HEALTHSOUTH CORP
S-3/A, 1998-06-03
SPECIALTY OUTPATIENT FACILITIES, NEC
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      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 3, 1998
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-52237
    
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
   
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-3

            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

    
<TABLE>
<S>                                          <C>
                 DELAWARE                               63-0860407
         (State or Other Jurisdiction of     (I.R.S. Employer Identification
         Incorporation or Organization)                  Number)

</TABLE>
                                ---------------
               ONE HEALTHSOUTH PARKWAY, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35243
                                 (205) 967-7116
(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of
                   Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                               RICHARD M. SCRUSHY
                           CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND
                            CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                            HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION
                            ONE HEALTHSOUTH PARKWAY
                           BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35243
                                 (205) 967-7116

(Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code,
                             of Agent for Service)

   
                                   COPIES TO:
<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>                                             <C>
   F. HAMPTON MCFADDEN, JR., ESQ.        WILLIAM W. HORTON, ESQ.                        NATHANIEL M. CARTMELL III, ESQ.
      GORDON O. JESPERSON, ESQ.         Senior Vice President and Corporate Counsel          KAREN A. DEMPSEY, ESQ.
  Haskell Slaughter & Young, L.L.C.               HEALTHSOUTH Corporation                Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
       1200 AmSouth?Harbert Plaza                 One HealthSouth Parkway                     Post Office Box 7880
         1901 Sixth Avenue North                 Birmingham, Alabama 35243              San Francisco, California 94120
       Birmingham, Alabama 35203
</TABLE>
                                ---------------
          APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC:
    
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

   
      If any of the securities  being  registered on this Form are to be offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.[ ]

     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

     If this Form is filed to  register  additional  securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

     If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering. [ ]

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]

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

      THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH  SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.

    
================================================================================
<PAGE>
   
PROSPECTUS
    
                            HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                                  $567,750,000
                         3.25% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED
                              DEBENTURES DUE 2003

                                      AND

                       15,501,707 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                        ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION THEREOF

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

     THIS PROSPECTUS RELATES TO $567,750,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 3.25%
CONVERTIBLE  SUBORDINATED  DEBENTURES DUE 2003 (THE "DEBENTURES") OF HEALTHSOUTH
CORPORATION  ("HEALTHSOUTH"  OR THE "COMPANY")  AND 15,501,707  SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK,  PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE (THE "COMMON  STOCK"),  OF THE COMPANY ISSUABLE
UPON THE CONVERSION OF THE DEBENTURES (THE "CONVERSION SHARES").  THE DEBENTURES
AND  CONVERSION  SHARES MAY BE OFFERED FROM TIME TO TIME FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF THE
HOLDERS NAMED HEREIN (THE "SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS").

     The Debentures  are  convertible at the option of the holder into shares of
Common Stock of the Company,  at any time prior to redemption or maturity,  at a
conversion  price of  $36.625  per share  (equal to a  conversion  rate of 27.30
shares  per  $1,000  principal  amount of  Debentures  and  representing  in the
aggregate 15,501,707 shares), subject to adjustment under certain circumstances.
Interest on the  Debentures is payable  semi-annually  in arrears on April 1 and
October 1 of each year, commencing on October 1, 1998.

     The  Debentures  are unsecured  general  obligations of the Company and are
subordinated in right of payment of all existing and future Senior  Indebtedness
(as defined in the Indenture).  See "Description of  Debentures--Subordination".
The  Debentures  will  mature on October 1, 2003,  and may be  redeemed,  at the
option of the  Company,  in whole or in part,  at any time on or after  April 5,
2001,  at the  redemption  prices set forth herein plus accrued  interest.  Each
holder of Debentures  will have the right to cause the Company to repurchase all
of such holder's  Debentures,  payable in cash or, at the Company's  option,  in
Common Stock,  in the event the Common Stock is no longer  publicly traded or in
certain  circumstances  involving  a  Change  of  Control  (as  defined  in  the
Indenture).

     The  Debentures  and the  Conversion  Shares may be offered by the  Selling
Securityholders  from time to time in  transactions  (which  may  include  block
transactions in the case of the Conversion  Shares) on any exchange or market on
which such  securities  are  listed or  quoted,  as  applicable,  in  negotiated
transactions,  through a combination  of such methods of sale, or otherwise,  at
sale, at prices related to prevailing  market prices,  or at negotiated  prices.
The  Selling  Securityholders  may  effect  such  transactions  by  selling  the
Debentures or Conversion Shares directly to or through  broker-dealers,  who may
receive  compensation in the form of discounts,  concessions or commissions from
the  Selling   Securityholders  and/or  the  purchasers  of  the  Debentures  or
Conversion Shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they
may  sell  as  principals,  or  both  (which  compensation  as  to a  particular
broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). The Company will not
receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Debentures or Conversion Shares
by the  Selling  Securityholders.  The  Company  has agreed to pay all  expenses
incident to the offer and sale of the Debentures  and Conversion  Shares offered
by the Selling  Securityholders  hereby, except that the Selling Securityholders
will pay all underwriting  discounts and selling commissions,  if any. See "Plan
of Distribution".

   
     SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS
TO BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE DEBENTURES AND THE UNDERLYING
CONVERSION SHARES.

     The Debentures have been  designated for trading on the Private  Offerings,
Resales and Trading through Automated  Linkages  ("PORTAL")  Market.  Debentures
sold pursuant to this Prospectus are not expected to remain eligible for trading
on the PORTAL Market.  The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol HRC. On June 2, 1998, the last sale price for the Common Stock,
as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, was $27.75 per share.

     THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED
UPON THE  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY  REPRESENTATION  TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                  THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JUNE 3, 1998.

    
<PAGE>

                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     HEALTHSOUTH  has  filed a  Registration  Statement  on Form S-3  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"),  with the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC")  covering the  Debentures  and the Shares
(including exhibits and amendments thereto,  the "Registration  Statement").  As
permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, this Prospectus omits certain
information  contained in the Registration  Statement.  For further  information
pertaining  to  the  securities  offered  hereby,   reference  is  made  to  the
Registration Statement.

     HEALTHSOUTH is subject to the  information  requirements  of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended (the  "Exchange  Act")  (Commission  File No.
1-10315),  and in accordance therewith files periodic reports,  proxy statements
and  other  information  with  the  SEC  relating  to  its  business,  financial
statements  and  other  matters.  The  Registration  Statement,  as well as such
reports, proxy statements and other information,  may be inspected at the public
reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Judiciary Plaza,  Washington,  D.C. 20549 and should be available for inspection
and  copying at the  regional  offices of the SEC  located at Seven  World Trade
Center,  Suite 1300, New York,  New York 10048,  5670 Wilshire  Boulevard,  11th
Floor, Los Angeles, California 90036-3648; and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Room 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511.  Copies of such material can be
obtained at prescribed  rates by writing to the SEC, Public  Reference  Section,
450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549.  The SEC also maintains a web
site  that  contains  reports,   proxy  and  information  statements  and  other
information regarding HEALTHSOUTH and the Registration Statement. The address at
that web site is  http://www.sec.gov.  The HEALTHSOUTH Common Stock is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange,  and the  Registration  Statement,  reports,  proxy
statements  and  certain  other  information  filed  by  HEALTHSOUTH  should  be
available for inspection at the library of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20
Broad Street, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10005.

                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Statements  relating to HEALTHSOUTH  contained in this  Prospectus that are
not historical facts are forward-looking  statements. In addition,  HEALTHSOUTH,
through its senior management,  from time to time makes  forward-looking  public
statements  concerning its expected future  operations and performance and other
developments.   Such  forward-looking   statements  are  necessarily   estimates
reflecting  HEALTHSOUTH's  best  judgment  based upon  current  information  and
involve a number of risks and uncertainties,  and there can be no assurance that
other factors will not affect the accuracy of such  forward-looking  statements.
While it is impossible  to identify all such factors,  factors which could cause
actual results to differ materially from those estimated by HEALTHSOUTH include,
but are not limited to, changes in the regulation of the healthcare  industry at
either or both of the federal and state  levels,  changes in  reimbursement  for
HEALTHSOUTH's services by government or private payors, competitive pressures in
the  healthcare  industry  and  HEALTHSOUTH's  response  thereto,  HEALTHSOUTH's
ability to obtain and retain favorable  arrangements  with  third-party  payors,
unanticipated  delays in HEALTHSOUTH's  implementation of its Integrated Service
Model,  general conditions in the economy and capital markets, and other factors
which may be identified from time to time in HEALTHSOUTH's SEC filings and other
public announcements.

               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     This Prospectus incorporates documents by reference which are not presented
herein or delivered herewith. Copies of such reports, proxy statements and other
information  filed by HEALTHSOUTH,  other than exhibits to such documents unless
such exhibits are specifically  incorporated herein by reference,  are available
without charge, upon written or oral request,  from the Secretary of HEALTHSOUTH
Corporation, One HealthSouth Parkway, Birmingham, Alabama 35243, telephone (205)
967-7116.

   
      There  are  hereby  incorporated  by  reference  in this  Prospectus,  and
specifically  made a part hereof,  the following  documents  heretofore filed by
HEALTHSOUTH (Commission File No. 1-10315) with the SEC, pursuant to the Exchange
Act:
    

                                       2
<PAGE>
   

     1.  HEALTHSOUTH's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year  ended
December 31, 1997.

     2.  HEALTHSOUTH's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March
31, 1998.

     3. HEALTHSOUTH's  definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on April
17, 1998, in connection with HEALTHSOUTH's 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

     4.  HEALTHSOUTH's  Current  Report  on Form  8-K  filed  January  15,  1998
(reporting  the  consummation  of the  sale  of the  long-term  care  assets  of
Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corporation to Integrated Health Services, Inc.).

     5. HEALTHSOUTH's  Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 3, 1998 (reporting
the consummation of the sale of the Debentures to the Initial Purchasers).

     6. HEALTHSOUTH's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 1998.

     7.  The   description   of   HEALTHSOUTH's   capital  stock   contained  in
HEALTHSOUTH's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed August 26, 1989.

    
     All documents filed by HEALTHSOUTH pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the  Exchange  Act after the date of this  Prospectus  and prior to the
termination  of any offering  hereunder  shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by
reference into this Prospectus and to be made a part hereof from the date of the
filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in a document incorporated by
reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded  for the purpose
hereof  to the  extent  that  a  statement  contained  herein  (or in any  other
subsequently  filed document  which also is  incorporated  by reference  herein)
modifies or supersedes such  statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded
shall  not be deemed to  constitute  a part  hereof,  except as so  modified  or
superseded.

     No  person  is  authorized  to  give  any   information   or  to  make  any
representation  not contained in this  Prospectus,  and, if given or made,  such
information  or  representation  should  not  be  relied  upon  as  having  been
authorized.  Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any distribution of the
securities to which this  Prospectus  relates  shall,  under any  circumstances,
create  any  implication  that  there  has  been no  change  in the  information
concerning  HEALTHSOUTH  contained  in this  Prospectus  since  the date of such
information.

     The  principal   executive  offices  of  HEALTHSOUTH  are  located  at  One
HealthSouth Parkway, Birmingham, Alabama 35243 and its telephone number is (205)
967-7116.

                                       3

<PAGE>
                                  THE COMPANY

   

     HEALTHSOUTH  is the nation's  largest  provider of  outpatient  surgery and
rehabilitative  healthcare  services.  It provides  these  services  through its
national  network  of  outpatient  and  inpatient   rehabilitation   facilities,
outpatient surgery centers,  diagnostic centers,  occupational medicine centers,
medical centers and other healthcare  facilities.  HEALTHSOUTH  believes that it
provides patients,  physicians and payors with high-quality  healthcare services
at significantly lower costs than traditional inpatient hospitals. Additionally,
HEALTHSOUTH's national network, reputation for quality and focus on outcomes has
enabled it to secure  contracts with national and regional  managed care payors.
At March 31,  1998,  HEALTHSOUTH  had over 1,800  patient  care  locations in 50
states, the United Kingdom and Australia.

    
     In  its  outpatient   rehabilitation   facilities,   HEALTHSOUTH   provides
interdisciplinary  programs  for the  rehabilitation  of  patients  experiencing
disability due to a wide variety of physical  conditions,  such as stroke,  head
injury, orthopaedic problems, neuromuscular disease and sports-related injuries.
HEALTHSOUTH's rehabilitation services include physical therapy, sports medicine,
work hardening, neurorehabilitation,  occupational therapy, respiratory therapy,
speech-language  pathology and rehabilitation nursing.  Independent studies have
shown that  rehabilitation  services like those provided by HEALTHSOUTH can save
money for payors and employers.

     In addition to its  rehabilitation  facilities,  HEALTHSOUTH  operates  the
largest network of freestanding outpatient surgery centers in the United States.
HEALTHSOUTH's  outpatient  surgery  centers  provide the  facilities and medical
support  staff  necessary  for  physicians  to  perform  non-emergency  surgical
procedures.  While  outpatient  surgery is widely  recognized as generally  less
expensive  than  surgery  performed  in a hospital,  HEALTHSOUTH  believes  that
outpatient  surgery  performed at a  freestanding  outpatient  surgery center is
generally less expensive than  hospital-based  outpatient  surgery.  Over 80% of
HEALTHSOUTH's  surgery  center  facilities  are located in markets served by its
rehabilitative service facilities,  enabling the Company to pursue opportunities
for cross-referrals.

     HEALTHSOUTH  is also among the largest  operators of outpatient  diagnostic
centers  and  occupational  medicine  centers  in the  United  States.  Most  of
HEALTHSOUTH's  diagnostic  centers and occupational  medicine centers operate in
markets where HEALTHSOUTH also provides rehabilitative healthcare and outpatient
surgery services. HEALTHSOUTH believes that its ability to offer a comprehensive
range of its services in a particular  geographic  market makes HEALTHSOUTH more
attractive to both patients and payors in such market.

     Over the last three years,  HEALTHSOUTH has completed  several  significant
acquisitions  in the  rehabilitation  business and has expanded into the surgery
center,  diagnostic and occupational  medicine businesses.  HEALTHSOUTH believes
that these  acquisitions  complement its  historical  operations and enhance its
market  position.  HEALTHSOUTH  further  believes  that its  expansion  into the
outpatient surgery,  diagnostic and occupational medicine businesses provides it
with  platforms  for  future  growth.   HEALTHSOUTH  is  continually  evaluating
potential acquisitions in the outpatient and rehabilitative  healthcare services
industry.

     HEALTHSOUTH  was  organized  as a Delaware  corporation  in February  1984.
HEALTHSOUTH's  principal  executive  offices  are  located  at  One  HealthSouth
Parkway, Birmingham, Alabama 35243, and its telephone number is (205) 967-7116.

                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

   

     On April  16,  1998,  the  Company  announced  that it had  entered  into a
definitive  agreement to acquire 34 outpatient surgery centers from Columbia/HCA
Healthcare  Corporation for $550,000,000 payable in cash upon closing,  which is
expected to occur  during the third  quarter of 1998.  The  surgery  centers are
located in Alabama, California, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana,  Minnesota,
Mississippi,  North  Carolina,  Nevada,  Oregon,  Rhode  Island and  Texas.  The
transaction remains subject to various regulatory approvals, including clearance
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

    

                                       4

<PAGE>
     On May 6, 1998 HEALTHSOUTH  announced the signing of a definitive agreement
to acquire National Surgery Centers,  Inc. ("NSC"). The proposed NSC transaction
would add 40 outpatient  surgery centers in 14 states to HEALTHSOUTH's  existing
network of outpatient  surgery and  rehabilitative  healthcare  facilities.  The
value of the NSC transaction is approximately  $590 million.  Under the terms of
the NSC agreement,  NSC stockholders  will receive shares of HEALTHSOUTH  Common
Stock valued at $30.50 per share of NSC Common Stock, but not less than .8714 of
a share of  HEALTHSOUTH  Common Stock nor more than 1.1509 shares of HEALTHSOUTH
Common Stock.  The NSC  agreement  does not provide for  termination  based on a
change in the stock price of either company.  The NSC transaction is expected to
be  accounted  for as a pooling of  interests  and is  intended to be a tax-free
reorganization.   The  NSC  transaction  is  subject  to  approval  by  the  NSC
stockholders  and  various  regulatory  approvals,  including  Hart-Scott-Rodino
clearance,  as well as the  satisfaction of certain other  conditions,  and also
provides  for  the  payment  of a  break-up  fee to  HEALTHSOUTH  under  certain
conditions.

                                  RISK FACTORS

   
     In addition to the other  information  in this  Prospectus,  the  following
should be considered  carefully by potential purchasers of the Debentures or the
Conversion   Shares.   Statements   made   herein   should  be   considered   as
"forward-looking information".     

REIMBURSEMENT BY THIRD-PARTY PAYORS

     Substantially  all of  HEALTHSOUTH's  revenues are derived from private and
governmental third- party payors (in 1997, approximately 36.9% from Medicare and
approximately  63.1% from  commercial  insurers,  managed  care plans,  workers'
compensation payors and other private pay revenue sources). There are increasing
pressures  from many  payor  sources to  control  healthcare  costs and to limit
increases  in  reimbursement  rates  for  medical  services.  There  can  be  no
assurances that payments under  governmental and third-party payor programs will
remain at levels  comparable to present levels. In attempts to limit the federal
budget  deficit,  there  have  been,  and  HEALTHSOUTH  expects  that there will
continue  to be, a number of  proposals  to limit  Medicare  reimbursements  for
certain  services.  HEALTHSOUTH  cannot now predict whether any of these pending
proposals  will be adopted  or, if adopted  and  implemented,  what  effect such
proposals would have on HEALTHSOUTH.

REGULATION

     HEALTHSOUTH  is subject to various  types of  regulation at the federal and
state levels,  including licensure and certification  laws,  Certificate of Need
laws and laws relating to financial  relationships among providers of healthcare
services, Medicare fraud and abuse and physician self-referral.

     The operation of  HEALTHSOUTH's  facilities and the provision of healthcare
services are subject to federal,  state and local  licensure  and  certification
laws.  These  facilities  and  services  are subject to periodic  inspection  by
governmental  and  other  authorities  to  assure  compliance  with the  various
standards  established for continued  licensure  under state law,  certification
under the Medicare and Medicaid  programs  and  participation  in the  Veteran's
Administration program.  Additionally,  in many states,  Certificates of Need or
other similar approvals are required for expansion of HEALTHSOUTH's  operations.
HEALTHSOUTH  could be  adversely  affected by the failure or inability to obtain
such  approvals,  by changes in the  standards  applicable  to approvals  and by
possible delays and expenses associated with obtaining approvals. The failure by
HEALTHSOUTH  to  obtain,  retain or renew  any  required  regulatory  approvals,
licenses or certificates could prevent HEALTHSOUTH from being reimbursed for, or
from,  offering  its  services,   or  could  adversely  affect  its  results  of
operations.

     A wide array of  Medicare/Medicaid  fraud and abuse provisions apply to the
operations of HEALTHSOUTH. HEALTHSOUTH is subject to extensive federal and state
regulation with respect to financial  relationships among healthcare  providers,
physician self-referral arrangements and other fraud and abuse issues. Penalties
for violation of federal and state laws and regulations  include  exclusion from
participation  in  the  Medicare/Medicaid  programs,  asset  forfeiture,   civil
penalties and criminal pen-

                                       5

<PAGE>

alties.  The Office of Inspector  General of the  Department of Health and Human
Services,  the  Department  of  Justice  and other  federal  agencies  interpret
healthcare fraud and abuse provisions liberally and enforce them aggressively.

HEALTHCARE REFORM

     In recent years,  an increasing  number of legislative  proposals have been
introduced  or proposed in Congress  and in some state  legislatures  that would
effect major changes in the healthcare system, either nationally or at the state
level. Among the proposals which are, or recently have been, under consideration
are cost  controls on  hospitals,  insurance  market  reforms to  increase  that
availability of group health insurance to small  businesses,  requirements  that
all  businesses  offer  health  insurance  coverage to their  employees  and the
creation  of a single  government  health  insurance  plan that would  cover all
citizens.  The costs of certain proposals would be funded in significant part by
reductions  in  payments  by  governmental  programs,   including  Medicare  and
Medicaid,  to  healthcare  providers.  There  continue  to be federal  and state
proposals that would, and actions that do, impose more limitations on government
and private  payments to healthcare  providers such as HEALTHSOUTH and proposals
to increase copayments and deductibles from program and private patients. At the
federal level,  both Congress and the current  Administration  have continued to
propose healthcare budgets that substantially reduce payments under the Medicare
and Medicaid programs. In addition, many states are considering the enactment of
initiatives designed to reduce their Medicaid expenditures, to provide universal
coverage  or  additional  levels of care  and/or to impose  additional  taxes on
healthcare  providers  to help finance or expand the states'  Medicaid  systems.
There can be no assurance as to the  ultimate  content,  timing or effect of any
healthcare reform  legislation,  nor is it possible at this time to estimate the
impact of potential legislation, which may be material, on HEALTHSOUTH.

COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES AND YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE

     The Company is aware of the issues  associated with the programming code in
existing  computer systems as the year 2000 approaches.  Many existing  computer
programs use only two digits to identify a year in the date field.  The issue is
whether such code exists in the Company's  mission-critical  applications and if
that code will produce  accurate  information  with  relation to  date-sensitive
calculations after the turn of the century.

     The  Company  has  completed  a thorough  review of its  material  computer
applications   and   determined   that  such   applications   contain  very  few
date-sensitive  calculations.  The Company's  computer  applications are divided
into two categories,  those maintained  internally by the Company's  Information
Technology Group and those maintained  externally by the applications'  vendors.
For internally maintained  applications,  revisions are currently being made and
are expected to be implemented by the first quarter of 1999. The Company expects
that  the  total  cost  associated  with  these  revisions  will  be  less  than
$1,000,000. These costs will be primarily incurred during 1998 and be charged to
expense as incurred. For externally maintained systems, the Company has received
written  confirmation  from the vendors that each system is currently  year 2000
compliant  or will be made  year  2000  compliant  during  1998.  The cost to be
incurred by the Company related to externally  maintained systems is expected to
be minimal.

     The  Company  has  initiated a program to  determine  whether the  computer
applications  of its  significant  payors and  suppliers  will be  upgraded in a
timely  manner.  The Company has not  completed  this review;  however,  initial
responses indicate that no significant programs are currently expected to arise.
The  Company  has  also  initiated  a  program  to  determine  whether  embedded
applications which control certain medical and other equipment will be affected.
The  nature of the  Company's  business  is such that any  failure to these type
applications is not expected to have a material adverse effect on its business.

     Because  of the many  uncertainties  associated  with year 2000  compliance
issues, and because the Company's assessment is necessarily based on information
from third party vendors,  payors and suppliers,  there can be no assurance that
the Company's  assessment is correct or as to the  materiality  or effect of any
failure to such assessment to be correct.

                                       6

<PAGE>

COMPETITION

     HEALTHSOUTH  operates  in  a  highly  competitive   industry.   HEALTHSOUTH
generally operates its facilities in communities that also are served by similar
facilities operated by others.  Although  HEALTHSOUTH is the largest provider of
outpatient surgery and rehabilitation healthcare services on a nationwide basis,
in any  particular  market it may encounter  competition  from local or national
entities  with  longer  operating   histories  or  other  superior   competitive
advantages.   There  can  be  no  assurance  that  such  competition,  or  other
competition  which  HEALTHSOUTH may encounter in the future,  will not adversely
affect HEALTHSOUTH's results of operations.

FAIR PRICE PROVISION

     HEALTHSOUTH's  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  (the  "HEALTHSOUTH
Certificate")  contains certain provisions requiring  supermajority  stockholder
approval to effect specified extraordinary corporate transactions unless certain
conditions are met. The HEALTHSOUTH Certificate requires the affirmative vote of
66-2/3%  of all  shares  of  HEALTHSOUTH  entitled  to  vote in an  election  of
Directors to approve a "business  combination"  with any "other  entity" that is
the  beneficial  owner,  directly  or  indirectly,  of  more  than  20%  of  the
outstanding shares of HEALTHSOUTH  entitled to vote in an election of Directors.
The  effect  of the  foregoing  provisions  is to make it more  difficult  for a
person, entity or group to effect a change in control of HEALTHSOUTH through the
acquisition  of a large  block of  HEALTHSOUTH's  voting  stock,  or to effect a
merger or other  acquisition that is not approved by a majority of HEALTHSOUTH's
Directors  serving in office prior to the  acquisition by the other entity of 5%
or more of HEALTHSOUTH's stock.

CERTAIN HORIZON/CMS LITIGATION

     On  October  29,  1997,   HEALTHSOUTH   acquired   Horizon/CMS   Healthcare
Corporation  ("Horizon/CMS")  through the merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of
HEALTHSOUTH with and into  Horizon/CMS.  Horizon/CMS is currently a party, or is
subject,  to  certain  material  litigation  matters  and  disputes,  which  are
described  below,  as well as various  other  litigation  matters  and  disputes
arising in the  ordinary  course of its  business.  HEALTHSOUTH  is not itself a
party to the litigation described below.

SEC and NYSE Investigations

     The  Division  of   Enforcement   of  the  SEC  is   conducting  a  private
investigation  with  respect to trading in the  securities  of  Horizon/CMS  and
Continental Medical Systems, Inc. ("CMS"),  which was acquired by Horizon/CMS in
June 1995. In connection with that investigation,  Horizon/CMS  produced certain
documents,  and Neal M. Elliott, then Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive  Officer  of  Horizon/CMS,   and  certain  other  former  officers  of
Horizon/CMS have given testimony to the SEC.  Horizon/CMS has also been informed
that certain of its division office  employees and an individual,  affiliates of
whom had limited  business  relationships  with  Horizon/CMS,  have responded to
subpoenas from the SEC. Mr. Elliott also produced certain  documents in response
to a subpoena  from the SEC.  In  addition,  Horizon/CMS  and Mr.  Elliott  have
responded  to  separate   subpoenas  from  the  SEC  pertaining  to  trading  in
Horizon/CMS's common stock and various material press releases issued in 1996 by
Horizon/CMS; Horizon/CMS's February 18, 1997 announcement that HEALTHSOUTH would
acquire  Horizon/CMS;  and any  discussions  of proposed  business  combinations
between  Horizon/CMS  and Medical  Innovations and Horizon/CMS and certain other
companies.   The   investigation   is,  to  the  knowledge  of  HEALTHSOUTH  and
Horizon/CMS,  ongoing, and neither Horizon/CMS nor HEALTHSOUTH possesses all the
facts  with  respect  to  the  matters  under  investigation.  Although  neither
Horizon/CMS  nor  HEALTHSOUTH  has  been  advised  by the SEC  that  the SEC has
concluded  that any of Horizon/ CMS, Mr.  Elliott or any other current or former
officer or director of  Horizon/CMS  has been  involved in any  violation of the
federal  securities  law,  there can be no  assurance  as to the  outcome of the
investigation  or the time of its conclusion.  Both  Horizon/CMS and HEALTHSOUTH
have,  to the  extent  requested  to  date,  cooperated  fully  with  the SEC in
connection with the investigation.

                                       7

<PAGE>

     In  March  1995,  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  (the  "NYSE")   informed
Horizon/CMS  that  it had  initiated  a  review  of  trading  in  The  Hillhaven
Corporation  common stock prior to the  announcement of  Horizon/CMS's  proposed
acquisition of Hillhaven. In April 1995, the NYSE extended the review of trading
to  include  all  dealings  with  CMS.  On April  3,  1996,  the  NYSE  notified
Horizon/CMS  that it had  initiated  a review of  trading  in its  common  stock
preceding  Horizon/CMS's  March 1, 1996 press  release  announcing a revision in
Horizon/CMS's  third quarter earnings  estimate.  On February 20, 1997, the NYSE
notified  Horizon/CMS that it was reviewing trading in Horizon/CMS's  securities
prior to the February  18, 1997  announcement  that  HEALTHSOUTH  would  acquire
Horizon/CMS.  Horizon/CMS  has  cooperated  with the NYSE in its reviews and, to
Horizon/CMS's knowledge, the reviews are ongoing.

     In February 1997, HEALTHSOUTH received a subpoena from the SEC with respect
to its investigation concerning trading in Horizon/CMS common stock prior to the
February 18, 1997 announcement that HEALTHSOUTH would acquire  Horizon/CMS and a
request  for  information  from the NYSE in  connection  with its review of such
trading.  HEALTHSOUTH responded to such subpoena and request for information and
advised  both the SEC and the NYSE that it  intended to  cooperate  fully in any
investigations or reviews relating to such trading. HEALTHSOUTH provided certain
additional  information to the SEC in April 1997.  Since that time,  HEALTHSOUTH
has had no further  inquiries  from  either the SEC or the NYSE with  respect to
such matters,  and is unaware of the current  status of such  investigations  or
reviews.

Michigan Attorney General Investigation Into Long-Term Care Facility In
Michigan

     Horizon/CMS  learned in  September  1996 that the  Attorney  General of the
State of Michigan was investigating one of its skilled nursing  facilities.  The
facility,  in Howell,  Michigan,  was owned and  operated  by  Horizon/CMS  from
February  1994 until  December 31, 1997.  As widely  reported in the press,  the
Attorney  General seized a number of patient,  financial and accounting  records
that were located at this facility. By order of a circuit judge in the county in
which the  facility  is  located,  the  Attorney  General  was ordered to return
patient  records to the facility for copying.  Horizon/CMS  advised the Michigan
Attorney  General that it was willing to cooperate  fully in the  investigation.
The facility in question was sold by Horizon/CMS to Integrated  Health Services,
Inc. on December 31, 1997.

     On February  19,  1998,  the State of Michigan  filed a criminal  complaint
against  Horizon/CMS,  four  former  employees  of the  facility  and one former
Horizon/CMS  regional manager,  alleging various  violations in 1995 and 1996 of
certain  statutes  relating to patient  care,  patient  medical  records and the
making of false  statements  with respect to the  condition or operations of the
facility (State of Michigan v.  Horizon/CMS  Healthcare  Corp., et al., Case No.
98-630-FY,  State of Michigan  District Court 54B). The maximum fines chargeable
against  Horizon/CMS  under the counts  alleged in the  complaint  (exclusive of
charges against the individual  defendants,  some of which charges may result in
indemnification of obligations for Horizon/CMS)  aggregate $69,000.  Horizon/CMS
denies the  allegations  made in the complaint and expects to vigorously  defend
against the charges.  Because such charges have only recently been filed,  it is
not possible to predict at this time the outcome or effect of this litigation or
the length of time it will take to resolve this litigation.

Stockholder Derivative Actions

     Commencing in April and continuing  into May 1996,  Horizon/CMS  was served
with nine  complaints  alleging  a class  action  derivative  action  brought by
stockholders  of  Horizon/CMS  for and on behalf of  Horizon/CMS in the Court of
Chancery of New Castle County, Delaware, against certain then-current and former
directors of  Horizon/CMS.  The nine  lawsuits have been  consolidated  into one
action styled In re Horizon/CMS Healthcare Corporation  Shareholders Litigation.
The plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that Horizon/CMS's  then-current and
former  directors  breached  their  fiduciary  duties  to  Horizon/CMS  and  the
stockholders  as a result of (i) the purported  failure to supervise  adequately
and the purported  knowing  mismanagement of the operations of Horizon/CMS,  and
(ii) the purported  misuse of inside  information in connection with the sale of
Horizon/CMS's  Common Stock by certain of the  then-current and former directors
in January and February 1996. To that end, the  plaintiffs  sought an accounting
from the directors for profits to themselves and damages suffered by Horizon/CMS
as a

                                       8

<PAGE>

result of the transaction complained of in the complaint and attorneys' fees and
costs.  On June 21,  1996,  the  individual  defendants  filed a motion with the
Chancery Court seeking to dismiss this matter because,  among other things,  the
plaintiffs failed to make a demand on the board of directors prior to commencing
this litigation.

      In April 1996,  Horizon/CMS was served with a complaint in a stockholder's
derivative lawsuit styled Lind v. Rocco A. Ortenzio, Neal M. Elliott, Klemett L.
Belt, Jr., Robert A. Ortenzio,  Russell L. Carson, Bryan C. Cressey,  Charles H.
Gonzales,  Michael A. Jeffries,  Gerard M. Martin,  frank M. McCord,  Raymond N.
Noveck,  Barry  M.  Portnoy,  LeRoy  S.  Zimmerman  and  Horizon/CMS  Healthcare
Corporation, No. CIV 96-0538-BB, pending in the United States District Court for
the District of New Mexico. The claims alleged by the plaintiff,  and the relief
sought,  were substantially  identical to those in the Delaware  litigation.  On
February 24, 1998, the plaintiffs in the consolidated  Delaware case voluntarily
dismissed their action without  prejudice.  The plaintiff in the New Mexico case
has likewise voluntarily dismissed his action in April 1998.

Lawsuit by Former Shareholders of Communi-Care, Inc. and Pro Rehab, Inc.

     On May 28, 1997, CMS was served with a lawsuit  styled Kenneth  Hubbard and
Lynn  Hubbard v. Rocco  Ortenzio,  Robert A.  Ortenzio and  Continental  Medical
Systems, Inc., No. 3:97 CV294MCK,  filed in the United States District Court for
the  Western  District  of North  Carolina,  Charlotte  Division,  by the former
shareholders of Communi-Care,  Inc. and Pro Rehab,  Inc. seeking damages arising
out of certain "earnout"  provisions of the definitive purchase agreements under
which CMS purchased the outstanding  stock of Communi-Care,  Inc. and Pro Rehab,
Inc. from such shareholders.  The plaintiffs allege that the manner in which CMS
and the other defendants operated the companies after their acquisition breached
its fiduciary duties to the plaintiffs,  constituted fraud, gross negligence and
bad faith, and breached of their employment agreements with the companies.  As a
result of such alleged conduct,  the plaintiffs assert that they are entitled to
damages in an amount in excess of $27,000,000 from CMS and the other defendants.
Horizon/CMS believes, based upon its evaluation of the legal and factual matters
relating  to the  plaintiffs'  assertions,  that it has  valid  defenses  to the
plaintiffs' claims and, as a result,  intends to vigorously contest such claims.
Because  this  litigation  remains  at an early  stage,  HEALTHSOUTH  cannot now
predict the outcome or effect of such  litigation  or the length of time it will
take to resolve such litigation.

RehabOne Litigation

   
     In March 1997,  Horizon/CMS  was served with a lawsuit  filed in the United
States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania,  styled RehabOne,
Inc. v. Horizon/CMS Healthcare  Corporation,  Continental Medical Systems, Inc.,
David  National  and Robert  Ortenzio,  No.  CV-97-0292.  In this  lawsuit,  the
plaintiff  alleges  violations of federal and state  securities  laws, fraud and
negligent misrepresentation by Horizon/CMS and certain former officers of CMS in
connection  with the  issuance  of a  warrant  to  purchase  500,000  shares  of
Horizon/CMS  Common  Stock  (the  "Warrant").  The  Warrant  was  issued  to the
plaintiff in connection with the settlement of certain prior litigation  between
the plaintiff and CMS. The  plaintiff's  complaint  does not state the amount of
damages  sought.  On April 30, 1998 the court  entered an order  dismissing  the
plaintiff's  claim under Section 12(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and denying
Horizon/LMS's   motion  to  dismiss  certain  other  claims  of  the  plaintiff.
Horizon/CMS  disputes the factual and legal  assertions of the plaintiff in this
litigation and intends to vigorously contest the plaintiff's claims. In May 1998
the parties  reached an  agreement in  principle  to settle this  litigation  by
extending  the  exercise  period of the  Warrant by two years.  The  parties are
currently in the process of negotiating and implementing  definitive  settlement
documentation.     

EEOC Litigation

     In March 1997, the Equal  Employment  Opportunity  Commission  (the "EEOC")
filed a complaint against  Horizon/CMS  alleging that Horizon/CMS had engaged in
unlawful  employment  practices in respect of Horizon/CMS's  employment policies
related  to  pregnancies.  Specifically,  the EEOC  asserts  that  Horizon/CMS's
alleged refusal to provide pregnant employees with light-duty assignments to ac-

                                       9

<PAGE>
commodate their temporary  disabilities  caused by pregnancy  violates  Sections
701(k) and  703(a) of Title  VII,  42 U.S.C.  (section)(section)  2000e-(k)  and
2000e-2(a).  In this lawsuit, the EEOC seeks, among other things, to permanently
enjoin Horizon/CMS's  employment practices in this regard.  Horizon/CMS disputes
the factual and legal  assertions of the EEOC in this  litigation and intends to
vigorously  contest  the  EEOC's  claims.   Because  this  litigation  has  just
commenced, HEALTHSOUTH cannot predict the length of time it will take to resolve
the litigation or the outcome or effect of the litigation.

North Louisiana Rehabilitation Hospital Medicare Billing Investigation

     In August 1996,  the United  States  Attorney  for the Western  District of
Louisiana,  without  actually  initiating  litigation,  apprised  Horizon/CMS of
alleged  civil  liability  under  the  federal  False  Claims  Act for  what the
government  believes were false or fraudulent Medicare and other federal program
claims  submitted  by  Horizon/CMS's  North  Louisiana  Rehabilitation  Hospital
("NLRH")  during the period from 1989 through  1992,  including  certain  claims
submitted  by a  physician  who was a member  of the  medical  staff  and  under
contract to NLRH during the period.  Specifically,  the government  alleges that
NLRH  facilitated  the  submission  of false claims under Part B of the Medicare
program by the physician and that NLRH itself  submitted false claims under Part
A of the Medicare  program for services  that were not medically  necessary.  In
August 1996, the U.S. Attorney  identified  allegedly improper Part A and Part B
billings,  together with penalty  provisions under the False Claims Act, ranging
in the aggregate from  approximately  $1,700,000 to  $2,200,000.  The government
does not dispute  that the  Medicare  Part A services  were  rendered,  but only
whether they were medically necessary.  Horizon/CMS has vigorously contested the
allegation  that  any  cases  of  disputed  medical  necessity  in  this  matter
constitute  false or  fraudulent  claims  under  the  civil  False  Claims  Act.
Moreover,  Horizon/CMS  denies that NLRH  facilitated  the  submission  of false
claims under Medicare Part B.

     In late April 1997, Horizon/CMS received administrative  subpoenas relating
to the matter and has since  then  produced  extensive  materials  with  respect
thereto.  Without  conceding  liability for either the Medicare Part A or Part B
claims, in May 1997, Horizon commenced preliminary  settlement  discussions with
the  government.  In preparation  for settlement  meetings held in late June and
mid-July 1997,  Horizon/CMS and the government  developed and then refined their
respective  analyses  of any losses the  government  may have  incurred  in this
regard. Following the July 1997 meetings, the government proposed to Horizon/CMS
that the matter be settled by  Horizon/CMS's  paying the  government  $4,900,000
with respect to alleged  Medicare Part A overpayments  and that  Horizon/CMS and
certain  individual  physicians  pay the  government  $820,000  with  respect to
Medicare Part B claims for physician  services.  In late July 1997,  Horizon/CMS
responded by offering to settle the matter for $3,700,000  for alleged  Medicare
Part A  overpayments  and $445,000 for alleged  Medicare Part B claims for which
Horizon/CMS  potentially could bear any responsibility.  The government recently
advised  Horizon/CMS that it has accepted the latter's  settlement offer in this
regard,  and the  parties  are  currently  in the  process  of  negotiating  and
implementing definitive settlement documentation.

Heritage Western Hills Litigation

     Since July 1996,  Horizon/CMS has been a defendant in a lawsuit styled Lexa
A. Auld,  Administratrix  of Martha  Hary,  Deceased v.  Horizon/CMS  Healthcare
Corporation and Charles T. Maxvill, D.O., No. 48-165121,  48th Judicial District
Court, Tarrant County, Texas. The case involved injuries allegedly suffered by a
resident of the Heritage  Western Hills nursing  facility in Fort Worth,  Texas.
Horizon/CMS tendered the claim to its insurance carrier, which accepted coverage
with a  reservation  of rights and  provided  a defense  through  the  carrier's
selected  counsel in Dallas,  Texas. The case went to trial on October 29, 1997,
and on November 7, 1997,  the jury  rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiff
in the amount of $2,370,000 in compensatory  damages and $90,000,000 in punitive
damages.  Counsel has advised  Horizon/CMS that, under applicable Texas law, the
punitive  damages  award is, at worst,  limited  to four times the amount of the
compensatory  damages (the "Punitive  Damages  Cap"),  and thus that the maximum
amount of an  enforceable  judgment in favor of the  plaintiff is  approximately
$12,000,000.  Counsel has also advised Horizon/CMS that there are,  potentially,
other and further caps on both the amount of compensatory  damages  available to
the plaintiff and the amount of punitive damages.

                                       10

<PAGE>
Horizon/CMS  filed the  required  motions  with the court to impose the Punitive
Damages  Cap. On February  20, 1998,  the court  reduced the jury's  verdict and
entered a judgment in the amount of approximately $11,237,000.  Horizon/CMS also
vigorously  disputes  the  efficacy of the jury's  verdict and has  appealed the
judgment.

     Horizon/CMS's insurance carrier continues to defend the matter subject to a
reservation of rights.  Horizon/CMS based upon an evaluation by its then-current
internal  counsel,  after reviewing the findings  contained in the jury verdict,
the insurance policy at issue and the carrier's  handling of the case,  believes
that the entirety of any judgment  ultimately  entered is covered by and payable
from  such  insurance  policy,  less  Horizon/CMS's  self-insured  retention  of
$250,000.  On November 19, 1997, the insurance carrier sent Horizon/CMS a letter
indicating its belief that certain policy  exclusions might apply and requesting
additional   information   which  might  affect  its   coverage   determination.
Horizon/CMS  has retained  separate  counsel to analyze the coverage  issues and
advise  Horizon/CMS  on its  position,  and  Horizon/CMS  expects to continue to
negotiate  any coverage  issues with its  carrier.  Settlement  negotiations  by
Horizon/CMS's  insurance  carrier,  in conjunction with  HEALTHSOUTH's  retained
counsel, continue with the plaintiff. It is not possible at this time to predict
the outcome of any post-trial motions or appeals, the resolution of any coverage
issues, the outcome of any settlement negotiations or the ultimate amount of any
liability which will be borne by Horizon/CMS.

SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES

   

     The  Debentures  are  subordinate  in right of payment to all  current  and
future  Senior  Indebtedness  of  the  Company.   Senior  Indebtedness  includes
indebtedness   under  the  Company's  bank  credit   facilities  and  all  other
indebtedness  of the Company that is not expressly made  subordinate to, or pari
passu with,  the  Debentures.  At March 31, 1998,  the  aggregate  amount of the
Company's Senior  Indebtedness was approximately  $1,155,999,000.  The Indenture
does  not  limit  the  amount  of  additional  indebtedness,   including  Senior
Indebtedness,  which the Company  can create,  incur,  assume or  guarantee.  By
reason of such  subordination  of the  Debentures,  in the event of  insolvency,
bankruptcy,  liquidation,  reorganization,  dissolution  or  winding  up of  the
business of the Company or upon  default in payment  with  respect to any Senior
Indebtedness  of the  Company  or an  event  of  default  with  respect  to such
indebtedness  resulting in the acceleration  thereof,  the assets of the Company
will be available to pay the amounts due on the Debentures only after all Senior
Indebtedness of the Company has been paid in full.

    

     The majority of the Company's operations are conducted through subsidiaries
or  partnerships,  which are separate and  distinct  legal  entities and have no
obligations,  contingent  or  otherwise,  to pay any amounts due pursuant to the
Debentures or make any funds available therefor,  whether by dividends, loans or
other  payments.  The  Debentures  will  be  effectively   subordinated  to  all
indebtedness and other liabilities and commitments (including trade payables and
lease obligations) of the Company's subsidiaries and partnerships.  Any right of
the Company to receive  assets of any such  subsidiary or  partnership  upon the
liquidation or  reorganization  of any such  subsidiary or partnership  (and the
consequent  right of the  holders  of the  Debentures  to  participate  in those
assets) will be effectively  subordinated to the claims of that  subsidiary's or
partnership's creditors.

LIMITATION ON ABILITY TO REPURCHASE UPON A REPURCHASE EVENT

     In the event of a Repurchase Event,  which includes a Change in Control and
a  Termination  of Trading (each as defined  herein),  each holder of Debentures
will  have the  right,  at the  holder's  option,  to  require  the  Company  to
repurchase  all or a portion of such  holder's  Debentures  at a purchase  price
equal to 100% of the principal  amount thereof plus accrued  interest thereon to
the repurchase  date. The Company's  ability to repurchase the Debentures upon a
Repurchase   Event  may  be  limited  by  the  terms  of  the  Company's  Senior
Indebtedness and the  subordination  provisions of the Indenture.  Further,  the
ability of the Company to repurchase  Debentures upon a Repurchase Event will be
dependent on the availability of sufficient funds and compliance with applicable
securities laws. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to repurchase the Debentures upon a Repurchase  Event. The term "Repurchase
Event" is limited to certain  specified  transactions  and may not include other
events that might  adversely  affect the  financial  condition of the Company or
result in a downgrade of the

                                       11

<PAGE>
credit  rating (if any) of the  Debentures  nor would the  requirement  that the
Company offer to repurchase the Debentures upon a Repurchase  Event  necessarily
afford holders of the Debentures  protection in the event of a highly  leveraged
reorganization,  merger  or  similar  transaction  involving  the  Company.  See
"Description of Debentures".

POSSIBILITY VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE

     The stock market,  and in particular the healthcare  industry segment,  has
from time to time experienced  significant price and volume  fluctuations which,
in some  circumstances,  have been  unrelated to the  operating  performance  of
particular companies. The market price of HEALTHSOUTH Common Stock may be highly
volatile depending on various factors,  including, but not limited to, the state
of the national  economy,  stock market  conditions,  industry research reports,
actions by governmental agencies, litigation involving the Company, earnings and
other  announcements by the Company or its competitors and general conditions in
the outpatient surgery and rehabilitative healthcare services industries.

                                       12

<PAGE>

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     All proceeds from any sales of the Debentures or the  Conversion  Shares by
the  Selling   Securityholders   will  inure  to  the  benefit  of  the  Selling
Securityholders.  The Company will receive none of the proceeds from the sale of
the Debentures or the Conversion Shares offered hereby.

                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     The following table sets forth the Company's consolidated ratio of earnings
to fixed charges for the periods shown.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                       MARCH 31,
                                             ------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------
                                                1993       1994       1995       1996       1997            1998
                                             ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------------------
                                                                                                      ACTUAL    PRO FORMA
                                                                                                    ---------- ----------
<S>                                          <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges .........     5.71x      3.31x      3.27x      4.61x      5.34x      7.03x      7.98x
</TABLE>
    

   
     For  purposes  of  calculating  ratio of  earnings  to fixed  charges,  (i)
earnings  consist  of  consolidated   income  (loss)  before  income  taxes  and
nonrecurring  changes,  plus fixed  charges,  and (ii) fixed charges  consist of
interest  expense  incurred and the portion of rental  expense  under  operating
leases deemed by the Company to be  representative  of the interest factor.  The
pro forma ratio reflects the sale of the  Debentures and the  application of the
net proceeds therefrom,  assuming such sale and application  occurred on January
1, 1998.     

                                       13

<PAGE>
                            SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

   

     The Debentures were originally issued by the Company in a private placement
and were resold by the initial  purchasers  thereof to  qualified  institutional
buyers  (within  the  meaning  of Rule 144A under the  Securities  Act) or other
institutional  accredited  investors (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1),  (2), (3) or
(7) under the Securities Act) in transactions exempt from registration under the
Securities  Act, and in sales  outside the United  States to persons  other than
U.S.  persons in  reliance  upon  Regulation  S under the  Securities  Act.  The
Debentures  and the  Conversion  Shares  that may be  offered  pursuant  to this
Prospectus will be offered by the Selling  Securityholders.  The following table
sets forth  certain  information  as of June 2, 1998,  concerning  the principal
amount of Debentures  beneficially owned by each Selling  Securityholder and the
number of  Conversion  Shares that may be offered from time to time  pursuant to
this Prospectus.     

     From time to time,  Smith Barney Inc. or its affiliates have provided,  and
may continue to provide,  investment banking services to the Company,  for which
they  received or will receive  customary  fees.  An  affiliate  of  NationsBanc
Montgomery  Securities LLC provides  commercial banking services to the Company,
including serving as agent for and a lender under the Company's  existing credit
facilities,  for which such  affiliate  has received or will  receive  customary
fees. None of the other Selling Securityholders has had any position,  office or
other material  relationship  with the Company or its affiliates within the past
three years.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                       PRINCIPAL AMOUNT                        NUMBER OF
                                                         OF DEBENTURES     PERCENTAGE OF   CONVERSION SHARES   PERCENTAGE OF
                                                      BENEFICIALLY OWNED     DEBENTURES           THAT          COMMON STOCK
                        NAME                           THAT MAY BE SOLD     OUTSTANDING      MAY BE SOLD(1)    OUTSTANDING(2)
- ---------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------- ------------------- ---------------
<S>                                                  <C>                  <C>             <C>                 <C>
Allstate Insurance Company .........................      $ 3,400,000              *             92,833              *
Allstate Life Insurance Company ....................      $ 6,300,000           1.11%           172,014              *
Aloha Airlines Inc. Non-Pilots Pension Trust .......      $   175,000              *              4,778              *
Aloha Airlines Pilots Retirement Trust .............      $   100,000              *              2,730              *
The Americana Fund .................................      $   110,000              *              3,003              *
American Community Mutual Insurance Company.              $   420,000              *             11,468              *
American Investors Life Insurance Company, Inc......      $ 1,250,000              *             34,130              *
American Pioneer Life Insurance Company of New
 York ..............................................      $    30,000              *                819              *
American Progressive Life & Health Insurance
 Company of New York ...............................      $    30,000              *                819              *
American Public Entity Excess Pool .................      $    70,000              *              1,911              *
American Republic Insurance Company ................      $   700,000              *             19,113              *
Amerisure Companies -- Michigan Mutual Insur-
 ance Company ......................................      $   530,000              *             14,471              *
AmWest Surety Insurance Company ....................      $   470,000              *             12,833              *
Anthracite Mutual Life Insurance Company ...........      $    10,000              *                273              *
Arbco Associates, LP ...............................      $ 1,000,000              *             27,304              *
Argent Classic Convertible Arbitrage Fund (Ber-
 muda) L.P. ........................................      $12,000,000           2.11%           327,645              *
Argent Classic Convertible Arbitrage Fund L.P. .....      $ 2,000,000              *             54,608              *
Aristeia International Limited .....................      $ 7,609,000           1.34%           207,754              *
Aristeia Trading L.L.C. ............................      $ 2,391,000              *             65,283              *
Arkansas PERS ......................................      $ 1,460,000              *             39,863              *
Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Lim-
 ited ..............................................      $   300,000              *              8,191              *
Associated Physicians Insurance Company ............      $    40,000              *              1,092              *
BCS Life Insurance Company .........................      $   550,000              *             15,017              *
BNP Arbitrage SNC ..................................      $ 4,250,000              *            116,041              *
BT Holdings (New York) Inc. ........................      $13,500,000           2.38%           368,601              *
Baltimore Life Insurance Company ...................      $    45,000              *              1,229              *
BancAmerica Robertson Stephens .....................      $   787,000              *             21,488              *
Bancroft Convertible Fund, Inc. ....................      $ 1,000,000              *             27,304              *
Bank of Montreal Ireland PLC .......................      $10,000,000           1.76%           273,038              *
</TABLE>
    

                                       14

<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       PRINCIPAL AMOUNT                        NUMBER OF
                                                         OF DEBENTURES     PERCENTAGE OF   CONVERSION SHARES   PERCENTAGE OF
                                                      BENEFICIALLY OWNED     DEBENTURES           THAT          COMMON STOCK
                        NAME                           THAT MAY BE SOLD     OUTSTANDING      MAY BE SOLD(1)    OUTSTANDING(2)
- ---------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------- ------------------- ---------------
<S>                                                  <C>                  <C>             <C>                 <C>
Bond Fund Series -- Oppenheimer Bond Fund for
 Growth ............................................      $ 8,000,000           1.41%            218,430             *
Bricklayers Local No. 6 Pension Plan ...............      $   200,000              *               5,461             *
CFW-C, L.P. ........................................      $ 3,500,000              *              95,563             *
CSA Fraternal Life Insurance Company ...............      $   100,000              *               2,730             *
Canadian Imperial Holdings, Inc. ...................      $ 6,000,000           1.06%            163,823             *
CareAmerica Life Insurance Company .................      $   100,000              *               2,730             *
Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America ..........      $   450,000              *              12,287             *
Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America Retire-
 ment Plan & Trust .................................      $   230,000              *               6,280             *
Catholic Relief Insurance Company of America .......      $   450,000              *              12,287             *
Century National Insurance Company .................      $   670,000              *              18,294             *
Chicago Mutual Company .............................      $    60,000              *               1,638             *
Chrysler Corporation Master Retirement Fund (c/o
 Glickenhaus & Co.) ................................      $10,000,000           1.76%            273,038             *
Chrysler Corporation Master Retirement Trust (c/o
 Oaktree Capital Management, LLC) ..................      $ 3,940,000              *             107,577             *
Chrysler Insurance Company .........................      $ 4,500,000              *             122,867             *
Combined Insurance Company of America ..............      $ 1,460,000              *              39,863             *
Commonwealth Dealers Life Insurance Company.........      $   100,000              *               2,730             *
Concord Life Insurance Company .....................      $   180,000              *               4,915             *
Condor Insurance Company ...........................      $    40,000              *               1,092             *
Dean Witter Convertible Securities Trust ...........      $ 2,500,000              *              68,259             *
Delaware PERS ......................................      $ 1,000,000              *              27,304             *
Deutsche Bank A.G. .................................      $37,850,000           6.67%          1,033,447             *
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, Inc.,
 d/b/a -- Deutshe Bank Securities, Inc. ............      $25,910,000           4.56%            707,470             *
Ellsworth Convertible Growth and Income Fund,
 Inc. ..............................................      $ 1,000,000              *              27,304             *
Employers Reinsurance Corp. ........................      $ 1,250,000              *              34,130             *
Evergreen Balanced Fund ............................      $10,000,000           1.76%            273,038             *
Evergreen Fund for Total Return ....................      $ 2,000,000              *              54,608             *
Farmers Home Mutual Insurance Company ..............      $   280,000              *               7,645             *
Federated Rural Electric Insurance Corporation .....      $   240,000              *               6,553             *
Financial American Life Insurance Company ..........      $    40,000              *               1,092             *
First Patriot Insurance Company ....................      $    70,000              *               1,911             *
Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company ...............      $   240,000              *               6,553             *
Frontier Insurance Company .........................      $ 1,000,000              *              27,304             *
General Motors Investment Management Corp. .........      $ 5,000,000              *             136,519             *
GLG Global Convertible Fund ........................      $ 3,000,000              *              81,911             *
Goodville Mutual Casualty Company ..................      $    40,000              *               1,092             *
Gopher State Mutual Insurance Company ..............      $   120,000              *               3,276             *
Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance .....................      $   190,000              *               5,188             *
GreatBanc Trust Company ............................      $    70,000              *               1,911             *
Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company .............      $ 1,000,000              *              27,304             *
Guaranty Income Life Insurance Company .............      $   400,000              *              10,922             *
Guardian Life Insurance Company of America .........      $ 9,500,000           1.67%            259,386             *
Guardian Master Pension Plan .......................      $   500,000              *              13,652             *
HSBC Securities Inc. ...............................      $ 3,700,000              *             101,024             *
Hawaiian Airlines Employees Pension Plan - IAM......      $    75,000              *               2,048             *
Hawaiian Airlines Pension Plan for Salaried Em-
 ployees ...........................................      $    20,000              *                 546             *
Hawaiian Airlines Pilots' Retirement Plan ..........      $   100,000              *               2,730             *
Highbridge Capital Corporation .....................      $13,500,000           2.38%            368,601             *
Holy Family Society ................................      $    50,000              *               1,365             *
IBM Retirement Fund ................................      $ 4,000,000              *             109,215             *
</TABLE>
    

                                       15
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT                        NUMBER OF
                                                            OF DEBENTURES     PERCENTAGE OF   CONVERSION SHARES   PERCENTAGE OF
                                                         BENEFICIALLY OWNED     DEBENTURES           THAT          COMMON STOCK
                          NAME                            THAT MAY BE SOLD     OUTSTANDING      MAY BE SOLD(1)    OUTSTANDING(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------- ------------------- ---------------
<S>                                                     <C>                  <C>             <C>                 <C>
ICI American Holdings Trust ...........................      $   450,000              *             12,287              *
ISBA Mutual Insurance Company .........................      $   190,000              *              5,188              *
Illinois Founders Insurance ...........................      $    80,000              *              2,184              *
Illinois Health Care Insurance Company ................      $    90,000              *              2,457              *
Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company............      $   460,000              *             12,560              *
Iruin Small ...........................................      $    85,000              *              2,321              *
Island Insurance Convertible Account ..................      $   120,000              *              3,276              *
Jacobs Twin Buick Profit Sharing Plan .................      $    75,000              *              2,048              *
Kanawha Insurance Company .............................      $    50,000              *              1,365              *
Kapiolani Medical Center ..............................      $   150,000              *              4,096              *
Kayne Anderson Non-Traditional Investments, LP ........      $ 1,000,000              *             27,304              *
Kennilworth Partners LP II ............................      $   750,000              *             20,478              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Agent for the Chari-
 table Securities Fund ................................      $   987,000              *             26,949              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Agent for the EB
 Convertible Securities Fund ..........................      $ 1,200,000              *             32,765              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Agent for the Field
 Foundation of Illinois ...............................      $    60,000              *              1,638              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Agent for the
 GenCorp Foundation ...................................      $   100,000              *              2,730              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Agent for the Key
 Trust Convertible Securities Fund ....................      $   288,000              *              7,863              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Investment Manager
 for the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati
 (formerly known as The ChoiceCare Foundation) .             $   210,000              *              5,734              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Investment Manager
 for the Michigan Mutual Insurance Company ............      $   530,000              *             14,471              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Investment Manager
 for the Potlatch-First Trust Company of St. Paul .....      $   475,000              *             12,969              *
Key Asset Management, Inc. as Investment Manager
 for the University of South Florida Foundation .......      $   150,000              *              4,096              *
LCMS Foundation .......................................      $ 1,000,000              *             27,304              *
Lebanon Mutual Insurance Company ......................      $    80,000              *              2,184              *
Lincoln Mutual Life Insurance Company .................      $    50,000              *              1,365              *
Lincoln National Convertible Securities Fund ..........      $ 1,360,000              *             37,133              *
Lipper Convertibles, L.P. .............................      $ 3,000,000              *             81,911              *
Lipper Offshore Convertibles, L.P. ....................      $   500,000              *             13,652              *
Lone Star Life Insurance Company ......................      $ 1,100,000              *             30,034              *
MFS Series Trust I -- MFS Convertible Securities
 Fund .................................................      $     6,000              *                164              *
MFS Series Trust V -- MFS Total Return Fund ...........      $ 1,994,000              *             53,078              *
McMahan Securities Company, L.P. ......................      $    85,000              *              2,321              *
Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company ............      $25,000,000           4.40%           682,594              *
Medico Life Insurance Company .........................      $   720,000              *             19,659              *
Medmarc Insurance Company .............................      $   620,000              *             16,928              *
Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner and Smith Inc. ............      $ 8,590,000           1.51%           234,539              *
Mid America Life Insurance Company ....................      $    90,000              *              2,457              *
Middle Cities Risk Management Trust ...................      $   170,000              *              4,642              *
Midwest Security Life .................................      $   250,000              *              6,826              *
Midwestern National Life Insurance Company of
 Ohio .................................................      $   400,000              *             10,922              *
Millers Casualty Insurance Company of Texas ...........      $   260,000              *              7,099              *
Millers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Texas ........      $ 1,300,000              *             35,495              *
Motion Picture Laboratory Pension Plan ................      $   100,000              *              2,730              *
Motors Insurance Corp. ................................      $   750,000              *             20,478              *
Mutual Protective Insurance Company. ..................      $   950,000              *             25,939              *
</TABLE>
    

                                       16

<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT                        NUMBER OF
                                                            OF DEBENTURES     PERCENTAGE OF   CONVERSION SHARES   PERCENTAGE OF
                                                         BENEFICIALLY OWNED     DEBENTURES           THAT          COMMON STOCK
                          NAME                            THAT MAY BE SOLD     OUTSTANDING      MAY BE SOLD(1)    OUTSTANDING(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------- ------------------- ---------------
<S>                                                     <C>                  <C>             <C>                 <C>
NCMIC .................................................      $   380,000              *             10,375              *
NMS Services, Inc. ....................................      $10,000,000           1.76%           273,038              *
Nalco Chemical Company ................................      $   225,000              *              6,143              *
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC .................      $15,500,000           2.73%           423,208              *
Nationwide Acceptance Corporation Employees
 Profit Sharing Plan & Trust ..........................      $    55,000              *              1,502              *
New Castle Mutual Insurance Company ...................      $    30,000              *                819              *
New York Life Insurance Company .......................      $10,000,000           1.76%           273,038              *
Nomura Securities (Bermuda) Ltd. ......................      $ 6,000,000           1.06%           163,823              *
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company               $ 4,000,000              *            109,215              *
OCM Convertible Limited Partnership ...................      $   225,000              *              6,143              *
OCM Convertible Trust .................................      $ 5,205,000              *            142,116              *
Offense Group Associates, LP ..........................      $ 1,000,000              *             27,304              *
Old Guard Fire Insurance Company ......................      $   180,000              *              4,915              *
Old Guard Insurance Company ...........................      $   420,000              *             11,468              *
Oppenheimer Total Return Fund, Inc. ...................      $10,000,000           1.76%           273,038              *
Ozark National Life Insurance Company .................      $ 1,250,000              *             34,130              *
PRIM Board ............................................      $ 1,900,000              *             51,877              *
Paloma Securites L.L.C. ...............................      $ 8,600,000           1.51%           234,812              *
Paramount Insurance Company ...........................      $   200,000              *              5,461              *
Partner Reinsurance Company, Ltd. .....................      $   560,000              *             15,290              *
The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company ................      $ 2,500,000              *             68,259
Phico Insurance Company ...............................      $   320,000              *              8,737              *
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company ...................      $   210,000              *              5,734              *
Pioneer Insurance Company .............................      $    80,000              *              2,184              *
Police & Firemen's Insurance Association ..............      $    90,000              *              2,457              *
Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company .........      $ 2,500,000              *             68,259              *
Public Employees Retirement Association of Colo-
 rado. ................................................      $ 1,000,000              *             27,304              *
Public Service Mutual Insurance Company ...............      $   800,000              *             21,843              *
Queens Healthcare Plan ................................      $    65,000              *              1,775              *
Raytheon Company Master Pension Trust .................        2,010,000              *             54,881              *
Reassurance Company of Hanover ........................      $   450,000              *             12,287              *
Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Idaho ...............      $   120,000              *              3,276              *
Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oregon ..............      $   210,000              *              5,734              *
Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Utah ................      $    75,000              *              2,048              *
Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Washington ..........      $   345,000              *              9,420              *
SBC Warburg Dillon Read Inc. ..........................      $ 6,963,000           1.23%           190,116              *
SSIHM Charitable Trust ................................      $   730,000              *             19,932              *
Sage Capital. .........................................      $ 1,500,000              *             40,956              *
Salomon Brothers Total Return Fund ....................      $   500,000              *             13,652              *
Secura Insurance, A Mutual Company ....................      $   440,000              *             12,014              *
Security Mutual Life Insurance ........................      $   130,000              *              3,549              *
Service Life and Casualty Insurance Company ...........      $    60,000              *              1,638              *
Service Lloyds Insurance Company ......................      $    60,000              *              1,638              *
Shepherd Investments International Ltd. ...............      $ 1,000,000              *             27,304              *
Silverton International Fund Limited ..................      $ 4,400,000              *            120,137              *
Smith Barney Inc. .....................................      $ 6,860,000              *            187,304              *
Societe Generale ......................................      $     5,250              *                 93              *
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance -- FRIC ...........      $   800,000              *             21,843              *
Standard Mutual Insurance Company .....................      $   250,000              *              6,826              *
Stark International ...................................      $ 1,000,000              *             27,304              *
Starvest-- Discretionary ..............................      $   500,000              *             13,652              *
Starvest Diversified Fund-- Managed ...................      $   150,000              *              4,096              *
Starvest-- Investment Grade ...........................      $   375,000              *             10,239              *
</TABLE>
    

                                       17

<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      PRINCIPAL AMOUNT                        NUMBER OF
                                                        OF DEBENTURES     PERCENTAGE OF   CONVERSION SHARES   PERCENTAGE OF
                                                     BENEFICIALLY OWNED     DEBENTURES           THAT          COMMON STOCK
                        NAME                          THAT MAY BE SOLD     OUTSTANDING      MAY BE SOLD(1)    OUTSTANDING(2)
- --------------------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------- ------------------- ---------------
<S>                                                 <C>                  <C>             <C>                 <C>
State Employees' Retirement Fund of the State of
 Delaware .........................................      $ 1,380,000              *             37,679              *
State of Connecticut Combined Investment Funds.....      $ 4,905,000              *            133,925              *
Symphony Asset Management, LLC ....................      $13,000,000           2.29            354,948              *
State of Oregon Equity. ...........................      $ 6,250,000           1.10%           170,648              *
State of Oregon/SAIF Corporation. .................      $ 5,250,000              *            143,345              *
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of
 America ..........................................      $ 5,000,000              *            136,519              *
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System ..........      $ 7,000,000           1.23%           191,126              *
Texas Builders Insurance Company ..................      $   120,000              *              3,276              *
Transguard Insurance of America Inc. ..............      $   830,000              *             22,662              *
Twin Life Insurance Company .......................      $    55,000              *              1,502              *
United National Insurance Company. ................      $ 3,000,000              *             81,911              *
United Teacher Associates Insurance Company. ......      $ 1,500,000              *             40,956              *
Vanguard Convertible Securities Fund, Inc. ........      $ 3,565,000              *             97,338              *
Van Kampen American Capital Convertible Securi-
 ties Fund ........................................      $   850,000              *             23,208              *
Van Kampen American Capital Harbor Fund ...........      $ 5,150,000              *            140,614              *
Walker Art Center .................................      $   175,000              *              4,778              *
Washington International Insurance Company ........      $   300,000              *              8,191              *
Weirton Trust .....................................      $   465,000              *             12,696              *
Western Home Insurance Company ....................      $   170,000              *              4,642              *
Westward Life Insurance Company ...................      $   110,000              *              3,003              *
Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company ........      $   140,000              *              3,823              *
Wisconsin Mutual Insurance Company ................      $   110,000              *              3,003              *
World Insurance Company ...........................      $   520,000              *             14,198              *
Zeneca Holdings Trust .............................      $   450,000              *             12,287              *
</TABLE>
    

- ----------
  * Less than 1%.

(1) Assumes  conversion of the full amount of Debentures  held by such holder at
    the initial  conversion price of $36.625 per share; such conversion price is
    subject to adjustment as described under  "Description  of the  Debentures--
    Conversion". Accordingly, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
    conversion  of the  Debentures  may increase or decrease  from time to time.
    Under the terms of the Indenture,  fractional shares will not be issued upon
    conversion  of the  Debentures;  cash  will be  paid  in lieu of  fractional
    shares, if any.

(2) Computed in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(i)  promulgated under the Exchange
    Act and based upon  399,952,582  shares of Common  Stock  outstanding  as of
    March 30, 1998,  treating as  outstanding  the number of  Conversion  Shares
    shown as being  issuable upon the assumed  conversion by the named holder of
    the full amount of such holder's  Debentures but not assuming the conversion
    of the Debentures of any other holder.

     The preceding table has been prepared based upon the information  furnished
to the Company by The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust  Company of New York, as trustee
(the "Trustee") for the Debentures, and by The Depository Trust Company ("DTC").

     The Selling Securityholders  identified above may have sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of, in transactions exempt from the registration requirements
of the Securities  Act, all or a portion of their  Debentures  since the date on
which  the  information  in  the  preceding  table  is  presented.   Information
concerning the Selling Securityholders may change from time to time and any such
changed  information  will be set forth in supplements to this Prospectus if and
when necessary. Because the Selling Securityholders may offer all or some of the
Debentures  or  Conversion  Shares  that  they  hold  pursuant  to the  offering
contemplated  by this  Prospectus,  no estimate can be given as to the amount of
the  Debentures  or  Conversion   Shares  that  will  be  held  by  the  Selling
Securityholders   upon  the   termination  of  this   offering.   See  "Plan  of
Distribution".

                                       18

<PAGE>
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 17, 1998 (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), between the Company and the initial purchasers
named therein (the  "Initial  Purchasers")  entered into in connection  with the
offering of the Debentures,  the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
forms a part was filed with the SEC  covering the resale of the  Debentures  and
the Conversion  Shares.  The Company has agreed to use all reasonable efforts to
keep the Registration  Statement effective until March 20, 2000 (or such earlier
date  when  the  holders  of the  Conversion  Shares  are  able to sell all such
Conversion Shares immediately without restriction  pursuant to Rule 144(k) under
the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto or otherwise). The Company will
be  permitted  to  suspend  the use of this  Prospectus  (which is a part of the
Registration Statement) in connection with sales of Conversion Shares by holders
during certain periods of time under certain  circumstances  relating to pending
corporate  developments and public filings with the SEC and similar events.  The
specific  provisions  relating to the  registration  rights  described above are
contained in the Registration  Rights  Agreement,  and the foregoing  summary is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of such agreement.

     Sales of the Debentures and the Conversion Shares may be effected by or for
the account of the  Selling  Securityholders  from time to time in  transactions
(which may include block  transactions in the case of the Conversion  Shares) on
any  exchange  or market on which  such  securities  are  listed or  quoted,  as
applicable, in negotiated transactions, through a combination of such methods of
sale,  or  otherwise,  at fixed  prices  that may be changed,  at market  prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices  related to prevailing  market prices,
or  at  negotiated   prices.  The  Selling   Securityholders   may  effect  such
transactions  by  selling  the  Debentures  or  Conversion  Shares  directly  to
purchasers,   through   broker-dealers   acting  as  agents   for  the   Selling
Securityholders,  or to broker-dealers who may purchase Debentures or Conversion
Shares as principals  and thereafter  sell the  Debentures or Conversion  Shares
from time to time in transactions  (which may include block  transactions in the
case  of the  Conversion  Shares)  on any  exchange  or  market  on  which  such
securities  are listed or quoted,  as  applicable,  in negotiated  transactions,
through a combination of such methods of sale, or otherwise. In effecting sales,
broker-dealers  engaged  by  Selling   Securityholders  may  arrange  for  other
broker-dealers  to  participate.  Such  broker-dealers,   if  any,  may  receive
compensation  in the form of  discounts,  concessions  or  commissions  from the
Selling  Securityholders  and/or the  purchasers of the Debentures or Conversion
Shares from whom such  broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they may sell
as  principals,  or both (which  compensation  as to a particular  broker-dealer
might be in excess of customary commissions).

     The Selling Securityholders and any broker-dealers,  agents or underwriters
that  participate  with the Selling  Securityholders  in the distribution of the
Debentures or Conversion  Shares may be deemed to be  "underwriters"  within the
meaning  of the  Securities  Act.  Any  commissions  paid  or any  discounts  or
concessions allowed to any such persons,  and any profits received on the resale
of the Debentures or Conversion  Shares offered hereby and purchased by them may
be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

     At the time a  particular  offering  of the  Debentures  or the  Conversion
Shares is made and to the extent  required,  the aggregate  principal  amount of
Debentures and number of Conversion  Shares being offered,  the name or names of
the Selling Securityholders,  and the terms of the offering,  including the name
or  names  of  any  underwriters,   broker-dealers  or  agents,  any  discounts,
concessions or commissions and other terms  constituting  compensation  from the
Selling Securityholders,  and any discounts,  concessions or commissions allowed
or reallowed  or paid to  broker-dealers,  will be set forth in an  accompanying
Prospectus Supplement.

     Pursuant to the Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the Company has agreed to
pay all expenses incident to the offer and sale of the Debentures and Conversion
Shares offered by the Selling  Securityholders  hereby,  except that the Selling
Securityholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions,  if
any. The Company has agreed to  indemnify  the Selling  Securityholders  against
certain  liabilities,  including  liabilities  under the Securities  Act, and to
contribute  to payments the Selling  Securityholders  may be required to make in
respect thereof.

                                       19

<PAGE>
     To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if applicable,
the Debentures and the Conversion  Shares offered hereby will be offered or sold
in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

     Under applicable  rules and regulations  under the Exchange Act, any person
engaged in a  distribution  of the  Debentures or the  Conversion  Shares may be
limited  in its  ability  to engage in market  activities  with  respect to such
Debentures or Conversion Shares. In addition and without limiting the foregoing,
each Selling  Securityholder  will be subject to  applicable  provisions  of the
Exchange Act and the rules and  regulations  thereunder,  which  provisions  may
limit the timing of purchase and sales of any of the  Debentures  and Conversion
Shares  by  the  Selling   Securityholders.   The   foregoing   may  affect  the
marketability of the Debentures and the Conversion Shares.

     From time to time,  Smith Barney Inc. or its affiliates have provided,  and
may continue to provide,  investment  banking  services to the Company for which
they received or will receive customary fees. See "Selling Securityholders".

                           DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES

     The  Debentures  were issued under an indenture  dated as of March 20, 1998
(the "Indenture")  between the Company and the Trustee.  The following summaries
of certain  provisions  of the  Indenture  do not purport to be complete and are
subject to, and are  qualified  in their  entirety by  reference  to, all of the
provisions of the Indenture,  including the definition therein of certain terms.
Wherever  particular sections or defined terms of the Indenture are referred to,
such sections or defined terms are incorporated  herein by reference.  Copies of
the proposed  form of Indenture  are  available  from the Company or the Initial
Purchasers upon request.

GENERAL

     The  Debentures are unsecured  obligations  of the Company,  are limited to
$575,000,000 in aggregate  principal amount  (including the Initial  Purchasers'
over-allotment option, which expired on April 20, 1998, with $67,750,000 of such
over-allotment  option having been  exercised) and will mature on April 1, 2003.
The  Debentures  bear  interest  at the rate of 3.25% per annum from the date of
original  issuance of  Debentures  pursuant to the  Indenture,  or from the most
recent  Interest  Payment Date to which  interest has been paid or provided for,
payable  semiannually on April 1 and October 1 of each year,  commencing October
1,  1998,  to the  Person  in  whose  name  the  Debenture  (or any  predecessor
Debenture) is  registered at the close of business on the preceding  March 15 or
September 15, as the case may be. Interest on the Debentures will be paid on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

     The  Debentures  are issued in  registered  form,  without  coupons  and in
denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will
be made for any  transfer  or exchange  of the  Debentures,  but the Company may
require  payment  of a sum  sufficient  to cover  any tax or other  governmental
charge and any other  expenses  (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee)
payable in  connection  therewith.  The  Company is not  required  (i) to issue,
register the transfer of or exchange any Debentures during a period beginning at
the  opening of  business  15 days  before the day of the mailing of a notice of
redemption  and ending at the close of business on the day of such  mailing,  or
(ii) to  register  the  transfer  of or  exchange  any  Debenture  selected  for
redemption  in whole or in part,  except the  unredeemed  portion of  Debentures
being redeemed in part.

     The Indenture does not contain any provisions that would provide protection
to Holders of the  Debentures  against a sudden and  dramatic  decline in credit
quality of the Company resulting from any takeover,  recapitalization or similar
restructuring,  except as  described  below  under  "Certain  Rights to  Require
Repurchase of Debentures".

CONVERSION RIGHTS

     The  Debentures  are  convertible  into  Common  Stock at any time prior to
redemption or final maturity,  initially at the conversion  price of $36.625 per
share  (resulting  in an  initial  conversion  ratio of 27.30  shares per $1,000
principal  amount).  The right to convert  Debentures which have been called for
redemption  will  terminate at the close of business on the second  business day
preceding the Redemption Date. See "Optional Redemption" below.

                                       20

<PAGE>

     The conversion price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of any of
the following events: (i) the subdivision,  combination or  reclassification  of
outstanding  shares of Common Stock;  (ii) the payment in shares of Common Stock
of a dividend  or  distribution  on any class of capital  stock of the  Company;
(iii)  the  issuance  of rights  or  warrants  to all  holders  of Common  Stock
entitling  them to acquire shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than
the Current Market Price;  (iv) the  distribution  to holders of Common Stock of
shares of capital stock other than Common Stock, evidences of indebtedness, cash
or assets (including  securities,  but excluding dividends or distributions paid
exclusively in cash and dividends,  distributions,  rights and warrants referred
to above); (v) a distribution consisting exclusively of cash (excluding any cash
distributions  referred to in (iv)  above) to all holders of Common  Stock in an
aggregate amount that, together with (A) all other cash distributions (excluding
any cash  distributions  referred  to in (iv)  above)  made within the 12 months
preceding such  distribution and (B) any cash and the fair market value of other
consideration  payable  in  respect  of any  tender  offer by the  Company  or a
subsidiary of the Company for the Common Stock consummated  within the 12 months
preceding   such   distribution,   exceeds   12.5%  of  the   Company's   market
capitalization  (determined  as provided in the Indenture) on the date fixed for
determining  the  stockholders  entitled  to such  distribution;  and  (vi)  the
consummation  of a tender  offer made by the  Company or any  subsidiary  of the
Company for the Common  Stock which  involves an aggregate  consideration  that,
together  with (X) any cash and other  consideration  payable  in respect of any
tender offer by the Company or a subsidiary  of the Company for the Common Stock
consummated within the 12 months preceding the consummation of such tender offer
and (Y) the  aggregate  amount  of all cash  distributions  (excluding  any cash
distributions  referred  to in (iv)  above) to all  holders of the Common  Stock
within the 12 months  preceding the  consummation of such tender offer,  exceeds
12.5% of the Company's market capitalization at the date of consummation of such
tender offer. No adjustment of the conversion price is required to be made until
cumulative  adjustments  amount to at least one percent of the conversion price,
as last  adjusted.  Any adjustment  that would  otherwise be required to be made
shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.

     In addition to the  foregoing  adjustments,  the Company  from time to time
may,  to the  extent  permitted  by law,  reduce  the  conversion  price  of the
Debentures  by any amount for any period of at least 20 days,  in which case the
Company  shall give at least 15 days notice of such  decrease.  The Company will
also be permitted to reduce the conversion  price to such extent as it considers
to be advisable in order that any event treated for federal  income tax purposes
as a dividend of stock or stock rights will not be taxable to the holders of the
Common Stock or, if that is not possible,  to diminish any income taxes that are
otherwise  payable  because of such event. In the case of any  consolidation  or
merger of the  Company  with any other  corporation  (other than one in which no
change  is  made  in the  Common  Stock),  or any  sale  or  transfer  of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Holder of any Debenture then
outstanding will, with certain exceptions,  have the right thereafter to convert
such  Debenture  only  into the kind and  amount of  securities,  cash and other
property  receivable  upon such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or  transfer by a
holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such  Debenture  might
have been converted  immediately prior to such  consolidation,  merger,  sale or
transfer;  and adjustments will be provided for events  subsequent  thereto that
are as nearly  equivalent  as  practical  to the  conversion  price  adjustments
described above.

     Fractional shares of Common Stock will not be issued upon conversion,  but,
in lieu  thereof,  the Company  will pay a cash  adjustment  based upon the then
Closing  Price  at the  close  of  business  on the  day of  conversion.  If any
Debentures are  surrendered  for conversion  during the period from the close of
business on any Regular  Record Date through and including  the next  succeeding
Interest  Payment Date (except any such  Debentures  called for  redemption on a
redemption  date  occurring  on or before  such  Interest  Payment  Date),  such
Debentures  when  surrendered  for conversion  must be accompanied by payment in
next day funds of an amount equal to the interest  thereon which the  registered
Holder on such  Regular  Record Date is to receive.  Except as  described in the
preceding  sentence,  no interest  will be payable by the  Company on  converted
Debentures  with respect to any Interest  Payment Date subsequent to the date of
conversion.  No other payment or  adjustment  for interest or dividends is to be
made upon conversion.

                                       21

<PAGE>

SUBORDINATION

     No payment  or  distribution  of any  assets of the  Company of any kind or
character  (other than payments of amounts already  deposited in accordance with
the  defeasance  provisions  of the  Indenture)  will  be  made  on  account  of
Subordinated  Obligations  or on account of the  purchase,  redemption  or other
acquisition of the Debentures  upon the occurrence of any default in the payment
of any Senior  Indebtedness in excess of $5,000,000  beyond any applicable grace
period,  unless and until such  default is cured or waived or ceases to exist or
such Senior Indebtedness is discharged.

     During the continuance of any non-payment  event of default with respect to
any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be
accelerated, no payment or distribution of any assets of the Company of any kind
or character may be made by the Company on account of  Subordinated  Obligations
or on account of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition of the Debentures
for the period  specified  below (the "Payment  Blockage  Period").  The Payment
Blockage Period shall commence upon the receipt of notice by the Company and the
Trustee from any  representative of a holder of Designated  Senior  Indebtedness
and shall end on the earlier of (i) 179 days thereafter,  (ii) the date on which
such  event is cured or waived or  ceases to exist or on which  such  Designated
Senior  Indebtedness is discharged,  (iii) the date on which the maturity of any
Indebtedness  (other than Senior  Indebtedness)  shall have been  accelerated by
virtue of such event,  or (iv) the date on which such  Payment  Blockage  Period
shall have been  terminated  by notice to the  Company or the  Trustee  from the
representative of holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness  initiating such
Payment Blockage Period, after which the Company shall resume making any and all
required  payments in respect of the Debentures,  including any missed payments.
Only one  Payment  Blockage  Period  may be  commenced  during any period of 365
consecutive  days.  No  event of  default  with  respect  to  Designated  Senior
Indebtedness  that existed or was continuing on the date of the  commencement of
any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated  Senior  Indebtedness
initiating  such Payment  Blockage Period will be, or can be, made the basis for
the  commencement  of a second Payment  Blockage  Period whether or not within a
period of 365 consecutive  days,  unless such event of default has been cured or
waived  for a period of not less than 90  consecutive  days.  In no event will a
Payment Blockage Period extend beyond 179 days.

     The payment of the  principal of and  premium,  if any, and interest on the
Debentures  will, to the extent set forth in the Indenture,  be  subordinated in
right of payment to the prior  payment  in full of all Senior  Indebtedness.  If
there is a payment or distribution of assets to creditors upon any  liquidation,
dissolution,   winding  up,  reorganization,   assignment  for  the  benefit  of
creditors,  marshalling  of  assets or any  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or  similar
proceedings  of the  Company,  the  holders of all Senior  Indebtedness  will be
entitled to receive  payment in full of all amounts due or to become due thereon
or provision  for such  payment in money or money's  worth before the Holders of
the  Debentures  will be  entitled  to  receive  any  payment  in respect to the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures.  In the event of
the  acceleration of the maturity of the  Debentures,  the holders of all Senior
Indebtedness  will first be entitled  to receive  payment in full in cash of all
amounts  due thereon or  provision  for such  payment in money or money's  worth
before the Holders of the Debentures will be entitled to receive any payment for
the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures.  No payments
on account of principal of or premium,  if any, or interest on the Debentures or
on account of the purchase or acquisition of Debentures may be made if there has
occurred  and is  continuing  a default in any  payment  with  respect to Senior
Indebtedness,  any acceleration of the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness or if
any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to any such default.

     Senior  Indebtedness  is  defined  in the  Indenture  as all  indebtedness,
liabilities  and other  obligations of the Company,  other than the  Debentures,
whether  existing  on the  date of  execution  of the  Indenture  or  thereafter
created, incurred or assumed, except any such other indebtedness, liabilities or
other  obligations  that by their terms or by operation of law are  subordinated
to, or subordinated  on a parity with, the Debentures.  The Debentures will rank
pari passu  with the  Company's  9.5%  Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2001 (the
"Notes") and any  securities  which may be issued in the future on a parity with
the Notes.

                                       22

<PAGE>

     Designated  Senior  Indebtedness is defined in the Indenture as (i) amounts
now or hereafter outstanding under the Company's existing bank credit facilities
or  indebtedness  incurred to extend,  refund or refinance such amounts and (ii)
any Senior  Indebtedness  which, at the time of determination,  has an aggregate
principal  amount  outstanding  of at  least  $20,000,000  and  is  specifically
designated in the instrument  evidencing such Senior Indebtedness as "Designated
Senior Indebtedness" by the Company.

   

     The  Indenture  does  not  limit  or  prohibit  the  incurrence  of  Senior
Indebtedness by the Company or the Subsidiaries. After giving effect to the sale
of the Debentures and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as though it
had  occurred  on  March  31,  1998,  the  amount  of  Senior  Indebtedness  was
approximately $1,155,999,000.     

     The Indenture provides that the Company shall not create,  incur, assume or
suffer to exist any indebtedness  that is subordinate in right of payment to any
Senior  Indebtedness unless such indebtedness is subordinate in right of payment
to, or ranks pari passu with, the Debentures.

OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

     The Debentures are redeemable,  at the Company's  option,  in whole or from
time to time in part, at any time on or after April 5, 2001,  upon not less than
30 nor more than 60 days'  notice  mailed to each  Holder  of  Debentures  to be
redeemed at its address appearing in the Security Register and prior to Maturity
at the following  Redemption  Prices  (expressed as percentages of the principal
amount) plus accrued  interest to the  Redemption  Date (subject to the right of
Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on
an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).

     If  redeemed  during  the  12-month  period  beginning  April 1 in the year
indicated (April 5, in the case of 2001), the redemption price shall be:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          YEAR               REDEMPTION PRICE
               ---------------------------   -----------------
                 <S>                               <C>
                 2001 ....................         101.30%
                 2002 ....................         100.65%

</TABLE>

     No sinking fund is provided for the Debentures.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

     The Indenture  provides that the Company will not consolidate with or merge
into any other  Person or convey,  transfer or lease its  properties  and assets
substantially  as an entity to any Person,  or permit any Person to  consolidate
with or merge  into the  Company  or convey,  transfer  or lease its  properties
substantially  as all entirely to the  Company,  unless (a) if  applicable,  the
Person formed by such  consolidation  or into which the Company is merged or the
Person or  corporation  which  acquires the properties and assets of the Company
substantially  as an entirely is a corporation,  partnership or trust  organized
and validly existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or
the District of Columbia and expressly  assumes  payment of the principal of and
premium,  if any, and interest on the Debentures and  performance and observance
of each  obligation of the Company under the Indenture,  (b) after  consummating
such  consolidation,  merger,  transfer or lease, no Default or Event of Default
will occur and be continuing, (c) such consolidation, merger or acquisition does
not adversely  affect the validity or  enforceability  of the Debentures and (d)
the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion
of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation,  merger, conveyance,  transfer
or lease complies with the provisions of the Indenture.

CERTAIN RIGHTS TO REQUIRE REPURCHASE OF DEBENTURES

     In the event of any Repurchase Event (as defined below) occurring after the
date of issuance of the Debentures  and on or prior to Maturity,  each Holder of
Debentures will have the right, at the Holder's  option,  to require the Company
to  repurchase  all or any part of the  Holder's  Debentures  on the  date  (the
"Repurchase  Date") that is 30 days after the date the Company  gives  notice of
the Repurchase

                                       23

<PAGE>

Event as described  below at a price (the  "Repurchase  Price") equal to 100% of
the principal  amount thereof,  together with accrued and unpaid interest to the
Repurchase  Date. On or prior to the Repurchase  Date, the Company shall deposit
with the  Trustee  or a Paying  Agent an amount of money  sufficient  to pay the
Repurchase  Price  of the  Debentures  which  are to be  repaid  on or  promptly
following the Repurchase Date.

     Failure by the Company to provide timely notice of a Repurchase  Event,  as
provided for below,  or to repurchase  the  Debentures  when required  under the
preceding  paragraph  will  result in an Event of  Default  under the  Indenture
whether or not such repurchase is permitted by the  subordination  provisions of
the Indenture.

     On or before the 15th day after the occurrence of a Repurchase  Event,  the
Company  is  obligated  to mail to all  Holders  of  Debentures  a notice of the
occurrence of such Repurchase  Event and  identifying  the Repurchase  Date, the
date by which the repurchase  right must be exercised,  the Repurchase Price for
Debentures  and the  procedures  which the Holder must  follow to exercise  this
right. To exercise the repurchase right, the Holder of a Debenture must deliver,
on or before the close of business on the Repurchase Date, written notice to the
Company (or an agent  designated  by the Company  for such  purpose)  and to the
Trustee of the Holder's  exercise of such right,  together with the certificates
evidencing  the Debentures  with respect to which the right is being  exercised,
duly endorsed for transfer.

     A "Repurchase Event" shall have occurred upon the occurrence of a Change in
Control or a Termination of Trading (each as defined below).

     A "Change in Control" shall occur when: (i) all or substantially all of the
Company's  assets are sold as an  entirety  to any  person or  related  group of
persons;  (ii) there shall be  consummated  any  consolidation  or merger of the
Company (A) in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving  corporation
(other than a  consolidation  or merger with a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of the
Company in which all shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
effectiveness  thereof are changed into or exchanged for the same consideration)
or (B)  pursuant  to which  the  Common  Stock  would be  converted  into  cash,
securities or other property,  in each case other than a consolidation or merger
of the Company in which the holders of the Common Stock immediately prior to the
consolidation or merger have, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the
total voting power of all classes of capital stock entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors of the continuing or surviving corporation immediately
after such consolidation or merger in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership of Common Stock immediately before such transaction; (iii) any person,
or any persons acting together which would  constitute a "group" for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, together with any affiliates  thereof,  shall
beneficially  own (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) at least 50%
of the  total  voting  power of all  classes  of  capital  stock of the  Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company;  (iv) at
any  time  during  any  consecutive  two-year  period,  individuals  who  at the
beginning  of such  period  constituted  the Board of  Directors  of the Company
(together  with any new directors  whose  election by such Board of Directors or
whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by
a vote of  66-2/3%  of the  directors  then  still in  office  who  were  either
directors at the beginning of such period or whose  election or  nomination  for
election  was  previously  so  approved)  cease for any reason to  constitute  a
majority of the Board of  Directors  of the Company  then in office;  or (v) the
Company  is  liquidated  or  dissolved  or  adopts  a  plan  of  liquidation  or
dissolution.

     A "Termination of Trading" shall occur if the Common Stock (or other common
stock into which the  Debentures  are then  convertible)  is neither  listed for
trading on a U.S.  national  securities  exchange nor approved for trading on an
established automated over-the-counter trading market in the United States.

     The right to require the Company to  repurchase  Debentures  as a result of
the  occurrence  of a Repurchase  Event could  create an event of default  under
Senior  Indebtedness as a result of which any repurchase could, absent a waiver,
be  blocked   by  the   subordination   provisions   of  the   Debentures.   See
"Subordination". Contractual limitations imposed by other indebtedness may also,
absent a waiver, restrict or prohibit repurchases under certain circumstances.

                                       24

<PAGE>

     In the event a  Repurchase  Event  occurs and the  Holders  exercise  their
rights to require the Company to repurchase  Debentures,  the Company intends to
comply with  applicable  tender  offer rules under the Exchange  Act,  including
Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1, as then in effect, with respect to any such purchase.

     The  foregoing  provisions  would not  necessarily  afford  Holders  of the
Debentures  protection  in the event of highly  leveraged or other  transactions
involving  the Company that may  adversely  affect  Holders.  In  addition,  the
foregoing provisions may discourage open market purchases of the Common Stock or
a non-negotiated tender or exchange offer for such stock and,  accordingly,  may
limit a stockholder's  ability to realize a premium over the market price of the
Common Stock in connection with any such transaction.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     The following are Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to the
Debentures:  (a)  default in the payment of  principal  of or any premium on any
Debenture  when due; (b) default in the payment of any interest on any Debenture
when due,  which default  continues for 30 days;  (c) failure to provide  timely
notice of a Repurchase  Event as required by the  Indenture;  (d) default in the
payment of the  Repurchase  Price in respect of any Debenture on the  Repurchase
Date  therefor;  (e)  default in the  performance  of any other  covenant of the
Company in the Indenture  which  continues  for 60 days after written  notice as
provided in the Indenture; (f) default under any bond, debenture,  note or other
evidence of indebtedness  for money borrowed by the Company or any subsidiary of
the Company or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may
be issued or by which there may be secured or  evidenced  any  indebtedness  for
money  borrowed by the Company or any  subsidiary  of the Company,  whether such
indebtedness  now exists or shall  hereafter  be created,  which  default  shall
constitute  a  failure  to pay  the  principal  of  indebtedness  in  excess  of
$25,000,000  when due and payable after the expiration of any  applicable  grace
period with respect  thereto or shall have resulted in indebtedness in excess of
$25,000,000  becoming or being  declared  due and  payable  prior to the date on
which it would otherwise have become due and payable,  without such indebtedness
having been discharged,  or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled,
within a period of 10 days after  there  shall have been given to the Company by
the  Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate  principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debentures  a  written  notice
specifying such default and requiring the Company to cause such  indebtedness to
be discharged or cause such  acceleration  to be rescinded or annulled;  and (g)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or any
Significant  Subsidiary  of the  Company.  The  Events of Default  described  in
clauses (a), (b) and (d) of the preceding sentence are without regard to whether
the respective  payments are prohibited by the  subordination  provisions of the
Indenture.

     If an Event of Default  with respect to the  Debentures  shall occur and be
continuing,  the  Trustee  or the  Holders  of not less  than  25% in  aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding  Debentures may declare the principal of and
premium, if any, on all such Debentures to be due and payable  immediately,  but
if the Company  cures all Events of Default  (except the  nonpayment of interest
on,  premium,  if any,  and  principal  of any  Debentures)  and  certain  other
conditions  are met, such  declaration  may be canceled and past defaults may be
waived  by  the  holders  of a  majority  in  principal  amount  of  Outstanding
Debentures.  If an  Event of  Default  shall  occur  as a result  of an event of
bankruptcy,  insolvency  or  reorganization  of the  Company or any  Significant
Subsidiary of the Company,  the  aggregate  principal  amount of the  Debentures
shall automatically  become due and payable.  The Company is required to furnish
to the Trustee  annually a  statement  as to the  performance  by the Company of
certain of its  obligations  under the  Indenture  and as to any default in such
performance.  The Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to the
Holders of the  Debentures of any continuing  default  (except in the payment of
the  principal  of or premium,  if any, or  interest on any  Debentures)  if the
Trustee considers it in the interest of Holders of the Debentures to do so.

MODIFICATION, AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

     The Indenture contains  provisions  permitting the Company and the Trustee,
with the  consent of the  holders of not less than a majority  of the  aggregate
principal  amount of the  Outstanding  Debentures,  to  execute  a  supplemental
indenture to add provisions to, or change in any manner or eliminate any

                                       25

<PAGE>

provisions  of, the  Indenture  or modify in any manner the rights of Holders of
the Debentures,  provided that without the consent of each holder of Outstanding
Debentures,  no supplemental indenture may (i) change the stated maturity of the
principal of, or any  installment of interest on, any  Debenture,  or reduce the
principal  amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable
upon the redemption  thereof,  or change the place of payment where, or the coin
or  currency in which,  any  Debenture  or any  premium or  interest  thereon is
payable,  or impair  the right to  institute  suit for  enforcement  of any such
payment on or after the stated maturity  thereof (or, in the case of redemption,
on or after the redemption  date) or modify the provisions of the Indenture with
respect  to the  subordination  of the  Debentures  in a manner  adverse  to the
Holders,  (ii) adversely  affect the right to convert the Debentures as provided
in the Indenture, (iii) impair the right of Holders of Debentures to require the
Company to repurchase  Debentures  upon the occurrence of a Repurchase  Event or
(iv) reduce the percentage in principal  amount of Outstanding  Debentures,  the
consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of  compliance  with certain
provisions of the Indenture or certain defaults thereunder.

     Modifications  and  amendments  of the Indenture may be made by the Company
and the Trustee  without the consent of the Holders to: (a) cause the  Indenture
to be qualified  under the Trust  Indenture  Act; (b) evidence the succession of
another  Person to the Company and the  assumption by any such  successor of the
covenants of the Company herein and in the Debentures;  (c) add to the covenants
of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or an additional Event of Default,
or  surrender  any right or power  conferred  upon the  Company;  (d) secure the
Debentures;  (e) make provision with respect to the conversion rights of Holders
in the event of a consolidation, merger or sale of assets involving the Company,
as required by the  Indenture;  (f) evidence and provide for the  acceptance  of
appointment by a successor  Trustee with respect to the Debentures;  or (g) cure
any  ambiguity,  correct or supplement  any provision  which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provision, or make any other provisions with respect
to  matters  or  questions  arising  under  the  Indenture  which  shall  not be
inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture;  provided,  however,  that no
such  modifications or amendment may adversely affect the interest of Holders in
any material respect.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     The  Company  may  discharge  its  obligations  under the  Indenture  while
Debentures remain Outstanding if (a) all Outstanding  Debentures will become due
and payable at their  scheduled  maturity within one year or (b) all Outstanding
Debentures are scheduled for redemption  within one year, and in either case the
Company has deposited with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay and discharge
all  Outstanding  Debentures  on the date of  their  scheduled  maturity  or the
scheduled date of redemption.

FORM, DENOMINATION AND REGISTRATION

     The Debentures are issued in fully  registered form,  without  coupons,  in
denominations of $1,000 in principal amount and integral multiples thereof.

     Global Debentures;  Book-Entry Form. Debentures offered in reliance on Rule
144A are evidenced by a global debenture  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Rule
144A Global  Debenture") and Debentures  offered in reliance on Regulation S are
evidenced by a global  debenture  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Regulation S
Global Debenture", and together with the Rule 144A Global Debenture, the "Global
Debentures"). The Global Debentures are deposited with, or on behalf of, the DTC
and registered in the name of Cede & Co.  ("Cede") as DTC's nominee.  Beneficial
interests  in the  Regulation  S Global  Debenture  may only be held through the
Euroclear System or Cede.  Except as set forth below, the Global  Debentures may
be  transferred,  in whole or in part,  only to  another  nominee of DTC or to a
successor  of DTC or its  nominee.  The Rule 144A Global  Debenture  will be (i)
reduced in  principal  amount to reflect  the  subsequent  transfer by owners of
beneficial  interests in the Rule 144A Global  Debenture  to persons  other than
Qualified  Institutional  Buyers  pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act
and (ii)  increased in principal  amount to reflect the  subsequent  transfer of
Debentures  to  Qualified  Institutional  Buyers  pursuant  to  Rule  144A.  The
Regulation S Global Debenture will be (i) reduced in principal amount to reflect
the subsequent transfer by owners of beneficial interests in the

                                       26

<PAGE>

Regulation S Global  Debenture  to persons  other than  persons  acquiring  such
Debentures in compliance  with  Regulation S under the  Securities  Act and (ii)
increased in principal  amount to reflect the subsequent  transfer of Debentures
to persons  acquiring such  Debentures in compliance with Regulation S under the
Securities Act.

     The Holders of Debentures may hold their interests in the Global Debentures
directly  through DTC if such  Holder is a  participant  in DTC,  or  indirectly
through  organizations  which  are  participants  in DTC  (the  "Participants").
Transfers  between  Participants  will  be  effected  in  the  ordinary  way  in
accordance  with DTC rules and will be settled  in same day  funds.  The laws of
some states require that certain persons take physical delivery of securities in
definitive form.  Consequently,  the ability to transfer beneficial interests in
the Global Debentures to such persons may be limited.

     The Holders of Debentures who are not  Participants  may  beneficially  own
interests  in the Global  Debentures  held by DTC only through  Participants  or
certain banks,  brokers,  dealers,  trust companies and other parties that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly
or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). So long as Cede, as the nominee of DTC,
is the registered owner of the Global Debentures,  Cede for all purposes will be
considered the sole holder of the Global Debentures.

     Payment of interest on and the  redemption  price (upon  redemption  at the
option of the Company or at the option of the Holder upon a Repurchase Event) of
the  Global  Debentures  will be made to  Cede,  the  nominee  for  DTC,  as the
registered  owner of the Global  Debentures,  by wire  transfer  of  immediately
available funds. Neither the Company, the Trustee nor any paying agent will have
any  responsibility  or liability  for any aspect of the records  relating to or
payments  made on  account  of  beneficial  ownership  interests  in the  Global
Debentures or for maintaining,  supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.

     With respect to any payment of interest on and the  redemption  price (upon
redemption  at the option of the  Company or at the option of the Holder  upon a
Repurchase  Event)  of  the  Global  Debentures,  DTC's  practice  is to  credit
Participants'  accounts on the payment date  therefor  with  payments in amounts
proportionate  to  their  respective  beneficial  interests  in  the  Debentures
represented by the Global  Debentures as shown on the records of DTC, unless DTC
has reason to believe  that it will not receive  payment on such  payment  date.
Payments  by  Participants  to  owners of  beneficial  interests  in  Debentures
represented by the Global  Debentures held through such Participants will be the
responsibility of such Participants, as is now the case with securities held for
the accounts of customers registered in "street name".

     Because  DTC can only act on  behalf  of  Participants,  who in turn act on
behalf of  Indirect  Participants  and  certain  banks,  the ability of a person
having a beneficial interest in Debentures  represented by the Global Debentures
to pledge such  interest to persons or entities that do not  participate  in the
DTC  system,  or  otherwise  take  actions in respect of such  interest,  may be
affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interest.

     Neither the Company nor the  Trustee  (or any  registrar,  paying  agent or
conversion agent under the Indenture) has any responsibility for the performance
by DTC  or  its  Participants  or  Indirect  Participants  of  their  respective
obligations under the rules and procedures  governing their operations.  DTC has
advised  the  Company  that it will take any action  permitted  to be taken by a
holder of  Debentures  only at the direction of one or more  Participants  whose
accounts are credited with DTC interests in a Global Debenture.

     DTC has  advised the Company as  follows:  DTC is a limited  purpose  trust
company  organized  under  the  laws  of the  State  of  New  York,  a  "banking
organization"  within the meaning of the New York  Banking  Law, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a "clearing  corporation"  within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered  pursuant to the
provisions  of  Section  17A of the  Exchange  Act.  DTC  was  created  to  hold
securities for its  Participants  and to facilitate the clearance and settlement
of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, among Participants in
deposited  securities through  electronic  book-entry changes to accounts of its
Participants,

                                       27

<PAGE>

thereby  eliminating the need for physical movement of securities  certificates.
Participants  include  securities  brokers and dealers,  banks, trust companies,
clearing   corporations  and  certain  other  organizations.   Certain  of  such
Participants (or their representatives),  together with other entities, own DTC.
The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the SEC.

     Purchases  of  Debentures  under the DTC system  must be made by or through
Participants  which will receive a credit for the  Debentures on DTC's  records.
The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Debenture (a "Beneficial
Owner")  is  in  turn  to  be  recorded  on  the   Participants'   and  Indirect
Participants'  records.  Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation
from DTC of their  purchase,  but  Beneficial  Owners  are  expected  to receive
written confirmations providing details of the transaction,  as well as periodic
statements  of their  holdings,  from the  Participant  or Indirect  Participant
through which the Beneficial  Owner entered into the  transaction.  Transfers of
ownership  interests in the Debentures are to be accomplished by entries made on
the books of  Participants  acting on behalf of  Beneficial  Owners.  Beneficial
Owners will not receive  certificates  representing their ownership interests in
Debentures,  except  in the  event  that use of the  book-entry  system  for the
Debentures is discontinued.

     The deposit of Debentures  with DTC and their  registration  in the name of
Cede  effect no change in  beneficial  ownership.  DTC has no  knowledge  of the
actual  Beneficial  Owners of the  Debentures;  DTC's  records  reflect only the
identity of the  Participants  to whose  accounts such  Debentures are credited,
which may or may not be the  Beneficial  Owners.  The  Participants  will remain
responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

     Conveyance of notices and other  communications by DTC to Participants,  by
Participants  to  Indirect   Participants   and  by  Participants  and  Indirect
Participants to Beneficial  Owners will be governed by arrangements  among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory  requirements  that may be in effect from
time to time.  Redemption notices shall be sent to Cede. If less than all of the
Debentures  due are being  redeemed,  DTC's  practice is to determine by lot the
interest of each Participant in such Debentures due to be redeemed.

     DTC may  discontinue  providing its services as securities  depositary with
respect  to the  Debentures  at any  time by  giving  reasonable  notice  to the
Company.  In the event that DTC  notifies  the Company  that it is  unwilling or
unable to continue as depositary for any Global  Debenture or if at any time DTC
ceases to be a clearing  agency  registered  as such under the Exchange Act when
DTC is required to be so registered to act as such  depositary  and no successor
depositary shall have been appointed  within 90 days of such  notification or of
the Company becoming aware of DTC's ceasing to be so registered, as the case may
be,  certificates  for the Debentures  will be printed and delivered in exchange
for  interests  in  such  Global   Debenture.   Any  Global  Debenture  that  is
exchangeable  pursuant  to the  preceding  sentence  shall be  exchangeable  for
Debentures  registered  in such names as DTC shall  direct.  It is expected that
such  instructions  will be  based  upon  directions  received  by DTC  from its
Participants  with respect to ownership of  beneficial  interests in such Global
Debenture.

     The  Company  may decide to  discontinue  use of the  system of  book-entry
transfers thorough DTC (or a successor  securities  depository).  In that event,
certificates representing the Debentures will be printed and delivered.

     The information in this section  concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Company believes to be reliable, but the
Company does not take responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

     Certificated  Debentures.  Debentures  sold to  investors  that are neither
Qualified   Institutional  Buyers  nor  persons  acquiring  such  Debentures  in
compliance  with  Regulation  S under  the  Securities  Act  will be  issued  in
definitive  registered  form and may not be  evidenced  by a  Global  Debenture.
Qualified  Institutional  Buyers may request that their  Debentures be issued in
definitive registered form. In addition,  certificated  Debentures may be issued
in exchange for Debentures  represented by the Global Debentures if no successor
depositary  is appointed  by the Company as set forth above under the  paragraph
entitled "Global Debentures; Book-Entry Form".

     Restrictions on Transfer;  Legends.  The  Debentures,  and the Common Stock
into  which  they  may  be  converted,  will  be  subject  to  certain  transfer
restrictions  as described  below under the caption  "Notice to Investors",  and
certificates evidencing the Debentures will bear a legend to such effect.

                                       28

<PAGE>

PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST; TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR CONVERSION

     The  Indenture  will  require  that  payments in respect of the  Debentures
(including  principal,  premium,  if any,  and  interest)  held of record by DTC
(including  Debentures  evidenced by the Rule 144A Global  Debenture) be made in
same day funds.  Payments in respect of the Debentures held of record by holders
other than DTC may, at the option of the Company, be made by check and mailed to
such  holders  of  record  as  shown on the  register  for the  Debentures.  The
Debentures may be surrendered for transfer, exchange or conversion at the office
of the Trustee in New York, New York.

GOVERNING LAW

     The  Indenture  and  Debentures  will  be  governed  by  and  construed  in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to such
State's conflicts of laws principles.

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

     The Company and its  subsidiaries may maintain deposit accounts and conduct
other banking transactions with the Trustee in the ordinary course of business.

                                    EXPERTS

     The  consolidated  financial  statements  and schedules of  HEALTHSOUTH  at
December 31, 1997 and 1996,  and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1997,  appearing in HEALTHSOUTH's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the
year  ended  December  31,  1997,  have  been  audited  by  Ernst &  Young  LLP,
independent  auditors,  as set forth in their report thereon incorporated herein
by  reference.   Such  consolidated   financial   statements  and  schedule  are
incorporated  herein by  reference  in reliance  upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

   

     Certain  legal matters with respect to the validity of the  Debentures  and
the Conversion  shares offered hereby have been passed upon by Haskell Slaughter
& Young, L.L.C.

                                       29

    
<PAGE>

================================================================================
       No dealer,  salesperson  or other person has been  authorized to give any
information or to make any  representations  other than as contained herein, and
if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as
having been  authorized by the Company.  This  Prospectus does not constitute an
offer to sell or a  solicitation  of an offer to purchase any  securities  other
than those to which it relates or an offer to, or solicitation of, any person in
any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful.  Neither
the  delivery  of this  Prospectus  nor  any  sale  hereunder  shall  under  any
circumstances  create  any  implication  that  there  has been no  change in the
affairs of the  Company or that  information  provided  herein is correct at any
time subsequent to its date.

                      -----------------------------------
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         PAGE
                                        -----
<S>                                     <C>
Available Information ...............    2
Forward-Looking Statements ..........    2
Incorporation of Certain Informa-
   tion by Reference ................    2
The Company .........................    4
Recent Developments .................    4
Risk Factors ........................    5
Use of Proceeds .....................   13
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges      13
Selling Securityholders .............   14
Plan of Distribution ................   19
Description of Debentures ...........   20
Experts .............................   29
Legal Matters .......................   29
</TABLE>

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





================================================================================
                                  $567,750,000

                         3.25% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED
                              DEBENTURES DUE 2003

   

                               15,501,707 SHARES

    

                                  COMMON STOCK

                            HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                      -----------------------------------
                              P R O S P E C T U S

   

                                  JUNE 3, 1998

    

================================================================================
<PAGE>

                                    PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

     The  following  table sets forth the  estimated  expenses to be incurred in
connection with the distribution of the securities  registered  hereby. All such
expenses shall be borne by the Company.

   
<TABLE>

<S>                                                           <C>
         Registration fee under the Securities Act of 1933.    $  167,486.25
         Printing expenses ................................        95,000.00
         Legal fees and expenses ..........................       100,000.00
         Accounting services ..............................        80,000.00
         Miscellaneous ....................................         7,513.75
                                                               -------------
         Total ............................................    $  450,000.00
                                                               =============

</TABLE>
    

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section  102(b)(7) of the Delaware General  Corporation Law ("DGCL") grants
corporations  the right to limit or eliminate  the  personal  liability of their
directors in certain  circumstances  in accordance with  provisions  therein set
forth.  Article Nine of the HEALTHSOUTH  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation
filed in the Office of the  Secretary of the State of Delaware on March 13, 1997
(the "HEALTHSOUTH  Certificate"),  contains a provision  eliminating or limiting
director  liability to HEALTHSOUTH  and its  stockholders  for monetary  damages
arising  from acts or omissions in the  director's  capacity as a director.  The
provision  does not,  however,  eliminate or limit the  personal  liability of a
director (i) for any breach of such director's duty of loyalty to HEALTHSOUTH or
its stockholders,  (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional  misconduct or a knowing  violation of law, (iii) under the Delaware
statutory  provision  making  directors  personally  liable,  under a negligence
standard, for unlawful dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions,  or
(iv) for any transaction  from which the director  derived an improper  personal
benefit.  This  provision  offers persons who serve on the Board of Directors of
HEALTHSOUTH  protection  against  awards  of  monetary  damages  resulting  from
breaches of their duty of care (except as indicated  above). As a result of this
provision,  the ability of HEALTHSOUTH or a stockholder  thereof to successfully
prosecute  an  action  against  a  director  for a breach of his duty of care is
limited.  However,  the provision does not affect the  availability of equitable
remedies such as an injunction or rescission  based upon a director's  breach of
his duty of care. The SEC has taken the position that the provision will have no
effect on claims arising under the Federal securities laws.

     Section 145 of the DGCL grants  corporations  the right to indemnify  their
directors,  officers,  employees  and agents in accordance  with the  provisions
therein set forth. Article Nine of the HEALTHSOUTH Certificate and Article IX of
the HEALTHSOUTH Bylaws provide for mandatory  indemnification rights, subject to
limited exceptions, to any director,  officer, employee, or agent of HEALTHSOUTH
who, by reason of the fact that he or she is a director,  officer,  employee, or
agent of  HEALTHSOUTH,  is involved in a legal  proceeding  of any nature.  Such
indemnification  rights  include  reimbursement  for  expenses  incurred by such
director,  officer,  employee,  or agent in advance of the final  disposition of
such proceeding in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

     HEALTHSOUTH  has entered into  agreements with all of its Directors and its
executive  officers  pursuant to which  HEALTHSOUTH has agreed to indemnify such
Directors and executive officers against liability incurred by them by reason of
their services of a Director to the fullest extent  allowable  under  applicable
law.

                                      II-1

<PAGE>

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.

     Exhibits:
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   EXHIBIT
     NO.                       DESCRIPTION
- -------------   ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>             <C>

       (1)      Purchase  Agreement,  dated March 17,  1998,  among  HEALTHSOUTH
                Corporation  and Smith  Barney Inc.,  Bear,  Stearns & Co. Inc.,
                Cowen & Company,  Credit Suisse First Boston  Corporation,  J.P.
                Morgan  Securities  Inc.,  Morgan  Stanley  & Co.  Incorporated,
                NationsBanc    Montgomery   Securities   LLC   and   PaineWebber
                Incorporated   relating  to  the  Company's  3.25%   Convertible
                Subordinated Debentures due 2003.

       (3)-1    Restated    Certificate   of    Incorporation   of   HEALTHSOUTH
                Corporation,  filed as Exhibit  (3)-1 to the  Company's  Current
                Report on Form 8-K,  dated May 28, 1998, is hereby  incorporated
                by reference.

       (4)-2    Subordinated   Indenture,   dated   March  20,   1998,   between
                HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  and  The  Bank of  Nova  Scotia  Trust
                Company of New York,  as Trustee,  filed as Exhibit (4)-2 to the
                Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended
                December 31, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference.

       (4)-3    Officer's  Certificate  pursuant to Sections 2.3 and 11.5 of the
                Subordinated   Indenture,   dated   March  20,   1998,   between
                HEALTHSOUTH  and The Bank of Nova  Scotia  Trust  Company of New
                York, as Trustee,  relating to the Company's  3.25%  Convertible
                Subordinated  Debentures due 2003, filed as Exhibit (4)-3 to the
                Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended
                December 31, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference.

       (4)-4    Registration  Rights  Agreement,  dated  March 17,  1998,  among
                HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  and Smith Barney Inc.,  Bear Stearns &
                Co.  Inc.,   Cowen  &  Company,   Credit   Suisse  First  Boston
                Corporation,  J.P. Morgan  Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co.
                Incorporated,   relating  to  the  Company's  3.25%  Convertible
                Subordinated  Debentures due 2003, filed as Exhibit (4)-4 to the
                Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended
                Decem- ber 31, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference.

       (5)      Opinion of Haskell Slaughter & Young, L.L.C., as to the legality
                of the shares of  HEALTHSOUTH  Common Stock issued in connection
                herewith.

    (12)        Statements re Computation of Ratios.
    (23)-1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

    (23)-2      Consent of  Haskell  Slaughter  & Young, L.L.C. (included in the
                opinion filed as Exhibit (5)).

    (24)        Powers  of  Attorney  (included  on  the  Signature  Page of the
                Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on May 8, 1998.)

    (25)-1      Statement  of  Eligibility  and  Qualification  under  the Trust
                Indenture  Act of 1939  of a  Corporation  Designated  to Act as
                Trustee on Form T-1.

</TABLE>
    

                                      II-2

<PAGE>
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

       (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
    post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

          (a) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of this
       Act;

          (b) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
       effective  date of  this  Registration  Statement  (or  the  most  recent
       post-effective  amendment  thereof) which,  individually or in aggregate,
       represent  a  fundamental  change  in the  information  set forth in this
       Registration Statement; and

          (c) To include any  material  information  with respect to the plan of
       distribution not previously  disclosed in this Registration  Statement or
       any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.

       (2)  That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
    Securities Act of 1933, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed
    to be a new  registration  statement  relating  to  the  securities  offered
    therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to
    be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

       (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective  amendment
    any  of  the  securities   being  registered  which  remain  unsold  at  the
    termination of the offering.

   

       (4)  That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
    Securities  Act of 1933,  each  filing  of the  registrant's  annual  report
    pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
    1934 that is incorporated by reference in the  registration  statement shall
    be deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating  to the  securities
    offered  therein,  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
    deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

       (5) The undersigned  registrant  hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to
   be delivered  with the  prospectus,  to each person to whom the prospectus is
   sent or  given,  the  latest  annual  report,  to  security  holders  that is
   incorporated  by reference in the  prospectus  and furnished  pursuant to and
   meeting the  requirements  of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3  under the  Securities
   Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information required to be
   presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the  prospectus,
   to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is
   sent or given, the latest quarterly report that is specifically  incorporated
   by reference in the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.

       (6)  Insofar  as  indemnification   for  liabilities  arising  under  the
   Securities  Act  of  1933  may  be  permitted  to  directors,   officers  and
   controlling persons of the registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,
   or  otherwise,  the  registrant  has been  advised that in the opinion of the
   Securities and Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is against public
   policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
   that a claim for  indemnification  against such  liabilities  (other than the
   payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
   or  controlling  person of the  registrant in the  successful  defense of any
   action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by  such  director,  officer  or
   controlling  person in connection with the securities being  registered,  the
   registrant  will,  unless in the  opinion of its  counsel the matter has been
   settled  by  controlling   precedent,   submit  to  a  court  of  appropriate
   jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such  indemnification  by it is against
   public  policy  as  expressed  in the Act and will be  governed  by the final
   adjudication of such issue.

    

                                      II-3

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

   

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds  to  believe  that it meets  all the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Birmingham, State of Alabama, on June 3, 1998.

    

                                        HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                                        By /s/ Richard M. Scrushy
                                           -----------------------------------
                                                 Richard M. Scrushy,
                                                Chairman of the Board
                                             and Chief Executive Officer

   
     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

          SIGNATURE                          TITLE                      DATE
- ----------------------------   ---------------------------------   -------------
<S>                            <C>                                 <C>
 /s/ Richard M. Scrushy        Chairman of the Board and Chief     June 3, 1998
- -------------------------        Executive Officer and Director
   Richard M. Scrushy


         *                     Executive Vice President, Chief     June 3, 1998
- -------------------------       Financial Officer and Treasurer
 Michael D. Martin              and Director


         *                     Group Senior Vice President and     June 3, 1998
- -------------------------        Controller (Principal Accounting
  William T. Owens               Officer)


         *                     Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
 C. Sage Givens


         *                     Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
 Charles W. Newhall III

 
         *                     Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
 George H. Strong


         *                     Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
Phillip C. Watkins, M.D.


         *                     Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
  John S. Chamberlin


         *                     Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
Anthony J. Tanner

</TABLE>
    

                                      II-4

<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

          SIGNATURE                          TITLE                      DATE
- ----------------------------   ---------------------------------   -------------
<S>                            <C>                                 <C>
         *                     Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
  James P. Bennett


         *                     Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
   P. Daryl Brown




 /s/ Joel C. Gordon            Director                            June 3, 1998
- -------------------------
   Joel C. Gordon



* /s/ Richard M. Scrushy
- -------------------------
   Richard M. Scrushy
   Attorney-in-fact

</TABLE>
    

                                      II-5

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBITS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   EXHIBIT
     NO.                       DESCRIPTION
- -------------   ----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>             <C>

       (1)      Purchase  Agreement,  dated March 17,  1998,  among  HEALTHSOUTH
                Corporation  and Smith  Barney Inc.,  Bear,  Stearns & Co. Inc.,
                Cowen & Company,  Credit Suisse First Boston  Corporation,  J.P.
                Morgan  Securities  Inc.,  Morgan  Stanley  & Co.  Incorporated,
                NationsBanc    Montgomery   Securities   LLC   and   PaineWebber
                Incorporated   relating  to  the  Company's  3.25%   Convertible
                Subordinated Debentures due 2003.

       (3)-1    Restated    Certificate   of    Incorporation   of   HEALTHSOUTH
                Corporation,  filed as Exhibit  (3)-1 to the  Company's  Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed May 28, 1998, is hereby incorporated by
                reference.

       (4)-2    Subordinated   Indenture,   dated   March  20,   1998,   between
                HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  and  The  Bank of  Nova  Scotia  Trust
                Company of New York,  as Trustee,  filed as Exhibit (4)-2 to the
                Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended
                December 31, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference.

       (4)-3    Officer's  Certificate  pursuant to Sections 2.3 and 11.5 of the
                Subordinated   Indenture,   dated   March  20,   1998,   between
                HEALTHSOUTH  and The Bank of Nova  Scotia  Trust  Company of New
                York, as Trustee,  relating to the Company's  3.25%  Convertible
                Subordinated  Debentures due 2003, filed as Exhibit (4)-3 to the
                Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended
                December 31, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference.

       (4)-4    Registration  Rights  Agreement,  dated  March 17,  1998,  among
                HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  and Smith Barney Inc.,  Bear Stearns &
                Co.  Inc.,   Cowen  &  Company,   Credit   Suisse  First  Boston
                Corporation,  J.P. Morgan  Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co.
                Incorporated,   relating  to  the  Company's  3.25%  Convertible
                Subordinated  Debentures due 2003, filed as Exhibit (4)-4 to the
                Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended
                Decem- ber 31, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference.

       (5)      Opinion of Haskell Slaughter & Young, L.L.C., as to the legality
                of the shares of  HEALTHSOUTH  Common Stock issued in connection
                herewith.

    (12)        Statements re Computation of Ratios.

    (23)-1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

    (23)-2      Consent  of  Haskell  Slaughter & Young, L.L.C. (included in the
                opinion filed as Exhibit (5)).

    (24)        Powers of  Attorney (included  on  the  Signature  Page  of  the
                Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on May 8, 1998.)

    (25)-1      Statement  of  Eligibility  and  Qualification  under  the Trust
                Indenture  Act of 1939  of a  Corporation  Designated  to Act as
                Trustee on Form T-1.

</TABLE>
    



                                                                       EXHIBIT 1

                                  $500,000,000

                             HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

               3.25% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2003

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                               ------------------

                                                                  March 17, 1998

SMITH BARNEY INC.
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
COWEN & COMPANY
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED

c/o      SMITH BARNEY INC.
         388 Greenwich Street
         New York, New York 10013

Dear Sirs:

         HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation,   a  Delaware  corporation  (the  "Company"),
proposes,  upon the terms and conditions set forth herein,  to issue and sell to
you,  as  the  initial  purchasers  (the  "Initial  Purchasers"),   $500,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its 3.25% Convertible  Subordinated Debentures due
2003 (the "Firm  Debentures").  The Company  also  proposes,  upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein,  to issue and sell to the Initial  Purchasers up to
an additional  $75,000,000  aggregate  principal amount of its 3.25% Convertible
Subordinated  Debentures  due  2003  (the  "Additional  Debentures").  The  Firm
Debentures and the Additional  Debentures are hereinafter  collectively referred
to as the "Debentures". The Debentures will be issued pursuant to the provisions
of an Indenture, to be dated as of March 20, 1998 (the "Indenture"), between the
Company and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust  Company of New York,  as Trustee (the
"Trustee").   The  Company's  common  stock,  par  value  $0.01  per  share,  is
hereinafter referred to as the "Common Stock."

         The Company wishes to confirm as follows its agreement with the Initial
Purchasers in connection with the purchase and resale of the Debentures.

                                       -1-

<PAGE>



         1. Offering Memorandum.  The Debentures will be offered and sold to the
Initial  Purchasers  without  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), in reliance on an exemption  pursuant to Section 4(2) under
the Act. The Company has prepared an offering  memorandum,  dated March 17, 1998
(the "Offering Memorandum"), setting forth information regarding the Company and
the Debentures. Any references herein to the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed
to include all amendments and supplements  thereto and any documents filed under
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and the rules and regulations
of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission")   thereunder
(collectively,  the "Exchange Act") which are incorporated by reference therein.
As used herein, the term  "Incorporated  Documents" means the documents which at
the time  are  incorporated  by  reference  in the  Offering  Memorandum  or any
amendment  or  supplement  thereto.  The  Company  hereby  confirms  that it has
authorized  the use of the Offering  Memorandum in connection  with the offering
and resale of the Debentures by the Initial Purchasers.

         The Company  understands  that the Initial  Purchasers  propose to make
offers and sales (the  "Exempt  Resales")  of the  Debentures  purchased  by the
Initial  Purchasers  hereunder  only on the terms and in the manner set forth in
the Offering  Memorandum and Section 2 hereof, as soon as the Initial Purchasers
deem  advisable  after this  Agreement has been executed and  delivered,  (i) to
persons in the United States whom the Initial  Purchasers  reasonably believe to
be qualified institutional buyers ("Qualified  Institutional Buyers") as defined
in Rule 144A under the Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time ("Rule
144A"),  in  transactions  under  Rule 144A,  (ii) to a limited  number of other
institutional "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) and
(7) under  Regulation D of the Act)  ("Accredited  Investors")  in private sales
exempt from  registration  under the Act and (iii)  outside the United States to
persons other than U.S.  persons in reliance upon Regulation S ("Regulation  S")
under the Act (such  persons  specified  in clauses  (i),  (ii) and (iii)  being
referred  to herein as the  "Eligible  Purchasers").  As used  herein  the terms
"United States" and "U.S. persons" have the meaning given them in Regulation S.

         It is understood and acknowledged  that upon original issuance thereof,
and  until  such  time as the same is no longer  required  under the  applicable
requirements of the Act, the Debentures  (and all securities  issued in exchange
therefor,  in  substitution  thereof or upon conversion  thereof  (including the
Common Stock)) shall bear the following legend:

         THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
         AS  AMENDED  (THE  "SECURITIES  ACT"),  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS.
         NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR  PARTICIPATION  HEREIN MAY BE
         REOFFERED,  SOLD,  ASSIGNED,   TRANSFERRED,   PLEDGED,   ENCUMBERED  OR
         OTHERWISE  DISPOSED  OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH  REGISTRATION  OR UNLESS
         SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

                                       -2-


<PAGE>



         THE HOLDER OF THIS  SECURITY  BY ITS  ACCEPTANCE  HEREOF  AGREES NOT TO
         OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE
         "RESALE  RESTRICTION  TERMINATION  DATE")  WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE
         LATER OF THE ORIGINAL  ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE
         COMPANY OR ANY  AFFILIATED  PERSON OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS
         SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) UNLESS SUCH OFFER,  SALE
         OR OTHER TRANSFER IS (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B)
         PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION  STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE
         UNDER  THE  SECURITIES  ACT,  (C)  FOR SO LONG  AS THE  SECURITIES  ARE
         ELIGIBLE  FOR  RESALE  PURSUANT  TO RULE  144A,  TO A PERSON THE HOLDER
         REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED  INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN
         RULE 144A UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT
         OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS
         GIVEN THAT THE  TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN  RELIANCE  ON RULE 144A,  (D)
         PURSUANT  TO OFFERS  AND SALES  THAT OCCUR  OUTSIDE  THE UNITED  STATES
         WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES  ACT, (E) TO AN
         INSTITUTIONAL  "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH
         (A)(1),  (A)(2),  (A)(3) OR (A)(7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
         THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT,  OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
         OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR", FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
         AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN  CONNECTION  WITH,  ANY
         DISTRIBUTION  IN  VIOLATION OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO
         ANOTHER AVAILABLE  EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION  REQUIREMENTS OF THE
         SECURITIES  ACT,  SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S AND THE TRUSTEE'S  [TRANSFER
         AGENT'S]  RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER,  SALE OR TRANSFER  PURSUANT TO
         CLAUSES  (D),  (E) OR (F) TO  REQUIRE  THE  DELIVERY  OF AN  OPINION OF
         COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF
         THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING  CASES, A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN
         THE FORM  APPEARING ON THIS  SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE
         TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE [TRANSFER AGENT]. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED
         UPON THE REQUEST OF THE THEN HOLDER OF THIS  SECURITY  AFTER THE RESALE
         RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

         It  is  also  understood  and  acknowledged  that  holders   (including
subsequent   transferees)   of  the  Debentures  and,  if  such  Debentures  are
subsequently  converted  into  Common  Stock,  the Common  Stock,  will have the
registration rights set forth in the registration rights

                                       -3-



<PAGE>



agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), to be dated the date hereof, in
substantially  the form of Exhibit A hereto,  for so long as such Debentures and
Common Stock  constitute  "Transfer  Restricted  Securities"  (as defined in the
Registration  Rights Agreement).  Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement,
the Company will agree (i) to file with the Commission  under the  circumstances
set forth therein,  a registration  statement on the appropriate  form under the
Act  relating to the resale of the  Debentures  and the Common  Stock by certain
holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution
set forth in such registration  statement and Rule 415 under the Act (the "Shelf
Registration  Statement")  and (ii) to use its reasonable  best efforts to cause
such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective.  This Agreement, the
Indenture and the  Registration  Rights  Agreement are  hereinafter  referred to
collectively as the "Operative Documents".

         Capitalized  terms used herein without  definition  have the respective
meanings specified therefor in the Indenture or the Offering Memorandum.

         2. Agreements to Sell, Purchase and Resell.

         (a) The Company hereby agrees,  subject to all the terms and conditions
set forth  herein,  to issue and sell to the Initial  Purchasers  and,  upon the
basis of the  representations,  warranties  and agreements of the Company herein
contained  and subject to all the terms and  conditions  set forth  herein,  the
Initial  Purchasers  agree to purchase from the Company,  at a purchase price of
98.25% of the principal amount thereof,  the principal amount of Firm Debentures
set forth opposite the name of the Initial Purchasers in Schedule I hereto.

         (b) The Company  also agrees,  subject to all the terms and  conditions
set forth herein, to sell to the Initial Purchasers,  and, upon the basis of the
representations,  warranties and agreements of the Company herein  contained and
subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Initial Purchasers
shall have the right to  purchase  from the  Company  pursuant to an option (the
"over-allotment  option")  which may be  exercised  at any time and from time to
time prior to 9:00 P.M.,  New York City time,  on the 30th day after the date of
the Offering Memorandum (or, if such 30th day shall be a Saturday or Sunday or a
holiday, on the next business day thereafter when the New York Stock Exchange is
open for trading),  up to $75,000,000  principal amount of Additional Debentures
at the same purchase price as the Firm  Debentures,  plus accrued  interest,  if
any,  from the date of issuance of the Firm  Debentures  to the date of delivery
and payment.

         (c) The Initial  Purchasers  have advised the Company that they propose
to offer the Debentures for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement  and  in  the  Offering  Memorandum.  The  Initial  Purchasers  hereby
represent  and  warrant  to,  and  agree  with,  the  Company  that the  Initial
Purchasers (i) are  purchasing the Debentures  pursuant to a private sale exempt
from  registration  under the Act, (ii) will not solicit offers for, or offer or
sell,  the  Debentures by means of any form of general  solicitation  or general
advertising or in any manner  involving a public  offering within the meaning of
Section 4(2) of the Act, and (iii) will solicit offers for the  Debentures  only
from,  and will  offer,  sell or deliver the  Debentures  as part of its initial
offering, only to (A) persons in the United States whom the

                                       -4-

<PAGE>



Initial Purchasers  reasonably believe to be Qualified  Institutional Buyers, or
if any such person is buying for one or more  institutional  accounts  for which
such  person is acting  as  fiduciary  or  agent,  only  when  such  person  has
represented  to the  Initial  Purchasers  that each such  account is a Qualified
Institutional Buyer, to whom notice has been given that such sale or delivery is
being made in reliance on Rule 144A,  in each case, in  transactions  under Rule
144A,  (B)  to  a  limited   number  of  Accredited   Investors  that  make  the
representations  to and agreements with the Company  specified in Annex A to the
Offering  Memorandum in private sales exempt from registration under the Act and
(C) outside the United States to persons other than U.S.  persons in reliance on
Regulation  S. The Initial  Purchasers  have  advised the Company that they will
offer the Debentures to Eligible  Purchasers at a price  initially equal to 100%
of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of
issuance  of the Firm  Debentures.  Such  price may be  changed  by the  Initial
Purchasers at any time thereafter without notice.

         (d) The Initial Purchasers represent and warrant that (i) they have not
offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, directly or indirectly,  any of the
Debentures in the United Kingdom by means of any document, other than to persons
whose  ordinary  business it is to buy or sell shares or  debentures  whether as
principal or agent (except in circumstances  which do not constitute an offer to
the  public  within  the  meaning of the  Companies  Act  1985),  (ii) they have
complied  with and will comply with all  applicable  provisions of the Financial
Services Act 1986 with respect to anything  done by such Initial  Purchasers  in
relation to the  Debentures  in, from or otherwise  involving the United Kingdom
and (iii)  they have only  issued or passed on and will only issue or pass on in
or from the United  Kingdom to any person any document  received by such Initial
Purchasers in connection with the issue of the Debentures if the recipient is of
a kind described in Article 9(3) of the Financial  Services Act 1986 (Investment
Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1988, as amended.

         (e) The Initial Purchasers represent and warrant that they have offered
and sold the  Debentures  and agree that they will offer and sell the Debentures
(i) as part of their  distribution at any time, and (ii) otherwise until 40 days
after the later of the  commencement  of the offering of the  Debentures and the
Closing Date,  only in accordance  with Rule 903 of Regulation S or as otherwise
permitted pursuant to paragraph (c) above.  Accordingly,  the Initial Purchasers
represent and agree that neither such Initial  Purchasers,  their affiliates nor
any persons  acting on their  behalf has engaged or will engage in any  directed
selling efforts with respect to the Debentures,  and they have complied and will
comply with the offering restrictions  requirement of Regulation S. Such Initial
Purchasers  agree that,  at or prior to  confirmation  of the sale of Debentures
other  than  a sale  pursuant  to  Rule  144A,  they  will  have  sent  to  each
distributor,  dealer or person  receiving  a  selling  concession,  fee or other
remuneration that purchases  Debentures from such Initial  Purchasers during the
restricted  period a  confirmation  or notice  to  substantially  the  following
effect:

         "The Securities  covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S.
Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  and may not be
offered and sold  within the United  States or to, or for the account or benefit
of, U.S. persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise
until 40 days after the later of the commencement of

                                       -5-



<PAGE>



the  offering and the closing  date,  except in either case in  accordance  with
Regulation S (or Rule 144A) under the Securities  Act. Terms used above have the
meaning given to them by Regulation S."

         The Initial Purchasers understand that the Company and, for purposes of
the  opinions to be  delivered  to the Initial  Purchasers  pursuant to Sections
7(c)(xxiv)  and 7(d)  hereof,  counsel to the Company and counsel to the Initial
Purchasers,   will  rely  upon  the   accuracy   and  truth  of  the   foregoing
representations  and agreements,  and the Initial  Purchasers  hereby consent to
such reliance.

         3. Delivery of the  Debentures  and Payment  Therefor.  Delivery to the
Initial  Purchasers of and payment for the Firm Debentures  shall be made at the
office of Smith Barney Inc., 388 Greenwich Street,  New York, New York 10013, at
10:00 A.M.,  New York City time,  on March 20, 1998 (the  "Closing  Date").  The
place of closing for the Firm  Debentures  and the Closing Date may be varied by
agreement between the Initial Purchasers and the Company.

         Delivery to the Initial  Purchasers  of and payment for any  Additional
Debentures  to be  purchased  by the  Initial  Purchasers  shall  be made at the
aforementioned  office  of Smith  Barney  Inc.  at such  time on such  date (the
"Option Closing  Date"),  which may be the same as the Closing Date but shall in
no event be earlier  than the Closing Date nor earlier than three nor later than
ten  business  days after the giving of the notice  hereinafter  referred to, as
shall be  specified  in a written  notice  from the  Initial  Purchasers  to the
Company of the  Initial  Purchasers'  determination  to purchase  the  principal
amount of Additional  Debentures  specified in such notice. The place of closing
for any Additional  Debentures  and the Option Closing Date for such  Additional
Debentures  may be varied by agreement  between the Initial  Purchasers  and the
Company.

         The Firm  Debentures  and any Additional  Debentures  which the Initial
Purchasers  may elect to purchase  will be delivered  to the Initial  Purchasers
against  payment of the purchase price therefor by federal or other  immediately
available funds. The Debentures will be evidenced by a single global security in
definitive  form  (the  "Global  Debenture")  and/or  by  additional  definitive
securities,  and will be registered, in the case of the Global Debenture, in the
name of Cede & Co. as nominee of The Depository  Trust Company  ("DTC"),  and in
the  other  cases,  in such  names  and in  such  denominations  as the  Initial
Purchasers  shall request  prior to 1:00 p.m.,  New York City time, on the third
business day preceding the Closing Date or any Option  Closing Date, as the case
may be. The Debentures to be delivered to the Initial  Purchasers  shall be made
available  to the  Initial  Purchasers  in New  York  City  for  inspection  and
packaging not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the business day next
preceding the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

         4.  Agreements  of the  Company.  The  Company  agrees with the Initial
Purchasers as follows:

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



         (a) The Company  will advise the Initial  Purchasers  promptly  and, if
requested by them,  will  confirm  such advice in writing,  within the period of
time  referred  to in  paragraph  (e)  below,  of any  change  in the  Company's
condition (financial or other), business,  prospects,  properties,  net worth or
results  of  operations,  or of the  happening  of any  event  which  makes  any
statement  made in the Offering  Memorandum  (as then  amended or  supplemented)
untrue or which  requires  the  making of any  additions  to or  changes  in the
Offering  Memorandum  (as then  amended  or  supplemented)  in order to make the
statements  therein not  misleading,  or of the necessity to amend or supplement
the Offering  Memorandum  (as then amended or  supplemented)  to comply with any
law.

         (b) The Company will furnish to the Initial Purchasers, without charge,
as of the date of the Offering Memorandum, such number of copies of the Offering
Memorandum,  as it may then be amended or  supplemented,  as they may reasonably
request.

         (c) The  Company  will not  make any  amendment  or  supplement  to the
Offering  Memorandum of which the Initial  Purchasers  shall not previously have
been advised or to which they shall reasonably  object after being so advised or
file any document which upon filing becomes an  Incorporated  Document,  without
delivering  a copy of such  document  to the  Initial  Purchasers,  prior  to or
concurrently with such filing.

         (d) The Company consents to the use of the Offering  Memorandum (and of
any amendment or supplement  thereto) in accordance  with the securities or Blue
Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Debentures are offered by the Initial
Purchasers and by all dealers to whom Debentures may be sold, in connection with
the offering and sale of the Debentures.

         (e) If, at any time  prior to  completion  of the  distribution  of the
Debentures  by the Initial  Purchasers to Eligible  Purchasers,  any event shall
occur that in the  judgment  of the Company or in the opinion of counsel for the
Initial  Purchasers  should be set  forth in the  Offering  Memorandum  (as then
amended or supplemented) in order to make the statements  therein,  in the light
of the  circumstances  under which they were made, not  misleading,  or if it is
necessary to supplement or amend the Offering  Memorandum,  or to file under the
Exchange Act any document which upon filing becomes an Incorporated Document, to
comply  with  any  law,  the  Company  will  forthwith  prepare  an  appropriate
supplement or amendment thereto or such document, and will expeditiously furnish
to the Initial Purchasers and dealers a reasonable number of copies thereof.  In
the event that the Company and the Initial  Purchasers  agree that the  Offering
Memorandum should be amended or supplemented, or that a document should be filed
under the Exchange Act which upon filing becomes an Incorporated  Document,  the
Company,  if requested by the Initial  Purchasers,  will promptly  issue a press
release  announcing  or  disclosing  the  matters to be covered by the  proposed
amendment or supplement or such document.

         (f) The Company will  cooperate  with the Initial  Purchasers  and with
their counsel in connection  with the  qualification  of the  Debentures and the
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures for offering and sale by
the Initial  Purchasers  and by dealers under the securities or Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchasers may

                                       -7-



<PAGE>



designate and will file such  consents to service of process or other  documents
necessary or appropriate in order to effect such qualification; provided that in
no event  shall the  Company  be  obligated  to qualify  to do  business  in any
jurisdiction  where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would
subject it to service of process in suits,  other than those  arising out of the
offering or sale of the Debentures,  in any jurisdiction  where it is not now so
subject.

         (g) So long as any of the Debentures are outstanding,  the Company will
furnish  to the  Initial  Purchasers  (i) as soon as  available,  a copy of each
report of the Company mailed to stockholders  or filed with the Commission,  and
(ii) from time to time such  other  information  concerning  the  Company as the
Initial Purchasers may request.

         (h) If this  Agreement  shall  terminate or shall be  terminated  after
execution and delivery  pursuant to any  provisions  hereof  (otherwise  than by
notice given by the Initial  Purchasers  terminating this Agreement  pursuant to
Section 9 or Section 10 hereof) or if this Agreement  shall be terminated by the
Initial  Purchasers because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company
to comply with the terms or fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, the
Company  agrees  to  reimburse  the  Initial  Purchasers  for all  out-of-pocket
expenses  (including  fees and expenses of its counsel)  reasonably  incurred by
them in connection  herewith,  but without any further obligation on the part of
the Company for loss of profits or otherwise.

         (i) The  Company  will  apply  the net  proceeds  from  the sale of the
Debentures  to be sold by it  hereunder  substantially  in  accordance  with the
description set forth in the Offering Memorandum.

         (j)  Without  the prior  consent  of Smith  Barney  Inc.,  prior to the
expiration of 90 days after the date of the Offering Memorandum the Company will
not offer,  sell,  contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock (or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock)
or grant any options or warrants to purchase  Common  Stock,  except for (i) the
sale of the Debentures to the Initial Purchasers  pursuant to this Agreement and
issuances of Common Stock upon conversion of Debentures,  (ii) grants of options
pursuant to the Company's stock option plans existing on the date hereof,  (iii)
issuances of Common Stock upon exercise of options and warrants  outstanding  at
the date hereof or issued in accordance with the foregoing clause (ii), and (iv)
issuances  of an  aggregate  of up to four  million  shares of  Common  Stock in
connection  with  acquisitions.  The  Company has caused or will cause its Chief
Executive  Officer to furnish a letter,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to
Smith Barney Inc., pursuant to which such person shall agree not to offer, sell,
contract to sell or  otherwise  dispose of any Common  Stock (or any  securities
convertible  into or exercisable or exchangeable  for Common Stock) for a period
of 90 days after the date of the Offering  Memorandum  without the prior written
consent of Smith Barney Inc.

         (k) Except as stated in this Agreement and in the Offering  Memorandum,
the Company has not taken, nor will it take, directly or indirectly,  any action
designed to or that

                                       -8-

<PAGE>



might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation
of the  price  of the  Debentures  to  facilitate  the  sale  or  resale  of the
Debentures.  Except as permitted by the Act, the Company will not distribute any
offering material in connection with the Exempt Resales.

         (l) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Debentures to be
eligible for trading on The PORTAL Market.

         (m) From and after the Closing Date,  so long as any of the  Debentures
are outstanding and are "Restricted  Securities"  within the meaning of the Rule
144(a)(3) under the Act or, if earlier,  until two years after the Closing Date,
and during any period in which the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act, the Company will furnish to holders of the  Debentures  and
prospective purchasers of Debentures designated by such holders, upon request of
such holders or such  prospective  purchasers,  the  information  required to be
delivered  pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)  under the Act to permit  compliance with
Rule 144A in connection with resale of the Debentures.

         (n) The Company agrees not to sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to
buy or  otherwise  negotiate  in respect of any security (as defined in the Act)
that would be integrated  with the sale of the Debentures in a manner that would
require the registration  under the Act of the sale to the Initial Purchasers or
the Eligible Purchasers of the Debentures.

         (o) The Company  agrees to comply with all of the terms and  conditions
of the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  and all  agreements  set  forth in the
representation  letters of the Company to DTC  relating  to the  approval of the
Debentures by DTC for "book entry" transfer.

         (p) The Company agrees that prior to any registration of the Debentures
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, or at such earlier time as may be
so required,  the Indenture  shall be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939  (the  "1939  Act")  and  will  cause  to be  entered  into  any  necessary
supplemental indentures in connection therewith.

         5.   Representations  and  Warranties  of  the  Company.   The  Company
represents and warrants to the Initial Purchasers that:

         (a) The Offering  Memorandum  with respect to the  Debentures  has been
prepared by the Company for use by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the
Exempt Resales. No order or decree preventing the use of the Offering Memorandum
or any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto,  or any  order  asserting  that  the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  are subject to the  registration
requirements  of the Act has been issued and no proceeding  for that purpose has
commenced or is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated.

         (b) The Offering Memorandum, as of its date and as of the Closing Date,
did not or will not at any time contain an untrue  statement of a material  fact
or omit to state a material

                                       -9-


<PAGE>



fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
not misleading,  except that this  representation and warranty does not apply to
statements in or omissions  from the Offering  Memorandum  made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information  relating to the Initial Purchasers furnished
to the  Company in writing by or on behalf of the Initial  Purchasers  expressly
for use therein.

         (c) The Incorporated  Documents heretofore filed were filed in a timely
manner and, when they were filed (or, if any amendment  with respect to any such
document was filed,  when such  document  was filed),  conformed in all material
respects to the  requirements  of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder and any further  Incorporated  Documents so filed will, when they are
filed,  conform in all material  respects with the  requirements of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; no such document when it was filed
(or, if an  amendment  with respect to any such  document  was filed,  when such
amendment  was  filed),  contained  an untrue  statement  of a material  fact or
omitted to state a material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading;  and no such further document,  when
it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary in order to
make the statements therein not misleading.

         (d) The Indenture  has been duly and validly  authorized by the Company
and, upon its  execution,  delivery and  performance by the Company and assuming
due authorization, execution, delivery and performance by the Trustee, will be a
valid and binding  agreement of the Company,  enforceable in accordance with its
terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar laws affecting  creditors' rights  generally,  and conforms in all
material  respects to the  description  thereof in the Offering  Memorandum;  no
qualification of the Indenture under the 1939 Act is required in connection with
the offer and sale of the Debentures  contemplated  hereby or in connection with
the Exempt Resales.

         (e) The Debentures  have been duly  authorized by the Company and, when
executed by the Company and  authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the
Indenture and delivered to the Initial  Purchasers  against payment  therefor in
accordance  with the terms hereof,  will have been validly issued and delivered,
and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with their terms, except
as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights  generally,   and  the
Debentures will conform in all material  respects to the description  thereof in
the Offering Memorandum.

         (f) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
is as set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the Offering Memorandum as
of the date indicated therein; all the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Company  have  been duly  authorized  and  validly  issued,  are fully  paid and
nonassessable  and are free of any preemptive or similar rights;  the Debentures
have  been duly  authorized  and,  when  issued  and  delivered  to the  Initial
Purchasers against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be
validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and free of any  preemptive  or
similar rights; the

                                      -10-


<PAGE>



capital stock of the Company conforms to the description thereof in the Offering
Memorandum;  and the shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of the
Debentures  have been duly  authorized  and  reserved  for  issuance  and,  when
delivered upon conversion of the  Debentures,  will have been validly issued and
fully  paid and will be  nonassessable  and free of any  preemptive  or  similar
rights.

         (g) Each of the Company and its corporate  subsidiaries  (collectively,
the  "Subsidiaries")  has been duly  incorporated  and is validly  existing as a
corporation  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  the  jurisdiction  of its
incorporation with full power and authority  (corporate and other) to own, lease
and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering
Memorandum;  each of the Company's affiliated  partnerships  (collectively,  the
"Controlled Entities") is duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the
jurisdiction  pursuant to which it was  organized  with full power and authority
(partnership and other) to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Offering  Memorandum;  and each of the Company, the
Subsidiaries  and the Controlled  Entities is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation or partnership in good standing in all other  jurisdictions,
if any,  where the  ownership  or leasing of  properties  or the  conduct of its
business  requires  such  qualification,  except  where  the  failure  to  be so
qualified would not have a material  adverse effect on the business,  operations
or financial  condition  of the Company,  the  Subsidiaries  and the  Controlled
Entities  taken as a whole (a  "Material  Adverse  Effect");  all of the  issued
shares  of  capital  stock  of each  of the  Subsidiaries,  and the  partnership
interests  representing  ownership in each  Controlled  Entity held of record or
beneficially by the Company,  have been duly authorized and validly issued,  are
fully paid and  nonassessable and are owned by the Company free and clear of all
liens,  security  interests,  charges  or other  encumbrances,  except for those
liens,  security interests,  charges or other encumbrances that would not have a
Material  Adverse  Effect;  and all of the  outstanding  interests  representing
ownership  in the  Controlled  Entities  have been  offered,  sold and issued in
compliance  with  applicable  state and federal  laws related to the issuance of
securities.

         (h)  There is no legal or  governmental  proceeding  pending  or to the
Company's  knowledge  threatened  to which the Company,  any  Subsidiary  or any
Controlled  Entity  is a party or of  which  the  business  or  property  of the
Company,  any  Subsidiary or any  Controlled  Entity is the subject which is not
disclosed  in the  Offering  Memorandum  and which might result in a judgment or
decree  having a Material  Adverse  Effect or which is  otherwise of a character
required to be described in the Offering  Memorandum,  and there is no contract,
license  or other  document  of a  character  required  to be  described  in the
Offering  Memorandum or to be filed as an exhibit to any  Incorporated  Document
which is not described or filed as required by the Act or the Exchange Act.

         (i) The  Company and its  Subsidiaries  are not in  violation  of their
respective  charters or bylaws, the Controlled  Entities are not in violation of
their respective agreements of limited partnership,  and neither the Company nor
any  Subsidiary  or  Controlled  Entity  is in  default  in any  respect  in the
performance  of any  obligation,  agreement or condition  contained in any bond,
debenture,  note or any other  evidence  of  indebtedness  or in any  agreement,
indenture  or other  instrument  to which it is a party or by which it is bound,
which violation

                                      -11-



<PAGE>



or default  would have a Material  Adverse  Effect;  and neither  the  issuance,
offer,  sale or delivery of the  Debentures,  the  issuance of Common Stock upon
conversion  of the  Debentures  or the  payment to holders of  Debentures  of an
amount of cash equal to the market price of the underlying  Common Stock in lieu
of conversion  into Common Stock in accordance  with the terms of the Indenture,
the execution,  delivery or performance of this Agreement,  the Indenture or the
Registration Rights Agreement by the Company nor the consummation by the Company
of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or  thereby  require  any  consent,
approval,   authorization  or  other  order  of  any  court,   regulatory  body,
administrative agency or other governmental body (except such as may be required
in connection  with the  registration  under the Act of the  Debentures  and the
Common  Stock  in  accordance  with  the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,   the
qualification of the Indenture under the 1939 Act and except for compliance with
the securities or Blue Sky laws of various jurisdictions), and will not conflict
with or  constitute  a breach of or default  under,  or violate,  the charter or
bylaws of the Company or any Subsidiary, or the agreement of limited partnership
of any Controlled  Entity,  or any agreement,  indenture or other  instrument to
which the Company or any  Subsidiary or any  Controlled  Entity is a party or by
which it is bound, or any law,  regulations,  order or decree  applicable to the
Company, any Subsidiary or any Controlled Entity.

         (j) The  accountants,  Ernst & Young LLP,  who have  certified or shall
certify the financial statements included as part of the Offering Memorandum (or
any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto)  or  the  Incorporated  Documents,  are
independent public accountants as required by the Act.

         (k) The  financial  statements,  together  with related  schedules  and
notes, included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum (and any
amendment or supplement  thereto),  present  fairly the  consolidated  financial
position,  results of  operations  and  changes  in  financial  position  of the
Company, the Subsidiaries and the Controlled Entities on the basis stated in the
Offering  Memorandum at the respective  dates or for the  respective  periods to
which they apply;  such  statements  and related  schedules  and notes have been
prepared  in  accordance   with   generally   accepted   accounting   principles
consistently  applied  throughout  the  periods  involved,  except as  disclosed
therein;  and the other financial and statistical  information and data included
or  incorporated  by reference in the Offering  Memorandum (and any amendment or
supplement thereto) are accurately  presented and prepared on a basis consistent
with such  financial  statements  and the books and records of the Company,  the
Subsidiaries and the Controlled Entities.

         (l) The  Company  has all  requisite  power and  authority  to execute,
deliver and perform its  obligations  under this Agreement and the  Registration
Rights  Agreement;  the  execution and delivery of, and the  performance  by the
Company of its  obligations  under this  Agreement and the  Registration  Rights
Agreement  have  been  duly and  validly  authorized  by the  Company,  and this
Agreement  and the  Registration  Rights  Agreement  have been duly executed and
delivered by the Company and constitute the valid and legally binding agreements
of the Company,  enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
except as the  enforcement  hereof and  thereof  may be  limited by  bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'  rights
generally and subject to the

                                      -12-



<PAGE>



applicability of general principles of equity, and except as rights to indemnity
and  contribution  hereunder and  thereunder  may be limited by Federal or state
securities laws or principles of public policy.

         (m) Except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or
supplement  thereto),  subsequent to the dates as of which such  information  is
given in the  Offering  Memorandum  (or any  amendment or  supplement  thereto),
neither the Company  nor any of the  Subsidiaries  or  Controlled  Entities  has
incurred any liability or obligation,  direct or contingent, or entered into any
transaction,  not in the ordinary  course of  business,  that is material to the
Company,  the  Subsidiaries  and the Controlled  Entities taken as a whole,  and
there has not been any change in the capital stock, or material  increase in the
short-term debt or long-term debt, of the Company or any of the  Subsidiaries or
Controlled  Entities,  or  any  material  adverse  change,  or  any  development
involving or which may reasonably be expected to involve a prospective  material
adverse  change in the condition  (financial or other),  business,  net worth or
results of  operations  of the  Company,  the  Subsidiaries  and the  Controlled
Entities taken as a whole.

         (n) The Company and each Subsidiary and Controlled Entity have good and
marketable  title to all real and  personal  property  described in the Offering
Memorandum as being owned  respectively  by them, in each case free and clear of
all liens,  claims,  security interests or other encumbrances except such as are
described in the Offering  Memorandum or such as are not materially  significant
or important in relation to the business of the Company,  the  Subsidiaries  and
the  Controlled  Entities taken as a whole;  and the real and personal  property
held under lease by the Company, any Subsidiary or any Controlled Entity is held
by such entity under valid,  subsisting  and  enforceable  leases with only such
exceptions as in the  aggregate  are not material and do not interfere  with the
conduct of the  business of the Company,  the  Subsidiaries  and the  Controlled
Entities taken as a whole;  provided,  however,  that no  representation is made
hereby as to the title of the lessors of such property.

         (o) Except as  permitted  by the Act,  the Company has not  distributed
and,  prior to the  later to occur of the  Closing  Date and  completion  of the
distribution  of the  Debentures,  will not distribute any offering  material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Debentures  other than the Offering
Memorandum.

         (p) Each of the Company,  the Subsidiaries and the Controlled  Entities
holds  and is  operating  in  compliance  (in all  material  respects)  with all
material  franchises,  grants,  authorizations,  licenses,  permits,  easements,
consents,  certificates and orders of any governmental or  self-regulatory  body
required for the conduct of its business,  and all of such are valid and in full
force and effect,  and each of the Company,  the Subsidiaries and the Controlled
Entities is in compliance in all material  respects with all laws,  regulations,
orders  and  decrees  applicable  to it  which  have a  material  effect  on its
business, properties or assets.

         (q) The  Company  maintains a system of  internal  accounting  controls
sufficient to provide  reasonable  assurances that (i) transactions are executed
in  accordance  with  management's  general  or  specific  authorization;   (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to

                                      -13-


<PAGE>



permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to
assets is permitted  only in accordance  with  management's  general or specific
authorization;  and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
existing  assets at reasonable  intervals and  appropriate  action is taken with
respect to any differences.

         (r)  To  the  best  of  the  Company's   knowledge   after   reasonable
investigation, neither the Company, any Subsidiary or any Controlled Entity, nor
any employee or agent thereof, has made any payment of funds of the Company, any
Subsidiary  or any  Controlled  Entity  or  received  or  retained  any funds in
violation of any law, rule or regulation,  which violation would have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         (s) The Company,  each Subsidiary and each Controlled Entity have filed
or timely  obtained  extensions to file all tax returns  required to be filed by
it,  which  returns  are  complete  and  correct,  and are not in default in the
payment  of any  taxes  which  were  payable  pursuant  to said  returns  or any
assessments with respect thereto,  except where the failure to file such returns
and make such payments would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         (t) No holder of any security of the Company (other than holders of the
Debentures  and  holders  of shares of Common  Stock  received  upon  conversion
thereof)  has any right to  request or demand  registration  of shares of Common
Stock or any other security of the Company  because of the  consummation  of the
transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement  or  the  Registration   Rights
Agreement.

         (u) Each of the Company,  the Subsidiaries and the Controlled  Entities
own all patents,  trademarks,  trademark  registrations,  service marks, service
mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets
and rights described in the Offering Memorandum as being owned by them or any of
them or  necessary  for the  conduct  of their  respective  businesses,  and the
Company is not aware of any claim to the contrary or any  challenge by any other
person  to the  rights  of the  Company,  the  Subsidiaries  and the  Controlled
Entities  with  respect to the  foregoing  that  would  have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

         (v) When the  Debentures  are issued  and  delivered  pursuant  to this
Agreement,  such Debentures will not be of the same class (within the meaning of
Rule 144A(d)(3)  under the Act) as any security of the Company that is listed on
a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or
that is quoted in a United States automated inter-dealer quotation system.

         (w) Neither the Company nor any affiliate (as defined in Rule 501(b) of
Regulation D  ("Regulation  D") under the Act) of the Company has  directly,  or
through any agent  (provided  that no  representation  is made as to the Initial
Purchasers or any person acting on their  behalf),  (i) sold,  offered for sale,
solicited offers to buy or otherwise  negotiated in respect of, any security (as
defined in the Act) which is or will be integrated with the offering and sale of
the Debentures in a manner that would require the registration of the Debentures
under the

                                      -14-


<PAGE>



Act or (ii) engaged in any form of general  solicitation or general  advertising
(within the meaning of  Regulation  D) in  connection  with the  offering of the
Debentures.

         (x) Except as otherwise  provided in the Indenture,  the Company is not
required to deliver the  information  specified in Rule 144A(d)(4) in connection
with the offering and resale of the Debentures by the Initial Purchasers.

         (y) The  Company  is not  required  to obtain  stockholder  consent  or
approval pursuant to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange in connection with
the offering and sale of the Debentures.

         6.  Indemnification and Contribution.

         (a) The  Company  agrees to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the Initial
Purchasers and each person,  if any, who controls the Initial  Purchasers within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including
reasonable  costs of  investigation)  arising  out of or based  upon any  untrue
statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  of a material  fact  contained  in the
Offering Memorandum or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising out of
or based upon any omission or alleged  omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein not
misleading,  except  insofar as such losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or
expenses  arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement  or  omission  or
alleged  untrue  statement  or omission  which has been made  therein or omitted
therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity  with the  information  relating to
the Initial  Purchasers  furnished  in writing to the Company by or on behalf of
the Initial Purchasers expressly for use in connection therewith.  The foregoing
indemnity  agreement shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.

         (b) If any  action,  suit or  proceeding  shall be brought  against the
Initial Purchasers or any persons  controlling the Initial Purchasers in respect
of which indemnity may be sought against the Company,  the Initial Purchasers or
such  controlling  persons  shall  promptly  notify  the  parties  against  whom
indemnification  is  being  sought  (the  "indemnifying   parties"),   and  such
indemnifying parties shall assume the defense thereof,  including the employment
of counsel and payment of all fees and expenses.  The Initial  Purchasers or any
such controlling  persons shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any
such action,  suit or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof,  but
the fees and  expenses  of such  counsel  shall be at the expense of the Initial
Purchasers or such controlling persons unless (i) the indemnifying  parties have
agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses,  (ii) the indemnifying  parties
have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel, or (iii) the named parties
to any such action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the Initial  Purchasers or such  controlling  persons and the  indemnifying
parties and the Initial  Purchasers or such controlling  persons shall have been
advised by its counsel that  representation  of such  indemnified  party and any
indemnifying  party by the same counsel would be inappropriate  under applicable
standards of professional  conduct  (whether or not such  representation  by the
same counsel has been proposed) due to actual or potential  differing  interests
between them

                                      -15-



<PAGE>



(in which  case the  indemnifying  party  shall not have the right to assume the
defense of such action,  suit or proceeding on behalf of the Initial  Purchasers
or such controlling persons).  It is understood,  however, that the indemnifying
parties  shall,  in connection  with any one such action,  suit or proceeding or
separate but substantially  similar or related actions,  suits or proceedings in
the  same  jurisdiction   arising  out  of  the  same  general   allegations  or
circumstances,  be  liable  for the  reasonable  fees and  expenses  of only one
separate  firm of attorneys  (in addition to any local  counsel) at any time for
the Initial  Purchasers and  controlling  persons not having actual or potential
differing interests with the Initial Purchasers or among themselves,  which firm
shall be designated in writing by Smith Barney Inc.,  and that all such fees and
expenses  shall be  reimbursed  on a monthly  basis as provided in paragraph (a)
hereof.  The indemnifying  parties shall not be liable for any settlement of any
such action, suit or proceeding  effected without their written consent,  but if
settled  with such  written  consent,  or if there be a final  judgment  for the
plaintiff in any such action, suit or proceeding, the indemnifying parties agree
to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers, to the extent provided in
paragraph  (a),  and any such  controlling  persons  from and  against any loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment.

         (c) The Initial  Purchasers  agree to indemnify  and hold  harmless the
Company, and its directors and officers, and any person who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to
the same extent as the indemnity from the Company to the Initial  Purchasers set
forth in paragraph (a) hereof, but only with respect to information  relating to
the  Initial  Purchasers  furnished  in writing  by or on behalf of the  Initial
Purchasers  expressly  for use in the Offering  Memorandum  or any  amendment or
supplement  thereto.  If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against
the Company,  any of its directors or officers,  or any such controlling  person
based on the Offering Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and in
respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Initial Purchasers pursuant
to this paragraph (c), the Initial  Purchasers  shall have the rights and duties
given to the Company by paragraph  (b) above  (except that if the Company  shall
have assumed the defense thereof the Initial Purchasers shall not be required to
do so, but may employ  separate  counsel  therein and participate in the defense
thereof,  but the fees and  expenses  of such  counsel  shall be at the  Initial
Purchasers' expense),  and the Company, its directors and officers, and any such
controlling  person  shall  have the  rights  and  duties  given to the  Initial
Purchasers by paragraph (b) above. The foregoing indemnity agreement shall be in
addition to any liability which the Initial Purchasers may otherwise have.

         (d)  If  the  indemnification   provided  for  in  this  Section  6  is
unavailable  to an  indemnified  party  under  paragraphs  (a) or (c)  hereof in
respect of any losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or expenses  referred to
therein,  then an indemnifying  party, in lieu of indemnifying  such indemnified
party,  shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in such
proportion as is  appropriate to reflect the relative  benefits  received by the
Company on the one hand and the  Initial  Purchasers  on the other hand from the
offering of the  Debentures,  or (ii) if the  allocation  provided by clause (i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, in

                                      -16-



<PAGE>



such  proportion  as is  appropriate  to reflect not only the relative  benefits
referred  to in clause (i) above but also the  relative  fault of the Company on
the one hand and the  Initial  Purchasers  on the other in  connection  with the
statements  or  omissions  that  resulted  in  such  losses,  claims,   damages,
liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The  relative  benefits  received by the Company on the one hand and the Initial
Purchasers  on the other  shall be deemed  to be in the same  proportion  as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Initial Purchasers,  in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of
the Offering Memorandum; provided that, in the event that the Initial Purchasers
shall have purchased any Additional Debentures  hereunder,  any determination of
the relative benefits received by the Company or the Initial Purchasers from the
offering of the  Debentures  shall  include the net proceeds  (before  deducting
expenses)  received  by  the  Company,   and  the  underwriting   discounts  and
commissions received by the Initial Purchasers, from the sale of such Additional
Debentures,  in each case  computed on the basis of the  respective  amounts set
forth in the notes to the table on the cover  page of the  Offering  Memorandum.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Initial  Purchasers on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things,  whether
the untrue or alleged  untrue  statement  of a material  fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company on the one hand or by the Initial  Purchasers  on the other hand and the
parties'  relative intent,  knowledge,  access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission.

         (e) The Company and the Initial  Purchasers  agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined by
a pro rata  allocation or by any other method of  allocation  that does not take
account of the equitable  considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The
amount  paid or  payable  by an  indemnified  party as a result  of the  losses,
claims,  damages,  liabilities  and expenses  referred to in paragraph (d) above
shall be deemed to include,  subject to the  limitations  set forth  above,  any
legal  or  other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such  indemnified  party in
connection with  investigating  any claim or defending any such action,  suit or
proceeding.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of this  Section  6, the  Initial
Purchasers  shall not be  required  to  contribute  any  amount in excess of the
amount by which  the  total  price of the  Debentures  underwritten  by them and
distributed  to the public  exceeds the amount of any damages  which the Initial
Purchasers  have  otherwise  been  required  to pay by reason of such  untrue or
alleged untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission.  No person guilty of
fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the meaning of Section  11(f) of the Act)
shall be  entitled  to  contribution  from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

         (f) Any losses, claims,  damages,  liabilities or expenses for which an
indemnified  party is entitled to  indemnification  or  contribution  under this
Section 6 shall be paid by the  indemnifying  party to the indemnified  party as
such  losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities  or  expenses  are  incurred.  The
indemnity  and  contribution  agreements  contained  in this  Section  6 and the
representations  and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall
remain  operative  and  in  full  force  and  effect,   regardless  of  (i)  any
investigation  made by or on behalf of the  Initial  Purchasers  or any  persons
controlling the Initial Purchasers, the

                                      -17-




<PAGE>



Company,  its directors or officers or any person controlling the Company,  (ii)
acceptance  of any  Debentures  and payment  therefor  hereunder,  and (iii) any
termination  of this  Agreement.  A successor to the Initial  Purchasers  or any
persons controlling the Initial Purchaser,  or to the Company,  its directors or
officers  or any  person  controlling  the  Company,  shall be  entitled  to the
benefits of the indemnity,  contribution and reimbursement  agreements contained
in this Section 6.

         (g) No indemnifying  party shall,  without the prior written consent of
the  indemnified  party,  effect any  settlement  of any  pending or  threatened
action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could
have  been a party  and  indemnity  could  have been  sought  hereunder  by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement  includes an unconditional  release of
such indemnified  party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of such action, suit or proceeding.

         7. Conditions of the Initial Purchasers'  Obligations.  The obligations
of the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Firm Debentures  hereunder are subject
to the following conditions:

         (a) At the time of execution of this Agreement and on the Closing Date,
no  order  or  decree  preventing  the  use of the  Offering  Memorandum  or any
amendment or supplement  thereto,  or any order asserting that the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the  registration  requirements of
the Act shall have been issued and no  proceedings  for that purpose  shall have
been  commenced  or shall be pending or, to the  knowledge  of the  Company,  be
contemplated.  No  stop  order  suspending  the  sale of the  Debentures  in any
jurisdiction  designated by the Initial Purchasers shall have been issued and no
proceedings  for that purpose shall have been  commenced or shall be pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated.

         (b) Subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement, there shall not
have occurred (i) any change, or any development involving a prospective change,
in or affecting the condition (financial or other),  business,  properties,  net
worth,  or  results  of  operations  of the  Company,  the  Subsidiaries  or the
Controlled  Entities not contemplated by the Offering  Memorandum,  which in the
opinion of the Initial Purchasers,  would materially adversely affect the market
for the  Debentures,  or (ii) any event or development  relating to or involving
the Company or any officer or director of the Company  which makes any statement
made in the Offering  Memorandum  untrue or which, in the opinion of the Company
and its counsel or the Initial Purchasers and their counsel, requires the making
of any  addition  to or change in the  Offering  Memorandum  in order to state a
material fact required by any law to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
make the statements  therein not misleading,  if amending or  supplementing  the
Offering  Memorandum to reflect such event or development  would, in the opinion
of the  Initial  Purchasers,  materially  adversely  affect  the  market for the
Debentures.

         (c) The Initial  Purchasers  shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of Haskell Slaughter & Young, L.L.C., counsel for the Company, dated the
Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, to the effect that:

                                      -18-



<PAGE>



                  (i) Each of the Company and those subsidiaries that constitute
         "significant  subsidiaries"  under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation  S-X (the
         "Significant  Subsidiaries")  has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing  as a  corporation  in good  standing  under  the  laws of the
         jurisdiction of its incorporation;

                  (ii) The Offering  Memorandum  with respect to the  Debentures
         has been  prepared by the Company for use by the Initial  Purchasers in
         connection with the Exempt Resales.  No order or decree  preventing the
         use of the Offering  Memorandum or any amendment or supplement thereto,
         or any  order  asserting  that the  transactions  contemplated  by this
         Agreement are subject to the  registration  requirements of the Act has
         been issued and no  proceeding  for that  purpose has  commenced  or is
         pending or, to the knowledge of such Counsel, is contemplated.

                  (iii) The Incorporated  Documents  heretofore filed were filed
         in a timely manner and, when they were filed (or, if any amendment with
         respect to any such document was filed,  when such document was filed),
         conformed in all material  respects to the requirements of the Exchange
         Act.

                  (iv) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by the
         Company  and,  upon its  execution,  delivery  and  performance  by the
         Company  and  assuming  due  authorization,   execution,  delivery  and
         performance  by the Trustee,  will be a valid and binding  agreement of
         the  Company,  enforceable  in  accordance  with its  terms,  except as
         enforcement  thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency or other
         similar laws affecting  creditors' rights generally and conforms in all
         material   respects  to  the   description   thereof  in  the  Offering
         Memorandum;  no  qualification  of the Indenture  under the 1939 Act is
         required  in  connection  with the  offer  and  sale of the  Debentures
         contemplated hereby or in connection with the Exempt Resales.

                  (v) The  Debentures  have been duly  authorized by the Company
         and, when executed by the Company and  authenticated  by the Trustee in
         accordance  with the Indenture and delivered to the Initial  Purchasers
         against payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will have
         been  validly  issued  and  delivered,  and will  constitute  valid and
         binding  obligations  of the Company  entitled  to the  benefits of the
         Indenture and  enforceable  in accordance  with their terms,  except as
         enforcement  thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency or other
         similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'  rights generally,
         and  the  Debentures  will  conform  in all  material  respects  to the
         description thereof in the Offering Memorandum.

                  (vi) The authorized,  issued and outstanding  capital stock of
         the Company is as set forth under the caption  "Capitalization"  in the
         Offering Memorandum as of the date indicated therein; all of the issued
         and  outstanding  shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly
         authorized and validly

                                      -19-


<PAGE>



         issued, are fully paid and  nonassessable,  and have not been issued in
         violation  of any  preemptive  right or, to the best of such  Counsel's
         knowledge,  other  similar  right;  all of the issued  and  outstanding
         shares of capital stock of each of the  Significant  Subsidiaries  have
         been  duly   authorized  and  validly   issued,   are  fully  paid  and
         nonassessable  and are  owned by the  Company,  free  and  clear of any
         adverse  claim;  and  all of the  issued  and  outstanding  partnership
         interests  representing  ownership in the Controlled Entities have been
         duly authorized and, to the extent material to the business, operations
         or financial condition of the Company, the Significant Subsidiaries and
         the  Controlled  Entities  taken  as  a  whole,   validly  issued,  the
         partnership  interests held of record by the Company are owned free and
         clear of any  adverse  claim,  except such claims that would not have a
         Material  Adverse  Effect  on the  business,  operations  or  financial
         condition of the Company,  the Significant  Subsidiaries and Controlled
         Entities taken as a whole; the authorized  capital stock of the Company
         conforms  in  all  material   respects  as  to  legal  matters  to  the
         description  thereof  contained  in the Offering  Memorandum  under the
         caption  "Description of Capital Stock"; and the shares of Common Stock
         issuable upon conversion of the Debentures have been validly authorized
         and reserved for issuance and, when  delivered  upon  conversion of the
         Debentures,  will have been  validly  issued and fully paid and will be
         nonassessable and free of preemptive or similar rights;

                  (vii) Each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries has
         full  corporate  power and  authority  to own,  lease and  operate  its
         properties  and  conduct  its  business as  described  in the  Offering
         Memorandum; and each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries is
         duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation,  and is in good
         standing in all jurisdictions in the United States, if any, in which it
         is required to be so  qualified  and in which the failure so to qualify
         would have a Materially Adverse Effect on the Company, the Subsidiaries
         and Controlled Entities, taken as a whole;

                  (viii) To the best of such Counsel's  knowledge,  there are no
         legal or  governmental  proceedings  pending or threatened  against the
         Company,  any Significant  Subsidiary or any Controlled  Entity,  or to
         which the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any Controlled Entity,
         or  any of  their  property,  is  subject,  which  are  required  to be
         disclosed in the Offering  Memorandum  (or any  amendment or supplement
         thereto) by the Act,  other than those  disclosed  therein;  and to the
         best knowledge of such Counsel after  reasonable  inquiry,  neither the
         Company,  any  Significant  Subsidiary or any  Controlled  Entity is in
         violation of any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or
         regulation applicable to the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any
         Controlled  Entity,  except  for  violations,  if  any,  which  in  the
         aggregate do not have a Material Adverse Effect;

                                      -20-




<PAGE>



                  (ix) Neither the Company,  any  Significant  Subsidiary or any
         Controlled  Entity is in violation  of its  respective  certificate  or
         articles of incorporation or bylaws, or other organizational documents,
         or to the best knowledge of such Counsel after reasonable  inquiry,  is
         in default in the performance of any material obligation,  agreement or
         condition contained in any bond,  debenture,  note or other evidence of
         indebtedness,  which  default  could  have a Material  Adverse  Effect,
         except as may be disclosed in the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment
         or supplement thereto);

                  (x) This Agreement and the Registration  Rights Agreement have
         been duly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by the  Company  and,
         assuming due authorization,  execution and delivery by you, is a valid,
         legal and binding  agreement  of the Company,  enforceable  against the
         Company in accordance  with its terms,  except as enforcement of rights
         to indemnity  and  contribution  hereunder may be limited by applicable
         law;

                  (xi) Each of the Company, the Significant Subsidiaries and the
         Controlled Entities holds all material permits, licenses,  certificates
         of need and other approvals or  authorizations of and from governmental
         regulatory  officials  and  bodies  necessary  to entitle it to own its
         properties  and  conduct  its  business as  described  in the  Offering
         Memorandum,  or to receive reimbursement under Medicare (if represented
         in the Offering Memorandum as being Medicare-  certified,  except where
         the lack of such  approval or  authorization  would not have a Material
         Adverse Effect);

                  (xii) No holder of any  security  of the  Company  (other than
         holders  of the  Debentures  and  holders  of shares  of  Common  Stock
         received  upon  conversion  thereof) has any right to request or demand
         registration  of shares of Common  Stock or any other  security  of the
         Company because of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
         this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (xiii) When the Debentures  are issued and delivered  pursuant
         to this  Agreement,  such  Debentures  will  not be of the  same  class
         (within the meaning of Rule  144A(d)(3)  under the Act) as any security
         of the  Company  that  is  listed  on a  national  securities  exchange
         registered  under  Section 6 of the Exchange Act or that is quoted in a
         United States automated inter-dealer quotation system.

                  (xiv)  Neither the Company  nor any  affiliate  (as defined in
         Rule  501(b) of  Regulation  D  ("Regulation  D") under the Act) of the
         Company  has  directly,   or  through  any  agent   (provided  that  no
         representation  is  made as to the  Initial  Purchasers  or any  person
         acting on their behalf),  (A) sold, offered for sale,  solicited offers
         to buy or otherwise  negotiated in respect of, any security (as defined
         in the Act) which is or will be  integrated  with the offering and sale
         of

                                      -21-



<PAGE>



         the Debentures in a manner that would require the  registration  of the
         Debentures  under  the  Act  or (B)  engaged  in any  form  of  general
         solicitation or general  advertising  (within the meaning of Regulation
         D) in connection with the offering of the Debentures.

                  (xv)  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in the  Indenture,  the
         Company is not  required to deliver the  information  specified in Rule
         144A(d)(4) in connection with the offering and resale of the Debentures
         by the Initial Purchasers.

                  (xvi)  No  registration  of the  Debentures  under  the Act is
         required for the sale of the  Debentures  to the Initial  Purchasers as
         contemplated in this Agreement or for the Exempt Resales  (assuming (A)
         that any  Eligible  Purchaser  who buys the  Debentures  in the  Exempt
         Resales is a Qualified  Institutional  Buyer,  Accredited Investor or a
         person other than a U.S.  person  outside the United States in reliance
         on  Regulation   S,  (B)  the  accuracy  of  the  Initial   Purchasers'
         representations  and those of the Company in this  Agreement  regarding
         the  absence  of general  solicitation  in  connection  with the Exempt
         Resales  and  (C)  the  accuracy  of the  representations  made by each
         Accredited  Investor  who  purchases  Debentures  pursuant to an Exempt
         Resale as set forth in the letter of  representation  executed  by such
         Accredited Investor in the form of Annex A to the Offering Memorandum).

                  (xvii)  The  Company  is not  required  to obtain  stockholder
         consent  or  approval  pursuant  to the  rules  of the New  York  Stock
         Exchange in connection with the offering and sale of the Debentures.

                  (xviii)  The  descriptions  in  the  Offering   Memorandum  of
         statutes, governmental regulations,  agreements,  contracts, leases and
         other  documents  are  accurate  and  fairly  present  the  information
         required to be presented by the Act; and, to the best of such Counsel's
         knowledge, there are no statutes, governmental regulations, agreements,
         contracts,  leases or documents of a character required to be described
         or  referred  to in  the  Offering  Memorandum  (or  any  amendment  or
         supplement  thereto)  or to be  filed  as an  exhibit  to the  Offering
         Memorandum  that are not  described or referred to therein and filed as
         required;

                  (xix) Neither the offer,  sale or delivery of the  Debentures,
         the  execution,  delivery  or  performance  of this  Agreement  and the
         Indenture,  compliance  by the Company with the  provisions  hereof and
         thereof,   nor   consummation  by  the  Company  of  the   transactions
         contemplated  hereby and thereby,  conflicts or will  conflict  with or
         constitutes  or will  constitute a breach of, or a default  under,  the
         certificate  or  articles  of   incorporation   or  bylaws,   or  other
         organizational documents, of the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or
         any  Controlled  Entity  or any  agreement,  indenture,  lease or other
         instrument  to which the Company,  any  Significant  Subsidiary  or any
         Controlled  Entity  is a party or by which  any of them or any of their
         respective  properties  is  bound or is  known  to such  Counsel  after
         reasonable inquiry, or will result in the

                                      -22-


<PAGE>



         creation or  imposition  of any lien,  charge or  encumbrance  upon any
         property or assets of the Company,  any  Significant  Subsidiary or any
         Controlled Entity.

                  (xx) A New York court would apply the  substantive  law of the
         State of New York in construing the Debentures and the Indenture and in
         ascertaining   the   validity  of  the  payment  of  interest  and  the
         permissible rate of interest on the Debentures, and would hold that New
         York law  governs  the rights  and  obligations  of the  parties to the
         Debentures and the Indenture;

                  (xxi) A New York court  applying  the  substantive  law of the
         State of New York  would  hold  that the  payment  of  interest  on the
         Debentures and the rate of interest  provided pursuant to the Indenture
         with respect to the Debentures are not subject to the usury laws of the
         State of New York;

                  (xxii) An Alabama  court should apply the  substantive  law of
         the State of New York in construing  the  Indenture and the  Debentures
         and in  ascertaining  the  validity of the payment of interest  and the
         rate of interest provided pursuant to the Indenture with respect to the
         Debentures,  and should  hold that New York law  governs the rights and
         obligations of the parties to the Debentures and the Indenture.

                  Such  Counsel  may  state  that  they  have   participated  in
         conferences with officers and  representatives  of the Company and with
         its  independent  public  accountants  regarding  the  contents  of the
         Offering Memorandum, but have not independently verified the statements
         made in the  Offering  Memorandum;  and such  Counsel  will  state that
         nothing  has come to their  attention  which has caused them to believe
         that the Offering Memorandum (including the Incorporated  Documents) as
         of its date and as of the Closing Date, including,  without limitation,
         all  descriptions of statutes,  governmental  regulations,  agreements,
         contracts,  leases  and  other  documents  contained  in  the  Offering
         Memorandum (including the Incorporated  Documents but not including the
         financial statements and supporting schedules,  upon which such counsel
         need express no opinion),  contained an untrue  statement of a material
         fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated  therein
         or  necessary  to  make  the  statements   therein,  in  light  of  the
         circumstances  under which they were made,  not  misleading or that any
         amendment  or  supplement  to  the  Offering  Memorandum,   as  of  its
         respective  date,  and as of the  Closing  Date,  contained  any untrue
         statement  of a  material  fact or  omitted  to state a  material  fact
         necessary in order to make the statements  therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     In rendering the  enforceability  opinions in paragraphs  (iv), the opinion
concerning the valid and binding obligations of the Company in paragraph (v) and
the opinions set forth in  paragraphs  (xx) and (xxi) above,  such Counsel shall
rely upon an  opinion  or  opinions,  each dated the  Closing  Date,  of Cleary,
Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton as to laws of any jurisdiction

                                      -23-



<PAGE>



other than the United  States or the State of  Alabama,  provided  that (1) such
reliance is  expressly  authorized  by each opinion so relied upon and a copy of
each such opinion is delivered  to each of the Initial  Purchasers,  in form and
substance satisfactory to them and their counsel, and (2) Counsel shall state in
their  opinion  that they  believe  that  they and the  Initial  Purchasers  are
justified in relying thereon.  In addition,  with the approval of counsel to the
Initial  Purchasers,  certain of the  foregoing  matters may be  addressed in an
opinion of William W. Horton,  Group Vice  President  of the Company,  dated the
closing date and addressed to the Initial Purchasers.

         (d) The Initial  Purchasers  shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of Pillsbury  Madison & Sutro LLP,  counsel for the Initial  Purchasers,
dated the Closing Date, and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, with respect to
such matters as the Initial Purchasers may request.

         (e) The Initial Purchasers shall have received letters addressed to the
Initial Purchasers,  and dated the date hereof and the Closing Date from Ernst &
Young, LLP, independent certified public accountants, substantially in the forms
heretofore approved by the Initial Purchasers.

         (f) (i) There  shall not have been any change in the  capital  stock of
the Company nor any material increase in the short-term or long-term debt of the
Company  (other than in the ordinary  course of business) from that set forth or
contemplated  in  the  Offering  Memorandum  (or  any  amendment  or  supplement
thereto); (ii) there shall not have been, since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Offering  Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement
thereto),  except as may otherwise be stated in the Offering  Memorandum (or any
amendment or supplement  thereto),  any material adverse change in the condition
(financial or other), business,  prospects,  properties, net worth or results of
operations  of the Company and the  Significant  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole;
(iii) the Company,  the  Significant  Subsidiaries  and the Controlled  Entities
shall not have any liabilities or obligations,  direct or contingent (whether or
not in the ordinary course of business),  that are material to the Company,  the
Significant  Subsidiaries and the Controlled  Entities,  taken as a whole, other
than those reflected in the Offering  Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement
thereto);  and  (iv)  all the  representations  and  warranties  of the  Company
contained in this Agreement  shall be true and correct in all material  respects
on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and
as of the  Closing  Date,  and the  Initial  Purchasers  shall  have  received a
certificate,  dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief  executive  officer
and the chief  accounting  officer of the Company (or such other officers as are
acceptable to the Initial  Purchasers),  to the effect set forth in this Section
7(f) and in Section 7(g) hereof.

         (g) The Company  shall not have failed at or prior to the Closing  Date
to have  performed or complied with any of its agreements  herein  contained and
required to be  performed  or complied  with by it  hereunder at or prior to the
Closing Date.

         (h)  There  shall  not have been any  announcement  by any  "nationally
recognized  statistical  rating  organization",  as defined for purposes of Rule
436(g) under the Act, that

                                      -24-



<PAGE>



(i) it is  downgrading  its rating  assigned to any class of  securities  of the
Company, or (ii) it is reviewing its ratings assigned to any class of securities
of  the  Company  with  a  view  to  possible  downgrading,   or  with  negative
implications, or direction not determined.

         (i) The Debentures shall have been approved for trading on PORTAL.

         (j) The Company  shall have  furnished or caused to be furnished to the
Initial  Purchasers  such  further  certificates  and  documents  as the Initial
Purchasers shall have reasonably requested.

         All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in
compliance with the provisions  hereof only if they are reasonably  satisfactory
in form and  substance  to the  Initial  Purchasers  and counsel for the Initial
Purchasers.

         Any  certificate  or document  signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to the Initial  Purchasers,  or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers,
shall be deemed a  representation  and  warranty  by the  Company to the Initial
Purchasers as to the statements of fact made therein.

         The  obligations  of the Initial  Purchasers to purchase any Additional
Debentures  hereunder  are subject to the  satisfaction  on and as of any Option
Closing Date of the  conditions set forth in this Section 7, except that, if any
Option Closing Date is other than the Closing Date, the  certificates,  opinions
and letters referred to in paragraphs (c) through (f) and paragraph (j) shall be
dated the  Option  Closing  Date in  question  and the  opinions  called  for by
paragraphs  (c) and (d)  shall be  revised  to  reflect  the sale of  Additional
Debentures.

         8. Expenses. The Company agrees to pay the following costs and expenses
and all other  costs  and  expenses  incident  to the  performance  by it of its
obligations  hereunder:  (i) the  preparation,  printing or  reproduction of the
Offering Memorandum (including financial statements thereto), and each amendment
or  supplement  to any of  them,  this  Agreement  and the  Indenture;  (ii) the
printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage,  air freight charges
and  charges  for  counting  and  packaging)  of  such  copies  of the  Offering
Memorandum, the Incorporated Documents, and all amendments or supplements to any
of them as may be reasonably  requested for use in connection  with the offering
and sale of the Debentures;  (iii) the  preparation,  printing,  authentication,
issuance and delivery of certificates  for the  Debentures,  including any stamp
taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Debentures;  (iv)
the printing (or reproduction)  and delivery of this Agreement,  the preliminary
and  supplemental  Blue Sky  Memoranda  and all other  agreements  or  documents
printed (or  reproduced)  and delivered in  connection  with the offering of the
Debentures;  (v) the application for quotation of the Debentures on PORTAL; (vi)
the qualification of the Debentures and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky
laws of the several  states as provided in Section  4(f) hereof  (including  the
reasonable  fees,   expenses  and  disbursements  of  counsel  for  the  Initial
Purchasers relating to the preparation,  printing or reproduction,  and delivery
of the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda and such  qualification);
(vii) the

                                      -25-


<PAGE>



performance  by the Company of its  obligations  under the  Registration  Rights
Agreement; and (viii) the fees and expenses of the Company's accountants and the
fees and  expenses  of counsel  (including  local and special  counsel)  for the
Company.  The Company hereby agrees that it will pay in full on the Closing Date
the fees and expenses referred to in clause (vi) of this Section 8 by delivering
to  counsel  for the  Initial  Purchasers  on such date a check  payable to such
counsel in the requisite amount.

         9. Effective Date of Agreement.  This Agreement shall become  effective
upon the execution  and delivery  hereof by all the parties  hereto.  Until such
time as this Agreement shall have become effective,  it may be terminated by the
Company, by notifying the Initial Purchasers,  or by the Initial Purchasers,  by
notifying the Company.

         Any notice under this  Section 9 may be given by telegram,  telecopy or
telephone but shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

         10.  Termination  of  Agreement.  This  Agreement  shall be  subject to
termination  in the  absolute  discretion  of the  Initial  Purchasers,  without
liability on the part of the Initial Purchasers to the Company, by notice to the
Company,  if prior to the Closing Date or any Option  Closing Date (if different
from the Closing  Date and then only as to the  Additional  Debentures),  as the
case may be, (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange,
American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq  National Market shall have been suspended
or  materially  limited,   (ii)  a  general  moratorium  on  commercial  banking
activities  in New York  shall  have been  declared  by either  Federal or state
authorities,  or (iii) there shall have  occurred any outbreak or  escalation of
hostilities or other  international  or domestic  calamity,  crisis or change in
political,  financial  or  economic  conditions,  the  effect  of  which  on the
financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of
the initial purchaser,  impracticable or inadvisable to commence or continue the
offering  of the  Debentures  on the terms  set  forth on the cover  page of the
Offering  Memorandum or to enforce contracts for the resale of the Debentures by
the Initial  Purchasers.  Notice of such termination may be given to the Company
by  telegram,  telecopy or  telephone  and shall be  subsequently  confirmed  by
letter.

         11. Information Furnished by the Initial Purchasers. The statements set
forth in the stabilization  legend on the inside front cover, the last paragraph
on the  cover  page and in the  third,  fourth  and sixth  paragraphs  under the
caption "Plan of Distribution" in the Offering  Memorandum,  constitute the only
information  furnished  by or on  behalf  of  the  Initial  Purchasers  as  such
information is referred to in Sections 5(b) and 6 hereof.

         12. Miscellaneous. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4, 9 and 10
hereof,  notice given  pursuant to any provision of this  Agreement  shall be in
writing  and shall be  delivered  (i) if to the  Company,  at the  office of the
Company at One HealthSouth Parkway,  Birmingham, AL 35243, Attention: Michael D.
Martin, Chief Financial Officer, or (ii) if to the Initial Purchasers,  to Smith
Barney Inc.,  388  Greenwich  Street,  New York, NY 10013,  Attention:  Manager,
Investment Banking Division.

                                      -26-




<PAGE>



         This  Agreement  has been and is made  solely  for the  benefit  of the
Initial Purchasers, the Company, its directors, its officers and the controlling
persons  referred  to in Section 6 hereof and their  respective  successors  and
assigns,  to the extent  provided  herein,  and no other person shall acquire or
have  any  right  under  or by  virtue  of  this  Agreement.  Neither  the  term
"successor"  nor the term  "successors  and  assigns" as used in this  Agreement
shall include a purchaser  from the Initial  Purchasers of any of the Debentures
in his status as such purchaser.

         13. Applicable Law;  Counterparts.  This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

         This  Agreement may be signed in various  counterparts  which  together
constitute  one and  the  same  instrument.  If  signed  in  counterparts,  this
Agreement  shall not become  effective  unless at least one  counterpart  hereof
shall have been executed and delivered on behalf of each party hereto.

                                      -27-



<PAGE>



         Please  confirm that the foregoing  correctly  sets forth the agreement
between the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

                                                   Very truly yours,

                                                   HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                                                   By
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                       Chief Financial Officer

                                                   SMITH BARNEY INC.
                                                   BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
                                                   COWEN & COMPANY
                                                   CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
                                                    CORPORATION
                                                   J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
                                                   MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
                                                    INCORPORATED
                                                   NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY
                                                    SECURITIES LLC
                                                   PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED


                                                   By SMITH BARNEY INC.



                                                   By
                                                      --------------------------
                                                          Managing Director

                                      -28-



<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I
                                   ----------

                             HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                                                               Principal Amount
Initial Purchasers                                            of Firm Debentures
- ------------------                                            ------------------

Smith Barney Inc.                                                $459,750,000
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.                                            5,750,000
Cowen & Company                                                     5,750,000
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation                              5,750,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.                                         5,750,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated                                   5,750,000
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC                               5,750,000
PaineWebber Incorporated                                            5,750,000
                                                                 ------------
       Total                                                     $500,000,000












                                      I-1


<PAGE>


                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                           Dated as of March 17, 1998

                                   relating to
                     $500,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount
                        of 3.25% Convertible Subordinated
                               Debentures due 2003

                                  by and among

                             HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                                       and

                               SMITH BARNEY INC.,

                            BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.,

                                COWEN & COMPANY,

                     CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION,

                          J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

                       MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED,

                      NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC

                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED

         THIS  REGISTRATION  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT  (the  "Agreement")  is made  and
entered  into as of March  17,  1998 by and  among  HEALTHSOUTH  CORPORATION,  a
Delaware  corporation (the "Company") and SMITH BARNEY INC., BEAR, STEARNS & CO.
INC.,  COWEN & COMPANY,  CREDIT  SUISSE FIRST BOSTON  CORPORATION,  J.P.  MORGAN
SECURITIES  INC.,  MORGAN  STANLEY & CO.  INCORPORATED,  NATIONSBANC  MONTGOMERY
SECURITIES   LLC,  and   PAINEWEBBER   INCORPORATED   (together,   the  "Initial
Purchasers"),  who have purchased  $500,000,000  aggregate  principal  amount of
3.25%  Convertible  Subordinated  Debentures due 2003 (the  "Debentures") of the
Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).




                                       -1-

<PAGE>


         This  Agreement is made pursuant to a Purchase  Agreement,  dated March
17,  1998 (the  "Purchase  Agreement"),  between  the  Company  and the  Initial
Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement,  the Company has agreed to provide the registration  rights set forth
in this  Agreement.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition
to closing under the Purchase Agreement.  All defined terms used but not defined
herein shall have the  meanings  ascribed to them in the  Indenture  (as defined
herein).

         The parties hereby agree as follows:

         1. Definitions.  As used in this Agreement,  the following  capitalized
terms shall have the following meanings:

         (a) Act. The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         (b) Closing Date.  The date on which all the Debentures are sold by the
Company to the Initial Purchasers.

         (c)  Commission.  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

         (d) Common Stock.  The Common Stock,  par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company.

         (e) Damages  Payment Date. With respect to the Debentures or the Common
Stock, as applicable, each Interest Payment Date as defined in the Indenture.

         (f) Effectiveness Target Date. As defined in Section 4.

         (g) Exchange Act. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         (h) Exempt Resales.  The  transactions in which the Initial  Purchasers
propose  to  sell  the  Debentures  inside  the  United  States  to (i)  certain
"qualified institutional buyers" (as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the
Act)  and  (ii)  certain  "accredited  investors,"  as  defined  in Rule  501 of
Regulation  D under the Act,  and  outside  the  United  States in  reliance  on
Regulation S under the Act.

         (i) Holders. As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.

         (j) Indenture.  The Indenture,  dated as of March 20, 1998, between the
Company and The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust  Company of New York,  as trustee (the
"Trustee"), pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued, as such Indenture
is  amended  or  supplemented  from  time to time in  accordance  with the terms
thereof.

         (k) Interest Payment Date. As defined in the Indenture.

         (l)  NASD.  National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.


                                      -2-

<PAGE>


         (m) Offering Memorandum. The Offering Memorandum, dated March 17, 1998,
and all  amendments  and  supplements  thereto,  relating to the  Debentures and
prepared by the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

         (n)  Person.  An  individual,   partnership,   corporation,   trust  or
unincorporated organization,  or a government or agency or political subdivision
thereof.

         (o) Preliminary Prospectus. As defined in Section 3(g).

         (p)  Prospectus.  The  prospectus  included  in the Shelf  Registration
Statement (as defined  herein),  as amended or  supplemented  by any  Prospectus
Supplement  with  respect  to the terms of the  offering  of any  portion of the
Transfer  Restricted  Securities  (as  defined  herein)  covered  by  the  Shelf
Registration  Statement  and by all  other  amendments  and  supplements  to the
prospectus,  including post-effective  amendments, and all material which may be
incorporated by reference into such prospectus.

         (q) Prospectus Supplement. As defined in Section 5(b).

         (r)  Record  Holder.  (i) With  respect  to any  Damages  Payment  Date
relating to the  Debentures,  each Person who is  registered on the books of the
Registrar  as the holder of  Debentures  on the record date with  respect to the
Interest  Payment Date on which such  Damages  Payment Date shall occur and (ii)
with respect to any Damages  Payment  Date  relating to the Common  Stock,  each
Person who is a holder of record of such Common Stock  fifteen days prior to the
Damages Payment Date.

         (s) Shelf Registration Statement. As defined in Section 3(a) hereof.

         (t) TIA. The Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,  as in effect on
the date of the Indenture.

         (u) Transfer Restricted Securities.  Each Debenture and share of Common
Stock of the Company  issuable upon  conversion of a Debenture,  until each such
Debenture or share (i) has been effectively  registered under the Securities Act
and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement covering it,
(ii) is distributed  to the public  pursuant to Rule 144 or (iii) may be sold or
transferred  pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar  provisions  then in force)
under the Securities Act or otherwise.

         (v)  Underwriter.  Any Underwriter,  placement  agent,  selling broker,
dealer manager, qualified independent Underwriter or similar securities industry
professional.

         (w) Underwritten  Registration or Underwritten Offering. An offering in
which  securities  of the  Company  are  sold  to an  Underwriter  or  with  the
assistance of such Underwriter for reoffering to the public on a firm commitment
or best efforts basis.


                                      -3-

<PAGE>


         2.  Securities Subject to This Agreement.

         (a) Transfer  Restricted  Securities.  The  securities  entitled to the
benefits of this Agreement are the Transfer Restricted Securities.

         (b) Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities. A Person is deemed to be
a holder of Transfer  Restricted  Securities  (each,  a "Holder")  whenever such
Person owns Transfer Restricted Securities.

         3.  Shelf Registration.

         (a) The Company shall cause to be filed with the Commission on or prior
to 60 days after the Closing Date, a shelf  registration  statement  pursuant to
Rule  415  under  the Act  (as may  then be  amended,  the  "Shelf  Registration
Statement") on Form S-1, or Form S-3 if the use of such form is then  available,
to cover resales of Transfer  Restricted  Securities by the Holders  thereof who
satisfy  certain  conditions   relating  to  the  provision  of  information  in
connection with the Shelf Registration  Statement.  The Holders of such Transfer
Restricted Securities shall have provided the representations  required pursuant
to Section 3(g) hereof.  The Company  shall use its  reasonable  best efforts to
cause  such  Shelf  Registration  Statement  to be  declared  effective  by  the
Commission on or prior to 150 days after the Closing Date. The Company shall use
its  reasonable  best  efforts  to  keep  such  Shelf   Registration   Statement
continuously  effective for a period ending two years following the Closing Date
or such shorter period that will terminate when each of the Transfer  Restricted
Securities  covered  by the Shelf  Registration  Statement  shall  cease to be a
Transfer Restricted  Security.  The Company further agrees to use its reasonable
best  efforts to prevent the  happening  of any event that would cause the Shelf
Registration  Statement to contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the  statements  therein not  misleading  or to be not  effective and usable for
resale of the Transfer  Restricted  Securities during the period that such Shelf
Registration Statement is required to be effective and usable.

         Upon  the   occurrence   of  any  event  that  would  cause  the  Shelf
Registration Statement (i) to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or (ii) to be not effective and usable for
resale of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  during the  period  that such Shelf
Registration Statement is required to be effective and usable, the Company shall
as  promptly  as  reasonably   practicable   file  an  amendment  to  the  Shelf
Registration  Statement,  in  the  case  of  clause  (i),  correcting  any  such
misstatement or omission,  and in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), use its
reasonable  best efforts to cause such  amendment to be declared  effective  and
such  Shelf  Registration  Statement  to  become  usable  as soon as  reasonably
practicable thereafter.

         Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Section 3, subject to
compliance  with  Sections 4 and 5(b), if  applicable,  the Company may prohibit
offers  and  sales of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  pursuant  to the  Shelf
Registration  Statement at any time if (A) (i) it is in  possession  of material
non-public  information,  (ii) the Board of Directors of the Company  determines
(based on advice of counsel)  that such  prohibition  is  necessary  in order to
avoid a


                                      -4-

<PAGE>


requirement to disclose such material non-public information and (iii) the Board
of Directors of the Company  determines  in good faith that  disclosure  of such
material  non-public  information  would  not be in the  best  interests  of the
Company and its  shareholders or (B) the Company has made a public  announcement
relating to an acquisition  or business  combination  transaction  including the
Company  and/or  one or more of its  subsidiaries  (i) that is  material  to the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and (ii) the Board of Directors of
the  Company  determines  in good  faith  that  offers  and  sales  of  Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration  Statement prior to the
consummation of such transaction (or such earlier date as the Board of Directors
shall  determine)  is  not  in  the  best  interests  of  the  Company  and  its
shareholders  (the period during which any such  prohibition of offers and sales
of Transfer Restricted  Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration  Statement
is in effect pursuant to clause (A) or (B) of this  subparagraph (a) is referred
to herein as a "Suspension  Period").  A Suspension Period shall commence on and
include  the date on which the  Company  provides  written  notice  pursuant  to
Section 5(d) hereof to Holders of Transfer Restricted  Securities covered by the
Shelf  Registration  Statement  that  offers  and sales of  Transfer  Restricted
Securities cannot be made thereunder in accordance with this Section 3 and shall
end on the date on which each Holder of Transfer  Restricted  Securities covered
by the Shelf  Registration  Statement  either  receives  copies of a  Prospectus
Supplement  contemplated by Section 5(b) or is advised in writing by the Company
that offers and sales of Transfer  Restricted  Securities  pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement and use of the Prospectus may be resumed.

         (b) None of the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the
Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities in such capacity) shall have the right
to include any of the Company's securities in the Shelf Registration Statement.

         (c)  If  (i)  only  Debentures  are  to  be  registered  in  the  Shelf
Registration  Statement  and the  Holders of a majority in  aggregate  principal
amount of the Debentures to be registered in the Shelf Registration Statement so
elect,  or (ii) any shares of Common Stock issued upon  conversion of Debentures
are to be  included  in the Shelf  Registration  Statement  and the Holders of a
majority  of  the  shares  of  Common  Stock  to  be  registered  in  the  Shelf
Registration  Statement so elect, an offering of Transfer Restricted  Securities
pursuant to the Shelf  Registration  Statement may by effected in the form of an
Underwritten Offering. In such event, and if the Underwriter advises the Company
and the Holders of such Transfer Restricted  Securities in writing that in their
opinion the amount of Transfer Restricted Securities proposed to be sold in such
offering exceeds the amount of Transfer Restricted  Securities which can be sold
in such  offering,  there shall be included in such  Underwritten  Offering  the
amount of such  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  which in the  opinion  of such
Underwriters can be sold, and such amount or number of shares shall be allocated
pro rata among the Holders of such Transfer  Restricted  Securities on the basis
of the principal  amount or number of shares of Transfer  Restricted  Securities
requested to be included by such Holders. The Holders of the Transfer Restricted
Securities to be registered shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions
of such Underwriters.

         (d) If any of the Transfer  Restricted  Securities covered by the Shelf
Registration  Statement  are  to  be  sold  in  an  Underwritten  Offering,  the
Underwriter(s) that will administer the


                                      -5-

<PAGE>


offering  will  be  selected  by the  Holders  of a  majority  of the  aggregate
principal amount of Debentures included in the Registration Statement and/or the
Holders  of a  majority  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  included  in  the  Shelf
Registration  Statement and issued upon conversion of the Debentures;  provided,
however,  that  such  Underwriter(s)  shall be  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Company.

         (e) Each Holder whose Transfer  Restricted  Securities are covered by a
Shelf Registration  Statement filed pursuant to this Section 3 agrees,  upon the
request of the  Underwriter(s) in any Underwritten  Offering,  not to effect any
public sale or  distribution  of  securities of the Company of the same class as
the securities included in such Shelf Registration  Statement,  including a sale
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act (except as part of such registration), during
the 10-day  period  prior to, and during  the 90-day  period  beginning  on, the
closing  date of any such  Underwritten  Offering  made  pursuant  to such Shelf
Registration  Statement,  to the  extent  timely  notified  in  writing  by such
Underwriter(s).

         The  foregoing  provisions  of this Section 3(e) shall not apply to any
Holder  of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  if such  Holder  is  prevented  by
applicable  statute  or  regulation  from  entering  into  any  such  agreement;
provided,  however,  that any such  Holder  shall  undertake,  in its request to
participate in any such Underwritten  Offering, not to effect any public sale or
distribution of any of its Transfer Restricted Securities commencing on the date
of sale of such Transfer  Restricted  Securities  unless it has provided 90 days
prior written notice of such sale or distribution to the Underwriter(s).

         (f) The Company agrees not to effect any public or private offer,  sale
or  distribution  of  Securities  of the same quality and nature as the Transfer
Restricted Securities to be registered in an Underwritten Offering,  including a
sale pursuant to Regulation D under the Act,  during the 10-day period prior to,
and during the 90-day period beginning on, the closing date of each Underwritten
Offering made pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, to the extent timely
notified in writing by the Underwriter(s)  (except as part of such registration,
if permitted,  or pursuant to registrations on Forms S-4 or S-8 or any successor
form to such Forms),  unless the  Underwriter(s)  shall  consent in writing to a
shorter period of time; provided,  however, that any such agreement shall permit
(A) the  issuance  by the  Company  of any  shares  of  Common  Stock  issued to
employees  of the  Company  or to any  other  eligible  person  pursuant  to any
employee  stock option plan,  stock  ownership  plan,  stock bonus plan or stock
compensation  plan of the  Company  in effect  on the date of such  Underwritten
Offering, (B) the issuance by the Company of Common Stock upon the conversion of
securities,  or the exercise of options or warrants,  outstanding at the date of
such Underwritten  Offering and (C) issuances of Common Stock (or any securities
convertible  into or  exercisable  for  Common  Stock,  in  connection  with the
acquisition of any related business.

         (g) No Holder of Transfer Restricted  Securities may include any of its
Transfer Restricted  Securities in any Shelf Registration  Statement pursuant to
this Agreement unless such Holder furnishes to the Company in writing, within 10
business  days after  receipt of a request  therefor,  such  information  as the
Company may reasonably request for use in connection with


                                      -6-

<PAGE>

any Shelf  Registration  Statement or  Prospectus or  preliminary  Prospectus (a
"Preliminary Prospectus") included therein.

         4. Liquidated Damages.  If (i) the Shelf Registration  Statement is not
filed with the  Commission on or prior to 60 days after the Closing  Date,  (ii)
the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  has  not  been  declared  effective  by the
Commission  within 150 days after the Closing  Date (the  "Effectiveness  Target
Date"),  or  (iii)  the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  is filed  and  declared
effective but shall  thereafter  cease to be effective  (without being succeeded
immediately by any additional  Shelf  Registration  Statement filed and declared
effective)  or usable for the offer and sale of Transfer  Restricted  Securities
for a period of time  (including  any  Suspension  Period) which shall exceed 60
days in the aggregate in any 12-month period during the period  beginning on the
Closing  Date and ending on or prior to the second  anniversary  of the  Closing
Date (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iii), a  "Registration
Default"),  the Company will pay  liquidated  damages to each Holder of Transfer
Restricted Securities who has complied with such Holder's obligations under this
Agreement,  during the first 90-day period immediately  following the occurrence
of such  Registration  Default in an amount  equal to one quarter of one percent
(25 basis points) per annum per $1,000  principal  amount of Debentures  and, if
applicable, $2.50 per annum per 27.30 shares (subject to adjustment in the event
of stock splits, stock  recombinations,  stock dividends and the like) of Common
Stock  constituting  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  held by such Holder.  The
amount of the  liquidated  damages will  increase to one half of one percent (50
basis points) per annum per $1,000  principal  amount of Debentures or $5.00 per
annum per 27.30  shares  (subject to  adjustment  as set forth  above) of Common
Stock constituting Transfer Restricted Securities for any additional days during
which a Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, it being understood
that all  calculations  pursuant  to this and the  preceding  sentence  shall be
carried out to four decimals.  All accrued  liquidated  damages shall be paid to
Record  Holders by wire transfer of  immediately  available  funds or by federal
funds check by the Company on each Damages  Payment Date.  Following the cure of
all Registration Defaults,  liquidated damages will cease to accrue with respect
to such Registration Default.

         All of the Company's  obligations set forth in the preceding  paragraph
which are outstanding  with respect to any Transfer  Restricted  Security at the
time such security  ceases to be a Transfer  Restricted  Security  shall survive
until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have
been satisfied in full.

         5. Registration  Procedures.  In connection with the Shelf Registration
Statement,  the  Company  will use its  reasonable  best  efforts to effect such
registration to permit the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold
in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution or disposition
thereof,  and  pursuant  thereto the Company will as  expeditiously  as possible
after the Closing Date:

         (a) prepare and file with the Commission a Shelf Registration Statement
relating to the registration on Form S-1, or Form S-3 if the use of such form is
then available, for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities in accordance
with the intended  method or methods of  distribution  thereof and shall include
all financial statements required to be included or


                                      -7-

<PAGE>


incorporated by reference therein;  cooperate and assist in any filings required
to be made with the NASD and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf
Registration  Statement to become  effective  and approved by such  governmental
agencies or  authorities  as may be necessary  to enable the selling  Holders to
consummate the  disposition of such Transfer  Restricted  Securities;  provided,
however, that before filing a Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus, or
any amendments or supplements  thereto,  the Company will furnish to the Holders
and the  Underwriter(s),  if any,  copies of all such  documents  proposed to be
filed  (except that the Company shall not be required to furnish any exhibits to
such documents,  including those incorporated by reference,  unless so requested
by a Holder in writing),  and the Company  will not file any Shelf  Registration
Statement or amendment  thereto or any Prospectus or any  supplement  thereto to
which (i) the  Underwriter(s),  if any, shall reasonably object or (ii) if there
are no Underwriters and if (A) only Debentures are to be registered in the Shelf
Registration  Statement  and the  Holders of a majority in  aggregate  principal
amount of the Debentures  registered in the Shelf  Registration  Statement shall
reasonably  object,  or (B) any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of
the Debentures are included in the Shelf Registration  Statement and the Holders
of a  majority  of the  shares  of  Common  Stock  so  registered  in the  Shelf
Registration  Statement shall reasonably  object,  in each such case within five
business days after the receipt thereof. A Holder or Underwriter,  if any, shall
be deemed to have reasonably  objected to such filing if the Shelf  Registration
Statement, amendment, Prospectus or supplement, as applicable, as proposed to be
filed  contains  any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading which misstatement or omission is specifically identified
to the Company in writing within such five business days;

         (b)  prepare  and  file  with  the  Commission   such   amendments  and
post-effective  amendments  to  the  Shelf  Registration  Statement  as  may  be
necessary to keep the Shelf Registration  Statement effective for the applicable
period  set  forth in  Section  3(a)  hereof,  or such  shorter  period  as will
terminate  when  all  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  covered  by  such  Shelf
Registration  Statement have been sold;  cause the Prospectus to be supplemented
by any  required  supplement  thereto  (a  "Prospectus  Supplement"),  and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and to comply fully
with the  applicable  provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Act in a timely
manner;  and  comply  with  the  provisions  of  the  Act  with  respect  to the
disposition  of all  securities  covered  by such Shelf  Registration  Statement
during the applicable  period in accordance  with the intended method or methods
of  distribution  by the sellers  thereof  set forth in such Shelf  Registration
Statement, Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement;

         (c) if requested by the Holders of Transfer Restricted  Securities,  or
if  the  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  are  being  sold  in an  Underwritten
Offering, the Underwriter(s) of such Underwritten Offering, promptly incorporate
in the Prospectus,  any Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Shelf  Registration  Statement such information as the  Underwriters  and/or the
Holders of Transfer  Restricted  Securities  being sold agree should be included
therein  relating  to  the  plan  of  distribution  of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities,  including,  without  limitation,  information  with  respect to the
principal  amount  of  Transfer   Restricted   Securities  being  sold  to  such
Underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid therefor


                                      -8-

<PAGE>


and any other  terms with  respect to the  offering of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities to be sold in such  offering;  and make all required  filings of such
Prospectus,  Prospectus  Supplement  or  post-effective  amendment  as  soon  as
practicable  after the Company is notified of the matters to be  incorporated in
such Prospectus, Prospectus Supplement or post-effective amendment;

         (d) advise the  Underwriter(s),  if any, and selling  Holders  promptly
and, if requested by such Persons,  to confirm such advice in writing,  (i) when
the Prospectus or any Prospectus  Supplement or post-effective  amendment to the
Shelf  Registration  Statement  has been filed,  and,  with respect to the Shelf
Registration  Statement or any post-effective  amendment thereto,  when the same
has become  effective,  (ii) of any request by the  Commission for amendments to
the Shelf Registration  Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
or for additional  information  relating  thereto,  (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission  of  any  stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of  the  Shelf
Registration  Statement  under  the  Act  or of  the  suspension  by  any  state
securities commission of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities
for offering or sale in any  jurisdiction,  or the  initiation of any proceeding
for any of the preceding  purposes,  (iv) if at any time the representations and
warranties  of the Company  contemplated  by paragraph  (m)(i) below cease to be
true and correct,  and (v) of any  Suspension  Period or of the existence of any
fact and the  happening of any event that makes any statement of a material fact
made in the Shelf  Registration  Statement,  the  Prospectus,  any  amendment or
supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by reference therein untrue, or
that  requires  the  making  of  any  additions  to  or  changes  in  the  Shelf
Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein
not  misleading.  If at any time  the  Commission  shall  issue  any stop  order
suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration  Statement,  or any state
securities  commission  or  other  regulatory  authority  shall  issue  an order
suspending the  qualification  or exemption from  qualification  of the Transfer
Restricted Securities under state securities or Blue Sky laws, the Company shall
use its  reasonable  best  efforts to obtain the  withdrawal  or lifting of such
order at the earliest possible time;

         (e)  promptly  following  the  filing  of any  document  that  is to be
incorporated  by  reference  into  the  Shelf  Registration   Statement  or  the
Prospectus subsequent to the initial filing of the Shelf Registration Statement,
provide  copies of such  document  (excluding  exhibits,  unless  requested by a
Holder in writing) to the Holders;

         (f)  furnish  to each  Holder and each of the  Underwriter(s),  if any,
without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration  Statement, as first
filed  with  the  Commission,  and of  each  amendment  thereto,  including  all
documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (excluding exhibits
to documents incorporated by reference therein unless requested by such Holder);

         (g) deliver to each selling Holder and each of the  Underwriter(s),  if
any,  without  charge,  as many  copies of any  Preliminary  Prospectus  and the
Prospectus  and any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto  as such  Persons  may
reasonably  request;  the  Company  consents  to  the  use  of  any  Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements  thereto by each
of the selling  Holders and each of the  Underwriter(s),  if any, in  connection
with the


                                      -9-

<PAGE>


public offering and the sale of the Transfer  Restricted  Securities  covered by
any  Preliminary  Prospectus and the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto;

         (h) prior to any public  offering  of Transfer  Restricted  Securities,
cooperate  with the  selling  Holders,  the  Underwriter(s),  if any,  and their
respective  counsel in connection with the registration and qualification of the
Transfer  Restricted  Securities  under the  securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions  as the selling Holders or  Underwriter(s)  may request and do any
and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such  jurisdiction of the Transfer  Restricted  Securities  covered by the Shelf
Registration  Statement;  provided,  however,  that  the  Company  shall  not be
required (i) to register or qualify as a foreign corporation where it is not now
so  qualified,  (ii) to take any action that would  subject it to the service of
process in suits,  other than as to matters  and  transactions  relating  to the
Shelf  Registration  Statement,  in any  jurisdiction  where  it is  not  now so
subject,  or (iii) to take any action  that would  subject it to taxation in any
jurisdiction  in an amount  greater than it would be so subject  without  having
taken such action;

         (i) cooperate with the selling Holders and the Underwriter(s),  if any,
to facilitate the timely  preparation and delivery of certificates  representing
Transfer  Restricted  Securities  to be sold  and not  bearing  any  restrictive
legends;  and  enable  such  Transfer  Restricted   Securities  to  be  in  such
denominations and registered in such names as the Holders or the Underwriter(s),
if any,  may  request at least two  business  days prior to any sale of Transfer
Restricted Securities;

         (j) use its  reasonable  best efforts to cause the Transfer  Restricted
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration  Statement to be registered with or
approved by such other governmental  agencies or authorities as may be necessary
to enable the  seller or  sellers  thereof  or the  Underwriter(s),  if any,  to
consummate the disposition of such Transfer  Restricted  Securities,  subject to
the proviso contained in clause (h) above;

         (k) if any fact or event  contemplated  by clause  (d)(v)  above  shall
exist or have occurred,  prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the
Shelf Registration  Statement or related Prospectus or any document incorporated
therein by reference or file any other required  document so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of Transfer  Restricted  Securities,  the Prospectus
will not  contain an untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

         (l) provide a CUSIP number for all Transfer  Restricted  Securities not
later than the effective  date of the Shelf  Registration  Statement and provide
the Trustee under the Indenture  and/or the transfer  agent for the Common Stock
with printed certificates for the Transfer Restricted  Securities which are in a
form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company;

         (m) enter into such agreements  (including an  underwriting  agreement)
and take all such other  actions in  connection  therewith as may  reasonably be
required in order to expedite or  facilitate  the  disposition  of the  Transfer
Restricted  Securities  pursuant  to  the  Shelf  Registration   Agreement,   in
connection with an Underwritten Registration,  and (i) make such representations


                                      -10-

<PAGE>


and  warranties to the Holders and the  Underwriter(s),  in form,  substance and
scope as they may reasonably  request and as are customarily  made by issuers to
Underwriters in primary  Underwritten  Offerings and covering matters including,
but not  limited  to,  those set forth in the  Purchase  Agreement;  (ii) obtain
opinions of counsel to the Company and  updates  thereof in  customary  form and
covering  matters  reasonably  requested  by  the  Underwriter(s)  of  the  type
customarily covered in legal opinions to Underwriters in connection with primary
Underwritten  Offerings  addressed  to each selling  Holder and the  Underwriter
requesting  the same and covering the matters as may be reasonably  requested by
such  Holders  and  Underwriters;  (iii)  obtain,  to the  extent  permitted  by
Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72 or any successor Statement thereto, "cold
comfort"  letters and updates thereof from the Company's  independent  certified
public  accountants  addressed  to the selling  Holders of  Transfer  Restricted
Securities  and the  Underwriters  requesting  the same,  such  letters to be in
customary  form and covering  matters of the type  customarily  covered in "cold
comfort"  letters  to  Underwriters  in  connection  with  primary  Underwritten
Offerings;   (iv)  set  forth  in  full  or  incorporate  by  reference  in  the
underwriting agreement the indemnification  provisions and procedures of Section
7 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section;
and (v) deliver such documents and  certificates as may be reasonably  requested
by  the  Holders  of  the  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  being  sold  or the
Underwriter(s) of such Underwritten  Offering to evidence compliance with clause
(i)  above  and with any  customary  conditions  contained  in the  underwriting
agreement  entered  into by the Company  pursuant to this clause (m).  The above
shall be done at or prior to each closing under such underwriting  agreement, as
and to the extent required thereunder;

         (n) make available at reasonable  times and in a reasonable  manner for
inspection  by a  representative  of  the  Holders  of the  Transfer  Restricted
Securities,  any Underwriter  participating in any disposition  pursuant to such
Shelf Registration  Statement,  and any attorney or accountant  retained by such
selling  Holders or any of the  Underwriters,  all financial and other  records,
pertinent  corporate  documents  and  properties  of the  Company  and cause the
Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such Holder, Underwriter,  attorney or accountant in connection
with such Shelf  Registration  Statement prior to its  effectiveness,  provided,
however, that such representatives, attorneys or accountants shall agree to keep
confidential  (which  agreement  shall be confirmed in writing in advance to the
Company if the Company shall so request) all  information,  records or documents
made available to such persons which are not otherwise  available to the general
public unless  disclosure of such records,  information or documents is required
by court or  administrative  order (of which the  Company  shall have been given
prior notice and an  opportunity  to defend) after the exhaustion of all appeals
therefrom,  and to use such information obtained pursuant to this provision only
in connection with the transaction for which such information was obtained,  and
not for any other purpose;

         (o)  otherwise  use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to comply  with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available
to its  security  holders,  as  soon as  practicable,  a  consolidated  earnings
statement, which consolidated earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Act, for the twelve-month  period (i) commencing at the end
of any  fiscal  quarter  in which  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  are sold to
Underwriters in a


                                      -11-

<PAGE>


firm  commitment  or best efforts  Underwritten  Offering or (ii) if not sold to
Underwriters  in such  an  offering,  beginning  with  the  first  month  of the
Company's first fiscal quarter  commencing after the effective date of the Shelf
Registration Statement;

         (p)  cause  the  Indenture  to be  qualified  under  the TIA,  and,  in
connection therewith,  cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such
changes  to the  Indenture  as may  be  required  for  such  Indenture  to be so
qualified in accordance  with the terms of the TIA; and execute and use its best
efforts to cause the  Trustee to execute  all  documents  as may be  required to
effect such changes and all other forms and documents  required to be filed with
the Commission to enable such Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

         (q) make every reasonable  effort to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration  Statement as promptly as
practicable.

         (r) cause  all  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  covered  by the Shelf
Registration  Statement  to be listed on each  securities  exchange or quotation
system on which  similar  securities  issued by the  Company  are then listed if
requested  by the Holders of a majority in  aggregate  principal  amount  and/or
number of shares of such Transfer Restricted Securities or the Underwriters,  if
any;  cause the  Debentures  covered by the Shelf  Registration  Statement to be
rated with the appropriate rating agencies,  if so requested by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate  principal amount of such Debentures or the  Underwriters;
and

         (s)  cooperate  and assist in any filings  required to be made with the
NASD  and  in  the  performance  of  any  due  diligence  investigation  by  any
Underwriter (including any "qualified independent  Underwriter" that is required
to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD).

         Each  Holder  as to which  any Shelf  Registration  Statement  is being
effected agrees to furnish  promptly to the Company all information  required to
be  disclosed  in order  to make the  information  previously  furnished  to the
Company by such Holder not  materially  misleading  or  necessary  to cause such
Shelf  Registration  Statement  not to omit a material fact with respect to such
Holder necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

         Each  Holder  agrees  by  acquisition   of  such  Transfer   Restricted
Securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the existence of
any fact of the kind  described  in Section  5(d)(v)  hereof,  such  Holder will
forthwith  discontinue  disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities until such
Holder's  receipt  of the  copies  of the  supplemented  or  amended  Prospectus
contemplated  by Section  5(k)  hereof,  or until it is advised in writing  (the
"Advice") by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed,  and has
received  copies of any additional or  supplemental  filings with respect to the
Prospectus.  If so directed  by the  Company,  each  Holder will  deliver to the
Company (at the Company's expense) all copies,  other than permanent file copies
then in such  Holder's  possession,  of the  Prospectus  covering  such Transfer
Restricted  Securities  current at the time of receipt  of such  notice.  In the
event the Company  shall give any such  notice,  the time period  regarding  the
effectiveness of Shelf  Registration  Statement set forth in Section 3(a) hereof
shall be extended by the number of days during the


                                      -12-

<PAGE>


period  from and  including  the date of the giving of such  notice  pursuant to
Section  5(d)(v)  hereof to and  including  the date when  each  selling  Holder
covered by such Shelf  Registration  Statement shall have received the copies of
the  supplemented or amended  Prospectus  contemplated by Section 5(k) hereof or
shall have received the Advice.

         6.  Registration Expenses.

         (a) All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance
with this Agreement (the "Registration  Expenses") will be borne by the Company,
regardless whether a Shelf Registration  Statement becomes effective,  including
without limitation:

                  (i) all registration  and filing fees and expenses  (including
         filings made with the NASD);

                  (ii) fees and expenses of compliance  with federal  securities
         or state blue sky laws;

                  (iii)  expenses of printing  (including,  without  limitation,
         expenses  of  printing  or  engraving  certificates  for  the  Transfer
         Restricted  Securities in a form  eligible for deposit with  Depository
         Trust  Company  and of  printing  the  Prospectus  and any  Preliminary
         Prospectus), messenger and delivery services and telephone;

                  (iv)  reasonable  fees and  disbursements  of counsel  for the
         Company  and for the  Holders  of the  Transfer  Restricted  Securities
         (subject to the provisions of Section 6(b) hereof);

                  (v) fees and disbursements of all independent certified public
         accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit
         and "cold comfort" letters required by or incidental to the preparation
         and filing of a Shelf  Registration  Statement and  Prospectus  and the
         disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities);

                  (vi)  fees  and  expenses  associated  with  any  NASD  filing
         required  to  be  made  in  connection  with  the  Shelf   Registration
         Statement,  including,  if  applicable,  the fees and  expenses  of any
         "qualified independent  Underwriter" (and its counsel) that is required
         to be  retained in  accordance  with the rules and  regulations  of the
         NASD; and

                  (vii) fees and  expenses  of listing the  Transfer  Restricted
         Securities on any securities exchange or quotation system in accordance
         with Section 5(r) hereof.

         The Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses  (including,
without  limitation,  all salaries  and  expenses of its officers and  employees
performing legal or accounting duties),  the expense of any annual audit, rating
agency fees and the fees and expenses of any Person,


                                      -13-

<PAGE>


including  special  experts,  retained by the  Company.  The Holders of Transfer
Restricted  Securities  shall bear the  expense of any  broker's  commission  or
Underwriters' discount or commission.

         (b) In connection with the Shelf  Registration  Statement,  the Company
will reimburse the Holders of Transfer  Restricted  Securities  being registered
pursuant to such Shelf Registration  Statement for the fees and disbursements of
not more than one counsel  chosen by the Holders of a majority of the  principal
amount of the  Debentures  to be included in the Shelf  Registration  Statement,
provided,  however,  that in the case of an Underwritten Offering which includes
shares of Common  Stock,  such  counsel  shall be  chosen  by the  Holders  of a
majority  of the  shares of Common  Stock to be  included  in such  Underwritten
Offering.

         Notwithstanding  the  provisions of this Section  6(b),  each Holder of
Transfer Restricted Securities shall pay all Registration Expenses to the extent
required by applicable law.

         7.  Indemnification.

         (a) The Company agrees to indemnity and hold harmless each Holder (each
such Holder an "Indemnified Holder"), each agent, employee, officer and director
of any Indemnified  Holder and each person that controls each Indemnified Holder
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the  Exchange  Act,
and agents, employees,  officers and directors or any such controlling person of
any  Indemnified  Holder from and against any and all losses,  claims,  damages,
judgments,  liabilities and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses
of counsel and other  expenses in connection  with  investigating,  defending or
settling  any such action or claim) as they are  incurred  which arise out of or
based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement of a material fact
contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement  thereto or any Preliminary  Prospectus or arising out of or based
upon any omission or alleged  omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except (i) the Company shall not be liable to any Indemnified Holder in any such
case insofar as such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses
arise out of, or are based  upon,  any such  untrue  statement  or  omission  or
alleged  untrue  statement or omission based upon  information  relating to such
Indemnified  Holder or  Indemnified  Underwriter  furnished  in  writing by such
Indemnified Holder to the Company expressly for use therein and (ii) the Company
shall not be liable to any Indemnified  Holder under the indemnity  agreement in
this Section 7(a) with respect to any Preliminary  Prospectus to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage, judgment, liability or expense results solely from
the fact that any Indemnified  Holder sold Transfer  Restricted  Securities to a
person  to whom  there  was not  sent  or  given,  at or  prior  to the  written
confirmation  of  such  sale,  a copy  of the  Prospectus  as  then  amended  or
supplemented,  if the Company has previously furnished sufficient copies thereof
to the Indemnified Holder.

         (b)  If  any  action  or  proceeding  (including  any  governmental  or
regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any
Indemnified  Holder with respect to which  indemnity  may be sought  against the
Company  pursuant to this  Section 7, such  Indemnified  Holder  shall  promptly
notify the  Company in writing,  and the Company  shall have the right to


                                      -14-

<PAGE>


assume the defense  thereof,  including  the  employment  of counsel  reasonably
satisfactory  to such  Indemnified  Holder and payment of all fees and expenses;
provided,  however, that the omission so to notify the Company shall not relieve
the Company  from any  liability  that they may have to any  Indemnified  Holder
(except to the extent that the Company is  materially  prejudiced  or  otherwise
forfeits  substantive  rights  or  defenses  by  reason  of  such  failure).  An
Indemnified  Holder shall have the right to employ separate  counsel in any such
action or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses  of such  counsel  shall be at the expense of such  Indemnified  Holder
unless (i) the Company agrees in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the
Company  has  failed   promptly  to  assume  the  defense  and  employ   counsel
satisfactory  to the  Indemnified  Holder or (iii) the named parties to any such
action  or  proceeding  (including  any  unpleaded  parties)  include  both  the
Indemnified  Holder and the Company and such Indemnified  Holder shall have been
advised in writing by its counsel that representation of them and the Company by
the  same  counsel  would  be  inappropriate   under  applicable   standards  of
professional  conduct (whether or not such representation has been proposed) due
to actual or  potential  differing  interests  between  them (in which  case the
Company  shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf
of such  Indemnified  Holder).  It is understood  that the Company shall not, in
connection  with any one such action or separate  but  substantially  similar or
related  actions  in the  same  jurisdiction  arising  out of the  same  general
allegations or  circumstances,  be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one separate  firm of attorneys  (in addition to any local  counsel) at any time
for such Indemnified  Holders,  which firm shall be designated in writing by the
Holders of the majority of the aggregate  principal amount of Debentures  and/or
the number of shares of Common Stock on behalf of such Indemnified  Holders, and
that all such fees and expenses  shall be reimbursed  as they are incurred.  The
Company  shall not be liable  for any  settlement  of any such  action  effected
without  the written  consent of the  Company,  but if settled  with the written
consent of the Company,  or if there is a final  judgment with respect  thereto,
the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each  Indemnified  Holder from
and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  The
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified  Holder
affected thereby,  effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding
in which such  Indemnified  Holder has sought indemnity  hereunder,  unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Holder from all
liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding.

         (c) Each  Indemnified  Holder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and any
person  controlling  the Company  within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the "Company Indemnified Parties")
to  the  same  extent  as  the  foregoing  indemnity  from  the  Company  to any
Indemnified  Holder,  but only with  respect  to  information  relating  to each
Indemnified  Holder  furnished  to the  Company in  writing by each  Indemnified
Holder,  expressly for use in the  Registration  Statement,  Prospectus  (or any
amendment or supplement  thereto),  or any Preliminary  Prospectus.  In case any
action  shall be brought  against  any  Company  Indemnified  Party based on the
Registration Statement,  Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or
any Preliminary Prospectus and in respect of which indemnification may be sought
against each Indemnified  Holder pursuant to this Section 7(c), each Indemnified
Holder  shall have the rights and duties  given to the  Company by Section  7(a)
(except that if the


                                      -15-

<PAGE>


Company shall have assumed the defense thereof, each Indemnified Holder may, but
shall not be required to, employ separate counsel therein and participate in the
defense  thereof  and the  fees and  expenses  of such  counsel  shall be at the
expense of the  Indemnified  Holder) and the Company  Indemnified  Parties shall
have the rights and duties given to the Indemnified Holders by Section 7(b).

         (d)  If  the  indemnification   provided  for  in  this  Section  7  is
unavailable to any party entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 7(a) or
7(c), then each  indemnifying  party, in lieu of indemnifying  such  indemnified
party,  shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as a result of such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses
(i) in such  proportion  as is  appropriate  to reflect  the  relative  benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and each Indemnified Holder on the other
from  the  offering  of  the  Transfer  Restricted  Securities  or  (ii)  if the
allocation  provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable  law, in
such  proportion  as is  appropriate  to reflect not only the relative  benefits
referred  to in clause (i) above but also the  relative  fault of the Company on
the one hand and each  Indemnified  Holder on the other in  connection  with the
statements  or  omissions  which  resulted  in  such  losses,  claims,  damages,
judgments,  liabilities  or expenses,  as well as any other  relevant  equitable
considerations.  The relative  benefits  received by the Company on the one hand
and each  Indemnified  Holder  on the  other  shall be  deemed to be in the same
proportion  as the  total  net  proceeds  from the  offering  (before  deducting
expenses)  received  by the  Company  bear to the  total net  proceeds  from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by each Indemnified Holder, as set
forth in the table on the cover page of the  Prospectus.  The relative  fault of
the  Company on the one hand and each  Indemnified  Holder on the other shall be
determined by reference  to, among other  things,  whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to  information  supplied by the Company on the one hand
or by the  Indemnified  Holder on the other and the  parties'  relative  intent,
knowledge,  access to  information  and  opportunity  to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.

         (e) The Company and each Indemnified  Holder agree that it would not be
just and equitable if  contribution  pursuant to Section 7(d) were determined by
pro rata  allocation  or by any other  method of  allocation  that does not take
account of the equitable  considerations referred to in Section 7(d). The amount
paid or  payable  by an  indemnified  party as a result of the  losses,  claims,
damages,  liabilities  or  expenses  referred  to in the  immediately  preceding
paragraph  shall be deemed to  include,  subject  to the  limitations  set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in  connection  with  investigating  or defending  any such action or claim.  No
person  found  guilty of  fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within  the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution  from any person who
was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

         (f) The Company shall also indemnify each Underwriter  participating in
the distribution (as described in such registration  statement),  their officers
and directors  and each person who controls such persons  (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the  Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) to the same
extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders.


                                      -16-


<PAGE>


         (g) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
7 are in addition to any  liability  that any  indemnifying  party may otherwise
have to any indemnified party.

         8. Rule 144A. The Company  hereby agrees with each Holder,  for so long
as any of the Debentures or shares of Common Stock that are Transfer  Restricted
Securities remain  outstanding or, if earlier,  two years from the Closing Date,
and during any such  period in which the Company is not subject to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Exchange  Act, to make  available to the Initial  Purchasers or any
beneficial  owner of the Debentures or shares of such Common Stock in connection
with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser of such Debentures or Common
Stock from such Initial Purchasers or beneficial owner, the information required
by Rule  144A(d)(4)  under the Act in order to permit  resales of such  Transfer
Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A.

         9.   Participation  in  Underwritten   Registrations.   No  Holder  may
participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees
to sell such Holder's  Transfer  Restricted  Securities on the basis provided in
any  underwriting  arrangements  approved by the Persons  entitled  hereunder to
approve such arrangements, (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers
of attorney,  indemnities,  underwriting agreements and other documents required
under the terms of such underwriting  arrangements and (c) furnishes the Company
in writing  information in accordance  with Section 3(g) and agrees to indemnify
and  hold  harmless  the  Company,  its  directors,  its  officers  who sign the
Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning
of  Section  15 of the  Act or  Section  20 of the  Exchange  Act to the  extent
contemplated by Section 7(c).

         10.  Selection  of  Underwriters.  The Holders of  Transfer  Restricted
Securities covered by the Shelf  Registration  Statement who desire to do so may
sell such Transfer  Restricted  Securities in an Underwritten  Offering.  In any
such Underwritten Offering, the Underwriter(s) that will administer the offering
will be selected by the Holders of the Transfer  Restricted  Securities included
in such  offering in the manner  specified in Section 3(c);  provided,  however,
that such Underwriters must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

         11.  Miscellaneous.

         (a)  Remedies.  Each  Holder  of  Transfer  Restricted  Securities,  in
addition to being  entitled  to  exercise  all rights  provided  herein,  and as
provided in the Purchase  Agreement  and granted by law,  including  recovery of
damages,  will be entitled to specific performance of such Holder's rights under
this Agreement.  The Company agrees that monetary  damages would not be adequate
compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions
of this  Agreement  and  hereby  agrees to waive the  defense  in any action for
specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

         (b) No  Inconsistent  Agreements.  The Company will not on or after the
date of this  Agreement  enter into any agreement with respect to its securities
that is  inconsistent  with  the  rights  granted  to the  Holders  of  Transfer
Restricted  Securities  in  this  Agreement  or  otherwise


                                      -17-

<PAGE>


conflicts  with the  provisions  hereof.  The rights  granted to the  Holders of
Transfer Restricted Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are
not  inconsistent  with the  rights  granted  to the  holders  of the  Company's
securities under any other agreements.

         (c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence,  may not be amended,  modified or supplemented,
and waivers or  consents to  departures  from the  provisions  hereof may not be
given  unless the  Company  has  obtained  the  written  consent of Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures  constituting  Transfer
Restricted  Securities  affected by such  amendment,  modification,  supplement,
waiver or departure (provided that, if any such Transfer  Restricted  Securities
are shares of Common Stock issued upon  conversion  of  Debentures,  consents by
Holders of such shares shall be calculated as if such  conversions had not taken
place). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure from the
provisions hereof that relates  exclusively to the rights of Holders of Transfer
Restricted  Securities  whose  securities  are being sold pursuant to such Shelf
Registration  Statement  and that does not  directly  or  indirectly  affect the
rights of other Holders of Transfer  Restricted  Securities  shall be valid only
with the  written  consent  of  Holders  of at  least  66-2/3%  of the  Transfer
Restricted Securities being sold, in each case calculated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3(c).

         (d)  Notices.  All notices  and other  communications  provided  for or
permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,  first-class mail
(registered or certified,  return receipt requested),  telex, telecopier, or air
courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

                  (i) if to a Holder of Transfer Restricted  Securities,  at the
         address set forth on the records of the Registrar  under the Indenture,
         with a copy to the Registrar; and

                  (ii) if to the Company or an Initial  Purchaser,  initially at
         its address set forth in the Purchase  Agreement and thereafter at such
         other  address,  notice  of  which  is  given  in  accordance  with the
         provisions of this Section.

         All such notices and  communications  shall be deemed to have been duly
given:  at the time  delivered by hand, if personally  delivered;  five business
days after  being  deposited  in the mail,  postage  prepaid,  if  mailed;  when
answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged,  if telecopied; and on the
next business day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing  overnight
delivery.

         Copies of all such notices,  demands or other  communications  shall be
concurrently  delivered by the Person  giving the same to the Trustee  under the
Indenture at the address specified in the Indenture.

         (e) Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement  shall inure to the benefit
of and be  binding  upon the  successors  and  assigns  of each of the  parties,
including  without  limitation  and without the need for an express  assignment,
subsequent Holders of Transfer Restricted  Securities;  provided,  however, that
this Agreement  shall not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a


                                      -18-

<PAGE>


successor or assign of a Holder of Transfer Restricted  Securities unless and to
the extent such successor or assign acquired Transfer Restricted Securities from
such Holder;  and provided further that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit
any assignment, transfer or any disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities in
violation  of the terms of the  Purchase  Agreement.  If any  transferee  of any
Holder shall acquire Transfer Restricted  Securities,  in any manner, whether by
operation of law or otherwise, such Transfer Restricted Securities shall be held
subject to all of the terms of this  Agreement  and by taking and  holding  such
Transfer Restricted  Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to  perform  all of the terms and  provisions  of this
Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

         (f)  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate  counterparts,  each of which
when so  executed  shall be  deemed  to be an  original  and all of which  taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         (g) Headings.  The headings in this  Agreement are for  convenience  of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

         (h) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance  with the laws of the State of New York  applicable  to contacts made
and to be performed within the State of New York.

         (i)  Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained  herein,  or the  application  thereof  in any  circumstance,  is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable,  the validity, legality and enforceability of
any such  provision  in every  other  respect  and of the  remaining  provisions
contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

         (j) Entire Agreement.  This Agreement together with the other Operative
Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) is intended by the parties as a
final  expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive
statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of
the  subject  matter  contained  herein.  There are no  restrictions,  promises,
warranties  or  undertakings,  other than those set forth or  referred to herein
with respect to the  registration  rights granted by the Company with respect to
the


                                      -19-



<PAGE>


securities sold pursuant to the Purchase  Agreement.  This Agreement  supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

                                            HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                                            By
                                              ----------------------------------

                                            Title
                                                 -------------------------------


                                            SMITH BARNEY INC.
                                            BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
                                            COWEN & COMPANY
                                            CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
                                             CORPORATION
                                            J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
                                            MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
                                             INCORPORATED
                                            NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY
                                             SECURITIES LLC
                                            PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED

                                            By  SMITH BARNEY INC.



                                            By
                                              ----------------------------------

                                            Title
                                                 -------------------------------




                                      -20-



                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                                  June 2, 1998

HEALTHSOUTH Corporation
One HealthSouth Parkway
Birmingham, Alabama 35243

     Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3
          Our File No. 29075-414

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We  are  acting  as  counsel  for  HEALTHSOUTH   Corporation,   a  Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company"),  in connection  with the  registration  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  of $567,750,000  aggregate principal amount
of 3.25%  Convertible  Subordinated  Notes  due 2003  (the  "Notes"),  and up to
15,501,707 shares of Common Stock,  $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"),  of the
Company,  as may be required  for  issuance  upon  conversion  of the Notes (the
"Conversion Shares").  The Notes and the Conversion Shares are to be offered and
sold by certain securityholders of the Company (the "Selling  Securityholders").
In this  regard  we  have  participated  in the  preparation  of a  Registration
Statement on Form S-3  relating to the Notes and the  Conversion  Shares.  (Such
Registration  Statement,  as it may be  amended  from  time to time,  is  herein
referred to as the "Registration Statement.")

     We are of the  opinion  that the Notes  have been duly  authorized  and are
binding  obligations  of the Company  entitled to the benefits of the  Indenture
dated as of March 20,  1998,  between  the  Company  and The Bank of Nova Scotia
Trust  Company of New York, as Trustee.  We are of the further  opinion that the
Conversion Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued by the Company upon
conversion  of the  Notes in  accordance  with the  Indenture,  will be  legally
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby  consent  to the filing of this  opinion  as  Exhibit  5.1 to the
Registration  Statement  and to the use of our name  under  the  caption  "Legal
Matters" in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus included therein.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        HASKELL, SLAUGHTER & YOUNG, LLC



                                        F. Hampton McFadden, Jr.




                                                                     EXHIBIT 12

               COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                 1997
                                               1993         1994         1995         1996          1997       PRO FORMA
                                           ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIO DATA)
<S>                                        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
EARNINGS:
 Income from continuing operations be-
  fore income taxes, minority interests
  and extraordinary items ................  $ 130,246     $193,701     $238,382     $384,162     $ 601,634     $616,249
 Less: Minority interest .................     29,549       31,665       43,753       50,369        64,873       64,873
                                            ---------     --------     --------     --------     ---------     --------
 Income from continuing operations be-
  fore income taxes and extraordinary
  items ..................................    100,697      162,036      194,629      333,793       536,761      551,376
ADJUSTMENTS:
 Note recurring changes ..................     50,075       34,717       73,102       78,905        15,875       15,875
 Fixed charges ...........................     31,413       83,942      116,647      113,254       126,827      112,213
 Capitalized interest expense ............     (2,664)      (2,869)      (2,865)      (3,943)       (2,491)      (2,491)
                                            ---------     --------     --------     --------     ---------     --------
 Numerator -- earnings available for
  fixed charges ..........................  $ 179,521     $277,826     $381,513     $522,009     $ 676,972     $676,972
                                            =========     ========     ========     ========     =========     ========
FIXED CHARGES:
 Interest expense ........................  $  25,884       74,895     $105,517       98,751     $ 111,504     $ 96,889
 Capitalized expense .....................      2,664        2,869        2,865        3,943         2,491        2,491
 Interest component of rental expense.....      2,865        6,178        8,265       10,560        12,832       12,832
                                            ---------     --------     --------     --------     ---------     --------
 Denominator - fixed charges .............  $  31,413     $ 83,942     $ 16,647     $113,254     $ 126,827     $112,213
 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ......       5.71x        3.31x        3.27x        4.61x         5.34x        6.03x
                                            =========     ========     ========     ========     =========     ========




<CAPTION>

                                              THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                MARCH 31, 1998
                                           -------------------------
                                              ACTUAL      PRO FORMA
                                           ------------ ------------
<S>                                        <C>          <C>
EARNINGS:
 Income from continuing operations be-
  fore income taxes, minority interests
  and extraordinary items ................   $197,918     $201,468
 Less: Minority interest .................     18,331       18,331
                                             --------     --------
 Income from continuing operations be-
  fore income taxes and extraordinary
  items ..................................    179,987      183,137
ADJUSTMENTS:
 Note recurring changes ..................         --           --
 Fixed charges ...........................     29,733       26,183
 Capitalized interest expense ............       (267)        (267)
                                             --------     --------
 Numerator -- earnings available for
  fixed charges ..........................   $209,053     $209,053
                                             ========     ========
FIXED CHARGES:
 Interest expense ........................   $ 28,336     $ 24,786
 Capitalized expense .....................        267          267
 Interest component of rental expense.....      1,130        1,130
                                             --------     --------
 Denominator - fixed charges .............   $ 29,733     $ 26,183
 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ......       7.03x        7.98x
                                             ========     ========

</TABLE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                          CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                             INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


     We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption  "Experts" in the
Registration  Statement  (Form S-3, No.  333-52237)  and related  Prospectus  of
HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation for the registration of 15,501,707 shares of its common
stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated February
25,  1998,  except  for Note 14, as to which the date is March  20,  1998,  with
respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements  and schedule of HEALTHSOUTH
Corporation  included  in its  Annual  Report  (Form  10-K)  for the year  ended
December 31, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                        ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Birmingham, Alabama
June 1, 1998




                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.1
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                    CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                      CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
                      ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                      SECTION 305 (B)(2)__________________

                THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

         New York                                           13-5691211
(State of Incorporation                                (I.R.S. employer
If not a U.S. national bank)                            Identification number)

One Liberty Plaza
New York, N.Y.                                               10006
(Address of principal                                      (Zip Code)
Executive office)

                            ------------------------
                             HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

                                    DELAWARE
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
                                   63-0860407

                      (I.R.S. employer identification no.)
                             One HealthSouth Parkway
                            Birmingham, Alabama 35243

              (Address of principal executive offices)(Postal Code)

                            CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED
                                 DEBT SECURITIES
                       (Title of the indenture securities)


<PAGE>



                                       -2-

Item 1.  General Information
         Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

         (a)  Name and address of each  examining  or  supervising  authority to
              which it is subject.

                             Federal Reserve Bank of New York
                             33 Liberty Street
                             New York, N.Y. 10045

                             State of New York Banking Department
                             State House, Albany, N.Y.

          (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise  corporate trust powers.  The
              Trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Item 2.  Affiliation with the Obligor.

         If the  obligor is an  affiliate  of the  trustee,  describe  each such
         affiliation. The obligor is not an affiliate of the Trustee.

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

         List below all exhibits filed as part of this statement of eligibility.

         Exhibit 1 - Copy of the Organization  Certificate of the Trustee as now
                     in effect.  
                     (Exhibit 1 to T-1 to Registration Statement No. 333-6688).

         Exhibit 2 - Copy of the  Certificate  of  Authority  of the  Trustee to
                     commerce business.
                     (Exhibit 2 to T-1 to Registration Statement No. 333-6688).

         Exhibit 3 - None;  authorization to exercise  corporate trust powers is
                     contained in the  documents  identified  above as Exhibit 1
                     and 2.

         Exhibit 4 - Copy of the  existing  By-Laws of the  Trustee.
                     (Exhibit 4 to T-1 to Registration Statement No. 333-6688).

         Exhibit 5 - No Indenture referred to in Item 4.

         Exhibit 6 - The consent of the  Trustee  required by Section 321 (b) of
                     the  Trust  Indenture  Act of  1939.  
                    (Exhibit  6 to T-1 to Registration Statement No. 333-27685).

         Exhibit 7 - Copy of the latest Report of Condition of the Trustee as of
                     March 1, 1998.


<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, the
Trustee,  The Bank of Nova  Scotia  Trust  Company  of New York,  a  corporation
organized and existing  under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused
this  statement of  eligibility  to be signed on its behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly  authorized,  all in the City of New York, and State of New York,
on the 3rd day of June, 1998.


                                               THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA TRUST
                                                    COMPANY OF NEW YORK

                                               By: /S/ George E. Timmes
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                   George E. Timmes
                                                   Vice President


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