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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010
or
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number 1-6402-1
SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Texas
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  74-1488375
(I. R. S. employer identification number)
     
1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas
(Address of principal executive offices)
  77019
(Zip code)
713-522-5141
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
None
(Former name, former address, or former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES o NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO þ
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of April 26, 2010 was 254,827,248 (net of treasury shares).
 
 

 


 

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
INDEX
         
    Page  
    3  
    4  
    4  
    4  
    5  
    6  
    7  
    8  
    35  
    35  
    35  
    41  
    44  
    45  
    46  
    46  
    47  
    47  
    47  
    47  
    47  
    49  
 EX-12.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2

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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 a death has occurred.
Burial Vaults — A reinforced container intended to house and protect the casket before it is placed in the ground.
Cemetery Perpetual Care or Endowment Care Fund — A trust fund established for the purpose of maintaining cemetery grounds and property into perpetuity.
Cremation — The reduction of human remains to bone fragments by intense heat.
General Agency (GA) Revenues — Commissions we receive from third-party life insurance companies 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.
Interment — The burial or final placement of human remains in the ground.
Lawn Crypt — An underground outer burial receptacle constructed of concrete and reinforced steel, which is usually pre-installed in predetermined designated areas.
Marker — A method of identifying a deceased person in a particular burial space, crypt, or niche. Permanent burial markers are usually made of bronze, granite, or stone.
Maturity — When the underlying contracted service is performed or merchandise is delivered, typically at death. This is the point at which preneed contracts are converted to atneed contracts (note — delivery of certain merchandise and services can occur prior to death).
Mausoleum — An above ground structure that is designed to house caskets and cremation urns.
Preneed — Purchase of products and services prior to a death occurring.
Preneed Backlog — Future revenues from unfulfilled preneed funeral and cemetery contractual arrangements.
Production — Sales of preneed funeral and preneed or atneed cemetery contracts.
     As used herein, “SCI”, “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to Service Corporation International and companies owned directly or indirectly by Service Corporation International, unless the context requires otherwise.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.   Financial Statements
SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
Revenues
  $ 530,863     $ 510,595  
Costs and expenses
    (418,556 )     (410,475 )
 
           
Gross profit
    112,307       100,120  
General and administrative expenses
    (26,201 )     (21,786 )
(Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net
    (480 )     7,230  
 
           
Operating income
    85,626       85,564  
Interest expense
    (32,301 )     (31,670 )
Gain on early extinguishment of debt
          1,610  
Other expense, net
    (1,884 )     (843 )
 
           
Income before income taxes
    51,441       54,661  
Provision for income taxes
    (20,116 )     (20,281 )
 
           
Net income
    31,325       34,380  
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (413 )     150  
 
           
Net income attributable to common stockholders
    30,912       34,530  
 
           
 
               
Basic earnings per share
  $ .12     $ .14  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ .12     $ .14  
 
               
Basic weighted average number of shares
    254,400       250,134  
 
           
Diluted weighted average number of shares
    256,154       250,309  
 
           
Dividends declared per share
  $ .04     $ .04  
 
           
(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share amounts)
                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 180,474     $ 179,745  
Receivables, net
    91,769       92,228  
Deferred tax assets
    52,355       51,534  
Inventories
    33,737       31,117  
Current assets held for sale
    2,497       1,197  
Other
    17,484       21,640  
 
           
Total current assets
    378,316       377,461  
 
           
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments
    1,392,839       1,356,353  
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments
    1,428,525       1,382,717  
Cemetery property, at cost
    1,498,094       1,489,065  
Property and equipment, net
    1,670,194       1,591,074  
Non-current assets held for sale
    57,476       80,901  
Goodwill
    1,307,560       1,201,332  
Deferred charges and other assets
    413,585       522,389  
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments
    919,948       889,689  
 
           
 
  $ 9,066,537     $ 8,890,981  
 
           
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 329,856     $ 312,821  
Current maturities of long-term debt
    28,622       49,957  
Current liabilities held for sale
    554       501  
Income taxes
    5,092       2,236  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    364,124       365,515  
 
           
Long-term debt
    1,858,465       1,840,532  
Deferred preneed funeral revenues
    591,534       596,966  
Deferred preneed cemetery revenues
    820,546       817,543  
Deferred tax liability
    276,717       246,730  
Non-current liabilities held for sale
    27,511       68,332  
Other liabilities
    405,578       380,263  
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust
    2,280,140       2,201,403  
Care trusts’ corpus
    921,500       890,909  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
               
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Common stock, $1 per share par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 254,851,432 and 254,027,384 shares issued, respectively, and 254,761,136 and 254,017,384 shares outstanding , respectively
    254,761       254,017  
Capital in excess of par value
    1,727,226       1,735,493  
Accumulated deficit
    (572,964 )     (603,876 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    110,969       97,142  
 
           
Total common stockholders’ equity
    1,519,992       1,482,776  
 
           
Noncontrolling interests
    430       12  
 
           
Total Equity
    1,520,422       1,482,788  
 
           
 
  $ 9,066,537     $ 8,890,981  
 
           
(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 31,325     $ 34,380  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Gain on early extinguishment of debt
          (1,610 )
Depreciation and amortization
    28,679       29,115  
Amortization of intangible assets
    5,636       5,484  
Amortization of cemetery property
    6,434       5,911  
Amortization of loan costs
    1,261       898  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    31       3,091  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    14,425       18,577  
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net
    480       (7,230 )
Share-based compensation
    2,324       2,408  
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
               
Decrease in receivables
    2,658       12,269  
Decrease in other assets
    493       5,083  
Increase in payables and other liabilities
    9,070       21,954  
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
               
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments
    25,844       4,558  
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral revenue
    (3,668 )     (2,349 )
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust
    (18,655 )     (5,579 )
Effect of cemetery production and deliveries:
               
(Increase) decrease in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments
    (7,892 )     9,596  
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue
    8,814       9,589  
Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust
    (360 )     (4,792 )
Acquisition costs and other
    2,037       1  
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    108,936       141,354  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures
    (18,336 )     (23,494 )
Acquisitions
    (259,393 )     (512 )
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment, net
    24,268       7,713  
Net withdrawals of restricted funds and other
    26,445       129  
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (227,016 )     (16,164 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    175,000        
Debt issuance costs
    (6,203 )      
Payments of debt
    (30,810 )     (2,132 )
Early extinguishment of debt
        (7,476 )
Principal payments on capital leases
    (5,889 )     (6,581 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    1,024       2,363  
Purchase of Company common stock
    (689 )      
Payments of dividends
    (10,161 )     (9,981 )
Bank overdrafts and other
    (7,773 )     (13,658 )
 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    114,499       (37,465 )
Effect of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents
    4,310       (151 )
 
           
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    729       87,574  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    179,745       128,397  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 180,474     $ 215,971  
 
           
(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
                                                                   
                                              Accumulated              
                              Capital in             Other              
    Outstanding       Common     Treasury Stock     Excess of     Accumulated     Comprehensive     Noncontrolling        
    Shares       Stock     Par Value     Par Value     Deficit     Income     Interests     Total  
Balance at December 31, 2009
    254,017       $ 254,027     $ (10 )   $ 1,735,493     $ (603,876 )   $ 97,142       12     $ 1,482,788  
Net income
                                      30,912               413       31,325  
Dividends declared on common stock ($.04 per share)
                              (10,190 )                             (10,190 )
Other comprehensive income
                                              13,827       5       13,832  
Employee share-based compensation earned
                              2,324                               2,324  
Stock option exercises
    294         294               730                               1,024  
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures
    529         529               (529 )                              
Purchase of Company Common Stock
    (80 )               (80 )     (609 )                             (689 )
Other
    1         1               7                             8  
 
                                                 
Balance at March 31, 2010
    254,761       $ 254,851     $ (90   $ 1,727,226     $ (572,964 )   $ 110,969     $ 430     $ 1,520,422  
 
                                                 
(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
1. Nature of Operations
     We are North America’s largest provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral service locations and cemeteries primarily operating in the United States and Canada. Our operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and related businesses.
     Funeral service locations 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, casket memorialization products, burial vaults, cremation receptacles, cremation memorial products, flowers, and other ancillary products and services, is sold at funeral service locations. 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, markers, merchandise installations, and burial openings and closings. We also sell preneed funeral and cemetery products and services whereby a customer contractually agrees to the terms of certain products and services to be provided in the future.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
     Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Service Corporation International and all subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Our financial statements also include the accounts of the funeral merchandise and service trusts, cemetery merchandise and service trusts, and cemetery perpetual care trusts in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary. Our interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals and any other adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of our results for these periods. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting policies described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, unless otherwise disclosed herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith. The accompanying year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year period. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, we have evaluated subsequent events.
Reclassifications
     Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
     The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions as described in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. These estimates and assumptions may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Variable Interest Entities
     In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended its authoritative guidance to improve financial reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest entities (VIE). Specifically, the amended guidance addresses: (1) the impact resulting from the elimination of the qualifying special-purpose entity concept in previously issued guidance, and (2) constituent concerns about the application of certain key provisions of the existing guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities, including those in which the accounting and disclosures under the existing guidance do not always provide timely and useful information about an

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enterprise’s involvement in a VIE. The amended guidance was effective for us on January 1, 2010, and its adoption did not significantly impact our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
     In December 2009, the FASB issued additional guidance on improving financial reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest entities by clarifying the principal objectives of required disclosures, which include: (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by a reporting unit, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE’s assets reported by a reporting entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with a reporting entity’s involvement with the VIE, and (4) how a reporting entity’s involvement with the VIE affects the reporting entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. The amended guidance was effective for us on January 1, 2010, and its adoption did not significantly impact our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Fair Value Measurements
     In January 2010, the FASB amended the Fair Value Measurements Topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) to require additional disclosures on (1) transfers between levels, (2) Level 3 activity presented on a gross basis, (3) valuation technique, and (4) inputs into the valuation. We adopted Items 1, 3, and 4 during the three months ended March 31, 2010, and the adoption did not impact our unaudited condensed unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Item 2 will be effective for us in the first quarter of 2011, and we do not believe this guidance will have a significant impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3. Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Equity
In January 2010, the FASB provided additional guidance under the Equity Topic of the ASC to eliminate multiple approaches to accounting for elective distributions to shareholders. The Amendment clarifies that the stock performance of a distribution to shareholders that allows them to elect to receive cash or shares with a potential limitation on the total amount of cash that all shareholders can elect to receive in aggregate is considered a share in issuance. This guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2010, and retroactive application is required. This guidance does not have an impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
Consolidation
In January 2010, the FASB amended the guidance under the Consolidation Topic of the ASC to clarify the scope of a decrease in ownership of a subsidiary. This guidance is effective for us on January 1, 2010. This guidance does not have an impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
Stock-Based Compensation
In April 2010, the FASB issued additional guidance for the Compensation – Stock Compensation Topic of the ASC to clarify classification of an employee stock-based payment award when the exercise price is denominated in the currency of a market in which the underlying equity security trades. This guidance becomes effective for us on January 1, 2011. We do not believe this guidance will have any impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
4. Preneed Funeral Activities
     Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, related to unperformed, price-guaranteed preneed funeral contracts. Our funeral merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. Our cemetery trust investments detailed in Notes 5 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed funeral revenues into Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts after the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed funeral contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

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     Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.
     The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed funeral merchandise and service trusts:
                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
    2010   2009
    (In thousands)
Deposits
  $ 21,173     $ 17,116  
Withdrawals
    32,010       23,175  
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    151,100       66,910  
Sales of available-for-sale securities
    177,786       65,061  
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities
    11,493       984  
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities
    (18,445 )     (13,895 )
     The components of Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:
                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    (In thousands)  
Trust investments, at market
  $ 773,058     $ 771,945  
Cash and cash equivalents
    195,154       153,126  
Insurance-backed fixed income securities
    215,744       214,255  
Assets associated with businesses held for sale
    (3,689 )     (377 )
 
           
Trust investments
    1,180,267       1,138,949  
Receivables from customers
    251,829       256,009  
Unearned finance charge
    (5,897 )     (6,129 )
 
           
 
    1,426,199       1,388,829  
Allowance for cancellation
    (33,360 )     (32,476 )
 
           
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments
  $ 1,392,839     $ 1,356,353  
 
           
     The cost and market values associated with our funeral merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments (including debt as well as the estimated fair value related to the contract holder’s equity in majority-owned real estate investments). The fair market value of our funeral merchandise and service trust investments, in the aggregate, was 98% and 96% of the related cost basis of such investments as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
                                 
    March 31, 2010  
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
    (In thousands)  
Fixed income securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 43,804     $ 1,252     $ (310 )   $ 44,746  
Canadian government
    121,089       2,687       (53 )     123,723  
Corporate
    35,798       1,070       (539 )     36,329  
Residential mortgage-backed
    6,801       345       (11 )     7,135  
Asset-backed
    2,914       109       (7 )     3,016  
Equity securities:
                               
Preferred stock
    2,841       76       (38 )     2,879  
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                               
Growth
    142,728       24,006       (7,825 )     158,909  

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    March 31, 2010  
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
    (In thousands)  
Value
    165,576       23,013       (10,720 )     177,869  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    109,439       2,712       (21,736 )     90,415  
Fixed income
    127,642       2,524       (14,246 )     115,920  
Private equity
    25,883       1,517       (16,044 )     11,356  
Other
    990       353       (582 )     761  
 
                       
Trust investments
  $ 785,505     $ 59,664     $ (72,111 )   $ 773,058  
 
                       
                                 
    December 31, 2009  
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
    (In thousands)  
Fixed income securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 40,065     $ 1,258     $ (65 )   $ 41,258  
Canadian government
    104,713       1,430       (47 )     106,096  
Corporate
    29,778       2,091       (21 )     31,848  
Residential mortgage-backed
    6,573       119       (10 )     6,682  
Asset-backed
    3,188       76             3,264  
Equity securities:
                               
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                               
Growth
    150,649       22,210       (10,343 )     162,516  
Value
    176,614       19,033       (16,027 )     179,620  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    118,018       2,277       (27,153 )     93,142  
Fixed income
    151,918       2,135       (18,586 )     135,467  
Private equity
    24,445       1,529       (14,808 )     11,166  
Other
    1,503       359       (976 )     886  
 
                       
Trust investments
  $ 807,464     $ 52,517     $ (88,036 )   $ 771,945  
 
                       
     Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires significant management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is

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estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. Private equity investments are valued using market appraisals or a discounted cash flow methodology, which is an income approach for fair value model, depending on the nature of the underlying assets. The appraisals assess value based on a combination of replacement cost, comparative sales analysis, and discounted cash flow analysis. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     As of March 31, 2010, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $13.0 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.
     Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock equity securities. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.
     The inputs into the fair value of our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:
                                 
    Quoted Market   Significant        
    Prices in Active   Other   Significant    
    Markets   Observable   Unobservable   Fair Market
    (Level 1)   Inputs (Level 2)   Inputs (Level 3)   Value
    (In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2010
  $ 543,113     $ 217,828     $ 12,117     $ 773,058  
Trust investments at December 31, 2009
  $ 570,745     $ 189,148     $ 12,052     $ 771,945  
The change in our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended March  
    31,  
    2010     2009  
Fair market value, beginning balance at January 1
  $ 12,052     $ 40,880  
Net unrealized losses included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)
    (346 )     (5,616 )
Net realized (losses) gains included in Other expense, net(2)
    (12 )     19  
Purchases, sales, contributions, and distributions, net
    423       (404 )
Transfers out of Level 3
          (21,891 )
 
           
Fair market value, ending balance
  $ 12,117     $ 12,988  
 
           
 
(1)   All losses recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.
 
(2)   All (losses) gains recognized in Other expense, net for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other expense, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.
     Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2010 to 2040. Maturities of fixed income securities at March 31, 2010 are estimated as follows:

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    Fair Market  
    Value  
    (In thousands)  
Due in one year or less
  $ 113,773  
Due in one to five years
    43,217  
Due in five to ten years
    39,107  
Thereafter
    18,852  
 
     
 
  $ 214,949  
 
     
     Earnings from all trust investments are recognized in current funeral revenues when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenues. Recognized earnings (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments were $8.1 million and $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
     We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other expense, net and a decrease to Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other expense, net, which reduces Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust. In the first quarter of 2010, we recorded a $5.1 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain equity securities. In the first quarter of 2009, we recorded a $6.7 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain equity securities.
     We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our funeral merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, are shown in the following tables.
                                                 
    March 31, 2010  
    In Loss Position     In Loss Position        
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater Than 12 Months     Total  
    Fair             Fair             Fair        
    Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized  
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
    (In thousands)  
Fixed income securities:
                                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 4,737     $ (301 )   $ 1,060     $ (9 )   $ 5,797     $ (310 )
Canadian government
    4,653       (53 )                 4,653       (53 )
Corporate
    12,910       (538 )     102       (1 )     13,012       (539 )
Residential mortgage-backed
    945       (11 )                 945       (11 )
Asset-backed
    152       (7 )                 152       (7 )
Equity securities:
                                               
Preferred Stock
    1,043       (38 )                 1,043       (38 )
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                                               
Growth
    38,434       (3,304 )     12,478       (4,521 )     50,912       (7,825 )
Value
    24,693       (2,029 )     40,091       (8,691 )     64,784       (10,720 )

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    March 31, 2010  
    In Loss Position     In Loss Position        
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater Than 12 Months     Total  
    Fair             Fair             Fair        
    Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized  
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
    (In thousands)  
Mutual funds:
                                               
Equity
    42,858       (15,952 )     28,204       (5,784 )     71,062       (21,736 )
Fixed income
    29,039       (7,683 )     12,755       (6,563 )     41,794       (14,246 )
Private equity
    7,418       (1,565 )     19,066       (14,479 )     26,484       (16,044 )
Other
    272       (141 )     462       (441 )     734       (582 )
 
                                   
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 167,154     $ (31,622 )   $ 114,218     $ (40,489 )   $ 281,372     $ (72,111 )
 
                                   
                                                 
    December 31, 2009  
    In Loss Position     In Loss Position        
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater Than 12 Months     Total  
    Fair             Fair             Fair        
    Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized  
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
    (In thousands)  
Fixed income securities:
                                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 2,707     $ (40 )   $ 2,296     $ (25 )   $ 5,003     $ (65 )
Canadian government
    5,367       (47 )                 5,367       (47 )
Corporate
    1,517       (21 )                 1,517       (21 )
Residential mortgage-backed
    1,494       (10 )                 1,494       (10 )
Equity securities:
                                               
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                                               
Growth
    36,467       (3,693 )     19,941       (6,650 )     56,408       (10,343 )
Value
    38,221       (3,180 )     45,979       (12,847 )     84,200       (16,027 )
Mutual funds:
                                               
Equity
    60,413       (24,928 )     20,945       (2,225 )     81,358       (27,153 )
Fixed income
    46,542       (10,471 )     22,684       (8,115 )     69,226       (18,586 )
Private equity
    9,657       (1,743 )     16,454       (13,065 )     26,111       (14,808 )
Other
    585       (203 )     765       (773 )     1,350       (976 )
 
                                   
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 202,970     $ (44,336 )   $ 129,064     $ (43,700 )   $ 332,034     $ (88,036 )
 
                                   
5. Preneed Cemetery Activities
     Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, for contracts sold in advance of when the property interment rights, merchandise, or services are needed. Our cemetery merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed cemetery revenues into Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts when the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed cemetery contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
     Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed cemetery revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.
     The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed cemetery merchandise and service trusts:

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    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
    2010   2009
    (In thousands)
Deposits
  $ 22,231     $ 19,343  
Withdrawals
    23,898       28,868  
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    254,318       56,872  
Sales of available-for-sale securities
    220,449       53,662  
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities
    11,253       1,039  
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities
    (17,521 )     (28,953 )
     The components of Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
Trust investments, at market
  $ 983,612     $ 968,100  
Cash and cash equivalents
    127,921       145,668  
Assets associated with businesses held for sale
    (8,031 )     (47,726 )
 
           
Trust investments
    1,103,502       1,066,042  
Receivables from customers
    405,903       396,918  
Unearned finance charges
    (41,360 )     (41,517 )
 
           
 
    1,468,045       1,421,443  
Allowance for cancellation
    (39,520 )     (38,726 )
 
           
Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments
  $ 1,428,525     $ 1,382,717  
 
           
     The cost and market values associated with our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments (including debt as well as the estimated fair value related to the contract holder’s equity in majority-owned real estate investments). The fair market value of our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments, in the aggregate, was 99% and 95% of the related cost basis of such investments as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
                                 
    March 31, 2010  
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
    (In thousands)  
Fixed income securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 40,372     $ 1,081     $ (452 )   $ 41,001  
Canadian government
    15,919       220       (81 )     16,058  
Corporate
    42,540       775       (728 )     42,587  
Residential mortgage-backed
    4,701       75       (20 )     4,756  
Asset-backed
    6,298       267       (7 )     6,558  
Equity securities:
                               
Preferred Stock
    4,373       89       (53 )     4,409  
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                               
Growth
    201,455       31,381       (9,450 )     223,386  
Value
    258,700       30,296       (14,244 )     274,752  

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    March 31, 2010  
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
    (In thousands)  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    207,962       5,402       (31,230 )     182,134  
Fixed income
    198,321       2,037       (16,812 )     183,546  
Private equity
    16,287       7       (12,129 )     4,165  
Other
    773       38       (551 )     260  
 
                       
Trust investments
  $ 997,701     $ 71,668     $ (85,757 )   $ 983,612  
 
                       
                                 
    December 31, 2009  
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
    (In thousands)  
Fixed income securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 32,084     $ 1,169     $ (81 )   $ 33,172  
Canadian government
    15,664       224       (53 )     15,835  
Corporate
    9,065       438       (3 )     9,500  
Residential mortgage-backed
    1,460       19       (2 )     1,477  
Asset-backed
    6,476       193             6,669  
Equity securities:
                               
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                               
Growth
    198,564       27,019       (11,130 )     214,453  
Value
    260,356       23,475       (20,856 )     262,975  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    241,763       4,028       (38,093 )     207,698  
Fixed income
    233,999       2,699       (24,718 )     211,980  
Private equity
    14,968       8       (11,000 )     3,976  
Other
    1,230       34       (899 )     365  
 
                       
Trust investments
  $ 1,015,629     $ 59,306     $ (106,835 )   $ 968,100  
 
                       
     Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires significant management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. Private equity investments are valued using market appraisals or a discounted

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cash flow methodology, which is an income approach fair value model, depending on the nature of the underlying assets. The appraisals assess value based on a combination of replacement cost, comparative sales analysis, and discounted cash flow analysis. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     As of March 31, 2010, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $11.9 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.
     Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock equity securities. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.
     The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:
                                 
    Quoted Market            
    Prices in Active   Significant Other   Significant    
    Markets   Observable Inputs   Unobservable Inputs    
    (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)   Fair Market Value
    (In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2010
  $ 863,818     $ 115,369     $ 4,425     $ 983,612  
Trust investments at December 31, 2009
  $ 897,106     $ 66,653     $ 4,341     $ 968,100  
     The change in our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
Fair market value, beginning balance at January 1
  $ 4,341     $ 31,837  
Net unrealized losses included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)
    (278 )     (10,823 )
Net realized (losses) gains included in Other expense, net(2)
    (11 )     18  
Purchases, sales, contributions, and distributions, net
    373       (461 )
Transfers out of Level 3
          (15,593 )
 
           
Fair market value, ending balance
  $ 4,425     $ 4,978  
 
           
 
(1)   All losses recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.
 
(2)   All (losses) gains recognized in Other expense, net for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other expense, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.
     Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2010 to 2040. Maturities of fixed income securities at March 31, 2010 are estimated as follows:
         
    Fair Market  
    Value  
    (In thousands)  
Due in one year or less
  $ 5,505  
Due in one to five years
    45,089  
Due in five to ten years
    33,688  
Thereafter
    26,678  
 
     
 
  $ 110,960  
 
     

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     Earnings from all our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues when the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognize in current revenues. Recognized earnings (losses) (realized and unrealized) related to our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments were $3.4 million and ($1.1) million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other expense, net and a decrease to Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other expense, net, which reduces Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. In the first quarter of 2010, we recorded a $2.2 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain equity securities. In the first quarter of 2009, we recorded a $9.6 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain equity securities.
     We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. The unrealized losses reflect the effects of the current economic crisis. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments, which included a review of the portfolio holdings, discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market value and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2010 are shown in the tables below.
                                                 
    March 31, 2010  
    In Loss Position     In Loss Position        
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater Than 12 Months     Total  
    Fair Market     Unrealized     Fair Market     Unrealized     Fair Market     Unrealized  
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
    (In thousands)  
Fixed income securities:
                                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 10,460     $ (445 )   $ 659     $ (7 )   $ 11,119     $ (452 )
Canadian government
    5,326       (81 )                 5,326       (81 )
Corporate
    18,467       (728 )                 18,467       (728 )
Residential mortgage-backed
    157       (20 )                 157       (20 )
Asset-backed
    161       (7 )                 161       (7 )
Equity securities:
                                               
Preferred Stock
    1,751       (53 )                 1,751       (53 )
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                                               
Growth
    51,563       (4,042 )     14,628       (5,408 )     66,191       (9,450 )
Value
    42,619       (2,450 )     54,554       (11,794 )     97,173       (14,244 )
Mutual funds:
                                               
Equity
    84,498       (22,165 )     31,487       (9,065 )     115,985       (31,230 )
Fixed income
    98,224       (12,853 )     11,300       (3,959 )     109,524       (16,812 )
Private equity
    12,785       (4,322 )     10,293       (7,807 )     23,078       (12,129 )
Other
    448       (148 )     345       (403 )     793       (551 )
 
                                   
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 326,459     $ (47,314 )   $ 123,266     $ (38,443 )   $ 449,725     $ (85,757 )
 
                                   

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    December 31, 2009  
    In Loss Position     In Loss Position        
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater Than 12 Months     Total  
    Fair Market     Unrealized     Fair Market     Unrealized     Fair Market     Unrealized  
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
                    (In thousands)                  
Fixed income securities:
                                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 2,624     $ (65 )   $ 1,171     $ (16 )   $ 3,795     $ (81 )
Canadian government
    5,262       (53 )                 5,262       (53 )
Corporate
    212       (3 )                 212       (3 )
Residential mortgage-backed
    267       (2 )                 267       (2 )
Equity securities:
                                               
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                                               
Growth
    53,941       (4,357 )     21,402       (6,773 )     75,343       (11,130 )
Value
    64,698       (4,031 )     60,093       (16,825 )     124,791       (20,856 )
Mutual funds:
                                               
Equity
    123,439       (33,152 )     44,463       (4,941 )     167,902       (38,093 )
Fixed income
    131,246       (16,036 )     28,203       (8,682 )     159,449       (24,718 )
Private equity
    14,048       (4,056 )     9,204       (6,944 )     23,252       (11,000 )
Other
    863       (252 )     552       (647 )     1,415       (899 )
 
                                   
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 396,600     $ (62,007 )   $ 165,088     $ (44,828 )   $ 561,688     $ (106,835 )
 
                                   
6. Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts
     We are required by state and provincial law to pay into cemetery perpetual care trusts a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights. Our cemetery perpetual care trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The merchandise and service trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 5 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. We consolidate our cemetery perpetual care trust investments with a corresponding amount recorded as Care trusts’ corpus. Cash flows from cemetery perpetual care trusts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
     The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our cemetery perpetual care trusts:
                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31,
    2010   2009
    (In thousands)
Deposits
  $ 5,373     $ 5,367  
Withdrawals
    9,375       9,145  
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    64,197       44,847  
Sales of available-for-sale securities
    26,550       32,475  
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities
    2,059       820  
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities
    (1,673 )     (11,521 )

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     The components of Cemetery perpetual care trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:
                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    (In thousands)  
Trust investments, at market
  $ 841,735     $ 814,640  
Cash and cash equivalents
    83,016       92,153  
Assets associated with businesses held for sale
    (4,803 )     (17,104 )
 
           
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments
  $ 919,948     $ 889,689  
 
           
     The cost and market values associated with our cemetery perpetual care trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities or cash held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments. The fair market value of our cemetery perpetual care trust investments was 98% and 95% of the related cost basis of such investments as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
                                 
    March 31, 2010  
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
            (In thousands)          
Fixed income securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 4,936     $ 867     $ (14 )   $ 5,789  
Canadian government
    27,294       372       (139 )     27,527  
Corporate
    48,068       3,355       (487 )     50,936  
Residential mortgage-backed
    3,372       82       (3 )     3,451  
Asset-backed
    515       7       (1 )     521  
Equity securities:
                               
Preferred stock
    4,582       1,366       (106 )     5,842  
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                               
Growth
    6,958       622       (311 )     7,269  
Value
    130,824       12,509       (11,311 )     132,022  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    65,507       2,989       (12,657 )     55,839  
Fixed income
    528,847       12,406       (3,925 )     537,328  
Private equity
    31,048       408       (19,630 )     11,826  
Other
    7,072       728       (4,415 )     3,385  
 
                       
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments
  $ 859,023     $ 35,711     $ (52,999 )   $ 841,735  
 
                       
                                 
            December 31, 2009        
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
            (In thousands)          
Fixed income securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 5,031     $ 852     $ (9 )   $ 5,874  
Canadian government
    26,688       378       (92 )     26,974  
Corporate
    40,703       3,079       (367 )     43,415  
Residential mortgage-backed
    1,923       35       (9 )     1,949  
Asset-backed
    520       8             528  
Equity securities:
                               

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            December 31, 2009        
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
            (In thousands)          
Preferred stock
    5,803       1,389       (259 )     6,933  
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                               
Growth
    6,172       452       (251 )     6,373  
Value
    129,549       8,810       (15,185 )     123,174  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    69,376       2,023       (15,598 )     55,801  
Fixed income
    534,137       4,384       (9,845 )     528,676  
Private equity
    28,853       394       (18,235 )     11,012  
Other
    8,568       748       (5,385 )     3,931  
 
                       
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments
  $ 857,323     $ 22,552     $ (65,235 )   $ 814,640  
 
                       
     Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires significant management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. Private equity investments are valued using market appraisals or a discounted cash flow methodology, which is an income approach fair value model, depending on the nature of the underlying assets. The appraisals assess value based on a combination of replacement cost, comparative sales analysis, and discounted cash flow analysis. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC.
     As of March 31, 2010, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $11.4 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.
     Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock equity securities. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.
     The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery perpetual care trust investments are categorized as follows:
                                 
    Quoted Market                    
    Prices in Active     Significant Other     Significant        
    Markets     Observable Inputs     Unobservable Inputs        
    (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)     Fair Market Value  
            (In thousands)          
Trust investments at March 31, 2010
    $732,458     $ 94,066     $ 15,211     $ 841,735  
Trust investments at December 31, 2009
    $714,024     $ 85,673     $ 14,943     $ 814,640  

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     The change in our market-based cemetery perpetual care trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
Fair market value, beginning balance at January 1
  $ 14,943     $ 48,276  
Net unrealized gains (losses) included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)
    586       (22,007 )
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)
    (25 )     (5 )
Purchases, sales, contributions, and distributions, net
    (293 )     (3,363 )
Transfers out of Level 3
          (7,212 )
 
           
Fair market value, ending balance
  $ 15,211     $ 15,689  
 
           
 
(1)   All gains (losses) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.
 
(2)   All losses recognized in Other expense, net for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other expense, net to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.
     Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2010 to 2040. Maturities of fixed income securities at March 31, 2010 are estimated as follows:
         
    Fair Market Value  
    (In thousands)  
Due in one year or less
  $ 9,649  
Due in one to five years
    38,840  
Due in five to ten years
    22,386  
Thereafter
    17,349  
 
     
 
  $ 88,224  
 
     
     Distributable earnings from these cemetery perpetual care trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues to the extent we incur qualifying cemetery maintenance costs. Recognized earnings related to these cemetery perpetual care trust investments were $9.6 million and $8.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
     We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other expense, net and a decrease to Cemetery perpetual care trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other expense, net, which reduces Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus. In the first quarter of 2010, we recorded a $1.5 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain equity securities. In the first quarter of 2009, we recorded a $4.2 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain equity securities.
     We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings, and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our cemetery perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2010, are shown in the following tables.

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    March 31, 2010  
    In Loss Position     In Loss Position        
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater Than 12 Months     Total  
    Fair             Fair             Fair        
    Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized  
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
                    (In thousands)                  
Fixed income securities:
                                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 572     $ (14 )   $     $     $ 572     $ (14 )
Canadian government
    9,214       (139 )                 9,214       (139 )
Corporate
    6,328       (211 )     2,289       (276 )     8,617       (487 )
Residential mortgage-backed
    345       (3 )                 345       (3 )
Equity securities:
    208       (1 )                 208       (1 )
Preferred stock
    281       (30 )     583       (76 )     864       (106 )
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                                               
Growth
    2,399       (241 )     264       (70 )     2,663       (311 )
Value
    14,593       (982 )     35,029       (10,329 )     49,622       (11,311 )
Mutual funds:
                                               
Equity
    21,494       (8,502 )     14,042       (4,155 )     35,536       (12,657 )
Fixed income
    50,994       (2,919 )     24,325       (1,006 )     75,319       (3,925 )
Private equity
    3,635       (4,073 )     18,844       (15,557 )     22,479       (19,630 )
Other
    773       (868 )     4,001       (3,547 )     4,774       (4,415 )
 
                                   
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 110,836     $ (17,983 )   $ 99,377     $ (35,016 )   $ 210,213     $ (52,999 )
 
                                   
                                                 
    December 31, 2009  
    In Loss Position     In Loss Position        
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater Than 12 Months     Total  
    Fair             Fair             Fair        
    Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized  
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
                    (In thousands)                  
Fixed income securities:
                                               
U.S. Treasury
  $ 1,029     $ (9 )   $     $     $ 1,029     $ (9 )
Canadian Government
    9,053       (92 )                 9,053       (92 )
Corporate
    4,739       (92 )     2,780       (275 )     7,519       (367 )
Residential mortgage-backed
    1,426       (9 )                 1,426       (9 )
Equity securities:
                                               
Preferred stock
    511       (47 )     734       (212 )     1,245       (259 )
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                                               
Growth
    1,299       (126 )     987       (125 )     2,286       (251 )
Value
    20,125       (1,649 )     36,289       (13,536 )     56,414       (15,185 )
Mutual funds:
                                               
Equity
    21,152       (9,290 )     16,051       (6,308 )     37,203       (15,598 )
Fixed income
    285,936       (7,512 )     36,141       (2,333 )     322,077       (9,845 )

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    December 31, 2009  
    In Loss Position     In Loss Position        
    Less Than 12 Months     Greater Than 12 Months     Total  
    Fair             Fair             Fair        
    Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized     Market     Unrealized  
    Value     Losses     Value     Losses     Value     Losses  
                    (In thousands)                  
Private equity
    8,973       (7,249 )     12,689       (10,986 )     21,662       (18,235 )
Other
    2,497       (2,017 )     3,519       (3,368 )     6,016       (5,385 )
 
                                   
Total temporarily impaired securities
  $ 356,740     $ (28,092 )   $ 109,190     $ (37,143 )   $ 465,930     $ (65,235 )
 
                                   
7. Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts’ Corpus
Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust
     We consolidate the merchandise and service trusts associated with our preneed funeral and cemetery activities in accordance with the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. Although the guidance requires the consolidation of the merchandise and service trusts, it does not change the legal relationships among the trusts, us, or our customers. The customers are the legal beneficiaries of these merchandise and service trusts, and therefore their interests in these trusts represent a liability to us.
     The components of Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are detailed below.
                                                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Preneed     Preneed             Preneed     Preneed        
    Funeral     Cemetery     Total     Funeral     Cemetery     Total  
    (In thousands)     (in thousands)  
Trust investments
  $ 1,180,267     $ 1,103,502     $ 2,283,769     $ 1,138,949     $ 1,066,042     $ 2,204,991  
Accrued trust operating payables and other
    (1,440 )     (2,189 )     (3,629 )     (1,449 )     (2,139 )     (3,588 )
 
                                   
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust
  $ 1,178,827     $ 1,101,313     $ 2,280,140     $ 1,137,500     $ 1,063,903     $ 2,201,403  
 
                                   
Care Trusts’ Corpus
     The Care trusts’ corpus reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet represents the cemetery perpetual care trusts, including the related accrued expenses, and other long-term liabilities of our perpetual care trusts.
     The components of Care trusts’ corpus in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are detailed below.
                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    (In thousands)  
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments
  $ 919,948     $ 889,689  
Accrued trust operating payables and other
    1,552       1,220  
 
           
Care trusts’ corpus
  $ 921,500     $ 890,909  
 
           
Other Expense, Net
     The components of Other expense, net in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 are detailed below. See Notes 4, 5, and 6 for further discussion of the amounts related to the funeral, cemetery, and cemetery perpetual care trusts.
                                         
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2010  
    Funeral     Cemetery     Cemetery Perpetual              
    Trusts     Trusts     Care Trusts     Other, Net     Total  
                    (In thousands)                  
Realized gains
  $ 11,493     $ 11,253     $ 2,059     $     $ 24,805  
Realized losses and impairment charges
    (23,570 )     (19,752 )     (3,151 )           (46,473 )
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income
    3,127       4,670       7,647             15,444  
Trust expenses and income taxes
    (1,049 )     (2,390 )     241             (3,198 )
 
                             
Net trust investment (loss) income
    (9,999 )     (6,219 )     6,796             (9,422 )
Reclassification to deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus
    9,999       6,219       (6,796 )           9,422  

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    Three Months Ended March 31, 2010  
    Funeral     Cemetery     Cemetery Perpetual              
    Trusts     Trusts     Care Trusts     Other, Net     Total  
                    (In thousands)                  
Other expense, net
                      (1,884 )     (1,884 )
 
                             
Total other expense, net
  $     $     $     $ (1,884 )   $ (1,884 )
 
                             
                                         
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2009  
    Funeral     Cemetery     Cemetery Perpetual              
    Trusts     Trusts     Care Trusts     Other, Net     Total  
                    (In thousands)                  
Realized gains
  $ 984     $ 1,039     $ 820     $     $ 2,843  
Realized losses and impairment charges
    (20,555 )     (38,535 )     (15,676 )           (74,766 )
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income
    1,686       5,471       12,377             19,534  
Trust expenses and income taxes
    (10 )     1,241       (415 )           816  
 
                             
Net trust investment loss 
    (17,895 )     (30,784 )     (2,894 )           (51,573 )
Reclassification to deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus
    17,895       30,784       2,894             51,573  
Other expense, net
                      (843 )     (843 )
 
                             
Total other expense, net
  $     $     $     $ (843 )   $ (843 )
 
                             
8. Keystone Acquisition
     On March 26, 2010, pursuant to a tender offer, we acquired approximately 91% of the outstanding common stock of Keystone North America, Inc. (Keystone) for C$8.07 per share in cash, resulting in a purchase price of $288.9 million, which includes the refinancing of $80.7 million of Keystone’s debt and a liability for the expected cost of the remaining shares of $17.5 million at the C$8.07 share offered price (using currency conversion rates as of March 31, 2010). This liability was recorded because we acquired all of the Keystone common shares that were not deposited in the tender offer pursuant to the compulsory acquisition provisions of the Ontario Business Corporations Act in April 2010.
     We incurred acquisition costs of $5.3 million of which $1.9 million is included in General and Administrative Expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and the reminder was incurred in prior periods.
     The primary reasons for the merger and the principal factors that contributed to the recognition of goodwill in this acquisition were:
    the acquisition of Keystone enhances our network footprint, enabling us to serve a number of new, complementary areas;
 
    combining the two companies’ operations provides synergies and related cost savings through the elimination of duplicate home office functions and economies of scale; and
 
    the acquisition of Keystone’s preneed backlog of deferred revenues enhances our long-term stability.
     The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of March 26, 2010:
         
    (In thousands)  
Accounts receivable
  $ 4,946  
Other current assets
    21,231  
Cemetery property
    19,918  
Property and equipment, net
    107,343  
Preneed funeral and cemetery receivables and trust investments
    67,505  
Intangible assets
    65,272  
Deferred charges and other assets
    5,834  
Goodwill
    115,352  
 
     
Total assets acquired
    407,401  
Current liabilities
    19,784  
Long-term debt
    2,742  
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery revenues and deferred receipts held in trusts
    64,649  
Deferred tax liability
    17,823  
Other liabilities
    13,541  
 
     

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    (In thousands)  
Total liabilities assumed
    118,539  
 
     
Net assets acquired
    288,862  
 
     
     The allocation of the purchase price, as reflected above, has not been adjusted for planned divestitures as described in Note 18.
     We have not finalized our assessment of the fair values as there has been insufficient time between the acquisition date and the issuance of this Form 10-Q to complete our review of individual contracts, agreements, and accounting records of Keystone.
     The gross amount of accounts receivable is $8.0 million, of which $3.1 million is not expected to be collected. Included in Preneed funeral and cemetery receivables and trust investments are receivables under preneed contracts with a fair value of $5.4 million. The gross amount due under the contracts is $5.7 million, of which $0.3 million is not expected to be collected.
     Goodwill, land, and certain identifiable intangible assets recorded in the acquisition are not subject to amortization; however, the goodwill and intangible assets will be tested periodically for impairment as required by the Intangible Assets Topic of the ASC. Of the $115.4 million in goodwill recognized, $4.6 million was allocated to our cemetery segment and $110.8 million was allocated to our funeral segment. As a result of the carryover of Keystone’s tax basis, $26.0 million of this goodwill is deductible for tax purposes. The $65.3 million in identified intangible assets consists of the following:
                 
    Useful life     Fair Value  
    (In thousands)  
Preneed customer relationships related to insurance claims
  10 years   $ 11,700  
Preneed deferred revenue
  10-14 years     2,832  
Covenants-not-to-compete
  5 - 15 years     13,000  
Operating Leases
  5 - 15 years     440  
Tradenames
  5 years     3,600  
Tradenames
  Indefinite     33,200  
Licenses and permits
  Indefinite     500  
 
             
Total intangible assets
          $ 65,272  
 
             
     Included in our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 is revenue of $1.7 million and net income of $0.4 million for the period from the acquisition date (March 26, 2010) through March 31, 2010. The following unaudited pro forma summary presents financial information as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the three months ended:
                 
    March 31, 2010   March 31, 2009
Revenue
  $ 560,515     $ 543,728  
Net income
  $ 33,882     $ 39,408  
9. Income Taxes
     Income tax expense during interim periods is based on our estimated annual effective income tax rate plus any discrete items which are recorded in the period in which they occur. Discrete items include, among others, such events as changes in estimates, tax audit settlements, expiration of statute of limitations and increases or decreases in valuation allowances. Our effective tax rate was 39.1% and 37.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily due to higher foreign and state income taxes offset with a reduction in non-deductible items.
     We file numerous federal, state and foreign income tax returns. A number of years may elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have unrecognized tax benefits, are audited and finally settled. In the United States, the tax years 1999 through 2002 remain under examination by the Internal Revenue Service and we are at the IRS Appeals administrative level on certain disputed issues that came out of its examination of tax years 2003 through 2005. Various state and foreign jurisdictions are auditing years through 2008. The outcome of each of these audits cannot be predicted at this time. It is reasonably possible that changes to our global unrecognized tax benefits could be significant; however, due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of completion of audits and possible outcomes, a current estimate of the range of increases or decreases that may occur within the next twelve months cannot be made.
10. Debt
     Debt as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was as follows:

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    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    (In thousands)  
7.875% Debentures due February 2013
  $ 32,127     $ 32,127  
7.375% Senior Notes due October 2014
    245,000       245,000  
6.75% Notes due April 2015
    160,250       160,250  
6.75% Notes due April 2016
    233,143       233,143  
7.0% Notes due June 2017
    295,000       295,000  
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018
    250,000       250,000  
7.5% Notes due April 2027
    200,000       200,000  
8.0% Notes due November 2021
    150,000       150,000  
Bank credit facility due November 2013
    145,000       150,000  
Obligations under capital leases
    143,948       142,946  
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047
    39,113       38,631  
Unamortized pricing discounts and other
    (6,494 )     (6,608 )
 
           
Total debt
    1,887,087       1,890,489  
Less current maturities
    (28,622 )     (49,957 )
 
           
Total long-term debt
  $ 1,858,465     $ 1,840,532  
 
           
     Current maturities of debt at March 31, 2010 were primarily comprised of our capital leases. Our consolidated debt had a weighted average interest rate of 6.52% at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Approximately 85% of our total debt had a fixed interest rate at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
Bank Credit Facility
     As of March 31, 2010, we have $145.0 million in outstanding cash advances under our bank credit facility and have used it to support $47.4 million of letters of credit. The bank credit facility provides us with flexibility for working capital, if needed, and is guaranteed by our domestic subsidiaries. The subsidiary guaranty is a guaranty of payment of the outstanding amount of the total lending commitment, including letters of credit. The bank credit facility contains certain financial covenants, including a minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum leverage ratio, and certain dividend and share repurchase restrictions. We pay a quarterly fee on the unused commitment. As of March 31, 2010, we have $207.6 million in borrowing capacity under the facility.
Debt Issuances and Additions
     In November 2009, we issued $150.0 million of unsecured 8.0% Senior Notes due 2021, which were held in escrow at December 31, 2009. On March 26, 2010, the net proceeds of these notes were released from escrow and used in connection with the closing of the Keystone acquisition. As a result, the proceeds were classified as Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt in our unaudited condensed consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The notes are subject to the provisions of the Company’s Senior Indenture dated as of February 1, 1993, as amended, which includes covenants limiting, among other things, the creation of liens securing indebtedness and sale-leaseback transactions.
     In addition to the funds from escrow, we drew down $25.0 million on our bank credit facility to finance our Keystone acquisition.
Debt Extinguishments and Reductions
     In the first quarter of 2010, we repaid $30.0 million of amounts drawn on our bank credit facility. There was no gain or loss recognized as a result of this repayment.
     In the first quarter of 2009, we purchased $7.3 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.75% Notes due 2015 and $2.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.00% Notes due 2017 on the open market. As a result of these transactions, we recognized a gain of $1.6 million recorded in Gain on early extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2009, which represents the write-off of unamortized deferred loan costs of $0.2 million and a $1.8 million discount on the purchase of the Notes.

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Capital Leases
     During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, we acquired $5.5 million and $11.2 million, respectively, of transportation equipment using capital leases.
11. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value Estimates
     The fair value estimates of the following financial instruments have been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and trade payables approximate the fair values of those instruments due to the short-term nature of the instruments. The fair values of receivables on preneed funeral contracts and cemetery contracts are impracticable to estimate because of the lack of a trading market and the diverse number of individual contracts with varying terms.
     The fair value of our debt instruments at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was as follows:
                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    (In thousands)  
7.875% Debentures due February 2013
  $ 31,565     $ 31,330  
7.375% Senior Notes due October 2014
    251,125       247,450  
6.75% Notes due April 2015
    159,048       157,846  
6.75% Notes due April 2016
    230,812       222,069  
7.0% Notes due June 2017
    290,575       289,100  
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018
    253,750       250,625  
8.0% Notes due November 2021
    152,437       148,500  
7.5% Notes due April 2027
    183,500       179,000  
Bank credit facility due November 2013
    144,063       148,875  
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047
    38,968       34,898  
 
           
Total fair value of debt instruments
  $ 1,735,843     $ 1,709,693  
 
           
     The fair values of our long-term, fixed rate securities were estimated using market prices for those securities, and therefore they are classified within Level 1 of the Fair Value Measurements hierarchy discussed in Note 2. The bank credit agreement and the mortgage and other debt are classified within Level 3 of the Fair Value Measurements hierarchy. The fair values of these instruments have been estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on our incremental borrowing rate for similar borrowing arrangements.
12. Share-Based Compensation
Stock Benefit Plans
     We utilize the Black-Scholes option valuation model for estimating the fair value of our stock options. This model allows the use of a range of assumptions related to volatility, the risk-free interest rate, the expected life, and the dividend yield. The fair values of our stock options are calculated using the following weighted average assumptions for the three months ended March 31, 2010:
         
    Three Months Ended
Assumptions   March 31, 2010
Dividend yield
    2.0 %
Expected volatility
    37.5 %
Risk-free interest rate
    2.3 %
Expected holding period
  5.0 years

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Stock Options
     The following table sets forth stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2010:
                 
            Weighted-Average
    Options   Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
    10,495,142     $ 7.36  
Granted
    2,245,020       7.65  
Exercised
    (278,947 )     3.40  
 
               
Outstanding at March 31, 2010
    12,461,215     $ 7.50  
 
               
Exercisable at March 31, 2010
    7,084,429     $ 8.37  
 
               
     As of March 31, 2010, the unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options of $9.0 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.
Restricted Shares
     Restricted share activity for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was as follows:
                 
            Weighted-Average
    Restricted   Grant-Date
    shares   Fair Value
Nonvested restricted shares at December 31, 2009
    1,101,440     $ 6.01  
Granted
    529,020       7.66  
Vested
    (466,217 )     7.05  
 
               
Nonvested restricted shares at March 31, 2010
    1,164,243     $ 6.35  
 
               
As of March 31, 2010, the unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted shares of $6.9 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.
13. Equity
     Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:
                         
    Foreign             Accumulated  
    Currency     Unrealized     Other  
    Translation     Gains and     Comprehensive  
    Adjustment     Losses     Income  
            (In thousands)          
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 97,142     $     $ 97,142  
Activity in 2010
    13,827             13,827  
Reduction in net unrealized losses associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes
          49,144       49,144  
Reclassification of net unrealized losses activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes
          (49,144 )     (49,144 )
 
                 
Balance at March 31, 2010
  $ 110,969     $     $ 110,969  
 
                 
     The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using the current exchange rate. The U.S. dollar amount that arises from such translation, as well as exchange gains and losses on intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature, are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment in Accumulated other comprehensive income. Income taxes are generally not provided on foreign currency translation adjustments.
     The components of comprehensive income are as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

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    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
Comprehensive income:
               
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
               
Net income
  $ 30,912     $ 34,530  
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    13,827       (7,753 )
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests:
               
Net income (loss)
  413     (150 )
Other comprehensive income
    5      
 
           
Comprehensive income
  $ 45,157     $ 26,627  
 
           
Cash Dividends
     On February 10, 2010, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $.04 per common share. At March 31, 2010, this dividend totaling $10.2 million was recorded in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and Capital in excess of par value in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. This dividend will be paid on April 30, 2010.
14. Segment Reporting
     Our operations are both product based and geographically based, and the reportable operating segments presented below include our funeral and cemetery operations. Our geographic areas include United States, Canada, and Germany. We conduct both funeral and cemetery operations in the United States and Canada and funeral operations in Germany.
     Our reportable segment information is as follows:
                         
                    Reportable
    Funeral   Cemetery   Segments
            (In thousands)        
Three months ended March 31,
                       
Revenues from external customers:
                       
2010
  $ 368,929     $ 161,934     $ 530,863  
2009
  $ 364,909     $ 145,686     $ 510,595  
Gross profit:
                       
2010
  $ 84,566     $ 27,741     $ 112,307  
2009
  $ 84,073     $ 16,047     $ 100,120  
     The following table reconciles gross profit from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
Gross profit from reportable segments
  $ 112,307     $ 100,120  
General and administrative expenses
    (26,201 )     (21,786 )
(Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net
    (480 )     7,230  
 
           
Operating income
    85,626       85,564  
Interest expense
    (32,301 )     (31,670 )
Gain on early extinguishment of debt
          1,610  
Other expense, net
    (1,884 )     (843 )
 
           
Income before income taxes
  $ 51,441     $ 54,661  
 
           
     Our geographic area information is as follows:
                                 
    United            
    States   Canada   Germany   Total
            (In thousands)        
Three months ended March 31,
                               
Revenues from external customers:
                               
2010
  $ 480,210     $ 48,776     $ 1,877     $ 530,863  
2009
  $ 467,476     $ 41,415     $ 1,704     $ 510,595  

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15. Supplementary Information
     The detail of certain income statement accounts as presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations is as follows:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
Merchandise revenues:
               
Funeral
  $ 119,759     $ 118,407  
Cemetery
    107,184       91,861  
 
           
Total merchandise revenues
    226,943       210,268  
Services revenues:
               
Funeral
    233,716       234,713  
Cemetery
    47,259       45,159  
 
           
Total services revenues
    280,975       279,872  
 
           
Other revenues
    22,945       20,455  
 
           
Total revenues
  $ 530,863     $ 510,595  
 
           
Merchandise costs and expenses:
               
Funeral
  $ 64,893     $ 62,073  
Cemetery
    45,897       41,606  
 
           
Total cost of merchandise
    110,790       103,679  
Services costs and expenses:
               
Funeral
    104,241       103,612  
Cemetery
    24,253       25,446  
 
           
Total cost of services
    128,494       129,058  
 
           
Overhead and other expenses
    179,272       177,738  
 
           
Total costs and expenses
  $ 418,556     $ 410,475  
 
           
16. Commitments and Contingencies
Insurance Loss Reserves
     We purchase comprehensive general liability, morticians and cemetery professional liability, automobile liability, and workers’ compensation insurance coverage structured with high deductibles. The high-deductible insurance program means we are primarily self-insured for claims and associated costs and losses covered by these policies. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we have self-insurance reserves of $54.4 million and $57.9 million, respectively.
Litigation
     We are a party to various litigation matters, investigations, and proceedings. For each of our outstanding legal matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies, and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in the lawsuits described herein; however, if we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated, we establish the necessary accruals. We hold certain insurance policies that may reduce cash outflows with respect to an adverse outcome of certain of these litigation matters. We accrue such insurance recoveries when they become probable of being paid and can be reasonably estimated.
     Conley Investment Counsel v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Civil Action 04-MD-1609; in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the “2003 Securities Lawsuit”). The 2003 Securities Lawsuit resulted from the transfer and consolidation by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation of three lawsuits — Edgar Neufeld v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Cause No. CV-S-03-1561-HDM-PAL; in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada; and Rujira Srisythemp v. Service Corporation International, et al .; Cause No. CV-S-03-1392-LDG-LRL; in the United States District

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Court for the District of Nevada; and Joshua Ackerman v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Cause No. 04-CV-20114; in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The 2003 Securities Lawsuit names as defendants SCI and several of SCI’s current and former executive officers or directors. The 2003 Securities Lawsuit is a purported class action alleging that the defendants failed to disclose the unlawful treatment of human remains and burial sites at two cemeteries in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Florida. No discovery has occurred, and we cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of damages.
     Burial Practices Claims. We are named as a defendant in various lawsuits alleging improper burial practices at certain of our cemetery locations. These lawsuits include the Garcia and Sands lawsuits described in the following paragraphs.
     Reyvis Garcia and Alicia Garcia v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., Osiris Holding of Florida, Inc, a Florida corporation, d/b/a Graceland Memorial Park South, f/k/a Paradise Memorial Gardens, Inc., was filed in December 2004, in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, Case No.; 04-25646 CA 32. Plaintiffs are the son and sister of the decedent, Eloisa Garcia, who was buried at Graceland Memorial Park South in March 1986, when the cemetery was owned by Paradise Memorial Gardens, Inc. Initially, the suit sought damages on the individual claims of the plaintiffs relating to the burial of Eloisa Garcia. Plaintiffs claimed that due to poor record keeping, spacing issues and maps, and the fact that the family could not afford to purchase a marker for the grave, the burial location of the decedent could not be readily located. Subsequently, the decedent’s grave was located and verified. In July 2006, plaintiffs amended their complaint, seeking to certify a class of all persons buried at this cemetery whose burial sites cannot be located, claiming that this was due to poor record keeping, maps, and surveys at the cemetery. Plaintiffs subsequently filed a third amended class action complaint and added two additional named plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified monetary damages, as well as equitable and injunctive relief. No class has been certified in this matter. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.
     F. Charles Sands, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. Eden Memorial Park, et al.; Case No. BC421528; in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles — Central District. This case was filed in September 2009 against SCI and certain subsidiaries regarding our Eden Memorial Park cemetery in Mission Hills, California. The plaintiff seeks to certify a class of cemetery plot owners and their families. The plaintiff also seeks the appointment of a receiver to oversee cemetery operations. The plaintiff claims the cemetery damaged and desecrated burials in order to make room for subsequent burials. Since the case is in its preliminary stages, we cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.
     Antitrust Claims. We are named as a defendant in an antitrust case filed in 2005. The case is Cause No 4:05-CV-03394; Funeral Consumers Alliance, Inc. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas — Houston (“Funeral Consumers Case”). This was a purported class action on behalf of casket consumers throughout the United States alleging that we and several other companies involved in the funeral industry violated federal antitrust laws and state consumer laws by engaging in various anti-competitive conduct associated with the sale of caskets. Based on the case proceeding as a class action, the plaintiffs filed an expert report indicating that the damages sought from all defendants range from approximately $950 million to $1.5 billion, before trebling. However, the trial court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the case as a class action. We deny that we engaged in anticompetitive practices related to our casket sales and we have filed reports of our experts, which vigorously dispute the validity of the plaintiffs’ damages theories and calculations. The individual plaintiffs’ claims are set for trial on August 3, 2010.
     Wage and Hour Claims. We are named a defendant in various lawsuits alleging violations of federal and state laws regulating wage and hour overtime pay, including the Prise, Bryant, Bryant, Helm, Stickle, and Welch lawsuits described in the following paragraphs.
     Prise, et al., v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., and Service Corporation International; Cause No. 06-164; in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Wage and Hour Lawsuit”). The Wage and Hour Lawsuit was filed by two former Alderwoods (Pennsylvania), Inc. employees in December 2006 and purports to have been brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) on behalf of all Alderwoods and SCI-affiliated employees who performed work for which they were not fully compensated, including work for which overtime pay was owed. The court has conditionally certified a class of claims as to certain job positions for Alderwoods employees.

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     Plaintiffs allege causes of action for violations of the FLSA, failure to maintain proper records, breach of contract, violations of state wage and hour laws, unjust enrichment, fraud and deceit, quantum meruit, negligent misrepresentation, and negligence. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, unpaid wages, liquidated, compensatory, consequential and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, and pre- and post-judgment interest. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.
     Bryant, et al. v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. 3:07-CV-5696-SI; in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. This lawsuit was filed on November 8, 2007 against SCI and various subsidiaries and individuals. It too is related to the Wage and Hour Lawsuit, raising similar claims and brought by the same attorneys. This lawsuit has been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and is now Case No. 08-CV-00891-JFC. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.
     Bryant, et al. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. RG-07359593; and Helm, et al. v. AWGI & SCI ; Case No. RG-07359602; in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Almeda. These cases were filed on December 5, 2007 by counsel for plaintiffs in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit. These cases assert state law claims similar to the federal claims asserted in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit. These cases were removed to federal court in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco/Oakland Division. The Bryant case is now Case No. 3:08-CV-01190-SI and the Helm case is now Case No. C 08-01184-SI. On December 29, 2009, the court in the Helm case denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the case as a class action. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in these lawsuits.
     Stickle, et al. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. 08-CV-83; in the U.S. District Court for Arizona, Phoenix Division. Counsel for plaintiffs in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit filed this case on January 17, 2008, against SCI and various related entities and individuals asserting FLSA and other ancillary claims based on the alleged failure to pay for overtime. In September 2009, the Court conditionally certified a class of claims as to certain job positions of SCI affiliated employees. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.
     Shauna Welch v. California Cemetery & Funeral Services, LLC; Case No. BC 396793; in the Superior Court of the State of California, for the County of Los Angeles. In August 2008, the plaintiff filed a class action on behalf of employees of a subsidiary in California for alleged violations of the California Labor Code and the Business & Professions Code. The plaintiff specifically alleges that she and the putative class are unable to negotiate their paychecks without paying a fee and/or without being subject to a waiting period since paychecks are issued from an out-of-state bank. Subject to court approval, the parties have agreed to settle this case for an amount which is not material to us.
     The ultimate outcome of the matters described above cannot be determined at this time. We intend to vigorously defend all of the above lawsuits; however, an adverse decision in one or more of such matters could have a material effect on us, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
17. Earnings Per Share
     Basic earnings per common share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing Net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other obligations to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common shares that then shared in our earnings.
     A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations is presented below:

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    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands, except per  
    share amounts)  
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
               
Net income:
               
Net income — basic
  $ 30,912     $ 34,530  
After tax interest on convertible debt
    13       13  
 
           
Net income — diluted
  $ 30,925     $ 34,543  
 
           
 
               
Weighted average shares (denominator):
               
Weighted average shares — basic
    254,400       250,134  
Stock options
    1,633       54  
Convertible debt
    121       121  
 
           
Weighted average shares — diluted
    256,154       250,309  
 
           
Net income per share:
               
Basic
  $ .12     $ .14  
Diluted
  $ .12     $ .14  
          The computation of diluted EPS excludes outstanding stock options and convertible debt in certain periods in which the inclusion of such options and debt would be anti-dilutive in the periods presented. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009, total options and convertible debentures not currently included in the computation of dilutive EPS were 4.7 million and 12.1 million, respectively.
18. Divestiture-Related Activities
     As divestitures occur in the normal course of business, gains or losses on the sale of such businesses are recognized in the income statement line item (Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net. Additionally, as divestitures occur pursuant to our ongoing asset sale programs, adjustments are made through this income statement line item to reflect the difference between actual proceeds received from the sale compared to the original estimates.
     (Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net consists of the following for the three months ended March 31:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (In thousands)  
Gains on divestitures, net
  $ 375     $ 10,865  
Impairment losses
    (855 )     (3,635 )
 
           
 
  $ (480 )   $ 7,230  
 
           
Assets Held for Sale
     We committed to a plan to sell certain operating properties as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Additionally, subsequent to March 31, 2010, we have entered into an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to sell 22 funeral homes and five cemeteries in conjunction with the acquisition of Keystone.
     Net assets held for sale were as follows:
                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
Assets:
               
Current assets
  $ 2,497     $ 1,197  
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments
    4,272       377  
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments
    10,752       50,952  
Cemetery property, at cost
    9,229       2,111  
Property and equipment, net
    27,378       120  
Deferred charges and other assets
    1,042       10,237  

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    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments
    4,803       17,104  
 
           
Total assets
    59,973       82,098  
 
           
Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    554       501  
Deferred preneed funeral revenues
    1,504        
Deferred preneed cemetery revenues
    9,237       49,346  
Other liabilities
    11,967       1,882  
Care trusts’ corpus
    4,803       17,104  
 
           
Total liabilities
    28,065       68,833  
 
           
Net assets held for sale
  $ 31,908     $ 13,265  
 
           
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The Company
     We are North America’s largest provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral homes and cemeteries unequalled in geographic scale and reach. At March 31, 2010, we operated 1,441 funeral service locations and 387 cemeteries (including 221 combination locations) in North America, which are geographically diversified across 44 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Our funeral segment also includes the operations of 12 funeral homes in Germany that we intend to exit when economic values and conditions are conducive to a sale. Our funeral service and cemetery operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and related businesses. We sell cemetery property and funeral and cemetery products and services at the time of need and on a preneed basis.
     Our financial stability is enhanced by our $6.6 billion backlog of future revenues from both trust and insurance-funded sales at March 31, 2010, which is the result of preneed funeral and cemetery sales. We believe 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. We currently have approximately $123.4 million authorized to repurchase our common stock.
     On March 26, 2010, pursuant to a tender offer, we acquired approximately 91% of the outstanding common stock of Keystone for C$8.07 per share in cash, resulting in a purchase price of $288.9 million, which includes the refinancing of $80.7 million of Keystone’s debt and our purchase of the remaining shares of Keystone for $17.5 million, subsequent to March 31, 2010.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Volatility in Financial Markets
     Our funeral, cemetery merchandise and service, and cemetery perpetual care trusts have been impacted by the volatility in the U.S. and global financial markets. The fair market value of our trust investments declined sharply in the second half of 2008. Since that time, our trusts have recovered commensurate with the overall improvement in the financial markets. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, our combined trust fund assets had a return on investment of 3.8%.
     As of March 31, 2010, we have cumulative net unrealized losses of $26.5 million in our preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts, and cumulative net unrealized losses of $17.3 million in our cemetery perpetual care trusts, as discussed in Notes 4, 5, and 6 , Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. At March 31, 2010, these net unrealized losses represented 1.7% of our original cost basis of $2.6 billion. As explained in “Critical Accounting Policies, Fair Value Measurements”, changes in unrealized gains and/or losses related to these securities are reflected in Other comprehensive income (loss) and offset by the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus interest in those unrealized gains and/or losses. Therefore, the majority of these net unrealized losses are not reflected in our consolidated statement of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. We do, however, rely on our trust investments to provide funding for the various contractual obligations that arise upon maturity of the underlying preneed contracts. Because of the long-term relationship between the establishment of trust investments and the required performance of the underlying contractual obligations, the impact of current market conditions that may exist at any given time is not necessarily indicative of our ability to generate profit on our future performance obligations.

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     In 2010, we recorded a $8.8 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain equity securities. We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in the capital markets. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments and across several asset classes using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk.
Trust Investments
     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 sometime 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 trusts and/or preneed escrow accounts until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. 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.
     Also, we are required by state and provincial law to pay a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights into perpetual care trusts. For these investments, the original corpus remains in the trust in perpetuity and the net ordinary earnings are intended to offset the expense to maintain the cemetery property. The majority of states require that net gains or losses are retained and added to the corpus, but certain states allow the net realized gains and losses to be included in the income that is distributed.
     Independent trustees manage and invest all of the funds deposited into the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts as well as the cemetery perpetual care trusts. The trustees are selected based on their respective geographic footprint and qualifications per state and provincial regulations. All of the trustees engage the same independent investment advisor. The trustees, with input from the investment advisor, establish an investment policy that serves as an operating document to guide the investment activities of the trusts including asset allocation and manager selection. The investments are also governed by state and provincial guidelines. Asset allocation for the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts is generally based on matching the time period that we expect the funeral or cemetery preneed contract to be outstanding. Since net ordinary earnings are distributed monthly from the cemetery perpetual care trusts to offset cemetery maintenance costs, the cemetery perpetual care trusts contain a higher fixed income allocation than the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts. The investment advisor recommends investment managers to the trustees that are selected on the basis of various criteria set forth in the investment policy. The primary investment objectives for the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts include (1) achieving growth of principal over time sufficient to preserve and increase the purchasing power of the assets, and (2) preserving capital within acceptable levels of volatility. Preneed funeral and cemetery contracts generally take years to mature. Therefore, the funds associated with these contracts are often invested for several market cycles. While cemetery perpetual care trusts share the same investment objectives as listed above, these trusts emphasize providing a steady stream of investment income with some capital appreciation. The trusts seek to control risk and volatility through a combination of asset styles, asset classes, and institutional investment managers.
     The market values of our trust investments at March 31, 2010 are detailed below (in thousands).
                                         
                    Total Funeral              
    Funeral     Cemetery     and Cemetery     Cemetery        
    Merchandise     Merchandise     Merchandise     Perpetual        
    and Service     and Service     and Service     Care Funds     Total  
Fixed income securities:
                                       
U.S. Treasury
  $ 44,746     $ 41,001     $ 85,747     $ 5,789     $ 91,536  
Canadian government
    123,723       16,058       139,781       27,527       167,308  
Corporate
    36,329       42,587       78,916       50,936       129,852  
Residential mortgage-backed
    7,135       4,756       11,891       3,451       15,342  
Asset-backed
    3,016       6,558       9,574       521       10,095  
Equity securities:
                                       
Preferred stock
    2,879       4,409       7,288       5,842       13,130  
Common stock (based on investment objectives):
                                       
Growth
    158,909       223,386       382,295       7,269       389,564  
Value
    177,869       274,752       452,621       132,022       584,643  

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                    Total Funeral              
    Funeral     Cemetery     and Cemetery     Cemetery        
    Merchandise     Merchandise     Merchandise     Perpetual        
    and Service     and Service     and Service     Care Funds     Total  
Mutual funds:
                                       
Equity
    90,415       182,134       272,549       55,839       328,388  
Fixed income
    115,920       183,546       299,466       537,328       836,794  
Private equity
    11,356       4,165       15,521       11,826       27,347  
Other
    761       260       1,021       3,385       4,406  
 
                             
Trust investments
    773,058       983,612       1,756,670       841,735       2,598,405  
 
                             
Assets associated with businesses held for sale
    (3,689 )     (8,031 )     (11,720 )     (4,803 )     (16,523 )
Cash and cash equivalents
    195,154       127,921       323,075       83,016       406,091  
Insurance-backed fixed income securities
    215,744             215,744             215,744  
 
                             
Total trust assets
  $ 1,180,267     $ 1,103,502     $ 2,283,769     $ 919,948     $ 3,203,717  
 
                             
     As of March 31, 2010, 90% of our trusts were under the control and custody of two large financial institutions engaged as preferred trustees. The U.S. trustees primarily use common trust fund structures as the investment vehicle for their trusts. Through the common trust fund structure, each respective trustee manages the allocation of assets through individual managed accounts or institutional mutual funds. In the event a particular state prohibits the use of a common trust fund as a qualified investment, the trustee utilizes institutional mutual funds. The U.S. trusts include a modest allocation to alternative investments, which are comprised primarily of private equity and real estate investments. These investments are structured as limited liability companies (LLCs) and are managed by certain trustees. The trusts that are eligible to allocate a portion of their investments to alternative investments purchase units of the respective LLCs.
Fixed Income Securities
     Fixed income investments are intended to preserve principal, provide a source of current income, and reduce overall portfolio volatility. The SCI trusts have direct investments primarily in government fixed income securities.
     Canadian government fixed income securities are investments in Canadian federal and provincial government instruments. In many cases, regulatory restrictions mandate that the funds from the sales of preneed funeral and cemetery products sold in certain Canadian jurisdictions must be invested in these instruments.
Equity Securities
     Equity investments have historically provided long-term capital appreciation in excess of inflation. The SCI trusts have direct investments primarily in domestic equity portfolios that include large, mid, and small capitalization companies of different investment objectives (i.e., growth and value). The majority of the equity portfolio is managed by multiple institutional investment managers that specialize in an objective-specific area of expertise. Our equity securities are exposed to market risk; however, these securities are well-diversified. As of March 31, 2010, the largest single equity position represented less than 1% of the total equity securities portfolio.
Mutual Funds
     The SCI trust funds employ institutional mutual funds where operationally or economically efficient. Institutional mutual funds are utilized to invest in various asset classes including US equities, non-US equities, convertible bonds, corporate bonds, government bonds, Treasury inflation protected securities (TIPS), high yield bonds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and commodities. The mutual funds are governed by guidelines outlined in their individual prospectuses.
Private Equity
     The objective of these investments is to provide high rates of return with controlled volatility. These investments are typically long-

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term in duration. These investments are diversified by strategy, sector, manager, and vintage year. Private equity exposure is accessed through LLCs established by certain preferred trustees. These LLCs invest in numerous limited partnerships, including private equity, fund of funds, distressed debt, and mezzanine financing. The trustees that have oversight of their respective LLCs work closely with the investment advisor in making all current investments.
Trust Performance
     The trust fund income recognized from these investment assets continues to be volatile. During the twelve months ended March 31, 2010, the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index increased approximately 49.7% and the Barclay’s Aggregate Index increased approximately 7.7%, while the combined SCI trusts increased approximately 34.6%.
Capital Allocation Considerations
     We rely on cash flow from operations as a significant source of liquidity. Our cash flow from operating activities provided $108.9 million in the first quarter of 2010. Our current cash and cash equivalents balance is approximately $149.3 million as of April 26, 2010. In addition, we have $207.6 million in excess borrowing capacity under our bank credit facility. We currently have no significant maturities of long-term debt until November 2013.
     Our bank credit facility requires us to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios. As of March 31, 2010 we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. Our financial covenant requirements and actual ratios as of March 31, 2010 are as follows:
                 
    Per Credit Agreement     Actual  
Leverage ratio
  4.25 (Max)     3.26  
Interest coverage ratio
  2.75 (Min)     4.21  
     Our financial covenant requirements per our agreement become more restrictive over time. Our future leverage and interest coverage ratios are as follows:
                 
    Leverage Ratio (Max)     Interest Coverage Ratio (Min)  
September 2010 and thereafter
    4.00       3.00  
     We believe our sources of liquidity can be supplemented by our ability to access the capital markets for additional debt or equity securities. We believe that our cash on hand, future operating cash flows, and the available capacity under our credit facility will be adequate to meet our financial obligations over the next 12 months.
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.
     Operating Activities — Net cash provided by operating activities decreased approximately $32.4 million in the first three months of 2010 compared to the first three months of 2009. This decrease resulted from greater incentive compensation payments made during the current quarter as expected, and from funding an April payroll on March 31 of the current quarter.

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     Investing Activities — Net cash used in investing activities increased $210.9 million in the first three months of 2010 compared to the first three months of 2009, primarily due to an increased outflow of $258.9 million in acquisitions, partially offset by increased inflows of $26.3 million in withdrawals of restricted funds and $16.6 million in proceeds from divestitures.
     Financing Activities — Net cash used in financing activities decreased by $152.0 million in the first three months of 2010 compared to the first three months of 2009, primarily due to a $168.8 million increase in proceeds from issuance of long-term debt (net of debt issuance costs) which was partially offset by a $20.5 million increase in debt payments.
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 unaudited condensed 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, is described below.
                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    (Dollars in millions)  
Preneed funeral
  $ 122.1     $ 126.6  
Preneed cemetery:
               
Merchandise and services
    123.6       126.0  
Pre-construction
    3.3       3.3  
 
           
Bonds supporting preneed funeral and cemetery obligations
    249.0       255.9  
 
           
Bonds supporting preneed business permits
    4.6       4.6  
Other bonds
    22.1       22.1  
 
           
Total surety bonds outstanding
  $ 275.7     $ 282.6  
 
           
     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 three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, we had $5.0 million and $6.3 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 were 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 that we will be required to fund material future amounts related to these surety bonds because of lack of surety capacity or surety company non-performance.
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 sometime 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. These trust funds own investments in equity and debt securities and mutual funds, which are sensitive to current market prices. 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.

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     Trust-Funded Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Contracts: The funds are deposited into trust and invested by independent trustees in accordance with state and provincial laws. 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 our preneed programs.
     The tables below detail our results of preneed funeral and cemetery production and maturities, excluding insurance contracts, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
                 
    North America  
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (Dollars in millions)  
Funeral:
               
Preneed trust-funded (including bonded):
               
Sales production
  $ 30.0     $ 38.2  
 
           
Sales production (number of contracts)
    6,656       8,501  
 
           
Maturities
  $ 48.8     $ 45.8  
 
           
Maturities (number of contracts)
    11,045       11,558  
 
           
Cemetery:
               
Sales production:
               
Preneed
  $ 95.3     $ 81.0  
Atneed
    63.5       59.7  
 
           
Total sales production
  $ 158.8     $ 140.7  
 
           
Sales production deferred to backlog:
               
Preneed
  $ 42.3     $ 33.2  
Atneed
    46.1       46.4  
 
           
Total sales production deferred to backlog
  $ 88.4     $ 79.6  
 
           
Revenue recognized from backlog:
               
Preneed
  $ 32.6     $ 30.6  
Atneed
    44.1       45.3  
 
           
Total revenue recognized from backlog
  $ 76.7     $ 75.9  
 
           
     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. 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 unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.
     The table below details the results of insurance-funded preneed funeral production and maturities for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, and the number of contracts associated with those transactions.
                 
    North America  
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (Dollars in millions)  
Preneed funeral insurance-funded:
               
Sales production (1)
  $ 90.5     $ 69.6  
 
           
Sales production (number of contracts) (1)
    15,741       11,753  
 
           
General agency revenue
  $ 13.4     $ 11.8  
 
           
Maturities
  $ 69.7     $ 65.0  
 
           
Maturities (number of contracts)
    13,157       12,071  
 
           
 
(1)   Amounts are not included in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.
     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 Deferred preneed funeral and

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cemetery receipts held in trust at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Additionally, the table reflects our backlog of unfulfilled insurance-funded contracts (which are not included in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet) at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. 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 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.
                                 
    March 31, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Market     Cost     Market     Cost  
            (Dollars in billions)          
Deferred preneed funeral revenues
  $ 0.59     $ 0.59     $ 0.59     $ 0.59  
Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust
    1.18       1.20       1.14       1.17  
 
                       
 
  $ 1.77     $ 1.79     $ 1.73     $ 1.76  
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments
    (0.13 )     (0.13 )     (0.12 )     (0.12 )
 
                       
Backlog of trust-funded preneed funeral revenues
  $ 1.64     $ 1.66     $ 1.61     $ 1.64  
Backlog of insurance-funded preneed funeral revenues
    3.15       3.15       3.03       3.03  
 
                       
Total backlog of preneed funeral revenues
  $ 4.79     $ 4.81     $ 4.64     $ 4.67  
 
                       
 
                               
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments
  $ 1.39     $ 1.41     $ 1.35     $ 1.39  
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments
    (0.11 )     (0.11 )     (0.11 )     (0.11 )
 
                       
Assets associated with backlog of trust-funded deferred preneed funeral revenues, net of estimated allowance for cancellation
  $ 1.28     $ 1.30     $ 1.24     $ 1.28  
Insurance policies associated with insurance-funded deferred preneed funeral revenues, net of estimated allowance for cancellation
    3.15       3.15       3.03       3.03  
 
                       
Total assets associated with backlog of preneed funeral revenues, net of estimated allowance for cancellation
  $ 4.43     $ 4.45     $ 4.27     $ 4.31  
 
                       
 
                               
Deferred preneed cemetery revenues
  $ 0.82     $ 0.82     $ 0.82     $ 0.82  
Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust
    1.10       1.12       1.06       1.11  
 
                       
 
  $ 1.92     $ 1.94     $ 1.88     $ 1.93  
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments
    (0.16 )     (0.16 )     (0.16 )     (0.16 )
 
                       
Total backlog of deferred cemetery revenues
  $ 1.76     $ 1.78     $ 1.72     $ 1.77  
 
                       
 
                               
Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments
  $ 1.43     $ 1.44     $ 1.38     $ 1.43  
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments
    (0.15 )     (0.15 )     (0.14 )     (0.14 )
 
                       
Total assets associated with backlog of deferred cemetery revenues, net of estimated allowance for cancellation
  $ 1.28     $ 1.29     $ 1.24     $ 1.29  
 
                       
     The market value of our funeral and cemetery trust investments was based on a combination of quoted market prices, observable inputs such as interest rates or yield curves, and appraisals. For more information on how market values are estimated, see Critical Accounting Policies below. 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 — Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 and 2009
Management Summary
     Key highlights in the first quarter of 2010 were as follows:

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    Funeral gross profit increased $0.5 million, or 0.6%, due to higher average revenue per service and strong general agency revenues offsetting a decline in funeral services performed; and,
 
    Cemetery gross profit increased $11.7 million due to an increase in preneed cemetery property sales and trust fund income, partially offset by higher variable costs.
Results of Operations
     In the first quarter of 2010, we reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $30.9 million ($.12 per diluted share) compared to net income attributable to common stockholders in the first quarter of 2009 of $34.5 million ($.14 per diluted share). These results were impacted by the following items:
    a net after-tax loss on asset sales of $0.4 million in the first quarter of 2010 and an after-tax gain of $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2009;
 
    an after-tax gain from the early extinguishment of debt of $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2009; and,
 
    after-tax expenses related to our acquisition and integration of Keystone of $2.3 million in 2010.
Consolidated Versus Comparable Results
     The table below reconciles our consolidated GAAP results to our comparable, or “same store,” results for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. We define comparable operations (or same store operations) as those funeral and cemetery locations that were owned for the entire period beginning January 1, 2009 and ending March 31, 2010. The following tables present operating results for funeral and cemetery locations that were owned by us during this period.
                                 
            Less:              
            Results Associated     Less:        
Three Months Ended           with Acquisition/     Results Associated        
March 31, 2010   Consolidated     New Construction     with Divestitures     Comparable  
            (Dollars in millions)          
North America Revenue
                               
Funeral revenue
  $ 367.1     $ 4.5     $ 2.9     $ 359.7  
Cemetery revenue
    161.9       1.5       1.0       159.4  
 
                       
 
    529.0       6.0       3.9       519.1  
Germany revenue
    1.9                   1.9  
 
                       
Total revenue
  $ 530.9     $ 6.0     $ 3.9     $ 521.0  
 
                       
 
                               
North America Gross Profits
                               
Funeral gross profits
  $ 84.4     $ 1.0     $ 0.4     $ 83.0  
Cemetery gross profits
    27.7             0.8       26.9  
 
                       
 
    112.1       1.0       1.2       109.9  
Germany gross profits
    0.2                   0.2  
 
                       
Total gross profits
  $ 112.3     $ 1.0     $ 1.2     $ 110.1  
 
                       
                                 
            Less:              
            Results Associated     Less:        
Three Months Ended           with Acquisition/     Results Associated        
March 31, 2009   Consolidated     New Construction     with Divestitures     Comparable  
            (Dollars in millions)          
North America Revenue
                               
Funeral revenue
  $ 363.2     $ 4.1     $ (0.1 )   $ 359.2  
Cemetery revenue
    145.7       1.8       (1.2 )     145.1  
 
                       
 
    508.9       5.9       (1.3 )     504.3  
Germany revenue
    1.7                   1.7  
 
                       
Total revenue
  $ 510.6     $ 5.9     $ (1.3 )   $ 506.0  
 
                       

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            Less:              
            Results Associated     Less:        
Three Months Ended           with Acquisition/     Results Associated        
March 31, 2009   Consolidated     New Construction     with Divestitures     Comparable  
            (Dollars in millions)          
North America Gross Profits
                               
Funeral gross profits
  $ 83.8     $ (1.0 )   $ 0.2     $ 84.6  
Cemetery gross profits
    16.0       0.6       (0.7 )     16.1  
 
                       
 
    99.8       (0.4 )     (0.5 )     100.7  
Germany gross profits
    0.3                   0.3  
 
                       
Total gross profits
  $ 100.1     $ (0.4 )   $ (0.5 )   $ 101.0  
 
                       
     The following table provides the data necessary to calculate our consolidated average revenue per funeral service for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. We calculate average revenue per funeral service by dividing consolidated funeral revenue, excluding General Agency (GA) revenues and certain other revenues to avoid distorting our averages of normal funeral services revenue, by the number of consolidated funeral services performed during the period.
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (Dollars in millions, except  
    average revenue per funeral  
    service)  
Consolidated funeral revenue
  $ 369.0     $ 364.9  
Less: Consolidated GA revenue
    13.4       11.8  
Less: Other revenue
    3.9       1.8  
 
           
Adjusted consolidated funeral revenue
  $ 351.7     $ 351.3  
 
           
Consolidated funeral services performed
    67,772       69,329  
Consolidated average revenue per funeral service
  $ 5,189     $ 5,067  
     The following table provides the data necessary to calculate our comparable average revenue per funeral service for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. We calculate average revenue per funeral service by dividing comparable funeral revenue, excluding comparable GA revenues and certain other revenues to avoid distorting our averages of normal funeral services revenue, by the number of comparable funeral services performed during the period.
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (Dollars in millions,  
    except average  
    revenue per funeral service)  
Comparable funeral revenue
  $ 361.6     $ 360.9  
Less: Comparable GA revenue
    13.2       11.7  
Less: Other revenue
    2.2       1.7  
 
           
Adjusted comparable funeral revenue
  $ 346.2     $ 347.5  
 
           
Comparable funeral services performed
    66,015       68,408  
Comparable average revenue per funeral service
  $ 5,244     $ 5,080  
Funeral Results
Funeral Revenue
     Our consolidated revenues from funeral operations were $369.0 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to $364.9 million in the same period of 2009. This increase is primarily due to a $1.6 million increase in GA revenue and a $1.7 million increase resulting from the acquisition of Keystone.
Funeral Services Performed
     Our consolidated funeral services performed decreased 2.2% during the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Our comparable funeral services performed decreased 3.5% during the first quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. We believe the decline in deaths in our markets is consistent with trends experienced by other funeral service providers and industry vendors compared to the first quarter of 2009. Our comparable cremation rate of 41.0% in the first quarter of 2010 increased from 40.2% in 2009. We continue to expand our cremation memorialization products and services, which have resulted in higher average

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sales for cremation services.
Average Revenue Per Funeral
     Our consolidated average revenue per funeral service increased $122, or 2.4%, in the first quarter of 2010 over the same period of 2009. Higher average revenue per funeral service and strong general agency revenues effectively offset a decline in funeral services performed. Our comparable average revenue per funeral service increased $164, or 3.2%, per funeral service. Excluding a favorable Canadian currency impact and higher funeral trust fund income, the average revenue per funeral service grew approximately 0.7%.
Funeral Gross Profit
     Consolidated funeral gross profits increased $0.5 million, or 0.6%, and the funeral gross margin percentage was relatively flat at approximately 23% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009. Comparable funeral gross profits decreased $1.7 million, or 2.0%, due to the impact of higher selling costs from increased preneed funeral sales production.
Cemetery Results
Cemetery Revenue
     Consolidated revenues from our cemetery operations increased $16.2 million, or 11.1%, in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009. Comparable cemetery revenues increased $14.3 million, or 9.9%, when compared with the same period in 2009. This increase was due to an $11.8 million increase in preneed property sales and a $4.4 million increase in cemetery trust fund income.
Cemetery Gross Profits
      Cemetery gross profit increased $11.7 million, or 73.1%, and cemetery gross margin percentage improved to approximately 17.0% from 11.0% due to a significant increase in cemetery property sales and increases in cemetery trust fund income compared to prior year levels. We are also beginning to see some benefit from initiatives to reduce maintenance expenses implemented last year which helped to offset increased selling costs as a result of higher sales production.
Other Financial Statement Items
General and Administrative Expenses
     General and administrative expenses were $26.2 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to $21.8 million in the first quarter of 2009. This $4.4 million increase was primarily due to current year acquisition expenses related to Keystone and lower employee compensation expenses in the prior year.
(Losses) Gains on Divestitures and Impairment Charges, net
     We recognized a $0.5 million net pre-tax loss on divestitures and impairment. This loss was due to losses incurred on various divestitures. In the first quarter of 2009, we recognized a $7.2 million net pre-tax gain on divestitures and impairment. This gain was due to the released VAT and litigation indemnifications related to our former French operations of $14.1 million partially offset by losses from impairment charges and asset divestitures.
Weighted Average Shares
     The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding was 256.2 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 250.3 million in the first quarter of 2009.
Critical Accounting Policies
     The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

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     No other significant changes to our accounting policies have occurred subsequent to December 31, 2009, except as described below within Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes
     For discussion of recent accounting pronouncements and accounting changes, see Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements, Note 3.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
     The statements in this Form 10-Q 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 results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by us, or on our behalf. Important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
  Changes in general economic conditions, both domestically and internationally, impacting financial markets (e.g., marketable security values, access to capital markets, as well as currency and interest rate fluctuations) that could negatively affect us, particularly, but not limited to, levels of trust fund income, interest expense, and negative currency translation effects.
 
  Changes in operating conditions such as supply disruptions and labor disputes.
 
  Our inability to achieve the level of cost savings, productivity improvements or earnings growth anticipated by management, whether due to significant increases in energy costs (e.g., electricity, natural gas and fuel oil), costs of other materials, employee-related costs or other factors.
 
  Our inability to complete acquisitions, divestitures or strategic alliances as planned or to realize expected synergies and strategic benefits.
 
  The outcomes of pending lawsuits, proceedings, and claims against us and the possibility that insurance coverage is deemed not to apply to these matters or that an insurance carrier is unable to pay any covered amounts to us.
 
  Allegations regarding compliance with laws, regulations, industry standards, and customs regarding burial procedures and practices.
 
  The amounts payable by us with respect to our outstanding legal matters exceed our established reserves.
 
  Amounts that we may be required to replenish into our affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds in order to meet minimum funding requirements.
 
  The outcome of pending Internal Revenue Service audits. We maintain accruals for tax liabilities which relate to uncertain tax matters. If these tax matters are unfavorably resolved, we will make any required payments to tax authorities. While such payments would affect our cash flow, we do not believe it would impair our ability to service debt or our overall liquidity. If these tax matters are favorably resolved, the accruals maintained by us will no longer be required, and these amounts will be reversed through the tax provision at the time of resolution.
 
  Our ability to manage changes in consumer demand and/or pricing for our products and services due to several factors, such as changes in numbers of deaths, cremation rates, competitive pressures, and local economic conditions.
 
  Changes in domestic and international political and/or regulatory environments in which we operate, including potential changes in tax, accounting, and trusting policies.

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  Changes in credit relationships impacting the availability of credit and the general availability of credit in the marketplace.
  Our ability to successfully access surety and insurance markets at a reasonable cost.
  Our ability to successfully leverage our substantial purchasing power with certain of our vendors.
  The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, and our ability to certify the effectiveness of the internal controls and to obtain an unqualified attestation report of our auditors regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
  The possibility that restrictive covenants in our credit agreement and debt securities may prevent us from engaging in certain transactions.
  Our ability to buy our common stock under our share repurchase programs, which could be impacted by, among others, restrictive covenants in our bank agreements, unfavorable market conditions, the market price of our common stock, the nature of other investment opportunities presented to us from time to time, and the availability of funds necessary to continue purchasing common stock.
  The financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our preneed funeral contracts may impact our future revenues.
  Declines in overall economic conditions beyond our control could reduce future potential earnings and cash flows and could result in future goodwill impairments.
  Our funeral and cemetery trust funds’ investments in equity securities, fixed income securities, and mutual funds and will be impacted by market conditions that are beyond our control.
  Failure to realize the anticipated benefits and/or successful implementation of the acquisition of Keystone, which could prove to be disruptive and could result in the combined business failing to meet our expectations.
     For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties, see our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Copies of this document as well as other SEC filings can be obtained from our website at www.sci-corp.com. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
     Marketable Equity and Debt Securities — Price Risk
     In connection with our preneed funeral operations and preneed cemetery merchandise and service sales, the related funeral and cemetery trust funds own investments in equity and debt securities and mutual funds, which are sensitive to current market prices.
     Cost and market values as of March 31, 2010 are presented in Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements and Notes 4, 5, and 6 of this Form 10-Q. Also, see Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Financial Conditions, Liquidity and Capital Resources, for discussion of volatility in financial markets.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
     As of March 31, 2010, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified by

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the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our CEO and CFO have jointly concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2010 and that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with US GAAP.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
     There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
     Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Note 16 in Item 1 of Part I of this Form 10-Q, which information is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
     There have been no material changes in our Risk Factors as set forth in Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, except that the Risk Factor relating to failure to consummate the acquisition of Keystone is no longer applicable because we have acquired Keystone.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
     On January 29, 2010, we issued 1,005 deferred common stock equivalents, or units, pursuant to provisions regarding dividends under the Amended and Restated Director Fee Plan to four non-employee directors. We did not receive any monetary consideration for the issuances. These issuances were unregistered because they did not constitute a “sale” within the meaning of Section 2(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
     As of March 31, 2010, the aggregate purchases pursuant to our share repurchase program totaled $1.0 billion. As of March 31, 2010, the remaining dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under our currently approved share repurchase program was approximately $123.4 million.
                                 
                    Total number of    
                    shares purchased as   Dollar value of shares that
    Total number of   Average price   part of publicly   may yet be purchased under
Period   shares purchased   paid per share   announced programs   the programs
January 1, 2010 — January 31, 2010
                      123,444,042  
February 1, 2010 — February 28, 2010
                      123,444,042  
March 1, 2010 — March 31, 2010
    80,296       8.59             123,444,042 (1)
 
                               
 
    80,296                        
 
(1)   These shares represent restricted stock that was redeemed by certain employees in lieu of tax liability withholdings, which do not affect our share repurchase program.
Item 6. Exhibits
12.1   Ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
31.1   Certification of Thomas L. Ryan as Chief Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2   Certification of Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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32.1   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Thomas L. Ryan as Chief Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Undertaking
     We hereby undertake, pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b), paragraph (4) (iii), to furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, all constituent instruments defining the rights of holders of our long-term debt not filed herewith for the reason that the total amount of securities authorized under any of such instruments does not exceed 10 percent of our total consolidated assets.

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SIGNATURE
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
April 30, 2010  SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
 
 
  By:   /s/ Tammy Moore    
    Tammy Moore   
    Vice President and Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)   

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Index to Exhibits
12.1   Ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
31.1   Certification of Thomas L. Ryan as Chief Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2   Certification of Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Thomas L. Ryan as Chief Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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