AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

SECTION 1.01.    The Merger . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “ MGCL ”) and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “ DLLCA ”), the Company (or its successor by operation of law) shall be merged with and into NHC/OP Sub at the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of the Company (or its successor by operation of law) shall cease and NHC/OP Sub shall continue as the surviving person in the Merger (the “ Surviving Person ”) and shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of the Company and the Consolidated Company in accordance with the MGCL and the DLLCA.

SECTION 1.02.    Closing . The closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”) will take place on the second Business Day after satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable law) waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their terms

SECTION 1.03.    Effective Time . Prior to the Closing, NHC/OP Sub shall prepare, and on the Closing Date or as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, the parties shall file a certificate of merger (the “ Certificate of Merger ”) executed and acknowledged in accordance with the relevant provisions of the MGCL and the DLLCA and filed with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation of Maryland and the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger is accepted for record by the State Department of Assessment and Taxation of Maryland and the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such other time as NHC/OP Sub and the Company shall agree and specify in the Certificate of Merger, not to exceed 30 days from the date of filing of the Certificate of Merger (the “ Effective Time ”).

SECTION 1.04.    Effects of the Merger . The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 3-114 of the MGCL and Section 18-209 of the DLLCA.

SECTION 1.05.    Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement .

(a)    The Certificate of Formation of NHC/OP Sub shall be the Certificate of Formation of the Surviving Person until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

(b)    The Limited Liability Company Agreement of NHC/OP Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Surviving Person until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

SECTION 1.06.    Sole Managing Member of the Surviving Person . The sole managing member of NHC/OP Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the sole managing member of the Surviving Person, until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

SECTION 1.07.    Officers . The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Person, until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

SECTION 2.01.    Effect on Stock . At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of stock of the Company, NHC/OP Sub, or Parent:

(a)    Cancellation of NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP or Parent-Owned Stock . Each share of Company Common Stock that is directly owned by NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP or Parent or their respective Subsidiaries shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

(b)    Conversion of Company Common Stock . Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.02(e) , each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares to be canceled in accordance with Section 2.01(a) ) shall be converted into the right to receive that number of validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Preferred Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio and $9.00 in cash (collectively, the “ Merger Consideration ”). The “Exchange Ratio” is 1.0. At the Effective Time, all shares of Company Common Stock converted into the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Article II shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such shares of Company Common Stock (a “ Certificate ”) shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration, certain dividends or other distributions in accordance with Section 2.02(c ) and any cash in lieu of any fractional share of Parent Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 2.02(e ), in each case upon the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with Section 2.02(b ) and in each case without interest.

(c)    Anti-Dilution Provisions . In the event Parent changes (or establishes a record date for changing) the number of shares of Parent Preferred Stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, subdivision, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction with respect to the outstanding Parent Preferred Stock and the date of such change (or the record date with respect to such change) shall be prior to the Effective Time, the per share cash amount and the Exchange Ratio shall be appropriately adjusted to provide the holders of shares of the Company Common Stock with the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.

SECTION 2.02.    Exchange of Certificates.

(a)    Exchange Agent . Prior to the Effective Time, NHC/OP Sub shall designate a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as exchange agent (the “ Exchange Agent ”) for the payment of the Merger Consideration and shall deposit with the Exchange Agent as of the Effective Time, for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, for exchange in accordance with this Article II , through the Exchange Agent, cash and non-certificated book-entry shares representing the shares of Parent Preferred Stock issuable pursuant to Section 2.01(b ) in exchange for outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, and NHC/OP Sub shall provide to the Exchange Agent, on a timely basis, as and when needed after the Effective Time, cash and/or non-certificated book-entry shares of Parent Preferred Stock necessary to pay

dividends or other distributions, if any, in accordance with Section 2.02(c ) and any cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 2.02(e ). The Exchange Agent shall invest any cash deposited by NHC/OP Sub pursuant to this Section 2.02 as directed by NHC/OP Sub on a daily basis; provided that no such investment or loss thereon shall affect the amounts payable or the timing of the amounts payable to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to this Article II . Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall promptly be paid to NHC/OP Sub upon request. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will deposit with the Exchange Agent cash sufficient to pay any dividends and other distributions, if any, including the REIT Dividend.

(b)    Exchange Procedure . As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, NHC/OP Sub shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Certificate whose shares of Company Common Stock were converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.01(b ), (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates held by such person shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent and shall be in such form and have such other reasonable and customary provisions as NHC/OP Sub may specify) and (ii) instructions for use in surrendering the Certificates in exchange for (A) the Merger Consideration, (B) any dividends or other distributions to which holders of Certificates are entitled pursuant to Section 2.02(c ) and (C) cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock to which such holders are entitled pursuant to Section 2.02(e ). Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (x) that number of whole shares of Parent Preferred Stock (which shall be in non-certificated book-entry form) which such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article II after taking into account all the shares of Company Common Stock then held by such holder under all such Certificates so surrendered, (y) cash in an amount equal to $9.00 per share of Company Common Stock then held by such holder under all such Certificates so surrendered plus any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.02(c ) and (z) cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.02(e ), and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, the Merger Consideration may be issued to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting such issuance shall pay any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the issuance of shares of Parent Preferred Stock to a person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of NHC/OP Sub that such Tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.02(b ), each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration that the holder thereof has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article II , any dividends or distributions to which the holder of such Certificate is entitled under Section

2.02(c ) and any cash in lieu of any fractional share of Parent Preferred Stock to which the holder of such Certificate is entitled under Section 2.02(e ). No interest shall be paid or shall accrue on any cash payable upon surrender of any Certificate.

(c)    Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares; Payment for Fractional Shares . No dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect to shares of Parent Preferred Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of Parent Preferred Stock represented thereby, and no cash payment in lieu of any fractional share of Parent Preferred Stock shall be paid to any such holder in accordance with Section 2.02(e ), until the surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this Article II . Subject to Section 2.02(f ), following surrender of any such Certificate there shall be paid to the record holder of any certificate representing whole shares of Parent Preferred Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) promptly after the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of Parent Preferred Stock and the amount of any cash in lieu of any fractional share of Parent Preferred Stock to which such holder is entitled in accordance with Section 2.02(e ), and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and with a payment date subsequent to such surrender payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Preferred Stock.

(d)    No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock . All Merger Consideration issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates in accordance with the terms of this Article II shall be deemed to have been issued (and paid) in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificates. At the close of business on the day on which the Effective Time occurs, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Person of the shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. Subject to the last sentence of Section 2.02(f ), if, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Person or the Exchange Agent for transfer or any other reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article II .

(e)    No Fractional Shares .

(A)   No certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock shall be transferred as Merger Consideration upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates, no dividend or distribution of Parent shall relate to such fractional share interests and such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a stockholder of Parent. For purposes of this Section 2.02(e ), all fractional shares to which a single record holder of Company Common Stock would otherwise be entitled shall be aggregated and calculations shall be rounded to three decimal places.

(B)   Each holder of shares of Company Common Stock exchanged pursuant to the Merger who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Parent Preferred Stock (after taking into account all such shares held by such holder), shall be entitled to receive cash (without interest) in an amount, less the amount of any withholding Taxes which may be required thereon, equal to such fractional part of a share of Parent Preferred Stock multiplied by $15.75.

(C)   As soon as practicable after the determination of the amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of Certificates with respect to any fractional share interests, the Exchange Agent shall make available such amounts, without interest, to such holders subject to and in accordance with the terms of Section 2.02(c ).

(f)    Termination of Merger Consideration Obligation . Any portion of the Merger Consideration which remains undistributed to the holders of Company Common Stock for 12 months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to NHC/OP Sub, upon demand. Any holders of Company Common Stock who have not theretofore complied with this Article II shall thereafter look only to NHC/OP Sub for the cash and shares of Parent Preferred Stock to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 2.01(b ), any dividends and other distributions to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 2.02(c ) and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock to which they are entitled pursuant to Section 2.02(e ). If any Certificate shall not have been surrendered prior to two years after the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which any Merger Consideration, any dividends and other distributions payable in accordance with Section 2.02(c ) or any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2.02(e ), would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any domestic or foreign (whether national, Federal, state, provincial, local or otherwise) government or any court, administrative, regulatory or other governmental agency, commission or authority or any non- governmental self-regulatory agency, commission or authority (each a “ Governmental Entity ”)), any such Merger Consideration, dividends or distributions in respect thereof or such cash shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, become the property of NHC/OP Sub, free and clear of all claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

(g)    No Liability . None of NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP, Parent, the Company or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any Merger Consideration, any dividends and other distributions thereon payable in accordance with Section 2.02(c ) or any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock payable in accordance with Section 2.02(e ), in each case delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law or to NHC/OP Sub pursuant to Section 2.02(f ).

(h)    Lost Certificates . If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by NHC/OP Sub, the posting by such person of a bond in such reasonable amount as NHC/OP Sub may reasonably direct as

indemnity against any claim that may be made against NHC/OP Sub, Parent, the Company or the Exchange Agent with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall deliver in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration payable in cash and in the form of Parent Preferred Stock (which shall be in non-certificated book-entry form), any unpaid dividends and other distributions to which such holder would be entitled pursuant to Section 2.02(c ) and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Preferred Stock to which such holder would be entitled pursuant to Section 2.02(e ), in each case pursuant to this Agreement.

(i)    Withholding Rights . NHC/OP Sub or the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority by NHC/OP Sub or the Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding was paid by NHC/OP Sub or the Exchange Agent.

(j)    [Intentionally Omitted]

(k)    Company Stock Options . As of the Effective Time, each holder of a Company Stock Option (a “ Holder ”) will receive, in the aggregate, an amount equal to their option consideration for all Company Stock Options. At the Effective Time, each Company Stock Option will be cancelled and extinguished, and the Holder thereof will be entitled to receive an amount of consideration equal to (A) the product of (i) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option and (ii) $24.75 less (B) the exercise price of such Company Stock Option, without interest and less any amounts required to be deducted and withheld under any applicable Legal Requirement (the “Option Value”). The option consideration payable to each Holder shall be: (x) an amount of cash equal to the product of (1) the Option Value and (2) .3636; (y) a number of shares of Parent Preferred Stock equal to the product of the Option Value and .6364 divided by $15.75 and (z) cash in lieu of any fractional shares resulting from the calculation in (y) above. All payments with respect to canceled Company Stock Options shall be made by the Exchange Agent (or such other agent reasonably acceptable to NHC/OP Sub as the Company shall designate prior to the Effective Time) as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time from funds deposited by or at the direction of the Surviving Person to pay such amounts in accordance with Section 2.02(b ). Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will adopt such resolutions and will take such other actions as may be reasonably required to effectuate the actions contemplated by this Section 2.02(k ), without paying any consideration or incurring any debts or obligations on behalf of the Company or the Surviving Person.

SECTION 2.03.    Payment . Promptly after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall pay the REIT Dividend to the Holders and those Persons who were Company Stockholders on the Record Date, in accordance with customary procedures for the payment of dividends.

SECTION 3.01.    Representations and Warranties of the Company . Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to NHC/OP Sub in connection with the execution of this Agreement (the “ Company Disclosure Schedule ”), the Company represents and warrants to NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP, and Parent as follows:

(a)    Organization, Standing and Power . Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (ii) has the requisite corporate, company or partnership power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties makes such qualification or licensing necessary, other than where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing, either individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. True and complete copies of the charter and bylaws of the Company, as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been made available by the Company to NHC/OP Sub.

(b)    Subsidiaries . Section 3.01(b)(i ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all Subsidiaries of the Company as of the date of this Agreement and, for each such Subsidiary, the state of organization. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all mortgages, claims, liens, pledges, encumbrances, charges or security interests of any kind (collectively, “ Liens ”) and free of any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other equity or voting interests. Except for the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, its Subsidiaries, and as set forth on Section 3.01(b)(ii ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own of record or beneficially, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other equity or voting interest in any person.

(c)    Capital Structure . As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 75,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Company Preferred Stock ”). As of the close of business on November 30, 2006, (i) 9,949,463 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 1,007,927 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the 1997 Stock Option and Appreciation Rights Plan and the 2005 Stock Option, Restricted Stock and Appreciation Rights Plan (such plans, collectively, the “ Company Stock Plans ”), (iii) 75,000 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to outstanding options or other rights to purchase shares of Company Common Stock granted under the Company Stock Plans (the “ Company Stock Options ”) and (iv) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Except as set forth above, as of the close of business on November

30, 2006, no shares of stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or options, warrants or other rights to acquire any such stock, securities or interests were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. During the period from November 30, 2006, to the date of this Agreement (A) there have been no issuances by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than issuances of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on such date as required by their terms as in effect on the date of this Agreement, and (B) there have been no issuances by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no outstanding stock appreciation rights, “phantom” stock rights, performance units or other rights (other than the Company Stock Options) that are linked to the price of Company Common Stock granted under the Company Stock Plans or otherwise. All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are, and all shares that may be issued pursuant to the Company Stock Plans will be, when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. Except as set forth above, there are no securities, options, warrants, calls, rights, contracts or agreements of any kind to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound, obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right, contract or agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no irrevocable proxies and no voting agreements (other than the Voting Agreement) to which the Company is a party with respect to any shares of the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d)    Authority; Noncontravention; Approvals .

(i)   The Company’s board of directors, at a meeting duly called and held, has by unanimous vote of all the directors (A) determined that the Merger, this Agreement, the Consolidation and Company Reorganization and the other transactions contemplated hereby are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and the Company’s stockholders, (B) approved the Merger, this Agreement, the Consolidation and Company Reorganization and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (C) recommended that this Agreement, the Consolidation and the transactions contemplated hereby be approved and adopted by the Company’s stockholders, and (D) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company (or its successor) for the purpose of adopting this Agreement, subject to the consummation of the Consolidation ((A)-(D) shall be referred to as the “ Company Resolutions ”). The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to (1) the receipt of the stockholder approval contemplated by Section 3.01(m ), (2) the effectiveness of the Consolida-

tion and (3) adoption of the applicable Company Resolutions by the Board of Directors of the Consolidated Company. This Agreement and other agreements and documents executed by the Company in connection herewith have been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except that (x) such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws or judicial decisions now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (y) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

(ii)   Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Company with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (A) violate any provision of the charter or bylaws of the Company, or (B) assuming that the consents and approvals referred to in Section 3.01(d)(iii ) are duly obtained, (I) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or (II) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, accelerate any right or benefit provided by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Material Contract of the Company, except (in the case of clause (B) above) for such violations, conflicts, breaches, losses, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations or Liens that, either individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or the Surviving Person.

(iii)   No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any governmental entity or other Person is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (A) the filing with, and declared effectiveness by, the Securities Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) of the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by Parent in connection with the issuance of the Parent Preferred Stock in the Merger (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “ Form S-4 ”) and the Joint Proxy Statement(s)/Prospectus(es) for the Consolidation and the Merger (the “ Joint Proxy Statement ”), (B) the Company Stockholder Approvals, (C) the filing of (I) the Certificate of Merger with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation in the State of Maryland, (II) the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (III) the Articles of Consolidation with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation in the State of Maryland and (IV) appropriate

documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified to do business and such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under the “blue sky” laws of various states, specified on Schedule 3.01(e), (D) the filing of a premerger notification and report form by the Company under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “ HSR Act ”) or any other applicable competition, merger control, antitrust or similar law or regulation, (E) any notices to or filings with the AMEX in connection with the Consolidation and the Merger, (F) the filing with the SEC of the Rule 13E-3 Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “ Schedule 13E-3 ”) (G) any filings in connection with and approvals by the SEC required to cause the Consolidated Company to be the successor of the Company pursuant to Rule 12(g)(3) of the Exchange Act and (H) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings the failure of which to be obtained or made would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(e)    Company SEC Documents; Undisclosed Liabilities .

(i)   The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, as filed with the SEC (the “ Company 2005 10-K ”) and all other reports, registration statements, definitive proxy statements or information statements filed or to be filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries subsequent to the filing of the Company 2005 10-K under the Securities Act or under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act in the form filed, or to be filed with the SEC (collectively, the “ Company SEC Documents ”) (A) when filed (except as amended or supplemented prior to the date of this Agreement), complied or will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder (the “ Securities Act ”), or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder (the “ Exchange Act ”), as the case may be, applicable to such Company SEC Documents, and (B) none of the Company SEC Documents when filed (except as amended or supplemented prior to the date of this Agreement), contained or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements of the Company (including the related notes and schedules thereto) included in the Company SEC Documents comply or will comply as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been or will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved and, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, fairly present or will fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial posi-

tion of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal and recurring year-end audit adjustments).

(ii)   Except as set forth in the most recent financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) which individually or in the aggregate has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(f)    Information Supplied . None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4 becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders and Parent’s stockholders and at the time of each Company Stockholders Meeting and the Parent Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or (iii) the Schedule 13E-3 will, at the time the Schedule 13E-3 is filed with the SEC, contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Joint Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3 will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Form S-4 will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. No representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to statements relating to NHC/OP Sub or Parent or any of their Subsidiaries made or incorporated by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement, the Form S-4 or the Schedule 13E-3 based on information supplied by NHC/OP Sub, Parent or any of their Subsidiaries for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement, the Form S-4 or the Schedule 13E-3, as the case may be.

(g)    Absence of Certain Changes or Events . Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, from December 31, 2005 to the date of this Agreement, (i) the Company has not acted, and has not permitted any of its Subsidiaries to act, in a manner prohibited by Section 4.01(a ) and (ii) there has not been any event, change, effect or development that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(h)    Litigation . Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, there is no (i) suit, action, proceeding, claim, grievance, demand or investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets, properties, businesses or operations that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would rea-

sonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or (ii) any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(i)    Compliance with Applicable Laws .

(i)   Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, judgments, writs, stipulations, orders and decrees of any Governmental Entity applicable to it or its business or operations (collectively, “ Legal Provisions ”), except for instances of noncompliance or possible noncompliance that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has in effect all approvals, authorizations, certificates, filings, franchises, licenses, notices and permits of or with all Governmental Entities, promulgated under any Legal Provisions (collectively, “ Permits ”), necessary for it to own, lease or operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its business and operations as presently conducted and as currently proposed by its management to be conducted, except where the failure to so have in effect, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. There has occurred no default under, or violation of, any such Permit, except individually or in the aggregate, as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Voting Agreement, in and of themselves, would not cause the revocation or cancellation of any such Permit that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(ii)   Except for those matters disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof and those matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company:

(A)   the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are and have been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any (1) written communication that alleges that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of, or has liability under, any Environmental Law, (2) written request from any Governmental Entity for information pursuant to any Environmental Law, or (3) written notice regarding any requirement proposed for adoption or implementation by any Governmental Entity under any Environmental Law which requirement is applicable to the operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(B)   there are no Environmental Claims pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(C)   to the Knowledge of the Company, there have been no Releases of any Hazardous Material at the Company’s real property that could be reasonably expected to form the basis of any Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and

(D)   (1)   neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has retained or assumed, either contractually or by operation of law, any liabilities or obligations that could be reasonably expected to form the basis of any Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (2) to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no Environmental Claims against any person whose liabilities for such Environmental Claims the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has or may have retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.

(iii)   (A)   “ Environmental Claim ” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, orders, demands, directives, claims, liens, investigations, proceedings or written notices of noncompliance or violation by or from any person alleging liability of whatever kind or nature (including liability or responsibility for the costs of enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive relief) arising out of, based on or resulting from (1) the presence or Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials; or (2) the failure to comply with any Environmental Law.

(B)   “ Environmental Laws ” means all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, judgments, legally binding agreements or permits issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Entity, pursuant to any Environmental Law and relating to pollution, natural resources or protection of endangered or threatened species, health, safety or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata).

(C)   “ Hazardous Materials ” means any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, and polychlorinated biphenyls, and any other chemical, material, substance or waste regulated as a hazardous substance, hazardous waste, or other similar term under any applicable Environmental Law.

(D)   “ Release ” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, or discharge into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.

(j)    Contracts . Except as filed as exhibits to the Company SEC Documents prior to the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries are bound by any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) that (i) is a “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC) or (ii) materially limits or otherwise materially restricts the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or would, after the Effective Time, materially limit the Surviving Person or any successor thereto, from engaging or competing in any material line of business. Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) described above in this Section 3.01(j ) is referred to in this Agreement as a “ Material Contract ”. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge, or has received notice, of any violation of or default under a Material Contract, except for violations that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

(k)    No Excess Parachute Payments . There is no amount or other entitlement or economic benefit that could reasonably be expected to be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the obtaining of the Company Stockholder Approvals or the Parent Stockholder Approval, the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or the Voting Agreement (including as a result of termination of employment on or following the Effective Time) by or for the benefit of any director, officer or consultant of the Company or any of its Affiliates who is a “disqualified individual” (as such term is defined in proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) under any Company Benefit Plan, Company Benefit Agreement or otherwise would be an “excess parachute payment” (as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code), and no disqualified individual is entitled to receive any additional payment from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Surviving Person or any other person in the event that the excise Tax required by Section 4999 (a) of the Code is imposed on such disqualified individual (a “ Parachute Gross Up Payment ”).

(l)    Taxes .

(i)   The Company has filed or has caused to be filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by it and all such Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all respects, except for failures to file Tax Returns, or omissions or inaccuracies in any Tax Returns, that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. The Company has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes due and owing, and the most recent financial statements contained in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof reflect an adequate reserve (excluding any reserves for deferred Taxes) for all Taxes payable by the Company for all taxable periods and portions thereof accrued through the date of such financial statements, except for failures to pay Taxes or to reflect adequate reserves that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.

(ii)   No deficiencies, audit examinations, refund litigation, proposed adjustments or matters in controversy for any Taxes have been proposed, asserted or assessed in writing against the Company, except for any such deficiencies, examinations, litigation, adjustments or matters that have been resolved with the ap-

plicable Tax authority or that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. There is no currently effective agreement or other document extending, or having the effect of extending, the period of assessment or collection of any material Taxes of the Company.

(iii)   The Company has not constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement.

(iv)   The Company has complied in all respects with all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations relating to the withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 3121 and 3402 of the Code and similar provisions under any Federal, state, local or foreign Tax laws) and has, within the time and the manner prescribed by law, withheld from and paid over to the proper Governmental Entity all amounts required to be so withheld and paid over under applicable laws, except, in each case, for any failures that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.

(v)   As used in this Agreement, “ Taxes ” shall include all domestic or foreign (whether national, federal, state, provincial, local or otherwise) income, property, sales, excise, withholding and other taxes and similar governmental charges, including any interest, penalties and additions with respect thereto, and “ Tax Returns ” shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement required to be filed with any Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

(m)    Stockholder Approval . The affirmative votes of the holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are the only votes of the Company’s stockholders required to approve the Consolidation and the Merger under applicable Legal Provisions and the organizational documents of the Company, NHR Sub and NHR-Delaware, Inc.

(n)    State Takeover Statutes . The Board of Directors of the Company has approved and declared advisable the terms of this Agreement and the consummation of this Agreement, the Consolidation and the Company Reorganization and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has approved the Voting Agreement. Assuming stockholder approval of the Consolidation and the filing and acceptance for record of the Articles of Consolidation, this Agreement, the Voting Agreement, the Merger, the Consolidation, the Company Reorganization and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by the Voting Agreement will not be subject to the provisions of Title 3, Subtitle 6 of the MGCL. To the Knowledge of the Company, no other state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation or similar provision of the Company’s Charter applies or purports to apply to this Agreement, the Voting Agreement, the Merger, the Con-

solidation, the Company Reorganization or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by the Voting Agreement.

(o)    Brokers . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than 2nd Generation Capital, LLC, the fees, commissions and expenses of which will be paid by the Company pursuant to an agreement, a true and complete copy of which has been delivered to NHC/OP Sub, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Voting Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(p)    Opinion of Financial Advisor . The Special Committee has received the opinion of 2nd Generation Capital, LLC, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, the Merger Consideration is fair from a financial point of view to the stockholders of the Company, a signed copy of which opinion has been delivered to NHC/OP Sub.

(q)    Real Estate Matters .

(i)   Unless otherwise disclosed on Section 3.01(q)(i ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company or its Subsidiaries own the real properties (including all improvements thereon) listed in Section 3.01(q)(i ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule (the “ Company Owned Real Property ”). With respect to the Company Owned Real Property:

(A)   The Company or its Subsidiaries own and hold good and marketable fee simple title to each Company Owned Real Property free and clear of all liens, claims, mortgages and encumbrances except for Permitted Exceptions. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Permitted Exceptions ” shall mean: (i) liens for taxes and assessments assessed by state or local jurisdictions not yet due and payable; (ii) imperfections of title, covenants, agreements, conditions, restrictions, reservations, easements, rights of way and other exceptions of record, if any, which do not materially adversely affect the present use of the Company Owned Real Property or the marketability thereof, or otherwise materially interfere with the business being conducted on the Company Owned Real Property; (iii) any statutory lien arising in the ordinary course of business by operation of law with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent; (iv) liens for taxes, assessments and charges and other claims which the Company is contesting in good faith; (v) all zoning and building laws, ordinances, resolutions and regulations; (vi) the Company Leases (as defined in Section 3.01(q)(ii) ) and any liens, claims or encumbrances created by or arising from acts or omissions of lessees thereunder and (vii) any matters disclosed in the title insurance policies relating to the Company Owned Real Property; provided that a true and complete copy of such title insurance policies have been delivered to NHC/OP Sub.

(B)   With respect to the Company Owned Real Property, there are no outstanding contracts for the sale of any Company Owned Real Property, except as set forth on in Section 3.01(q)(ii ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

(C)   Neither the whole nor any portion of the Company Owned Real Property has been condemned, requisitioned or otherwise taken by any public authority (a “ Public Taking ”), and no written notice of any Public Taking has been received by the Company with regard to any Company Owned Real Property. The Company has no Knowledge that any such Public Taking is threatened or contemplated. The Company has no Knowledge of any public improvements which have been ordered to be made and/or which have not heretofore been assessed, and the Company has no Knowledge of any special, general or other assessments pending, threatened against or affecting any Company Owned Real Property.

(ii)   The Company or its Subsidiaries lease, as lessor, all of the real properties (including all improvements thereon) listed in Section 3.01(q)(ii ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule (the “ Company Leases ”).

(iii)   The Company or its Subsidiaries are the sole payees and mortgagees of the promissory notes listed in Section 3.01(q)(iii ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

(iv)   The Company or its Subsidiaries are the mortgagors of the mortgages listed in Section 3.01(q)(iv ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

(v)   There are no liens, filed or otherwise claimed, in connection with any work, labor and/or materials performed on or furnished in connection with the Company Owned Real Property prior to the Closing.

(r)    Section 3.01(r ) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of each Company Benefit Plan and each Company Benefit Agreement. Neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor any entity treated as a single employer with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code maintains, is required to contribute to, or otherwise has any liability, whether contingent or otherwise, with respect to any “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) that (i) is a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Sections 3(37) of ERISA, (ii) is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, (iii) provides for post-retirement medical, life insurance or other welfare-type benefits (other than as required by Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or Section 4980B of the Code or under a similar state law), or (iv) is a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 414 of the Code), whether or not subject to the Code or ERISA. The Company Benefit Plans have been maintained and administered in all material respects in accordance with their terms and applicable Legal Requirements.

SECTION 3.02.    Representations and Warranties of NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent . Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by NHC/OP Sub to the Company in connection with the execution of this Agreement (the “ NHC/OP Sub Disclosure Schedule ”), NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP, and Parent represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

(a)    Organization, Standing and Power . Each of NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (ii) has the requisite organizational power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties makes such qualification or licensing necessary, other than where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP or Parent. True and complete copies of the organizational documents of NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent, as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been made available by NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent to the Company.

(b)    Subsidiaries . Section 3.02(b)(i ) of the NHC/OP Sub Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all Subsidiaries of Parent as of the date of this Agreement and, for each such Subsidiary, the state of organization. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each Subsidiary of Parent have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned directly or indirectly by Parent, free and clear of all Liens and free of any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other equity or voting interests. Except for the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, its Subsidiaries, and as set forth on Section 3.02(b)(ii) of the NHC/OP Sub Disclosure Schedule, Parent does not own, of record or beneficially, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other equity or voting interest in any person.

(c)    Capital Structure . As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 30,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Parent Common Stock ”) and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Previously Authorized Parent Preferred Stock ”). As of the close of business on November 30, 2006, (i) 12,307,596 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Previously Authorized Parent Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii) 1,111,548 shares of Parent Common Stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the 1997 Stock Option Plan, the 2004 Non-qualified Stock Option Plan, and the 2005 Stock Option Employee Stock Purchase, Physician Stock Purchase and Stock Appreciation Rights Plan (such plans, collectively, the “ Parent Stock Plans ”) and (iv) 1,471,000 shares of Parent Common Stock were subject to outstanding options or other rights to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock granted under the Parent Stock Plans (the “ Parent Stock Options ”). Except as set forth above, as of the close of business on November 30, 2006, no shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, Parent or options, warrants or other rights to acquire any such stock, securities or interests were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. During the period November 30, 2006, to the date of this Agreement (A) there have been

no issuances by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, Parent other than issuances of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Parent Stock Options outstanding on such date as required by their terms as in effect on the date of this Agreement, and (B) there have been no issuances by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, Parent. All outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock are, and all shares that may be issued pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans or upon conversion of the Parent Preferred Stock will be, when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and, except as set forth above, no securities or other instruments or obligations of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries the value of which is in any way based upon or derived from any capital or voting stock of Parent, in each case having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries may vote. Except as set forth above or as otherwise contemplated herein there are no securities, options, warrants, calls, rights, contracts or agreements of any kind to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is bound, obligating Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or obligating Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right, contract or agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no irrevocable proxies and no voting agreements (other than the Voting Agreement) to which Parent is a party with respect to any shares of the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

(d)    Authority; Noncontravention . The general partner of NHC/OP, the sole managing member of NHC/OP Sub and the Board of Directors of Parent have approved the Merger and this Agreement. Each of NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent has the requisite organizational power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent, and the consummation by NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational action on the part of NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent, subject to approval by Parent’s stockholders. This Agreement and other agreements and documents executed by NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent and their respective Affiliates in connection herewith have been duly and validly executed and delivered by NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent, respectively, and constitute valid and binding obligations of NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent, respectively, enforceable against NHC/OP, NHC/OP Sub and Parent in accordance with their respective terms, except that (x) such enforce-

ment may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws or judicial decisions now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, and (y) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any governmental entity or other Person is required by or with respect to NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent or the consummation by NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP and Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing with, and declared effectiveness by, the SEC of the Form S-4 and the Joint Proxy Statement, (ii) consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with the rules of the AMEX, (iii) the Parent Stockholder Approval, (v) the filing of (A) the amendment to Parent’s Certificate of Incorporation with respect to the Parent Preferred Stock, (B) the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (C) the Articles of Merger with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation in the State of Maryland and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which Parent is qualified to do business and such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under the “takeover” or “blue sky” laws of various states, (vi) the filing of a premerger notification and report form by Parent under the HSR Act or any other applicable competition, merger control, antitrust or similar law or regulation, (vii) the filing with the SEC of the Schedule 13E-3 and (viii) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings the failure of which to be obtained or made would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on NHC/OP Sub, NHC/OP or Parent.

(e)    Parent SEC Documents . Parent has filed with the SEC all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated therein) required to be filed by Parent since January 1, 2006 (collectively, “ Parent SEC Documents ”). As of their respective dates, the Parent SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such Parent SEC Documents, and none of the Parent SEC Documents when filed contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Except to the extent that information contained in any Parent SEC Document filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement has been revised or superseded by a later filed Parent SEC Document, none of the Parent SEC Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents comply as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during

the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the related notes) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal recurring year-end audit adjustments). Except as set forth in the most recent financial statements included in the Parent SEC Documents, neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) which individually or in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

(f)    Information Supplied . None of the information supplied or to be supplied by NHC/OP Sub or Parent specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Form S-4 will, at the time the Form S-4 becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to each of the Company’s stockholders and Parent’s stockholders and at the time of each of the Company Stockholders Meeting and the Parent Stockholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading or (iii) the Schedule 13E-3 will, at the time the Schedule 13E-3 is filed with the SEC, contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Joint Proxy Statement and Schedule 13E-3 will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Form S-4 will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. No representation or warranty is made by NHC/OP Sub or Parent with respect to statements relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries made or incorporated by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement, the Form S-4 or the Schedule 13E-3 based on information supplied by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement, the Form S-4 or the Schedule 13E-3, as the case may be.

(g)    Absence of Certain Changes or Events . Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents, from December 31, 2005, to the date of this Agreement, (i) Parent has not acted, and has not permitted any of its Subsidiaries to act, in a manner prohibited by Section 4.01(b ) and (ii) there has not been any event, change, effect or development that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

(h)    Litigation . Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents, there is no suit, action, proceeding, claim, grievance, demand or investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against or affecting the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets, properties, businesses or operations that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

(i)    Compliance with Applicable Laws .

(i)   Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Legal Provisions, except for instances of noncompliance or possible noncompliance that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries has in effect all material Permits necessary for it to own, lease or operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its business and operations as presently conducted and as currently proposed by its management to be conducted, except where the failure to so have in effect, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. There has occurred no default under, or violation of, any such Permit, except, individually or in the aggregate, as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. The consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Voting Agreement, in and of themselves, would not cause the revocation or cancellation of any such Permit that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

(ii)   Except for those matters disclosed in Parent SEC Documents and those matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent:

(A)   Parent and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, and neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any (1) written communication that alleges that Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of, or has liability under, any Environmental Law, (2) written request from any Governmental Entity for information pursuant to any Environmental Law, or (3) written notice regarding any requirement proposed for adoption or implementation by any Government Entity under any Environmental Law which requirement is applicable to the operations of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;

(B)   there are no Environmental Claims pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;

(C)   to the Knowledge of Parent there have been no Releases of any Hazardous Material that could be reasonably expected to form the basis of any Environmental Claim against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; and

(D)   (1)   neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law any liabilities or obligations that could be reasonably expected to form the basis of any Environmental Claim against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, and (2) to the Knowledge of Parent, there are no Environmental Claims against any person whose liabilities for such Environmental Claims Parent or any

of its Subsidiaries has or may have retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.

(j)    Taxes .

(i)   Parent and its subsidiaries have filed or has caused to be filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by them and all such Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all respects, except for failures to file Tax Returns, or omissions or inaccuracies in any Tax Returns, that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. Each of Parent and its subsidiaries has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes due and owing, and the most recent financial statements contained in the Parent SEC Documents reflect an adequate reserve (excluding any reserves for deferred Taxes) for all Taxes payable by Parent or its subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof accrued through the date of such financial statements, except for failures to pay Taxes or to reflect adequate reserves that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.

(ii)   No deficiencies, audit examinations, refund litigation, proposed adjustments or matters in controversy for any Taxes have been proposed, asserted or assessed in writing against Parent or its Subsidiaries, except for any such deficiencies, examinations, litigation, adjustments or matters that have been resolved with the applicable Tax authority or that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent. There is no currently effective agreement or other document extending, or having the effect of extending, the period of assessment or collection of any material Taxes of Parent.

(iii)   Parent has complied in all respects with all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations relating to the withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 3121 and 3402 of the Code and similar provisions under any Federal, state, local or foreign Tax laws) and has, within the time and the manner prescribed by law, withheld from and paid over to the proper Governmental Entity all amounts required to be so withheld and paid over under applicable laws, except, in each case, for any failures that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Parent.

(k)    Voting Requirements . The affirmative vote in favor of the establishment and issuance of the Parent Preferred Stock (including any related amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Parent) at the Parent Stockholders Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof of the holders of a majority of Parent Common Stock casting votes at the Parent Stockholders Meeting (the “ Parent Stockholder Approval ”) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of Parent’s capital stock necessary to approve, in accordance with the applicable rules of by the American Stock Exchange, Inc. (the “ AMEX ”) on the Closing Date, the issuance of the Parent Preferred Stock in connection with the Merger. No other approval of the stockholders of Parent required with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Voting Agreement.

(l)    Brokers . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than Avondale Partners, LLC, the fees, commissions and expenses of which will be paid by NHC/OP Sub, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission, or the reimbursement of expenses, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Voting Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

(m)    Opinion of Financial Advisor . The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Parent has received the opinion of Avondale Partners, LLC dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, as of such date, the Merger Consideration is fair from a financial point of view to NHC/OP Sub and Parent, a signed copy of which opinion has been delivered to the Company.

SECTION 4.01.    Conduct of Business .

(a)    Conduct of Business by the Company . During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as consented to in writing by NHC/OP Sub or in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

(i)   (A)   declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) in respect of, any of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests or securities, except for (1) dividends and distributions by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its parent, and (2) the 2006 Dividend and the REIT Dividend, (B) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests or securities or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or any other equity or voting interests or securities, or (C) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock or other equity or voting interests or securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants, calls or options to acquire, any such shares or other equity or voting interests or securities;

(ii)   other than as set forth on Section 4.01(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, issue, deliver, sell, grant, pledge, dispose of or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien any shares of its capital stock, any other equity or voting interests or securities or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants, calls or options to acquire, (i) any such shares or equity or voting interests or securities, or (2) any “phantom” stock, “phantom” stock rights or any stock appreciation rights, stock based performance units or other rights that are linked to the price of Company Common Stock, other than the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of the

Company Stock Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement in accordance with their terms as in effect on the date of this Agreement;

(iii)   amend or propose to amend the Company charter or the bylaws of the Company or the comparable organizational documents of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, except as required by law;

(iv)   directly or indirectly acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing assets of, or by any other manner, any person or division, business or equity interest of any person;

(v)   terminate the Management Agreement;

(vi)   except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or as required to comply with applicable law or the terms of any collective bargaining agreement, Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement, (A) adopt, enter into, terminate or amend (1) any collective bargaining agreement, Company Benefit Plan (including any Company Stock Plan) or Company Benefit Agreement, (B) increase in any manner the compensation, bonus or fringe or other benefits of, any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or grant any type of compensation, bonus or fringe or other benefits, to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not previously receiving or entitled to receive such type of compensation, bonus or fringe or other benefit, except for normal increases in cash compensation other than to officers or directors in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) pay any benefit or amount (including by granting or accelerating the vesting of any equity-based awards) not required under any Company Benefit Plan or Company Benefit Agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement or (D) grant any severance or termination pay or increase in any manner the severance or termination pay of any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vii)   change its fiscal year, revalue any of its material assets or, except as required by a change in GAAP or applicable law, make any changes in financial or accounting methods, principles or practices;

(viii)   take any action that would cause the Company not to qualify and be taxable as a REIT under the Code;

(ix)   authorize, commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions or any action which would (A) make any of the representations and warranties of the Company that are qualified as to materiality untrue or incorrect, (B) make any of the representations and warranties of the Company which are not so qualified untrue or incorrect in a material respect or (C) be reasonably likely to result in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in this Agreement not being satisfied;

(x)   carry on their respective businesses other than in the usual, regular and ordinary course in all material respects, in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted, or fail to use other than their respective reasonable best efforts to keep available the services of their respective present officers and key employees, preserve intact their present lines of business, maintain their rights and franchises and preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with them to the end that their ongoing businesses shall not be impaired in any material respect at the Effective Time;

(xi)   (A)   enter into any new material line of business or (B) incur or commit to any capital expenditures or any obligations or liabilities in connection therewith other than capital expenditures and obligations or liabilities in connection therewith incurred or committed to in the ordinary course of business;

(xii)   other than as set forth on Section 4.01(a)(xii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any of its assets (including the capital stock of Subsidiaries of the Company) other than in the ordinary course of business;

(xiii)   (A) enter into any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement, (B) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other than loans or investments by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or (C) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, guarantee any debt securities of another person, enter into any “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition of another person (other than any wholly owned Subsidiary) or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, other than refinancings of pre-existing indebtedness;

(xiv)   (A)   modify, amend or terminate any Material Contract of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) waive any material rights under any Material Contract of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (C) enter into any agreement that would constitute a Material Contract of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries if entered into as of the date of this Agreement, other than (with respect to clauses (A) and (C)) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(xv)   settle or compromise any claim, demand, lawsuit or state or federal regulatory proceeding, whether now pending or hereafter made or brought, or waive, release or assign any rights or claims in any case without the prior written consent of NHC/OP Sub; or

(xvi)   commit any act or omission which constitutes a material breach or default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any agreement with any Governmental Entity or under any material contract or material license to which

any of them is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties is bound, except to the extent required by law;

(b)    Conduct of Business by Parent . During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as consented to in writing by the Company, Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

(i)   (A)   declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) in respect of, any of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests or securities, except for (1) dividends and distributions (including liquidating distributions) by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary or Parent to its parent, or (2) normal quarterly cash dividends by Parent to the holders of Parent Common Stock, or (B) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests or securities or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or any other equity or voting interests or securities;

(ii)   amend or propose to amend the certificate of incorporation