Service Corporation International (SCI)

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission file number 1-6402-1

Service Corporation International

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

713/522-5141

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of ‘accelerated filer’ and ‘large accelerated filer’ in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one).

 

Large Accelerated Filer þ     Accelerated Filer o     Non-accelerated Filer o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 12b-2).  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (assuming that the registrant’s only affiliates are its officers and directors) was $2,236,208,053 based upon a closing market price of $8.14 on June 30, 2006 of a share of common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange — Composite Transactions Tape.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of February 20, 2007 was 293,476,937 (net of treasury shares)

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement in connection with its 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Part III)

 

 

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

 

INDEX

 

GLOSSARY

 

The following terms are common to the deathcare industry, are used throughout this report, and have the following meanings:

 

Atneed — Funeral and cemetery arrangements after the death has occurred.

 

Burial Vaults — A reinforced outer burial container intended to protect the casket against the weight of the earth.

 

Cash Overrides — Funds received based on achieving certain dollar volume targets of life insurance policies.

 

Cremation — The reduction of human remains to bone fragments by intense heat.

 

General Agency (GA) Revenues — Commissions paid to the General Agency (GA) for life insurance policies or annuities sold to preneed customers for the purpose of funding preneed funeral arrangements. The commission rate paid is determined based on the product type sold, the length of payment terms, and the age of the insured/annuitant. The commission rate is applied to the face amount of the policy purchased to determine the commission amount payable to the GA. GA revenues are recognized as funeral revenues when the insurance purchase transaction between the customer and third party insurance provider is completed.

 

Interment — The burial or final placement of human remains in the ground.

 

Lawn Crypt — An outer burial receptacle constructed of concrete and reinforced steel, which is usually pre-installed in predetermined designated areas.

 

Marker — A method of identifying the remains in a particular burial space, crypt, or niche. Permanent burial markers are usually made of bronze, granite, or stone.

 

Maturity — At the time of death. This is the point at which preneed contracts are converted to atneed contracts.

 

Mausoleum — An above ground structure that is designed to house caskets and cremation urns.

 

Perpetual Care or Endowment Care Fund — A trust fund used for the maintenance and upkeep of burial spaces within a cemetery.

 

Preneed — Funeral and cemetery arrangements made prior to the time of death.

 

Preneed Backlog — Future revenues from unfulfilled preneed funeral and cemetery contractual arrangements.

 

Production — Sales of preneed funeral and preneed or atneed cemetery contracts.

 

General

 

Service Corporation International (SCI) is North America’s leading provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral homes and cemeteries unequalled in geographic scale and reach. At December 31, 2006, we operated 1,613 funeral service locations and 452 cemeteries, (including 232 combination locations) in North America, which are geographically diversified across 45 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Our funeral segment also includes the operations of Kenyon International Emergency Services, a subsidiary that specializes in providing disaster management services in mass fatality incidents as well as training, planning, and Crisis Communications consulting services, and the operations of 14 funeral homes in Germany that we intend to exit when economic values and conditions are conducive to a sale. As part of the Alderwoods Group, Inc. (Alderwoods) transaction, we acquired an insurance business for which we have commenced a plan to divest. The operations of this business are presented as discontinued operations in our consolidated statement of operations and as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in on our consolidated balance sheet. In addition, we own a minority interest in AKH Luxco, S.C.A., more commonly known as Pompes Funebres Génerales (PFG), France’s leading provider of funeral services.

 

History

 

We were incorporated in Texas in July of 1962. Prior to 1999, we focused on the acquisition and consolidation of independent funeral homes and cemeteries in the fragmented deathcare industry in North America. During the 1990s, we also expanded our operations through acquisitions in Europe, Australia, South America; and the Pacific Rim. During the mid to late 1990s, acquisitions of deathcare facilities became extremely competitive resulting in increased prices for acquisitions and substantially reduced returns on invested capital. In 1999, we significantly reduced our level of acquisition activity and began to focus on identifying and addressing non-strategic or underperforming businesses.

 

This focus resulted in the divestiture of several North America and international operations beginning in 2001. During 2001 and 2002, we completed joint ventures of operations in Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal. In 2003, we sold our equity investment in our operations in Australia, Spain, and Portugal. During 2004, we sold our funeral operations in France and obtained a minority interest in the acquiring entity. We also sold our minority interest equity investment in the United Kingdom. During 2005, we divested of all of our operations in Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. During 2006, we sold our funeral service location in Singapore, leaving our operations in Germany as our sole remaining funeral service locations outside of North America. We may pursue discussions with various third parties concerning the sale or joint venture of our operations in Germany.

 

In 2006, as part of our strategy to enhance our position as North America’s premier funeral and cemetery provider, we acquired Alderwoods for $20.00 per share in cash. The purchase price of $1.2 billion includes the refinancing of $357.7 million and the assumption of $2.2 million of Alderwoods debt. Alderwoods properties, which include 578 funeral service locations, 70 cemeteries, and 63 combination locations, have been substantially integrated into our operations at December 31, 2006. These properties are operated in the same manner as our incumbent properties, under our leadership, and are reported in the appropriate reporting segment (funeral or cemetery) in our consolidated financial statements.

 

Funeral and Cemetery Operations

 

Worldwide, we have 1,627 funeral service locations and 452 cemeteries (including 232 combination locations) covering 45 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Germany. See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for financial information about our business segments and geographic areas.

 

Our funeral service and cemetery operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria and related businesses. We provide all professional services relating to funerals and cremations, including the use of funeral facilities and motor vehicles, and preparation and embalming

services. Funeral related merchandise, including caskets, burial vaults, cremation receptacles, flowers and other ancillary products and services, is sold at funeral service locations. Our cemeteries provide cemetery property interment rights, including mausoleum spaces, lots, and lawn crypts, and sell cemetery related merchandise and services, including stone and bronze memorials, burial vaults, casket and cremation memorialization products, merchandise installations, and burial openings and closings. We also sell preneed funeral and cemetery preneed products and services whereby a customer contractually agrees to the terms of certain products and services to be delivered and performed in the future.

 

Funeral service/cemetery combination locations are those businesses in which a funeral service location is physically located within or adjoining a cemetery that we own. Certain combination locations consist of multiple cemeteries combined with one funeral home. Combination locations allow certain facility, personnel, and equipment costs to be shared between the funeral service location and cemetery. Such combination facilities typically can be cost competitive and have higher gross margins than if the funeral and cemetery operations were operated separately. Combination locations also create synergies between funeral and cemetery sales force personnel and give families added convenience to purchase both funeral and cemetery products and services at a single location. With the acquisition of Alderwoods, we acquired Rose Hills, which is the largest combination operation in the United States, performing approximately 5,000 calls and 9,000 interments per year.

 

Our operations in the United States and Canada are organized into 37 major markets and 45 middle markets (including eight Hispana markets). Each market is led by a market director with responsibility for funeral and/or cemetery operations and preneed sales. Within each market, the funeral homes and cemeteries share common resources such as personnel, preparation services, and vehicles. There are four market support centers in North America to assist market directors with financial, administrative, pricing, and human resource needs. These support centers are located in Houston, Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. The primary functions of the support centers are to help facilitate the execution of corporate strategies, coordinate communication between the field and corporate offices, and serve as liaisons for the implementation of policies and procedures.

 

The following table (which includes businesses held-for-sale at December 31, 2006) provides the number of our funeral homes, cemeteries, and combination locations by country, and by state, territory, or province:

 

 

 

 

We believe we have satisfactory title to the properties owned and used in our business, subject to various liens, encumbrances and easements, which are incidental to ownership rights and uses and do not materially detract from

the value of the property. We also lease a number of facilities that we use in our business under both capital and operating leases.

 

At December 31, 2006, we owned approximately 88% of the real estate and buildings used at our facilities and the remainder of the facilities were leased. At December 31, 2006, our 452 cemeteries contained a total of approximately 32,366 acres, of which approximately 62% was developed.

 

A map of our locations in North America is presented below:

 

Competition

 

Although there are several public companies that own funeral homes and cemeteries, the majority of deathcare businesses are locally-owned, independent operations. We estimate that our funeral and cemetery market share (including a full year of Alderwoods operations) is approximately 14% based on industry revenue for 2005. The position of a single funeral home or cemetery in any community is a function of the name, reputation, and location of that funeral home or cemetery, although competitive pricing, professional service and attention, and well-maintained locations are also important.

 

We believe we have an unparalleled network of funeral service locations and cemeteries that offer high quality products and services at prices that are competitive with local competing funeral homes, cemeteries, and retail locations. Within this network, the funeral service locations and cemeteries operate under various names as most operations were acquired as existing businesses. We have branded our funeral operations in North America under the name Dignity Memorial^®. We believe our national branding strategy gives us a strategic advantage and identity in the industry. While this branding process is intended to emphasize our seamless national network of funeral service locations and cemeteries, the original names associated with acquired operations, and their inherent goodwill and heritage, generally remain the same. For example, Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors is now Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors, a Dignity Memorial^® provider.

 

Employees

 

At December 31, 2006, we employed 14,454 (14,411 in North America) individuals on a full time basis and 8,169 (8,165 in North America) individuals on a part time basis. Of the full time employees, 13,873 were employed in the funeral and cemetery operations and 581 were employed in corporate or other overhead activities and services. All eligible employees in the United States who so elect are covered by our group health and life insurance

plans. Eligible employees in the United States are participants in retirement plans of SCI or various subsidiaries, while international employees are covered by other SCI (or SCI subsidiary) defined or government mandated benefit plans. Approximately 3.5% of our employees in North America are represented by unions. Although labor disputes are experienced from time to time, relations with employees are generally considered favorable.

 

Regulation

 

Our operations are subject to regulations, supervision and licensing under numerous foreign, federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, including extensive regulations concerning trust funds, preneed sales of funeral and cemetery products and services and various other aspects of our business. We strive to comply in all material respects with the provisions of these laws, ordinances and regulations. Since 1984, we have operated in the United States under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) comprehensive trade regulation rule for the funeral industry. The rule contains requirements for funeral industry practices, including extensive price and other affirmative disclosures and imposes mandatory itemization of funeral goods and services.

 

Other

 

Our corporate headquarters are located at 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019. The property consists of approximately 127,000 square feet of office space and 185,000 square feet of parking space. We own and utilize three buildings located in Houston, Texas for corporate activities containing a total of approximately 238,000 square feet of office space. As a result of the acquisition of Alderwoods, we also lease approximately 71,000 square feet of office space located in Burnaby, British Columbia, which we expect to sublease during 2007.

 

We make available free of charge, on or through our website, our annual, quarterly and current reports and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Our website is http://www.sci-corp.com and our telephone number is (713) 522-5141. The SEC also maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically. The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Each of our Board of Directors’ standing committee charters, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Code of Ethics for Board Members, and our Code of Conduct for Officers and Employees are available, free of charge, through our website or, upon request, in print. We will post on our internet website all waivers to or amendments of our Code of Conduct for Officers and Employees, which are required to be disclosed by applicable law and rules of the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. Information contained on our website is not part of this report.

 

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

 

The statements in this Form 10-K that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be accompanied by words such as “believe”, “estimate”, “project”, “expect”, “anticipate”, or “predict” that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could cause our actual consolidated results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by, or on behalf of, the Company. These factors are discussed below. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by the Company, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Our ability to execute our business plan depends on many factors, many of which are beyond our control.

 

Our strategic plan is focused on cost management and the development of key revenue initiatives designed to generate future internal growth in our core funeral and cemetery operations. Many of the factors necessary for the execution of our strategic plan, such as the number of deaths, are beyond our control. We cannot give assurance that we will be able to execute any or all of our strategic plan. Failure to execute any or all of the strategic plan could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

We may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Alderwoods.

 

The success of the acquisition of Alderwoods will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated cost savings from shared corporate and administrative areas, the rationalization of duplicative expenses, and the realization of revenue growth opportunities. However, to realize the anticipated benefits from the acquisition, we must successfully combine the businesses in a manner that permits those costs savings and revenue increases to be realized. If we are not able to successfully achieve these objectives, the anticipated benefits of the acquisition may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer or cost more to realize than expected. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of valuable employees, the disruption of ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures, practices, and policies that could adversely impact our operations.

 

The integration of Alderwoods may prove disruptive and could result in the combined business failing to meet our expectations.

 

The process of integrating the operations of Alderwoods may require a disproportionate amount of resources and management attention. Our future operations and cash flow will depend largely upon our ability to operate the former Alderwoods locations efficiently, achieve the strategic operating objectives for our business and realize significant cost savings and synergies. Our management team may encounter unforeseen difficulties in managing the integration. In order to successfully combine and operate our businesses, our management team will need to focus on realizing anticipated synergies, revenue increases, and cost savings on a timely basis while maintaining the efficiency of our operations. Any substantial diversion of management attention or difficulties in operating the combined business could affect our revenues and ability to achieve operational, financial, and strategic objectives.

 

Our credit agreements and debt securities contain covenants that may prevent us from engaging in certain transactions.

 

Our credit agreements and debt securities contain, among other things, various affirmative and negative covenants that may prevent us from engaging in certain transactions that might otherwise be considered beneficial to us. These covenants limit, among other things, our and our subsidiaries’ ability to:

 

 

 

Our bank credit facility also requires us to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information related to our bank credit facility.

 

If we lost the ability to use surety bonding to support our preneed funeral and preneed cemetery activities, we could have to make material cash payments to fund certain trust funds.

 

We have entered into arrangements with certain surety companies whereby such companies agree to issue surety bonds on our behalf as financial assurance or as required by existing state and local regulations. The surety bonds are used for various business purposes; however, the majority of the surety bonds issued and outstanding have been issued to support our preneed funeral and cemetery activities. In the event all of the surety companies cancelled or did not renew our surety bonds, which are generally renewed for twelve-month periods, we would be required to either obtain replacement coverage or fund approximately $278.6 million as of December 31, 2006 into state-mandated trust accounts.

 

The funeral home and cemetery industry continues to be increasingly competitive.

 

In North America, the funeral and cemetery industry is characterized by a large number of locally owned, independent operations. To compete successfully, our funeral service locations and cemeteries must maintain good reputations and high professional standards in the industry, as well as offer attractive products and services at competitive prices. In addition, we must market the Company in such a manner as to distinguish us from our competitors. We have historically experienced price competition from independent funeral home and cemetery operators, monument dealers, casket retailers, low-cost funeral providers, and other non-traditional providers of services and merchandise. If we are unable to successfully compete, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

 

Our affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds own investments in equity securities, fixed income securities and mutual funds, which are affected by financial market conditions that are beyond our control.

 

In connection with our preneed funeral and preneed cemetery merchandise and service sales, most affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds own investments in equity securities and mutual funds. Our earnings and investment gains and losses on these equity securities and mutual funds are affected by financial market conditions that are beyond our control.

 

As of December 31, 2006, net unrealized appreciation in the preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trust funds amounted to $24.0 million and $62.8 million, respectively. Our perpetual care trust funds had net unrealized appreciation of $39.6 million as of December 31, 2006. The following table summarizes the investment returns excluding fees on our trust funds for the last three years.

 

 

If earnings from our trust funds decline, we would likely experience a decline in future revenues. In addition, if the trust funds experienced significant investment losses, there could be insufficient funds in the trusts to cover the costs of delivering services and merchandise or maintaining cemeteries in the future. We would have to cover any such shortfall with cash flows from operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

Increasing death benefits related to preneed funeral contracts funded through life insurance or annuity contracts may not cover future increases in the cost of providing a price guaranteed funeral service.

 

We sell price-guaranteed preneed funeral contracts through various programs providing for future funeral services at prices prevailing when the agreements are signed. For preneed funeral contracts funded through life insurance or annuity contracts, we receive in cash a general agency commission that typically averages approximately 16% of the total sale from the third party insurance company. Additionally, there is an increasing death benefit associated with the contract of approximately 1% per year to be received in cash at the time the funeral is performed. There is no guarantee that the increasing death benefit will cover future increases in the cost of providing a price-guaranteed funeral service, which could materially adversely affect our future cash flows, revenues, and operating margins.

 

Unfavorable results of litigation could have a material adverse impact on our financial statements.

 

As discussed in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, we are subject to a variety of claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of our business. Adverse outcomes in some or all of the pending cases may result in significant monetary damages or injunctive relief against us. While management currently believes that resolving all of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial position or results of operations, litigation and other claims are subject to inherent uncertainties and management’s view of these matters may change in the future. There exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our financial position and the results of operations for the period in which the effect of an unfavorable final outcome becomes probable and reasonably estimable.

 

If the number of deaths in our markets declines, our cash flows and revenues may decrease.

 

If the number of deaths declines, the number of funeral services and interments performed by us could decrease and our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

 

The continuing upward trend in the number of cremations performed in North America could result in lower revenue and gross profit dollars.

 

There is a continuing upward trend in the number of cremations performed in North America as an alternative to traditional funeral service dispositions. However, we have seen a recent reversal in the upward trend in our businesses as our strategic pricing initiative and discounting policies have resulted in a decline in highly-discounted, low-service cremation customers. In our operations in North America during 2006 and 2005, 40.9% of the comparable funeral services we performed were cremation cases compared to 39.6% performed in 2004, respectively. We expect this trend to continue in the near term. We also continue to expand our cremation memorialization products and services which has resulted in higher average sales for cremation services. If we are unable to successfully expand our cremation memorialization products and services, and cremations continue to be a significant percentage of our funeral services, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

 

The funeral home and cemetery businesses are high fixed-cost businesses.

 

The majority of our operations are managed in groups called “markets”. Markets are geographical groups of funeral service locations and cemeteries that share common resources such as operating personnel, preparation services, clerical staff, motor vehicles and preneed sales personnel. Personnel costs, the largest of our operating expenses, are the cost components most beneficially affected by this grouping. We must incur many of these costs regardless of the number of funeral services or interments performed. Because we cannot necessarily decrease these costs when we experience lower sales volumes, a sales decline may cause margin percentages to decline at a greater rate than the decline in revenues.

 

Regulation and compliance could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.

 

Our operations are subject to regulation, supervision, and licensing under numerous foreign, federal, state, and local laws, ordinances and regulations, including extensive regulations concerning trust funds, preneed sales of

funeral and cemetery products and services, and various other aspects of our business. The impact of such regulations varies depending on the location of our funeral and cemetery operations. Violations of applicable laws could result in fines or sanctions to us.

 

In addition, from time to time, governments and agencies propose to amend or add regulations, which would increase costs and decrease cash flows. For example, foreign, federal, state, local and other regulatory agencies have considered and may enact additional legislation or regulations that could affect the deathcare industry, such as regulations that require more liberal refund and cancellation policies for preneed sales of products and services, limit or eliminate our ability to use surety bonding, increase trust requirements, and/or prohibit the common ownership of funeral homes and cemeteries in the same market. If adopted by the regulatory authorities of the jurisdictions in which we operate, these and other possible proposals could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

 

Compliance with laws, regulations, industry standards, and customs concerning burial procedures and the handling and care of human remains is critical to our continued success. Litigation and regulatory proceedings regarding these issues could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. We are continually monitoring and reviewing our operations in an effort to insure that we are in compliance with these laws, regulations, and standards and, where appropriate, taking appropriate corrective action.

 

A number of years may elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have established accruals, are audited and finally resolved.

 

The number of tax years with open tax audits varies depending on the tax jurisdiction. In the United States, the Internal Revenue Service is currently examining our tax returns for 1999 through 2004 and various state jurisdictions are auditing years through 2005. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular tax matter, we believe that our accruals reflect the probable outcome of known tax contingencies. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue would reduce a deferred tax asset or require the use of cash. Favorable resolution could result in reduced income tax expense reported in the financial statements in the future.

 

None.

 

Information regarding properties is set forth in Item 1. Business of this Form 10-K.

 

Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 15.

 

None.

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

 

The following table sets forth as of February 28, 2007 the name and age of each executive officer of the Company, the office held, and the year first elected an officer.

 

 

Unless otherwise indicated below, the persons listed above have been executive officers or employees for more than five years.

 

Mr. Waltrip is the founder, Chairman of the Company, and a licensed funeral director. He grew up in his family’s funeral business and assumed management of the firm in the 1950s after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston. He began buying additional funeral homes in the 1960s, achieving cost efficiencies by pooling their resources. At the end of 2006, the network he began had grown to include more than 2,000 funeral service locations and cemeteries. Mr. Waltrip took the Company public in 1969. He has provided leadership to the Company for over 40 years. In 2005, Mr. Waltrip resigned as Chief Executive Officer, but he continues to serve as Chairman of the Board.

 

Mr. Ryan joined the Company in June 1996 and served in a variety of financial management roles within the Company. In February 1999, Mr. Ryan was promoted to Vice President International Finance. In November 2000, he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of European Operations based in Paris, France. In July 2002, Mr. Ryan was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer. In February 2005, he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ryan was a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. for more than five years. Mr. Ryan is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas-Austin.

 

Mr. Webb joined the Company in 1991 when it acquired Arlington Corporation, a regional funeral and cemetery consolidator, where he was then Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Arlington Corporation, Mr. Webb held various executive financial and development roles at Days Inns of America and Telemundo Group, Inc. In 1993, Mr. Webb joined the Company’s corporate development group, which he later led on a global basis before accepting operational responsibility for the Company’s Australian and Hispanic businesses. Mr. Webb was

promoted to Vice President International Corporate Development in February 1998 and was named Executive Vice President in July 2002. In February 2005, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

 

Mr. Garrison joined the Company in 1978 and worked in a series of management positions until he was promoted to President of the Southeastern Region in 1992. In 1998, Mr. Garrison was promoted to Vice President International Operations. In 2000, Mr. Garrison became Vice President North American Cemetery Operations and was promoted to Vice President Operations Services in August 2002. He assumed his current position as Senior Vice President Operations Support in February 2005. Mr. Garrison has a Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Management from Clemson University.

 

Mr. Jacobs joined SCI in 2007 as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Jacobs was employed by CompUSA as Chief Marketing Officer and held other management roles over the past 23 years at several of the nation’s top advertising agencies, as well as client-side positions. Mr. Jacobs holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee and a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University.

 

Mr. Mack joined the Company in 1973 as a resident director after graduating from Farmingdale State University of New York. He became Vice President of the Eastern Region in 1987 and in February 1998 Mr. Mack was appointed Vice President North American Funeral Operations. Mr. Mack was promoted to Senior Vice President Eastern Operations in August 2002 and assumed the office of Senior Vice President Middle Market Operations, his current position, in May 2004.

 

Mr. Shelger joined the Company in 1981 when it acquired IFS Industries, a regional funeral and cemetery consolidator, where he was then General Counsel. Mr. Shelger subsequently served as counsel for SCI’s cemetery division until 1991, when he was appointed General Counsel. Mr. Shelger currently serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. Mr. Shelger earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law in San Diego.

 

Mr. Tanzberger joined the Company in August 1996 as Manager of Budgets & Financial Analysis. He was promoted to Vice President Investor Relations and Assistant Corporate Controller in January 2000 and to Corporate Controller in August 2002. In 2006, Mr. Tanzberger was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Tanzberger was Assistant Corporate Controller at Kirby Marine Transportation Corporation, an inland waterway barge and tanker company, from January through August 1996. Prior thereto, he was a Certified Public Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. for more than five years. Mr. Tanzberger is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

 

Mr. Waring, a licensed funeral director, joined the Company as an Area Vice President in 1996 when the Company merged with his family’s funeral business. Mr. Waring was appointed Regional President of the Northeast Region in 1999 and was promoted to Regional President of the Pacific Region in September 2001. Mr. Waring was promoted to Vice President Western Operations in August 2002 and assumed the office of Vice President Major Market Operations in November 2003. In February 2006, Mr. Waring was promoted to Senior Vice President Major Market Operations. Mr. Waring holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Stetson University in Deland, Florida, a degree in Mortuary Science from Mt. Ida College and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

 

Mr. Beason joined SCI in July 2006 as Vice President and Corporate Controller. Prior to joining SCI, he was an employee of El Paso Corporation, a natural gas transmission and production company. Mr. Beason joined El Paso in 1978 and held various accounting and reporting roles until 1993. From 1993 to 1996, he held the position of Sr. Vice President Administration of Mojave Pipeline Operating Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of El Paso Corporation. From 1996 to November 2005, Mr. Beason was Senior Vice President Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of El Paso Corporation. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting degree from Texas Tech University.

 

Mr. Cruger oversees Corporate Development, real estate, and the Dignity Memorial^® affiliate network of independent funeral homes. He initially served the Company as a financial analyst in the corporate development department from 1996 until 1999, when he left to become Manager of Financial Analysis for R. H. Donnelley Corporation. During 2000, he returned to SCI to focus on international divestitures. From 2003 to February 2005, he served as Managing Director of Corporate Development. In February 2005, he was promoted to Vice President of Business Development. Mr. Cruger graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

 

Mrs. Jones joined SCI in 2003 from Dynegy, Inc., where she served as Vice President of Total Rewards. She oversees human resources, training and education, and payroll and commission services — activities that assist approximately 20,000 employees in North America. Mrs. Jones was promoted to Vice President Human Resources in February 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting with a minor in Finance from Southern Methodist University. She is a Certified Compensation Professional and is active in professional organizations that include World at Work and the Society for Human Resources Management.

 

Mr. Lohse joined SCI in 2000 as Managing Director of Litigation and has since been involved in the resolution of major litigation issues for the Company. In 2004, Mr. Lohse was promoted to Vice President Corporate Governance. Before joining the Company, Mr. Lohse was Managing Partner at McDade, Fogler, Maines & Lohse where he conducted a general civil trial practice. Prior to that, he practiced tort and commercial litigation at Fulbright & Jaworski. Mr. Lohse received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas and a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center.

 

Mr. Loring joined the Company in March 2000 as the Managing Director, Tax and was promoted to Assistant Treasurer in May 2004. Before joining the Company, Mr. Loring was Director, Tax at Stone & Webster, Inc. and held various corporate tax and treasury positions in other companies over a twenty-five year period. In February 2006, Mr. Loring was promoted to Vice President and Treasurer. Mr. Loring is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bryant College in North Smithfield, Rhode Island and a Master of Science in Taxation from Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts.

 

Ms. Nash joined SCI in 2002 as Managing Director of Strategic Planning and Process Improvement. Prior to joining SCI, Ms. Nash worked for the Pennzoil Corporation and held various senior management accounting and financial positions. In 2004, Ms. Nash was promoted to Vice President Continuous Process Improvement. Her primary responsibilities include improving operating systems, reducing overhead costs, and identifying and assisting in the implementation of initiatives to improve operating profit margins and cash flow. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University where she received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting.

 

Mr. Robinson joined SCI in 1996 as Director of Procurement. Prior to joining the Company Mr. Robinson was employed by Marathon Oil Company, where he spent 16 years in a variety of procurement, logistics, and information technology positions. In February 2005, he was promoted to Vice President Supply Chain Management. Prior to this promotion, he was Managing Director of Business Support Services, a position in which he oversaw fleet management and office services; voice, travel, and shipping services; and supply chain and purchasing activities. Mr. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a minor in Computer Service from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana.

 

Each officer of the Company is elected by the Board of Directors and holds their office until a successor is elected and qualified or until earlier death, resignation, or removal in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws of the Company. Each officer of a subsidiary of the Company is elected by the subsidiary’s board of directors and holds their office until a successor is elected and qualified or until earlier death, resignation, or removal in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws of the Subsidiary.

PART II

 

Our common stock has been traded on the New York Stock Exchange since May 14, 1974. On December 31, 2006, there were 5,345 holders of record of our common stock. In calculating the number of shareholders, we consider clearing agencies and security position listings as one shareholder for each agency or listing. At December 31, 2006, we had 293,222,114 shares outstanding, net of 10,000 treasury shares.

 

During 2006, we paid cash dividends totaling $29.4 million and accrued $8.8 million for dividends paid on January 31, 2007. While we intend to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, all subsequent dividends are subject to final determination by our Board of Directors each quarter after its review of our financial performance.

 

The table below shows our quarterly high and low closing common stock prices for the two years ended December 31, 2006:

 

 

Options in our common stock are traded on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SCI.

 

For equity compensation plan information, see Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

On October 31, 2006, we issued 348 deferred common stock equivalents or units pursuant to provisions regarding the receipt of dividends under the Amended and Restated Director Fee Plan to four non-employee directors. These issuances were unregistered as they did not constitute a “sale” within the meaning of Section 2(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Since 2004, we have repurchased a total of $363.3 million of common stock at an average cost per share of $7.11. We did not repurchase any of our common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2006. At December 31, 2006, we had $36.0 million authorized for share repurchases. In February 2007, our Board of Directors approved an increase in our share repurchase program authorizing the investment of up to an additional $164 million to repurchase our common stock. We now have $200 million authorized by our Board of Directors for share repurchases. As discussed in Item 1A, our new credit agreement and debt securities contain covenants that restrict our ability to repurchase our common stock.

 

The table below contains selected consolidated financial data for the years ended December 31, 2002 through December 31, 2006. The statement of operations data includes reclassifications of certain items to conform to current period presentations with no impact on net income or financial position.

 

The data set forth below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K. This historical information is not necessarily indicative of future results.

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Company

 

We are North America’s leading provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral homes and cemeteries unequalled in geographic scale and reach. During 2006, we accomplished several key goals that we believe will position us for continued growth in 2007.

 

In November 2006, we acquired Alderwoods for $20.00 per share in cash, resulting in a purchase price of $1.2 billion, which includes the refinancing of $357.7 million and the assumption of $2.2 million of Alderwoods debt. The following table sets forth the sources and uses of funds related to the Alderwoods acquisition:

 

 

 

 

The acquisition of Alderwoods allows us to serve a number of new, complementary areas, while enabling us to capitalize on significant synergies and operating efficiencies. The acquisition provides, among other things:

 

 

 

Since August 2004, we have invested more than $360 million in repurchasing our stock, and we have paid a quarterly cash dividend since early 2005. We currently have over $200 million authorized to repurchase our common stock. Our financial stability is further enhanced by our $6.5 billion backlog of future revenues at December 31, 2006, which is the result of preneed funeral and cemetery sales. We have the financial strength and flexibility to reward shareholders through dividends while maintaining a prudent capital structure and pursuing new opportunities for profitable growth.

 

Strategies for Growth

 

In recent years, we have strengthened our balance sheet, lowered our cost structure, introduced more efficient systems and processes and strengthened our management team. We believe these improvements, together with our acquisition of Alderwoods, present us with significant opportunities to achieve future growth. Our principal strategies are as follows:

 

Approach the business by customer preference.

 

We believe customer attitudes and preferences are essential to our business. We are replacing the industry’s traditional one-size-fits-all service approach with a flexible operating and marketing strategy that categorizes customers according to personal needs and preferences. Using this new approach, we are tailoring our product and service offerings based on four variables:

 

 

By identifying customers based on these variables, we can focus our resources on the most profitable customer categories and improve our marketing effectiveness. We continue to refine our pricing, product and marketing strategies to support this approach.

 

Consistent with this strategy, we have begun to analyze existing business relationships to determine whether they align with our strategic goals. As a result, we made certain local business decisions to exit unprofitable business relationships and activities in 2005 and 2006, which resulted in an initial decrease in the number of total funeral services performed. However, we also experienced significant improvements in both average revenue per funeral service and gross margins. We expect these improvements to continue into the future as we redeploy resources to more profitable areas. We continue to analyze our existing operations, including those newly acquired in the Alderwoods acquisition, and may exit certain business relationships or activities that do not fit our customer segmentation strategy.

 

Realign pricing to reflect current market environment.

 

We, along with our competitors in the deathcare industry, have historically generated most of our profits from the sale of traditional products (including caskets, vaults, and markers), while placing less emphasis on the services involved in funeral and burial preparation. However, due to increased customer preference for comprehensive and personalized deathcare services, as well as increased competition from retail outlets (including on-line retailers) for the sale of traditional products, we have realigned our pricing strategy from product to service offerings in order to

focus on services that are most valued by customers. Our initial results from the realignment strategy have been favorable based on increases in the overall average revenue per funeral service performed. We are currently evaluating the pricing of those locations acquired from Alderwoods and expect to make adjustments in the future to similarly align the pricing strategy for these locations as well.

 

Drive operating discipline and take advantage of our scale.

 

Although we have already made substantial improvements in our infrastructure, we believe we can continue to achieve operating improvements through centralization and standardization of processes for staffing, central care, fleet management and cemetery maintenance. The acquisition of Alderwoods provides further opportunities for synergies and operating efficiencies, which will allow us to utilize our scale and increase profitability. We are developing clear, yet flexible, operating standards that will be used as benchmarks for productivity in these areas. In conjunction with these standards, we will develop and track shared best practices to support higher productivity. We also intend to continue to capitalize on our nationwide network of properties by pursuing strategic affinity partnerships. Over the longer term, we believe these relationships can be important to potential customers in their funeral home selection process.

 

Manage and grow the footprint.

 

We are beginning to manage our network of business locations by positioning each business location to support the preferences of its local customer base while monitoring each market for changing demographics and competitive dynamics. We will primarily target customers who value quality and prestige or adhere to specific religious or ethnic customs. In addition, we expect to pursue selective business expansion through construction or targeted acquisitions of cemeteries and funeral homes with a focus on the highest return customer categories. In particular, we will focus cemetery expansion efforts on large cemeteries that are or may be combined with funeral home operations, which would allow facility, personnel, and equipment costs to be shared between the funeral service location and the cemetery.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Capital Allocation Considerations

 

Since 1999, we have gained significant financial flexibility by reducing debt and improving our cash flow. We rely on cash flow from operations as a significant source of liquidity. Our cash flow from operating activities provided $324 million in 2006 and we expect our operating cash flow in 2007 to range from $306 million to $346 million. Our current cash balance is $63 million as of February 23, 2007. In 2007, we expect to generate between $150 million and $170 million in proceeds from divestitures of FTC-mandated properties and other SCI properties already identified for disposal. In addition, we have approximately $240 million in borrowing capacity under our 5-year revolving credit facility (which is currently supporting $61.1 million of letters of credit). We have no significant scheduled debt maturities due in 2007. We believe these sources of liquidity can be supplemented by our ability to access the capital markets for additional debt or equity securities.

 

In order to finance the Alderwoods acquisition, we significantly increased our indebtedness in the fourth quarter of 2006. In addition to using $608 million of cash on hand, we issued $500 million in Senior Notes, $200 million in privately placed debt securities, and took out a $150 million term loan for up to three years under our new credit facility. We prepaid $50 million of our term loan indebtedness in December 2006 and prepaid an additional $60 million in January 2007. At December 31, 2006, our current liabilities exceeded our current assets as a result of using $608 million of available cash in the Alderwoods transaction. We believe our future operating cash flows and the available capacity under our new credit facility described above will be adequate to meet our working capital needs.

 

During 2006, and as of February 23, 2007, we had the following issuances and repayments of our debt:

 

Issuances

 

 

We will continue to focus on funding growth initiatives that generate increased profitability, revenue, and cash flows. These capital investments include the construction of high-end cemetery property (such as private family estates) and the construction of funeral home facilities at existing cemeteries. We will also consider the acquisition of additional deathcare operations that fit our long-term customer-focused strategy, if the expected returns will exceed our cost of capital.

 

Since early 2005, we have paid shareholders a quarterly cash dividend of $0.025 per common share. In November 2006, we increased our dividend to $0.03 per common share. While we intend to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, all future dividends are subject to final determination by our Board of Directors each quarter after its review of our financial performance.

 

We currently have approximately $200 million authorized under our share repurchase program. Once we achieve our internal capital structure and bank covenant targets, we intend to make purchases from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions, debt covenants and normal trading restrictions. Our credit agreement and privately-placed debt securities contain covenants that limit our ability to repurchase our common stock. There can be no assurance that we will buy our common stock under our share repurchase program in the future.

 

Cash Flow

 

We believe our ability to generate strong operating cash flow is one of our fundamental financial strengths and provides us with substantial flexibility in meeting operating and investing needs. Highlights of cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

 

Operating Activities — Cash flows from operating activities was $324.2 million in 2006 compared to $312.9 million in 2005. The 2005 cash flows from operating activities increased by $218.7 million as compared to the operating cash flows in 2004. Included in 2006 are transition costs related to the Alderwoods acquisition of $3.2 million and legal payments of $5.7 million. Included in 2005 was a federal income tax refund of $29.0 million. Included in 2004 was the payment of $131.1 million related to the resolution of certain litigation matters, a $20.0 million voluntary cash contribution to our pension plan, and the payment of $11.4 million to retire life insurance policy loans related to our SERP and Senior SERP retirement programs.

 

Excluding the above items, cash flow from operations in 2006 increased approximately $50.0 million compared to 2005. This increase is primarily due to $21.2 million of rent payments that were classified in operating cash flows in 2005, but which are classified as principal payments on capital leases in cash flows from financing activities in 2006 due to our revised lease terms. The remaining increase is a result of $10.9 million in proceeds from the redemption of convertible preferred equity certificates received in connection with our disposition of our operations in France, the receipt of $7.9 million of endowment care proceeds as a result of the resolution of disputes over ownership rights, and a source of approximately $10.0 million from working capital. This working capital source resulted from an increase in preneed and atneed cash receipts, and increases in cash interest income, which were partially offset by an increase in bonus and long-term incentive compensation payments in 2006 related to a 2003 compensation program.

 

In addition to the items discussed above, the increase in operating cash flows in 2005 as compared to 2004 is the result of an extra bi-weekly cash payroll payment of approximately $19.0 million in 2004, approximately $13.0 million decrease in bonus payments, an increase in net trust withdrawals, and a $16.7 million decrease in cash interest paid. These net sources of cash were partially offset by cash outflows of $16.0 million associated with our cash funding of our 401(k) matches in 2005 (compared with funding through the use of stock in 2004) and a $10.2 million increase in cash outflows to improve internal controls in order to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Cash receipts from Kenyon increased $15.0 million (offset by an $18.8 million increase in Kenyon expenses) in 2005 compared to the same period in 2004 due to Kenyon’s involvement with the incidents in Asia, Greece and the U.S. gulf coast. Additionally, cash flows from operating activities provided by our former operations in France decreased $18.3 million in 2005 as a result of the sale of our French operations in March 2004.

 

We did not pay federal income taxes in 2006, 2005 or 2004. Because of our net operating loss carryforwards we do not expect to pay federal income taxes until the second half of 2007. Foreign, state and local income tax payments increased $9.0 million to $15.6 million in 2006 as compared to $6.6 million in 2005 and $10.8 million in 2004 primarily as a result of lower foreign taxes paid due to the disposition of some of our operations in 2004.

 

Investing Activities — Cash flows from investing activities declined $1.5 billion in 2006 compared to 2005 due to $1.3 billion in cash outflows for acquisitions (primarily Alderwoods) and a $180.0 million decrease in proceeds from divestitures. The 2005 cash flows from investing activities of $171.0 million decreased by

$118.5 million primarily due to Alderwoods, as compared to the investing cash flows in 2004. This decline was driven by a decrease in proceeds from divestitures and a decrease in net withdrawals from restricted funds primarily related to various commercial commitments.

 

In 2006, we acquired Alderwoods for $1.2 billion, including refinancing of $357.7 million of Alderwoods debt. We also received $11.0 million of proceeds held as an income tax receivable related to the 2005 sale of our operations in Chile and $10.6 million in cash proceeds from the fourth quarter 2006 sale of our operations in Singapore.

 

In 2005, we received $90.4 million from the disposition of our cemetery operations in Chile, $42.7 million related to the collection of the EUR 10 million note receivable and the redemption of preferred equity certificates related to our equity investment in our former French operations (of which $39.7 million is reported as an investing activity), and $21.6 million from the disposition of our Argentina and Uruguay businesses.

 

In 2004, we sold our funeral operations in France and received net cash proceeds of $281.7 million. Following a successful public offering transaction of our former United Kingdom affiliate during the second quarter of 2004, we liquidated our debt and equity holdings in this affiliate and collected $53.8 million in aggregate, of which $49.2 million is reported as an investing activity.

 

Financing Activities — Cash flows from financing activities generated $565.2 million in 2006 compared to using $326.4 million in 2005. This $891.6 million net increase in cash was driven by proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt, a reduction in share repurchases, and a reduction in debt payments. Cash used in financing activities decreased $9.6 million in 2005 compared to 2004 primarily due to stock repurchases, partially offset by debt extinguishments and dividend payments.

 

Proceeds from long-term debt (net of debt issuance costs) were $825.3 million in 2006 due to the issuance of $250.0 million of senior unsecured 7.625% notes due in 2018, $250.0 million of senior unsecured 7.375% notes due 2014, $200 million of private placement offerings, and $150 million term loan. Proceeds from the issuance of debt were $291.5 million in 2005 due to the issuance of senior unsecured 7.00% notes due in 2017. In 2004, proceeds of $241.4 million were due to the issuance of 6.75% notes due 2016.

 

Payments of debt in 2006 were $228.9 million due to the acceptance of the tender of $139.0 million of our 7.70% senior notes due 2009, a $50.0 million repayment of our new term loan, $26.1 million in scheduled debt payments, and $21.3 million in payments on capital leases. The $377.1 million of debt payments in 2005 were related to early extinguishments of $291.3 million, the $63.5 million final payment of 6.00% notes due December 2005 and $14.5 million of other note payments. In 2004, payments of debt were $477.8 million due to the $300.0 million early extinguishment, the repayment of $111.2 million of the 7.375% notes due 2004 and $50.8 million of 8.375% notes due in 2004.

 

We repurchased 3.4 million shares of common stock for $27.9 million in 2006, compared to 31.0 million shares for $225.1 million in 2005 and 16.7 million shares for $110.3 million in 2004.

 

We paid $29.4 million of cash dividends during 2006 and $22.6 million of cash dividends during 2005 related to the quarterly cash dividend reinstated in 2005 by the Board of Directors. There were no dividend payments in 2004.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations, and Commercial and Contingent Commitments

 

We have assumed various financial obligations and commitments in the ordinary course of conducting our business. We have contractual obligations requiring future cash payments under existing contractual arrangements, such as debt maturities, interest on long-term debt, and employment, consulting and non-competition agreements. We also have commercial and contingent obligations that result in cash payments only if certain events occur requiring our performance pursuant to a funding commitment.

 

The following table details our known future cash payments (on an undiscounted basis) related to various contractual obligations as of December 31, 2006.

 

 

 

 

The following table details our known potential or possible future cash payments (on an undiscounted basis) related to various commercial and contingent obligations as of December 31, 2006.

 

 

 

 

Financial Assurances

 

In support of our operations, we have entered into arrangements with certain surety companies whereby such companies agree to issue surety bonds on our behalf as financial assurance and/or as required by existing state and local regulations. The surety bonds are used for various business purposes; however, the majority of the surety bonds issued and outstanding have been used to support our preneed funeral and cemetery sales activities. The obligations underlying these surety bonds are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as Deferred preneed funeral revenues and Deferred preneed cemetery revenues. The breakdown of surety bonds between funeral and cemetery preneed arrangements, as well as surety bonds for other activities, are described below.

 

 

When selling preneed funeral and cemetery contracts, we may post surety bonds where allowed by state law. We post the surety bonds in lieu of trusting a certain amount of funds received from the customer. The amount of the bond posted is generally determined by the total amount of the preneed contract that would otherwise be required to be trusted, in accordance with applicable state law. For the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we had $50.9 million and $64.0 million, respectively, of cash receipts attributable to bonded sales. These amounts do not consider reductions associated with taxes, obtaining costs, or other costs.

 

Surety bond premiums are paid annually and are automatically renewable until maturity of the underlying preneed contracts, unless we are given prior notice of cancellation. Except for cemetery pre-construction bonds (which are irrevocable), the surety companies generally have the right to cancel the surety bonds at any time with appropriate notice. In the event a surety company was to cancel the surety bond, we are required to obtain replacement surety assurance from another surety company or fund a trust for an amount generally less than the

posted bond amount. Management does not expect we will be required to fund material future amounts related to these surety bonds because of lack of surety capacity.

 

Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Activities and Backlog of Contracts

 

In addition to selling our products and services to client families at the time of need, we sell price-guaranteed preneed funeral and cemetery contracts, which provide for future funeral or cemetery services and merchandise. Since preneed funeral and cemetery services or merchandise will not be provided until some time in the future, most states and provinces require that all or a portion of the funds collected from customers on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts be paid into merchandise and service trusts until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. In certain situations, as described above, where permitted by state or provincial laws, we post a surety bond as financial assurance for a certain amount of the preneed funeral or cemetery contract in lieu of placing funds into trust accounts. Our backlog of funeral and cemetery contracts shown below represents the total amount of future revenues we have under contract at the end of 2006 and 2005.

 

Trust-Funded Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Contracts:  The funds deposited into trust (in accordance with various state and provincial laws) are invested by independent trustees in accordance with the investment guidelines established by statute or, where the prudent investor rule is applicable, the guidelines established by the Investment Committee of our Board of Directors. We retain any funds above the amounts required to be deposited into trust accounts and use them for working capital purposes, generally to offset the selling and administrative costs of the preneed programs.

 

Investment earnings associated with the trust investments are expected to mitigate the inflationary costs of providing the preneed funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the future for the prices that were guaranteed at the time of sale. The preneed funeral and cemetery trust assets are consolidated and recorded in our consolidated balance sheet at market value. Investment earnings on trust assets are generally accumulated in the trust and distributed as the revenue associated with the preneed funeral or cemetery contract is recognized or cancelled by the customer. In certain states and provinces, the trusts are allowed to distribute a portion of the investment earnings to us prior to that date.

 

If a preneed funeral or cemetery contract is cancelled prior to delivery, state or provincial law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, if any, including the amount of the attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, we receive the amount of principal deposited to trust and previously undistributed net investment earnings and, where required, issue a refund to the customer. We retain excess funds, if any, and recognize the attributed investment earnings (net of any investment earnings payable to the customer) as revenue in our consolidated statement of operations. In certain jurisdictions, we may be obligated to fund any shortfall if the amounts deposited by the customer exceed the funds in trust. Based on our historical experience, we have included a cancellation reserve for preneed funeral and cemetery contracts in our consolidated balance sheet of $151.3 million and $112.0 million as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

The cash flow activity over the life of a trust funded preneed funeral or cemetery contract from the date of sale to its recognition or cancellation is captured in the operating cash flow line items (Increase) decrease in preneed receivables and trust investments, Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed revenue, Increase (decrease) in non-controlling interest and Net income (loss) in the consolidated statement of cash flows. While the contract is outstanding, cash flow is provided by the amount retained from funds collected from the customer and any distributed investment earnings. Prior to January 1, 2005, this amount was reduced by the payment of preneed deferred selling costs. The effect of amortizing preneed deferred selling costs was reflected in Depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Effective January 1, 2005, the payment of direct selling costs associated with trust funded preneed contracts is reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows as cash flows from operating activities in the line item Net income (loss), since such direct selling costs are expensed as incurred. At the time of death maturity, we receive the principal and undistributed investment earnings from the funeral trust and any remaining receivable due from the customer. At the time of delivery or storage of cemetery merchandise and service items for which we were required to deposit funds to trust, we receive the principal and undistributed investment earnings from the cemetery trust. There is generally no remaining receivable due from the customer, as our policy is to deliver preneed cemetery merchandise and service items only upon payment of the

contract balance in full. This cash flow at the time of service, delivery or storage is generally less than the associated revenue recognized, thus reducing cash flow from operating activities.

 

The tables below detail our North America results of preneed funeral and cemetery production and maturities, excluding insurance contracts, for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

Insurance-Funded Preneed Funeral Contracts:  Where permitted by state or provincial law, customers may arrange their preneed funeral contract by purchasing a life insurance or annuity policy from third-party insurance companies, for which we earn a commission as general sales agent for the insurance company. These general agency commissions (GA revenues) are based on a percentage per contract sold and are recognized as funeral revenues when the insurance purchase transaction between the customer and third-party insurance provider is completed. Direct selling costs incurred pursuant to the sale of insurance-funded preneed funeral contracts are expensed as incurred. The policy amount of the insurance contract between the customer and the third-party insurance company generally equals the amount of the preneed funeral contract. We do not reflect the unfulfilled insurance-funded preneed funeral contract amounts in our consolidated balance sheet. Approximately 60% of our North America preneed funeral production in 2006 relates to insurance-funded preneed funeral contracts.

 

The third-party insurance company collects funds related to the insurance contract directly from the customer. The life insurance contracts include a death benefit escalation provision, which is expected to offset the inflationary costs of providing the preneed funeral services and merchandise in the future at the prices that were guaranteed at the time of the preneed sale. The customer/policy holder assigns the policy benefits to our funeral home to pay for the preneed funeral contract at the time of need.

 

Additionally, we may receive cash overrides based on achieving certain dollar volume targets of life insurance policies sold as a result of marketing agreements entered into in connection with the sale of our insurance subsidiaries in 2000.

 

The table below details the North America results of insurance-funded preneed funeral production and maturities for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the number of contracts associated with those transactions.

 

 

 

 

North America Backlog of Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Contracts:  The following table reflects our North America backlog of trust-funded deferred preneed funeral and cemetery contract revenues including amounts related to Non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts at December 31, 2006 and 2005. Additionally, the table reflects our North America backlog of unfulfilled insurance-funded contracts (which was not included in our consolidated balance sheet) at December 31, 2006 and 2005. The backlog amounts presented are reduced by an amount that we believe will cancel before maturity based on historical experience.

 

The table also reflects our North America preneed funeral and cemetery receivables and trust investments (market and cost bases) associated with the backlog of deferred preneed funeral and cemetery contract revenues, net of the estimated cancellation allowance. We believe that the table below is meaningful because it sets forth the aggregate amount of future revenues we expect to recognize as a result of preneed sales, as well as the amount of assets associated with those revenues. Because the future revenues exceed the asset amounts, future revenues will exceed the cash distributions actually received from the associated trusts.

 

 

The market value of funeral and cemetery trust investments was based primarily on quoted market prices at December 31, 2006 and 2005. The difference between the backlog and asset amounts represents the contracts for which we have posted surety bonds as financial assurance in lieu of trusting, the amounts collected from customers that were not required to be deposited into trust, and allowable cash distributions from trust assets. The table also reflects the amounts expected to be received from insurance companies through the assignment of policy proceeds related to insurance-funded funeral contracts.

 

Results of Operations — Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

Management Summary

 

Our primary financial focus in 2006 was on funding disciplined growth initiatives that generate increased profitability and cash flow margins. The most significant of these initiatives was the acquisition of Alderwoods in the fourth quarter of 2006. Former Alderwoods businesses contributed $11 million of income from continuing operations before income tax representing their operations from November 28, 2006 (the acquisition date) through December 31, 2006. Other key highlights in 2006 included:

 

 

 

Results of Operations

 

In 2006, we reported consolidated net income of $56.5 million ($.19 per dilutive share) compared to a net loss in 2005 of $127.9 million ($(.42) per dilutive share) and net income in 2004 of $110.7 million ($.34 per dilutive share). These results were impacted by large non-recurring items that decreased earnings, including:

 

 

Significant non-recurring items that increased earnings included:

 

 

Consolidated Versus Comparable Results — Years Ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004

 

The table below reconciles our consolidated GAAP results to our comparable, or “same store,” results for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004. We define comparable operations (or same store operations) as those funeral and cemetery locations that were owned for the entire period beginning January 1, 2004 and ending December 31, 2006. The following tables present operating results for funeral and cemetery locations that were owned by us for all three years. As implied by our definition of comparable operations, these results specifically exclude any impact from the Alderwoods acquisition.