8-K

UNITED STATES

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 8, 2015 (October 7, 2015)

____________________________

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

____________________________

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	001-13489 (Commission File Number)	52-2057472 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
100 Vine Street Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Address of Principal Executive Offices)		37130 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (615) 890-2020

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

__________________________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2 (b))

[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01.  

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On October 7, 2015, National HealthCare Corporation ("NHC") entered into a Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with Bank of America, N.A., as lender (the "Lender").  The Credit Agreement provides for a $175,000,000 revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility"), of which up to $10,000,000 may be utilized for letters of credit.  

The maturity date of the Credit Facility is October 7, 2020.  The Credit Facility is available for general corporate purposes, including working capital and acquisitions.  NHC is permitted, upon required notice to the lender, to prepay the loans outstanding under the Credit Facility at any time, without penalty.  Loans bear interest at either (i) the Eurodollar rate plus 1.40% or (ii) the base rate.    

NHC's obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain NHC subsidiaries and are secured by pledges by NHC and the guarantors of certain equity interests.

The Credit Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, financial covenants, and covenants that restrict, among other things, asset dispositions, mergers and acquisitions, dividends, restricted payments, debt, liens, investments and affiliate transactions.  The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default.

A copy of the press release dated October 7, 2015 announcing Credit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)

Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated October 7, 2015.

SIGNATURES

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.

Date:

October 8, 2015

NATIONAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION

BY: /s/ Donald K. Daniel

Name:

Donald K. Daniel

Title:

SVP/Controller

Principal Financial Officer

EX-99

EXHIBIT 99.1

For release:  October 7, 2015

Contact:  Gerald Coggin, Sr. V.P. Corporate Relations

Phone:  (615) 890-2020

NHC Secures $175 Million Credit Line

Murfreesboro, Tennessee - National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE MKT:  NHC; NHC.PRA), the nation's oldest publicly traded senior health care company, announced today that it has secured a $175 million line of credit with Bank of America. The $175 million credit facility replaces the $75 million line of credit that was in place prior to this agreement.

Robert Adams, CEO, stated:  "We are pleased to complete our Credit Agreement with Bank of America.  The credit facility allows us to complete the previously announced preferred stock redemption and also allows us the financial flexibility to continue to implement our strategy of expanding our continuum of post-acute health care services, which includes skilled nursing, assisted living, and homecare services."

About NHC

NHC affiliates operate for themselves and third parties 75 long-term health care centers with 9,423 beds.  NHC affiliates also operate 36 homecare programs, five independent living centers and 19 assisted living communities.  NHC’s other services include Alzheimer’s units, long-term care pharmacies, hospice, a rehabilitation services company, and providing management and accounting services to third parties. Other information about the company can be found on our web site at www.nhccare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

 This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements.  All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, achievements or transactions of NHC and its respective affiliates to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements, and transactions.  Additional information or factors which could impact the companies and the forward-looking statements contained herein are included in each company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The companies assume no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.  No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.