1 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2001 Registration No. ________ ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ------------------- FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ------------------- BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) DELAWARE ONE THOUSAND BEVERLY WAY 62-1691861 (State or Other FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS 72919 (I.R.S. Employer Jurisdiction of (Address of Principal Executive Offices Including Zip Code) Identification No.) Incorporation or Organization) ------------------- BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC. NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN (Full Title of the Plan) ------------------- JOHN W. MACKENZIE VICE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC. ONE THOUSAND BEVERLY WAY FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS 72919 (Name and Address of Agent For Service) ------------------- (501) 201-2000 (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service) ------------------- CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM TITLE OF SECURITIES AMOUNT TO BE OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED PER SHARE OFFERING PRICE REGISTRATION FEE ------------------- ------------ ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- COMMON STOCK, PAR 150,000 $10.00(1) $1,500,000 $375 VALUE $.10 PER SHARE(2) ================================================================================ (1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. (2) These shares are additional shares which have been authorized by the Company for offer under the Company's Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan. Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1), the filing fee for the 150,000 shares subject to options that have not yet been granted is calculated based upon the average high and low prices of the Common Stock reported on July 25, 2001, which is $10.00 per share. 2 NOTE The purpose of this Form S-8 is to increase by 150,000 the number of shares which may be made subject to awards under the Company's Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan. In accordance with the instructions to Form S-8, the Company hereby incorporates herein by reference the Form S-8 filed by the Company with respect to the Plan on December 12, 1997 (SEC File No. 333-42131), together with all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference. I-1 3 PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ITEM 8. EXHIBITS. In addition to those exhibits filed with the Registration Statement being incorporated by reference into this filing, each of the following exhibits is filed herewith: Exhibit 5.1 Opinion of John W. MacKenzie, Esq. Exhibit 23.1 Consent of John W. MacKenzie, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5.1) Exhibit 23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP II-1 4 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Fort Smith, State of Arkansas, on this 27th day of July, 2001. BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC. By: /s/ JOHN W. MACKENZIE John W. MacKenzie Vice President and Deputy General Counsel II-2 5 POWER OF ATTORNEY Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints John W. MacKenzie, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said 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 in and about the premises, 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. Signature Title Date --------- ----- ---- /s/ DAVID R. BANKS July 26, 2001 David R. Banks Chairman of the Board and Director /s/ WILLIAM R. FLOYD President, Chief Executive Officer and Director July 26, 2001 William R. Floyd (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ PAMELA H. DANIELS Senior Vice President and Controller (Principal July 26, 2001 Pamela H. Daniels Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ BERYL F. ANTHONY, JR. Director July 26, 2001 Beryl F. Anthony, Jr. /s/ HARRIS DIAMOND Director July 21, 2001 Harris Diamond /s/ JAMES R. GREENE Director July 24, 2001 James R. Greene /s/ JOHN P. HOWE, III Director July 26, 2001 John P. Howe, III /s/ EDITH E. HOLIDAY Director July 26, 2001 Edith E. Holiday /s/ JAMES W. MCLANE Director July 26, 2001 James W. McLane /s/ MARILYN R. SEYMANN Director July 26, 2001 Marilyn R. Seymann II-3 6 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description ------ ----------- 5.1 Opinion of John W. MacKenzie, Esq. 23.1 Consent of John W. MacKenzie, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5.1) 23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP II-4