William R. Heburn

Essent is deeply committed to its hospitals, its communities and its people and is focused on long-term, disciplined, and intelligent growth. Essent will make acquisitions only when the strongest opportunities present themselves; the number of hospitals in the company's portfolio will not be the measure of its success.

Health Management Associates, Inc. through its subsidiaries owns and operates general acute care hospitals and other health care facilities in non-urban communities. The company provides various health services, such as general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic care, coronary care and pediatric services and also provides out patient services, such as one-day surgery, laboratory, x-ray, respiratory therapy, cardiology and physical therapy, cardiology, neuro-surgery, oncology, radiation therapy, computer-assisted tomography scanning, magnetic resonance imaging, lithotripsy and full-service obstetrics. The company was founded by Joseph Greene, Richard Schnatter, Jeff Jones and James Cheek in September 1977 and is headquartered in Naples, FL.

Natchez Hospital Co. LLC operates hospitals and healthcare centers. It offers diagnostic and treatment services for acute, subacute, and ambulatory care. The firm provides an open-air MRI, emergency medicine, pediatrics, rehabilitation, and sleep laboratory services. The company is headquartered in Natchez, MS.