The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG), the parent company of the EnsignTM group of companies, which invest in and provide skilled nursing and senior living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, other rehabilitative and healthcare services, and real estate, announced today that it has agreed to add eight skilled nursing operations in the state of Tennessee and one in Alabama, subject to the completion of certain regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Six of these operations will be jointly owned by CareTrust REIT, Inc. (NYSE:CTRE, "CareTrust"))) and a large, private joint venture investor and will transition to Ensign affiliated operating companies subject to a new, long-term triple net master leases, and three will be purchased by Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT, Inc., Ensign's captive real estate subsidiary. All nine operations will be operated by Ensign affiliated operating companies. It is anticipated that the transaction will be effective in the next few months.