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EXHIBIT 99.1
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[LOGO LETTERHEAD OF TRIAD NEWS HOSPITALS, INC.]
______________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Triad Investor Contacts: Triad Media Contact:
Deborah Little Patricia G. Ball, Ed. D.
Investor Relations Coordinator Vice President, Marketing & PR
972-701-2259 972-789-2719
Laura Baldwin Quorum Media Contact:
Treasury Manager Shea Davis
972-789-2736 Vice President, Corporate Communications
615-371-4737
Quorum Investor Contact:
Michael Wiley
Vice President, Corporate and Investor Relations
615-371-4735
TRIAD HOSPITALS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE QUORUM HEALTH GROUP
Creates $3 Billion Hospital Company Focused on Small Cities
Dallas, TX, and Brentwood, TN, October 19, 2000-Triad Hospitals, Inc. ("Triad")
(Nasdaq: TRIH) and Quorum Health Group, Inc. ("Quorum") (Nasdaq: QHGI) jointly
announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement for Triad to
acquire Quorum for approximately $2.4 billion in cash, stock and the assumption
of debt. The transaction will create the third-largest investor-owned hospital
company in the United States, with 53 hospitals, 14 ambulatory surgery centers,
and 9,479 licensed beds, and a leading hospital company focused on small cities
and mid-sized markets.
Under the terms of the agreement, Quorum shareholders will receive $3.50 in cash
and 0.4107 shares of Triad common stock for each outstanding share of Quorum
stock. The transaction will be tax-free to Quorum shareholders with respect to
the stock portion of the consideration. Based on Triad's October 18, 2000
closing price of $30.75, the transaction represents $16.13 per Quorum share.
Triad shareholders will collectively own approximately 51% and Quorum
shareholders will collectively own approximately 49% of the pro forma diluted
shares outstanding.
The Boards of Directors of both Triad and Quorum have unanimously approved the
proposed transaction, which is subject to customary conditions, including Quorum
and Triad shareholder
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approval and antitrust clearance. The transaction is also conditioned upon
Triad's receipt of a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service
that the transaction will not alter the tax-free nature of Triad's spin-off from
HCA in May 1999 and is conditioned upon the receipt of necessary financing.
Merrill Lynch & Co. has committed, subject to customary conditions, to
underwrite the entire $1.7 billion of debt needed to fund the cash purchase
price and the refinancing of existing debt. The transaction is expected to be
completed in the first half of 2001.
James D. Shelton, chairman and CEO of Triad, said, "Quorum has an attractive
group of assets that fit well with our market strategy and offer us excellent
opportunities going forward. We are excited about the opportunity to work with
the Quorum facilities, their employees, and the communities they serve. We
remain committed to finding ways for physicians to be involved in the strategic
direction of their hospitals and believe that strong physician relations will
continue to be the cornerstone of our success."
"Both Triad and Quorum view healthcare as a local business which, when supported
by centralized resources, offers exceptional service to physicians and patients.
Additionally, both are values-driven companies with similar corporate cultures,
and when you combine those attributes with the complementary geographic
locations of operations at both companies, it makes for a good fit," said James
E. Dalton Jr., president and CEO of Quorum. "I've known Denny Shelton for years
and respect him and the organization he and his senior management have
established at Triad."
"I believe the combination of Triad and Quorum will greatly benefit both
companies, the hospitals they own, and the communities they serve," said Russ
Carson, chairman of the board of Quorum, and general partner, Welsh, Carson,
Anderson & Stowe. Welsh, Carson has agreed to vote its shares in favor of the
transaction and to convert its $150 million convertible bond into Quorum shares
prior to the closing of the transaction. After the closing of the transaction,
Welsh, Carson will own approximately 11% of the pro forma diluted shares
outstanding.
Russ Carson and James E. Dalton Jr., currently members of Quorum's board, will
join the Triad Board of Directors upon consummation of the transaction, with
Triad's board being increased to 12 members at that time.
The proposed transaction is expected to be non-dilutive to reported earnings per
share in the first year and accretive thereafter. The transaction is expected to
be significantly accretive on a cash earnings per share basis in all years.
Merrill Lynch & Co. acted as financial advisor to Triad with respect to the
transaction and issued a fairness opinion to its Board of Directors. Goldman
Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor to Quorum with respect to the transaction
and issued a fairness opinion to its Board of Directors.
You are cordially invited to participate in a conference call to discuss this
transaction today, Thursday, October 19, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 8:00 a.m.
Central Time. Interested parties should call 1-913-981-5522, conference code
671409 to participate in the call. This conference call will be simulcast on the
Internet via the Triad website at www.triadhospitals.com and the Quorum website
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at www.QuorumHealth.com. A recorded replay of the conference call will be
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available for seven days by calling 1-719-457-0820, also conference code 671409.
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________________________________________________________________________________
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Numerous factors, including those related to market
conditions and those detailed from time-to-time in the Company's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause results to differ materially
from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Many of the factors
that will determine the Company's future results are beyond the ability of the
Company to control or predict. These statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties and, therefore, actual results may differ materially.
Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which
reflect management's views only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no
obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any
other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
All references to "Company", "Triad", and "Triad Hospitals, Inc." as used
throughout this document refer to Triad Hospitals, Inc. and its affiliates.
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Triad and Quorum - Selected Statistics
Triad Quorum Combined Company
Hospitals 31 22 53
Licensed Beds 4,835 4,644 9,479
Revenues (millions)* $1,261 $1,763 $3,024
Employees 15,900 20,600 36,500
Headquarters Dallas, TX Brentwood, TN Dallas, TX
Number of States 12 9 17
*Last twelve months ended June 30, 2000; pro forma to include acquisition of
Denton and Greenbrier hospitals.
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