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) December 29, 2003 ----------------- BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) Delaware 1-9550 62-1691861 ------------------------------- ----------- --------------- (State or Other Jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) One Thousand Beverly Way 72919 Fort Smith, Arkansas -------------------------------------- -------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number including area code (479) 201-2000 INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure. On December 29, 2003, AEGIS Therapies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beverly Enterprises, Inc., and Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. ("Sun") jointly announced that AEGIS has agreed to acquire the rehabilitation business conducted by Sun's SunDance Rehabilitation Corporation and SunDance Rehabilitation Agency, Inc. subsidiaries. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. On December 31, 2003, Beverly Enterprises, Inc. (the "Company") announced that it divested or closed eight additional eldercare facilities in December. These transactions are part of the Company's previously announced strategy of divesting facilities that account for a disproportionately high share of patient care liability costs and the strategic realignment of the Company's skilled nursing portfolio. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference. Exhibit 99.1* - Press Release of Beverly Enterprises, Inc. dated December 29, 2003. Exhibit 99.2* - Press Release of Beverly Enterprises, Inc. dated December 31, 2003. *Filed with this document 2 SIGNATURE 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. Dated: January 5, 2004. BEVERLY ENTERPRISES, INC. By: /s/ PAMELA H. DANIELS --------------------- Pamela H. Daniels Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Office 3 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Exhibit ----------- ------- 99.1 Press Release of Beverly Enterprises, Inc. dated December 29, 2003. 99.2 Press Release of Beverly Enterprises, Inc. dated December 31, 2003. 4