<html>
<head><title>
Prepared and filed by St Ives Burrups
</title>
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">    <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2003</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="right"><font size="2" face="serif">Registration No. 333-_____</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<br>
<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td height="4" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#000000"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td height="2" valign="top"></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td height="1" valign="top" bgcolor="#000000"></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b>UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br>
</b>Washington, D.C. 20549</font></p>
<hr align="center" width="250" size="1" noshade>
<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b><font face="serif" size="3">FORM S-8</font></b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2">REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br>
  UNDER<br>
  THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></p>
<hr align="center" width="250" size="1" noshade>
<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b><font face="serif" size="4">GENESIS HEALTHCARE
CORPORATION<br>
</font></b>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>
<table width="80%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="0">
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Pennsylvania</b></font></td>
<td align="left" width="2%">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="1%" align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="45%" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>20-0023783</b></font></td>
<td width="2%" align="left">&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
  <td align="center"><hr align="center" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center"><hr align="center" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(State or other jurisdiction of </font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(I.R.S. Employer</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">incorporation or organization)</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Identification Number)</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br><br>
<table width="80%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="0">
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>101 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348</b></font></td>
<td align="left" width="2%">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="1%" align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="19%" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>19348</b></font></td>
<td width="2%" align="left">&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
  <td colspan="4" align="center"><hr align="center" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Zip Code)</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br><br>
<table width="80%" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION</b></font><br><font size="2" face="serif"><b>DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN </b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Full title of the Plan)</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<br><br>
<table width="80%" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">George V. Hager, Jr.</font><br><font size="2" face="serif">Chief Executive Officer</font><br><font size="2" face="serif">101 East State Street Kennett Square, PA 19348</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="center"><hr align="center" size="1" noshade></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Name and address of agent for service)</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<br><br>
<table width="80%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="0">
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(610) 444-6350</font></td>
<td align="left" width="2%">&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
  <td align="center"><hr align="center" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Copies to:</font></p>
<table width="80%" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Richard J. McMahon, Esquire</font><br><font size="2" face="serif">Blank Rome LLP</font><br><font size="2" face="serif">One Logan Square</font><br><font size="2" face="serif">Philadelphia, PA 19103</font><br><font size="2" face="serif">(215) 569-5500</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr align="center" width="250" size="1" noshade>
<br>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="0">
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td colspan="13" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</b></font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
  <td colspan="13" align="center"><hr align="center" size="2" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Title of securities to be registered</b></font></td>
<td align="left" width="1%">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="1%" align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="13%" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Amount to be registered </b></font></td>
<td width="1%" align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="1%" align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Proposed maximum offering price per unit</b></font></td>
<td width="2%" align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="1%" align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="15%" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Proposed maximum aggregate offering price </b></font></td>
<td width="2%" align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="1%" align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="12%" align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Amount of registration fee</b></font></td>
<td width="2%" align="left">&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
  <td colspan="13" align="left"><hr align="center" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right"><font size="2" face="serif">$</font></td>
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">20,000,000(1)(2)</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">n/a</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right"><font size="2" face="serif">$</font></td>
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"> 20,000,000(2)</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right"><font size="2" face="serif">$</font></td>
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"> 1,618</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
  <td colspan="13" align="left"><hr align="center" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>


<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">(1)</font></td>
<td><font size="2" face="serif">The Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations being registered are unsecured obligations of Genesis HealthCare Corporation to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Genesis HealthCare Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.  The filing of this Registration Statement shall not be construed as an admission by Genesis HealthCare Corporation that (a) the Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations are securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;) or (b) that they are required to be registered under the Securities Act. </font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">(2)</font></td>
<td><font size="2" face="serif">Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act.   </font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b>PART I</b></font></p> <p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b><u>Item 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Plan Information.</u></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Genesis HealthCare Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) is filing this registration statement on Form S-8 (the &#8220;Registration Statement&#8221;) in connection with registering the Company&#8217;s deferred compensation plan obligation to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Genesis HealthCare Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (also known as the Nonqualified Plan) (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;).  </font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) under the Securities Act.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Such documents are not being filed with the Commission, but constitute (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b><u>Item 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.</u></b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company will furnish without charge to each participant in the Plan, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents (i) incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, which are incorporated by reference into the prospectus for the Plan, and (ii) any other documents required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 428(b) promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act.  Requests should be directed to Eileen M. Coggins, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Genesis HealthCare Corporation, 101&nbsp;East State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, telephone (610) 444-6350.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">I-1</font></p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b>PART II</b></font></p> <p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</b></font></p>
<p><font face="serif" size="2"><b>ITEM 3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.</b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents, as filed with the Commission, are incorporated by reference in this registration statement:</font></p>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&#149;</font></td>
<td><font size="2" face="serif">the Company&#8217;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2003 and December 9, 2003; and</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td>&nbsp;</td>
  <td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&#149;</font></td>
<td><font size="2" face="serif">the Company&#8217;s Registration Statement on
    Form 10, as amended, File No. 000-50351, filed on November 14, 2003 pursuant
    to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange
    Act&#8221;),
    including the description of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
    and all amendments
    or reports
    filed for the purpose of updating such description.</font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration.</font></p>
<p><font face="serif" size="2"><b>ITEM 4. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.</b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Under the Plan, the Company will provide eligible employees the opportunity to enter into agreements for the deferral of a portion of their base salary, all or a portion of their bonus payments, and receipt of all or a portion of their restricted stock awards.  The obligations of the Company under the Plan (the &#8220;Obligations&#8221;) will be unsecured general obligations of the Company to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and will rank pari passu with other unsecured creditors of the Company from time to time outstanding.  Therefore, the Obligations are subject to the risks of the Company&#8217;s insolvency.  The Company has established an irrevocable grantor trust, commonly
referred to as a &#8220;rabbi trust&#8221;, for purposes of funding the Obligations.  The trust assets are treated as assets of the Company for tax purposes and are subject to the claims of the Company&#8217;s creditors in the event of insolvency.  The Company has entered into a rabbi trust arrangement with Wachovia Bank, N.A.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The amount of compensation to be deferred by each participating employee will be credited to the participant&#8217;s deferral account (&#8220;Deferral Account&#8221;) and the value of the Obligation owed to a participant will be determined in accordance with the Plan based on elections by the participant.  The Obligations will be valued daily based upon the performance of the investment alternative(s) individually chosen by each participant from the list of investment alternatives available under the Plan from time to time, including an investment alternative deemed to be invested in the Company&#8217;s common stock (the &#8220;Investment Alternative(s)&#8221;).  Each participant&#8217;s Deferral Account will be adjusted to
reflect the investment experience of the selected Investment Alternative(s), plus cash and accrued earnings, less accrued expenses and proper charges against the Investment Alternative(s).  Upon distribution, the Obligations will be payable in cash.  Each Obligation will be payable during employment or upon the terms of the Plan.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No participant, beneficiary or heir shall have the right to commute, sell, encumber, hypothecate, assign or otherwise convey the right to receive any payment under the Plan other than the right to allocate a portion of the Deferral Account Obligation attributed to a participant&#8217;s education sub-account to an eligible dependent as permitted under the Plan.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">II-1</font></p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each participant may request to receive a distribution under the Plan of the Deferral Account Obligation owed to the participant and the administrator of the Plan may, in its complete discretion, approve or deny such request.  If the distribution request is approved, the administrator will assess an automatic penalty against the Deferral Account equal to ten percent of the total withdrawal.  Additionally, the participant will be prohibited from making deferred contributions for a period of one year following the approval.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company reserves the right to amend the Plan at any time, except that no amendment shall deprive a participant&#8217;s benefit to which he/she is entitled under the Plan with respect to deferral contributions made prior to such amendment and shall decrease a participant&#8217;s interest in his/her Deferral Account.  The Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan or any deferral agreement pertaining to a participant at any time.  In the event of such termination, the Company shall pay the participant the value equal to the participant&#8217;s Deferral Account.</font></p>
<p><font face="serif" size="2"><b>ITEM 5. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Not applicable.</font></p>
<p><font face="serif" size="2"><b>ITEM 6. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.</b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As permitted by Pennsylvania corporation law, the Company&#8217;s articles of incorporation provide that a director will not be personally liable for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, unless the director breaches or fails to perform the duties of his or her office under Pennsylvania corporation law, and the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.  These provisions of the Company&#8217;s articles of incorporation, however, will not apply to the responsibility or liability of a director pursuant to any criminal statute, or to the liability of a director for the payment of taxes pursuant to local, Pennsylvania or federal law.  The
Company&#8217;s articles of incorporation also limit the liability of its officers in the same fashion as its directors.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company&#8217;s bylaws provide that it must indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines, excise taxes and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding to which they are or were a party, or are threatened to be made a party, by reason of being or having been its director or officer, or serving or having served any other business enterprise or trust as a director, officer, employee, general partner, agent or fiduciary at the Company&#8217;s request.  The Company&#8217;s bylaws will also permit it similarly to indemnify other persons.  However, under the Company&#8217;s bylaws, no indemnification will be provided to any of its directors
or officers if a court determines that such director or officer engaged in willful misconduct or recklessness.  The Company intends to obtain directors&#8217; and officers&#8217; insurance for its directors, officers and some employees for specified liabilities.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in the Company&#8217;s bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against officers and directors for breach of their fiduciary duty.  They may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action of this kind, if successful, might otherwise benefit the Company and its shareholders.  Furthermore, a shareholder&#8217;s investment may be adversely affected to the extent the Company pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.  However, the Company believes that these indemnification provisions are necessary
to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.</font></p>
<p><font face="serif" size="2"><b>ITEM 7. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Not applicable.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">II-2</font></p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<p><font face="serif" size="2"><b>ITEM 8.  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;EXHIBITS.</b></font></p>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="0">
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">4.1*</font></td>
<td align="left" width="2%">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="1%" align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="87%" align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.</font></td>
<td width="2%" align="left">&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">4.2*</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Bylaws of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">5.1</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Opinion of Counsel.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">23.1</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Consent of Independent Auditors.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">23.2</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">24.1</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this registration statement).</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">99.1**</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Genesis HealthCare Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td colspan="2" align="left"><hr align="left" width="200" size="1" noshade></td>
  </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left" width="4%"><font size="2" face="serif">* </font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2003.</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">**</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2003.</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><font face="serif" size="2"><b>ITEM 9. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;UNDERTAKINGS.</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(a) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
    undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To
    reflect in the prospectus any events or facts arising after the effective
    date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
    thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
    change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding
    the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered
    (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which
    was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
    maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities
    Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
    than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation
    of Registration Fee&#8221; table in the effective registration statement;
    and</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">II-3</font></p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<tr valign="top">
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(b) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
    undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes of determining
    any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant&#8217;s
    annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
    Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&#8217;s
    annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
    incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
    be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
    therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
    to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. </font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(c) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Insofar
    as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
    permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
    pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
    advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
    indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
    and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
    against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
    incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
    in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
    by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
    being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
    the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
    appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it
    is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will
  be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">II-4</font></p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b>SIGNATURES</b></font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kennett Square, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on December 15, 2003.</font></p>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td colspan="2" align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION </b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td width="50%">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="7%">&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">By:</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ George V. Hager, Jr.</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="200" size="1" noshade></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">George V. Hager, Jr.</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Chief Executive Officer</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints George V. Hager, Jr. and James V. McKeon, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documentation in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons, in the capacities and on the date indicated.</font></p>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td align="center" width="34%"><font size="2" face="serif"><b><u>Signature</u></b></font></td>
<td align="center" width="42%"><font size="2" face="serif"><b><u>Title(s)</u></b></font></td>
<td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"><b><u>Date</u></b></font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ George V. Hager, Jr.</font></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Chief Executive Officer (Principal
      Executive </font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">December 15, 2003</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Officer) and Chairman</font></td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">George V. Hager, Jr.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ John F. DePodesta</font></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">December 15, 2003</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">John F. DePodesta</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Robert H. Fish </font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ J. Michael Gallagher</font></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">December 15, 2003</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">J. Michael Gallagher</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Kevin M. Kelley </font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ Charles W. McQueary</font></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">December 15, 2003</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Charles W. McQueary</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">S-1</font></p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<br><br>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ Charlene Connolly Quinn</font></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">December 15, 2003</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left" width="34%"><font size="2" face="serif">Charlene Connolly Quinn</font></td>
<td align="left" width="42%">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ Terry Allison Rappuhn</font></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">December 15, 2003</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Terry Allison Rappuhn</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ James V. McKeon</font></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Chief Financial Officer (Principal
      Accounting </font></td>
  <td align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">December 15, 2003</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="250" size="1" noshade></td>
  <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Officer and Principal Financial
      Officer)</font></td>
  <td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">James V. McKeon</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="center">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized, in the City of Kennett Square, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on December 15, 2003.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION<br>
</b></font><font size="2" face="serif"><b>DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN</b></font></p>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left" width="8%"><font size="2" face="serif">By:</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">as Administrator</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">By: </font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">/s/ George V. Hager, Jr.</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left"><hr align="left" width="200" size="1" noshade></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">George V. Hager, Jr.</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Chief Executive Officer</font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">S-2</font></p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
<div style="page-break-before:always"></div>
<page>
<a name="p?"></a>
<p><a href="#contents"></a></p>
<p align="center"><font face="serif" size="2"><b>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</b></font></p>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="0">
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><u>Exhibit No.</u></font></td>
<td align="left" width="2%">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="1%" align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td width="83%" align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><u>Description of Exhibit</u></font></td>
<td width="2%" align="left">&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">4.1*</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">4.2*</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Bylaws of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">5.1</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Opinion of Counsel.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">23.1</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Consent of Independent Auditors.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">23.2</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Consent of Counsel (included in
    Exhibit 5.1).</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">24.1</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Power of Attorney (included on signature
    page of this registration statement).</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">99.1**</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Genesis HealthCare Corporation Deferred
    Compensation Plan.</font></td>
<td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
<tr valign="top">
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
  <td colspan="2" align="left"><hr align="left" width="200" size="1" noshade></td>
  </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left" width="4%"><font size="2" face="serif">* </font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2003.</font></td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td> </tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">**</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2003. </font></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
</body>
</html>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "s_8.htm", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 49879}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORP", "cik": "0001236736", "assigned-sic": "8051", "irs-number": "200023788", "state-of-incorporation": "PA"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-111188", "film-number": "031055600"}, "business-address": {"street1": "101 E. STATE ST.", "city": "KENNETT SQUARE", "state": "PA", "zip": "19348", "phone": "6109261124"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "101 E. STATE ST.", "city": "KENNETT SQUARE", "state": "PA", "zip": "19348"}}
Prepared and filed by St Ives Burrups
As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2003
Registration No. 333-_____
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
GENESIS HEALTHCARE
CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania
20-0023783
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification Number)
101 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348
19348
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
(Full title of the Plan)
George V. Hager, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
101 East State Street Kennett Square, PA 19348
(Name and address of agent for service)
(610) 444-6350
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Richard J. McMahon, Esquire
Blank Rome LLP
One Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 569-5500
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities to be registered
Amount to be registered
Proposed maximum offering price per unit
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price
Amount of registration fee
Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations
$
20,000,000(1)(2)
n/a
$
20,000,000(2)
$
1,618
(1)
The Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations being registered are unsecured obligations of Genesis HealthCare Corporation to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Genesis HealthCare Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.  The filing of this Registration Statement shall not be construed as an admission by Genesis HealthCare Corporation that (a) the Deferred Compensation Plan Obligations are securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  (the "Securities Act") or (b) that they are required to be registered under the Securities Act.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1.   Plan Information.
Genesis HealthCare Corporation (the "Company") is filing this registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") in connection with registering the Company's deferred compensation plan obligation to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Genesis HealthCare Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (also known as the Nonqualified Plan) (the "Plan").
The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act.
Such documents are not being filed with the Commission, but constitute (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
Item 2.   Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
The Company will furnish without charge to each participant in the Plan, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the documents (i) incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, which are incorporated by reference into the prospectus for the Plan, and (ii) any other documents required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 428(b) promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act.  Requests should be directed to Eileen M. Coggins, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Genesis HealthCare Corporation, 101 East State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, telephone (610) 444-6350.
I-1
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3.      INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents, as filed with the Commission, are incorporated by reference in this registration statement:
•
the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2003 and December 9, 2003; and
•
the Company's Registration Statement on
    Form 10, as amended, File No. 000-50351, filed on November 14, 2003 pursuant
    to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
    Act"),
    including the description of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
    and all amendments
    or reports
    filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration.
ITEM 4.      DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Under the Plan, the Company will provide eligible employees the opportunity to enter into agreements for the deferral of a portion of their base salary, all or a portion of their bonus payments, and receipt of all or a portion of their restricted stock awards.  The obligations of the Company under the Plan (the "Obligations") will be unsecured general obligations of the Company to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and will rank pari passu with other unsecured creditors of the Company from time to time outstanding.  Therefore, the Obligations are subject to the risks of the Company's insolvency.  The Company has established an irrevocable grantor trust, commonly
referred to as a "rabbi trust", for purposes of funding the Obligations.  The trust assets are treated as assets of the Company for tax purposes and are subject to the claims of the Company's creditors in the event of insolvency.  The Company has entered into a rabbi trust arrangement with Wachovia Bank, N.A.
The amount of compensation to be deferred by each participating employee will be credited to the participant's deferral account ("Deferral Account") and the value of the Obligation owed to a participant will be determined in accordance with the Plan based on elections by the participant.  The Obligations will be valued daily based upon the performance of the investment alternative(s) individually chosen by each participant from the list of investment alternatives available under the Plan from time to time, including an investment alternative deemed to be invested in the Company's common stock (the "Investment Alternative(s)").  Each participant's Deferral Account will be adjusted to
reflect the investment experience of the selected Investment Alternative(s), plus cash and accrued earnings, less accrued expenses and proper charges against the Investment Alternative(s).  Upon distribution, the Obligations will be payable in cash.  Each Obligation will be payable during employment or upon the terms of the Plan.
No participant, beneficiary or heir shall have the right to commute, sell, encumber, hypothecate, assign or otherwise convey the right to receive any payment under the Plan other than the right to allocate a portion of the Deferral Account Obligation attributed to a participant's education sub-account to an eligible dependent as permitted under the Plan.
II-1
Each participant may request to receive a distribution under the Plan of the Deferral Account Obligation owed to the participant and the administrator of the Plan may, in its complete discretion, approve or deny such request.  If the distribution request is approved, the administrator will assess an automatic penalty against the Deferral Account equal to ten percent of the total withdrawal.  Additionally, the participant will be prohibited from making deferred contributions for a period of one year following the approval.
The Company reserves the right to amend the Plan at any time, except that no amendment shall deprive a participant's benefit to which he/she is entitled under the Plan with respect to deferral contributions made prior to such amendment and shall decrease a participant's interest in his/her Deferral Account.  The Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan or any deferral agreement pertaining to a participant at any time.  In the event of such termination, the Company shall pay the participant the value equal to the participant's Deferral Account.
ITEM 5.      INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not applicable.
ITEM 6.      INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
As permitted by Pennsylvania corporation law, the Company's articles of incorporation provide that a director will not be personally liable for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, unless the director breaches or fails to perform the duties of his or her office under Pennsylvania corporation law, and the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.  These provisions of the Company's articles of incorporation, however, will not apply to the responsibility or liability of a director pursuant to any criminal statute, or to the liability of a director for the payment of taxes pursuant to local, Pennsylvania or federal law.  The
Company's articles of incorporation also limit the liability of its officers in the same fashion as its directors.
The Company's bylaws provide that it must indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines, excise taxes and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding to which they are or were a party, or are threatened to be made a party, by reason of being or having been its director or officer, or serving or having served any other business enterprise or trust as a director, officer, employee, general partner, agent or fiduciary at the Company's request.  The Company's bylaws will also permit it similarly to indemnify other persons.  However, under the Company's bylaws, no indemnification will be provided to any of its directors
or officers if a court determines that such director or officer engaged in willful misconduct or recklessness.  The Company intends to obtain directors' and officers' insurance for its directors, officers and some employees for specified liabilities.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in the Company's bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against officers and directors for breach of their fiduciary duty.  They may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action of this kind, if successful, might otherwise benefit the Company and its shareholders.  Furthermore, a shareholder's investment may be adversely affected to the extent the Company pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.  However, the Company believes that these indemnification provisions are necessary
to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.
ITEM 7.      EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not applicable.
II-2
ITEM 8.       EXHIBITS.
4.1*
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.
4.2*
Bylaws of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.
5.1
Opinion of Counsel.
23.1
Consent of Independent Auditors.
23.2
Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this registration statement).
99.1**
Genesis HealthCare Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.
*
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2003.
**
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2003.
ITEM 9.      UNDERTAKINGS.
(a)      The
    undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii)   To
    reflect in the prospectus any events or facts arising after the effective
    date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
    thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
    change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding
    the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered
    (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which
    was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
    maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities
    Act if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
    than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation
    of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
    and
(iii)   To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.
II-3
(2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b)      The
    undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that, for purposes of determining
    any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's
    annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
    Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
    annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
    incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
    be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
    therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
    to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)      Insofar
    as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
    permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
    pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
    advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
    indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
    and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
    against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
    incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
    in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
    by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
    being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
    the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
    appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it
    is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will
  be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kennett Square, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on December 15, 2003.
GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
By:
/s/ George V. Hager, Jr.
George V. Hager, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints George V. Hager, Jr. and James V. McKeon, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documentation in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be
done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons, in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature
Title(s)
Date
/s/ George V. Hager, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer (Principal
      Executive
December 15, 2003
Officer) and Chairman
George V. Hager, Jr.
/s/ John F. DePodesta
Director
December 15, 2003
John F. DePodesta
Director
Robert H. Fish
/s/ J. Michael Gallagher
Director
December 15, 2003
J. Michael Gallagher
Director
Kevin M. Kelley
/s/ Charles W. McQueary
Director
December 15, 2003
Charles W. McQueary
S-1
/s/ Charlene Connolly Quinn
Director
December 15, 2003
Charlene Connolly Quinn
/s/ Terry Allison Rappuhn
Director
December 15, 2003
Terry Allison Rappuhn
/s/ James V. McKeon
Chief Financial Officer (Principal
      Accounting
December 15, 2003
Officer and Principal Financial
      Officer)
James V. McKeon
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized, in the City of Kennett Square, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on December 15, 2003.
GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
By:
GENESIS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
as Administrator
By:
/s/ George V. Hager, Jr.
George V. Hager, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
S-2
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
4.1*
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.
4.2*
Bylaws of Genesis HealthCare Corporation.
5.1
Opinion of Counsel.
23.1
Consent of Independent Auditors.
23.2
Consent of Counsel (included in
    Exhibit 5.1).
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature
    page of this registration statement).
99.1**
Genesis HealthCare Corporation Deferred
    Compensation Plan.
*
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2003.
**
Incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2003.