8-K

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):

April 2, 2002 (April 2, 2002)

LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	0-29818	52-2165845
(State or Other	(Commission File	(I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of	Number)	Identification
Incorporation)		Number)

103 Powell Court, Suite 200
Brentwood, Tennessee 37027

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(615) 372-8500

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Page 1 of 4 pages

Exhibit Index located on Page 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRESS RELEASE

Item 5. Other Events.

     On April 2, 2002, LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. issued a press release attached as an exhibit to this current report on Form 8-K.

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

     (a)  Financial statements of businesses acquired.

     None required

     (b)  Pro forma financial information.

     None required

     (c)  Exhibits.

99.1 Press release issued by LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. on April 2, 2002.

2

SIGNATURES

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

LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
By:	/s/ Michael J. Culotta Michael J. Culotta Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: April 2, 2002

3

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number	Description of Exhibits
99.1	Press release issued by LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. on April 2, 2002.

EX-99.1 3 g75310ex99-1.txt PRESS RELEASE EXHIBIT 99.1 (LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC. LOGO) Contact: Michael J. Culotta Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 615-372-8512 LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS ANNOUNCES REPURCHASE OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE -- April 2, 2002 - LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (Nasdaq:LPNT) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, LifePoint Hospitals Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings"), is purchasing, in the open market and in privately negotiated transactions, Holding's outstanding 10 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Notes"). These purchases may be made by Holdings from time-to-time, based upon its view of market conditions and other relevant factors. LifePoint is not able at this time to quantify the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may ultimately be purchased, but the amounts involved may be material. These purchases will be funded with a portion of the Company's available cash and funds available under the Company's Amended and Restated Credit Facility (the "Credit Agreement"). The Company is seeking necessary approvals under a provision in the Credit Agreement that would otherwise prohibit Holdings from purchasing greater than $50 million in principal amount of Notes. If this approval is obtained, Holdings may seek to purchase up to $150 million in principal amount of Notes. The purchase of Notes should allow the Company to reduce its interest expense since the fixed interest payable under the Notes is greater than the adjustable rate of interest currently payable by the Company under the Credit Agreement. To the extent that Holdings uses available cash to purchase Notes, this reduction in interest rate expense will be partially offset by interest previously earned on such cash. As a result of these purchases, the Company will recognize an extraordinary charge to income in an amount equal to the premium paid for the Notes (the amount paid in excess of the face value of the Notes), plus deferred loan costs allocable to Notes purchased. The amount of this extraordinary charge will be offset somewhat by tax benefits resulting from the charge. LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. operates 23 hospitals in non-urban areas. In most cases, the LifePoint facility is the only hospital in its community. LifePoint's non-urban operating strategy offers continued operational improvement by focusing on its five core values: delivering high quality patient care, supporting physicians, creating excellent workplaces for its employees, providing community value, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, LifePoint Hospitals is affiliated with over 7,000 employees. References contained in this press release to "LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.", "LifePoint" or the "Company" refer to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. and its subsidiaries. The above statements include forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Numerous factors exist which may cause results to differ from these expectations. Many of the factors that will determine the Company's future results are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to the Company, including without limitation, (i) whether the Company is able to successfully purchase Notes on terms and conditions acceptable to the Company; (ii) whether the Company is able to obtain the necessary approvals under the Credit Agreement; (iii) whether Notes remain available for purchase on terms acceptable to the Company; (iv) the possibility that existing accounting practices relating to the treatment of the extraordinary charge to be incurred by the Company could be changed based on current proposals; (v) the possibility that the Company's judgment regarding the tax implications of the purchases could be challenged; (vi) the possibility that interest rates could rise and increase the Company's borrowing costs under the Credit Agreement; (vii) the possibility that the Company's liquidity needs could change; (viii) the possibility that costs associated with the purchase of Notes might be greater than anticipated; and (ix) those risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Therefore, the Company's actual results may differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. --END-- -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                        (LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC. LOGO)

Contact:          Michael J. Culotta
                  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                  615-372-8512

                         LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS ANNOUNCES
                             REPURCHASE OF SENIOR
                              SUBORDINATED NOTES

BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE -- April 2, 2002 - LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (Nasdaq:LPNT)
today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, LifePoint Hospitals Holdings,
Inc. ("Holdings"), is purchasing, in the open market and in privately
negotiated transactions, Holding's outstanding 10 3/4% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2009 (the "Notes"). These purchases may be made by Holdings from
time-to-time, based upon its view of market conditions and other relevant
factors. LifePoint is not able at this time to quantify the aggregate principal
amount of Notes that may ultimately be purchased, but the amounts involved may
be material.

These purchases will be funded with a portion of the Company's available cash
and funds available under the Company's Amended and Restated Credit Facility
(the "Credit Agreement"). The Company is seeking necessary approvals under a
provision in the Credit Agreement that would otherwise prohibit Holdings from
purchasing greater than $50 million in principal amount of Notes. If this
approval is obtained, Holdings may seek to purchase up to $150 million in
principal amount of Notes.

The purchase of Notes should allow the Company to reduce its interest expense
since the fixed interest payable under the Notes is greater than the adjustable
rate of interest currently payable by the Company under the Credit Agreement. To
the extent that Holdings uses available cash to purchase Notes, this reduction
in interest rate expense will be partially offset by interest previously earned
on such cash. As a result of these purchases, the Company will recognize an
extraordinary charge to income in an amount equal to the premium paid for the
Notes (the amount paid in excess of the face value of the Notes), plus deferred
loan costs allocable to Notes purchased. The amount of this extraordinary charge
will be offset somewhat by tax benefits resulting from the charge.

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. operates 23 hospitals in non-urban areas. In most
cases, the LifePoint facility is the only hospital in its community. LifePoint's
non-urban operating strategy offers continued operational improvement by
focusing on its five core values: delivering high quality patient care,
supporting physicians, creating excellent workplaces for its employees,
providing community value, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Headquartered in
Brentwood, Tennessee, LifePoint Hospitals is affiliated with over 7,000
employees.

References contained in this press release to "LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.",
"LifePoint" or the "Company" refer to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. and its
subsidiaries.




The above statements include forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Numerous factors exist which may cause results to
differ from these expectations. Many of the factors that will determine the
Company's future results are beyond the ability of the Company to control or
predict. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to the
Company, including without limitation, (i) whether the Company is able to
successfully purchase Notes on terms and conditions acceptable to the Company;
(ii) whether the Company is able to obtain the necessary approvals under the
Credit Agreement; (iii) whether Notes remain available for purchase on terms
acceptable to the Company; (iv) the possibility that existing accounting
practices relating to the treatment of the extraordinary charge to be incurred
by the Company could be changed based on current proposals; (v) the possibility
that the Company's judgment regarding the tax implications of the purchases
could be challenged; (vi) the possibility that interest rates could rise and
increase the Company's borrowing costs under the Credit Agreement; (vii) the
possibility that the Company's liquidity needs could change; (viii) the
possibility that costs associated with the purchase of Notes might be greater
than anticipated; and (ix) those risks and uncertainties detailed from time to
time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Therefore, the Company's actual results may differ materially. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, or to make
any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.

                                     --END--