As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2008

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________________________________________________

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

________________________________________________________

HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

________________________________________________________

3660 Grandview Parkway, Suite 200

Birmingham, Alabama 35243

(205) 967-7116

(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

________________________________________________________

John P. Whittington

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

HealthSouth Corporation

3660 Grandview Parkway, Suite 200

Birmingham, Alabama 35243

(205) 970-5919

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

Copy to:

________________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. (

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o

 

 

 

________________________________________________________

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Prospectus

 

HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

____________________________

The following are types of securities that we may offer, issue and sell from time to time, together or separately:

We may offer these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. We may sell these securities directly to you, through agents we select, or through underwriters and dealers we select. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell these securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. The specific terms of any securities to be offered will be described in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information," before you make your investment decision. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HLS."

____________________________

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated herein by reference and described under the heading "Risk Factors" beginning on page 3.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

____________________________

 

The date of this prospectus is June 23, 2008

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, the terms "HealthSouth," "we," "us," "our," and the "Company" refer to HealthSouth Corporation and its subsidiaries.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") using a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more transactions. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities that may be sold by us. Each time we sell securities described in this prospectus, we are required to provide you with this prospectus and a prospectus supplement containing specific information about us and the terms of the securities being sold. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date of the prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. Our business, financial position, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains historical information, as well as forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and relate to future events, our future financial performance, or our projected business results. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "targets," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by us include:

The cautionary statements referred to in this section also should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that may be issued by us or persons acting on our behalf. We undertake no duty to update these forward-looking statements, even though our situation may change in the future. Furthermore, we cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance, or achievements.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, which are incorporated herein by reference, the risk factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in any applicable prospectus supplement and any risk factors set forth in our other filings with the SEC, pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), before making an investment decision. See "Where You Can Find More Information."

 

 

THE COMPANY

HealthSouth is the largest provider of inpatient rehabilitative health care services in the United States, with 94 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, 6 long-term acute care hospitals, 60 outpatient rehabilitation satellites located within or near (and operated by) our hospitals, 25 licensed, hospital-based home health agencies, and approximately 22,000 full- and part-time employees as of December 31, 2007. Shares of our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on October 26, 2006 under the ticker symbol "HLS."

You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information contained under the headings "Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference" and "Where You Can Find More Information."

HealthSouth was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 3660 Grandview Parkway, Suite 200, Birmingham, Alabama 35243, and our telephone number is (205) 967-7116. Our Internet website address is www.healthsouth.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment decision with respect to the offered securities.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as described in any prospectus supplement, we currently anticipate using the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby for general corporate purposes, including:

Pending the application of the net proceeds, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in short-term marketable securities.

 

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth the consolidated ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends for HealthSouth Corporation and its subsidiaries for the periods indicated:

 

 

* For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Company had an earnings-to-combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends coverage deficiency of approximately $132.9 million, $514.1 million, $326.2 million, $52.2 million, and $187.6 million, respectively.

 

In computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges: (1) earnings have been based on income from continuing operations before income taxes, fixed charges (exclusive of interest capitalized), and distributed income of equity investees and (2) fixed charges consist of interest and amortization of debt discounts and fees expense (including amounts capitalized), the estimated interest portion of rents, and dividends on our convertible perpetual preferred stock.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Our authorized capital stock is 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 1,500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share. As of June 20, 2008, 79,174,141 shares of common stock and 400,000 shares of preferred stock were outstanding. In addition to the summary of our capital stock that follows, we encourage you to review our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which we have filed with the SEC. A copy of our restated certificate of incorporation, was filed with the SEC as Exhibit 3.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K on June 27, 2005, and a copy of our certificate of amendment to the restated certificate of incorporation was filed with the SEC as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 31, 2006. A copy of our amended and restated bylaws was filed with the SEC as Exhibit 3.3 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 6, 2007.

Description of Common Stock

The common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company has the following rights, preferences and privileges:

Voting rights. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company's stockholders, including the election of directors. The common stock generally votes together with the Company's 6.5% Series A Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock as a single class. There are no cumulative voting rights. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares present or represented by proxy.

Dividends. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the Company's board of directors out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends.

Liquidation. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company's affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment of our liabilities and obligations to creditors, the Company's remaining assets will be distributed ratably among the holders of the common stock on a per share basis. If there is any preferred stock outstanding at such time, holders of the preferred stock may be entitled to distribution and/or liquidation preferences. In either case, the Company will need to pay the applicable distribution to the holders of preferred stock before distributions are paid to the holders of the common stock.

Rights and preferences. The common stock has no preemptive, redemption, conversion or subscription rights. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of the common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that the Company may designate and issue in the future.

Description of Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority, without further shareholder approval, to issue shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, with such voting powers or without voting powers, and with such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof adopted by our board of directors, as shall be expressed in the resolutions providing therefor. A prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. They will include:

 

 

Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement relating to the series of preferred stock being offered, holders of our preferred stock will have no preemptive rights.

The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock, as well as dividend and liquidation payments on both common and preferred stock. It also could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control.

The terms, if any, on which the preferred stock may be convertible into common stock or exchangeable for other securities will be detailed in the prospectus supplement. The terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at our option, and may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of preferred stock would be subject to adjustment.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants, including warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock, or other securities of the Company, or any combinations of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from the securities. The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a warrant agent as detailed in the prospectus supplement relating to warrants being offered.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities under this prospectus from time to time. We may sell the securities in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

If we use underwriters or dealers in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:

We, and our underwriters, dealers or agents, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of the securities. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the terms and offering of securities, including:

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions from time to time. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivative transactions, such third parties (or affiliates of such third parties) may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, such third parties (or affiliates of such third parties) may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivative transactions to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third parties (or affiliates of such third parties) in such sale transactions will be underwriters and will be identified in an applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

We may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities offered by this prospectus.

Underwriters, Agents and Dealers. If underwriters are used in the sale of our securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions described

 

 

above. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters' obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities. We may use underwriters with which we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase our securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may contract for or otherwise be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments made by the underwriters, dealers or agents, under agreements between us and the underwriters, dealers and agents.

We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of our securities an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, in connection with the distribution.

Underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers, as their agents in connection with the sale of our securities. These underwriters, dealers or agents may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. As a result, discounts, commissions or profits on resale received by the underwriters, dealers or agents may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions. The prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter, dealer or agent and describe any compensation received by them from us. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short-covering transactions involve purchases of our securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect these transactions may have on the price of our securities. For a description of these activities, see the information under the heading "Underwriting" in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who may become involved in the sale of our securities may engage in transactions with and perform other services for us for which they receive compensation.

Stabilization Activities. In connection with an offering through underwriters, an underwriter may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in the offering. "Covered" short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional securities from us in the offering, if any. If the underwriters have an over-allotment option to purchase additional securities from us, the underwriters may consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. "Naked" short sales are any sales in excess of such option or where the underwriters do not have an over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

 

Accordingly, to cover these short sales positions or to otherwise stabilize or maintain the price of the securities, the underwriters may bid for or purchase securities in the open market and may impose penalty bids. If penalty bids are imposed, selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in the offering are reclaimed if securities previously distributed in the offering are repurchased, whether in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid may also affect the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resale of the securities. The magnitude or effect of any stabilization or other transactions is uncertain.

Direct Sales. We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents. In this case, no agents, underwriters or dealers would be involved. We may sell securities upon the exercise of rights that we may issue to our securityholders. We may also sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities.

Trading Market and Listing of Securities. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The securities other than common stock may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance with these requirements, we are required to file periodic reports and other information with the SEC. The reports and other information filed by us with the SEC may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC as described below.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement," which term shall encompass all amendments, exhibits, annexes and schedules thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein) pursuant to the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, with respect to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all the information contained in the registration statement, parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement.

You may copy and inspect the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, and the periodic reports and information referred to above at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our public filings are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the Internet worldwide website maintained by the SEC at "http://www.sec.gov."

In addition, you may obtain these materials on our website. Our Internet website address is www.healthsouth.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment decision with respect to our securities.

 

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

This prospectus "incorporates by reference" information that we have filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any statement contained in this prospectus or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed modified or superseded for the purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. Accordingly, we incorporate by reference the specific documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC after the date hereof under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act which will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be part of this prospectus from the date we subsequently file such reports and documents until the termination of this offering:

We will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered a copy of any and all of these filings. You may request a copy of these filings by writing or telephoning us at:

HealthSouth Corporation

General Counsel

3660 Grandview Parkway, Suite 200

Birmingham, Alabama 35243

(205) 970-5919

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, will provide opinions regarding the authorization and validity of the securities. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may also provide opinions regarding certain other matters. Any underwriters will also be advised about legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to HealthSouth Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The expenses relating to the registration of the securities registered hereby will be borne by the registrant. Such expenses are estimated to be as follows:

                

* Since an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement, the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities are therefore not currently determinable. The amounts shown are estimates of expenses for a single offering of securities under the registration statement, but do not limit the amount of securities that may be offered.

** Deferred in accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of any statutes referred to below and the restated certificate of incorporation, as amended and the amended and restated bylaws of HealthSouth Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). Article VI of the Company's amended and restated bylaws provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify any person (and the heirs, executors and administrators of such person) who, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company was or is a party or is threatened to be a party to (a) any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding, or, (b) any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit. Moreover, any indemnification by the Company pursuant thereto will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may otherwise be entitled.

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") provides that a corporation may indemnify any persons, including officers and directors, who are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such director, officer, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors in an action by or in the right of the corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits

 

 

or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses that such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred.

The indemnification permitted under the DGCL is not exclusive, and pursuant to Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation is empowered to purchase and maintain insurance against liabilities whether or not indemnification would be permitted by statute. Article VI of the Company's amended and restated bylaws provides that its has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under applicable law. The Company presently has in place policies insuring its directors and officers under certain circumstances which may include liability or related losses under applicable law.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows a Delaware corporation to eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors to a corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase or redemption in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.

 

Pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, Article NINTH of the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions), or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Under separate indemnification agreements with the Company, each director and certain officers of the Company are indemnified against all liabilities relating to his or her position as a director or officer of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable laws.

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provided, however, that Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Birmingham, State of Alabama on June 23, 2008.

 

 

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints John P. Whittington his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement and any additional registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX