UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-A FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 HEALTHSOUTH CORPORATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 63-0860407 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State of incorporation (I.R.S. Employer or or organization) Identification No.) c/o HealthSouth Corporation One HealthSouth Parkway Birmingham, Alabama 35243 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Name of each exchange on to be so registered which each class is to be registered ------------------- ------------------------------------ Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share New York Stock Exchange If this Form 8-A relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [X] If this Form 8-A relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is to become effective General Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [ ] Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Shares of common stock (the "Common Stock"), par value $.01 per share of HealthSouth Corporation ("the Company") have the following rights, preferences and privileges: Voting rights. Each outstanding share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company's stockholders, including the election of directors. Common Stock votes together with the Company's 6.5% Series A Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock as a single class. There are no cumulative voting rights. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares present or represented by proxy. Dividends. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by the Company's board of directors out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends. Liquidation. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company's affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment of our liabilities and obligations to creditors, the Company's remaining assets will be distributed ratably among the holders of shares of Common Stock on a per share basis. If there are any preferred stock outstanding at such time, holders of the preferred stock may be entitled to distribution and/or liquidation preferences. In either case, the Company will need to pay the applicable distribution to the holders of preferred stock before distributions are paid to the holders of Common Stock. Rights and preferences. The Common Stock has no preemptive, redemption, conversion or subscription rights. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that the Company may designate and issue in the future. Item 2. Exhibits. ------------------ Not applicable. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the under signed, thereto duly authorized. HealthSouth Corporation (Registrant) Dated: September 13, 2006 By: /s/ John P. Whittington --------------------------------------- Name: John P. Whittington Title: Interim General Counsel and Secretary