text: LifePoint to Buy Rival for \$1 Bln  NEW YORK (Reuters) - Rural hospital operator LifePoint  Hospitals Inc. &lt;A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=LPNT.O target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote"&gt;LPNT.O&lt;/A&gt; agreed to buy rival Province Healthcare  Co. &lt;A HREF="http://www.investor.reuters.com/FullQuote.aspx?ticker=PRV.N target=/stocks/quickinfo/fullquote"&gt;PRV.N&lt;/A&gt; for \$1.03 billion in cash and stock to broaden its  geographic reach, the companies said on Monday.