EXHIBIT 99.1
[Gentiva Health Services, Inc. logo]
FINANCIAL AND INVESTOR CONTACT:
John R. Potapchuk
631-501-7035
john.potapchuk@gentiva.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
David Fluhrer
631-501-7102, 516-589-0778
david.fluhrer@gentiva.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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GENTIVA(R) HEALTH SERVICES COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF THE HEALTHFIELD GROUP, INC.
Melville, N.Y., February 28, 2006 -- Gentiva Health Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:
GTIV), the nation's largest provider of comprehensive home health services,
announced today that it has completed its acquisition of The Healthfield Group,
Inc. -- a leading provider of home healthcare, hospice and related services with
approximately 130 locations primarily in eight southeastern states -- for $454
million in cash and stock, excluding transaction costs and subject to
post-closing adjustments.
Gentiva anticipates the transaction will be accretive to its fiscal
2006 results. The Company expects to discuss the transaction during its fourth
quarter and fiscal 2005 earnings conference call and web cast on Thursday, March
2, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. ET. Details regarding call participation are included
below.
The transaction brings Gentiva's annualized revenues to more than
$1.1 billion and significantly increases its ability to serve the home
healthcare market in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Tennessee. Gentiva has also become one of the nation's top 10 hospice providers
and has acquired a range of durable medical and respiratory equipment services,
and infusion therapy services.
Rod Windley, Healthfield's Chairman, CEO and founder, has been
elected Vice Chairman of Gentiva's Board of Directors. Tony Strange, Healthfield
President and COO, has been appointed Executive Vice President of Gentiva Health
Services, Inc., and President, Gentiva Home Health.
"The closing of this transaction marks a transformation of Gentiva
and a sentinel event for our industry as two leading home health providers join
forces for the benefit of patients, employees, payers and shareholders," said
Gentiva Chairman and CEO Ron Malone. "Our new platform for growth should bring
us significant opportunities for expansion and innovation in home healthcare,
hospice, specialty programs and related therapies and services. We welcome Rod,
Tony and an outstanding group of employees from Healthfield as we move forward
on what promises to be a rewarding and fulfilling journey."
3 Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 200S, Melville, NY 11747-4627
The purchase price included approximately $403 million in cash and
approximately 3.2 million shares of Gentiva common stock. In connection with the
transaction, Gentiva has secured a $370 million seven-year term loan and a $75
million six-year revolving credit facility. Proceeds from the term loan and the
Company's available cash on hand were used to fund the cash portion of the
purchase price ( including repayment of Healthfield's existing debt) as well as
transaction and financing costs. Lehman Brothers Inc. served as financial
advisor for the transaction and lead underwriter for the financing. Weil,
Gotshal & Manges LLP served as Gentiva's counsel for the transaction.
Instructions for participation in Gentiva's conference call and web
cast follow:
o EVENT: Gentiva Health Services' fourth quarter and fiscal 2005
conference call
o DATE AND TIME: Thursday, March 2, 2006, 10:00 a.m. ET
o INSTRUCTIONS: Participants in the United States, Canada and
international locations may call (973) 935-8599 and reference
call #7044852.
o WEB CAST URL:
http://www.gentiva.com/investors/FinancialEvents.asp
o REPLAY: A replay of the call will be available on March 2,
beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET, and will remain available
continuously through March 9. To listen to a replay of the call
from United States, Canada or international locations, dial (973)
341-3080 and enter the following PIN at the prompt: 7044852.
Visit http://www.gentiva.com/investors/FinancialEvents.asp to
access the web cast archive.
o TRANSCRIPT: A transcript of the call, including questions and
answers, is expected to be available on Gentiva's web site within
36 hours after its conclusion.
ABOUT GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
Gentiva Health Services, Inc. is the nation's largest provider of comprehensive
home health services. Gentiva serves patients through more than 500 direct
service delivery units within over 400 locations in 36 states, and through
CareCentrix(R), which manages home healthcare services for many major managed
care organizations throughout the United States and delivers them in all 50
states through a network of more than 2,500 third-party provider locations, as
well as Gentiva locations. The Company is a single source for skilled nursing;
physical, occupational, speech and neurorehabilitation services; hospice
services, social work; nutrition; disease management education; help with daily
living activities; durable medical and respiratory equipment; infusion therapy
services; and other therapies and services. Gentiva's revenues are generated
from commercial insurance, federal and state government programs and individual
consumers. For more information, visit Gentiva's web site, www.gentiva.com, and
its investor relations section at http://www.gentiva.com/investors.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
Certain statements contained in this news release, including, without
limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates,"
"intends," "expects," "assumes," "trends" and similar expressions, constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based upon the
Company's current plans, expectations and projections about future events.
However, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
factors include, among others: the Company's ability to successfully integrate
the operations of The Healthfield Group, Inc., and to achieve expected synergies
and operating efficiencies within expected time frames or at all; the
possibility that revenues may be lower than expected following the transaction;
the possibility that difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees,
customers, or suppliers may be greater than expected following the transaction;
the ability to service debt incurred as a result of the transaction; general
economic and business conditions; demographic changes; changes in, or failure to
comply with, existing governmental regulations; legislative proposals for
healthcare reform; changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement levels;
effects of competition in the markets the Company operates in; liability and
other claims asserted against the Company; ability to attract and retain
qualified personnel; availability and terms of capital; loss of significant
contracts or reduction in revenues associated with major payer sources; ability
of customers to pay for services; business disruption due to natural disasters
or terrorist acts; a material shift in utilization within capitated agreements;
and changes in estimates and judgments associated with critical accounting
policies. For a detailed discussion of certain of these and other factors that
could cause actual results to differ from those contained in this news release,
please refer to the Company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), including the "risk factors" section contained in the
Company's annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended January 2,
2005.
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