RAMSAY MANAGED CARE INC
8-K, 1996-10-03
HEALTH SERVICES
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549


                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



       Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  October 1, 1996
                                                          ---------------


                          Ramsay Managed Care, Inc.
            -------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Delaware           33-89514       72-1249464
       -----------------  -----------   ------------------
       (State or other    (Commission   (IRS Employer
       jurisdiction of    File Number)  Identification No.)
       incorporation)



              Entergy Corporation Building
              639 Loyola Avenue, Suite 1725
              New Orleans, Louisiana                     70113
      ----------------------------------------  ----------------------
        (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (504) 585-0515
                                                           --------------
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2


            Item 5.  Other Events.
                     ------------ 

                     On October 1, 1996, Ramsay Health Care, Inc. a Delaware
            corporation ("RHCI"), RHCI Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation
            and a wholly owned subsidiary of RHCI ("RHCI Sub"), and Ramsay
            Managed Care, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("RMCI"), entered into an
            Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") providing for
            the acquisition of RMCI by RHCI through the merger of RHCI Sub with
            and into RMCI (the "Merger").  The Merger has been approved by the
            Board of Directors of each of RHCI and RMCI following the
            recommendation by a special committee of the Board of Directors of
            each of RHCI and RMCI.  As a result of the Merger, RMCI will become
            a wholly owned subsidiary of RHCI.

                     Upon consummation of the Merger, (i) each share of common
            stock, $.01 par value, of RMCI ("RMCI Common Stock") will be
            converted into one-third (1/3) of a share of common stock, $.01 par
            value, of RHCI ("RHCI Common Stock") and (ii) each share of
            Preferred Stock, Series 1996, $.01 par value, of RMCI (the "RMCI
            Series 1996 Preferred Stock") will be converted into one share of
            Class B Preferred Stock, Series 1996, $1.00 par value, of RHCI.  The
            Merger is intended to qualify, for federal income tax purposes, as a
            tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
            Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               3

                     The Merger is subject to the approval of (i) the holders of
            a majority of the shares of RHCI Common Stock and RHCI Class B
            Preferred Stock, Series C, $1.00 par value (the "RHCI Series C
            Preferred Stock"), (voting on an as converted basis into RHCI Common
            Stock and voting together with the RHCI Common Stock as a single
            class) voting on the transaction and (ii) the holders of a majority
            of the issued and outstanding shares of RMCI Common Stock and RMCI
            Series 1996 Preferred Stock (voting on an as converted basis into
            RMCI Common Stock and voting together with the RMCI Common Stock as
            a single class).  Affiliates of Paul J. Ramsay, the Chairman of the
            Board of RHCI and RMCI, hold an approximate 35% voting interest in
            RHCI and an approximate 69% voting interest in RMCI, and have
            indicated that they will vote their shares of capital stock of each
            of RHCI and RMCI in favor of the Merger.  The Merger is also subject
            to various other conditions, including the expiration of the
            applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
            Improvements Act of 1976, the receipt of necessary lender and other
            consents, and the declaration of effectiveness by the Securities and
            Exchange Commission of a registration statement to be filed by RHCI.
            Subject to the satisfaction of these conditions, it is expected that
            the Merger will be consummated at the end of March 1997.

                     RMCI became a publicly traded company on April 24, 1995
            when RHCI distributed, in the form of a dividend, all
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

            of the RMCI Common Stock held by it to the holders of the RHCI
            Common Stock and RHCI Series C Preferred Stock.

                     For a more detailed description of the Merger, reference is
            made to the Merger Agreement included as Exhibit 2 to this Current
            Report on Form 8-K.

            Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial
                     Information and Exhibits.
                     -----------------------------------------

                     (c)  Exhibits:

                     The exhibits required to be filed as part of this Current
            Report on Form 8-K are listed in the attached Index to Exhibits.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               5

                                   SIGNATURE
                                   ---------

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

                                     RAMSAY MANAGED CARE, INC.



                                     By/s/ Warwick D. Syphers
                                       ----------------------------------
                                       Name:  Warwick D. Syphers
                                       Title: Executive Vice President

            Dated:  October 2, 1996
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               6

                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                               -----------------


           Exhibit                                         Page
           Number     Description              Number
           -------    -----------              ------

            2           Agreement and Plan of Merger among
                        Ramsay Managed Care, Inc., Ramsay
                        Health Care, Inc. and RHCI Acquisition
                        Corp. dated as of October 1, 1996.
                        Pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item
                        601(b)(2), the Registrant agrees to
                        furnish a copy of the Disclosure
                        Schedules to such Agreement to the
                        Commission upon request.

            99          Press release dated October 2, 1996.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit 2
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                          dated as of October 1, 1996,

                                     among

                           Ramsay Managed Care, Inc.,

                           Ramsay Health Care, Inc.,

                                      and

                             RHCI Acquisition Corp.
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               -----------------
 
                                                                       Page
                                                                       ----
     ARTICLE I.         THE MERGER...................................   1
                              
            SECTION 1.01  The Merger.................................   1
            SECTION 1.02  Conversion of Shares.......................   2
            SECTION 1.03  Surrender and Payment......................   3
            SECTION 1.04  Stock Options, Warrants and          
                          Restricted Stock...........................   5
            SECTION 1.05  Adjustments................................   6
            SECTION 1.06  Fractional Shares..........................   6
            SECTION 1.07  Dissenting Shares..........................   7
                              
     ARTICLE II.        THE SURVIVING CORPORATION....................   8
                              
            SECTION 2.01  Certificate of Incorporation...............   8
            SECTION 2.02  Bylaws.....................................   8
            SECTION 2.03  Directors and Officers.....................   8
                              
     ARTICLE III.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE 
                        COMPANY......................................   8
                              
            SECTION 3.01  Corporate Existence and Power..............   8
            SECTION 3.02  Corporate Authorization....................   9
            SECTION 3.03  Governmental Authorization.................   9
            SECTION 3.04  Non-Contravention..........................   9
            SECTION 3.05  Capitalization.............................  10
            SECTION 3.06  Subsidiaries...............................  10
            SECTION 3.07  SEC Filings................................  12
            SECTION 3.08  Financial Statements.......................  12
            SECTION 3.09  Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus;
                          Registration Statement.....................  13
            SECTION 3.10  Absence of Certain Changes.................  13
            SECTION 3.11  No Undisclosed Material
                          Liabilities................................  15
            SECTION 3.12  Litigation.................................  16
            SECTION 3.13  Taxes......................................  16
            SECTION 3.14  Tax Free Merger............................  16
            SECTION 3.15  ERISA......................................  17
            SECTION 3.16  Compliance with Laws.......................  20
            SECTION 3.17  Finders' Fees..............................  20
            SECTION 3.18  Opinion of Financial Advisor...............  20
            SECTION 3.19  Vote Required..............................  20
            SECTION 3.20  Medicare and Medicaid......................  21
                              
     ARTICLE IV.        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF RHCI.......  21
                              
            SECTION 4.01  Corporate Existence and Power..............  21
            SECTION 4.02  Corporate Authorization....................  22
 

                                       i
<PAGE>
 
            SECTION 4.03   Governmental Authorization................  22
            SECTION 4.04   Non-Contravention.........................  22
            SECTION 4.05   Capitalization............................  23
            SECTION 4.06   Subsidiaries..............................  24
            SECTION 4.07   SEC Filings...............................  25
            SECTION 4.08   Financial Statements......................  26
            SECTION 4.09   Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus
                           Registration Statement....................  26
            SECTION 4.10   Absence of Certain Changes................  27
            SECTION 4.11   No Undisclosed Material
                           Liabilities...............................  29
            SECTION 4.12   Litigation................................  29
            SECTION 4.13   Taxes.....................................  29
            SECTION 4.14   Tax Free Merger...........................  30
            SECTION 4.15   ERISA.....................................  31
            SECTION 4.16   Compliance with Laws......................  32
            SECTION 4.17   Finders' Fees.............................  32
            SECTION 4.18   Opinion of Financial Advisor..............  32
            SECTION 4.19   Vote Required.............................  33
            SECTION 4.20   Medicare and Medicaid.....................  33
                             
     ARTICLE V.          COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY....................  34
                             
            SECTION 5.01   Conduct of the Company....................  34
            SECTION 5.02   Access to Information.....................  35
            SECTION 5.03   Other Offers..............................  36
            SECTION 5.04   Notices of Certain Events.................  36
            SECTION 5.05   Affiliates................................  37
            SECTION 5.06   Tax Letters...............................  37
                             
     ARTICLE VI.         COVENANTS OF RHCI...........................  38
                             
            SECTION 6.01   Conduct of RHCI...........................  38
            SECTION 6.02   Access to Information.....................  38
            SECTION 6.03   Obligations of Merger Subsidiary..........  38
            SECTION 6.04   Director and Officer Liability............  39
            SECTION 6.05   NASDAQ National Market System
                           Listing...................................  39
            SECTION 6.06   Notice of Certain Events..................  39
                             
     ARTICLE VII.        COVENANTS OF RHCI AND THE COMPANY...........  40
                             
            SECTION 7.01   Best Efforts..............................  40
            SECTION 7.02   Certain Filings...........................  40
            SECTION 7.03   Public Announcements......................  40
            SECTION 7.04   Further Assurances........................  40
            SECTION 7.05   Stockholder Meeting.......................  41
 

                                       ii
<PAGE>
 
            SECTION 7.06   Preparation of the Joint Proxy
                           Statement/Prospectus and
                           Registration Statement....................  41
 
     ARTICLE VIII.       CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER....................  42
 
            SECTION 8.01   Conditions to the Obligations of
                           Each Party................................  42
            SECTION 8.02   Conditions to the Obligations of
                           RHCI and Merger Subsidiary................  43
            SECTION 8.03   Conditions to the Obligations of
                           the Company...............................  43
 
     ARTICLE IX.         TERMINATION.................................  45
 
            SECTION 9.01   Termination...............................  45
            SECTION 9.02   Effect of Termination.....................  46
 
     ARTICLE X.          MISCELLANEOUS...............................  46
 
            SECTION 10.01  Notices...................................  46
            SECTION 10.02  Survival of Representations and
                           Warranties................................  47
            SECTION 10.03  Amendments; No Waivers....................  47
            SECTION 10.04  Fees and Expenses.........................  48
            SECTION 10.05  Successors and Assigns....................  48
            SECTION 10.06  Governing Law.............................  48
            SECTION 10.07  Counterparts; Effectiveness...............  48
            SECTION 10.08  Entire Agreement..........................  49

                                      iii
<PAGE>
 
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
                          ----------------------------


                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of October 1, 1996,
            among Ramsay Managed Care, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
            "Company"), Ramsay Health Care, Inc., a Delaware corporation
            ("RHCI"), and RHCI Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a
            wholly owned subsidiary of RHCI ("Merger Subsidiary").

                      WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of RHCI, Merger
            Subsidiary and the Company have (in the case of the Company and
            RHCI, following the recommendation of their respective special
            committees) approved this Agreement and the Merger (as defined
            below);

                      WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended
            that the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning
            of Section 368(a) of the Code (as defined below); and

                      WHEREAS, for accounting purposes, it is intended that the
            Merger shall be accounted for as a purchase.

                      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
            respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set
            forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                                   THE MERGER
                                   ----------

                      SECTION 1.01  The Merger.  (a)  At the Effective Time (as
                                    ----------                                 
            defined in Section 1.01(b) below), Merger Subsidiary shall be merged
            (the "Merger") with and into the Company in accordance with the
            General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ("Delaware Law"),
            whereupon the separate existence of Merger Subsidiary shall cease,
            and the Company shall be the surviving corporation (the "Surviving
            Corporation").

                      (b) As soon as practicable after satisfaction or, to the
            extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all conditions to the Merger,
            the Company and Merger Subsidiary will file a certificate of merger
            with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and make all
            other filings or recordings required by Delaware Law in connection
            with the Merger.  The closing of the Merger will take place at the
            offices of Haythe & Curley, 237 Park Avenue, New York, New York
            10017,
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2


            or such other place as the parties may agree. The Merger shall
            become effective at such time as the certificate of merger is duly
            filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at
            such later time as is specified in the certificate of merger (the
            "Effective Time").

                      (c) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving
            Corporation shall possess all the assets, rights, privileges, powers
            and franchises and be subject to all of the liabilities,
            restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Company and Merger
            Subsidiary, all as provided under Delaware Law.

                        SECTION 1.02  Conversion of Shares.  At the Effective
                                      --------------------                   
            Time:

                        (a) (i)  each outstanding share of common stock, $.01
                      par value per share (the "Shares"), of the Company and
                      (ii) each share of series 1996 convertible preferred
                      stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Company Preferred
                      Shares"), of the Company held by the Company as treasury
                      stock or owned by RHCI or any subsidiary of RHCI
                      immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
                      cancelled, and no payment shall be made with respect
                      thereto;

                        (b) each share of common stock, $.01 par value per
                      share, of Merger Subsidiary outstanding immediately prior
                      to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become
                      one share of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of
                      the Surviving Corporation with the same rights, powers and
                      privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute
                      the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the
                      Surviving Corporation;

                        (c) each Share outstanding immediately prior to the
                      Effective Time shall, except as otherwise provided in
                      Section 1.02(a) or as provided in Section 1.07 with
                      respect to Shares as to which appraisal rights have been
                      exercised, be converted into the right to receive one-
                      third (1/3)(the "Conversion Number") of a fully paid and
                      nonassessable share of RHCI's common stock, $.01 par value
                      per share (the "RHCI Common Stock"), including Rights (as
                      hereafter defined) in respect thereof under the Rights
                      Plan (as hereafter defined); and

                      (d) each Company Preferred Share outstanding immediately
                      prior to the Effective Time shall, except as otherwise
                      provided in Section 1.02(a) or as provided in Section 1.07
                      with respect to Company Preferred 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               3

                      Shares as to which appraisal rights have been exercised,
                      be converted into the right to receive one (1) (the
                      "Preferred Conversion Number") fully paid and
                      nonassessable share of RHCI's Class B Preferred Stock,
                      Series 1996, $1.00 par value per share having the rights
                      and preferences set forth in Section 8.03(iii) hereof (the
                      "RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock").

                      SECTION 1.03  Surrender and Payment.  (a)  Prior to the
                                    ---------------------                    
            Effective Time, RHCI shall appoint an agent reasonably acceptable to
            the Company (which may be First Union National Bank of North
            Carolina ("First Union of North Carolina")) (the "Exchange Agent")
            for the purpose of exchanging certificates representing Shares and
            Company Preferred Shares.  As of the Effective Time, RHCI shall
            deposit with the Exchange Agent for the benefit of the holders of
            Shares and Company Preferred Shares, as the case may be, for
            exchange in accordance with this Section 1.03, through the Exchange
            Agent, (i) certificates representing the shares of RHCI Common Stock
            issuable pursuant to Section 1.02 in exchange for outstanding Shares
            and (ii) certificates representing the shares of RHCI Series 1996
            Preferred Stock issuable pursuant to Section 1.02 in exchange for
            outstanding Company Preferred Shares.  Promptly after the Effective
            Time, RHCI will send, or will cause the Exchange Agent to send, to
            each holder of Shares and Company Preferred Shares, as the case may
            be, at the Effective Time a letter of transmittal for use in such
            exchange (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected,
            and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of
            the certificates representing Shares or Company Preferred Shares, as
            the case may be, to the Exchange Agent).

                      (b) (i) Each holder of Shares that have been converted
            into a right to receive RHCI Common Stock, upon surrender to the
            Exchange Agent of a certificate or certificates representing such
            Shares, together with a properly completed letter of transmittal
            covering such Shares, will be entitled to receive in exchange
            therefor (1) that number of whole shares of RHCI Common Stock which
            such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 1.02, and
            (2) cash in lieu of fractional shares of RHCI Common Stock which
            such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 1.06, and
            the certificate or certificates for Shares so surrendered shall be
            cancelled.  Until so surrendered, each such certificate shall, after
            the Effective Time, represent for all purposes, only the right to
            receive upon such surrender the certificate representing shares of
            RHCI Common Stock and cash in lieu of any fractional shares of RHCI
            Common Stock as contemplated by this Section 1.03 and Section 1.06.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

                      (ii) Each holder of Company Preferred Shares that have
            been converted into a right to receive RHCI Series 1996 Preferred
            Stock, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a certificate or
            certificates representing such Company Preferred Shares, together
            with a properly completed letter of transmittal covering such
            Company Preferred Shares, will be entitled to receive in exchange
            therefor that number of whole shares of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred
            Stock which such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section
            1.02, and the certificate or certificates for Company Preferred
            Shares so surrendered shall be cancelled.  Until so surrendered,
            each such certificate shall, after the Effective Time, represent for
            all purposes, only the right to receive upon such surrender the
            certificate representing shares of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock
            as contemplated by this Section 1.03.

                      (c) If any shares of RHCI Common Stock or RHCI Series 1996
            Preferred Stock, as the case may be, are to be issued to a Person
            other than the registered holder of the Shares or the Company
            Preferred Shares, respectively, represented by the certificate or
            certificates surrendered in exchange therefor, it shall be a
            condition to such issuance that the certificate or certificates so
            surrendered shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper
            form for transfer and that the Person requesting such issuance shall
            pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes required as a
            result of such issuance to a Person other than the registered holder
            of such Shares or such Company Preferred Shares or establish to the
            satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is
            not payable.  For purposes of this Agreement, "Person" means an
            individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust or
            any other entity or organization, including a government or
            political subdivision or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

                      (d) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further
            registration of transfers of Shares or Company Preferred Shares.
            If, after the Effective Time, certificates representing Shares or
            Company Preferred Shares are presented to the Surviving Corporation,
            they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided for, and in
            accordance with the procedures set forth, in this Article I.

                      (e) Any shares of RHCI Common Stock or RHCI Series 1996
            Preferred Stock made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to
            Section 1.03(a) that remain unclaimed by the holders of Shares or
            Company Preferred Shares, as the case may be, six months after the
            Effective Time shall be returned to RHCI, upon demand, and any such
            holder who has 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               5

            not exchanged his Shares or Company Preferred Shares, as the case
            may be, in accordance with this Section prior to that time shall
            thereafter look only to RHCI to exchange such Shares or such Company
            Preferred Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, RHCI shall not be
            liable to any holder of Shares or Company Preferred Shares, as the
            case may be, for any amount paid, or any shares of RHCI Common Stock
            or RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock delivered, to a public official
            pursuant to applicable abandoned property laws. Any shares of RHCI
            Common Stock or RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock or other amounts
            remaining unclaimed by holders of Shares or Company Preferred
            Shares, as the case may be, two years after the Effective Time (or
            such earlier date immediately prior to such time as such amounts
            would otherwise escheat to or become property of any governmental
            entity) shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the
            property of RHCI free and clear of any claims orinterest of any
            Person previously entitled thereto.

                      (f) No dividends or other distributions on shares of RHCI
            Common Stock or RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock shall be paid to
            the holder of any unsurrendered certificates representing Shares or
            Company Preferred Shares, as the case may be, until such
            certificates are surrendered as provided in this Section.  Upon such
            surrender, there shall be paid, without interest, to the person in
            whose name the certificates representing the shares of RHCI Common
            Stock or RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock, as the case may be, into
            which such shares were converted are registered, all dividends and
            other distributions paid in respect of such RHCI Common Stock or
            RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock, as the case may be, on a date
            subsequent to, and in respect of a record date after, the Effective
            Time.

                      (g) Any shares of RHCI Common Stock or RHCI Series 1996
            Preferred Stock made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to
            Section 1.03(a) to be exchanged for Shares or Company Preferred
            Shares, as the case may be, for which appraisal rights have been
            perfected shall be returned to RHCI, upon demand.

                      SECTION 1.04  Stock Options, Warrants and Restricted
                                    --------------------------------------
            Stock.  (a)  At the Effective Time, each outstanding option to
            -----
            purchase Shares (a "Company Option"), whether or not exercisable,
            and whether or not vested, and each outstanding warrant to purchase
            Shares (a "Company Warrant") shall become an option or warrant to
            purchase the number of shares of RHCI Common Stock equal to the
            number of Shares that could have been purchased under such Company
            Option or Company Warrant multiplied by the Conversion 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               6

            Number, at a price per share of RHCI Common Stock equal to the
            option exercise price of such Company Option divided by the
            Conversion Number or the price per share of RHCI Common Stock equal
            to the warrant exercise price of such Company Warrant divided by the
            Conversion Number (a "Substitute Security"). No fractional shares of
            RHCI Common Stock shall be the subject of or issued in connection
            with the exercise of any such Substitute Securities; rather, the
            aggregate number of shares which are the subject of and which are to
            be issued pursuant to any such exercise of Substitute Securities
            shall be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number. Each
            Substitute Security shall be subject to all of the other terms and
            conditions of the original Company Option or original Company
            Warrant to which it relates, including the vesting schedule and
            conditions to the exercisability thereof.

                      (b) At the Effective Time, each Share subject to transfer
            restrictions or repurchase rights (the "Restricted Stock") shall
            upon conversion into the Conversion Number of shares of RHCI Common
            Stock be subject to the same terms and conditions, including such
            transfer restrictions or repurchase rights, as the Restricted Stock.

                      (c) Prior to the Effective Time, (i) the Company shall use
            its best efforts to obtain any consents from holders of Company
            Options granted under the Company's stock option or compensation
            plans or arrangements or holders of the Restricted Stock, as the
            case may be, and (ii) the Company and RHCI shall make any amendments
            to the terms of such stock option award or plan or compensation
            plans or arrangements or other applicable agreements (including
            using their respective best efforts to obtain any necessary
            stockholder consents or approvals in connection therewith) that, in
            the case of either clauses (i) or (ii), are necessary to give effect
            to the transactions contemplated by Section 1.04(a) and (b).

                      SECTION 1.05  Adjustments.  If at any time during the
                                    -----------                            
            period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time,
            any change in the outstanding shares of RHCI Common Stock or RHCI
            Series 1996 Preferred Stock shall occur, including by reason of any
            reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination,
            exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend thereon
            with a record date during such period, the Conversion Number or the
            Preferred Conversion Number, as the case may be, shall be
            appropriately adjusted.

                      SECTION 1.06  Fractional Shares.  (a)  No fractional
                                    -----------------                     
            shares of RHCI Common Stock shall be issued in 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               7

            the Merger. All fractional shares of RHCI Common Stock that a holder
            of Shares would otherwise be entitled to receive as a result of the
            Merger shall be aggregated and if a fractional share results from
            such aggregation, such holder shall be entitled to receive, in lieu
            thereof, an amount in cash determined by multiplying the average of
            the daily closing sale price per share of RHCI Common Stock on the
            NASDAQ National Market System for the ten trading days next
            preceding the Effective Time by the fraction of a share of RHCI
            Common Stock to which such holder would otherwise have been
            entitled. Alternatively, RHCI shall have the option of instructing
            the Exchange Agent to aggregate all fractional shares of RHCI Common
            Stock, sell such shares in the public market and distribute to
            holders of Shares a pro rata portion of the proceeds of such sale.
            No such cash in lieu of fractional shares of RHCI Common Stock shall
            be paid to any holder of Shares until certificates representing such
            Shares are surrendered and exchanged in accordance with Section
            1.03.

                      (b) No fractional shares of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred
            Stock shall be issued in the Merger.  Each holder of Company
            Preferred Shares who would by virtue of this Article I be entitled
            to receive as a result of the Merger an aggregate number of shares
            of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock comprising a fractional share,
            will have the right to receive an aggregate number of shares of RHCI
            Series 1996 Preferred Stock rounded up or down to the nearest whole
            share of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock.

                      SECTION 1.07   Dissenting Shares.  Notwithstanding Section
                                     -----------------                          
            1.02, Shares and Company Preferred Shares outstanding immediately
            prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted
            in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who has
            demanded appraisal for such Shares or Company Preferred Shares, as
            the case may be, in accordance with Delaware Law shall not be
            converted into a right to receive shares of RHCI Common Stock (or
            cash in lieu of any fractional shares thereof) or RHCI Series 1996
            Preferred Stock, as the case may be, unless such holder fails to
            perfect or withdraws or otherwise loses his right to appraisal. If
            after the Effective Time such holder fails to perfect or withdraws
            or loses his right to appraisal, such Shares or Company Preferred
            Shares, as the case may be, shall be treated as if they had been
            converted as of the Effective Time into a right to receive shares of
            RHCI Common Stock (and cash in lieu of any fractional shares
            thereof) or RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock, as the case may be.
            The Company shall give RHCI prompt notice of any demands received by
            the Company for appraisal of Shares or Company Preferred Shares, and
            RHCI shall have the right to 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               8

            participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such
            demands. The Company shall not, except with the prior written
            consent of RHCI, make any payment with respect to, or settle or
            offer to settle, any such demands.

                                   ARTICLE II.

                           THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
                           -------------------------

                      SECTION 2.01  Certificate of Incorporation.  The
                                    ----------------------------      
            certificate of incorporation of Merger Subsidiary in effect at the
            Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation of the
            Surviving Corporation until amended in accordance with applicable
            law.

                      SECTION 2.02  Bylaws.  The bylaws of Merger Subsidiary in
                                    ------                                     
            effect at the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving
            Corporation until amended in accordance with applicable law.

                      SECTION 2.03  Directors and Officers.  From and after the
                                    ----------------------                     
            Effective Time, until successors are duly elected or appointed and
            qualified in accordance with applicable law, (i) the directors of
            Merger Subsidiary at the Effective Time shall be the directors of
            the Surviving Corporation, and (ii) the officers of the Company at
            the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving
            Corporation.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
                 ---------------------------------------------

                        The Company represents and warrants to RHCI that:

                      SECTION 3.01  Corporate Existence and Power.  The Company
                                    -----------------------------              
            is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
            standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all
            corporate powers and all governmental licenses, permits,
            authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its
            business as now conducted except where the failure to do so would
            not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
            aggregate, a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
            otherwise), business, assets or results of operations of the Company
            and its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 3.06(a) hereof) taken as
            a whole (a "Company Material Adverse Effect").  The Company is duly
            qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
            standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the property
            owned or 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               9

            leased by it or the nature of its activities makes such
            qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions where the
            failure to be so qualified would not have or reasonably be expected
            to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
            Adverse Effect. The Company has heretofore delivered to RHCI true
            and complete copies of the Company's certificate of incorporation
            and bylaws as currently in effect.

                      SECTION 3.02  Corporate Authorization.  The execution,
                                    -----------------------                 
            delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
            consummation of the Merger by the Company are within the Company's
            corporate powers and, except for any required approval by the
            Company's stockholders in connection with the consummation of the
            Merger, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.
            This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
            Company.

                      SECTION 3.03  Governmental Authorization.  The execution,
                                    --------------------------                 
            delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
            consummation of the Merger by the Company require no action by or in
            respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency, official
            or authority other than (i) the filing of a certificate of merger in
            accordance with Delaware Law and (ii) compliance with applicable
            requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
            1976 (the "HSR Act") and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
            rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Exchange Act"),
            except where the failure of any such action to be taken or filing to
            be made would not have or reasonably be expected to have,
            individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect
            or prevent consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                      SECTION 3.04  Non-Contravention.  Except as disclosed on
                                    -----------------                         
            Exhibit 3.04 to the Company Disclosure Schedule delivered by the
            Company to RHCI simultaneously with the execution and delivery
            hereof (the "Company Disclosure Schedule"), the execution, delivery
            and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
            consummation of the Merger by the Company do not and will not (i)
            contravene or conflict with the certificate of incorporation or
            bylaws of the Company, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters
            referred to in Section 3.03, contravene or conflict with or
            constitute a violation of any provision of any law, regulation,
            judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon or applicable to
            the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) constitute a default
            under or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
            acceleration of any right or obligation of the Company or any of its
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              10

            Subsidiaries or to a loss of any benefit to which the Company or any
            of its Subsidiaries is entitled under any provision of any material
            agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries or any license, franchise, permit or other similar
            authorization held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
            (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any
            material asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for
            any occurrences or results referred to in clauses (ii), (iii) and
            (iv) which would not have or reasonably be expected to have,
            individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect
            or prevent consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
            For purposes of this Agreement, "Lien" means, with respect to any
            asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or
            encumbrance or adverse claim of any kind in respect of such asset.

                      SECTION 3.05  Capitalization.  The authorized capital
                                    --------------                         
            stock of the Company consists of 20,000,000 Shares and 1,000,000
            shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, of which
            100,000 shares have been designated as Company Preferred Shares.  As
            of September 15, 1996, there were outstanding (w) 6,397,304 Shares,
            (x) 100,000 Company Preferred Shares (which such shares were then
            convertible into 3,000,000 Shares), (y) Company Options to purchase
            an aggregate of 1,170,750 Shares and (z) Company Warrants to
            purchase an aggregate of 640,000 Shares.  All outstanding shares of
            capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
            issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive
            rights.  Except as set forth in this Section and except for changes
            since September 15, 1996 resulting from the exercise of Company
            Options, Company Warrants or other obligations to issue Shares
            referred to above outstanding on such date, there are outstanding as
            of the date hereof (i) no shares of capital stock or other voting
            securities of the Company, (ii) no securities of the Company
            convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or
            voting securities of the Company, and (iii) no options, warrants or
            other rights to acquire from the Company, and no obligation of the
            Company to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or securities
            convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting
            securities of the Company (the items in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)
            being referred to collectively as the "Company Securities"). There
            are no outstanding obligations of the Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company
            Securities.

                      SECTION 3.06  Subsidiaries.  (a)  Each Subsidiary of the
                                    ------------                              
            Company is an entity duly organized, validly existing 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              11

            and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
            organization and has all corporate, partnership or company powers,
            as applicable, and, to the Company's knowledge, all material
            governmental licenses, permits, authorizations, consents and
            approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted. Each
            Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a
            foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where
            the character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of
            its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where
            failure to be so would not have or reasonably be expected to have,
            individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
            For purposes of this Agreement, "Subsidiary" of any Person means (i)
            any corporation or other entity of which securities or other
            ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority
            of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
            functions are directly or indirectly owned by such Person and (ii)
            any partnership of which such Person is a general partner.

                      (b) Except (i) in the case of certain Subsidiaries, the
            stock of which is pledged to First Union National Bank of Florida
            ("First Union of Florida") in connection with the transactions
            contemplated by the Loan and Security Agreement dated as of April 6,
            1995 between FPM Behavioral Health, Inc. and First Union of Florida,
            as amended (the "FPM Loan Agreement"), (ii) in the case of a certain
            Subsidiary, the stock of which is pledged to Phoenix South Community
            Mental Health Center, Inc. pursuant to the Stock Pledge Agreement
            dated June 30, 1994, and (iii) for certain limitations and
            restrictions set forth in the FPM Loan Agreement, all of the
            outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests, as
            applicable, of each Subsidiary of the Company which is owned
            by the Company, directly or indirectly, is owned free and clear of
            any Lien and free of any other limitation or restriction (including
            any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of
            such capital stock or other ownership interests, as applicable).
            There are no outstanding (i) securities of the Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital
            stock or other voting securities or ownership interests in any
            Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) options or other rights to
            acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no other
            obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any
            capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in, or
            any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any capital
            stock, voting securities or ownership interests in, any Subsidiary
            of the Company (the items in clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to
            collectively 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              12

            as the "Company Subsidiary Securities"). There are no outstanding
            obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase,
            redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding Company Subsidiary
            Securities.
            
                      SECTION 3.07  SEC Filings.  (a)  The Company has delivered
                                    -----------                                 
            or made available to RHCI (i) its annual report on Form 10-KSB for
            the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996 (the "Company 10-K"), (ii) its
            proxy statement relating to the annual meeting of stockholders held
            on November 10, 1995, and (iii) all of its other reports,
            statements, schedules and registration statements filed by the
            Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
            since June 30, 1996, and in each case all materials incorporated
            therein by reference or filed therewith as exhibits (the filings
            referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above and the materials
            referred to above, in each case delivered or made available to RHCI
            prior to the date hereof, being hereinafter referred to as the
            "Company SEC Filings").

                      (b) As of its filing date, each such report or statement
            filed pursuant to the Exchange Act complied as to form in all
            material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and did
            not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
            any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made
            therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
            made, not misleading.

                      (c) Each such registration statement and any amendment
            thereto filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules
            and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Securities Act"), as of
            the date such statement or amendment became effective,
            complied as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act
            and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
            to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
            necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

                      SECTION 3.08  Financial Statements.  The audited
                                    --------------------              
            consolidated financial statements of the Company and its
            consolidated Subsidiaries included in the Company 10-K referred to
            in Section 3.07 fairly present in all material respects, in
            conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
            a consistent basis (except as may be indicated in the notes
            thereto), the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
            consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their
            consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods
            then ended.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              13

                      SECTION 3.09  Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus;
                                    ---------------------------------
            Registration Statement.  None of the information supplied by the
            ----------------------                                          
            Company for inclusion in (a) the joint proxy statement relating to
            the meetings of the Company's and RHCI's stockholders to be held in
            connection with the Merger (also constituting the prospectus in
            respect of RHCI Common Stock to be exchanged for Shares in the
            Merger) (the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus"), to be filed by the
            Company and RHCI with the SEC, and any amendments or supplements
            thereto, or (b) the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
            "Registration Statement") to be filed by RHCI with the SEC in
            connection with the Merger, and any amendments or supplements
            thereto, will, at the respective times such documents are filed,
            and, in the case of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, at the
            time the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or
            supplement thereto is first mailed to stockholders of the Company
            and at the time such stockholders vote on adoption of this Agreement
            and at the Effective Time, and, in the case of the Registration
            Statement, when it becomes effective under the Securities Act,
            contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
            material fact necessary in order to make the statements made
            therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
            made, not misleading.  All documents that the Company is responsible
            for filing with the SEC in connection with the Merger will comply as
            to form in all material respects with the applicable provisions of
            the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

                      SECTION 3.10  Absence of Certain Changes.  Except as
                                    --------------------------            
            contemplated hereby or as described or provided for in any Company
            SEC Filing or as disclosed on Exhibit 3.10 to the Company Disclosure
            Schedule, since June 30, 1996, the Company and its Subsidiaries have
            conducted their business in all material respects in the ordinary
            course consistent with past practices and there has not been:

                        (a)  any event, occurrence or development or state of
                      circumstances or facts, which affects or relates to the
                      Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the industry in
                      which they operate, which has had or would reasonably be
                      expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;

                        (b)  any declaration, setting aside or payment of any
                      dividend or other distribution with respect to any shares
                      of capital stock of the Company, or any repurchase,
                      redemption or other acquisition by the Company or any of
                      its Subsidiaries of any outstanding shares of capital
                      stock or other securities of, or 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              14

                      other ownership interests in, the Company or any of its
                      Subsidiaries;

                        (c)  any amendment of any material term of any
                      outstanding security of the Company or any of its
                      Subsidiaries;

                        (d)  any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by the
                      Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any indebtedness for
                      borrowed money other than in the ordinary course of
                      business and in amounts and on terms consistent with past
                      practices;

                        (e)  any creation or assumption by the Company or any of
                      its Subsidiaries of any Lien on any material asset other
                      than in the ordinary course of business consistent with
                      past practices;

                        (f)  any making of any loan, advance or capital
                      contributions to or investment in any Person other than
                      loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments
                      in wholly owned Subsidiaries made in the ordinary course
                      of business consistent with past practices;

                        (g)  any change in any method of accounting or
                      accounting practice by the Company or any of its
                      Subsidiaries, except for any such change required by
                      reason of a concurrent change in generally accepted
                      accounting principles or to conform a Subsidiary's
                      accounting policies and practices to those of the Company;

                        (h)  except for contractual obligations existing on the
                      date hereof, other than in the ordinary course of business
                      consistent with past practices, any (i) grant of any
                      severance or termination pay to any director, officer or
                      employee of the Company, (ii) entering into of any
                      employment, deferred compensation or other similar
                      agreement (or any amendment to any such existing
                      agreement) with any director, officer or employee of the
                      Company or any of its Subsidiaries except in the ordinary
                      course of business consistent with past practice with
                      persons who are not executive officers, (iii) increase in
                      benefits payable under any existing severance or
                      termination pay policies or employment agreements, (iv)
                      increase in compensation, bonus or other benefits payable
                      to directors, officers or employees of the Company or any
                      of its Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of
                      business consistent with past practices or 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              15

                      (v) acceleration of the exercisability or vesting of any
                      Company Options or Restricted Stock, as the case may be;

                        (i)  any material labor dispute, other than individual
                      grievances, or any activity or proceeding by a labor union
                      or representative thereof to organize any employees of the
                      Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which employees were
                      not subject to a collective bargaining agreement at June
                      30, 1996 or any lockouts, strikes, slowdowns, work
                      stoppages or threats thereof by or with respect to such
                      employees;

                        (j)  any actual or, to the Company's knowledge,
                      threatened dispute between the Company or any of its
                      Subsidiaries and any vendor or customer, other than
                      disputes which would not have or reasonably be expected to
                      have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
                      Adverse Effect;

                        (k)  any actual or, to the Company's knowledge,
                      threatened suspension or cancellation of any governmental
                      license, permit, authorization, consent or approval, other
                      than those the suspension or cancellation of which would
                      not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually
                      or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; or

                        (l)  to the Company's knowledge, any change in any
                      federal or state law, rule or regulation applicable to the
                      Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or in the
                      interpretation or application thereof, which individually
                      or in the aggregate has had or would reasonably be
                      expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 3.11  No Undisclosed Material Liabilities.  Except
                                    -----------------------------------         
            as described or provided for in any Company SEC Filing, there are no
            liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any kind
            whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined,
            determinable or otherwise, and there is no existing condition,
            situation or set of circumstances which, individually or in the
            aggregate, have or would reasonably be expected to have a Company
            Material Adverse Effect, other than:

                         (i) liabilities disclosed or provided for in the
                 Company's consolidated balance sheet dated as of June 30, 1996
                 included in the Company 10-K;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              16

                         (ii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
                 business consistent with past practices since June 30, 1996,
                 which in the aggregate are not material to the Company and its
                 Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and

                         (iii)  liabilities under this Agreement.

                      SECTION 3.12  Litigation.  Except as described or provided
                                    ----------                                  
            for in any Company SEC Filing or as disclosed on Exhibit 3.12 to the
            Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no action, suit, investigation
            or proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of the Company,
            threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of
            their respective properties before any court or arbitrator or any
            governmental body, agency or official which would have or reasonably
            be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
            Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 3.13  Taxes.  (i) The Company and its Subsidiaries
                                    -----                                       
            have timely filed all tax returns, statements, reports and forms
            required to be filed with any tax authority when due in accordance
            with all applicable laws except where the failure to do so would not
            have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
            aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) no deficiency in
            payment of any taxes for any period has been asserted by any taxing
            authority which remains unsettled at the date hereof except for
            deficiencies which would not have or reasonably be expected to have,
            individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
            and (iii) the Company is not liable and it is not reasonably likely
            that the Company will be liable for any taxes not heretofore paid or
            reserved against in the Company June 30, 1996 financial statements
            except those which would not have or reasonably be expected to have,
            individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                      For purposes of this Agreement, "tax" or "taxes" means all
            net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem,
            transfer, accumulated earnings, personal holding company, excess
            profits, franchise, profits, license, withholding, payroll,
            employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property
            or windfall profits taxes, customs duties or other taxes, fees,
            assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any
            interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts
            imposed by any taxing authority (domestic or foreign).

                      SECTION 3.14  Tax Free Merger.  (a)  At the Effective
                                    ---------------                        
            Time, the Surviving Corporation will hold at least 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              17

            90 percent of the fair market value of the net assets, and at least
            70 percent of the fair market value of the gross assets, held by the
            Company prior to the Merger. For purposes of this representation,
            amounts used by the Company to pay reorganization expenses and all
            redemptions, distributions and payments, in cash or property, made
            by the Company in connection with the Merger shall be included as
            assets of the Company prior to the Merger.

                      (b) In the Merger, Shares and Company Preferred Shares
            representing control of the Company, as defined in Section 368(c)(1)
            of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), will
            be exchanged solely for voting stock of RHCI.  For purposes of this
            representation, Shares and Company Preferred Shares exchanged for
            cash or other property originating with RHCI will be treated as
            outstanding Shares and Company Preferred Shares on the date of the
            Merger.

                      (c) There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing
            between RHCI and the Company or between Merger Subsidiary and the
            Company that was issued, acquired, or will be settled, in any case
            at a discount.

                      (d) Except as provided in Section 10.04 of this Agreement,
            the Company and the stockholders of the Company will pay their
            respective expenses, if any, incurred in connection with the Merger.

                      (e) The Company is not an investment company as such term
            is defined in Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code.

                      (f) The Company is not under the jurisdiction of a court
            in a Title 11 or similar case within the meaning of Section
            368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

                      (g) On the Effective Date, the fair market value of the
            assets of the Company will exceed the sum of the Company's
            liabilities plus the amount of liabilities, if any, to which the
            assets are subject.

                      (h) The Company has not knowingly taken, and will not
            knowingly take, any action that would jeopardize the qualification
            of the Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
            368(a) of the Code.

                      SECTION 3.15  ERISA.  (a) "Employee Plans" shall mean each
                                    -----                                       
            "employee benefit plan", as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee
            Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), which
            (i) is subject to any provision 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              18

            of ERISA and (ii) is maintained, administered or contributed to by
            the Company or any affiliate (as defined below) and covers any
            employee or former employee of the Company or any affiliate or under
            which the Company or any affiliate has any liability. Copies of such
            plans (and, if applicable, related trust agreements) and all
            amendments thereto and written interpretations thereof will be
            promptly furnished to RHCI after the date of this Agreement. For
            purposes of this Section and Section 4.15, "affiliate" of any Person
            means any other Person which, together with such Person, would be
            treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code. No
            Employee Plan individually or collectively constitutes a "defined
            benefit plan" as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA.

                      (b) No Employee Plan constitutes a "multiemployer plan",
            as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, and no Employee Plan is
            maintained in connection with any trust described in Section
            501(c)(9) of the Code.  No Employee Plan is subject to Title IV of
            ERISA.  Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has incurred,
            nor has reason to expect to incur, any liability under Title IV of
            ERISA arising in connection with the termination of, or complete or
            partial withdrawal from, any plan previously covered by Title IV of
            ERISA that would have, or reasonably be expected to have,
            individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
            Nothing done or omitted to be done and no transaction or holding of
            any asset under or in connection with any Employee Plan has or will
            make the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any officer or
            director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries subject to any
            liability under Title I of ERISA or liable for any tax pursuant to
            Section 4975 of the Code that would have, or reasonably be expected
            to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material
            Adverse Effect.

                      (c) Except as disclosed on Exhibit 3.15 to the Company
            Disclosure Schedule or except to the extent it would not have, or
            reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
            Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Employee Plan which is
            intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so
            qualified and has been so qualified during the period from its
            adoption to date, and each trust forming a part thereof is exempt
            from tax pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code and (ii) each
            Employee Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and
            with the requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, orders,
            final rules and final regulations, including but not limited to
            ERISA and the Code, which are applicable to such Employee Plan.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              19

                      (d) Except to the extent it would not have, or reasonably
            be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
            Material Adverse Effect, there is no contract, agreement, plan or
            arrangement covering any employee or former employee of the Company
            or any affiliate that, individually or collectively, could give rise
            to the payment of any amount that would not be deductible pursuant
            to the terms of Sections 162(a)(1) or 280G of the Code.

                      (e) "Benefit Arrangement" shall mean each employment,
            severance or other similar contract, arrangement or policy and each
            plan or arrangement (written or oral) providing for compensation,
            bonus, profit-sharing, stock option, or other stock related rights
            or other forms of incentive or deferred compensation, vacation
            benefits, insurance coverage (including any self-insured
            arrangements), health or medical benefits, disability benefits,
            workers' compensation, supplemental unemployment benefits, severance
            benefits and post-employment or retirement benefits (including
            compensation, health or medical insurance or other benefits) which
            (i) is not an Employee Plan, (ii) is entered into, maintained or
            contributed to, as the case may be, by the Company or any of its
            affiliates and (iii) covers any employee or former employee of the
            Company or any of its affiliates.  Copies or descriptions of the
            Benefit Arrangements will be promptly furnished to RHCI.  The
            Company will promptly furnish to RHCI a schedule showing all
            outstanding Company Options, including the applicable exercise price
            with respect thereto. Except to the extent that it would not have,
            or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
            a Company Material Adverse Effect, each Benefit Arrangement has been
            maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements
            prescribed by any and all statutes, orders, rules and regulations
            that are applicable to such Benefit Arrangement.

                      (f) Except to the extent that it would not have, or
            reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
            Company Material Adverse Effect, the transactions contemplated
            hereby will not result in any liability for severance pay to any
            employee or accelerate the exercisability or vesting of any Company
            Options or Restricted Stock, as the case may be, nor will any
            employee be entitled to any payment solely by reason of such
            transactions.

                      (g) The Company does not provide, nor has it made any
            current or past commitment to provide, post-retirement health or
            medical benefits for retired employees of the Company or its
            Subsidiaries, except as specifically required 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              20

            under Section 4980B of the Code or Section 601 of ERISA. The Company
            has substantially complied with the notice and continuation
            requirements of Section 4980B of the Code and Section 601 of ERISA.

                      (h) Except as disclosed on Exhibit 3.15 to the Company
            Disclosure Schedule and subject to the provisions of Section
            3.10(h), there has been no amendment to, written interpretation or
            announcement (whether or not written) by the Company or any of its
            affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or
            coverage under, any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement which in
            the aggregate would increase the per employee expense of maintaining
            such Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement above the level of the
            expense incurred on a per employee basis in respect thereof for the
            fiscal year ended on June 30, 1996 except to the extent, with
            respect to all employees, that such increase results from premium
            increases in the normal course or as would not have, or reasonably
            be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
            Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 3.16  Compliance with Laws.  Except as described
                                    --------------------                      
            or provided for in any Company SEC Filing or as disclosed on Exhibit
            3.16 to the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any
            of its Subsidiaries is in violation of, or has violated, any
            applicable provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances or
            regulations other than violations which would not, in the aggregate,
            reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 3.17  Finders' Fees.  Except for Dean Witter
                                    -------------                         
            Reynolds, Inc. ("Dean Witter"), there is no investment banker,
            broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or
            is authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries who might be entitled to any fee or commission in
            connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                      SECTION 3.18  Opinion of Financial Advisor.  The Company
                                    ----------------------------              
            has received the opinion of Dean Witter to the effect that, as of
            the date of such opinion, the Conversion Number and the Preferred
            Conversion Number is fair to the Company's stockholders from a
            financial point of view, a copy of which opinion will be delivered
            to RHCI.

                      SECTION 3.19  Vote Required.  Except as contemplated by
                                    -------------                            
            this Agreement, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
            the outstanding (i) voting power of the Shares and Company Preferred
            Shares, voting together as a single class, and (ii) Company
            Preferred Shares, voting as 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              21

            a separate class, are the only votes of the holders of any class or
            series of the Company's capital stock necessary to approve this
            Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                      SECTION 3.20  Medicare and Medicaid.  The Company and its
                                    ---------------------                      
            Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all
            Medicare and Medicaid laws, rules and regulations and have filed all
            returns, cost reports and other filings in the manner prescribed,
            except where the failure to do so would not have or reasonably be
            expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
            Material Adverse Effect.  All returns, cost reports and other
            filings made by the Company and its Subsidiaries to Medicare,
            Medicaid or any other governmental health or welfare related entity
            or any other third party payor are in all material respects true and
            complete, except where the failure to be so would not have or
            reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
            Company Material Adverse Effect.  No deficiency in any such returns,
            cost reports and other filings, including deficiencies for late
            filings, has been asserted or, to the Company's knowledge,
            threatened by any federal or state agency or instrumentality or
            other provider reimbursement entities relating to Medicare or
            Medicaid claims or third party payor, and, to the knowledge of the
            Company, there is no basis for any claims or requests for
            reimbursement from any such agency, instrumentality, entity or third
            party payor except for any deficiencies which would not have or
            reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
            Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its
            Subsidiaries has been subject to any audit relating to fraudulent
            Medicare or Medicaid procedures or practices, except for audits
            which would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually
            or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                                  ARTICLE IV.

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF RHCI
                     --------------------------------------

                      RHCI represents and warrants to the Company that:

                      SECTION 4.01  Corporate Existence and Power.  Each of RHCI
                                    -----------------------------               
            and Merger Subsidiary is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
            existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
            Delaware and has all corporate powers and all governmental licenses,
            permits, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on
            its business as now conducted, except where the failure to 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              22

            do so would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually
            or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the condition
            (financial or otherwise), business, assets or results of operations
            of RHCI and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "RHCI Material
            Adverse Effect"). RHCI is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
            corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
            character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its
            activities makes such qualification necessary, except for those
            jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified would not have or
            reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
            RHCI Material Adverse Effect. RHCI has heretofore delivered to the
            Company true and complete copies of RHCI's certificate of
            incorporation and bylaws as currently in effect. Since the date of
            its incorporation, Merger Subsidiary has not engaged in any
            activities other than in connection with or as contemplated by this
            Agreement.

                      SECTION 4.02  Corporate Authorization.  The execution,
                                    -----------------------                 
            delivery and performance by RHCI and Merger Subsidiary of this
            Agreement and the consummation of the Merger by Merger Subsidiary
            are within the corporate powers of RHCI and Merger Subsidiary and
            have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, except
            for any required approval by RHCI's stockholders of the issuance of
            RHCI Common Stock and RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock in
            connection with the Merger.  This Agreement constitutes a valid and
            binding agreement of RHCI and Merger Subsidiary.

                      SECTION 4.03  Governmental Authorization.  The execution,
                                    --------------------------                 
            delivery and performance by RHCI and Merger Subsidiary of this
            Agreement and the consummation of the Merger by Merger Subsidiary
            require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any
            governmental body, agency, official or authority other than (i) the
            filing of a certificate of merger in accordance with Delaware Law;
            (ii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act, the
            Exchange Act and the Securities Act; (iii) compliance with the
            listing requirements of the National Association of Securities
            Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"); and (iv) compliance with any applicable
            state securities or Blue Sky laws, except where the failure of any
            such action to be taken or filing to be made would not have or
            reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
            RHCI Material Adverse Effect or prevent consummation of the
            transactions contemplated hereby.

                      SECTION 4.04  Non-Contravention.  Except with respect to
                                    -----------------                         
            (x) the Credit Agreement (the "RHCI Credit Agreement") dated as of
            May 15, 1993 among RHCI, certain 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              23

            Subsidiaries of RHCI, Societe Generale, New York Branch, First Union
            National Bank of North Carolina and Hibernia National Bank, as
            amended, and (y) the Trust Indenture (the "RHCI Trust Indenture")
            dated as of March 31, 1990 among RHCI, certain Subsidiaries of RHCI,
            the Citizens and Southern National Bank and Susan L. Adams, as
            amended, the execution, delivery and performance by RHCI and Merger
            Subsidiary of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger by
            Merger Subsidiary do not and will not (i) contravene or conflict
            with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of RHCI or Merger
            Subsidiary, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in
            Section 4.03, contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation
            of any provision of law, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or
            decree binding upon or applicable to RHCI or any of its
            Subsidiaries, (iii) constitute a default under or give rise to any
            right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or
            obligation of RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries or to a loss of any
            benefit to which RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled under
            any material agreement or other instrument binding upon RHCI or any
            of its Subsidiaries or any license, franchise, permit or other
            similar authorization held by RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries, or
            (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any
            material asset of RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any
            occurrences or results referred to in clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv)
            which would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually
            or in the aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect or prevent
            consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                      SECTION 4.05  Capitalization.  The authorized capital
                                    --------------                         
            stock of RHCI consists of 20,000,000 shares of RHCI Common Stock,
            800,000 shares of Class A Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share
            (the "Class A Preferred Stock"), and 1,000,000 shares of Class B
            Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share, of which 333,333 shares
            have been designated as Class B Preferred Stock, Series 1987, $1.00
            par value per share (the "Class B Preferred Stock, Series 1987") and
            152,321 shares have been designated as the Class B Preferred Stock,
            Series C, $1.00 par value per share (the "Series C Preferred
            Stock").  As of September 15, 1996, there were outstanding (v)
            8,306,726 shares of RHCI Common Stock (with attached common share
            purchase rights (the "Rights") in accordance with RHCI's Stockholder
            Rights Plan (the "Rights Plan") evidenced by the Rights Agreement
            dated August 1, 1995, as amended, between RHCI and First Union of
            North Carolina), (w) no shares of Class A Preferred Stock or Class B
            Preferred Stock, Series 1987, (x) 142,486 shares of Series C
            Preferred Stock (which such shares were then convertible into
            1,424,860 shares of RHCI Common Stock) 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              24

            (with attached Rights in accordance with the Rights Plan), (y)
            employee and other stock options to purchase an aggregate of
            1,967,411 shares of RHCI Common Stock and (z) warrants to purchase
            an aggregate of 908,588 shares of RHCI Common Stock. All outstanding
            shares of capital stock of RHCI have been duly authorized and
            validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and free of
            preemptive rights. Except as set forth in this Section, and except
            for changes since September 15, 1996 resulting from the exercise of
            employee stock options or other obligations to issue shares of RHCI
            Common Stock referred to above outstanding on such date, there are
            outstanding as of the date hereof (i) no shares of capital stock or
            other voting securities of RHCI, (ii) no securities of RHCI
            convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or
            voting securities of RHCI, and (iii) no options, warrants or other
            rights to acquire from RHCI, and, no obligation of RHCI to issue,
            any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into
            or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of RHCI (the
            items in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to collectively
            as the "RHCI Securities"). There are no outstanding obligations of
            RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
            acquire any RHCI Securities. The shares of RHCI Common Stock and the
            shares of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock to be exchanged for
            Shares and Company Preferred Shares, respectively, in the Merger
            have been duly authorized, except for any required approval by
            RHCI's stockholders of the issuance of RHCI Common Stock and RHCI
            Series 1996 Preferred Stock in connection with the Merger, and when
            issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
            will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and
            nonassessable and the issuance thereof is not subject to any
            preemptive or other similar right. The transactions contemplated
            hereby will not by themselves result in the Rights under the Rights
            Plan becoming exercisable.

                      SECTION 4.06  Subsidiaries.  (a)  Each Subsidiary of RHCI
                                    ------------                               
            is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
            under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, has all
            corporate, partnership or company powers, as applicable, and, to
            RHCI's knowledge, all material governmental licenses,
            authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its
            business as now conducted.  Each Subsidiary of RHCI is duly
            qualified to do business as a foreign entity and is in good standing
            in each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or
            leased by it or the nature of its activities makes such
            qualification necessary, except where failure to be would not have
            or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
            a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              25

                      (b) Except (i) for certain limitations and restrictions
            set forth in the RHCI Credit Agreement and the RHCI Trust Indenture
            and (ii) in the case of certain Subsidiaries of RHCI the stock of
            which is pledged pursuant to the RHCI Credit Agreement and the RHCI
            Trust Indenture, all of the outstanding capital stock or other
            ownership interests, as applicable, of each Subsidiary of RHCI which
            is owned by RHCI, directly or indirectly, is owned free and clear of
            any Lien and free of any other limitation or restriction (including
            any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of
            such capital stock or other ownership interests, as applicable).
            There are no outstanding (i) securities of RHCI or any of its
            Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital
            stock or other voting securities or ownership interests in any
            Subsidiary of RHCI, or (ii) options or other rights to acquire from
            RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries, and no other obligation of RHCI or
            any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock, voting
            securities or other ownership interests in, or any securities
            convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock, voting
            securities or ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of RHCI (the
            items in clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to collectively as the
            "RHCI Subsidiary Securities").  Except as described or provided for
            in any RHCI SEC Filing (as defined below) or as disclosed on Exhibit
            4.06 to the RHCI Disclosure Schedule delivered by RHCI to the
            Company simultaneously with the execution and delivery hereof (the
            "RHCI Disclosure Schedule"), there are no outstanding obligations of
            RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
            acquire any outstanding RHCI Subsidiary Securities.

                      SECTION 4.07  SEC Filings.  (a) RHCI has delivered or made
                                    -----------                                 
            available to the Company (i) its annual report on Form 10-K for the
            fiscal year ended June 30, 1995 (the "RHCI 10-K"), (ii) its
            quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarters ended
            September 30, 1995, December 31, 1995 and March 31, 1996, (iii) its
            current reports on Form 8-K dated August 2, 1995 and September 20,
            1995, (iv) its proxy statement relating to the annual meeting of
            stockholders held on November 10, 1995, and (v) all of its other
            reports, statements, schedules and registration statements filed by
            RHCI with the SEC since June 30, 1995, and in each case all
            materials incorporated therein by reference or filed therewith as
            exhibits (the filings referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above
            and the materials referred to above, in each case delivered or made
            available to the Company prior to the date hereof, being hereinafter
            referred to as the "RHCI SEC Filings").
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              26

                      (b) As of its filing date, each such report or statement
            filed pursuant to the Exchange Act complied as to form in all
            material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and did
            not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
            any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made
            therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
            made, not misleading.

                      (c) Each such registration statement and any amendment
            thereto filed pursuant to the Securities Act, as of the date such
            statement or amendment became effective, complied as to form in all
            material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any
            untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
            fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
            statements therein not misleading.

                      SECTION 4.08  Financial Statements.  The audited
                                    --------------------              
            consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim
            financial statements of RHCI and its consolidated Subsidiaries
            included in the RHCI 10-K and the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q
            referred to in Section 4.07 fairly present in all material respects,
            in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied
            on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated in the notes
            thereto), the consolidated financial position of RHCI and its
            consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their
            consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods
            then ended (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial
            statements, to normal year-end adjustments, none of which,
            individually or in the aggregate, would have a RHCI Material Adverse
            Effect).

                      SECTION 4.09  Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus;
                                    ---------------------------------
            Registration Statement.  None of the information supplied by RHCI
            ----------------------                                           
            for inclusion in (a) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be
            filed by the Company and RHCI with the SEC and any amendments or
            supplements thereto, or (b) the Registration Statement to be filed
            by RHCI with the SEC in connection with the Merger, and any
            amendments or supplements thereto, will, at the respective times
            when such documents are filed, and, in the case of the Joint Proxy
            Statement/Prospectus, at the time the Joint Proxy
            Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto is first
            mailed to stockholders of RHCI and at the time such stockholders
            vote on adoption of this Agreement and at the Effective Time, and,
            in the case of the Registration Statement, when it becomes effective
            under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material
            fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
            the 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              27

            statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under
            which they were made, not misleading.  All documents that RHCI is
            responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the Merger
            will comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
            provisions of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and state
            securities laws.

                      SECTION 4.10  Absence of Certain Changes.  Except as
                                    --------------------------            
            contemplated hereby or as described or provided for in any RHCI SEC
            Filing or as disclosed on Exhibit 4.10 to the RHCI Disclosure
            Schedule, since March 31, 1996, RHCI and its Subsidiaries have
            conducted their business in all material respects in the ordinary
            course consistent with past practices and there has not been:

                      (a) any event, occurrence or development or state of
                 circumstances or facts, which affects or relates to RHCI or any
                 of its Subsidiaries or the industry in which they operate,
                 which has had or would reasonably be expected to have a RHCI
                 Material Adverse Effect;

                      (b) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any
                 dividend or other distribution with respect to any shares of
                 capital stock of RHCI, or any repurchase, redemption or other
                 acquisition by RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries of any
                 outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of, or
                 other ownership interests in, RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries;

                      (c) any amendment of any material term of any outstanding
                 security of RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries;

                      (d) any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by RHCI or any
                 of its Subsidiaries of any indebtedness for borrowed money
                 other than in the ordinary course of business and in amounts
                 and on terms consistent with past practices;

                      (e) any creation or assumption by RHCI or any of its
                 Subsidiaries of any Lien on any material asset other than in
                 the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

                      (f) any making of any loan, advance or capital
                 contributions to or investment in any Person other than loans,
                 advances or capital contributions to or investments in wholly
                 owned Subsidiaries of RHCI made in the ordinary course of
                 business consistent with past practices;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              28

                      (g) any change in any method of accounting or accounting
                 practice by RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any
                 such change required by reason of a concurrent change in
                 generally accepted accounting principles or to conform a
                 Subsidiary's accounting policies and practices to those of
                 RHCI;

                      (h) except for contractual obligations existing on the
                 date hereof, other than in the ordinary course of business
                 consistent with past practices, any (i) grant of any severance
                 or termination pay to any director, officer or employee of
                 RHCI, (ii) entering into of any employment, deferred
                 compensation or other similar agreement (or any amendment to
                 any such existing agreement) with any director, officer or
                 employee of RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) increase in
                 benefits payable under any existing severance or termination
                 pay policies or employment agreements, or (iv) increase in
                 compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to directors,
                 officers or employees of RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries;

                      (i) any material labor dispute, other than individual
                 grievances, or any activity or proceeding by a labor union or
                 representative thereof to organize any employees of RHCI or any
                 of its Subsidiaries, which employees were not subject to a
                 collective bargaining agreement at March 31, 1996, or any
                 lockouts, strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages or threats thereof
                 by or with respect to such employees;

                      (j) any actual or, to RHCI's knowledge, threatened dispute
                 between RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries and any vendor or
                 customer, other than disputes which would not have or
                 reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
                 aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect;

                      (k) any actual or, to RHCI's knowledge, threatened
                 suspension or cancellation of any governmental license, permit,
                 authorization, consent or approval, other than those the
                 suspension or cancellation of which would not have or
                 reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
                 aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect; or

                      (l) to RHCI's knowledge, any change in any federal or
                 state law, rule or regulation applicable to RHCI or any of its
                 Subsidiaries, or in the interpretation or application thereof,
                 which individually or in the aggregate has had or would
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              29

                 reasonably be expected to have a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 4.11  No Undisclosed Material Liabilities.  Except
                                    -----------------------------------         
            as described or provided for in any RHCI SEC Filing or as disclosed
            on Exhibit 4.11 to the RHCI Disclosure Schedule, there are no
            liabilities of RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries of any kind
            whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined,
            determinable or otherwise, and there is no existing condition,
            situation or set of circumstances which, individually or in the
            aggregate, have or would reasonably be expected to have a RHCI
            Material Adverse Effect, other than:

                           (i) liabilities disclosed or provided for in RHCI's
                 consolidated balance sheet dated as of March 31, 1996 included
                 in RHCI's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
                 ended March 31, 1996;

                          (ii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
                 business consistent with past practices since March 31, 1996,
                 which in the aggregate are not material to RHCI and its
                 Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and

                         (iii)  liabilities under this Agreement.

                      SECTION 4.12  Litigation.  Except as described or provided
                                    ----------                                  
            for in any RHCI SEC Filing or as disclosed on Exhibit 4.12 to the
            RHCI Disclosure Schedule, there is no action, suit, investigation or
            proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of RHCI, threatened
            against RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective
            properties before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body,
            agency or official which would have or reasonably be expected to
            have a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 4.13  Taxes.  (i) RHCI and its Subsidiaries have
                                    -----                                     
            timely filed all tax returns, statements, reports and forms required
            to be filed with any tax authority when due in accordance with all
            applicable laws except where the failure to do so would not have or
            reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
            RHCI Material Adverse Effect; (ii) no deficiency in payment of any
            taxes for any period has been asserted by any taxing authority which
            remains unsettled at the date hereof except for deficiencies which
            would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
            the aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) RHCI is not
            liable and it is not reasonably likely that RHCI will be liable for
            any taxes not heretofore paid or reserved against in the RHCI March
            31, 1996 financial statements except those 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              30

            which would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually
            or in the aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 4.14  Tax Free Merger.  (a)  Following the Merger,
                                    ---------------                             
            the Surviving Corporation will hold at least 90 percent of the fair
            market value of the net assets and at least 70 percent of the fair
            market value of the gross assets, held by the Company prior to the
            Merger, and at least 90 percent of the fair market value of the net
            assets and at least 70 percent of the fair market value of the gross
            assets, held by Merger Subsidiary prior to the Merger.  For purposes
            of this representation, amounts used by the Company to pay
            reorganization expenses and all redemptions, distributions and
            payments, in cash or property, made by the Company in connection
            with the Merger shall be included as assets of the Company prior to
            the Merger.

                      (b) Prior to the Merger, RHCI will be in control of Merger
            Subsidiary within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

                      (c) RHCI has no plan or intention as part of the plan of
            the Merger to cause the Surviving Corporation to issue after the
            Effective Time additional shares of stock that would result in RHCI
            losing control of the Surviving Corporation within the meaning of
            Section 368(c) of the Code or any warrants, options, convertible
            securities, or any other type of right pursuant to which any person
            could acquire stock in the Surviving Corporation that, if exercised
            or converted, would affect RHCI's acquisition or retention of
            control of the Surviving Corporation, as defined in Section 368(c)
            of the Code.

                      (d) RHCI has no plan or intention to reacquire any of the
            RHCI Common Stock or RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock issued in the
            Merger.

                      (e) RHCI has no plan or intention to liquidate the
            Surviving Corporation, to merge the Surviving Corporation with or
            into another corporation or to sell or otherwise dispose of the
            Surviving Corporation stock except for transfers of stock to a
            corporation controlled by RHCI.

                      (f) Following the Merger, the Surviving Corporation will
            continue the Company's historic business or use a significant
            portion of its historic business assets in a business.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              31

                      (g) Merger Subsidiary will have no liabilities assumed by
            the Company and will not transfer to the Company any assets subject
            to liabilities, in the Merger.

                      (h) There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing
            between RHCI and the Company or between Merger Subsidiary and the
            Company that was issued, acquired, or will be settled, in any case
            at a discount.

                      (i) Except as provided in Section 10.04 of this Agreement,
            RHCI and Merger Subsidiary will pay their respective expenses
            incurred in connection with the Merger.

                      (j) Neither RHCI nor Merger Subsidiary is an investment
            company as such term is defined in Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and
            (iv) of the Code.

                      (k) Following the Effective Time, RHCI shall use its best
            efforts, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to use its best
            efforts, to conduct its business and the Surviving Corporation's
            business in a manner which would not jeopardize the characterization
            of the Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
            368(a)(2)(E) of the Code.

                      SECTION 4.15  ERISA.  (a)  "RHCI Employee Plans" shall
                                    -----                                   
            mean each "employee benefit plan", as defined in Section 3(3) of
            ERISA, which (i) is subject to any provision of ERISA and (ii) is
            maintained, administered or contributed to by RHCI or any affiliate
            (as defined in Section 3.15) and covers any employee or former
            employee of RHCI or any affiliate or under which RHCI or any
            affiliate has any liability. No RHCI Employee Plan individually or
            collectively constitutes a "defined benefit plan" as defined in
            Section 3(35) of ERISA.

                      (b) No RHCI Employee Plan constitutes a "multiemployer
            plan", as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, and no RHCI Employee
            Plan is maintained in connection with any trust described in Section
            501(c)(9) of the Code.  No RHCI Employee Plan is subject to Title IV
            of ERISA.  Neither RHCI nor any of its affiliates has incurred, nor
            has reason to expect to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA
            arising in connection with the termination of, or complete or
            partial withdrawal from, any plan previously covered by Title IV of
            ERISA that would have, or reasonably be expected to have,
            individually or in the aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.
            Nothing done or omitted to be done and no transaction or holding of
            any asset under or in connection with any RHCI Employee Plan has or
            will make RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries or any officer of director
            of RHCI or any 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              32

            of its Subsidiaries subject to any liability under Title I of ERISA
            or liable for any tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code that
            would have, or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
            the aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.

                      (c) Except to the extent it would not have, or reasonably
            be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a RHCI
            Material Adverse Effect, (i) each RHCI Employee Plan which is
            intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so
            qualified and has been so qualified during the period from its
            adoption to date, and each trust forming a part thereof is exempt
            from tax pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code, and (ii) each RHCI
            Employee Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and
            with the requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, orders,
            final rules and final regulations, including but not limited to
            ERISA and the Code, which are applicable to such Plan.

                      (d) RHCI does not provide, nor has it made any current or
            past commitment to provide, post-retirement health and medical
            benefits for retired employees of RHCI or its affiliates, except as
            specifically required under Section 4980B of the Code or Section 601
            of ERISA.  RHCI has substantially complied with the notice and
            continuation requirements of Section 4980B of the Code and Section
            601 of ERISA.

                      SECTION 4.16  Compliance with Laws.  Except as described
                                    --------------------                      
            or provided for in any RHCI SEC Filing or as disclosed on Exhibit
            4.16 to the RHCI Disclosure Schedule, neither RHCI nor any of its
            Subsidiaries is in violation of, or has violated, any applicable
            provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinances or regulations other
            than violations which would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be
            expected to have a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.

                      SECTION 4.17  Finders' Fees.  Except for Houlihan, Lokey,
                                    -------------                              
            Howard & Zukin, Inc. ("Houlihan Lokey"), whose fees will be paid by
            RHCI, there is no investment banker, broker, finder or other
            intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on
            behalf of RHCI or any of its Subsidiaries who might be entitled to
            any fee or commission in connection with the transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement.

                      SECTION 4.18  Opinion of Financial Advisor.  RHCI has
                                    ----------------------------           
            received the opinion of Houlihan Lokey to the effect that, as of the
            date of such opinion, the Conversion Number and the Preferred
            Conversion Number are fair to RHCI from a 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              33

            financial point of view, a copy of which opinion will be delivered
            to the Company.

                      SECTION 4.19  Vote Required.  The affirmative vote of the
                                    -------------                              
            holders of a majority of the shares of RHCI Common Stock and Series
            C Preferred Stock (voting with the RHCI Common Stock on the basis of
            the number of shares of RHCI Common Stock into which such Series C
            Preferred Stock is convertible) voted at a meeting of stockholders
            is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of RHCI's
            capital stock necessary to approve this Agreement and the
            transactions contemplated hereby.

                      SECTION 4.20  Medicare and Medicaid.  Except as described
                                    ---------------------                      
            or provided for in any RHCI SEC Filing or as disclosed on Exhibit
            4.20 to the RHCI Disclosure Schedule, RHCI and its Subsidiaries have
            complied in all material respects with all Medicare and Medicaid
            laws, rules and regulations and have filed all returns, cost reports
            and other filings in the manner prescribed, except where the failure
            to do so would not have or reasonably be expected to have,
            individually or in the aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.
            Except as described or provided for in any RHCI SEC Filing or as
            disclosed on Exhibit 4.20 to the RHCI Disclosure Schedule, all
            returns, cost reports and other filings made by RHCI and its
            Subsidiaries to Medicare, Medicaid or any other governmental health
            or welfare related entity or any other third party payor are in all
            material respects true and complete, except where the failure to be
            so would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or
            in the aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse Effect.  Except as
            described or provided for in any RHCI SEC Filing or as disclosed on
            Exhibit 4.20 to the RHCI Disclosure Schedule, no deficiency in any
            such returns, cost reports and other filings, including deficiencies
            for late filings, has been asserted or, to RHCI's knowledge,
            threatened by any federal or state agency or instrumentality or
            other provider reimbursement entities relating to Medicare or
            Medicaid or third party payor claims, and, to the knowledge of RHCI,
            there is no basis for any claims or requests for reimbursement from
            any such agency, instrumentality, entity or third party payor except
            for any deficiencies which would not have or reasonably be expected
            to have, individually or in the aggregate, a RHCI Material Adverse
            Effect.  Neither RHCI nor any of its Subsidiaries has been subject
            to any audit relating to fraudulent Medicare or Medicaid procedures
            or practices, except for audits which would not have or reasonably
            be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a RHCI
            Material Adverse Effect.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              34

                                   ARTICLE V.

                            COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
                            ------------------------

                      The Company agrees with RHCI that:

                      SECTION 5.01  Conduct of the Company.  Except as expressly
                                    ----------------------                      
            contemplated by this Agreement or as described or provided for in
            any Company SEC Filing or as disclosed in writing by the Company
            (including in the Company Disclosure Schedule) prior to the date of
            this Agreement, from the date hereof until the earlier to occur of
            the Effective Time and the termination hereof, the Company and its
            Subsidiaries (i) shall conduct their business in the ordinary course
            consistent with past practice and (ii) shall use their respective
            best efforts to preserve intact their business organizations and
            relationships with third parties and to keep available the services
            of their present officers and employees.  Except as otherwise
            approved in writing by RHCI or as expressly contemplated by this
            Agreement, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
            from the date hereof until the Effective Time:

                      (a)  the Company will not adopt or propose any change in
                 its certificate of incorporation or bylaws;

                      (b) the Company will not, and, except with respect to the
                 Apex Transaction (as hereinafter defined), will not permit any
                 of its Subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate with any other
                 Person (other than another wholly owned Subsidiary) or acquire
                 a material amount of stock or assets of any other Person;

                      (c)  except with respect to the sale (whether by sale of
                 all or substantially all of its assets or capital stock, or by
                 merger or other business combination) of, or the discontinuance
                 of the operations of, Apex Healthcare, Inc. and its
                 Subsidiaries (the "Apex Transaction"), the Company will not,
                 and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease,
                 license or otherwise dispose of any material assets or property
                 except (i) pursuant to existing contracts or commitments, (ii)
                 in the ordinary course consistent with past practice or (iii)
                 transfers between the Company and/or its Subsidiaries;

                      (d)  except in respect of the Company Preferred Shares,
                 the Company will not declare or pay any dividends or make any
                 distributions on any Company Securities;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              35

                      (e)  the Company will not, and will not permit any of its
                 Subsidiaries to, (i) issue, deliver or sell, or authorize or
                 propose the issuance, delivery or sale of, any Company
                 Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities, other than the
                 issuance of the Company Preferred Shares, the issuance of
                 Company Securities under the Ramsay Managed Care, Inc. 1994
                 Stock Option Plan the Ramsay Managed Care, Inc. 1996 Long Term
                 Incentive Plan and the Ramsay Managed Care, Inc. 1994 Employee
                 Stock Purchase Plan or the issuance of Shares either upon the
                 exercise of Company Options or Company Warrants or conversion
                 of the Company Preferred Shares, (ii) split, combine or
                 reclassify any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary
                 Securities or (iii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any
                 Company Securities or any Company Subsidiary Securities;

                      (f)  except as otherwise expressly permitted hereby, the
                 Company will not make any commitment or enter into any contract
                 or agreement material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
                 as a whole except in the ordinary course of business consistent
                 with past practice;

                      (g) except as otherwise expressly permitted hereby, the
                 Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries
                 to, agree or commit to do any of the foregoing;

                      (h)  the Company will not, and will not permit any of its
                 Subsidiaries to, take or agree to commit to take any action
                 that would make any representation and warranty of the Company
                 hereunder inaccurate in any material respect at, or as of any
                 time prior to, the Effective Time; or

                      (i)  except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the
                 Company may, and upon RHCI's request will, upon the occurrence
                 of any condition entitling the Company to repurchase any Shares
                 subject to such repurchase, take any and all steps to
                 consummate the repurchase of such Shares.

                      SECTION 5.02  Access to Information.  From the date hereof
                                    ---------------------                       
            until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time and the termination
            hereof, the Company will give RHCI, its counsel, financial advisors,
            auditors and other authorized representatives full access to the
            offices, properties, books and records of the Company and its
            Subsidiaries, will furnish to RHCI, its counsel, financial advisors,
            auditors 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              36

            and other authorized representatives such financial and operating
            data and other information as such Persons may reasonably request
            and will instruct the Company's employees, counsel and financial
            advisors to cooperate with RHCI in its investigation of the business
            of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided that no investigation
            pursuant to this Section shall affect any representation or warranty
            given by the Company to RHCI hereunder. All nonpublic information
            provided to, or obtained by, RHCI in connection with the
            transactions contemplated hereby shall be "Evaluation Material" for
            purposes of the Confidentiality Agreement dated as of August 19,
            1996 between RHCI and the Company.

                      SECTION 5.03  Other Offers.  Except in connection with the
                                    ------------                                
            Apex Transaction, from the date hereof until the earlier to occur of
            the Effective Time and the termination hereof, the Company and its
            Subsidiaries and the officers, directors, employees or other agents
            of the Company and its Subsidiaries will not, directly or
            indirectly, (i) take any action to solicit, initiate or encourage
            any Company Acquisition Proposal (as defined below) or (ii) unless
            otherwise required in accordance with the fiduciary duties of the
            Board of Directors under applicable law as advised by counsel to the
            Company, engage in negotiations with, or disclose any nonpublic
            information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
            afford access to the properties, books or records of the Company or
            any of its Subsidiaries to, any Person that may be considering
            making, or has made, a Company Acquisition Proposal. Except in
            connection with the Apex Transaction, the Company will promptly
            notify RHCI after receipt of any Company Acquisition Proposal or any
            indication that any Person is considering making a Company
            Acquisition Proposal or any request for nonpublic information
            relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for access to
            the properties, books or records of the Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries by any Person that may be considering making, or has
            made, a Company Acquisition Proposal. For purposes of this
            Agreement, "Company Acquisition Proposal" means any offer or
            proposal for, or any indication of interest in, a merger or other
            business combination involving the Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries or the acquisition of any equity interest in, or a
            substantial portion of the assets of, the Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated by this
            Agreement and other than the Apex Transaction.

                      SECTION 5.04  Notices of Certain Events.  The Company
                                    -------------------------              
            shall promptly notify RHCI of:
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              37

                      (i)  any notice or other communication from any Person
                 alleging that the consent of such Person (or another Person) is
                 or may be required in connection with the transactions
                 contemplated by this Agreement;

                      (ii) any notice or other communication from any
                 governmental or regulatory agency or authority in connection
                 with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

                      (iii)  any actions, suits, claims, investigations or
                 proceedings commenced or, to its knowledge, threatened against,
                 relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the Company or
                 any of its Subsidiaries which, if pending on the date of this
                 Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed
                 pursuant to Section 3.12 or which relate to the consummation of
                 the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or of any
                 event or circumstance which would cause any of the Company's
                 representations and warranties contained herein to be incorrect
                 in any material respect.

                      SECTION 5.05  Affiliates.  To ensure that the issuance of
                                    ----------                                 
            RHCI Common Stock and RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock in the Merger
            complies with the Securities Act, prior to the Effective Time, the
            Company shall cause to be delivered to RHCI a list identifying each
            Person who might at the time of the meeting of the Company's
            stockholders be deemed to be an "affiliate" of the Company for
            purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act (each, a "Securities
            Act Affiliate"). The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain
            from each Person who is identified as a possible Securities Act
            Affiliate prior to the Effective Time an agreement (a "Securities
            Act Affiliate Agreement") providing that such person will not offer
            to sell, sell or otherwise dispose of any RHCI Common Stock or RHCI
            Series 1996 Preferred Stock issued to such Person in the Merger in
            violation of the Securities Act.

                      SECTION 5.06  Tax Letters.  To ensure that the Merger will
                                    -----------                                 
            qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the
            Code, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain from each of
            Paul J. Ramsay and each of his affiliated companies which owns
            Shares or Company Preferred Shares at or before the Effective Time,
            a representation letter (a "Tax Letter") stating that such
            stockholder has no present plan or intention to sell any of the
            shares of RHCI Common Stock or RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock
            which such stockholder receives in the Merger.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              38

                                  ARTICLE VI.

                               COVENANTS OF RHCI
                               -----------------

                      RHCI agrees with the Company that:

                      SECTION 6.01  Conduct of RHCI.  Except as expressly
                                    ---------------                      
            contemplated by this Agreement, from the date hereof until the
            earlier to occur of the Effective Time and the termination hereof,
            unless the Company shall have consented in writing thereto (which
            consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), RHCI and its
            Subsidiaries (i) shall conduct their business in the ordinary course
            consistent with past practice, (ii) shall use their respective best
            efforts to preserve intact their business organizations and
            relationships with third parties and to keep available the services
            of their present officers and employees, and (iii) shall not amend
            any of the material terms or provisions of any of the RHCI
            Securities, except for any such amendments which affect equally all
            shares of RHCI Common Stock or all shares of RHCI Series 1996
            Preferred Stock, as the case may be.

                      SECTION 6.02  Access to Information.  From the date hereof
                                    ---------------------                       
            until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time and the termination
            hereof, RHCI will give the Company, its counsel, financial advisors,
            auditors and other authorized representatives full access to the
            offices, properties, books and records of RHCI and its Subsidiaries,
            will furnish to the Company, its counsel, financial advisors,
            auditors and other authorized representatives such financial and
            operating data and other information as such Persons may reasonably
            request and will instruct RHCI's employees, counsel and financial
            advisors to cooperate with the Company in its investigation of the
            business of RHCI and its Subsidiaries; provided that no
            investigation pursuant to this Section shall affect any
            representation or warranty given by RHCI to the Company hereunder.
            All nonpublic information provided to, or obtained by, the Company
            in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
            "Evaluation Material" for purposes of the Confidentiality Agreement
            dated as of August 19, 1996 between RHCI and the Company.

                      SECTION 6.03  Obligations of Merger Subsidiary.  RHCI will
                                    --------------------------------            
            take all action necessary to cause Merger Subsidiary to perform its
            obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger on the
            terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              39

                      SECTION 6.04  Director and Officer Liability.  From and
                                    ------------------------------           
            after the Effective Time, (a) RHCI shall indemnify, defend and hold
            harmless the present and former officers and directors of the
            Company and its Subsidiaries against all losses, claims, damages and
            liability in respect of acts or omissions occurring at or prior to
            the Effective Time and (b) the Surviving Corporation shall
            indemnify, defend and hold harmless to the fullest extent permitted
            by law the present and former officers and directors of the Company
            and its Subsidiaries against all losses, claims, damages and
            liability in respect of acts or omissions occurring at or prior to
            the Effective Time.  RHCI shall cause the Surviving Corporation (and
            its successors and assigns) to establish and maintain provisions in
            its certificate of incorporation or by-laws concerning the
            indemnification and exoneration of the Company's and its
            Subsidiaries' former and present officers, directors, employees and
            agents that are no less favorable to those persons than the
            provisions of the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws
            in effect on the date hereof.

                      SECTION 6.05  NASDAQ National Market System Listing.  RHCI
                                    -------------------------------------       
            shall use its best efforts to cause the shares of RHCI Common Stock
            to be issued in the Merger and the shares of RHCI Common Stock
            issuable upon the conversion of the RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock
            and issuable in connection with the exercise of Substitute
            Securities to be approved for listing on the NASDAQ National Market
            System subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the
            Effective Time.

                      SECTION 6.06  Notice of Certain Events.  Each of RHCI and
                                    ------------------------                   
            Merger Subsidiary shall promptly notify the Company of:

                      (i)  any notice or other communication from any Person
                 alleging that the consent of such Person (or other Person) is
                 or may be required in connection with the transactions
                 contemplated by this Agreement;

                      (ii) any notice or other communication from any
                 governmental or regulatory agency or authority in connection
                 with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

                      (iii)  any actions, suits, claims, investigations or
                 proceedings commenced or, to its knowledge, threatened against,
                 relating to or involving or otherwise affecting it or any of
                 its Subsidiaries which, if pending on the date of this
                 Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed
                 pursuant to 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              40

                 Section 4.12 or which relate to the consummation of the
                 transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or of any event or
                 circumstance which would cause any of RHCI's representations
                 and warranties contained herein to be incorrect in any material
                 respect.

                                  ARTICLE VII.

                       COVENANTS OF RHCI AND THE COMPANY
                       ---------------------------------

                      The parties hereto agree with each other that:

                      SECTION 7.01  Best Efforts.  Subject to the terms and
                                    ------------                           
            conditions of this Agreement, each party will use its best efforts
            to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be
            done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable
            laws and regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by
            this Agreement.

                      SECTION 7.02  Certain Filings.  The Company and RHCI shall
                                    ---------------                             
            cooperate with one another (a) in connection with the preparation of
            the Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and
            (b) in determining whether any action by or in respect of, or filing
            with, any governmental body, agency or official, or authority is
            required, or any actions, consents, approvals or waivers are
            required to be obtained from parties to any material contracts, in
            connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
            this Agreement and (c) in seeking any such actions, consents,
            approvals or waivers or making any such filings, furnishing
            information required in connection therewith or with the
            Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and
            seeking timely to obtain any such actions, consents, approvals or
            waivers.

                      SECTION 7.03  Public Announcements.  RHCI and the Company
                                    --------------------                       
            will consult with each other before issuing any press release or
            making any public statement with respect to this Agreement and the
            transactions contemplated hereby and, except as may be required by
            applicable law or any listing agreement with any national securities
            exchange or interdealer quotation system, will not issue any such
            press release or make any such public statement prior to such
            consultation.

                      SECTION 7.04  Further Assurances.  At and after the
                                    ------------------                   
            Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving
            Corporation will be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name
            and on behalf of the Company or Merger Subsidiary, any deeds, bills
            of sale, assignments, 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              41

            assurances, instruments or other documents and to take and do, in
            the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Subsidiary, any
            other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or
            otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and
            interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of
            the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation
            as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

                      SECTION 7.05  Stockholder Meeting.  Each of RHCI and the
                                    -------------------                       
            Company shall cause a meeting of its stockholders (each, a
            "Stockholder Meeting") to be duly called and held as soon as
            reasonably practicable for the purpose of voting on the approval and
            adoption of this Agreement and the Merger.  The Directors of RHCI
            and the Directors of the Company shall, unless otherwise required in
            accordance with their fiduciary duties as advised by counsel,
            recommend approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger by
            RHCI's stockholders and the Company's stockholders, respectively.
            In connection with such meetings, each of RHCI and the Company will,
            subject to the foregoing, use its best efforts to obtain the
            necessary approvals by its stockholders of this Agreement, the
            transactions contemplated hereby and such other matters as are
            contemplated by the terms of this Agreement or required by
            Delaware Law, and will otherwise comply with all legal requirements
            applicable to such meetings.

                      SECTION 7.06  Preparation of the Joint Proxy
                                    ------------------------------
            Statement/Prospectus and Registration Statement.  RHCI and the
            -----------------------------------------------               
            Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a preliminary
            version of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and will use their
            best efforts to respond to the comments of the SEC in connection
            therewith and to furnish all information required to prepare the
            definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.  After receiving
            comments from the SEC, RHCI shall promptly file with the SEC the
            Registration Statement containing the Joint Proxy
            Statement/Prospectus.  Each of RHCI and the Company shall use its
            best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective
            under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such
            filing.  RHCI shall also take any action (other than qualifying to
            do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified
            or filing a general consent to service of process in any
            jurisdiction) required to be taken under any applicable state
            securities laws in connection with the issuance of RHCI Common Stock
            and RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock in the Merger and the Company
            shall furnish all information concerning the Company and the holders
            of Shares and Company Preferred Shares as may be reasonably
            requested in connection with any such action.  Promptly after the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              42

            effectiveness of the Registration Statement, each party will cause
            the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to its
            stockholders, and if necessary, after the definitive Joint Proxy
            Statement/Prospectus shall have been mailed, promptly circulate
            amended, supplemented or supplemental proxy materials and, if
            required in connection therewith, resolicit proxies.

                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
                            ------------------------

                      SECTION 8.01  Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party.
                                     ------------------------------------------
            The obligations of the Company, RHCI and Merger Subsidiary to
            consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the
            following conditions:

                      (i)  this Agreement shall have been adopted by the
                 requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company in accordance
                 with Delaware Law;

                      (ii)  any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act
                 relating to the Merger shall have expired;

                      (iii)  no provision of any applicable domestic law or
                 regulation and no judgment, injunction, order or decree of a
                 court of competent jurisdiction shall restrain or prohibit the
                 consummation of the Merger;

                      (iv)  there shall have been approved, by the requisite
                 vote of RHCI's stockholders, the issuance of RHCI Common Stock
                 and RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock in connection with the
                 Merger in accordance with the rules of the NASD;

                      (v)  the Registration Statement shall have been declared
                 effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
                 Registration Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings
                 for such purpose shall be pending before the SEC;

                      (vi)  the shares of RHCI Common Stock to be issued in the
                 Merger and the shares of RHCI Common Stock issuable upon the
                 conversion of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock to be issued in
                 the Merger shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ
                 National Market System, subject to official notice of issuance
                 and satisfactory distribution;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              43

                      (vii)  RHCI and the Company shall have received an opinion
                 from recognized tax counsel, based upon certain factual
                 representations of the Company, RHCI and Merger Subsidiary
                 reasonably requested by such counsel, dated the date of the
                 Effective Time, to the effect that the Merger will be treated
                 for federal income tax purposes as a reorganization within the
                 meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, in form and substance
                 reasonably satisfactory to the Company and RHCI; and

                      (viii)  RHCI shall have received the consents required for
                 the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
                 pursuant to the RHCI Credit Agreement and the RHCI Trust
                 Indenture.

                      SECTION 8.02  Conditions to the Obligations of RHCI and
                                    -----------------------------------------
            Merger Subsidiary.  The obligations of RHCI and Merger Subsidiary to
            -----------------                                                   
            consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the
            following further conditions:

                      (i)  the Company shall have performed in all material
                 respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be
                 performed by it at or prior to the Effective Time, the
                 representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
                 Agreement shall be true in all material respects at and as of
                 the Effective Time as if made at and as of such time, and RHCI
                 shall have received a certificate signed by an executive
                 officer of the Company to the foregoing effect;

                      (ii) receipt by RHCI of the Tax Letters and of a
                 Securities Act Affiliates Agreement from each Securities Act
                 Affiliate; and

                      (iii)  RHCI shall have received a copy of the resolutions
                 of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the
                 Merger, which copy shall be certified by an executive officer
                 of the Company.
 
                      SECTION 8.03  Conditions to the Obligations of the
                                    ------------------------------------
            Company.  The obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger
            are subject to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:

                      (i)  RHCI and Merger Subsidiary shall have performed in
                 all material respects all of their respective obligations
                 hereunder required to be performed by them at or prior to the
                 Effective Time, the representations and warranties of RHCI and
                 Merger Subsidiary contained in this Agreement shall be true in
                 all material respects at and as of the Effective Time 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              44

                 as if made at and as of such time, and the Company shall have
                 received a certificate signed by an executive officer of each
                 of RHCI and Merger Subsidiary to the foregoing effect;

                      (ii) the Company shall have received a copy of the
                 resolutions of the Board of Directors of RHCI authorizing the
                 Merger, which copy shall be certified by an executive officer
                 of RHCI;

                      (iii)  a Certificate of Designations shall have been duly
                 filed by RHCI with the Secretary of State of the State of
                 Delaware with respect to the RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock,
                 which Certificate of Designations shall provide that the RHCI
                 Series 1996 Preferred Stock shall have the following rights and
                 preferences: (i) each share of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock
                 shall be entitled to the payment of cumulative cash dividends
                 at an annual rate of $1.50 per share payable quarterly in
                 arrears, (ii) each share of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock
                 shall be entitled to a liquidation preference of $30.00 per
                 share payable prior to any distribution of assets or funds of
                 RHCI to any class of capital stock of RHCI other than the
                 Series C Preferred Stock, (iii) each share of RHCI Series 1996
                 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to a number of votes per
                 share on all matters put to a vote of stockholders of RHCI
                 (voting together with the holders of RHCI Common Stock and
                 Series C Preferred Stock as one class) equal to the number of
                 whole shares of RHCI Common Stock into which such share of RHCI
                 Series 1996 Preferred Stock is then convertible, (iv) each
                 share of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock shall be convertible
                 at any time into a number of shares of RHCI Common Stock
                 determined by dividing the conversion price (which, subject to
                 antidilution adjustments, initially shall be $3.00) into
                 $30.00, (v) each share of RHCI Series 1996 Preferred Stock
                 shall otherwise be entitled to rights and preferences
                 substantially similar to those applicable to the Company
                 Preferred Stock; and

                      (iv) RHCI shall have caused Merger Subsidiary to amend the
                 certificate of incorporation of Merger Subsidiary to comply
                 with Section 6.04, all in form and substance reasonably
                 satisfactory to the Company.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              45

                                  ARTICLE IX.

                                  TERMINATION
                                  -----------

                      SECTION 9.01  Termination.  This Agreement may be
                                    -----------                        
            terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the
            Effective Time (notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement by
            the stockholders of the Company or RHCI);

                      (i)  by mutual written consent of the Company and RHCI;

                      (ii) by either the Company or RHCI, if the Merger has not
                 been consummated by April 30, 1997 (provided that the right to
                 terminate this Agreement under this clause shall not be
                 available to any party whose failure to fulfill any of its
                 obligations under this Agreement has been the cause of or
                 resulted in the failure to consummate the Merger by such date);

                      (iii)  by either the Company or RHCI, if there shall be
                 any applicable domestic law, rule or regulation that makes
                 consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibited or
                 if any judgment, injunction, order or decree of a court of
                 competent jurisdiction shall restrain or prohibit the
                 consummation of the Merger, and such judgment, injunction,
                 order or decree shall become final and nonappealable;

                      (iv) by either the Company or RHCI, if the stockholder
                 approvals referred to in Section 8.01(i) or 8.01 (iv) shall not
                 have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the
                 requisite vote upon a vote at a duly held meeting of
                 stockholders or at any adjournment thereof; or

                      (v)  by either the Company or RHCI (the "Terminating
                 Party") if (x) there has been a breach by the other party of
                 any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement
                 which would have or would be reasonably likely to have a RHCI
                 Material Adverse Effect or Company Material Adverse Effect, as
                 the case may be, or (y) there has been a material breach of any
                 of the covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement on
                 the part of the other party, which breach is not curable or, if
                 curable, is not cured within 30 days after written notice of
                 such breach is given by the Terminating Party to the other
                 party, or (z) the Company has entered into an agreement or
                 agreement in principle with respect to any Company Acquisition
                 Proposal.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              46

                      SECTION 9.02  Effect of Termination.  If this Agreement is
                                    ---------------------                       
            terminated pursuant to Section 9.01, this Agreement shall become
            void and of no effect with no liability on the part of any party
            hereto, except that (a) the agreements contained in Section 10.04,
            the last sentence of Section 5.02 and the last sentence of Section
            6.02 shall survive the termination hereof and (b) the parties shall
            be liable for any willful breaches hereof.

                                   ARTICLE X.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS
                                 -------------

                      SECTION 10.01  Notices.  All notices, requests and other
                                     -------                                  
            communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including
            telecopy or similar writing) and shall be given,

                 if to RHCI or Merger Subsidiary, to:

                          Entergy Corporation Building
                          639 Loyola Avenue
                          Suite 1700
                          New Orleans, Louisiana  70113
                          Telephone:  (504) 525-2505
                          Telecopy:   (504) 585-0505
                          Attention:  President

                 with a copy to:

                          Haythe & Curley
                          237 Park Avenue
                          New York, New York  10017
                          Telephone:  (212) 880-6000
                          Telecopy:   (212) 682-0200
                          Attention:  Bradley P. Cost, Esq.

                 if to the Company, to:

                          Entergy Corporation Building
                          639 Loyola Avenue
                          Suite 1725
                          New Orleans, Louisiana  70113
                          Telephone:  (504) 585-0515
                          Telecopy:   (504) 585-0506
                          Attention:  President

                 with a copy to:

                          Foley & Lardner
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              47

                          Suite 1800
                          111 North Orange Avenue
                          Orlando, Florida  32802
                          Telephone:  (407) 423-7656
                          Telecopy:   (407) 648-1743
                          Attention:  John A. Sanders, Esq.

            or such other address or telecopy number as such party may hereafter
            specify for the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each
            such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i)
            if given by telecopy, when such telecopy is transmitted to the
            telecopy number specified in this Section and the appropriate
            answerback is received or (ii) if given by any other means, when
            delivered at the address specified in this Section.

                      SECTION 10.02  Survival of Representations and Warranties.
                                     ------------------------------------------
            The representations and warranties and agreements contained herein
            and in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto
            shall not survive the Effective Time, except Section 6.04, Section
            7.04 and Article I.

                      SECTION 10.03  Amendments; No Waivers.  (a)  Any provision
                                     ----------------------                     
            of this Agreement may be amended or waived prior to the Effective
            Time if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and
            signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company, RHCI and Merger
            Subsidiary or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom
            the waiver is to be effective; provided that (i) any waiver or
            amendment shall be effective against a party only if the special
            committee of the Board of Directors of such party approves such
            waiver or amendment and only such special committee of the Board of
            Directors can take actions on behalf of that party and (ii) after
            the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company,
            no such amendment or waiver shall, without the further approval of
            such stockholders and each party's Board of Directors upon
            recommendation of its special committee, alter or change (x) the
            amount or kind of consideration to be received in exchange for any
            shares of capital stock of the Company, (y) any term of the
            certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation or (z) any
            of the terms or conditions of this Agreement if such alteration or
            change would adversely affect the holders of any shares of capital
            stock of the Company.

                      (b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any
            right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
            thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude
            any other or further exercise 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              48

            thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The
            rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not
            exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

                      SECTION 10.04  Fees and Expenses.
                                     ----------------- 

                      (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all
            costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall
            be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

                      (b) In the event that the Company shall have entered into
            an agreement or agreement in principle with respect to any Company
            Acquisition Proposal before termination of this Agreement, and the
            Company or RHCI shall terminate this Agreement, the Company agrees
            promptly to reimburse RHCI in immediately available funds for all of
            RHCI's reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses (up to a maximum
            of $1,000,000) but in no event later than five business days after
            the termination of this Agreement.

                      (c) The Company and RHCI shall each pay one-half of all
            costs and expenses related to printing, filing and mailing the
            Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and
            all SEC and other regulatory filing fees.

                      SECTION 10.05  Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of
                                     ----------------------                    
            this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
            parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, provided
            that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its
            rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of
            the other parties hereto.

                      SECTION 10.06  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be
                                     -------------                          
            construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of
            Delaware applicable in the case of agreements made and to be
            performed entirely within such State.

                      SECTION 10.07  Counterparts; Effectiveness.  This
                                     ---------------------------       
            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.  This Agreement
            shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received
            counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              49

                      SECTION 10.08  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and the
                                     ----------------                         
            Confidentiality Agreement dated as of August 19, 1996 between RHCI
            and the Company constitute the entire agreement between the parties
            with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
            agreements, understandings and negotiations, both written and oral,
            between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this
            Agreement.  No representation, inducement, promise, understanding,
            condition or warranty not expressly set forth herein has been made
            or relied upon by either party hereto.  Neither this Agreement nor
            any provision hereof is intended to confer upon any Person other
            than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder except for
            the provisions of Section 6.04, which are intended for the benefit
            of the Company's former and present officers, directors, employees
            and agents and the provisions of Article I, which are intended for
            the benefit of the Company's stockholders, including holders of
            Restricted Stock, Company Options, and Company Warrants.

                       *          *          *          *
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              50

                      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
            Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
            officers as of the day and year first above written.


                                           RAMSAY MANAGED CARE, INC.



                                           By:/s/ Martin Lazoritz
                                              --------------------------
                                           Title:  Executive Vice
                                                    President



                                           RAMSAY HEALTH CARE, INC.



                                           By:/s/ Remberto Cibran
                                              ---------------------------
                                           Title: President



                                           RHCI ACQUISITION CORP.



                                           By:/s/ Remberto Cibran
                                              ---------------------------
                                           Title:  President
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              51

                                  ATTESTATIONS



                      I, Warwick D. Syphers, Executive Vice President of Ramsay
            Managed Care, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("RMCI"), certify that
            the signature of Martin Lazoritz, Executive Vice President of RMC,
            appearing on the foregoing Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
            October 1, 1996 among RMCI, Ramsay Health Care, Inc. and RHCI
            Acquisition Corp., is a true specimen of his signature.


            Dated as of October 1, 1996


                                           /s/ Warwick D. Syphers
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Warwick D. Syphers
                                           Executive Vice President


                      I, Luis E. Lamela, Vice Chairman of the Board of Ramsay
            Health Care, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("RHCI"), certify that the
            signature of Remberto Cibran, President of RHCI, appearing on the
            foregoing Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 1, 1996
            among Ramsay Managed Care, Inc., RHCI and RHCI Acquisition Corp., is
            a true specimen of his signature.

            Dated as of October 1, 1996


                                           /s/ Luis E. Lamela
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Luis E. Lamela
                                           Vice Chairman of the Board


                      I, Luis E. Lamela, Vice Chairman of the Board of RHCI
            Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Merger Subsidiary"),
            certify that the signature of Remberto Cibran, President of Merger
            Subsidiary, appearing on the foregoing Agreement and Plan of Merger
            dated as of October 1, 1996 among Ramsay Managed Care, Inc., Ramsay
            Health Care, Inc. and Merger Subsidiary, is a true specimen of his
            signature.

            Dated as of October 1, 1996

                                           /s/ Luis E. Lamela
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Luis E. Lamela
                                           Vice Chairman of the Board

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      Exhibit 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------



             RAMSAY HEALTH CARE, INC. AND RAMSAY MANAGED CARE, INC.
                           ANNOUNCE MERGER AGREEMENT



          New Orleans, LA, October 2, 1996 - Ramsay Health Care, Inc. (NASDAQ:
RHCI) and Ramsay Managed Care, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMCI) today jointly announced the
signing of a definitive agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which Ramsay
Managed Care will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Ramsay Health Care.

          Under the terms of the merger, each share of Ramsay Managed Care
common stock will be exchanged for one-third (1/3) of a share of Ramsay Health
Care common stock and each share of Ramsay Managed Care convertible preferred
stock (each of which is convertible into 30 shares of common stock) will be
exchanged for one share of Ramsay Health Care convertible preferred stock (each
of which is convertible into 10 shares of common stock).  At September 30, 1996,
Ramsay Managed Care had outstanding approximately 6.4 million shares of common
stock and 100,000 shares of convertible preferred stock (convertible into an
aggregate of 3 million shares of common stock).  Ramsay Health Care, which at
September 30, 1996 had approximately 8.3 million shares of common stock
outstanding and approximately 142,000 shares of convertible preferred stock
outstanding (convertible into an aggregate of approximately 1.4 million shares
of common stock), will issue approximately 2.13 million shares of common stock
and 100,000 shares of convertible preferred stock (convertible into 1 million
shares of common stock) in connection with the transaction.  The merger has been
approved by the boards of directors of Ramsay Health Care and Ramsay Managed
Care following recommendations by a special committee of each company's board of
directors.

          "The acquisition of Ramsay Managed Care will extend the ability of
Ramsay Health Care to offer a broader range of mental health care services in
order to compete effectively," said Bert Cibran, President of Ramsay Health
Care.  Mr. Cibran continued, "the accelerating trend toward a health care system
organized around integrated providers of mental health care services affirms the
reasons for the merger of the two companies.  We are excited about the prospects
for the combined companies."

          "The merger with Ramsay Health Care will give us the support that we
need to compete effectively as competition in the health care industry
accelerates," said Martin Lazoritz, M.D., Executive Vice President of Ramsay
Managed Care.  Dr. Lazoritz continued, "the combination of Ramsay Managed Care
with Ramsay Health Care will enable us to continue to develop our managed care
and outpatient provider business."
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2


          The merger is subject to the approval of the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of common stock and convertible preferred stock (voting
together as one class) of Ramsay Managed Care and is also subject to the
approval of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock and
convertible preferred stock (voting together as one class) of Ramsay Health Care
voting at a meeting of stockholders.  Affiliates of Paul J. Ramsay, the Chairman
of the Board of Ramsay Health Care and Ramsay Managed Care, hold an approximate
69% voting interest in Ramsay Managed Care and an approximate 35% voting
interest in Ramsay Health Care.  These affiliates have indicated that they will
vote their shares of capital stock of each company in favor of the merger.  The
merger is also subject to other various conditions, including the expiration of
the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act, the receipt of applicable lender and other consents, and the declaration of
effectiveness by the SEC of a registration statement to be filed by Ramsay
Health Care.  Subject to the satisfaction of these conditions, it is expected
that the merger will close by the end of March 1997.

          To enable Ramsay Health Care's and Ramsay Managed Care's stockholders
to consider the merger transaction, each company will call a special meeting of
stockholders on a date and at a place to be announced.

          Ramsay Managed Care became a publicly held company in April 1995 when
Ramsay Health Care distributed the shares of common stock of Ramsay Managed Care
held by it to the holders of its common stock and preferred stock.  In
announcing the merger, the companies stated that the combination of the
companies was designed to heighten their competitiveness and increase
stockholder value at a time when their respective business strategies were
converging and not diverging as had been expected at the time of the
distribution of Ramsay Managed Care.

          Ramsay Health Care, Inc. is one of the largest behavioral health
services companies in the United States, operating inpatient, outpatient and
management services in 15 states.

          Ramsay Managed Care, Inc. is engaged in the management of mental
health services and substance abuse programs on behalf of self-insured
employers, health maintenance organizations (HMO) and governmental agencies in
various states and also operates HMOs in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.  As
previously announced, Ramsay Managed Care continues to pursue selling its HMO
division.


CONTACT:  Bert Cibran
          President
          (305) 569-4646


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