Agreement
shall become effective against any Stockholder when one or more counterparts
have been executed by such Stockholder and delivered to Parent.   Each party
need not sign the same counterpart.

          (f)  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement
               -----------------------------------------------                
(i) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and (ii) is not intended to confer upon any person other
than the parties hereto (and, with respect to Section 7(a) and (h) only, the
Company) any rights or remedies hereunder.

          (g)  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
               --------------                                          
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
law thereof.

          (h)  Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
               -----------                                               
interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in
part, by operation of law or otherwise, (i) by Parent or Sub without the prior
written consent of the Stockholder and the Company (except that Parent or Sub
may assign, in its sole discretion, its rights and obligations hereunder to any
affiliate of Parent, but no such assignment shall relieve Parent or Sub of its
obligations hereunder without the consent of the Stockholder and the Company) or
(ii) by any Stockholder without the prior written consent of Parent and the
Company, and any purported assignment without such consent shall be void.
Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure
to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               8

          (i)  Enforcement.  The parties agree that irreparable damage would
               ------------                                                 
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any New York state court, any
Federal court located in the State of New York or the State of Delaware or in
any Delaware state court, this being in addition to any other remedy to which
they are entitled at law or in equity.  In addition, each of the parties hereto
(i) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any New York state
court, any Federal court located in the State of New York or the State of
Delaware or any Delaware state court in the event any dispute arises out of this
Agreement or any Transaction, (ii) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or
defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any
such court, (iii) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this
Agreement or any Transaction in any court other than a New York state court, any
Federal court sitting in the State of New York or the State of Delaware or any
Delaware state court and (iv) waives any right to trial by jury with respect to
any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby.


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party has duly executed this Agreement, all
as of the date first written above.

                                        KAPSON SENIOR QUARTERS CORP.,
 
                                         by /s/ Evan A. Kaplan
                                            ___________________________________
                                            Name: Evan A. Kaplan
                                            Title: President

                                        KA ACQUISITION CORP.,

                                          by /s/ Evan A. Kaplan
                                             __________________________________
                                             Name: Evan A. Kaplan
                                             Title: President
<PAGE>
 
        Signature Page to Support Agreement dated as of April 19, 1998
        --------------------------------------------------------------


                                        STOCKHOLDERS:

                                        /s/ Sandra Harden Austin
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        Sandra Harden Austin                   
                                                                               
                                        /s/ William C. Ballard Jr.
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        William C. Ballard Jr.                 
                                                                               
                                        /s/ Peter J. Grua                      
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        Peter J. Grua                          
                                                                               
                                        /s/ Thomas T. Ladt                     
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        Thomas T. Ladt                         
                                                                               
                                        /s/ W. Bruce Lunsford                  
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        W. Bruce Lunsford                      
                                                                               
                                        /s/ W. Patrick Mulloy, II              
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        W. Patrick Mulloy, II                  
                                                                               
                                        /s/ Andy J. Schoepf                    
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        Andy J. Schoepf                        
                                                                               
                                        /s/ R. Gene Smith                      
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        R. Gene Smith                          
                                                                               
                                        /s/ J. Timothy Wesley
                                        ______________________________________ 
                                        J. Timothy Wesley                       
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE A
                                  ----------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Number of Shares of
Name and Address of Stockholder                             Common Stock Owned
- ---------------------------------                           ------------------
<S>                                                         <C>
Sandra Harden Austin                                                   5,000    
*                                                                   

William C. Ballard Jr.                                                20,500(1)
*                                                                  

Peter J. Grua                                                          5,000    
*                                                                  

Thomas T. Ladt                                                        15,035(2) 
*                                                                 

W. Bruce Lunsford                                                     70,000(3) 
*                                                                

W. Patrick Mulloy, II                                                 34,805(4) 
*                                                               

Andy J. Schoepf                                                      636,487    
*                                                              

R. Gene Smith                                                         65,000    
*                                                             

J. Timothy Wesley                                                      6,500 
*

* c/o Atria Communities, Inc.
515 West Market Street
Suite 2000
</TABLE> 

<PAGE>
 
Louisville, KY 40202

(1) Includes 11,000 shares held as a custodian.

(2) Includes 35 shares held as a custodian, but excludes 2,000 shares held by a
    partnership in which he is a general partner and 6,000 shares held by an
    estate of which he is the executor.

(3) Includes 10,000 shares held as a custodian.

(4) Includes 380 shares held as a custodian.



<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 99.4



           SECOND AMENDMENT TO SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
 
          SECOND AMENDMENT TO SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                                        

     THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated as of the 19th day of April 1998, by
and between Atria Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
National City Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), constitutes the Second
Amendment to the Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement dated February 15, 1998
by and between the Company and the Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - - 

     WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Rights Agreement in certain
respects on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

     1.  The Rights Agreement is hereby amended by:

     (a)  Adding the following sentence at the end of the definition of
"Acquiring Person" in Section 1.1 of the Rights Agreement:

     "Notwithstanding any of the terms of the foregoing definition, no Person
     shall become an "Acquiring Person" solely as the result of the execution
     and delivery of, or the consummation of any of the transactions
     contemplated by, the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 19,
     1998, by and among the Company, Kapson Senior Quarters Corp. ("Parent"),
     and KA Acquisition Corp. ("Sub") (the "Merger Agreement"), and any
     agreements, documents or instruments executed or entered into in connection
     with the Merger Agreement (collectively with the Merger Agreement, the
     "Parent Transaction Documents")."

     (b)  Deleting the definition of "Expiration Time" in Section 1.1 of the
Rights Agreement in its entirety, and inserting the following:

     "Expiration Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time, (ii)
     the Termination Time, (iii) February 15, 2008, (iv) upon the merger of the
     Company into another corporation pursuant to an agreement entered into
     prior to a Flip-In Date, and (v) upon the closing of the merger of Sub into
     the Company pursuant to the terms of the Parent Transaction Documents."

     (c)  Adding the following sentence at the end of the definition of
"Separation Time" in Section 1.1 of the Rights Agreement:

     "Notwithstanding any of the terms of the foregoing definition, no
     "Separation Time" will occur solely as the result of the execution and
     delivery of, or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
     by, the Parent Transaction Documents."

     (d)  Adding the following sentence at the end of the definition of "Stock
Acquisition Date" in Section 1.1 of the Rights Agreement:
<PAGE>
 
     "Notwithstanding any of the terms of the foregoing definition, no "Stock
     Acquisition Date" will occur solely as the result of the execution and
     delivery of, or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
     by, the Parent Transaction Documents, or any public announcement of any of
     the foregoing."

     2.  All terms defined in the Rights Agreement which are used herein shall
have the meanings defined in the Rights Agreement, unless specifically defined
otherwise herein.

     3.  The term "Agreement" as used in the Rights Agreement shall mean the
Rights Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment to the Rights Agreement and
this Agreement, or as it may from time to time be amended in the future by one
or more other written amendment or modification agreements entered into pursuant
to the applicable provisions of the Rights Agreement.

     4.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

     5.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

     6.  Except as expressly herein amended, the terms and conditions of the
Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

     7.  This Agreement is not intended to be, nor shall it be construed to be,
a novation.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                         ATRIA COMMUNITIES, INC.

                            
                         By:   /s/ W. Patrick Mulloy, II
                              ---------------------------------- 
                               W. Patrick Mulloy, II 
                               President and Chief Executive Officer  

                         NATIONAL CITY BANK

                             
                         By:   /s/ Sherry L. Damore
                              ----------------------------------  
                               Sherry L. Damore
                               Vice President

                                       2

<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 99.5



                                 PRESS RELEASE
                                        
<PAGE>
 
Contact:  J. Timothy Wesley
          Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Development
          and Secretary
          (502) 719-1650

                  ATRIA COMMUNITIES ANNOUNCES MERGER AGREEMENT

     Louisville, Kentucky.  April 20, 1998.  Atria Communities, Inc. ("Atria")
     --------------------------------------                                   
(Nasdaq/NM:  ATRC), and Kapson Senior Quarters Corp. ("Kapson"), an affiliate of
Lazard Freres Real Estate Investors LLC, today announced that they have signed a
definitive merger agreement under which Kapson will acquire Atria in a
transaction valued at approximately $750 million.  Under the terms of the merger
agreement, a subsidiary of Kapson will merge into Atria and the public
stockholders of Atria will receive $20.25 per share in cash.  Vencor, Inc.
("Vencor"), which currently holds approximately 42.8% of the currently
outstanding common stock of Atria, will also receive $20.25 per share in cash
for approximately 88% of its Atria shares (approximately $177.5 million), and
will retain its remaining shares of Atria after the closing of the merger.

     In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, Kapson entered
into support agreements with Vencor and certain officers and directors of Atria
collectively holding approximately 46.4% of the currently outstanding Atria
common stock under which Vencor and such directors and officers have agreed to
vote their shares in favor of the merger.  Atria has also agreed to pay Kapson a
break-up fee of  approximately $18.2 million and reimburse Kapson's expenses in
certain circumstances.

     The merger is subject to customary conditions, including approval of
Atria's stockholders and certain regulatory approvals.  BT Alex. Brown
Incorporated has provided financial advisory services to Atria's Board of
Directors and has issued a fairness opinion in connection with the merger.

     Atria, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is a leading national provider of
assisted and independent living services for the elderly.  Atria currently
operates 53 communities in 19 states with 5,247 units.  Atria has 41 additional
communities currently under development.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE ARE SUBJECT TO
CERTAIN RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY.  CERTAIN RISKS ARE DETAILED IN THE COMPANY'S REPORTS FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS
AMENDED.


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