HEALTHSOUTH CORP
S-4, EX-1, 2000-11-09
SPECIALTY OUTPATIENT FACILITIES, NEC
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                                                                     EXHIBIT (1)


                             HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

             $350,000,000 10-3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                                              September 20, 2000
                                                              New York, New York


UBS Warburg LLC
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Chase Securities Inc.
First Union Securities, Inc.
c/o UBS Warburg LLC
299 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10171

Ladies and Gentlemen:


     HEALTHSOUTH Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY") agrees with
you as follows:

     1. Issuance of Notes. The Company proposes to issue and sell to UBS Warburg
LLC,  Deutsche  Bank  Securities  Inc.,  Chase  Securities  Inc. and First Union
Securities, Inc. (collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS") $350,000,000 aggregate
principal  amount of 10-3/4%  Series A Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2008 (the
"INITIAL NOTES"). The Initial Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the
"INDENTURE"),  to be dated the Closing Date (as defined herein),  by and between
the Company and The Bank of New York,  as trustee (the  "TRUSTEE").  Capitalized
terms used but not otherwise  defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the Indenture,  the Preliminary Memorandum or the Final Memorandum
(each as defined herein).

     The  Initial  Notes  will be  offered  and sold to the  Initial  Purchasers
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities
Act of 1933,  as amended  (the  "SECURITIES  ACT").  The Company has  prepared a
preliminary offering memorandum,  dated September 6, 2000 (including any and all
exhibits thereto, the "PRELIMINARY MEMORANDUM"), and a final offering memorandum
dated and available for  distribution on the date hereof  (including any and all
exhibits  thereto,  the "FINAL  MEMORANDUM")  relating  to the  Company  and the
Initial Notes. Any references herein to the Preliminary  Memorandum or the Final
Memorandum shall be deemed to include all amendments and supplements thereto and
any documents  filed under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"EXCHANGE  ACT"),  and the rules and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the  "COMMISSION")  thereunder,  which are incorporated by reference
therein.  As used herein, the term "INCORPORATED  DOCUMENTS" means the documents
which at the time are


<PAGE>


incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Memorandum, the Final Memorandum or
any amendment or supplement thereto.

     The Initial Purchasers have advised the Company that the Initial Purchasers
intend,  as soon as they deem  practicable  after this Purchase  Agreement (this
"AGREEMENT") has been executed and delivered,  to resell (the "EXEMPT  RESALES")
the Initial Notes  purchased by the Initial  Purchasers  under this Agreement in
private sales exempt from registration under the Securities Act on the terms set
forth in the Final Memorandum, solely to (i) persons whom the Initial Purchasers
reasonably believe to be "qualified institutional buyers" ("QIBS") as defined in
Rule 144A  under the  Securities  Act  ("RULE  144A")  and (ii)  other  eligible
purchasers  pursuant to offers and sales that occur  outside  the United  States
within the meaning of Regulation S under the  Securities Act  ("REGULATION  S");
the  persons  specified  in  clauses  (i) and  (ii) are  sometimes  collectively
referred to herein as the "ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS."

     Holders (including  subsequent  transferees) of the Initial Notes will have
the  registration  rights set forth in the  registration  rights  agreement (the
"REGISTRATION  RIGHTS  AGREEMENT")  to be  dated  the  Closing  Date in form and
substance   satisfactory  to  the  Initial  Purchasers  and  conforming  to  the
description  thereof in the Final Memorandum,  for so long as such Initial Notes
constitute  Registrable  Securities  (as  defined  in  the  Registration  Rights
Agreement).  Pursuant to the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the Company will
agree to (i) file with the Commission under the  circumstances  set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement (a) a registration  statement under the Securities
Act (the "EXCHANGE  OFFER  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT")  relating to a new issue of
debt securities (the "EXCHANGE NOTES" and,  together with the Initial Notes, the
"NOTES") to be offered in exchange for the Initial Notes (the "EXCHANGE  OFFER")
and issued under the  Indenture or an indenture  substantially  identical to the
Indenture and/or (b) under certain  circumstances  set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement,  a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities  Act (the  "SHELF  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT"  and,  together  with the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement,  the "REGISTRATION  STATEMENTS") relating
to the  resale  by  certain  holders  of the  Initial  Notes,  and  (ii) use its
reasonable  best efforts to cause such  Registration  Statements  to be declared
effective.  This Agreement, the Notes, the Indenture and the Registration Rights
Agreement are hereinafter  sometimes  referred to collectively as the "OPERATIVE
DOCUMENTS."

     Upon  issuance of the  Initial  Notes and until such time as the same is no
longer  required under the applicable  requirements  of the Securities  Act, the
Initial Notes shall bear the legend relating  thereto set forth under "Notice to
Investors" in the Final Memorandum.

     2.  Agreements To Sell And Purchase.  On the basis of the  representations,
warranties and covenants  contained in this Agreement,  and subject to the terms
and conditions contained in this Agreement, the Company agrees to issue and sell
to the Initial Purchasers, and the Initial Purchasers agree to purchase from the
Company,  the aggregate  principal  amount of Initial  Notes set forth  opposite
their names in Schedule I hereto. The purchase price for the Initial Notes shall
be 96.8378% of their principal amount.

     Each Initial  Purchaser  agrees with the Company that it (i) is  purchasing
the Initial Notes pursuant to a private sale exempt from registration  under the
Securities  Act, (ii) will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Initial
Notes 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
Securities  Act, and (iii) will solicit  offers for the Initial Notes only from,
and will  offer,  sell or  deliver  the  Initial  Notes  as part of its  initial
offering, only to (A) persons whom such Initial Purchaser reasonably believes to
be QIBs, 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 such Initial  Purchaser that each such account is a QIB, to whom
notice has been given that such


                                       2
<PAGE>


sale or  delivery  is being  made in  reliance  on Rule 144A,  in each case,  in
transactions  under Rule 144A and (B) outside the United States to persons other
than U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S.

     Each Initial Purchaser agrees with the Company that it will offer, sell and
deliver the Initial Notes (i) as part of its  distribution at any time, and (ii)
otherwise  until 40 days after the later of the  commencement of the offering of
the Initial  Notes and the Closing  Date,  only in  accordance  with Rule 903 of
Regulation  S, or as  otherwise  permitted  pursuant to Rule 144A.  Each Initial
Purchaser  agrees with the Company that neither the  affiliates  of such Initial
Purchaser  nor any persons  acting on their behalf has engaged or will engage in
any directed selling efforts with respect to the Initial Notes, and such Initial
Purchaser   has  complied  and  will  comply  with  the  offering   restrictions
requirement of Regulation S.

     Prior  to  confirmation  of the sale of  Initial  Notes  other  than a sale
pursuant  to  Rule  144A,  each  Initial   Purchaser  will  have  sent  to  each
distributor,  dealer or person  receiving  a  selling  concession,  fee or other
remuneration that purchases Initial Notes from such Initial Purchaser 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 the  distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise
until 40 days  after  the  later of the  commencement  of 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."

     3.  Delivery  And Payment.  Delivery of, and payment of the purchase  price
for,  the  Initial  Notes shall be made at 10:00  a.m.,  New York City time,  on
September  25, 2000 (such date and time,  the "CLOSING  DATE") at the offices of
UBS Warburg LLC at 299 Park  Avenue New York,  New York,  or such other place in
the City of New York as the parties hereto mutually agree.  The Closing Date and
the location of delivery of and the form of payment for the Initial Notes may be
varied by mutual agreement between the Initial Purchasers and the Company.

     One or more of the Initial Notes in global form registered in such names as
the Initial Purchasers may request upon at least one business day's notice prior
to the Closing Date, having an aggregate  principal amount  corresponding to the
aggregate  principal  amount of the Initial  Notes,  shall be  delivered  by the
Company to the Initial Purchasers (or as the Initial Purchasers direct), against
payment by the Initial  Purchasers  of the purchase  price  therefor by means of
transfer  of  immediately  available  funds  to  such  account  or  accounts  in
accordance with its  obligations  under Section 4(g) hereof as the Company shall
specify on or prior to the Closing Date, or by such means as the parties  hereto
shall agree prior to the Closing Date.

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

     (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 either makes any
statement made in the  Preliminary  Memorandum or the Final  Memorandum (as then
amended or  supplemented)  untrue or requires the making of any  additions to or
changes in the Preliminary  Memorandum or the Final  Memorandum (as then amended
or supplemented) in order to make the statements therein not


                                       3
<PAGE>


misleading,  or of the necessity to amend or supplement the Final 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  Preliminary  Memorandum  and as of the  date  of the  Final
Memorandum,  such number of copies of the  Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final
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 Final
Memorandum of which the Initial  Purchasers  have not previously  been given two
business days' prior advice or to which the Initial  Purchasers  have reasonably
objected 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 Preliminary  Memorandum and the
Final Memorandum (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) in accordance with
the securities or Blue Sky laws of the  jurisdictions in which the Initial Notes
are offered by the Initial  Purchasers  and by all dealers to whom Initial Notes
may be sold in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

     (e) If, at any time prior to completion of the distribution of the Notes 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 Final Memorandum (as then amended or supplemented) in
order to make the statements  therein not  misleading,  or if it is necessary to
supplement or amend the Final 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 Final 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 Initial Notes 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 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 Initial Notes, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

     (g) So long as any of the Initial Notes are  outstanding,  the Company will
furnish  to the  Initial  Purchasers  (1) as soon as  available,  a copy of each
report of the Company mailed to stockholders  or filed with the Commission,  and
2) from  time to time such  other  information  concerning  the  Company  as the
Initial Purchasers may reasonably request.


                                       4
<PAGE>


     (h) The Company  will apply the net  proceeds  from the sale of the Initial
Notes  to  be  sold  by  it  hereunder  substantially  in  accordance  with  the
description set forth in the Final Memorandum.

     (i) Except as stated in this  Agreement and in the  Preliminary  Memorandum
and the Final Memorandum,  the Company has not taken, nor will it take, directly
or indirectly,  any action  designed to or that might  reasonably be expected to
cause or result in  stabilization  or  manipulation  of the price of the Initial
Notes to facilitate the sale or resale of the Initial Notes. Except as permitted
by the Securities Act, the Company will not distribute any offering  material in
connection with the Exempt Resales.

     (j) From and after the Closing  Date,  so long as any of the Initial  Notes
are outstanding and are "Restricted  Securities"  within the meaning of the Rule
144(a)(3)  under the  Securities  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 Initial Notes and prospective  purchasers of the Initial Notes 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
Securities Act to permit  compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resale of
the Initial Notes.

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

     (l) 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 The Depository  Trust Company  ("DTC")
relating to the approval of the Initial Notes by DTC for "book entry" transfer.

     (m) The Company agrees that prior to any registration of the Notes 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,  as amended  (the  "TRUST  INDENTURE  ACT"),  and that it will cause to be
entered into any necessary supplemental indentures in connection therewith.

     (n) Neither the Company,  nor any of its affiliates,  nor any person acting
on its or their behalf, will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect
to  the  Initial  Notes,  and  each  of  them  will  comply  with  the  offering
restrictions  requirement of Regulation S. Terms used in this paragraph have the
meanings given to them by Regulation S.

     (o) The Company will not, until 60 days following the Closing Date, without
the prior written consent of the Initial Purchasers,  offer, sell or contract to
sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly,  or announce the offering
of, any debt  securities  issued or  guaranteed  by the Company  (other than the
Notes).

     (p) The Company  will not,  and will not permit any of its  affiliates  to,
resell any Initial Notes that have been acquired by any of them unless and until
a  registration  statement  with respect to such Initial Notes filed pursuant to
the Securities Act has been declared effective.


                                       5
<PAGE>


     (q) The  Company  shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts to  prevent  the
issuance of any stop order or order suspending the qualification or exemption of
any of the  Initial  Notes  under any  securities  laws,  and if at any time any
securities  commission  or  other  regulatory  authority  shall  issue  an order
suspending the  qualification or exemption of any of the Initial Notes under any
securities laws, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.

     (r) The  Company  shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to  effect  the
inclusion of the Initial Notes in the PORTAL Market ("PORTAL")

     5.   Representations   And  Warranties  of  the  Company  and  the  Initial
Purchasers.


     (a) The Company represents and warrants to the Initial Purchasers that:

     (i) Each of the  Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final  Memorandum has been
prepared by the Company for use by the Initial  Purchasers  in  connection  with
Exempt  Resales.  No  order  or  decree  preventing  the use of the  Preliminary
Memorandum or the Final Memorandum or any amendment or supplement  thereto,  nor
any order  asserting that the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement are
subject to the registration  requirements of the Securities Act, has been issued
and no  proceeding  for that  purpose  has  commenced  or is pending  or, to the
knowledge of the Company, is contemplated.

     (ii) The Preliminary  Memorandum,  at the date thereof, did not contain any
untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact  necessary
in order to make the statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under
which they were made, not misleading.  The Final Memorandum,  at the date hereof
and at the Closing Date, does not and will not contain an untrue  statement of a
material  fact or omit to state a material  fact  necessary in order to make the
statements  therein,  in the light of the circumstances in which they were made,
not misleading,  except that this  representation and warranty does not apply to
statements  in or  omissions  from  the  Preliminary  Memorandum  or  the  Final
Memorandum,  as supplemented or amended, 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.

     (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  amendment 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.


                                       6
<PAGE>


     (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 Preliminary  Memorandum and
the  Final  Memorandum;  no  qualification  of the  Indenture  under  the  Trust
Indenture Act is required in  connection  with the offer and sale of the Initial
Notes contemplated hereby or in connection with the Exempt Resales.

     (v) The Initial  Notes 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 subject to
the  applicability of general  principles of equity,  and the Initial Notes will
conform in all material  respects to the description  thereof in the Preliminary
Memorandum and the Final Memorandum.

     (vi) The Initial  Notes 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,  fully paid and
nonassessable and free of any preemptive or similar rights.

     (vii) 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
Preliminary  Memorandum  and  the  Final  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
Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final 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 condition  (financial
or other), business,  prospects,  properties, net worth or results of operations
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


                                       7
<PAGE>


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.

     (viii)  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 Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final  Memorandum and which the
Company  reasonably  believes  might  result in a  judgment  or decree  having a
Material  Adverse  Effect or which is  otherwise  of a  character  that would be
required to be described in the Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final Memorandum
if the  Preliminary  Memorandum  and  the  Final  Memorandum  were  prospectuses
included in a registration  statement on Form S-1 under the Securities  Act, and
there is no  contract,  license or other  document of a character  that would be
required to be described in the Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final Memorandum
or to be filed as an exhibit to any Incorporated Document which is not described
or filed as required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

     (ix)  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 or, upon receipt of notice or
the lapse of time, will be 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 or
default would have a Material Adverse Effect;  and neither the issuance,  offer,
sale or delivery of the Initial Notes, 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
Securities Act of the Initial Notes in accordance with the  Registration  Rights
Agreement and the  qualification  of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture 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.

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

     (xi) The financial  statements,  together with related schedules and notes,
included or  incorporated  by reference in the  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the
Final Memorandum (and any amendment or supplement  thereto),  present fairly the
consolidated  financial  position,  results of operations  and cash flows of the
Company, the Subsidiaries and the Controlled


                                       8
<PAGE>


Entities  on the  basis  stated  in the  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the  Final
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  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the  Final  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;  since June 30, 2000,
except as set forth or  contemplated  in the Final  Memorandum,  (a) none of the
Company or any  Subsidiary  has (1) incurred  any  liabilities  or  obligations,
direct or  contingent,  that would  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse Effect, or (2) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary
course of business,  (b) there has not been any event or  development in respect
of the  business  or  condition  (financial  or  other) of the  Company  and the
Subsidiaries that, either individually or in the aggregate,  would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (c) there has been no dividend or
distribution  of any kind declared,  paid or made by the Company on any class of
its capital stock.

     (xii) 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  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.

     (xiii)  Except as disclosed  in the  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the Final
Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto),  subsequent to the dates as
of which such  information is given in the Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final
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.

     (xiv) The Company and each  Subsidiary and Controlled  Entity have good and
marketable title to all real and personal property  described in the Preliminary
Memorandum and the Final 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


                                       9
<PAGE>


Preliminary  Memorandum  and the Final  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.

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

     (xvi) 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.

     (xvii) The  Company  maintains  a system of  internal  accounting  controls
sufficient to provide  reasonable  assurances that (A) transactions are executed
in  accordance  with  management's  general  or  specific   authorization;   (B)
transactions  are  recorded as  necessary  to permit  preparation  of  financial
statements in conformity with generally  accepted  accounting  principles and to
maintain  accountability  for assets;  (C) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance  with  management's  general or specific  authorization;  and (D) the
recorded   accountability  for  assets  is  compared  with  existing  assets  at
reasonable  intervals  and  appropriate  action  is taken  with  respect  to any
differences.

     (xviii)  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.

     (xix) 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.

     (xx) No holder of any  security of the Company  (other than  holders of the
Initial Notes) has any right to request or demand  registration  of any security
of the Company because of the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement.


                                       10
<PAGE>


     (xxi) 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 Preliminary Memorandum and the Final 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 or
the Controlled Entities with respect to the foregoing that would have a Material
Adverse Effect.

     (xxii) When the  Initial  Notes are issued and  delivered  pursuant to this
Agreement,  such Initial Notes will not be of the same class (within the meaning
of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities 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.

     (xxiii) Neither the Company nor any affiliate (as defined in Rule 501(b) of
Regulation  D under the  Securities  Act  ("REGULATION  D")) 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 Securities  Act) which is or will be integrated with
the  offering and sale of the Initial  Notes in a manner that would  require the
registration of the Initial Notes under the Securities 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 Initial Notes.

     (xxiv) 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 Initial Notes by the Initial Purchasers.

     (xxv) The Exchange  Notes have been, or upon the Closing Date will be, duly
and  validly   authorized   for  issuance  by  the  Company  and,  when  issued,
authenticated  and delivered by the Company in accordance  with the terms of the
Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the  Exchange  Offer  and the  Indenture,  the
Exchange  Notes will be legal,  valid and binding  obligations  of the  Company,
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against of the Company
in accordance with their terms, except that enforceability of the Exchange Notes
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium  or similar laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights
generally and by general  principles  of equity and the  discretion of the court
before which any proceedings  therefor may be brought.  The Exchange Notes, when
issued,  authenticated  and delivered,  will conform in all material respects to
the description thereof in the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum.

     (xxvi)  All taxes,  fees and other  governmental  charges  that are due and
payable  on or prior  to the  Closing  Date in  connection  with the  execution,
delivery and performance of the Operative Documents and the execution,  delivery
and sale of the  Initial  Notes  shall  have  been  paid by or on  behalf of the
Company at or prior to the Closing Date.


                                       11
<PAGE>


     (xxvii)  Except as would not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material
Adverse Effect,  no labor  disturbance by the employees of any of the Company or
the Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent.

     (xxviii) None of the Company or any Subsidiary is an  "investment  company"
or a company  "controlled" by an "investment  company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     (xxix) The Company and each  Subsidiary  maintains  insurance  covering its
properties, assets, operations,  personnel and businesses, and such insurance is
of such type and in such amounts as the Company  reasonably  deems  necessary to
protect the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  and their  businesses.  None of the
Company or any Subsidiary has received  notice from any insurer or agent of such
insurer that any material  capital  improvements or other material  expenditures
will have to be made in order to continue  any  insurance  maintained  by any of
them other  than  capital  improvements  and other  expenditures  that have been
budgeted by the Company or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

     (xxx) None of the Company or any Subsidiary (or any agent thereof acting on
their behalf) has taken, and none of them will take, any action that might cause
this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Notes to violate  Regulations T, U
or X of the Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System  or  analogous
foreign  laws and  regulations,  in each case as in  effect,  or as the same may
hereafter be in effect, on the Closing Date.

     (xxxi) As of the date hereof and  immediately  prior to and  following  the
issuance of the Initial Notes,  the Company is and will be Solvent.  The Company
is not contemplating  either the filing of a petition by it under any bankruptcy
or insolvency  laws or the  liquidating  of all or a substantial  portion of its
property,  and the  Company has no  knowledge  of any Person  contemplating  the
filing of any such petition against the Company. As used herein, "SOLVENT" shall
mean, for any person on a particular  date, that on such date (a) the fair value
of the assets of such person is greater  than the total  amount of  liabilities,
including, without limitation,  contingent liabilities, of such person, (b) such
person  does not intend to, and does not believe  that it will,  incur debts and
liabilities  beyond such person's  ability to pay as such debts and  liabilities
mature,  (c) such person is not engaged in a business or a  transaction,  and is
not about to engage in a business  or a  transaction,  for which  such  person's
property would  constitute an unreasonably  small capital and (d) such person is
able to pay its debts as they become due and payable.

     (xxxii) Except as described under the caption "Plan of Distribution" in the
Preliminary  Memorandum  and  the  Final  Memorandum  there  are  no  contracts,
agreements or understandings  between the Company or any of the Subsidiaries and
any other  person  other than the Initial  Purchasers  that would give rise to a
valid claim against the Company,  any such Subsidiary or the Initial  Purchasers
for a brokerage commission,  finder's fee or like payment in connection with the
issuance, purchase and sale of the Notes.

     (xxxiii)  Except as set forth in the  Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final
Memorandum,  the Company and each  Subsidiary (A) is in compliance  with, or not
subject to costs or liabilities  under laws,  regulations,  rules of common law,
orders  and  decrees,  as in  effect  as of the  date  hereof,  and any  present
judgments and injunctions issued or promulgated thereunder


                                       12
<PAGE>


relating to pollution or  protection  of public and employee  health and safety,
the  environment  or  hazardous or toxic  substances  or wastes,  pollutants  or
contaminants  applicable to it or its business or operations or ownership or use
of its property  ("ENVIRONMENTAL  LAWS"), other than noncompliance or such costs
or liabilities  that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect,  and (B) possesses  all permits,  licenses or other  approvals  required
under  applicable  Environmental  Laws,  except where the failure to possess any
such permit, license or other approval would not reasonably be expected to have,
either  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  a  Material  Adverse  Effect.  All
currently pending and, to the knowledge of the Company,  threatened proceedings,
notices of violation, demands, notices of potential responsibility or liability,
suits and existing environmental  conditions by any governmental authority which
the Company or the Subsidiaries  could reasonably expect to result in a Material
Adverse  Effect are fully and accurately  described in all material  respects in
the  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the Final  Memorandum.  The  Company  and each
Subsidiary  maintains a system of  internal  environmental  management  controls
sufficient  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  of  compliance  in all  material
respects  of  its  business  facilities,   real  property  and  operations  with
requirements of applicable Environmental Laws.

     (xxxiv)  None of the Company or any of its  affiliates  (as defined in Rule
501(b) of  Regulation  D under the  Securities  Act) has (A) taken,  directly or
indirectly,  any action  designed to, or that might  reasonably  be expected to,
cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of
the Company to  facilitate  the sale or resale of the Initial Notes or (B) sold,
bid for, purchased or paid any person any compensation for soliciting  purchases
of the Initial Notes in a manner that would require  registration of the Initial
Notes under the Act or paid or agreed to pay to any person any  compensation for
soliciting  another to purchase any other  securities of the Company in a manner
that would require registration of the Initial Notes under the Securities Act.

     (xxxv)  The  statistical  and  market-related   data  and   forward-looking
statements  (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section
21E of the Exchange Act) included in the  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the Final
Memorandum are based on or derived from sources that the Company  believes to be
reliable and accurate in all material  respects and represent the Company's good
faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources.

     (b) Each of the Initial Purchasers,  severally and not jointly, represents,
warrants and covenants to the Company that:

     (i) Such Initial  Purchaser has not offered or sold and,  prior to the date
that is six months  from the  Closing  Date,  will not offer or sell any Initial
Notes to  persons  in the  United  Kingdom,  except to  persons  whose  ordinary
activities  involve  them  in  acquiring,  holding,  managing  or  disposing  of
investments  (as  principal  or agent) for the purposes of their  businesses  or
otherwise  in  circumstances  which have not  resulted and will not result in an
offer to the  public in the  United  Kingdom  within  the  meaning of the Public
Offers of Securities Regulations 1995.

     (ii)  Such  Initial  Purchaser  has  complied  and  will  comply  with  all
applicable  provisions  of the  Financial  Services  Act of 1986 with respect to
anything  done by it in  relation to the  Initial  Notes in,  from or  otherwise
involving the United Kingdom; and


                                       13
<PAGE>


     (iii) Such  Initial  Purchaser  has only  issued or passed on and will only
issue or pass on in the United Kingdom any document received by it in connection
with the issue or sale of Initial  Notes to a person who is of a kind  described
in  Article   11(3)  of  the   Financial   Services  Act  of  1986   (Investment
Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1996 (as amended) or is a person to whom such
document may otherwise lawfully be issued or passed on.

     Each of the  Initial  Purchasers  understands  that the  Company  and,  for
purposes of the opinions to be  delivered  to the Company  pursuant to Section 8
hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Initial Purchasers,  will rely
upon the accuracy and truth of the  foregoing  representations,  and each of the
Initial Purchasers hereby consents to such reliance.

     6. Indemnification.

     (a) The Company  agrees to indemnify  and hold harmless each of the Initial
Purchasers,  each person,  if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the
meaning of Section 15 of the  Securities  Act or Section  20(a) of the  Exchange
Act, the agents, employees,  officers and directors of any Initial Purchaser and
the agents,  employees,  officers and directors of any such  controlling  person
from and against any and all losses,  liabilities,  claims, damages and expenses
whatsoever  (including,  but not limited, to reasonable  attorneys' fees and any
and all reasonable expenses  whatsoever incurred in investigating,  preparing or
defending  against  any  litigation,  commenced  or  threatened,  or  any  claim
whatsoever,  and any and all reasonable  amounts paid in settlement of any claim
or litigation) (collectively,  "LOSSES") to which they or any of them may become
subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise  insofar as such
Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  of a material  fact  contained  in the
Preliminary Memorandum or the Final Memorandum,  or in any supplement thereto or
amendment  thereof,  or arise out of or are based upon the  omission  or alleged
omission  to state  therein a material  fact  necessary  to make the  statements
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
misleading;  provided,  however, that the Company will not be liable in any such
case to the extent, but only to the extent,  that any such Loss arises out of or
is based upon any such untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information  relating to any Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of such Initial Purchaser expressly for use therein.  This indemnity will
be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have,  including,
but not limited to, liability under this Agreement.

     (b) Each Initial Purchaser agrees,  severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold  harmless  the Company,  each person,  if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the  Securities  Act or Section 20(a) of the
Exchange  Act,  and each of their  respective  agents,  employees,  officers and
directors  and  the  agents,  employees,  officers  and  directors  of any  such
controlling  person  from and against any Losses to which they or either of them
may become  subject  under the  Securities  Act,  the  Exchange Act or otherwise
insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any  untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact
contained  in the  Preliminary  Memorandum  or the Final  Memorandum,  or in any
amendment thereof or supplement  thereto,  or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged  omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make
the statements  therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading,  in each case to the extent, but only to the extent,  that
any such Loss  arises out of or is based upon any  untrue  statement  or alleged
untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission made therein in reliance upon
and in conformity with information  relating to the Initial Purchasers furnished
in writing to the Company by the Initial  Purchasers  expressly for use therein.
The


                                       14
<PAGE>


Company and the Initial Purchasers acknowledge that the information set forth in
Section 9 is the only information furnished in writing by the Initial Purchasers
to the Company  expressly  for use in the  Preliminary  Memorandum  or the Final
Memorandum.

     (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection 6(a) or
6(b)  above of notice of the  commencement  of any  action,  suit or  proceeding
(collectively, an "ACTION"), such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made  against the  indemnifying  party  under such  subsection,
notify each party against whom indemnification is to be sought in writing of the
commencement of such action (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying  party
shall not relieve such  indemnifying  party from any liability  that it may have
under this  Section 6 except to the extent  that it has been  prejudiced  in any
material  respect by such failure or from any  liability  which it may otherwise
have). In case any such action is brought against any indemnified  party, and it
notifies  an  indemnifying  party  of  the  commencement  of  such  action,  the
indemnifying  party will be entitled to participate  in such action,  and to the
extent  it may  elect by  written  notice  delivered  to the  indemnified  party
promptly after receiving the aforesaid  notice from such  indemnified  party, to
assume the defense of such action with counsel  satisfactory to such indemnified
party.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the indemnified  party or parties shall
have the right to employ its or their own  counsel in any such  action,  but the
fees and  expenses of such counsel  shall be at the expense of such  indemnified
party or  parties  unless (i) the  employment  of such  counsel  shall have been
authorized in writing by the indemnifying parties in connection with the defense
of such action, (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to
take charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable  time after notice
of  commencement  of the  action,  or (iii) the  named  parties  to such  action
(including  any  impleaded  parties)  include  such  indemnified  party  and the
indemnifying  parties (or such indemnifying  parties have assumed the defense of
such  action),  and such  indemnified  party or parties  shall  have  reasonably
concluded that there may be defenses  available to it or them that are different
from or additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying  parties
(in which case the  indemnifying  parties shall not have the right to direct the
defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of
which events such  reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be borne by the
indemnifying parties. In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for the
fees and  expenses of more than one counsel  (together  with  appropriate  local
counsel)  at any time for all  indemnified  parties in  connection  with any one
action or separate but  substantially  similar or related actions arising in the
same  jurisdiction  out of the same general  allegations  or  circumstances.  An
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim or action
effected without its written consent;  provided,  however, that such consent may
not be unreasonably withheld.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any
time an  indemnified  party  shall  have  requested  an  indemnifying  party  to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated
by paragraph  (a) or (b) of this Section 6, then the  indemnifying  party agrees
that it shall be liable for any  settlement of any proceeding  effected  without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 business
days after receipt by such  indemnifying  party of the aforesaid  request,  (ii)
such  indemnifying  party shall not have  reimbursed  the  indemnified  party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such
indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days prior
notice of its  intention to settle.  No  indemnifying  party shall,  without the
prior written  consent of the  indemnified  party,  effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened 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 proceeding.

                                       15
<PAGE>


     7.  Contribution.  In order to provide for contribution in circumstances in
which the indemnification provided for in Section 6 of this Agreement is for any
reason held to be unavailable from the indemnifying party, or is insufficient to
hold  harmless  a party  indemnified  under  Section 6 of this  Agreement,  each
indemnifying  party  shall  contribute  to the  amount  paid or  payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such aggregate Losses (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 Initial Notes or (ii) if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law,
in such  proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative  benefits
referred to above but also the relative  fault of the Company,  on the one hand,
and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the statements
or  omissions  that  resulted  in such  Losses,  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 hand, shall be deemed to be
in the same  proportion  as (x) the total  proceeds from the offering of Initial
Notes (net of discounts and commissions but before deducting  expenses) received
by the Company,  and (y) the total  discounts  and  commissions  received by the
Initial  Purchasers  as set forth in the  table on the  cover  page of the Final
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 or the Initial  Purchasers  and the  parties'  relative
intent,  knowledge,  access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission or alleged statement or omission.

     The Company and the Initial  Purchasers agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation  that does not take into account
the equitable  considerations referred to above.  Notwithstanding the provisions
of this  Section 7, (i) in no case shall the Initial  Purchasers  be required to
contribute  any amount in excess of the amount by which the total  discount  and
commissions  applicable to the Initial Notes pursuant to this Agreement  exceeds
the amount of any  damages  that the  Initial  Purchasers  have  otherwise  been
required to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue  statement or omission
or alleged  omission and (ii) no person guilty of  fraudulent  misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution   from  any  person   who  was  not   guilty  of  such   fraudulent
misrepresentation.  For  purposes of this  Section 7, each  person,  if any, who
controls  the  Initial  Purchasers  within  the  meaning  of  Section  15 of the
Securities  Act or Section  20(a) of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights
to contribution as the Initial Purchasers, and each person, if any, who controls
the Company  within the meaning of Section 15 of the  Securities  Act or Section
20(a) of the  Exchange  Act shall have the same  rights to  contribution  as the
Company.  Any party  entitled to  contribution  will,  promptly after receipt of
notice of  commencement  of any action  against such party in respect of which a
claim for  contribution  may be made against another party or parties under this
Section 7, notify such party or parties  from whom  contribution  may be sought,
but the failure to so notify  such party or parties  shall not relieve the party
or parties from whom  contribution  may be sought from any obligation it or they
may have under this  Section 7 or  otherwise,  except to the extent  that it has
been prejudiced in any material respect by such failure; provided, however, that
no  additional  notice  shall be required  with  respect to any action for which
notice has been given under Section 6 for purposes of indemnification.  Anything
in this  section to the contrary  notwithstanding,  no party shall be liable for
contribution  with  respect to any action or claim  settled  without its written
consent,  provided,  however,  that such  written  consent was not  unreasonably
withheld.

     8. Conditions of Initial  Purchasers'  Obligations.  The obligations of the
Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Initial Notes, as provided for in
this Agreement,  shall be subject to  satisfaction  of the following  conditions
prior to or concurrently with such purchase:


                                       16
<PAGE>


     (a) All of the  representations  and warranties of the Company contained in
this  Agreement  shall be true and correct,  or true and correct in all material
respects where such  representations  and warranties are qualified by references
to materiality or Material  Adverse Effect or similar terms, on the date of this
Agreement and, in each case after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
hereby,  on the Closing Date,  except that if a  representation  and warranty is
made as of a specific date, and such date is expressly referred to therein, such
representation  and  warranty  shall be true and correct (or true and correct in
all material  respects,  as  applicable) as of such date. The Company shall have
performed or complied with all of the agreements and covenants contained in this
Agreement  and required to be performed or complied  with by them at or prior to
the Closing Date.

     (b) The Final Memorandum shall have been printed and copies  distributed to
the Initial  Purchasers not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day
following  the  date of this  Agreement  or at such  later  date and time as the
Initial Purchasers may determine.  No stop order suspending the qualification or
exemption from qualification of the Initial Notes in any jurisdiction shall have
been issued and no  proceeding  for that  purpose  shall have been  commenced or
shall be pending or threatened.

     (c) No action  shall have been taken and no statute,  rule,  regulation  or
order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency that
would,  as of the Closing  Date,  prevent the  issuance of the Initial  Notes or
consummation  of the Exchange  Offer;  except as  disclosed  in the  Preliminary
Memorandum and the Final  Memorandum,  no action,  suit or proceeding shall have
been commenced and be pending  against or affecting or, to the best knowledge of
the Company,  threatened  against the Company and/or any  Subsidiary  before any
court or  arbitrator  or any  governmental  body,  agency or official  that,  if
adversely  determined,  would  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;  and no stop order  preventing the use of the Preliminary  Memorandum or
the Final  Memorandum,  or any  amendment or  supplement  thereto,  or any order
asserting  that  any of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  are
subject to the  registration  requirements of the Securities Act shall have been
issued.

     (d) The Initial  Purchasers  shall have  received  certificates,  dated the
Closing Date, signed by two authorized officers of the Company confirming, as of
the  Closing  Date,  the  matters  set forth in  paragraphs  (a) and (c) of this
Section 8 and the last sentence of paragraph (b) of this Section 8.

     (e) 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:

     (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 incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

     (ii) Each of the Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final  Memorandum has been
prepared by the Company  solely for use by the Initial  Purchasers in connection
with the Exempt Resales.  To the best of such counsel's  knowledge,  no order or
decree preventing the use of the Preliminary  Memorandum or the Final Memorandum
or any  amendment or  supplement  thereto,  or asserting  that the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are


                                       17
<PAGE>


subject to the  registration  requirements of the Securities Act has been issued
and no  proceeding  for that  purpose  has been  commenced  or is pending or, 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  amendment 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,
assuming due authorization,  execution,  delivery and performance thereof by the
Trustee,  is 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 subject to the applicability of general principles of equity, and
conforms in all material respects to the description  thereof in the Preliminary
Memorandum and the Final Memorandum.

     (v) The Initial  Notes 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 subject to
the  applicability of general  principles of equity,  and the Initial Notes will
conform in all material  respects to the description  thereof in the Preliminary
Memorandum and the Final Memorandum.

     (vi) 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  claims;  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, have been validly issued, and all such the partnership  interests held of
record by the  Company are owned free and clear of any  adverse  claims,  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.

     (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  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the Final
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 Material  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


                                       18
<PAGE>


Controlled  Entity, or to which the Company,  any Significant  Subsidiary or any
Controlled Entity, or any of their property, is subject, which would be required
to be disclosed in the Preliminary Memorandum,  the Final Memorandum or both (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) if the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final
Memorandum were  prospectuses  included in a registration  statement on Form S-1
under the Securities  Act, other than those disclosed  therein;  and to the best
knowledge of such counsel after  reasonable  inquiry,  neither the Company,  any
Significant  Subsidiary  nor 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.

     (ix)  Neither the  Company nor any  Significant  Subsidiary  or  Controlled
Entity  is  in  violation  of  its   respective   certificate   or  articles  of
incorporation or bylaws,  or other  organizational  documents,  and, to the best
knowledge of such counsel after reasonable inquiry,  neither the Company nor any
Significant  Subsidiary or Controlled Entity 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  Preliminary
Memorandum or the Final Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (x) Each of this Agreement and the  Registration  Rights Agreement has been
duly  authorized  by the Company and has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and,  assuming due  authorization,  execution,  delivery and performance
thereof by the  Initial  Purchasers,  is a valid and  binding  agreement  of the
Company,  enforceable  in  accordance  with  its  respective  terms,  except  as
enforcement  thereof may be limited by  bankruptcy,  insolvency or other similar
laws affecting  creditors'  rights generally and subject to the applicability of
general  principles of equity,  and except as enforcement of rights to indemnity
and contribution 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 Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum,  or to receive
reimbursement  under Medicare (if represented in the  Preliminary  Memorandum or
the Final 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
Initial Notes) has any right to request or demand  registration  of any security
of the Company because of the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement.

     (xiii) When the  Initial  Notes are issued and  delivered  pursuant to this
Agreement,  such Initial Notes will not be of the same class (within the meaning
of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities 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.


                                       19
<PAGE>


     (xiv) To the best of such counsel's  knowledge  after  reasonable  inquiry,
neither the Company nor any affiliate (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D
under the  Securities  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
Securities Act) which is or will be integrated with the offering and sale of the
Initial  Notes in a manner that would  require the  registration  of the Initial
Notes  under  the  Securities  Act  or  (B)  engaged  in  any  form  of  general
solicitation  or general  advertising  (within the meaning of Regulation D under
the Securities Act) in connection with the offering of the Initial Notes.

     (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 Initial Notes by the Initial Purchasers.

     (xvi)  Assuming (A) that any Eligible  Purchaser who buys the Initial Notes
in the Exempt Resales is a QIB or a person other than a U.S.  person outside the
United  States  in  reliance  on  Regulation  S and  (B)  the  accuracy  of  the
representations  of the  Initial  Purchasers  and those of the  Company  in this
Agreement  regarding the absence of general  solicitation in connection with the
Exempt Resales, no registration of the Initial Notes under the Securities Act is
required for the sale of the Initial Notes as  contemplated in this Agreement or
for the Exempt  Resales and no  qualification  of the Indenture  under the Trust
Indenture Act is required in  connection  with the offer and sale of the Initial
Notes contemplated by this Agreement or in connection with the Exempt Resales.

     (xvii)  The  descriptions  in the  Preliminary  Memorandum  and  the  Final
Memorandum of statutes, governmental regulations,  agreements, contracts, leases
and other documents are accurate and fairly present the  information  that would
be required to be presented therein if the Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final
Memorandum were  prospectuses  included in a registration  statement on Form S-1
under the Securities  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
Preliminary  Memorandum or the Final  Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement
thereto)  that are not either  described  or  referred to therein or filed as an
exhibit  to  the  Preliminary  Memorandum  or  the  Final  Memorandum,   if  the
Preliminary  Memorandum and the Final Memorandum were prospectuses included in a
registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act.

     (xviii)  Neither the offer,  sale or delivery  of the  Initial  Notes,  the
execution,  delivery  or  performance  of  this  Agreement  and  the  Indenture,
compliance  by the  Company  with  the  provisions  of  this  Agreement  and the
Indenture,  nor consummation by the Company of the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement and the Indenture, 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, which is known to such counsel after reasonable
inquiry,  or will result in the creation or  imposition  of any lien,  charge or


                                       20
<PAGE>


encumbrance  upon  any  property  or  assets  of the  Company,  any  Significant
Subsidiary or any Controlled Entity.

     (xix) The Exchange Notes have been duly authorized by the Company and, when
executed by the Company and  authenticated  in accordance  with the terms of the
Registration  Rights  Agreement,  the  Exchange  Offer  and the  Indenture,  the
Exchange  Notes will be legal,  valid and binding  obligations  of the  Company,
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms,  except that  enforceability  of the Exchange Notes
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium  or similar laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights
generally and by general  principles  of equity and the  discretion of the court
before which any proceedings therefor may be brought.

     (xx) A New York court would apply the  substantive  law of the State of New
York in construing the Initial Notes and the Indenture and in  ascertaining  the
validity of the payment of interest and the permissible  rate of interest on the
Initial Notes, and would hold that such substantive law of the State of New York
governs the rights and  obligations  of the parties to the Initial Notes 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 Initial  Notes and the rate
of interest provided pursuant to the Indenture with respect to the Initial Notes
do not violate 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 Initial Notes and in  ascertaining
the  validity  of the  payment of  interest  and the rate of  interest  provided
pursuant to the  Indenture  with respect to the Initial  Notes,  and should hold
that New York law  governs  the rights  and  obligations  of the  parties to the
Initial Notes and the Indenture.

     (xxiii)  No  consent,  approval,  authorization  or order  of any  court or
governmental agency or body is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated  herein,  except  such as may be  required  under  the  Blue Sky or
securities laws of any  jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and sale of
the Initial  Notes by the Initial  Purchasers  and such other  approvals as have
been obtained.

     Such counsel shall also state that nothing has come to their attention that
would lead them to believe that (i) Preliminary Memorandum as of its date or the
Final  Memorandum  as of its  date and as of the  Closing  Date  (including  the
Incorporated Documents but not including the financial statements and supporting
schedules,  upon which such  counsel  need  express no  opinion),  contained  or
contains an untrue  statement of a material  fact or omitted or omits 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  or (ii) any
amendment or  supplement to the Final  Memorandum  (including  the  Incorporated
Documents but not including the financial  statements and supporting  schedules,
upon which such counsel  need express no opinion),  as of its date and as of the
Closing  Date,  contained or contains an untrue  statement of a material fact or
omitted  or  omits  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.


                                       21
<PAGE>


     In rendering the opinions  concerning valid and binding  obligations of the
Company and the enforceability thereof set forth in paragraph (iv), (v), (x) and
(xix) above and the opinions set forth in paragraphs (xx) and (xxi) above,  such
counsel may rely upon an opinion  dated the Closing Date of  Winthrop,  Stimson,
Putnam & Roberts  as to laws of the State of New  York,  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  for the
Company  states in their  opinion  that they  believe  that they and the Initial
Purchasers are justified in relying  thereon.  In providing the statement in the
preceding  paragraph,  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  content  of  the  Preliminary
Memorandum and the Final  Memorandum,  but have not  independently  verified the
statements  made in the  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the Final  Memorandum.  In
addition,  the opinions set forth in paragraphs (iii),  (vi), (vii),  (ix), (xi)
and (xvii) may be  addressed  in an opinion of William W.  Horton,  Senior  Vice
President  of the Company,  dated the Closing Date and  addressed to the Initial
Purchasers.

     (f) The Initial  Purchasers  shall have  received  on the  Closing  Date an
opinion of  Pillsbury  Madison & Sutro LLP,  counsel to the Initial  Purchasers,
dated the Closing  Date and  addressed  to the Initial  Purchasers,  in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers.

     (g) The Initial  Purchasers  shall have  received a "comfort  letter"  from
Ernst & Young LLP,  independent  public  accountants for the Company,  dated the
date of this  Agreement  and  addressed to the Initial  Purchasers,  in form and
substance  satisfactory  to the  Initial  Purchasers  and counsel to the Initial
Purchasers.   In  addition,   the  Initial  Purchasers  shall  have  received  a
"bring-down comfort letter" from Ernst & Young LLP, dated as of the Closing Date
and addressed to the Initial Purchasers,  in form and substance  satisfactory to
the Initial Purchasers and counsel to the Initial Purchasers.

     (h) The  Company  shall have  entered  into the  Indenture  and the Initial
Purchasers shall have received copies, conformed as executed, thereof.

     (i) The Company shall have entered into the  Registration  Rights Agreement
and the  Initial  Purchasers  shall have  received  counterparts,  conformed  as
executed, thereof.

     (j) All government authorizations required in connection with the issue and
sale  of the  Initial  Notes  as  contemplated  under  this  Agreement  and  the
performance  of the  Company's  obligations  hereunder,  under the Indenture and
under the Initial Notes shall be in full force and effect.

     (k)  The  Initial   Purchasers   shall  have  been  furnished  with  wiring
instructions  for the  application  of the  proceeds  of the  Initial  Notes  in
accordance with this Agreement and such other information as they may reasonably
request.

     (l) Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP, counsel to the Initial Purchasers, shall
have been furnished with such documents as they may reasonably request to enable
them to render the opinion described in Section 8(f).

     (m) The  Initial  Notes  shall be  eligible  for  trading  in  PORTAL  upon
issuance.

     (n) All  agreements  set  forth in the  letter  of  representations  of the
Company  to DTC  relating  to the  approval  of the  Initial  Notes  by DTC  for
"book-entry" transfer shall have been complied with.


                                       22
<PAGE>


     If any of the  conditions  specified  in this Section 8 shall not have been
fulfilled  when and as required by this  Agreement to be fulfilled (or waived by
the  Initial  Purchasers),  this  Agreement  may be  terminated  by the  Initial
Purchasers on notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Date,
and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party.
Notwithstanding any such termination, the provisions of Sections 6, 7, 9, 10, 11
and 12(d) shall remain in effect.

     9. Initial Purchasers' Information.  The Company and the Initial Purchasers
acknowledge  that the  statements  with  respect  to the  offer  and sale of the
Initial Notes set forth in (i) the last paragraph of the cover page and (ii) the
first paragraph under the caption  "Important Notice to Readers" and the seventh
paragraph under the caption "Plan of Distribution" in the Preliminary Memorandum
and the Final Memorandum constitute the only information furnished in writing by
the Initial  Purchasers  expressly for use in the Preliminary  Memorandum or the
Final Memorandum.

     10. Expenses; Reimbursements. 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  Preliminary  Memorandum  and the Final  Memorandum,  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 Preliminary Memorandum and the Final 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 Initial Notes; (iii) the
preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for
the Initial  Notes,  including any stamp taxes in  connection  with the original
issuance and sale of the Initial Notes;  (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and
delivery of this Agreement, the preliminary and supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda,
if any,  and all other  agreements  or  documents  printed (or  reproduced)  and
delivered  in  connection  with  the  offering  of the  Initial  Notes;  (v) the
qualification  of the Initial  Notes for offer and sale under the  securities or
Blue  Sky  laws of the  several  states  of the  United  States  (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,  if any,  and such
qualification); (vi) the performance by the Company of its obligations under the
Registration Rights Agreement;  and (vii) 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 (v) of this Section
10(a) by delivering  to counsel for the Initial  Purchasers on such date a check
payable to such counsel in the requisite amount.

     11. Survival Of Representations  And Agreements.  All  representations  and
warranties,  covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, including the
agreements  contained  in  Sections  10  and  12(d),  the  indemnity  agreements
contained in Section 6 and the  contribution  agreements  contained in Section 7
shall  remain  operative  and  in  full  force  and  effect  regardless  of  any
investigation  made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any controlling
person  thereof  or by or on behalf of the  Company  or any  controlling  person
thereof,  and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Initial Notes to and
by the Initial Purchasers.  The agreements contained in Sections 6, 7, 9, 10 and
12(d) shall survive the  termination of this  Agreement,  including  pursuant to
Section 12.

     12. Effective Date Of Agreement; Termination; Default by Initial Purchaser.

     (a) This Agreement shall become  effective upon execution and delivery of a
counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto.


                                       23
<PAGE>


     (b) The Initial Purchasers shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
at any time prior to the Closing  Date by notice to the Company from the Initial
Purchasers,  without  liability (other than with respect to Sections 6 and 7) on
the Initial  Purchasers'  part to the Company if, on or prior to such date,  (i)
the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform in any material
respect any agreement on its part to be performed  under this Agreement when and
as  required,  (ii)  any  other  condition  to the  obligations  of the  Initial
Purchasers  under this  Agreement  to be  fulfilled  by the Company  pursuant to
Section 8 is not fulfilled when and as required in any material  respect,  (iii)
trading in  securities  generally on the New York Stock  Exchange,  the American
Stock  Exchange  or the Nasdaq  National  Market  shall have been  suspended  or
materially limited, or minimum prices shall have been established thereon by the
Commission,  or by such  exchange  or  other  regulatory  body  or  governmental
authority having jurisdiction, (iv) a general banking moratorium shall have been
declared  by  federal or New York  authorities,  or if a  moratorium  to foreign
exchange  trading  by major  international  banks or  persons  shall  have  been
declared,  (v)  there is an  outbreak  or  escalation  of  hostilities  or other
national or international calamity on or after the date of this Agreement, or if
there has been a declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war
or other  national or  international  calamity or crisis  (economic,  political,
financial or otherwise) which affects the U.S. and international markets, making
it, in the  Initial  Purchasers'  judgment,  impracticable  to proceed  with the
offering  or  delivery  of the  Initial  Notes on the  terms  and in the  manner
contemplated  in the  Final  Memorandum  or (vi)  there  shall  have been such a
material adverse change in general economic,  political or financial  conditions
or the effect (or potential effect if the financial markets in the United States
have not yet opened) of international conditions on the financial markets in the
United States shall be such, as in the Initial Purchasers'  judgment, to make it
inadvisable  or  impracticable  to proceed  with the offering or delivery of the
Initial  Notes  on the  terms  and  in  the  manner  contemplated  in the  Final
Memorandum.

     (c) Any notice of termination pursuant to this Section 12 shall be given at
the  address  specified  in Section  13 below by  telephone,  telex,  telephonic
facsimile or telegraph, confirmed in writing by letter.

     (d) If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of
Section  12(b),  or if the  sale  of the  Initial  Notes  provided  for in  this
Agreement is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the
part of the  Company to satisfy in any  material  respect any  condition  to the
obligations  of the  Initial  Purchasers  set  forth  in  this  Agreement  to be
satisfied  on its part or because of any  refusal,  inability  or failure on the
part of the Company to perform in any  material  respect any  agreement  in this
Agreement  or  comply  in any  material  respect  with  any  provision  of  this
Agreement,  the  Company  will,  subject  to demand by the  Initial  Purchasers,
reimburse  the  Initial  Purchasers  for all of their  reasonable  out-of-pocket
expenses  (including the fees and expenses of the Initial  Purchasers'  counsel)
incurred in connection with this Agreement.

     (e) If any one or more  Initial  Purchasers  shall fail to purchase and pay
for any of the Initial  Notes agreed to be  purchased by such Initial  Purchaser
hereunder  and such  failure  to  purchase  shall  constitute  a default  in the
performance  of its or their  obligations  under this  Agreement,  the remaining
Initial Purchasers shall be obligated  severally and not jointly to purchase (in
the respective proportions which the principal amount of Initial Notes set forth
opposite  their  names in  Schedule I hereto  bears to the  aggregate  principal
amount  of  Initial  Notes  set forth  opposite  the names of all the  remaining
Initial  Purchasers) the Initial Notes which the defaulting Initial Purchaser or
Initial Purchasers agreed to purchase but failed to purchase; provided, however,
that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes which the
defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed to purchase but failed
to purchase  exceeds 10% of the aggregate  principal amount of Initial Notes set
forth


                                       24
<PAGE>


in Schedule I hereto,  the remaining Initial  Purchasers shall have the right to
purchase  all,  but shall not be under any  obligation  to purchase  any, of the
Initial Notes, and if such nondefaulting  Initial Purchasers do not purchase all
the Initial  Notes,  this  Agreement  will  terminate  without  liability to any
nondefaulting Initial Purchaser or the Company. In the event of a default by any
Initial  Purchaser as set forth in this Section 12(e), the Closing Date shall be
postponed  for such period,  not to exceed five  business  days,  as the Initial
Purchasers  shall  determine  in order  that the  required  changes in the Final
Memorandum or in any other  documents or arrangements  may be effected.  Nothing
contained in this Agreement  shall relieve any defaulting  Initial  Purchaser of
its liability, if any, to the Company.

     13. Notices.  All  communications  with respect to or under this Agreement,
except as may be otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement,  shall be in
writing and, if sent to the Initial Purchasers,  shall be mailed,  delivered, or
telexed,  telegraphed or telecopied and confirmed in writing to UBS Warburg LLC,
677 Washington Boulevard,  Stamford,  Connecticut 06912,  Attention:  High Yield
Capital Markets,  Telephone:  (203) 719-1556,  Facsimile: (203) 719-5753; and if
sent to the  Company,  shall be mailed,  delivered  or telexed,  telegraphed  or
telecopied and confirmed in writing to HEALTHSOUTH Corporation,  One HealthSouth
Parkway,  Birmingham,  Alabama 35243, Attention:  William W. Horton,  Telephone:
(205) 969-4977, Facsimile: (205) 969-4730.

     All such  notices  and  communications  shall be  deemed  to have been duly
given: when 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 by telecopier machine, if telecopied; and one
business day after being timely delivered to a next-day air courier.

     14. Parties. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of, and shall
be binding upon, the Initial Purchasers, the Company and the controlling persons
and agents referred to in Sections 6 and 7, and their respective  successors and
assigns,  and no other  person  shall have or be  construed to have any legal or
equitable  right,  remedy or claim  under or in  respect of or by virtue of this
Agreement or any provision herein  contained.  The term "successors and assigns"
shall not  include a  purchaser,  in its  capacity  as such,  of Notes  from the
Initial Purchasers.

     15. Construction.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of New York (without  giving effect to any provisions
thereof relating to conflicts of law).

     16. Captions.  The captions  included in this Agreement are included solely
for  convenience  of  reference  and  are  not to be  considered  a part of this
Agreement.

     17.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in various  counterparts
that together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


                                       25
<PAGE>


     If the foregoing Purchase Agreement  correctly sets forth the understanding
among the Company and the  Initial  Purchasers,  please so indicate in the space
provided below for the purpose,  whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall
constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.


                                       HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

                                       By:     /s/ William W. Horton
                                           -------------------------------
                                                  William W. Horton
                                                Senior Vice President


Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written:


UBS WARBURG LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.


By:    UBS WARBURG LLC

By:      /s/ Michael Y. Leder
    ------------------------------
           Michael Y. Leder
           Managing Director
           Leveraged Finance

By:     /s/ David W. Barth
    ------------------------------
           David W. Barth
              Director
          Leveraged Finance


<PAGE>



                                                                      SCHEDULE I
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
INITIAL PURCHASER                               INITIAL NOTES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>
UBS Warburg LLC                                 $148,750,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.                   $113,750,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chase Securities Inc.                            $70,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Union Securities, Inc.                     $17,500,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                           $350,000,000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



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