COLUMBIA HCA HEALTHCARE CORP/
S-3, 1999-07-02
GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC
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<PAGE>   1

      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 2, 1999

                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------

                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------

                      COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    DELAWARE
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
                                   75-2497104
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                                 ONE PARK PLAZA
                           NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203
                                 (615) 344-9551
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)

                               JOHN M. FRANCK II
                              CORPORATE SECRETARY
                      COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
                                 ONE PARK PLAZA
                           NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37203
                                 (615) 344-9551
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                                 JAMES H. CHEEK
                             BASS, BERRY & SIMS PLC
                           2700 FIRST AMERICAN CENTER
                        NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37238-2700
                                 (615) 742-6200
                               RONALD J. FRAPPIER
                              JENKENS & GILCHRIST
                           A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                          1445 ROSS AVENUE, SUITE 3200
                              DALLAS, TEXAS 75202
                                 (214) 855-4500

    Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time
to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

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

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

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

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

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

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
       TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF            AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE PER   AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
    SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED           REGISTERED              UNIT               PRICE(1)        REGISTRATION FEE(2)
<S>                                   <C>                  <C>                  <C>                  <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt Securities.....................    $1,100,000,000            100%            $1,100,000,000          $305,800
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, the prospectus
    included as a part of this Registration Statement also relates to the
    remaining unsold Debt Securities having a proposed maximum offering price of
    $400,000,000, which were previously registered on Form S-3 under
    Registration Statement No. 33-64105, in respect of which $137,931 has been
    paid to the Commission as a filing fee.

     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY
NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 2, 1999

PROSPECTUS

                            COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE
                                  CORPORATION

                                 $1,500,000,000

                                DEBT SECURITIES

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

     This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission utilizing a "shelf " registration process.
Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell the debt securities
described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar
amount of $1,500,000,000.

     This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities
we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus
supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that
offering. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information
contained in this prospectus.

     You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement. Neither we nor any
underwriter has authorized anyone else to provide you with different
information. This prospectus is not an offer to sell and it is not soliciting an
offer to buy these debt securities in any state where the offer is not
permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the
prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the
front of the document.

     We will provide specific terms of these debt securities in supplements to
this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully
before you invest.

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

     NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                    , 1999
<PAGE>   3

                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and file reports and other information with the SEC. You may read
and copy these reports at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on
the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at (800) 732-0330.
You may also inspect these reports at the SEC's New York Regional Office, Seven
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, at its Chicago Regional Office,
500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661, and at the New
York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our
common stock trades. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site that
contains reports and other information regarding us (http://www.sec.gov).

     We have registered these securities with the SEC on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus does not contain all of the information
set forth in the Registration Statement. You may obtain copies of the
Registration Statement, including exhibits, as discussed in the first paragraph.

     The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus the
information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those documents. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later
information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede
this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents:

     - our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998;

     - our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999;

     - our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 23, 1999, April 21, 1999
       and May 11, 1999; and

     - any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
       15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until our offering is
       completed.

     You may obtain copies of the above information (including exhibits), upon
written or oral request, without charge. You should direct requests to John M.
Franck II, Corporate Secretary, Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, One Park
Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee 37203 or by telephone at (615) 344-9551. Our web
site address is www.columbia-hca.com.

                                        2
<PAGE>   4

                                  THE COMPANY

     Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation is a holding company whose affiliates
own and operate hospitals and related health care entities. The term
"affiliates" includes our direct and indirect subsidiaries and partnerships and
joint ventures in which our subsidiaries are partners. At May 31, 1999, these
affiliates owned and operated 205 hospitals and 79 freestanding surgery centers
and provided extensive outpatient and ancillary services. Our affiliates are
also partners in several 50/50 joint ventures that own and operate 20 hospitals
and 5 freestanding surgery centers which are accounted for using the equity
method. Our facilities are located in 24 states, England and Switzerland.

     Our primary objective is to provide a comprehensive array of quality health
care services in the most cost-effective manner possible. Our hospitals provide
a full range of medical services including such medical specialties as internal
medicine, general surgery, cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and
obstetrics, as well as diagnostic and emergency services. We also provide
outpatient and ancillary health care services at both our general, acute care
hospitals and at our freestanding facilities, including outpatient surgery and
diagnostic centers, rehabilitation facilities, home health care agencies and
other facilities. In addition, we operate psychiatric hospitals which generally
provide a full range of mental health care services in inpatient, partial
hospitalization and outpatient settings.

     We were formed in January 1990 as a Nevada corporation and reincorporated
in Delaware in September 1993. Our principal executive offices are located at
One Park Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, and our telephone number at that
address is (615) 344-9551.

                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     The following table sets forth the ratio of our consolidated earnings to
fixed charges for the periods presented.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   FOR THE THREE
   MONTHS ENDED
  MARCH 31, 1999
     AND 1998          FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
  ---------------   -------------------------------------
   1999     1998    1998    1997    1996    1995    1994
  ------   ------   -----   -----   -----   -----   -----
  <S>      <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
  4.91x    3.07x    2.58x   1.81x   4.99x   3.94x   4.09x
</TABLE>

     For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
"earnings" consist of income from continuing operations before minority
interests, income taxes and fixed charges. "Fixed charges" consist of interest
expense, debt amortization costs and one-third of rent expense, which
approximates the interest portion of rent expense.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this
prospectus, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the debt
securities for general corporate purposes. We intend to offer the debt
securities periodically when prevailing interest rates and other market
conditions are advantageous.

                                        3
<PAGE>   5

                       DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

GENERAL

     The description below of the general terms of the debt securities will be
supplemented by the more specific terms in the prospectus supplement.

     We will issue the debt securities in one or more series under an indenture
dated as of December 16, 1993 between us and The First National Bank of Chicago,
which we will call the "Trustee." The indenture describes the terms of the debt
securities and does not limit the amount of debt securities or other unsecured,
senior debt that we may issue.

     The debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The indenture limits our
ability and that of our subsidiaries under certain circumstances to secure debt
by mortgages on our principal properties, by entering into sale and lease-back
transactions or by issuing subsidiary debt or preferred stock. In a liquidation
or reorganization of any of our subsidiaries, the right of holders of the debt
securities to participate in any distribution is subject to the prior claims of
creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that we are a creditor.

     In addition to the following description of the debt securities, you should
refer to the detailed provisions of the indenture, a copy of which is filed as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The article and section numbers refer
to those in the indenture.

     The prospectus supplement will specify the following terms of the issue of
debt securities:

     - the title of the debt securities;

     - any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

     - the date or dates on which the debt securities may be issued and are or
       will be payable;

     - the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest, if
       any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, and
       the date or dates from which such interest, if any, will accrue;

     - the date or dates on which such interest, if any, will be payable, the
       method of determining holders to whom any of the interest shall be
       payable and the manner in which any interest payable on a global debt
       security will be paid if other than book-entry;

     - each office or agency where the principal, premium and interest on the
       debt securities will be payable and where the debt securities may be
       presented for registration of transfer or exchange;

     - the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the
       terms and conditions upon which, the debt securities may be redeemed at
       our option;

     - our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities
       pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of
       a holder, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at
       which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the debt securities will
       be redeemed, repaid or purchased pursuant to any such obligation;

     - whether the debt securities are to be issued with original issue discount
       within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
       1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder;

     - whether the debt securities are to be issued in whole or in part in the
       form of one or more global notes and, if so, the identity of the
       depositary, if any, for such global note or notes;

     - if other than dollars, the foreign currency or currencies or foreign
       currency units in which the principal, premium and interest on the debt
       securities shall or may be paid and, if applicable,

                                        4
<PAGE>   6

       whether at our election and/or that of the holder, and the conditions and
       manner of determining the exchange rate or rates;

     - any index used to determine the amount of payment of principal, premium
       and interest on the debt securities;

     - any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any events of default or
       covenants provided for with respect to the debt securities;

     - any other detailed terms and provisions of the debt securities that are
       not inconsistent with the indenture (Section 301); and

     - any special provisions for the payment of additional amounts with respect
       to the debt securities.

     The debt securities may be issued at a substantial discount below their
stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement will describe any federal
income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to discount
securities. Discount securities may provide for the declaration or acceleration
of the maturity of an amount less than the principal amount if an event of
default occurs and continues.

DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER

     Unless we state otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we will issue the
debt securities in registered form and in denominations of $1,000 or any
multiple thereof (Section 302). You will be able to exchange the debt securities
of any series (other than a global note) for an equal aggregate principal amount
of registered debt securities of the same series having the same maturity date,
interest rate and other terms, as long as the debt securities are issued in
authorized denominations. You may exchange the debt securities at the office of
the Security Registrar or co-Security Registrar that we designate in a
prospectus supplement. We will not impose any service charge for the exchange of
any debt security; however, we may ask you to pay any taxes and other
governmental charges as described in the indenture. The Security Registrar or
co-Security Registrar will effect the exchange when satisfied with your
documents of title and identity. We have appointed the Trustee as Security
Registrar (Section 305).

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS

     Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we will make
principal, premium, and interest payments at the office of our Paying Agent. We
may determine to pay any interest, including any installment of interest, (i) by
check mailed to you at the address in the register or (ii) by wire transfer to
the holder's account (Section 307).

     Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the Trustee will act
as our sole Paying Agent with respect to the debt securities, through its
principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. We will name
any additional Paying Agents in a prospectus supplement. We may at any time
rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office
through which any Paying Agent acts, but we must maintain a Paying Agent in each
place of payment for a series of the debt securities.

     If we have paid any moneys to the Trustee or a Paying Agent for the
principal, premium, and interest on any debt securities, and those moneys remain
unclaimed two years after due and payable, the moneys will be repaid to us and
the holder of the debt securities may thereafter look only to us for any payment
(Section 1103).

BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM

     We may issue the debt securities in whole or in part in book-entry only
form, which means that they will be represented by one or more permanent global
notes that will be deposited with a depositary located in the United States. We
will identify the depositary and describe the specific terms of the depositary
arrangement in the prospectus supplement relating to each series. We will refer
to this form here and in

                                        5
<PAGE>   7

the prospectus supplement as "book-entry only." The following discussion
pertains to securities that are issued in book-entry only form.

     One or more global notes will be issued to and registered in the name of
the depositary or its nominee. The depositary will keep a computerized record of
its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the
securities. The participant will then keep a record of its clients who purchased
the securities. Beneficial interests in global notes will be shown on, and
transfers of global notes will be made only through, records maintained by the
depositary and its participants.

     So long as a depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a global
note, it will be considered the sole owner of the debt securities under the
indenture. Except as provided below, you will not be entitled to have debt
securities registered in your name, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be
considered the owner under the indenture. Certain jurisdictions that require
purchasers of securities to take physical delivery of securities in definitive
form may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global note.
Neither we, the Trustee, any Paying Agent nor the Security Registrar will have
any responsibility or liability for payments on account of, or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to, the beneficial ownership
interests.

     We will make payments of principal, premium and interest on debt securities
to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of the global note. We
expect that the depositary for debt securities of a series, upon receipt of any
payment of principal, premium or interest in respect of a global note, will
credit immediately participants' accounts with payments according to their
respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global note as shown on the
records of the depositary. We also expect that standing instructions and
customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial
interests in the global note held through the participants, as is now the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street name."
These payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

     A global note may not be transferred, except that the depositary, its
nominees and their successors may transfer an entire global note to one another.
Debt securities represented by a global security would be exchangeable for
certificates in definitive registered form with the same terms in authorized
denominations only if:

     - a depositary of a series is at any time unwilling or unable to continue
       as depositary and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90
       days; or

     - we determine at any time not to have any debt securities represented by
       one or more global notes.

In either instance, an owner of beneficial interests in a global note will be
entitled to have debt securities equal in principal amount to the beneficial
interest registered in its name and to physical delivery in definitive form
(Section 304).

LIMITATIONS ON US AND OUR SUBSIDIARIES

  Limitations on Mortgages

     The indenture provides that neither we nor any of our subsidiaries will
issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness or obligation secured by mortgages,
liens, pledges or other encumbrances upon any principal property (which means
each of our acute care hospitals that provides general medical and surgical
services), unless the debt securities shall be secured equally and ratably with
(or prior to) such debt (Section 1105). This restriction will not apply to:

     - mortgages securing the purchase price or cost of construction of property
       or additions, substantial repairs, alterations or improvements, if the
       debt and the mortgages are incurred within 18 months of the acquisition
       or completion of construction and full operation or additions, repairs,
       alterations or improvements;

     - mortgages existing on property at the time of its acquisition by us or
       our subsidiary or on the property of a corporation at the time of the
       acquisition of such corporation by us or our subsidiary;

                                        6
<PAGE>   8

     - mortgages to secure debt on which the interest payments are exempt from
       federal income tax under Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code;

     - mortgages in favor of us or a consolidated subsidiary;

     - mortgages existing on the date of the indenture;

     - certain mortgages to governmental entities;

     - mortgages incurred in connection with the borrowing of funds used to
       repay debt within 120 days in the same principal amount secured by other
       mortgages on principal property with at least the same appraised fair
       market value;

     - mortgages incurred within 90 days (or any longer period, not in excess of
       one year, as permitted by law) after acquisition of the related property
       or equipment arising solely in connection with the transfer of tax
       benefits in accordance with Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue
       Code; and

     - any extension, renewal or replacement of any mortgage referred to above,
       provided the amount secured is not increased and it relates to the same
       property.

  Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back

     The indenture provides that neither we nor any subsidiary will enter into
any sale and lease-back transaction with respect to any principal property with
another person unless either:

     - we or our subsidiary could incur indebtedness secured by a mortgage on
       the property to be leased; or

     - within 120 days, we apply the greater of the net proceeds of the sale of
       the leased property or the fair value of the leased property, net of all
       debt securities delivered under the indenture, to the voluntary
       retirement of our funded debt or the acquisition or construction of a
       principal property (Section 1106).

  Limitations on Subsidiary Debt and Preferred Stock

     The indenture provides that none of our restricted subsidiaries may,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume or otherwise become liable
with respect to, extend the maturity of, or become responsible for the payment
of, any debt or preferred stock except:

     - debt outstanding on the date of the indenture;

     - debt representing the assumption by one restricted subsidiary of debt of
       another;

     - debt or preferred stock of any corporation or partnership existing when
       it becomes a subsidiary;

     - debt of a restricted subsidiary arising from agreements providing for
       indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations or
       from guarantees, letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds
       securing any of our obligations or those of our subsidiaries incurred or
       assumed in connection with the disposition of any business, property or
       subsidiary, except for the purpose of financing an acquisition, provided
       that the maximum aggregate liability does not exceed the gross proceeds
       from the disposition;

     - debt of a restricted subsidiary in respect of performance, surety and
       other similar bonds, bankers acceptances and letters of credit provided
       in the ordinary course of business;

     - debt secured by a mortgage incurred to finance the purchase price or cost
       of construction of property or additions, substantial repairs,
       alterations or improvements, if the mortgage and debt are incurred within
       18 months of the later of the acquisition or completion of construction
       and full operation or additions, repairs, alterations or improvements and
       the mortgage does not relate to any other property;

                                        7
<PAGE>   9

     - permitted subsidiary refinancing debt (as defined in the indenture);

     - debt of a restricted subsidiary to us or another subsidiary as long as we
       hold it; or

     - any obligation pursuant to a permitted sale and lease-back transaction
       (Section 1107).

  Exempted Transactions

     Even if otherwise prohibited by these limitations, if the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of all our other debt and that of our subsidiaries
subject to these limitations does not exceed 15% of our consolidated net
tangible assets, then:

     - we or any of our subsidiaries may issue, assume or guarantee debt secured
       by mortgages;

     - we or any of our subsidiaries may enter into any sale and lease-back
       transaction; and

     - any restricted subsidiary may issue, assume or become liable for any debt
       or preferred stock (Section 1108).

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     Under the indenture, an event of default applicable to the debt securities
of any series means:

     - failure to pay the principal or any premium on any debt security of that
       series when due;

     - failure to pay any interest on any debt security of that series when due,
       continued for 30 days;

     - failure to deposit any sinking fund payment in respect of any debt
       security of that series when due;

     - failure to perform, or the breach of, any of our other applicable
       covenants or warranties in the indenture, continued for 60 days after
       written notice;

     - events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

     - any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of
       that series (Section 501).

     If any event of default with respect to debt securities of any series
occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may
declare the principal amount, or in the case of discount securities, a portion
of the principal amount, of all the debt securities of that series to be due and
payable immediately. The holders may, under certain circumstances, rescind and
annul this acceleration prior to obtaining a judgment or decree (Section 502).

     Other than the duties of the Trustee during a default to act with the
required standard of care, the Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the
holders unless the holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
indemnity (Section 603). Subject to these indemnification provisions, the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or
power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that
series (Section 512).

     We will furnish the Trustee annually with a statement as to our performance
of certain obligations under the indenture and as to any default in our
performance (Section 1109).

MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

     We and the Trustee may modify and amend the indenture with the consent of
the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of each series affected. We must have the consent of the holder of
each outstanding debt security affected to:

     - change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
       interest on, any debt security;

     - reduce the principal, premium or interest on any debt security;

                                        8
<PAGE>   10

     - reduce the amount of principal of discount securities payable upon
       acceleration of the maturity;

     - change the currency of payment of principal, premium or interest on any
       debt security;

     - impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on
       or with respect to any debt security; or

     - reduce the percentage of holders whose consent is required for
       modification or amendment of the indenture or for waiver of compliance
       with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults (Section
       1002).

     The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of each series may, on behalf of all holders of that series,
waive any past default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of
that series. However, such holders may not waive a past default in the payment
of principal, premium or interest, or any sinking fund installment with respect
to the debt securities, or waive a covenant or provision that cannot be modified
or amended, without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security
affected (Section 513).

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR LEASE OF ASSETS

     We may consolidate with or merge into, or transfer or lease our assets to,
any corporation without the consent of the holders of any of the outstanding
debt securities under the indenture if:

     - the successor corporation assumes our obligations on the debt securities
       and under the indenture;

     - after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event
       which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of
       default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

     - other conditions are met (Section 901).

DEFEASANCE

     If so specified in a prospectus supplement, we may be discharged from all
obligations under the debt securities of any series, and we will not be subject
to the limitations in the indenture discussed in the above sections, if we
deposit with the Trustee trust money or U.S. government obligations that are
sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest on the debt securities of
the series. We would deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect
that the deposit and related defeasance would not (1) cause the holders of the
debt securities of the series to recognize income, gain or loss for United
States income tax purposes or (2) result in the delisting of the debt securities
from any national securities exchange (if so listed) (Article Fourteen).

NOTICES

     Notices to holders will be mailed to the addresses of the holders listed in
the security register (Sections 101, 105).

GOVERNING LAW

     We will construe the indenture and the debt securities in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York (Section 111).

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

     The Trustee has normal banking relationships with us.

                                        9
<PAGE>   11

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

GENERAL

     We may sell the debt securities directly to purchasers or through
underwriters, dealers or agents. We may distribute the debt securities in one or
more transactions, either at a fixed price or varying prices, at prevailing
market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated
prices. The prospectus supplement will identify the terms of the offering, the
names of the underwriters or agents, the purchase price, any underwriting
discounts, the method of distribution and the time and place of delivery of the
debt securities.

     In connection with the sale of debt securities, underwriters, dealers or
agents may receive discounts, concessions or commissions from us or from
purchasers for whom they act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that
participate in the distribution of debt securities may qualify as underwriters
under the Securities Act of 1933. The prospectus supplement will identify any
such underwriter, dealer or agent and describe any compensation paid by us.

     We may agree to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents that participate
in the distribution of debt securities against liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

     Since each issuance of a series of these debt securities will have no
established trading market, broker-dealers may make a market in the debt
securities. We cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the debt
securities.

DELAYED DELIVERY ARRANGEMENT

     If so indicated in a prospectus supplement, we will authorize dealers or
agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase debt securities
from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future
date, if so permitted by the purchaser's jurisdiction. We must approve all
institutions, which may include commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable
institutions and others. The dealers and other agents will not be responsible
for the validity or performance of these contracts.

                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

     John M. Franck II, our Senior Counsel and Corporate Secretary, is passing
upon the validity of the debt securities for us. As of June 30, 1999, Mr. Franck
owned approximately 6,556 shares and had options to purchase 125,620 shares of
our common stock. Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation, is passing
upon legal matters in connection with the offering of the debt securities for
any underwriters, dealers or agents. Jenkens & Gilchrist has rendered, and
continues to render, legal services to us.

                                    EXPERTS

     Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited our consolidated
financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1998, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by
reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our
financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young
LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       10
<PAGE>   12

                                    PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
SEC filing fee..............................................  $305,800
Accounting fees and expenses................................    25,000*
Printing and engraving......................................    25,000*
Blue Sky fees and expenses..................................    10,000*
Legal fees and expenses.....................................    25,000*
Trustee's fees and expenses.................................    15,000*
Rating Agency fees..........................................   350,000*
Miscellaneous...............................................    19,200*
                                                              --------
          Total.............................................  $775,000*
                                                              ========
</TABLE>

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

* Estimated

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that we will indemnify
and hold harmless, to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General
Corporation Law, which we will refer to as the DGCL, each person who was or is
made a party to, or is involved in, any action, suit or proceeding by reason of
the fact that he or she was a director or officer (or was serving at our request
as a director, officer, employee or agent for another entity).

     Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation may indemnify a director,
officer, employee or agent of the corporation against liability actually and
reasonably incurred if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation. In connection with a criminal proceeding, a corporation may
indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent who had no reasonable cause
to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In actions brought by or in the
right of a corporation, however, the DGCL does not allow indemnification if the
person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. However, a
court may find that, in light of all circumstances, the person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for expenses.

     Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest
extent permitted by the DGCL, a director shall not be liable to us or our
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
The DGCL permits these limitations of a director's liability, but does not
permit a corporation to eliminate or limit a director's liability for the
following:

     - breaches of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
       stockholders;

     - acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct
       or known violations of law;

     - the payment of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock purchases or
       redemptions; or

     - transactions in which the director received an improper personal benefit.

     We are insured against liabilities that we may incur by reason of our
indemnification of officers and directors in accordance with our Restated
Certificate of Incorporation. We also insure directors and officers against
liabilities that might arise out of their employment and are not subject to
indemnification under our Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

                                      II-1
<PAGE>   13

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<C>      <C>  <S>
 1        --  Form of Underwriting Agreement.
 4        --  Indenture dated as of December 16, 1993 between the Company
              and The First National Bank of Chicago as Trustee (filed as
              Exhibit 4.11 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993, and
              incorporated herein by reference).
 5        --  Opinion of John M. Franck II, Esq.
12        --  Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to
              fixed charges (filed as Exhibit 12 to the Registrant's
              Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
              31, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference, and filed as
              Exhibit 12 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, and
              incorporated herein by reference).
23.1      --  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.
23.2      --  Consent of John M. Franck II, Esq. appears in his opinion
              filed as Exhibit 5.
24        --  Power of Attorney of certain signatories appears on page
              II-4.
25        --  Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1.
</TABLE>

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

          (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act of 1933;

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

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

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

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

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

     (5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing

                                      II-2
<PAGE>   14

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

                                      II-3
<PAGE>   15

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Nashville, State of Tennessee, on July 1, 1999.

                                          COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

                                          By:     /s/ DAVID G. ANDERSON
                                            ------------------------------------
                                           David G. Anderson
                                           Vice President - Finance and
                                           Treasurer

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints John M. Franck II, David G. Anderson and R.
Milton Johnson, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her
and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform such and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or any of them, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                      TITLE                  DATE
                      ---------                                      -----                  ----
<C>                                                      <S>                            <C>

           /s/ THOMAS F. FRIST, JR., M.D.                Chairman of the Board, Chief    July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------      Executive Officer and
             Thomas F. Frist, Jr., M.D.                    Director (Principal
                                                           Executive Officer)

                /s/ DAVID G. ANDERSON                    Vice President - Finance and    July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------      Treasurer (Principal
                  David G. Anderson                        Financial Officer)

                /s/ R. MILTON JOHNSON                    Vice President and Controller   July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------      (Principal Accounting
                  R. Milton Johnson                        Officer)

           /s/ MAGDALENA H. AVERHOFF, M.D.               Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
             Magdalena H. Averhoff, M.D.

                 /s/ J. MICHAEL COOK                     Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   J. Michael Cook

                /s/ MARTIN FELDSTEIN                     Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                  Martin Feldstein
</TABLE>

                                      II-4
<PAGE>   16

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                      TITLE                  DATE
                      ---------                                      -----                  ----
<C>                                                      <S>                            <C>

               /s/ FREDERICK W. GLUCK                    Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 Frederick W. Gluck

                 /s/ T. MICHAEL LONG                     Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   T. Michael Long

                /s/ JOHN H. MCARTHUR                     Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                  John H. McArthur

              /s/ R. CLAYTON MCWHORTER                   Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                R. Clayton McWhorter

                /s/ THOMAS S. MURPHY                     Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                  Thomas S. Murphy

                 /s/ KENT C. NELSON                      Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   Kent C. Nelson

                /s/ CARL E. REICHARDT                    Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                  Carl E. Reichardt

              /s/ FRANK S. ROYAL, M.D.                   Director                        July 1, 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------
                Frank S. Royal, M.D.
</TABLE>

                                      II-5
<PAGE>   17

                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<C>      <C>  <S>
 1        --  Form of Underwriting Agreement.
 4        --  Indenture dated as of December 16, 1993 between the Company
              and The First National Bank of Chicago as Trustee (filed as
              Exhibit 4.11 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993, and
              incorporated herein by reference).
 5        --  Opinion of John M. Franck II, Esq.
12        --  Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to
              fixed charges (filed as Exhibit 12 to the Registrant's
              Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
              31, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference, and filed as
              Exhibit 12 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
              for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, and
              incorporated herein by reference.)
23.1      --  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.
23.2      --  Consent of John M. Franck II, Esq. appears in his opinion
              filed as Exhibit 5.
24        --  Power of Attorney of certain signatories appears on page
              II-4.
25        --  Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 1

                       COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                               STANDARD PROVISIONS
                                (DEBT SECURITIES)

                                                                    July 1, 1999

         From time to time, COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), may enter into one or more underwriting agreements
that provide for the sale of designated securities to the several underwriters
named therein. The standard provisions set forth herein may be incorporated by
reference in any such underwriting agreement (an "Underwriting Agreement"). The
Underwriting Agreement, including the provisions incorporated therein by
reference, is herein sometimes referred to as this Agreement. Terms not defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

         The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement, including a prospectus, relating to the
Debt Securities and has filed with, or shall promptly hereafter file with, the
Commission a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") specifically
relating to the Offered Securities pursuant to Rule 424 or Rule 434 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The term
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement, including the
exhibits thereto, as amended to the date of this Agreement, and also includes
any registration statement registering securities covered by the Basic
Prospectus pursuant to Rule 429 of the Securities Act. The term "Basic
Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. The
term "Prospectus" means the Basic Prospectus together with the Prospectus
Supplement. The term "preliminary prospectus" means a preliminary prospectus
supplement specifically relating to the Offered Securities, together with the
Basic Prospectus. As used herein, the terms "Basic Prospectus," "Prospectus" and
"preliminary prospectus" shall include in each case the documents, if any,
incorporated by reference therein. The terms "supplement," "amendment" and
"amend" as used herein shall include all documents deemed to be incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus that are filed subsequent to the date of the Basic
Prospectus by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

         The term "Contract Securities" means the Offered Securities to be
purchased pursuant to the delayed delivery contracts substantially in the form
of Schedule I hereto, with such changes therein as the Company may approve (the
"Delayed Delivery Contracts"). The term "Underwriters' Securities" means the
Offered Securities other than the Contract Securities.

         1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  The Company represents and warrants
to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:



<PAGE>   2



         (a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the
Securities Act. The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no
proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission.
The Company has filed such amendments to the Registration Statement as may have
been required to the date of the Underwriting Agreement. There are no contracts
or other documents that are required to be (i) filed as exhibits to, or
incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement under the Securities
Act that have not been filed as exhibits to, or incorporated by reference in,
the Registration Statement, or (ii) summarized in the Prospectus that are not so
summarized or are not adequately summarized. The financial statements (including
the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the Registration
Statement and the preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or incorporated by
reference therein, present fairly, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, the financial condition and results of operations of the
entities purported to be shown thereby, at the dates and for the periods
indicated, and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved.

         (b) At the time the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
becomes effective, when the Prospectus is first filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Regulations, when any supplement to or amendment
of the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, when any document filed under
the Exchange Act is filed, and at all times subsequent thereto and including the
Closing Date, and during such longer period as the Prospectus may be required to
be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriters or a dealer, the
Registration Statement, any documents incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments thereof and
supplements thereto, comply or will comply in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the
respective rules and regulations thereunder and will contain all statements that
are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder, and do not or will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact and will not omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading, and no event will have occurred that should have been
set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any
document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
that has not then been set forth in such an amendment, supplement or document
incorporated by reference. When any related preliminary prospectus was first
filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement
for the registration of the Shares or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule
424(a) of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto,
including any document incorporated by reference therein, was first filed with
the Commission, such preliminary prospectus and any amendments thereof and
supplements thereto complied in all material respects with the applicable
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules
and regulations thereunder and did not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact and did not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No representation and
warranty is made in this subsection, however, with respect to (i) any statements
or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by
such Underwriter through the Managers expressly for use therein or (ii) that
part of the Registration Statement that


                                        2

<PAGE>   3



constitutes the Statement of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), of the Trustee. The
documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, when they were first filed with the Commission, complied in all
material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

         (c) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined), taken as a whole.

         (d) Each direct and indirect subsidiary of the Company (the "Corporate
Subsidiaries"), which is a "Significant Subsidiary" within the meaning of the
rules and regulations under the Securities Act (the "Material Corporate
Subsidiaries"), has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has
the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of
its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (e) Each of the partnerships owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by the Company (the "Partnerships," and together with the Corporate
Subsidiaries, the "Subsidiaries"), which is a "Significant Subsidiary" within
the meaning of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act (the "Material
Partnerships" and, together with the Material Corporate Subsidiaries, the
"Material Subsidiaries"), has been duly formed and is validly existing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of formation and has the partnership power and
authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted and to
own, lease and operate its properties, and each is duly qualified as a foreign
partnership authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (f) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.

         (g) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and (ii) rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable
remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.


                                        3

<PAGE>   4



         (h) The Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company and are valid and binding agreements of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective
terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) the
availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of
general applicability.

         (i) The Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed
and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and
delivered to and paid for (A) by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms
of the Underwriting Agreement, in the case of the Underwriters' Securities, or
(B) by institutional investors in accordance with the terms of the Delayed
Delivery Contracts, in the case of the Contract Securities, will be entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture, and will be valid and binding obligations of the
Company, in each case enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
(ii) rights of acceleration, if any, and the availability of equitable remedies
may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

         (j) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance
by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Indenture, the
Offered Securities and the Delayed Delivery Contracts will not contravene any
provision of applicable law or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the
Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or
court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of
its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture, the Offered Securities or
the Delayed Delivery Contracts, except such as may be required by the securities
or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of
the Offered Securities or the Delayed Delivery Contracts.

         (k) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
Prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement of which the Prospectus forms a part.

         (l) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened, to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is subject, that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement, any document incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus and that are not so described. There
are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to
be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed or
incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not
described, filed or incorporated as required.


                                        4

<PAGE>   5



         (m) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

         (n) The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and
all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating
to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or
toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"),
(ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them
under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and
(iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit,
license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws,
failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to
comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (o) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a
periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations
and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which it
identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure
of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or
approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential
liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has
reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not,
singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (p) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes (Chapter 92-198, Laws of Florida).

         2.  DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACTS. If the Prospectus provides for sales of
Offered Securities pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts, the Company hereby
authorizes the Underwriters to solicit offers to purchase Contract Securities on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus pursuant to
Delayed Delivery Contracts. Delayed Delivery Contracts may be entered into only
with institutional investors of the types set forth in the Prospectus that are
approved by the Company. On the Closing Date, the Company will pay to the
Managers as compensation for the accounts of the Underwriters the commission set
forth in the Underwriting Agreement in respect of the Contract Securities. The
Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or the
performance of any Delayed Delivery Contracts.

         If the Company executes and delivers Delayed Delivery Contracts with
institutional investors, the aggregate amount of Offered Securities to be
purchased by the several Underwriters shall be reduced by the aggregate amount
of Contract Securities; such reduction shall be applied to the commitment of
each Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the amount of Offered Securities set
forth opposite such Underwriter's name in the Underwriting Agreement, except to
the extent that the Managers determine that such reduction shall be applied in
other proportions and so advise the Company; provided, however, that the total
amount of Offered Securities to be


                                        5

<PAGE>   6



purchased by all Underwriters shall be the aggregate amount set forth above,
less the aggregate amount of Contract Securities.

         3. PUBLIC OFFERING. The Company is advised by the Managers that the
Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of
the Underwriters' Securities as soon after this Agreement has been entered into
as in the Managers' judgment is advisable. The terms of the public offering of
the Underwriters' Securities are set forth in the Prospectus.

         4. PURCHASE AND DELIVERY. Payment for the Underwriters' Securities
shall be made by certified or official bank check or checks payable to the order
of the Company in New York Clearing House funds at the time and place set forth
in the Underwriting Agreement, upon delivery to the Managers for the respective
accounts of the several Underwriters of the Underwriters' Securities, registered
in such names and in such denominations as the Managers shall request in writing
not less than two business days prior to the date of delivery, with any transfer
taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Underwriters' Securities to
the Underwriters duly paid.

         5. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING. The several obligations of the Underwriters
hereunder are subject to the following conditions:

         (a)    Subsequent to the execution and delivery of the Underwriting
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date,

                (i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any
notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review
for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible
change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's securities by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined
for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and

               (ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, business or operations, of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus, that is material and adverse
and that makes it, in the judgment of the Managers, impracticable to market the
Offered Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus.

         (b)   The Managers shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the
Company, to the effect set forth in clause (a)(i) above and to the effect that
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement
are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied
with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied on or before the Closing Date. The officer signing and
delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his knowledge as to
proceedings threatened.


                                        6

<PAGE>   7



         (c)    The Managers shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of John M. Franck II, Senior Counsel of the Company, or of other counsel to the
Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

                (i) the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

               (ii) each Material Corporate Subsidiary has been duly
incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and
authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the
failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

              (iii) each Material Partnership has been duly formed and is
validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation and has the
partnership power and authority to carry on its business as it is currently
being conducted and to own, lease and operate its properties, and each is duly
qualified as a foreign partnership authorized to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or leasing of
property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so
qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

               (iv) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;

                (v) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, except as (a) the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally and (b) rights of acceleration and the availability
of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general
applicability;

               (vi) the Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and are valid and binding agreements of
the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as (a)
the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (b) the availability of equitable
remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;


                                        7

<PAGE>   8



              (vii) the Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when
executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
and delivered to and paid for (A) by the Underwriters in accordance with the
terms of the Underwriting Agreement, in the case of Underwriters' Securities, or
(B) by institutional investors in accordance with the terms of the Delayed
Delivery Contracts, in the case of the Contract Securities, will be entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the
Company, in each case enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms except as (1) the enforceability thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
(2) rights of acceleration, if any, and the availability of equitable remedies
may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability;

             (viii) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the
Indenture, the Offered Securities and the Delayed Delivery Contracts will not
contravene any provision of applicable law, including the Environmental Laws, or
the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or, to the best of
such counsel's knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the
Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries that is material to the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge,
any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no consent,
approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental
body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement, the Indenture, the Offered Securities, or the Delayed
Delivery Contracts except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky
laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered
Securities or the Delayed Delivery Contracts;

               (ix) the statements (A) in the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of the Debt Securities" and "Plan of Distribution," (B) in the
Registration Statement under Item 15, (C) in "Item 3 - Legal Proceedings" of the
Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus and (D) in "Item 1 - Legal Proceedings" of Part II of the
Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, if any, filed since such annual
report, in each case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the
legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the
information called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and
proceedings and fairly summarize the matters referred to therein;

                (x) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal
or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of
its Material Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the
Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is subject that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and that are not so
described or incorporated by reference or of any statutes, regulations,
contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed or incorporated by
reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement and that are not described,
filed or incorporated as required;


                                        8

<PAGE>   9



               (xi) the Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

              (xii) such counsel (A) is of the opinion that each document, if
any, filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus (except for financial statements and schedules included therein as to
which such counsel need not express any opinion), complied when so filed as to
form in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and (B) is of the opinion that the
Registration Statement and Prospectus (except for financial statements and
schedules as to which such counsel need not express any opinion), comply as to
form in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

         In addition, such counsel shall state his belief that (1) each part of
the Registration Statement (except for financial statements and schedules as to
which such counsel need not express any belief and except for that part of the
Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1 heretofore referred to and
except for statements in the Registration Statement based upon information
relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such
Underwriter through the Managers expressly for use therein), when such part
became effective did not, and, as of the date such opinion is delivered, does
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading and (2) the Prospectus (except for financial statements and
schedules as to which such counsel need not express any belief and except for
statements in the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Managers
expressly for use therein), as of the date such opinion is delivered, does 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 the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Such counsel may state
that his belief is based upon his participation in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto and
any documents incorporated therein by reference and upon his review and
discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or
verification, except as specified.

         (d) The Managers shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Professional Corporation, counsel for the Underwriters,
dated the Closing Date, covering the matters referred to in subparagraphs (iv),
(v), (vi), (ix) (but only as to the statements in the Prospectus under
"Description of Debt Securities" and "Plan of Distribution") and (xii) (B) of
subsection (c) above.

           In addition, such counsel shall state its belief that (1) each part
of the Registration Statement (except for financial statements and schedules as
to which such counsel need not express any belief and except for that part of
the Registration Statement that constitutes the Form T-1 heretofore referred
to), when such part became effective did not, and, as of the date such opinion
is delivered, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (2) the Prospectus (except for financial
statements and schedules as to which such counsel need not express any belief)
as of the date such opinion is delivered does 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Such counsel may state that its belief is based upon
its participation in the preparation of the Registration



                                        9

<PAGE>   10



Statement and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (but not
including documents incorporated therein by reference) and upon its review and
discussion of the contents thereof (including documents incorporated therein by
reference), but are without independent check or verification, except as
specified. The opinion of John M. Franck II, Senior Counsel of the Company
described in subsection (c) above shall be rendered to such counsel at the
request of the Company and shall so state therein.

         (e) The Managers shall have received on the Closing Date a letter,
dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, from
the Company's independent public accountants, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus.

         6. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. In further consideration of the agreements
of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants as follows:

         (a) To furnish the Managers, without charge, a signed copy of the
Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each
other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without
exhibits thereto) and, during the period mentioned in paragraph (c) below, as
many copies of the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein
and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as
the Managers may reasonably request.

         (b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus with respect to the Offered Securities, to furnish to the Managers a
copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such
proposed amendment or supplement to which the Managers reasonably object.

         (c) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering
of the Offered Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the
Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of
which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is
delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for
the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to
comply with law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at
its own expense, to the Underwriters, and to the dealers (whose names and
addresses the Managers will furnish to the Company) to which Offered Securities
may have been sold by the Managers on behalf of the Underwriters and to any
other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not,
in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a
purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented,
will comply with law.


                                       10

<PAGE>   11



         (d) To endeavor to qualify the Offered Securities for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Managers
shall reasonably request and to maintain such qualification for as long as the
Managers shall reasonably request.

         (e) To make generally available to its security holders and to the
Managers as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a twelve-month
period beginning on the first day of the first full fiscal quarter after the
date of this Agreement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder. If such fiscal quarter is the last fiscal quarter of the
Company's fiscal year, such earnings statement shall be made available not later
than 120 days after the close of the period covered thereby and in all other
cases shall be made available not later than 60 days after the close of the
period covered thereby.

         (f) During the period beginning on the date of the Underwriting
Agreement and continuing to and including the Closing Date, not to offer, sell,
contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company or
warrants to purchase debt securities of the Company substantially similar to the
Offered Securities (other than (i) the Offered Securities and (ii) commercial
paper issued in the ordinary course of business), without the prior written
consent of the Managers.

         (g) Whether or not any sale of Offered Securities is consummated, to
pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement, including: (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto, (ii)
the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Offered Securities, (iii) the fees
and disbursements of the Company's counsel and accountants and of the Trustee
and its counsel, (iv) the qualification of the Offered Securities under
securities or Blue Sky laws in accordance with the provisions of SECTION 6(D),
including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of
any Blue Sky or Legal Investment Memoranda, (v) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters in quantities as hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration
Statement and all amendments thereto and of the Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto, and of this Agreement, (vi) any fees charged by rating
agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities and (vii) the fees and
expenses, if any, incurred with respect to any filing with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

         (h) To use its best efforts to cause any amendment to the Registration
Statement to become effective as promptly as possible and to notify the
Representatives immediately (i) when any amendments to the Registration
Statement become effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission for any
amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
for any additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto or of the initiation, or the threatening, of
any proceedings therefor, (iv) of the receipt of any comments from the
Commission, and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that
purpose. If the Commission shall propose or enter a stop order at any time, the
Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the


                                       11

<PAGE>   12



issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain the lifting of such
order as soon as possible. The Company will not file any amendment to the
Registration Statement or any amendment of or supplement to the Prospectus
before or after the effective date of the Registration Statement to which the
Representatives shall reasonably object in writing after being timely furnished
in advance a copy thereof.

         (i) The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the Securities
as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus and will take such steps
as shall be necessary to ensure that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
shall become an "investment company" within the meaning of such term under the
Investment Company Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

         7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls such Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any Underwriter or any such
controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof,
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make statements therein not misleading, except
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by
such Underwriter through the Managers expressly for use therein; provided,
however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph (a) with
respect to a preliminary prospectus or amended preliminary prospectus shall not
inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or to the benefit of any person
controlling such Underwriter) from whom the person asserting any such losses,
claims, damages and liabilities purchased the Offered Securities which are the
subject thereof if the Prospectus corrected any such alleged untrue statement or
omission and if such Underwriter failed to send or give a copy of the Prospectus
to such person in connection with the confirmation of the sale of such Offered
Securities to such person.

         (b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
each Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the
Managers expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto (including
any omission or alleged omission to include with such information a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make statements therein not
misleading).


                                       12

<PAGE>   13



         (c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right
to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or
(ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation
of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the
indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any
indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in
the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified
parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Managers, in the case
of parties indemnified pursuant to paragraph (a) above, and by the Company, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to paragraph (b) above. The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or judgment. 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.

         (d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or
(b) of this SECTION 7 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements
or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand
in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities shall be deemed to be
in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of such
Offered Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the
total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters



                                       13

<PAGE>   14



bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Offered Securities, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus Supplement. The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters 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 by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this SECTION
7 are several in proportion to the respective principal amounts of Offered
Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

         (e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this SECTION 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim.

         Notwithstanding the provisions of this SECTION 7, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Offered Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the
public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this
SECTION 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may
otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

         8. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall be subject to termination, by
notice given by the Managers to the Company, if (a) after the execution and
delivery of the Underwriting Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading
generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case
may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (ii) trading of any securities
of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either federal or New York
State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that
is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events specified in
clauses (a)(i) through (iv), such event, singly or together with any other such
event, makes it, in the judgment of the Managers, impracticable to market the
Offered Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus.

         9. DEFAULTING UNDERWRITERS. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of
the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Underwriters' Securities that
it has or they have



                                       14

<PAGE>   15



agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate amount of the
Underwriters' Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the
aggregate amount of the Underwriters' Securities to be purchased on such date,
the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the
amount of Underwriters' Securities set forth opposite their respective names in
the Underwriting Agreement bears to the aggregate amount of Underwriters'
Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters,
or in such other proportions as the Managers may specify, to purchase the
Underwriters' Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event
shall the amount of Underwriters' Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to
purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this SECTION 9 by
an amount in excess of one-ninth of such amount of Underwriters' Securities
without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any
Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Underwriters'
Securities and the aggregate amount of Underwriters' Securities with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate amount of
Underwriters' Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements
satisfactory to the Managers and the Company for the purchase of such
Underwriters' Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this
Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Company. In any such case that does not result in termination
of this Agreement, either the Managers or the Company shall have the right to
postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order
that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the
Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action
taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from
liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

         If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of
them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply
with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for
any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as
have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel)
reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or
the offering of the Offered Securities.

         10. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE. The respective
indemnity and contribution agreements and the representations, warranties and
other statements of the Company, its officers and the Underwriters set forth in
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
termination of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling
persons referred to in SECTION 7 and delivery of and payment for the Offered
Securities.

         11. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers, directors and controlling persons referred to in SECTION 7, and no
other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.



                                       15

<PAGE>   16



         12. COUNTERPARTS. The Underwriting Agreement may be signed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect
as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

         13. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

         14. HEADINGS. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.



                                       16

<PAGE>   17



                                   SCHEDULE I

                            DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT



                                                             _____________, 19__

Dear Sirs:

         The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the Company agrees to
sell to the undersigned the Company's securities described in Schedule A annexed
hereto (the "Securities"), offered by the Company's Prospectus dated
_______________, 19__ and Prospectus Supplement dated _____________, 19__,
receipt of copies of which are hereby acknowledged, at a purchase price stated
in SCHEDULE A and on the further terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement. The undersigned does not contemplate selling Securities prior to
making payment therefor.

         The undersigned will purchase from the Company Securities in the
principal amount and numbers on the delivery dates set forth in SCHEDULE A. Each
such date on which Securities are to be purchased hereunder is hereinafter
referred to as a "Delivery Date."

         Payment for the Securities which the undersigned has agreed to purchase
on each Delivery Date shall be made to the Company or its order by certified or
official bank check in New York Clearing House funds at the office of
____________, New York, N.Y., at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on the Delivery
Date, upon delivery to the undersigned of the Securities to be purchased by the
undersigned on the Delivery Date, in such denominations and registered in such
names as the undersigned may designate by written or telegraphic communication
addressed to the Company not less than five full business days prior to the
Delivery Date.

         The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment
for the Securities on the Delivery Date shall be subject to the conditions that
(1) the purchase of Securities to be made by the undersigned shall not at the
time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the
undersigned is subject and (2) the Company shall have sold, and delivery shall
have taken place to the underwriters named in the Prospectus Supplement referred
to above (the "Underwriters") of, such part of the Securities as is to be sold
to them. Promptly after completion of sale and delivery to the Underwriters, the
Company will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address set forth below
notice to such effect, accompanied by a copy of the opinion of counsel for the
Company delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.

         Failure to take delivery of and make payment for the Securities by any
purchaser under any other Delayed Delivery Contract shall not relieve the
undersigned of its obligations under this Agreement.




<PAGE>   18



         This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by
either party hereto without the written consent of the other.

         If this Agreement is acceptable to the Company, it is requested that
the Company sign the form of acceptance below and mail or deliver one of the
counterparts hereof to the undersigned at its address set forth below. This will
become a binding agreement, as of the date first above-written, between the
Company and the undersigned when such counterpart is so mailed or delivered.

         This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the internal laws of the State of New York.

                                       Yours very truly,



                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       (Purchaser)


                                       By:
                                           ------------------------------------


                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       (Title)



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


                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       (Address)
Accepted:

COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION


By:
   --------------------------------

Print Name:
            -----------------------
Title:
       ----------------------------

<PAGE>   19



                PURCHASER --- PLEASE COMPLETE AT TIME OF SIGNING


         The name, telephone and department of the representative of the
Purchaser with whom details of delivery on the Delivery Date may be discussed is
as follows: (Please print.)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Telephone No.
       Name                     (Including Area Code)             Department
       ----                      -------------------              ----------
<S>                             <C>                               <C>

- ---------------                    ---------------              ---------------
</TABLE>



<PAGE>   20


                                   SCHEDULE A

SECURITIES:




PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS OR NUMBERS TO BE PURCHASED:



PURCHASE PRICE:



DELIVERY DATES:






<PAGE>   1
                                                                       Exhibit 5

                              [Columbia letterhead]

July 2, 1999

Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation
One Park Plaza
Nashville, TN 37203

RE:      Registration Statement Covering Up To $1.5 Billion
         Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am Senior Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Columbia/HCA Healthcare
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have acted as such with
respect to the proposed issuance from time to time of up to an aggregate of $1.5
billion principal amount of Debt Securities (the "Debt Securities"). On July 2,
1999, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") and Rule
415 thereunder. Such Registration Statement relates to the Debt Securities to be
issued from time to time pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture") dated
December 16, 1993, between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago,
as Trustee (the "Trustee"), in the form contained as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, such Debt Securities to bear interest at such rates and
to be payable at such times, to have such redemption provisions, to mature at
such times and otherwise to have such terms as may be determined from time to
time as contemplated by the Prospectus, as it may be supplemented, included in
such Registration Statement.

I have examined and relied upon the original or copies, certified to my
satisfaction, of (i) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Company, as amended, (ii) copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Company authorizing the offering and the issuance of the Debt Securities to be
sold by the Company and related matters, (iii) the Registration Statement, and
all exhibits thereto, (iv) the Indenture and (v) such other documents and
instruments as I have deemed necessary for the expression of the opinions
contained herein. In making the foregoing examinations, I have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to
me as certified or photostatic copies.

Based on such examination and review, I hereby advise you that, in my opinion,
when the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, and all
necessary proceedings have been taken by the Board of Directors, the Executive
Committee of such Board of Directors or the appropriate Authorized Officers of
the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the Debt
Securities of such series, when duly executed on behalf of the Company and
authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered pursuant to the Indenture


<PAGE>   2




July 2, 1999
Page 2

against payment to the Company of the authorized consideration therefor, the
Debt Securities of such series will be duly authorized and validly issued and
will be binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms
subject to (i) applicable liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws affecting
creditors' rights or the collection of debtor's obligations generally from time
to time in effect; or (ii) general principles of equity (whether enforceability
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including the qualification
that the availability of the remedies of specific performance or injunctive
relief or other equitable remedies is subject to the discretion of the court
before which any such proceeding therefor may be brought and including standards
of good faith, fair dealing and reasonableness that may be applied by a court to
the exercise of certain rights and remedies.

I am admitted to the practice of law only in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Accordingly, the opinions expressed herein are limited to the federal laws and
the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and, to the extent necessary, the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which is the state of
incorporation of the Company. I wish to advise you, however, that my knowledge
with respect to the Delaware General Corporation Law is derived solely from a
reading of that statute without consideration of any judicial or administrative
interpretations thereof and that I am not a member of the Delaware bar. No
opinion is expressed with respect to any laws of any other jurisdiction or
states or the effect of any such laws on the matters dealt with herein or the
transactions contemplated by the Agreement.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the use of my name under the caption "Legal Opinions" in the
Prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I
do not admit that I come within the category of persons whose consent is
required by Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.

Very truly yours,

John M. Franck II
Senior Counsel and
Corporate Secretary


<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                        Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Columbia/HCA
Healthcare Corporation for the registration of $1,500,000,000 of its debt
securities and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated
February 19, 1999, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K)
for the year ended December 31, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                                        Ernst & Young LLP

Nashville, Tennessee
June 29, 1999

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 25
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1
                                    --------

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                      UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                  OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
                   OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ___


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

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
               (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

  A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                               36-0899825
                                                              (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                         IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS                    60670-0126
     (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                  (ZIP CODE)

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                      ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                          CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60670-0286
             ATTN: LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
            (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)


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

                       COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
               (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


         DELAWARE                                              75-2497104
 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
  INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                       IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


         ONE PARK PLAZA
         NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE                                  37203
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                       (ZIP CODE)



                                 DEBT SECURITIES
                         (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)



<PAGE>   2

ITEM 1.           GENERAL INFORMATION. FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
                  INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

                  (A)    NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING
                  AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

                  Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C., Federal Deposit
                  Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., The Board of
                  Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

                  (B)    WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST
                  POWERS.

                  The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

ITEM 2.           AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE
                  OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH AFFILIATION.

                  No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


ITEM 16.          LIST OF EXHIBITS. LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A PART OF
                  THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

                  1.  A copy of the articles of association of the trustee now
                      in effect.*

                  2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the trustee to
                      commence business.*

                  3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise
                      corporate trust powers.*

                  4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

                  5.  Not Applicable.

                  6.  The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of
                      the Act.


<PAGE>   3

                  7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee
                      published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
                      supervising or examining authority.

                  8.  Not Applicable.

                  9.  Not Applicable.


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
         amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national
         banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United
         States of America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be
         signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all
         in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, on the 29th day of June,
         1999.


                                    THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                                    TRUSTEE

                                    BY:     /S/ STEVEN M. WAGNER
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                            STEVEN M. WAGNER
                                            FIRST VICE PRESIDENT







* EXHIBITS 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS
BEARING IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF U S
WEST CAPITAL FUNDING, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON
MAY 6, 1998 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-51907-01).




<PAGE>   4

                                    EXHIBIT 6



                       THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT



                                  June 29, 1999



Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

In connection with the qualification of an indenture between Columbia/HCA
Healthcare Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, the undersigned,
in accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the undersigned,
made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may
be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
its request therefor.


                           VERY TRULY YOURS,

                           THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                           BY:    /S/ STEVEN M. WAGNER
                              --------------------------------------------------
                                  STEVEN M. WAGNER
                                  FIRST VICE PRESIDENT



<PAGE>   5

                                   EXHIBIT 7

<TABLE>
<S>                     <C>                                                       <C>
Legal Title of Bank:    The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date: 03/31/99    ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                One First National Plaza, Ste 0460                                       Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:       Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:   0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR MARCH 31, 1999

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS  C400
                                                                                                                        ----
                                                                                           RCFD     BIL MIL THOU
                                                                                           ----     ------------

<S>                                                                                        <C>      <C>                 <C>
ASSETS
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule
    RC-A):                                                                                 RCFD
                                                                                           ----
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)..........                     0081       3,809,517          1.a
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2)...................................                     0071       4,072,166          1.b
2.  Securities
    a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A)......                     1754               0          2.a
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)...                     1773      12,885,728          2.b
3.  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
    resell............................................................                     1350       4,684,756          3.
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:
                                                                                           RCFD
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule                             ----
       RC-C)..........................................................                     2122      34,304,806          4.a
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses......................                     3123         411,476          4.b
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve..........................                     3128           3,884          4.c
                                                                                           RCFD
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and                            ----
       reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)...........................                     2125      33,889,446          4.d
5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D)...............................                     3545       5,100,499          5.
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)..........                     2145         754,052          6.
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)......................                     2150           5,244          7.
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
    companies (from Schedule RC-M)....................................                     2130         201,068          8.
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding......                     2155         265,041          9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)............................                     2143         285,709         10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F).................................                     2160       2,987,184         11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)..........................                     2170      68,940,410         12.
</TABLE>

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


(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.



<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>                                                       <C>
Legal Title of Bank:                The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date:  03/31/99   ST-BK:  17-1630  FFIEC031
Address:                            One First National Plaza, Ste 0460                                            Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                   Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:               0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>

SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                            DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                                                THOUSANDS
                                                                                                ---------

<S>                                                                                        <C>           <C>               <C>
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C                               RCON
                                                                                           ----
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1)..........................................               2200          22,163,664        13.a
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)...........................................               6631           9,740,100        13.a1
       (2) Interest-bearing.................................................               6636          12,423,564        13.a2

    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and                            RCFN
                                                                                           ----
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)...................................               2200          19,273,426        13.b
       (1) Noninterest bearing..............................................               6631             334,741        13.b1
       (2) Interest-bearing.................................................               6636          18,938,685        13.b2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase:                                                                         RCFD 2800      4,405,792        14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury.............................               RCON 2840        173,505        15.a
    b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D)..............................               RCFD 3548      4,824,567        15.b

16. Other borrowed money:                                                                  RCFD
                                                                                           ----
    a. With original maturity of one year or less...........................               2332           7,453,761        16.a
    b. With original  maturity of more than one year........................               A547             330,300        16.b
    c. With original maturity of more than three years......................               A548             357,737        16.c

17. Not applicable
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding.................               2920             265,041        18.
19. Subordinated notes and debentures.......................................               3200           2,600,000        19.
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)..................................               2930           1,878,367        20.
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)..........................               2948          63,726,160        21.
22. Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus...........................               3838                   0        23.
24. Common stock............................................................               3230             200,858        24.
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)................               3839           3,239,836        25.
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves...............................               3632           1,813,367        26.a
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
       securities...........................................................               8434             (37,357)       26.b
    c. ACCUMULATED NET GAINS (LOSSES) ON CASH FLOW HEDGES...................               4336                   0        26.c
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments.....................               3284              (2,454)       27.
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27).......................               3210           5,214,250        28.
29. Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity
    capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28)...................................               3300          68,940,410        29.
</TABLE>



Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.

<TABLE>
<S> <C>                                                                                     <C>            <C>              <C>
1.  Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best                           ------------
    describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank                              Number
    by independent external auditors as of any date during 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RCFD 6724 . . . N/A             M.1.
                                                                                                           ------------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                  <C>
1 =  Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance           4 =  Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
     with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified            external auditors (may be required by state chartering
     public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank            authority)

2 =  Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company          5 =  Review of the bank's financial statements by external
     conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing             auditors
     standards by a certified public accounting firm which
     submits a report on the consolidated holding company            6 =  Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
     (but not on the bank separately)                                     auditors

3 =  Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                 7 =  Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
     by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by       8 =  No external audit work
     state chartering authority)
</TABLE>


- -----------------
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
deposits.




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