<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000089089-20-000070.txt : 20210224
<SEC-HEADER>0000089089-20-000070.hdr.sgml : 20210224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20201211095419
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000089089-20-000070
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20201211

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SERVICE CORP INTERNATIONAL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000089089
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PERSONAL SERVICES [7200]
		IRS NUMBER:				741488375
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1929 ALLEN PKWY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 130548
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7135225141

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 130548
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77219-0548

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<title>Document</title></head><body><div id="i5bb1e0a2bcae4bf583b744ffc5e2aaf8_1"></div><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><img alt="scilogo6a.gif" src="scilogo6a.gif" style="height:76px;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:90px"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President &#47; Chief Financial Officer </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">December 11, 2020</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Division of Corporation Finance - Office of Trade &#38; Services</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">100 F. Street, NE</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">RE&#58; Comment Letter dated November 12, 2020 related to Service Corporation International's Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December&#160;31, 2019 filed February&#160;18, 2020 and Service Corporation International's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed March 27, 2020</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">File No.&#160;001-06402</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">This letter responds to the comments that Service Corporation International (the &#8220;Company&#8221;, &#8220;our&#8221;, or &#8220;we&#8221;) received from the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by letter dated November 12, 2020 with respect to the above referenced filings. </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">For your convenience, our responses are prefaced by the Staff's comments in bold text. </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A Filed March 27, 2020</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Compensation Discussion and Analysis</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Annual Performance-Based Incentives Paid in Cash, page 47</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">1.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:9.75pt">We note your disclosure under &#34;Annual Performance-Based Incentives Paid in Cash&#34; that payouts are made to your named executive officers under the Annual Performance-Based Incentive Plan based, in part, on the achievement of &#34;normalized earnings per share&#34; performance targets that were established for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. We also note that the number of outstanding shares of your common stock has been significantly reduced as a result of your share repurchases. In future filings, please discuss if and how the share repurchases factored into the manner in which the Compensation Committee set targets and determined whether such targets were met with respect to normalized earnings per share (including whether such repurchases materially affected your calculation of basic earnings per share or diluted earnings per share).</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">As described in our 2020 proxy statement on page 45 (&#8220;Annual Performance-Based Incentives Paid in Cash&#8221;) , we utilized diluted weighted average shares outstanding in 2019 to calculate normalized earnings per share. Estimated share repurchases are factored into the setting of performance targets each year. The actual share repurchases that occurred in 2019 did not materially affect the incentive calculations or associated achievement of performance targets. In future filings, we will disclose how share repurchases were considered in setting performance targets and determining performance results (including whether such repurchases materially affected the calculation of normalized earnings per share). </font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">1</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, page 47</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">2.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;padding-left:9.75pt">You disclose on pages 38 and 53 that trust investments include marketable securities that are classified as available-for-sale and that these investments are assessed for other-than temporary declines in fair value. In discussing your trust investments on page 40, you also state that your market-sensitive instruments and positions are considered to be &#8220;other-than-trading&#8221;. Please tell us how you concluded the cash flows related to your trust investments represent operating activities, rather than investing activities. Also, explain your basis for not classifying fixed income instruments as trading and recording their unrealized gains (losses) through earnings, if their cash flow activity is included in operating activities. Refer to ASC 230-10-45-11, ASC 230-10-45-12(b), ASC 230-10-45- 13(b), ASC 320-10-35-1(a) and 320-10-45-11.</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Due to the nature of the underlying operations, the accounting and financial reporting for the deathcare industry is unique and we, along with the small group of other deathcare registrants, have worked together over the last 15 years to ensure the accounting, as well as presentation and disclosure, of our business conforms with generally accepted accounting standards.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Our financial reporting for preneed funeral and cemetery contracts with customers has been the subject of significant research, deliberation, consultation, and discussion with the Staff and the Office of the Chief Accountant over the last 15 years. State laws generally require all or a substantial portion of the funds collected for preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and service contracts to be placed into merchandise and service trusts (&#34;M&#38;S Trusts&#34;). State laws also require a portion of the funds collected from sales of cemetery interment rights to be placed into perpetual care trusts (&#34;Care Trusts&#34;, collectively with the M&#38;S Trusts, the &#34;Trusts&#34;). The Trusts hold investments in marketable securities that we have generally considered other-than-trading as we have limited ability to impact the operations of the Trusts. The trustees of the Trusts are third-party financial institutions and have the responsibility for and oversight of their operating activities, including the execution of their investment policy and distributions. </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">In the course of our consultations with the Staff, we agreed upon the following conclusions (as updated for changes in terminology for new accounting standards that have been adopted since the original communications)&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">The Trusts represented variable interest entities that should be consolidated in our consolidated balance sheet.</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">We are not the legal beneficiary of the Trusts and the interests of the legal beneficiaries (i.e. our customers) should be reflected as a liability to perform upon the promises in the contracts.</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">Accordingly, we consolidate the assets of the Trusts (Trust investments) with corresponding contract liabilities (Deferred receipts&#47;Care Trusts' Corpus).</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">Ordinary income and realized gains and losses are recorded in </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Other income, net</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded in </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Other comprehensive income</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.15pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;position:relative;top:-3.85pt;vertical-align:baseline">1</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> (collectively, the &#34;earnings&#34;). The earnings represent variable consideration on our contracts with customers and we record an offsetting reduction of </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Other income, net </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">and </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Other comprehensive income</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> to defer the recognition (in Deferred receipts&#47;Care Trusts' Corpus) until&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:90pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#9702;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.11pt">For the M&#38;S Trusts, we fulfill the performance obligations in the contracts with the customers as the earnings represent variable consideration in those contracts.</font></div><div style="padding-left:90pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#9702;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.11pt">For the Care Trusts, until the earnings are legally distributable, based on State law, which is generally when we have incurred maintenance expenses.</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">When the above criteria are met, the earnings are reflected as a component of revenue from contracts with customers and</font></div><div style="border-bottom:1pt solid black;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:10pt;width:150pt"></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">1</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> Upon adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2016-01, &#34;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Financial Instruments&#8212;Overall (Subtopic 825-10)&#58; Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#34; (&#34;ASU 2016-01&#34;) we began recording the unrealized gains and losses on equity securities in </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Other income, net</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> with the unrealized gains and losses on debt securities continuing to be recorded in </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Other comprehensive income</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">. We record an offsetting reduction of </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Other income, net </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">and </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Other comprehensive income</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> to defer the recognition as described above. We believe adoption of this standard does not impact any of the other conclusions reached in our previous correspondence.</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">2</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="padding-left:90pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#9702;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.11pt">The M&#38;S Trusts distribute the principal and associated earnings relating to the fulfilled performance obligation.</font></div><div style="padding-left:90pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#9702;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.11pt">The Care Trusts distribute the earnings.</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">As the cash flows related to changes in Trust investments and Deferred receipts&#47;Care Trusts' Corpus relate closely to our core business activities and enter into the determination of net income, these activities represent operating activities as set forth in the glossary to Topic 230 </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Statement of Cash Flows </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">(&#34;Topic 230&#34;).</font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">Disclosure of the gross movements within the Trusts' investment portfolios is required. We track and disclose the gross movements in Note 3 - Preneed Activities of our consolidated financial statements. These gross movement disclosures include gross purchases and sales within the trusts' investments as well as realized gains and losses related to the sales. We also include in Note 3 the gross withdrawals from and deposits to the trusts.</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">These conclusions are further detailed and supported by the following correspondence with the Staff&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">Our letter to the SEC dated November 21, 2008 related to the adoption of Statement of Accounting Standards No. 160, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> (&#34;FAS 160&#34;), now codified in ASC Topic 810, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Consolidation</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> (&#34;ASC 810&#34;) (see Exhibit A). </font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">Correspondence between the Staff and ourselves that elaborate upon the various conclusions reached during our previous consultations with the Staff regarding the adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> (&#34;FIN 46R&#34;), now codified in Topic 810, are attached herein as Exhibit B (letter dated April 14, 2004) and Exhibit C (letter dated July 21, 2004). </font></div><div style="padding-left:54pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;padding-left:14.15pt">We have also attached as Exhibits D and E our prior correspondence with the Staff, dated June 30, 2006 and September 25, 2006, concerning inquiries from the Staff about how activities related to the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts are reflected in our Statement of Cash Flows. </font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">We believe these Exhibits are relevant to this letter because they clearly describe the unique attributes of our preneed trusts and evidence of the Staff's concurrence with our presentation of cash flows associated with the trusts.</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">We believe there have been no changes, except as noted above for ASU 2016-01, in our business operations or accounting standards that would call the previous correspondence into question.  </font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">* * * * * * * </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">If you have any questions regarding our responses or require further information, please contact Tammy Moore, Principal Accounting Officer at (713) 525-3097 or me at (713) 525-7768.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sincerely,</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Eric D. Tanzberger</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President and</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chief Financial Officer </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">cc&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Members of the SCI Audit Committee of the Board of Directors</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Members of the SCI Disclosure Committee</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div id="i5bb1e0a2bcae4bf583b744ffc5e2aaf8_56"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">3</font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:56.65pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Exhibit A</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">November 21, 2008 Letter to SEC</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><img alt="scilogo6a.gif" src="scilogo6a.gif" style="height:76px;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:90px"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President &#47; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">November 21, 2008</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">Accounting Group - Interpretations Office of Chief Accountant</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">100 F Street, N.E.&#59; Mail Stop 7561 </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">Washington, D.C. 20549-7561</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">Office of Chief Accountant Division of Corporation Finance</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">100 F Street, N.E.&#59; Mail Stop 5546 </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">Washington, D.C. 20549-5546</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">RE&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:103%">Request by Service Corporation International for concurrence from the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Dear Ladies and Gentlemen&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:102%">Service Corporation International (&#34;SCI ' or the &#34;Company or &#34;we&#34; or &#34;our&#34;) respectfully requests concurrence from the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#34;SEC&#34;) with respect to our conclusion that balances historically designated as &#34;non-controlling interest&#34; in our consolidated preneed trusts do not meet the criteria for such designation under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:102%">Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:102%">(&#34;FAS 160&#34;). In addition, since our historical use of the term &#34;non-controlling interest&#34; was the product of a previous consultation with the Staff regarding the adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 46R, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:102%">Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:102%">(the &#34;FIN 46R consultation&#34;), we also are requesting the Staff's concurrence with our new description for such balances in our consolidated financial statements.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">We have reviewed the contents of this letter with the Audit Committee of SCI's Board of Directors, and they concur with our conclusions. We have also discussed our proposed accounting treatment with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered accounting firm, and they concur with the conclusions set forth herein.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:5.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">1929 ALLEN PARKWAY &#8226; P.O. BOX 130548 &#8226; HOUSTON, TX 77219-0548 &#8226; (713) 525-7768 &#8226; FAX (713) 525-7581</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:5.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:5.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%;text-decoration:underline">Overview of Our Business</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">SCI is North America's leading provider of deathcare products and services. At September 30, 2008, we operated 1,317 funeral service locations and&#183; 378 cemeteries in North America, which are geographically diversified across 43 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Our funeral service and cemetery operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service&#47;cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and related businesses. We provide all professional services relating to funerals and cremations, including the use of funeral facilities and motor vehicles, and preparation and embalming services. Funeral-related merchandise, including caskets, burial vaults, cremation receptacles, flowers, and other ancillary products and services, is sold at funeral service locations. Our cemeteries provide cemetery property interment rights, including mausoleum spaces, lots, and lawn crypts, and sell cemetery related merchandise and services, including stone and bronze memorials, burial vaults, casket and cremation memorialization products, merchandise installations, and burial openings and closings. A significant component of our business relates to selling preneed funeral and cemetery products and services, whereby a customer contractually agrees to the terms of certain products and services to be delivered and performed in the future. Our operations are subject to regulations, supervision, and licensing under numerous foreign, federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations, including extensive regulations concerning trust funds, preneed sales of funeral and cemetery products and services, and various other aspects of our business.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%;text-decoration:underline">Background on Preneed Sales</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">Our marketing of funeral and cemetery merchandise and services and cemetery interment rights and property on a preened basis is a primary focus for the Company. For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 37% of our consolidated funeral and cemetery revenues were generated from contracts that were originated on a preneed basis. State laws generally require all or a substantial portion of the funds collected for preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and service contracts to be placed into merchandise and service trusts (&#34;M&#38;S Trusts&#34;). State laws also require a portion of the funds collected from sales of cemetery interment rights to be placed into perpetual care trusts (&#34;Care Trusts&#34;). Neither M&#38;S Trusts nor Care Trusts have &#34;owners' equity'', or for that matter &#34;owners&#34;, in the traditional sense. The Company believes that the net assets of a trust represent its owner's equity, and a trust's legal beneficiary represents its owner.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;text-decoration:underline">M&#38;S Trusts</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">M&#38;S Trusts are required by state statutes and are established explicitly to protect preneed consumers by limiting funeral and cemetery operators' access to the funds until the merchandise is delivered or services are performed. The funds deposited into the M&#38;S Trusts are invested in accordance with the investment requirements established by statute or, where the prudent investor rule is applicable, the trustees' judgment. In exchange for the amounts paid by the customer plus the accumulated earnings on these amounts, the Company is contractually obligated to deliver the merchandise or perform the services stipulated by the contract terms. Economically, the M&#38;S Trust earnings protect the Company against inflationary increases in the costs of providing the products and services that the Company is contractually obligated to provide at the time of death. The M&#38;S Trusts' assets, which include both principal and undistributed net earnings, are only accessible by the Company upon performance under the contracts and are not subject to the claims of the Company's creditors. The trustees of the M&#38;S Trusts have the responsibility for and oversight of their operating activities, including the execution of their investment policy and the distribution of the M&#38;S Trusts' corpus and earnings pursuant to state regulations. The Company has the ability to hire and fire investment advisors and appoint and remove the trustees. However, these rights provide the Company limited ability to impact the operations of the M&#38;S Trusts. The customer has no ability to impact the operations or investing activities of the M&#38;S Trusts. If a customer cancels a trust-funded preneed funeral or cemetery contract, applicable law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, including the amount, if any, of attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, the Company receives the amount of principal deposited into trust and any undistributed net investment earnings, and then pays the customer the required refund.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;text-decoration:underline">Care Trusts</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:98%">Care Trusts are also required by state statutes and obligate the Company to remit a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery interment rights to such Care Trusts. Earnings on the Care Trusts' corpus are used for the perpetual upkeep of the cemetery grounds. Many states require the Company to maintain the cemetery to a certain standard set by the state, regardless of the Care Trusts' earnings. When the Care Trusts have losses, the Company absorbs the </font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:98%">losses of the Care Trusts through a reduction in distributable earnings to offset maintenance expenses. Many states also have laws directing or limiting how the Care Trusts can be used. The applicable government entities have no equity at risk in the entities. Many state statutes stipulate the operations and activities of the Care Trusts, the type of investments in which the trustee can invest, the distribution of the Care Trust earnings to the Company and the inability to distribute Care Trust assets. In most states where the Company has a Care Trust, there are no statutes or regulations </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:98%;text-decoration:underline">t</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:98%">hat contain a legal requirement to ''make whole&#34; investment losses on tose funds. There are certain states in which the Company has Care Trusts that allow for reserves to be established against investment losses, however, those states do not address whether the Company is required to &#34;make whole&#34; such investment losses in the Care Trusts. The trustees of the Care Trusts have the responsibility for and oversight of their operating activities, including the execution of their investment policy and the distribution of the Care Trusts' earnings. The Company has the ability to hire and fire investment advisors and appoint and remove the trustees. However, these rights provide the Company limited ability to impact the operations of the Care Trusts. The customer has no ability to impact the operations or investing activities of the Care Trusts. Except in very limited circumstances, neither the Company nor the customers have any right to the Care Trusts' corpus, and the Care Trusts' assets are not subject to the claims of the Company's creditors. If a customer cancels an interment right, the Care Trusts do not refund any amounts to the customers. In no case would the holder of the interment right have the ability to recover the corpus if the Company failed to perform.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%;text-decoration:underline">Impact of Adopting FIN 46R</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Prior to the Company's adoption of FIN 46R, the assets of the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts were not recorded on the Company's balance sheet. Due to the unusual nature and magnitude of the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts, the Company, along with other deathcare industry participants, consulted with the Staff prior to adopting FIN 46R. After a lengthy consultation process with the Staff, it was agreed that the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts represented variable interest entities that should be consolidated in the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Accordingly, upon the adoption of FIN 46R, the Company began recording the assets of the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts on its balance sheet, along with a corresponding credit that we agreed with you to describe as a 100% non-controlling interest in such trusts.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:98%">See footnotes </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:98%">5, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:98%">6, 7, and 8 from our December 31, 2007 Form 10-K for a description of our accounting policies related to the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts. Additionally, copies of correspondence between the Company and the Staff that elaborate upon the various conclusions reached during our previous FIN 46R consultations are attached herein as Exhibit A (letter dated April 14, 2004) and Exhibit B (letter dated July 21, 2004). We have also attached as Exhibits C and D our prior correspondence with the Staff, dated June 30, 2006 and September 25, 2006, concerning inquiries from the Staff about how activities related to the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts are reflected in our statement of cash flows. We believe these Exhibits are relevant to this letter because they clearly describe the unique attributes of our preneed trusts, and they illustrate how amounts initially characterized as non-controlling interest later become re-characterized as deferred revenue and ultimately revenue when we satisfy our customers' preneed contractual obligations. Furthermore, we believe the correspondence in these Exhibits and our verbal discussions related thereto evidence the Staff s concurrence with this concept of re characterization of non-controlling interest as deferred revenue.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:99%">As illustrated in the following condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2008, our consolidation of the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts significantly impacts the Company's consolidated balance sheet. Historically, the Company has recorded the 100% non-controlling interest related to such trusts in two separate lines&#58; &#34;Non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts&#34; for the M&#38;S Trusts and &#34;Non-controlling interest in perpetual care trusts&#34; for the Care Trusts. As illustrated by the size of the non-controlling interest line items compared to our total stockholders' equity, the potential impact of FAS 160 is very material to the Company and the users of our financial statements.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:99%">SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET </font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:103%">(UNAUDITED)</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:147.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">(In thousands, except share amounts)</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:147.25pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:147.25pt"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:89.327%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:72.877%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:21.158%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:2.665%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">September 30, 2008</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Assets</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Current assets&#58;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash and cash equivalents</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">171,903&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Receivables, net</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">90,469&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Inventories</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">32,635&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Income tax receivables</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">95,303&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred tax asset</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">73,018&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Current assets held for sale</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,747&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">15,205&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 28pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total current assets</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">480,280&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">1,342,211</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">1,301,873</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cemetery property, at cost</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,456,199&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Property and equipment, net</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,566,689&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-current assets held for sale</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">123,312&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Goodwill</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,216,748&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred charges and other assets</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">455,499&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Cemetery perpetual care trust investments</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">813,857</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">8,756,668&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Current liabilities&#58;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accounts payable and accrued liabilities</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">333,201&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Current maturities of long-term debt</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">56,271&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Current liabilities held for sale</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">258&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Income taxes</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 28pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total current liabilities</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">389,730&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Long-term debt</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,835,838&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed funeral revenues</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">575,558&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed cemetery revenues</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">778,861&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred income taxes</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">237,481&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-current liabilities held for sale</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">96,265&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other liabilities</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">369,779&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2,192,401</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in cemetery perpetual care trusts</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">829,348</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">*</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Stockholders' equity&#58;</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div style="padding-left:13.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Common stock, $1 per share par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 257,823,110 and 262,858, 169 issued and outstanding (net of 8,905,863 and 1,961,300treasury shares, at par, respectively)</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">257,823&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Capital in excess of par value</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,810,368&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accumulated deficit</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(736,284)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 14.5pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accumulated other comprehensive income</font></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">119,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 28pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total stockholders' equity</font></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,451,407&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">8,756,668&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:3pt double #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:147.25pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:147.25pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:115%;text-decoration:underline">Impact of FAS 160 on the M&#38;S Trusts</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">As indicated in both Exhibits A and B, the non-controlling interests related to our M&#38;S Trusts are considered liabilities in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 150, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liability and Equity </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">(&#34;FAS 150''), because the preneed contracts underlying the M&#38;S Trusts are unconditionally redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is certain to occur (i.e., either death or refund). Because FAS 160, paragraph 27 indicates that only a financial instrument classified as equity in the trusts' financial statements can be considered a non-controlling interest in the consolidated financial statements, SCI has concluded that amounts currently reported as &#34;Non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts&#34; do not meet the criteria for non controlling interest as prescribed by FAS 160. Accordingly, effective December 31, 2008, the amounts historically described as </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#34;Non-controlling interest funeral and cemetery trusts&#34; </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">will be re-characterized as either </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#34;Deferred preneed funeral revenues held in trust' </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">or </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">&#34;Deferred preneed cemetery revenues held in trust', </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">as appropriate, in our consolidated balance sheet, and the footnotes to our financial statements will include a disclosure that explains the reason for such revision.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Impact of FAS 160 on the Care Trust</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Exhibits A and B indicate that for purposes of applying FIN 46R, the Care Trusts are considered equity non-controlling interests in accordance with FAS 150, even though the unusual attributes of the Care Trusts preclude a definitive identification of which entity -- the Company, the cemetery, or the customer -- is the legal &#34;owner'', and if such owner has equity at risk. While these open issues did not prevent the Company and the Staff from concluding that FIN 46R required the Company's Care Trusts to be consolidated, the Company believes that the unusual attributes of such trusts (as well as the resulting open issues) require careful consideration in determining the applicability of FAS 160 to the Care Trusts. Accordingly, these issues will be examined within the context of the five basic requirements for non-controlling interests set forth in FAS 160.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Identifying the owners of the non-controlling interest</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">FAS 160 requires that the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified, labeled as a non-controlling interest, and presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parent's equity. The Standard indicates that only a financial instrument issued by a subsidiary and classified within equity in the subsidiary's financial statements can be considered a non-controlling interest in the consolidated financial statements. Thus, a non-controlling interest represents the residual interest in the net assets of a subsidiary within the consolidated group held by owners other than the parent. As noted above, the Company is the beneficiary of income generated by the net assets of the Care Trusts to the extent that the Company has actual maintenance expenses. However, state statutes preclude the Company, its customers, the cemetery, or any other party from ever gaining access to the Care Trusts' corpus. Accordingly, the net assets of the Care Trusts are fundamentally different from traditional &#34;residual interests&#34; because, by law, the net assets can never be remitted. Instead, the net assets of the Care Trusts represent perpetual corpus to produce income to offset actual expenses. If the owner of the Care Trusts is construed to be the cemetery or the customer, state statutes would preclude either party from realizing a return. If the owner is construed to be the Company, state statutes offer the Company the potential of breaking even, but would preclude the Company from realizing a return. The Company believes that all three of these scenarios are inconsistent with the notion of an ownership interest considered to be part of equity as described in FAS 160. While the Company continues to support the conclusion from our prior FIN 46 consultations with the Staff that the Care Trusts should be consolidated, along with the related 100% non-controlling interest, the Company believes that the notion of &#34;ownership&#34; embedded within FAS 160 is not applicable to the Care Trusts.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Attribute net income between the parent and the non-controlling interest</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The provisions of FAS 160 indicate that when a non-controlling interest exists, net income or loss shall be attributed to the parent and the non-controlling interest. As noted above, by law, the only entity that can receive distributions of returns on the perpetual corpus is the Company, and such distributions are limited to actual maintenance </font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">expenses. This fact, combined with the fact that the non-controlling interest has no access to any portion of net income, renders this requirement of FAS 160 not applicable to our Care Trusts.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Accounting tor the impact of changes in a parent's ownership interest</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The provisions of FAS 160 require that a controlling parent account for changes in its ownership interest of a consolidated subsidiary as an equity transaction. Given that the non-controlling interest in our Care Trusts represents 100% of the ownership interest, and the legal constraints inherent in our Care Trusts preclude the Company from ever acquiring an ownership interest in the Care Trusts, this requirement of FAS 160 is not applicable to our Care Trusts.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Recognize the impact of deconsolidating a subsidiary</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Under FAS 160, when a consolidated entity is deconsolidated, any retained non-controlling equity investment in the former consolidated entity must be initially measured at fair value with recognition of gains and losses, as appropriate. Under the accounting model that resulted from our prior FIN 46R consultations with the Staff, the 100% non-controlling interest in our Care Trusts is marked-to-market each period, therefore no gain or loss would result from our deconsolidation of the Care Trusts. Further, since the accounting model that resulted from our prior FIN 46R consultations with the Staff requires the Company to consolidate its Care Trusts, even though it holds no ownership interest in such trusts, the notion of deconsolidating an entity with a &#34;non-controlling interest'' is not applicable to our Care Trusts.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Provide sufficient disclosure (Or non-controlling interests</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">FAS 160 requires that entities provide sufficient disclosures which clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners. Irrespective of the fact that the balances historically characterized as non-controlling interest in our Care Trusts appear to be fundamentally different from a &#34;non-controlling interest&#34; as contemplated in FAS 160, the Company believes that its current disclosures concerning its Care Trusts are comprehensive, transparent and fully compliant with the spirit of FAS 160.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Summary and Conclusion (Or the impact o( FAS i60 on the Care Trusts</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Consistent with the comments above, the Company does not believe that FAS 160 was intended to be applicable to the non-controlling interests in entities such as our Care Trusts, nor should FAS 160 change the accounting model for our non-controlling&#183;interest in Care Trusts that resulted from our previous FIN 46R consultations with the Staff. Irrespective of our previous conclusion that the non-controlling interest in a Care Trust is an </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">equity </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">instrument in accordance with FAS 150, given the peculiar facts and circumstances related to our Care Trusts we believe it would be inappropriate to characterize the related non-controlling interest as part of stockholders equity in our consolidated balance sheet. We believe this conclusion is consistent with paragraph B35 of FAS 160, which indicates that the FASB Board recognized FAS 160 would not be applicable to all instruments historically classified as non-controlling interests. Finally, given the interrelationship between the M&#38;S Trusts and the Care Trusts, the Company believes that having different classifications would be very confusing to the users of our financial statements. Accordingly, effective December 31, 2008, the amounts historically described as &#34;Non controlling interest in care trusts&#34; will be re-characterized as &#34;Care Trusts' corpus&#34; in our consolidated balance sheet, and the footnotes to our financial statements will include a disclosure that explains the reason for such revision.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We are available to discuss this matter with the Staff at your earliest convenience. Should you have any questions or need to discuss this matter, you may contact me at 713-525-7768.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Sincerely,</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Eric D. Tanzberger</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President and</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">cc&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Kyle Moffat&#47; U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Paul Kepple&#47; Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Kenneth Miller&#47; Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Rich Shappard&#47; Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Members of the SCI Audit Committee of the Board of Directors</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div id="i5bb1e0a2bcae4bf583b744ffc5e2aaf8_70"></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:56.65pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:56.65pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:56.65pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Exhibit B</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004 Letter to SEC</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><img alt="scilogo6a.gif" src="scilogo6a.gif" style="height:76px;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:90px"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Jeffrey E. Curtis</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Senior Vice President &#47; Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">jeffrey.curtis&#64;sci-us.com</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chief Accountant</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">United States Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">450</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Fifth Street, N.W.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Washington, DC 20549-1103</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Via Fax&#58; (202) 942-9656</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Dear Mr. Nicolaison&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">On January 14, 2004, we met with the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#34;SEC Staff') to discuss our prior submissions dated December 29, 2003, December 9, 2003 and November 21, 2003 regarding the views of Service Corporation International (the &#34;Company&#34;) with respect to the accounting for statutory trusts (the &#34;Trusts&#34;&#125; utilized by the deathcare industry. Representatives from the National and Houston offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers ILP, our independent accountants, were also present at this meeting. The precipitance for those letters and our meeting with the SEC Staff was our adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(''FIN 46R'').</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">At the request of the SEC Staff, we are providing additional background information for each type of Trust, our analysis under FIN 46R of each type of Trust and our conclusions regarding the appropriate accounting.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">This letter is comprised of the following sections&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:0.85pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:26.9pt">Background Description of Each Type of Trust</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-0.21pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:27.96pt">Current Accounting for Trusts</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-0.21pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">3.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:27.96pt">Consideration of FIN 46R for Each Type of Trust</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-0.55pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:28.3pt">Accounting for Trusts Under FIN 46R</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:5.75pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1929 ALLEN PARKWAY &#8226; P.O. BOX 130548 &#8226; HOUSTON, TX 77219-0548 &#8226; (713) 525-5546 &#8226; FAX (713) 525-5267</font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:5.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:5.75pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 2</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">SECTION I &#183;BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF EACH TYPE OF TRUST</font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:9.9pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">A significant component of the Company's business is the sale of&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:9.9pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">preneed funeral merchandise and services,</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">preneed cemetery merchandise and services, and.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">cemetery interment rights and property (&#34;cemetery property'').</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">State laws generally require all or a substantial portion of funds collected for preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services contracts to be placed into trusts (''M&#38;S Trusts''), for which the Company typically acts as the trustor. State laws also require a portion of the funds collected from sales of cemetery interment rights and property to be placed into perpetual or endowment care trusts (&#34;Care Trusts'').</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">M&#38;S TRUSTS</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">M&#38;S Trusts are required by state statute and are established explicitly to protect prearrangement consumers by limiting the Company's access to the funds until the merchandise is delivered or services are performed. The funds deposited into the M&#38;S Trusts are invested in accordance with the investment requirements established by statute or, where the prudent investor rule is applicable, the trustees' judgment. In exchange for the amounts paid by the customer (which includes the M&#38;S Trust corpus) plus the accumulated earnings on these amounts, the Company is contractually obligated to perform the services or deliver the merchandise stipulated. by the contract terms. Economically, the M&#38;S Trust earnings compensate the funeral or cemetery operator &#183;for inflation in the costs of providing the products and services since funeral and cemetery operators are contractually obligated to perform services or provide products at a set price in the future.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The M&#38;S Trusts' assets, which include both the principal and undistributed net earnings, are only accessible by the Company upon performance under the contracts (except as described below) and are not subject to the claims of the Company's creditors. Generally, each M&#38;S Trusts pays income tax on its earnings on behalf of the customer. In the instances where the customer is required to pay the income tax, the appropriate tax documents are sent to the customer.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">During our January 14, 2004 meeting, we discussed the different types of M&#38;S Trusts based upon the disposition of trust corpus and income in the event of cancellation of the contract by the customers. Following is a summary of the categories&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 3</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:99.561%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:10.647%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:61.014%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.969%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:11.970%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Category</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Disposition of M&#38;S Trust Corpus and M&#38;S Trust Income Upon Cancellation of Contract by Customer</font></td><td colspan="6" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Market Value of M&#38;S Trust Assets at December 31, 2003 (in millions)</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Customer receives all M&#38;S Trust corpus and M&#38;S Trust income.</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">442&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">23&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">%</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Customer receives M&#38;S Trust corpus and M&#38;S Trust income less statutorily defined retention, which is distributed to the Company.</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">480&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">25&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">%</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Customer receives only the corpus originally deposited into the M&#38;S Trust. The Company retains all earnings. In some states the original &#183;corpus is reduced by a statutorily defined retention, which is distributed to the</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Company.</font></div></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">603&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">32&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">%</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">D</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Same as C above except the Company is entitled to a portion of M&#38;S Trust income prior to performance of services, delivery of merchandise or cancellation by customer.</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">370&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">20&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">%</font></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total M&#38;S Trust Assets</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1895&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">100&#160;</font></td><td style="border-bottom:1pt solid #000;border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">%</font></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In category A, B and C above, the Company has no right to any of the funds in the M&#38;S Trusts before merchandise is delivered, services are performed or notice of customer cancellation is received. In category D, the Company has the right to withdraw a portion of Trust income prior to delivery of merchandise, performance of services or customer cancellation. However, if a customer cancels a category D contract, the Company generally has the obligation to remit back to the customer amounts necessary to restore the M&#38;S Trust corpus balance to a certain statutorily determined amount. These situations occur when the fair value of the M&#38;S Trust corpus declines below certain statutorily determined levels usually as a result of temporary market conditions. Further, as described below, in greater than 99% of the Trusts, all corpus and accumulated earnings (including any earnings previously distributed in category D Trusts) would have to be refunded to the customer if the Company were to default under a contract.</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In M&#38;S Trust categories A and B, the Company has no right to M&#38;S Trust corpus or income before it performs services or delivers merchandise. With respect to category C M&#38;S Trusts, the Company has no right to M&#38;S Trust corpus or income before it performs services or delivers merchandise. However, in the event of a customer cancellation, the Company would retain the trust earnings. While the Company has the ability to receive M&#38;S Trusts earnings in category</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 4</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">D, the Company is contingently obligated to refund the amounts withdrawn from the M&#38;S Trusts if investment losses result in the corpus being below statutorily defined amounts, Therefore, the Company's right to M&#38;S Trust income in category D M&#38;S Trusts prior to performance of service, delivery of merchandise or upon customer cancellation, is contingent upon future performance or events.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For all categories of M&#38;S Trusts, if the Company defaults under a prearranged contract, the Company has no right to M&#38;S Trust corpus or M&#38;S Trust earnings, except for certain M&#38;S Trusts representing less than 1% of total M&#38;S Trust assets, where the Company may retain a portion of M&#38;S Trust earnings in event of default. For this reason, the Company has historically reported all Trust income realized prior to performance of services or delivery of merchandise as deferred revenue.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">CARE TRUSTS</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company is generally obligated under state laws to remit a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property to Care Trusts. Earnings on corpus are used for the perpetual upkeep of the cemetery grounds. Except in very limited circumstances, neither the Company nor the customers have any right to the Care Trust corpus and the Care Trusts' assets are not subject to the claims of the Company's creditors. In certain states, the Company's legal obligation to maintain its cemeteries is limited to the lesser of Care Trust distributable earnings or actual costs. In other states, the Company's obligation is to maintain the cemetery to a certain standard set by the state, regardless of the Care Trust earnings. In either type of state, we evaluated whether an additional legal obligation exists under principles of estoppel or other doctrines, and concluded an additional obligation in excess of the state statute requirements noted above does not exist.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.15pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;position:relative;top:-3.85pt;vertical-align:baseline">2</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">If a customer cancels an interment right, the Care Trust does not refund any amounts to the customer. In no case would the holder of the interment right have an ability to recover the corpus if the Company failed to perform.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">SECTION 2 </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">- </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">CURRENT ACCOUNTING FOR M&#38;S AND CARE TRUSTS</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For background purposes, we have included a summary of the Company's current accounting model for each type of Trust.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 5</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">M&#38;S TRUSTS CURRENT ACCOUNTING</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company records as a receivable from the M&#38;S Trust for the total corpus&#183; and investment income of the M&#38;S Trusts along with an offsetting credit to deferred revenue. Neither the corpus nor the investment income of the M&#38;S Trusts is earned by the Company until it has performed services, delivered merchandise or, in certain circumstances with respect to investment earnings (category C and D M&#38;S Trusts), until the customer cancels the contract. Upon performance or delivery, all deferred income relating to that customer is recognized in funeral revenues or cemetery revenues.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">CARE TRUSTS CURRENT ACCOUNTING</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Currently, Care Trust assets are not recorded on the Company's balance sheet. The Company recognizes investment income generated from the Care Trust assets as cemetery revenues when the Company has incurred qualifying </font></div><div style="border-bottom:1pt solid black;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:10pt;width:150pt"></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">2</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">As a part of this review, we reviewed publications and transcripts of the sales department and concluded the Company does not obligate itself to maintain the cemetery at a standard higher than required by the state statute.</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">maintenance costs that give it a legal claim to the realized investment income of the Care Trusts. Cemetery maintenance costs are recorded as expenses in the Company's financial statements when incurred.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">SECTION 3 </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">- </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">CONSIDERATION OF FIN 46R FOR EACH TYPE OF TRUST</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The two key decisions considered by the Company in determining if the Company should consolidate the M&#38;S and Care Trusts under FlN 46R are&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Determining whether the Trusts are variable interest entities, and</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Determining whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the Trusts.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:9.75pt">DETERMINING WHETHER THE TRUSTS ARE VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In determining whether the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts are variable interest entities, the Company reviewed the guidance of paragraph 5 of FIN 46R.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">We believe the Care Trusts meet the condition of paragraph 5(b)(1) FIN 46R because of the decision-making restriction placed on the equity holders under state statutes. We believe the M&#38;S Trusts also meet the conditions of paragraph 5(a) of FIN 46R as the equity holders of the M&#38;S Trusts do not have sufficient equity investment at risk.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Trusts (e.g., employee benefit plan trusts, investment trusts, etc.) typically do not have &#34;equity&#34; but rather beneficial interests in the ''net assets&#34; or &#34;earnings&#34; of the trusts. Therefore&#183; we believe that the net assets represent the trusts' equity and the legal beneficiary of the trusts' net assets represents its equity holders.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 6</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Care Trusts</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Guidance</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#58; Under paragraph 5(b)(1) of FIN 46R, an entity is a variable interest entity ifits equity holders lack the direct or indirect ability to make decisions about an entity's activities through voting or similar rights.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Analysis</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#58; There are different views regarding how to evaluate the equity of the Care Trusts. The views relate to questions such as who is the beneficiary (i.e., equity holder) of the Care Trusts (the Company, the cemetery, or the customer), whether the beneficiary has equity at risk (paragraph 5(a)), the ability of the equity holders to control the Care Trusts (paragraphs S(b)(l) and 5(c)) and whether the equity holders absorb the expected residual losses and expected (paragraphs 5(b)(2) and 5(b)(3)). However, regardless of who is the beneficiary of each Care Trusts, the trusts are variable interest entities because all significant decision-making abilities are stipulated by state statute and the applicable government entities have no equity at risk in the entities. State statutes stipulate the operations and activities of the Care Trusts, the types of investments in which the trustee can invest</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.15pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;position:relative;top:-3.85pt;vertical-align:baseline">3</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">, the distribution of the Care Trust earnings to the Company and the inability to distribute Care Trust assets. The trustees of the Care Trusts have the responsibility for and oversight of the operating activities of the Care Trusts including the execution of the investment policy set forth by applicable state statute and the distribution of the Care Trusts earnings pursuant to state regulations. The Company has the ability to hire and fire investment advisors</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.15pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;position:relative;top:-3.85pt;vertical-align:baseline">4</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> and appoint and remove the trustees. However, these rights provide the Company limited ability to impact the operations of the Care Trusts. The customer has no ability to impact the operations or investing activities of the Care Trusts.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Conclusion</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#58; The lack of decision-making ability because of state statutes which stipulate the operations and activities of the Care trust causes the Care Trusts to meet the conditions of FIN 46R paragraph 5(b)(1) and be classified as variable interest entities.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">M&#38;S Trusts</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Guidance</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#58; An entity is a variable interest entity if the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties (i.e., the equity investment is not greater than the entity's expected losses).</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="border-bottom:1pt solid black;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:10pt;width:150pt"></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">3</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Regulation of types of investment ranges from a ''prudent investor rule&#34; to requirements that only specified types of investments are permissible.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">4</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">The responsibilities of the investment advisors include making recommendations to the trustee in making and retaining investments, in accordance with the requirements of state statutes and the guidance of the Company's Investment Committee. However, the trustee is not obligated to follow the recommendations of the investment advisor, as the trustee has the fiduciary obligation to the trust.</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 7</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Analysis</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#58; As discussed above, the M&#38;S Trusts have the same paragraph 5 (b)(1) issues as the Care Trusts and those concerns were not repeated here.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.15pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;position:relative;top:-3.85pt;vertical-align:baseline">5</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> As the M&#38;S Trust has an unconditional obligation to redeem the equity holders' interest in the M&#38;S Trust by transferring assets upon an event certain to occur (i.e., death), all of the net assets in each M&#38;S Trust would be considered a liability of the M&#38;S Trust under SFAS No. 150, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liability and Equity</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> (&#34;SFAS No. 150&#34;). Therefore, after the effective date of SFAS No. 150, all deposits made by the Company's customers into the trusts after that date do not meet the definition of equity or investment at risk.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">There is a question as to whether the recurring turnover of customers whose funds are deposited in the trusts would represent triggering events under paragraph 7 of FIN 46R. One view is that a triggering event would not occur unless new customer deposits being added and old customer deposits being removed are of such significance that the nature and risks of the trusts are significantly altered. The other view, based on a strict application of paragraph 7(b) of FIN 46R, is that every transaction with customers is a triggering event and therefore triggering events would occur virtually every day. Under the former view, the net assets would be considered to be equity as of the last triggering event date, as long as that date preceded the effective date of SFAS 150 (which is likely the case for most M&#38;S trusts). Under the latter view, since SFAS 150 was effective prior to the date the Company must apply FIN 46R, all of the M&#38;S trusts would violate the criterion of paragraph S&#123;a) of FIN 46R. This is because, as a result of frequent and recurring triggering events, SFAS 150 would apply as of the last triggering event date prior to implementation of FIN 46R and therefore the trusts net assets would not be classified as equity. This however, is a moot question as a result of the matter discussed below.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In any event, the amount deposited by the customer into the M&#38;S Trust is not at risk because regardless of trust earnings, or loss of &#183;corpus, the Company is obligated to deliver at the customer's option the prearranged merchandise or services in exchange for the customer's interests in the trust, thus protecting the equity holder from risk of loss. As discussed in more detail below, the customer may not absorb the expected losses as they may elect to &#183;accept the Company's services. Thus, regardless of whether the net assets of the trusts qualify to be classified in equity as of the last triggering event date, such net assets would not qualify as equity at risk, because it is not at risk for the variability in the fair value of the trust assets.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Donald</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">T.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">8</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:9.75pt">DETERMINING WHETHER THE COMPANY IS THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARY OF THE TRUSTS</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">M&#38;S Trusts</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In the vast majority of all four categories of M&#38;S Trusts, the customer has an option at any time to cancel the contract and receive a return of its deposit. With respect to category A and B M&#38;S Trusts, the customer also has a right to all or a portion on the earnings associated with the corpus. The Company has effectively entered into a total return swap, which allows the customer to exchange its equity in the M&#38;S Trust to the Company for defined merchandise and services. Therefore, we believe it is evident that the Company will absorb a majority of the expected losses and expected residual returns of the category A and B M&#38;S Trusts and would therefore be the primary beneficiary. Because the customer may withdraw corpus and earnings at any time before need &#123;through cancellation), the contract is in effect an atneed contract with the customer and the price .in the atneed contract is equal to the amounts paid by the customers plus M&#38;S Trust earnings. This arrangement transfers all of the expected losses to the Company through the fixed price in the contract and assignment of M&#38;S Trust proceeds to the Company. We believe this arrangement, while outside of the variable interest entity, must be considered in applying FIN 46R, paragraph 14 to identify the primary beneficiary. While the customer may withdraw the residual returns through cancellation of the contract, the customer would not normally be economically motivated to cancel the contract unless the earnings have been greater than the increase in the fair value of the merchandise or services. However, the Company would still bear substantially all expected losses since customers would not be motivated to cancel if the assets in the trust including earnings are less than the value of the merchandise or services. We reach the same conclusion when evaluating the category C and D M&#38;S Trusts. The expected losses of the category C and D M&#38;S Trusts will be transferred to the Company when the Company performs the service or delivers the merchandise through the preneed contract. In addition, with respect to category C and D M&#38;S Trusts, because in all </font></div><div style="border-bottom:1pt solid black;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:10pt;width:150pt"></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">5</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">We have only evaluated the M&#38;S Trust with respect to paragraph 5&#123;a) of FIN 46R.. It should noted that the M&#38;S Trust would also likely meet the conditions of 5(b)(1), 5(b)(2) and 5(b)(3) of FIN 46R.</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">cases except when the Company defaults under a preneed contract, the Company would receive a majority of each Trusts' expected residual returns because the Company is entitled to earnings of each category C and D M&#38;S Trust.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Care Trusts</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company is the legal beneficiary of the Care Trust income, meaning the Company is the beneficiary of all income generated by the Care Trust and receives all of the expected losses and residual returns. When the Care Trusts have losses, the Company absorbs the expected losses of the Care Trust through a reduction in distributable earnings to offset maintenance expenses. While in some states the Company is only obligated to perform maintenance activities in the amount of Trust earnings, other states require a certain level of maintenance regardless of the Trust earnings. At substantially all of our cemeteries, we typically incur ongoing maintenance costs each year in excess of the statutory requirements for economic. purposes. We have made a business decision to incur the additional costs to help sell the remaining property at the cemetery, to maintain our corporate image and, at locations with funeral homes on the cemetery property,</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Donald</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">T.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> 9</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">to promote additional funeral volume. Therefore, in all cases, the Company absorbs the negative variations in the Care Trust earnings through the reduced earnings distributed by the Care Trust, leading to the determination that the Company is the primary beneficiary of the Care Trust.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">SECTION 4 -ACCOUNTING FOR M&#38;S AND CARE TRUSTS UNDER FIN 46R</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">After our January 14, 2004 meeting with the SEC Staff and additional discussions between the SEC Staff and the PwC National office, we have modified our original proposed accounting for the M&#38;S and Care Trusts under FIN 46R and now propose the following accounting treatment.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">M&#38;S TRUSTS ACCOUNTING</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:line-through">Category A and B M&#38;S Trusts</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Although FIN 46R requires consolidation of the M&#38;S Trusts, it does not change the legal relationships between the Trusts, the Company, and its customers. The customers are the legal beneficiaries of the M&#38;S Trusts and, therefore, their interests in the M&#38;S &#183;Trusts represent a non-controlling interest in subsidiaries. The Company would record the category A and B M&#38;S Trust assets on the Company's balance sheet and account for the assets pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> (&#34;SFAS No.115'') with an offsetting adjustment to non-controlling interests. Because the category A and B M&#38;S Trust beneficial interests are unconditionally redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is certain to occur (i.e., death), the non-controlling interests will be classified as a liability in accordance with SFAS No. 150. The Comp.any would record unrealized gains and losses on category A and B M&#38;S Trust assets with an offsetting adjustment to non-controlling interest.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Earnings on category A and B M&#38;S Trust assets would be recognized in the period realized within Other income (a non-operating income classification) with an offsetting entry to non-controlling interest in the trust earnings because the Company is not legally entitled to the M&#38;S Trust earnings until it performs the service or delivers the merchandise. This debit would also be classified within Other income, in accordance with the treatment of changes in redeemable equity interests under SFAS No. 150. Accordingly, at this point there would be no impact on the Company's net income as the realized M&#38;S Trust earnings are offset by the non-controlling interest in trust earnings.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.15pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;position:relative;top:-3.85pt;vertical-align:baseline">6</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Upon performance of service or delivery of merchandise, the Company would recognize the entire amount of both M&#38;S Trust corpus and earnings as funeral or cemetery revenue, as appropriate. We believe the presentation of M&#38;S Trust earnings as revenue is appropriate because of the following points&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 10</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="border-bottom:1pt solid black;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:10pt;width:150pt"></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">6</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Even though the Company is entitled to the retainage in certain category B M&#38;S Trusts, the retention amount is not realized until the cancellation occurs and therefore, should not be recognized until the contract is cancelled.</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Calibri',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:12.53pt">The Company has no right to M&#38;S Trust corpus or income until it performs the services or delivers the merchandise. In addition, the customer may withdraw corpus and earnings</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.15pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;position:relative;top:-3.85pt;vertical-align:baseline">7</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> at any time before need (through cancellation) and subsequently enter into another contract, at current list prices, using the distributed trust corpus and earnings in the trust</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">.</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">Under the terms of substantially all of the prearranged contracts, the contract specifically states the purchase price of the products and services includes all M&#38;S Trust earnings. For example, the standard preneed funeral service trust contract in the state of Florida states, ''the price for the funeral services and merchandise listed below shall include all remaining interest, dividends, increases, or accretions earned by the funds paid under this contract.&#34;</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">Under the prearranged funeral contract or preneed cemetery contract, the customer utilizes the M&#38;S Trust earnings to compensate the funeral or cemetery operator for inflation in the costs of providing the products or services agreed upon when entering the prearranged contract. Recognizing the M&#38;S Trust earnings in the income statement outside of revenue would not match the earnings of the M&#38;S Trust with the costs that it is intended to offset.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Category C Trusts</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company would record the category C M&#38;S Trust assets on the Company's balance sheet and account for the assets pursuant to SFAS No. 115 with an offsetting entry to non-controlling interests. Because the category C M&#38;S Trust beneficial interests are unconditionally redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is certain to occur (i.e., death), the non-controlling interests will be classified as a liability in accordance with SFAS No. 150. The Company would record unrealized gains and losses on category C M&#38;S Trust assets with an offsetting adjustment to non-controlling interest.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Earnings on category C Trust assets would be recognized in the period realized within Other income (a non-operating income classification) with an offset to non-controlling interest in the trust earnings because the Company is not legally entitled to the M&#38;S Trust earnings until it performs the services or delivers the merchandise or the contract is cancelled by the customer. This debit would also be classified within Other income, in accordance with the treatment of changes in redeemable equity interests under SFAS No. 150. Accordingly, at this point there would be no impact to net income as the realized M&#38;S Trust earnings are offset by the non-controlling interest in trust earnings.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In the category C M&#38;S Trusts, the Company is entitled to a statutorily defined retainage and all trust earnings upon customer cancellation. However, we believe the retainage and trust earnings are not realized and should not be recognized as revenue by the Company until the cancellation</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 11</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">occurs. The fact that the customer could forfeit the earnings upon cancellation of the contract does not change the legal relationships between the customer, the M&#38;S Trust and the Company. In fact. in some states, if the customer chooses to have &#183;the contract transferred to another provider, the Company is obligated to transfer to the new provider the principal and earnings allocated to that customer. The Company, in practice, often transfers the category C trust earnings in addition to the principal to the new provider even if not obligated to do so. Additionally, the customer is entitled to all M&#38;S Trust corpus and earnings if the Company defaults on the contract. Therefore, we believe deferral of the M&#38;S Trust earnings until the performance of service or delivery of merchandise is appropriate.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Upon performance of service or delivery of merchandise, the Company would recognize the entire amount of M&#38;S Trust corpus and earnings as revenue for category C M&#38;S Trusts for substantially the same reasons as described in the category A and B M&#38;S Trusts above. While we recognize that the customer does not have the right to earnings in the event of a contract cancellation, we do not have the right to the earnings until we perform. services or deliver merchandise.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Category D Trusts</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company would record the category D M&#38;S Trust assets on the Company's balance sheet and account for the assets pursuant to SFAS No. 115 with an offsetting entry to non-controlling interests. Because the corpus on the category D M&#38;S Trust beneficial interests are unconditionally redeemable upon the occurrence of an event that is certain to occur (i.e., death), it should be classified as a liability in accordance with SFAS No. 150. The Company </font></div><div style="border-bottom:1pt solid black;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:10pt;width:150pt"></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:85%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">7</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:85%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:85%">To record this distribution of M&#38;S Trust earnings to the customer, the Company would record a reduction to M&#38;S Trust assets and a corresponding reduction in non-controlllilg interest in trust assets. There would be no income statement impact.</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">would record unrealized gains and losses on category D M&#38;S Trust assets with an offsetting adjustment to deferred income.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Although the Company is entitled to some or all of the realized earnings of each category D Trust, realized earnings on trust assets prior to performance of service or delivery of merchandise will also be recognized as deferred revenue. This is as a result of the following facts&#58;</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">The distributions from category D M&#38;S Trusts&#59; although they transfer cash from the trust to the Company, do not alter the legal or substantive performance obligations of the Company compared to category C trusts.</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">The Company is required to refund the M&#38;S Trust corpus and M&#38;S Trust earnings if the Company defaults on the prearranged contract, except in M&#38;S Trusts making up less than 1% of the M&#38;S Trust assets where the Company can retain a portion of the trust earnings if the Company defaults.</font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">The Company may be required to fund the M&#38;S Trust to maintain it at a certain statutorily determined level, or the Company may be required to fund the M&#38;S Trust (i.e., return the distributed M&#38;S Trust earnings) upon customer cancellation in circumstances in which it experiences a decline in value subsequent to the distribution of the M&#38;S Trust earnings. As described above, if the customer chooses to have the contract transferred to another provider, the Company is obligated in some states to transfer to the new provider the principal and earnings allocated to that customer.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 12</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">The Company has not performed the services or delivered the merchandise that it is contractually obligated to perform and deliver. The cash received in advance of performance should therefore be viewed as a customer deposit.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Each of the above factors indicates the Company has not earned the M&#38;S Trust earnings for category D Trusts until the Company performs the service or delivers the merchandise.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">At this point, there would be no impact to net income as the earnings are offset by the non-controlling interest in trust earnings or deferred revenue.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Upon performance of service or delivery of merchandise, Trust corpus and Trust earnings will be recognized as funeral or cemetery revenue. We believe the presentation of M&#38;S Trust earnings as revenue for category D M&#38;S Trusts is appropriate for the many of the same reasons as described in the category C M&#38;S Trust section.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Alternative Presentation</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In an alternative presentation, the accounting would be the same for each category of M&#38;S Trust until the Company performs services or delivers merchandise under the contract or the customer cancels the contract. Upon the Company's performance or delivery under the contract, the Company would only record the M&#38;S Trust corpus as revenue for cemetery or funeral merchandise and services and record the distributed M&#38;S Trust earnings as a credit to non-controlling interest expense classified within Other income. Assume an $80 contract with $20 of accumulated earnings, the entry would be&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;vertical-align:top;width:79.385%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:85.272%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:5.529%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:5.899%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Cash</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">100</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">M&#38;S Trust Assets</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">100</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Non-controlling interest in trust assets (balance sheet) </font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">100</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Revenue (for trust corpus)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">80</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">Non-controlling interest expense (for trust earnings)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:top"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">20</font></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In this case, the accumulated M&#38;S Trust earnings would not be recorded in revenue and instead reduce current period allocation of Trust earnings to the Company's customers. Under this alternative presentation, the original deposit received from the customer would be the only component of revenue that the Company would recognize.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company believes that this alternative presentation is not appropriate and is inconsistent with the legal and economic fact pattern of the transaction for the following reasons&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">This presentation contradicts the form of the standard prearranged contract used in most states.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 13</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">Under the alternative presentation, the recognition of the M&#38;S Trust earnings as a credit to non-controlling interest expense reflects the distribution of M&#38;S Trust earnings in a manner similar to a forgiveness of debt or the allocation of trust earnings, neither of which reflects the economics of the arrangement.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">In periods when actual M&#38;S Trust investment earnings are flat or negative, under the alternative presentation, the Company would nevertheless report investment income from accumulated prior year investment earnings as services are performed or merchandise is delivered. Additionally, this presentation may actually result in a credit in Other income if the distribution of M&#38;S earnings exceeds the current period actual M&#38;S Trust investment earnings. We believe this would be confusing to investors and would not result in the proper representation of M&#38;S Trust income to non-controlling interest expense.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">Under the alternative presentation, the Company's gross margins would not be fairly presented and revenues would not be properly matched to costs because upon performance of services or delivery of merchandise, the amount recognized as revenue would be equal to the historical prearranged amount (which may have been set in excess of 10 years prior), while the costs recognized to perform the service or deliver the merchandise are the current costs. We believe this presentation would distort the gross margins of the Company and the underlying true economics of the transaction between the Company and the customer. In some cases, the presentation may indicate the Company is performing services or providing merchandise at a loss, when in fact, the Company, is achieving an appropriate margin.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">The distribution of the M&#38;S Trust earnings is not analogous to the Company charging the trusts for services (which would be appropriately recognized as a reduction of the non-controlling interest share of trust earnings). The Company's primary responsibility is not to provide services to the trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:7.15pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;position:relative;top:-3.85pt;vertical-align:baseline">8</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">. The distributions represent the disposition of trust assets by the trust beneficiaries to fund the beneficiaries' personal expenses.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company notes net income is the same in each period under the proposed accounting and the alternative presentation. The significant difference is that distributed M&#38;S Trust earnings are recognized as revenue for services or merchandise in the proposed accounting and as a credit to non-controlling interest in trust earnings in the alternative presentation. We believe the alternative presentation leads to less transparency in the operating results of the Company. As noted above, the large majority of the distributed M&#38;S Trust fund earnings were earned in periods prior to the performance of services or delivery of merchandise and do not represent a reallocation of trust earnings and to record it as such, within Other income, would be inappropriate and would likely confuse investors.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 14</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">CARE TRUSTS ACCOUNTING</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Our proposed accounting for the Care Trusts is summarized as follows&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company would record the Care Trust assets on the Company's balance sheet with an offsetting entry to non-controlling interest in Care Trusts (minority interests) as the Company does not have a legal right to the Care Trust corpus. The assets of the Care Trusts would be accounted for under SFAS No. 115 (including any adjustment to mark-to-market available for sale securities under SFAS No. 115). Realized gains on Care Trust assets would be recorded within revenue, based on an application of EITF 01-14, to the extent that qualifying maintenance expenses are incurred. .Any excess would be recorded as deferred revenue. Unrealized gains and losses will be accounted for as an increase or decrease to non-controlling interest in Care Trusts (minority interests). Realized net losses (if any) will be recorded as a reduction to minority interests.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company would accrue a receivable from the Care Trusts in advance of distribution of Care Trust earnings if qualifying expenses are incurred and there are accumulated distributable earnings in the trust.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*****</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">April 14, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 15</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="border-bottom:1pt solid black;margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:10pt;width:150pt"></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%;position:relative;top:-3.5pt;vertical-align:baseline">8</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:9pt;font-weight:400;line-height:115%">The Company does provide some services to the Trusts such as monthly deposits for funds received and withdrawals for services performed and.merchandise delivered.</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">We have not included draft financial statement disclosures for the implementation of FIN 46R in this letter. We will include the draft financial statement disclosures in a subsequent letter to the SEC Staff upon finalization of the accounting for the M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts under FIN 46R.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Our audit committee agrees with the conclusions outlined in this letter. Additionally, the National and Houston offices representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent accountants, concur with our conclusions outlined in this letter, except for the presentation of realized gains and unrealized gains and losses on Care Trust assets. PricewaterhouseCoopers believes that the Company, as the income beneficiary of the Care Trusts, should treat Care Trust earnings like those from a restricted investment under FAS 115 with realized gains reflected in Other Income and unrealized earnings reflected in Other Comprehensive Income.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">As mentioned in our previous submission to the SEC Staff&#59; we greatly appreciated Jane Poulin's efforts to meet with us in person and to respond to our requests in a timely manner to reach an expeditious resolution to our questions regarding our adoption of FIN 46R.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Sincerely,</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Jeffrey E. Curtis</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Jeffrey Curtis</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Senior Vice President, </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">cc&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Doug Tanner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Randy Vitray, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Members of the SCI Audit Committee of the Board of Directors</font></div><div id="i5bb1e0a2bcae4bf583b744ffc5e2aaf8_77"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:56.65pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Exhibit C</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">July 21, 2004 Letter to SEC</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><img alt="scilogo6a.gif" src="scilogo6a.gif" style="height:76px;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:90px"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Vice President and Corporate Controller</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">July 21, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Ms. Jane Poulin</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Office</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">of</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">the</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chief</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accountant</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">United States Securities and Exchange Commission </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">450 Fifth Street, N.W.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Washington,</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> DC 20549-1103 </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Via Fax&#58; (202) 942-9656</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Dear Ms. Poulin&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">On behalf of Service Corporation International, Alderwoods Group, Inc., Stewart Enterprises, Inc. and Carriage Services, Inc., I respectfully submit the attached letter confirming the application of FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003) utilized by the four registrants in the deathcare industry. Based on discussions with the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we understand the SEC Staff will not object to the conclusions reached in the attached letter.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">We again respectfully thank the SEC Staff for their time and attention over the last several months regarding the application of FIN 46R to the deathcare industry.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Sincerely,</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">&#47;s&#47; Eric D. Tanzberger</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">cc&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Dwight Hawes - Alderwoods Group, Inc.</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Rick Low - Alderwoods Group, Inc.</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Ken Budde - Stewart Enterprises, Inc.</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Michael Hymel - Stewart Enterprises, Inc.</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Terry Sanford - Carriage Services, Inc.</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Jeffrey Curtis - Service Corporation International</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">KPMG LLP</font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:72pt;text-indent:-36pt"><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;padding-right:36pt;text-align:center;text-indent:-36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1929 ALLEN PARKWAY &#8226; P.0.BOX 130548 &#8226; HOUSTON, TX772l9-0548 &#8226; (713) 525-7768 &#8226; FAX (713) 525-7581</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">July 21&#59; 2004</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> Donald T. Nicolaisen</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chief Accountant</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Office of the Chief Accountant </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Securities and Exchange Commission </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">450 </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Fifth</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Street,</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> N.W.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Washington,</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">DC </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">20549-1103</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Via FAX - (202) 942-9656</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Dear</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12.5pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> Nicolaisen&#58;</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Based on discussions with the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (&#34;SEC Staff ') over the past several months, culminating with a meeting with the SEC Staff on April 29, 2004, we have prepared this letter summarizing the application of FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (&#34;FIN 46R''), to statutorily required trusts (the &#34;Trusts&#34;) utilized by the undersigned registrants in the deathcare industry (the ''Registrants&#34;). The information included herein represents our conclusions regarding the accounting for the Trusts under the requirements of FIN 46R. We acknowledge that our accounting conclusions that follow are an industry-specific application of the literature discussed herein and should not be analogized to in other situations. Based on these discussions, we understand the SEC Staff will not object to these conclusions.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Background</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">A significant component of the Registrants' businesses is the sale on a preneed basis of funeral and cemetery merchandise and services and cemetery interment rights and property. State laws generally require all or a substantial portion of the funds collected for preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and service contracts to be placed into merchandise and service trusts (&#34;M&#38;S Trusts''). State lav&#59;s also require a portion of the funds collected from sales of cemetery interment rights and property to be placed into perpetual care trusts (&#34;Care Trusts&#34;).</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">M&#38;S Trusts are required by state statutes and are established explicitly to protect preneed consumers by limiting access by funeral and cemetery operators to the funds until the merchandise is delivered or services are performed. The funds deposited into the M&#38;S Trusts are invested in accordance with the investment requirements established by statute or, where the prudent investor rule is applicable, the trustees' judgment. In exchange for the amounts paid by the customer plus the accumulated earnings on these amounts, the Registrants are contractually obligated to deliver the merchandise or perform the services stipulated by the contract terms.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">July 21, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 2</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Economically, the M&#38;S Trust earnings compensate the funeral or cemetery operator for increases in the costs of providing the merchandise or performing the services because funeral and cemetery operators are contractually obligated to provide such merchandise and services in the future at a price established at the time the contract is entered into with the preneed consumer. The assets of the M&#38;S Trusts are not subject to the claims of the Registrants' creditors.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Care Trusts are also required by state statutes and obligate the Registrants to remit a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery interment rights and property to such Care Trusts. Earnings on the Care Trust corpus are used for the perpetual upkeep of the cemetery grounds. Except in very limited circumstances, neither the cemetery operators nor the customers have any right to the Care Trust corpus and the Care Trusts' assets are not subject to the claims of the Registrants' creditors.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Adoption of FIN 46R</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Under the provisions of FIN 46R, M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts are variable interest entities because the Trusts meet the conditions of paragraphs 5(a) and 5(b)(1) of FIN 46R That is, as a group, the equity investors (if any) do not have sufficient equity at risk&#59; and do not have the direct or indirect ability through voting or similar rights to make decisions about the Trusts' activities that have a significant effect on the success of the Trusts. FIN 46R requires the Registrants to consolidate M&#38;S Trusts and Care Trusts for which the Registrants are the primary beneficiaries (i.e., those for which the Registrants absorb a majority of the Trusts' expected losses). A Registrant is the primary </font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">beneficiary of a given Trust whenever a majority of the assets of the Trust are attributable to deposits for customers of the Registrant. If the assets of a given Trust arise as a result of deposits for customers of multiple Registrants or multiple funeral and cemetery operators, such that a majority of the assets of the Trust are not attributable to customers of any single Registrant or single funeral and cemetery operator, then no Registrant would absorb a majority of the Trust's expected losses (i.e., the Trust would not have a primary beneficiary) and the Trust would not be consolidated under the provisions of FIN 46R.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Although FIN 46R requires consolidation of most of the M&#38;S Trusts and the Care Trusts, it does not change the legal relationships among the Trusts, the Registrants and their customers. &#183; In the case of the M&#38;S Trusts, the customers are the legal beneficiaries. In the case of the Care Trusts, the Registrants do not have a legal right to the trust assets. For these reasons, upon consolidation of the Trusts, the Registrants are recognizing non-controlling interests in their financial statements to reflect the third party interests in these Trusts in accordance with FASB Statement No. 150, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liability and Equity</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">. As discussed with the SEC Staff&#59; the Registrants are classifying deposits to M&#38;S Trusts as liability non-controlling interests and are classifying deposits to Care Trusts as equity non-controlling interests. The Registrants are continuing to account for amounts received from customers prior to delivery of merchandise or services that are not deposited in either M&#38;S Trusts or Care Trusts as deferred revenue.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">July 21, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 3</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In consolidation, the Registrants recognize realized investment earnings of the M&#38;S Trusts within Other income, net. The Registrants then recognize a corresponding expense within </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other income, net</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> that represents the realized. earnings of those trusts that are attributable to the non-controlling interest holders. The corresponding credit for this expense is </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest funeral and cemetery trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> for M&#38;S Trusts or </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling Interest in perpetual care trusts'</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> for Care Trusts. The sum of these expenses recorded in </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other income, net</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> will offset the realized earnings of such trusts also recognized within </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other income, net.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> Accordingly, the Registrants' income statements are not affected by consolidation of the Trusts in accordance with FIN 46R (i.e., the application, of this accounting policy is income statement neutral to the Registrants' financial statements).</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">To the extent the earnings of the Trusts are distributed prior to the delivery of merchandise and&#47;or services, a corresponding amount of non-controlling interest will be reclassified to deferred revenue, until it is recognizable as revenue. In the case of M&#38;S Trusts, the Registrants recognize as revenues amounts previously attributed to non-controlling interests and deferred revenues upon the performance of services and delivery of merchandise, including earnings accumulated in.these trusts. In the case of the Care Trusts, distributable earnings are recognized in cemetery revenues to the extent of qualifying cemetery maintenance costs.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Both the M&#38;S Trusts and the Care Trusts hold investments in marketable securities that generally are classified as available-for-sale by the Registrants under the requirements of FASB Statement No. 115, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> (&#34;FAS, 115&#34;). Jn accordance with the provisions of FAS 115, available-for-sale securities of the Trusts are initially recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded fr6m earnings of the Registrants and initially recorded as a &#34;component of </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accumulated other comprehensive income</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(loss)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> in the consolidated balance sheet. By analogy to the guidance in EITF Topic D-41, </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Adjustments in Assets and Liabilities for Holding Gains and Losses as Related to the Implementation of FA.SB Statement No&#58; 115</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> (''Topic D-41'), unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities of the Trusts attributable to the non-controlling interest holders are not recorded as </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accumulated other comprehensive&#183; income (loss)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">, but are recorded as an adjustment to either </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest funeral and cemetery trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> for M&#38;S Trusts or </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in perpetual care trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> for Care Trusts. Therefore, unrealized gains and losses attributable to the non-controlling interest holders are reclassified from </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> to either </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non--controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> for M&#38;S Trusts or </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in perpetual care trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> for Care Trusts. The gross effect from applying Topic D-41 on the Registrants' </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> will be disclosed in the Registrants' footnotes to their financial statements, but the Registrants </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> on the face of the balance sheet is ultimately not affected by consolidation of the Trusts.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">*****</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Donald T. Nicolaison</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">July 21, 2004</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Page 4</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">We respectfully thank the SEC Staff for their time and attention over the last several months regarding the application of FIN 46R to the Trusts. This letter sets forth the accounting policies that we, the Registrants, will follow as a result of the adoption of FIN 46R.</font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:justify"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:93.274%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:48.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:48.900%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Service Corporation International</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Alderwoods Group, Inc.</font></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Stewart Enterprises, Inc.</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Carriage Services, Inc.</font></td></tr></table></div><div id="i5bb1e0a2bcae4bf583b744ffc5e2aaf8_85"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:56.65pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Exhibit D</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006 Letter to SEC</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><img alt="scilogo6a.gif" src="scilogo6a.gif" style="height:76px;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:90px"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Assistant Director</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Division of Corporation Finance</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mail Stop 0407</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">450 Fifth Street, N.W.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">RE&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;SEC Comment Letter dated May 19, 2006 related to Service Corporation International&#8217;s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 filed March 6, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">File No. 1-06402</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Dear Mr. Spirgel&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">This letter responds to the comment that Service Corporation International (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) received from the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221; or the &#8220;SEC&#8221;) by letter dated May 19, 2006 with respect to the above referenced filing.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">We hope this letter is responsive to your comment and request for information. If the response provided in this letter is not deemed adequate to answer the Staff&#8217;s comment, we will make ourselves available to further discuss this matter with the Staff at a mutually convenient time. The Company&#8217;s goal is to resolve this outstanding comment in a timely manner that is acceptable to the Staff.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For your convenience, our response is prefaced by the Commission&#8217;s comment in bold text.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, page F-7</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Please refer to prior comment 3. We understand that currently you are presenting the net changes in balance sheet line items such as &#8220;deferred preneed funeral revenue,&#8221; &#8220;non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts&#8221; and &#8220;preneed funeral receivables and trust investments&#8221; in the line item &#8220;net effect of preneed funeral production and maturities,&#8221; which is classified within cash provided by</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">1929 ALLEN PARKWAY &#8226; P.O. BOX 130548 &#8226; HOUSTON, TX 77219-0548 &#8226; (713) 525-7768 &#8226; FAX (713) 525-7581</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Page 2</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">operating activities on the cash flow statement. Similarly we note that the operating cash flow item &#8220;net effect of preneed cemetery production and deliveries&#8221; includes the net change in several other related balance sheet items. We further note your inclusion of &#8220;net withdrawals (deposits) of restricted funds and other&#8221; in investing activities. We do not believe that this net presentation complies with the requirements of SFAS No. 95 &#8220;Statement of Cash Flows&#8221;. Your response to this comment should detail a cash flow presentation that complies with SFAS 95, while also presenting meaningful information to an investor to enable them to better understand the underlying cash flows. We recognize that this represents a change from your historical manner of presenting cash flows related to the activities of the preneed funeral and cemetery merchandise and services trusts and cemetery perpetual care trusts. To the extent that any change in classification would require information that you currently do not track (for example, gross movements within the investment portfolio), please note that in your response.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">At a minimum, your response should address how you believe each of the following cash flows should be classified, citing appropriate portions of SFAS 95 to support your position. This list may not be all inclusive, so if there are other associated cash inflows and outflows that you believe relevant to this discussion, they should also be addressed.</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">The refundable deposit originally made by the customer for services to be performed at some future date&#59;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">The transfer of this deposit from the company to the trust, where it is invested as part of a larger investment portfolio&#59;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">Cash received for interest and dividends related to earnings of the investment portfolio&#59;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt">The reinvestment of these interest and dividends within the investment portfolio&#59;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt"> If the interest and dividends are not reinvested within the investment portfolio, specify what they are used for, and how they should be classified&#59;</font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">&#8226;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:14.15pt"> The removal of funds from the investment portfolio once state requirements have been met, and the transfer of these funds from the trust back to the company.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Also address any other relevant disclosures, such as information related to non-cash investing and financing activities association with these trusts.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Response</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#58; The Company acknowledges the Staff&#8217;s comment regarding our current net </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Page 3</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">presentation of the change in the balance sheet line items &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed funeral revenue</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;, &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;, and &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221; within the line item &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Net effect of preneed funeral production and maturities</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">,&#8221; which is classified within cash provided by operating activities in our cash flow statement. Similarly, the Company currently shows a net presentation of the change in the balance sheet line items &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed cemetery revenue</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;, &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;, and &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221; within the line item &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Net effect of preneed cemetery production and deliveries</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;, which is classified within cash provided by operating activities in our cash flow statement.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company would like to bring to the Staff&#8217;s attention that we currently track and disclose gross movements within our trust investment portfolio in Notes 4, 5, and 6 (Preneed Funeral Activities, Preneed Cemetery Activities, and Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts). These gross movement disclosures include gross purchases and sales within the trust investments as well as realized gains and losses related to the sales within the investments. The Company also includes in Notes 4, 5, and 6 the gross withdrawals and deposits within the trust that are related to funeral trusts, cemetery trusts, and cemetery perpetual care trusts.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company&#8217;s financial reporting for preneed funeral and cemetery contracts with customers was the subject of significant research, deliberation, and consultation with the Staff at the time of adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> (&#8220;FIN 46R&#8221;). In this regard, the Company respectfully refers the Staff to the deathcare industry registrants&#8217; letter to the SEC dated July 21, 2004 related to the adoption of FIN 46R (see Exhibit A). This letter, which was submitted to the Staff on behalf of four registrants in the deathcare industry (Service Corporation International, Alderwoods Group, Inc., Stewart Enterprises, Inc., and Carriage Services, Inc.), was the culmination of extensive consultation with members of both the Office of the Chief </font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accountant and Division of Corporation Finance at the time of FIN 46R adoption. The Company believes an understanding of the application of FIN 46R to the deathcare industry is pertinent to this comment letter response. Although the cash flow presentation of preneed activities was not specifically addressed in the July 2004 industry letter, the Company believes cash flow practices were discussed with the Staff upon adoption of FIN 46R, and that its current cash flow presentation of such activities is consistent with those Staff discussions and with presentations used by other deathcare industry registrants. As outlined in the July 2004 industry letter, fundamental to this presentation was the conclusion that revenue, gross profit and net income should be unaffected by the consolidation of funeral, cemetery and perpetual care trusts under FIN 46R. The Company believes this same premise would apply to cash flows from operating activities, and that any deviation from its current cash flow presentation would be inconsistent with the conclusions reached with the SEC in July 2004.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Under the provisions of FIN 46R, the Company&#8217;s funeral, cemetery, and perpetual care trusts (&#8220;Trusts&#8221;) were considered variable interest entities in accordance with the guidance set forth in paragraphs 5(a) and 5(b)(1) of FIN 46R. As a result, the Company was required to consolidate these Trusts to the extent the Company absorbed a majority of the Trusts&#8217; expected losses. Although the Company was required to consolidate the Trusts, the legal relationship between the Trusts, the customer and the Company was </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Page 4</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">unchanged. The customer is considered the legal beneficiary of the funeral and cemetery trusts and the Company does not have a legal right to the perpetual care trusts. Accordingly, upon consolidation of the Trusts, the Company was required to recognize &#8220;non-controlling interests&#8221; to reflect the third party interests in the Trusts in accordance with FASB Statement No. 150, &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liability and Equity</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;. The Company continues to account for cash received from the customer, which is not required to be deposited into the Trusts, as deferred revenue. If a customer cancels a trust funded preneed funeral or cemetery contract, applicable law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, including the amount, if any, of attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, the Company receives the amount of principal deposited into trust and any undistributed net investment earnings and then pays the customer the required refund. Under the Company&#8217;s current methodology, such refunds have no effect on cash flows from investing or financing activities.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Trusts hold investments in marketable securities that generally are classified as available-for-sale by the Company under the requirements of SFAS No. 115, &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;. As noted above, the Company is not the legal owner of the securities within the Trust and generally has no control over the timing of the withdrawal. Accordingly, the Company considers the Trusts analogous to a long-term receivable. Revenue recognition for a preneed contract occurs when the contract matures and services are provided. When this revenue trigger occurs, non-controlling interest (except for perpetual care trusts as explained below) is reclassified to deferred revenue and then recognized as revenue, and the Company removes cash from the Trust. Because the cash flows related to changes in Trust investments and non-controlling interest&#47;deferred revenue relate so closely to the Company&#8217;s core business activities and therefore enter into the determination of net income, the Company believes these activities represent operating activities as set forth in paragraph 21 of SFAS 95. As such, the Company&#8217;s current cash flow presentation, presented in the example below, reflects changes in the trust investments and non-controlling interest as operating activities as opposed to investing and financing activities, respectively.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The removal of funds from the investment portfolios occurs upon the maturity of the preneed funeral or cemetery contract. In certain &#8220;distributable&#8221; states, the Company may be allowed to withdraw investment earnings from the Trust prior to the maturity of the contract. In these instances, the Company receives the cash, however the Company does not recognize the revenue associated with the earnings until the service has been provided or the merchandise has been delivered to the customer.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">At the time the Company sells cemetery property, a portion of the proceeds received from the customer are deposited into perpetual care trust funds. The earnings from these trust funds are intended to defray cemetery maintenance costs, which the Company expenses as incurred. Generally, the principal amount of these deposits cannot be withdrawn by</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Page 5</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">the Company. However, the investment earnings from these trusts are distributed regularly to reimburse the Company for qualifying maintenance expenses. These disbursements from trusts are recognized as revenue to the Company when received from the perpetual care trusts.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Upon adoption of FIN 46R, the Company characterized preneed cash received from customers but not yet deposited into Trust as of the balance sheet date as restricted cash (a component of &#8220;Deferred charges and other assets&#8221;), on the basis that such cash must be invested in segregated Trust accounts on the customer&#8217;s behalf generally within five to 45 days after receipt. The period-to-period change in such &#8220;pending deposits&#8221; was presented as an investing activity in the Company&#8217;s consolidated cash flow statement. In connection with the Company&#8217;s preparation of this response letter, management has reevaluated this accounting treatment and believes that these pending deposits should not be reported as restricted cash in the Company&#8217;s consolidated financial statements, because generally such deposits are neither restricted nor physically segregated within the Company&#8217;s bank accounts as of the balance sheet date. The impact of previously misclassified restricted cash is not material to any of the Company&#8217;s prior annual or quarterly financial statements, and therefore the Company will prospectively classify such pending deposits as cash and cash equivalents in its consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding increase in its investing cash flows in the period in which such revised classification occurs.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Cash Flow Example</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Please see the following cash flow example that illustrates the Company&#8217;s current accounting methodology&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company enters into a preneed funeral trust contract with a consumer on January 1, 2004. The details of this contract are as follows&#58;</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Contract price&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;9,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Selling costs&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash collected from the customer at the time of sale&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;7,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash statutorily required to be deposited to trust&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash retained by Company&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   900&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable due from customer&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For the Year Ended December 31, 2004, the following activity has taken place within the trust investment&#58;</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Dividend on the trust investment&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Interest on the trust investment&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   400&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 6</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Note&#58; Assume the dividend and interest in the trust are attributed to this customer.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">On January 1, 2005, the customer died and the Company performs the service&#58;</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Direct costs to perform the service&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Life of Contract Economics</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Revenue</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Contract Face Amount&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;9,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Trust Dividend and Interest&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   500</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total Revenue&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;9,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Costs and Expenses</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Selling Costs&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Costs to Perform&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,000</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Total Costs and Expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Gross Profit</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Gross Profit upon Maturity&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;3,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">The Company records the following journal entries during the year ended December 31, 2004</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A &#8211; The Company enters into a preneed contract with a face value of $9,000 and receives $7,000 in cash from the customer</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;7,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred revenue &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,900&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B &#8211; The Company remits the required amounts to the trust</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">C &#8211; The Company records $1,000 of selling expenses related to the sale of the preneed contract</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Costs and expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">D</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%"> &#8211; The Trust receives a dividend of $100 and interest of $400 on the trust assets</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in funeral trust&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 7</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Note&#58; This transaction represents a non-cash activity and therefore is not depicted in the statement of cash flows&#59; however these amounts are disclosed in note 7 (Non-Controlling Interest in Funeral and Cemetery Trusts and in Perpetual Care Trusts) to the consolidated financial statements of the Company&#8217;s December 2005 Form 10-K.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">The Company records the following journal entries on January 1, 2005&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A &#8211; The Company records the costs to perform the funeral service included in the preneed contract</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Costs and Expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B &#8211; The Company reclassifies non-controlling interest to reflect that services have been performed</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in funeral trusts&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,600&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred Preneed Funeral Revenue &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,600&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">C &#8211; The Company records revenue for the completion of the preneed funeral contract</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred Preneed Funeral Revenue&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;9,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Funeral Revenue &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;9,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">D &#8211;The Company receives the preneed funeral receivable due from the customer</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">E &#8211; The Company receives the cash from the trust for the trust investment plus the interest and dividend</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,600&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6,600&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Note &#58; The cash received is comprised of $6,100 return of investment and $500 return on investment.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 8</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Based on the entries above, the Company&#8217;s statement of cash flows presented in accordance with paragraphs 11-13 of SFAS 95 is presented as follows&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.906%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:52.101%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.117%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For the year ended December 31, 2004</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">January 1, 2005</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Dollars in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Operating</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Net income</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(1,000)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment (1)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(8,100)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">D E</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">8,600&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed funeral revenue (1)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,900&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,900)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest (1)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(6,600)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash provided by operating activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(100)</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">3,600&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Net (decrease) increase in cash</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(100)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">3,600</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(1)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;The Company currently presents the net change of these three line items as &#8220;Net Effect of Preneed Productions and Maturities&#8221; within operating activities on the Company&#8217;s statement of cash flows.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Alternative Views</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company acknowledges that there may be alternative views as to the cash flow presentation of activities within &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed funeral revenue</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;, &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;, and &#8220;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8221;, based on varying interpretations of SFAS 95. The Company has outlined the results of three alternative views based on these varying interpretations. We believe that Alternative View A is both acceptable and consistent with the fundamental conclusions reached with the Staff upon the deathcare industry&#8217;s adoption of FIN 46R, although based on different underlying principles than those applied by the Company historically. However, we believe Alternative View B and Alternative View C are inconsistent with the basis for our FIN 46R consolidation conclusions and are fundamentally inconsistent with the nature of our business, as further detailed below.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Alternative View A</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Alternative View A is predicated upon the notion that cash which has been trusted, or which is required to be trusted, pursuant to preneed activities should be excluded from cash and cash equivalents on the face of the balance sheet, in accordance with the principles of ARB 43, chapter 3, paragraph 6. Accordingly the cash received from customers for merchandise and services not yet provided by the Company is &#8220;restricted&#8221; cash, both prior to and upon deposit in the respective Trust account, because of the nature of the future regulatory restrictions on cash. Therefore, Alternative View A assumes that all transactions involving restricted cash and cash</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 9</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">equivalents are considered non-cash transactions for purposes of the statement of cash flows, except to the extent they concurrently affect unrestricted cash.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">While Alternative View A is based on different underlying concepts than those used by the Company, we believe that Alternative View A is acceptable and consistent with the outcome agreed to with the Staff upon the adoption of FIN 46R, as this approach results in similar inflows and outflows of operating, investing, and financing cash flows as the approach used by the Company.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Using the preneed contract information and journal entries outlined on pages 5-7, which illustrate the Company&#8217;s current accounting methodology, the Company&#8217;s cash flow presentation under Alternative View A would be as follows&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Alternative View A</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.906%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:52.101%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.117%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For the year ended December 31, 2004</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">January 1, 2005</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Dollars in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Operating</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Net income</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(1,000)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment (1)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(8,100)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">D E</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">8,600&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed funeral revenue (1)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,900&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,900)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest (1)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(6,600)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash provided by operating activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(100)</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">3,600&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Net (decrease) increase in cash</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(100)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">3,600</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Alternative View B</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Alternative View B assumes that the inflows related to non-controlling interest should be treated as a financing activity to the extent non-controlling interest is defined as a minority interest in accordance with paragraphs 18-19 of SFAS 95. Additionally, the inflows and outflows related to the Trust assets should be presented as an investing activity (even though the timing of inflows and outflows is largely outside the Company&#8217;s control) in accordance with paragraphs 15-17 of SFAS 95. As noted, this view produces an unusual outcome in that operating cash flows over the life of the contract are negative. The counter intuitive effect on operating cash flows created by this view could be corrected by reflecting a financing outflow on January 1, 2005 of $6,600 (representing a hypothetical payment to the non-controlling interest) along with a corresponding inflow in operating activities (representing a hypothetical payment from the deceased to the Company), however such presentation would not be representationally faithful to SFAS 95.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 10</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In addition, the Company believes this presentation is inconsistent with the conclusions the Company and other industry registrants reached during its discussions with the SEC upon the adoption of FIN 46R. The Company believes this presentation is inappropriate as the non-controlling interests will become deferred revenues upon maturity of the contract. Correspondingly, when the non-controlling interest becomes deferred revenue, the trust assets become analogous to a long-term receivable. For all of these reasons, Alternative View B was rejected by the Company.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Using the preneed contract information and journal entries outlined on pages 5-7, which illustrate the Company&#8217;s current accounting methodology, the Company&#8217;s cash flow presentation under Alternative View B would be as follows&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Alternative View B</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.906%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:52.101%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.117%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For the year ended December 31, 2004</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">January 1, 2005</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Dollars in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Operating</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Net income</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(1,000)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,000)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">D E</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed funeral revenue</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,900&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,900)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(6,600)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash (used in) provided by operating activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(100)</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,500)</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Investing</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(6,100)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">E</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash (used in) provided by investing activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(6,100)</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Financing</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash provided by financing activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Net (decrease) increase in cash</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(100)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">3,600</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr></table></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 11</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Alternative View C</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Alternative View C modifies Alternative View B by reflecting the cash inflows and outflows related to non-controlling interest as an operating activity. This treatment is predicated on the fact that when a preneed contract matures (death has occurred), the amounts recorded as non-controlling interest become deferred revenue and therefore should always be treated as an operating activity in accordance with paragraph 21 of SFAS 95. One could argue that since monies trusted under a preneed contract are generally refundable prior to maturity that non-controlling interest should always be characterized as a financing activity. However, given that customer refunds represent less than 4% of the Company&#8217;s cash received from customers on preneed funeral and cemetery trust contracts, proponents of Alternative View C believe that reflecting non-controlling interest as an operating activity based the fact that most contracts become deferred revenue is consistent with paragraph 24 of SFAS 95 which says that cash flows with attributes of more than one class of cash flows should be classified based on the predominant attribute. As presented below, Alternative View C corrects the anomaly in operating cash flows created by Alternative View B in that Alternative View C produces the intuitive positive operating cash flows over the life of the contract. However, the timing of the operating cash flow within Alternative View C is inconsistent with the revenue recognition of the associated preneed contract and is therefore problematic. While symmetry between revenue recognition and operating cash flows is usually not determinative, given that performance may occur many years after a preneed contract is initiated, the Company believes front-loading operating cash flows is inappropriate and has therefore rejected View C.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Using the preneed contract information and journal entries outlined on pages 5-7, which illustrate the Company&#8217;s current accounting methodology, the Company&#8217;s cash flow presentation under Alternative View C would be as follows&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 12</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Alternative View C</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.906%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:52.101%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.117%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For the year ended December 31, 2004</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">January 1, 2005</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Dollars in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Operating</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Net income</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(1,000)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">4,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed funeral receivable and trust investment</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,000)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">D E</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Deferred preneed funeral revenue</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,900&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,900)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(6,600)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash (used in) provided by operating activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,000&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,500)</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Investing</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Funeral trust investment</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(6,100)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">E</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash (used in) provided by investing activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(6,100)</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">6,100&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Financing</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash provided by financing activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr style="height:5pt"><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Net (decrease) increase in cash</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">(100)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">3,600</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">June 30, 2006</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 13</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">******</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The Company would like to reiterate to the Staff that management believes it has accounted for cash flows in accordance with the conclusions reached with the Staff and other deathcare industry registrants during our adoption of FIN 46R. The Company acknowledges that there are alternative views to the presentation of cash flows as described above. However, the Company believes it has appropriately rejected these alternative views (with the exception of Alternative View A) as previously discussed.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">We would like to again emphasize that the Company&#8217;s goal is to resolve this comment in a timely manner that is acceptable to the Staff. If the response to the Staff&#8217;s comment is not deemed adequate, we will make ourselves available to further discuss this matter with the Staff at a mutually convenient time.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Sincerely,</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Senior Vice President and</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">cc&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Bob Carroll &#47; Staff Accountant, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Members of the SCI Audit Committee of the Board of Directors</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div id="i5bb1e0a2bcae4bf583b744ffc5e2aaf8_92"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:56.65pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Exhibit E</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:28pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">September 25, 2006 Letter to SEC</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div style="text-align:center;text-indent:55.5pt"><img alt="scilogo6a.gif" src="scilogo6a.gif" style="height:76px;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:90px"></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">September 25, 2006</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Assistant Director</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Division of Corporation Finance</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Mail Stop 0407</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">450 Fifth Street, N.W.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">RE&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;SEC Comment Letter dated August 8, 2006 related to Service Corporation International&#8217;s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 filed March 6, 2006</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">File No. 1-06402</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Dear Mr. Spirgel&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">This letter responds to the comments that Service Corporation International (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) received from the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221; or the &#8220;SEC&#8221;) by letter dated August 8, 2006 with respect to the above referenced filing.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">We hope this letter is responsive to your comment and request for information. If the response provided in this letter is not deemed adequate to answer the Staff&#8217;s comment, we will make ourselves available to further discuss this matter with the Staff at a mutually convenient time. The Company&#8217;s goal is to resolve this outstanding comment in a timely manner that is acceptable to the Staff.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For your convenience, our response is prefaced by the Commission&#8217;s comment in bold text.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">1.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:9.75pt">Your response appears to focus on preneed funeral receivables and trust investments and the related non-controlling interest in the trust. Please confirm that the treatment would be the same for preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments and the related non-controlling interest in those trusts, and that you would be prepared to provide additional disclosures in future filings which would be similar to those outlined in your response for preneed funeral receivables and trust investments.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-right:-9pt;text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">1929 ALLEN PARKWAY &#8226; P.O. BOX 130548 &#8226; HOUSTON, TX 77219-0548 &#8226; (713) 525-7768 &#8226; FAX (713) 525-7581</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Page 2</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Response</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#58; In our response to you dated June 30, 2006, we provided an example related to our cash flow statement treatment of preneed funeral receivables and trust investments and the related non-controlling interest in the funeral trusts. We confirm to you that the same cash flow presentation would apply to our preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments and the related non-controlling interest in the cemetery trusts.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In response to the Staff&#8217;s comment regarding additional financial statement disclosures, we believe that we have provided in our December 31, 2005 Form 10-K the necessary disclosures for preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments (and the related non-controlling interest in the cemetery trusts) similar to those which we had outlined in our response to you dated June 30, 2006 for preneed funeral receivables and trust investments (and the related non-controlling interest in the funeral trusts). As discussed in our June 30, 2006 response letter, we currently track and disclose gross movements within our trust investment portfolio in Notes 5, 6 and 7 (Preneed Funeral Activities, Preneed Cemetery Activities, and Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts, respectively) to our consolidated financial statements. These gross movement disclosures include gross purchases and sales within the trust investments as well as realized gains and losses related to the sales within the investments. The Company also includes in Notes 5, 6 and 7 the gross withdrawals and deposits within the trust that are related to funeral trusts, cemetery trusts, and cemetery perpetual care trusts. The Company will continue to provide these disclosures in future filings. Additionally, the Company would like clarification from the Staff to the extent additional disclosures are required.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="padding-left:18pt;text-indent:-18pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2.</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;padding-left:9.75pt">Additionally, our understanding is that the cemetery perpetual care trust investments are different from the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables and trust investments, in that there are more frequent withdrawals from the cemetery perpetual care trust investments to defray cemetery maintenance costs. It is unclear where you have historically classified the cash flows related to the cemetery perpetual care trust investments and the related non-controlling interest in perpetual care trust. Please provide us with additional information to help us better understand your historical presentation. To the extent that you believe more information with respect to cash flows related to movements in the cemetery perpetual care trusts should be presented, specifically the presentation of this information on a gross, or disaggregated basis, please provide us with your proposed changes to your disclosures.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">Response</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#58; The Company sells price-guaranteed preneed cemetery contracts providing for property interment rights, services and merchandise. At the time the Company sells cemetery property (i.e., interment rights), a portion of the proceeds received from the customer are deposited into cemetery perpetual care trust funds. The earnings from these</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 3</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">trust funds are intended to defray qualifying cemetery maintenance costs, which the Company expenses as incurred. Generally, the principal amount of these deposits cannot be withdrawn by the Company. However, the investment earnings from these trusts are distributed regularly to reimburse the Company for qualifying maintenance expenses. These disbursements from trusts are recognized as revenue by the Company when earned by the cemetery perpetual care trusts. However these withdrawals are not necessarily more frequent than withdrawals from funeral or cemetery trusts as indicated in the Staff&#8217;s comment. We have provided below an example of a sale of cemetery property which includes a cemetery perpetual care trust to illustrate the Company&#8217;s historical cash flow presentation of such transactions.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Cash Flow Example&#8212;Cemetery Property with Perpetual Care Trust</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In order to clearly illustrate, please see the following cash flow example that illustrates the Company&#8217;s current (and historical) accounting methodology for the sale of cemetery property with a perpetual care trust&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company enters into a preneed cemetery trust contract with a consumer for constructed property on January 1, 2004. The details of this contract are as follows&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Contract price for property (excluding perpetual care)&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Perpetual care fund amount to be collected (10%)&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> Total contract price including perpetual care&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> Selling costs&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   600&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cost of the constructed property&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> Cash collected from the customer at the time of sale&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;3,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash statutorily required to be deposited to trust when the property is paid in full&#58; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed cemetery receivable due from customer&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">At time of sale, the contract is processed and the revenue is initially deferred. The cash receipt is applied to the contract and the appropriate revenue recognition test is performed (10% of cash collected and completed construction of the property) in accordance with SFAS No. 66, &#8220;Accounting for Sales of Real Estate.&#8221; In this example, more than 10% of the property price has been collected and the property is constructed&#59; thus, the revenue would be recognized in January 2004.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">On January 1, 2005, the customer dies and the family pays the remaining amount receivable on the preneed cemetery property contract.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 4</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Remaining cash collected from the customer&#8217;s family for preneed cemetery contract (cemetery property)&#58;    $2,500</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Generally, the deposit to the perpetual care trust is due within 30 days of when the payment in full for the property is received. These rules vary by state or province.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For the Year Ended December 31, 2005, the following activity has taken place within the trust investment&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Interest earned on the trust investments&#58;           $30</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company incurred $100 of qualifying maintenance expenses.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">For the Year Ended December 31, 2004 &#8212; Contract Details</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Revenue</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Preneed contract face amount for property&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Trust interest earned&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;    -0-&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="padding-left:36pt;text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Total Revenue&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Costs and Expenses</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Selling costs&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   600&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Cost of the constructed property sold&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Qualifying maintenance expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Total Costs and Expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,200&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Gross Profit</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Gross profit&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,800&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">For the Year Ended December 31, 2005 &#8212; Contract Details</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Revenue</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Trust interest earned&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;     30&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Total Revenue&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;     30&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Costs and Expenses</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Qualifying maintenance expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Total Costs and Expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Gross Profit</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Gross profit&#47;(loss)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;$&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;    (70)</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 5</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">The Company records the following journal entries during the year ended December 31, 2004.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A &#8212; The Company enters into a preneed contract for constructed property with a face value of $5,500 (which includes perpetual care of $500) and receives $3,000 in cash from the customer</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;3,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed cemetery receivable and trust investment &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Revenues&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5,000&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other liabilities (Perpetual Care Due)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">B &#8212; The Company records $600 of selling expenses related to the sale of the preneed contract</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Costs and expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;600&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;600&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">C &#8212; The Company records $1,500 of cost of goods sold and reduces inventory for the property sold</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Costs and expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Inventories&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">D&#8212;The Company records $100 of qualifying maintenance expenses (i.e., grounds maintenance).</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Costs and expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%;text-decoration:underline">The Company records the following journal entries during the year ended December 31, 2005&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">E &#8212; The Company records the remaining cash collected for the preneed contract</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;2,500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,500</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">F &#8212; The Company records the deposit to the perpetual care trust</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cemetery perpetual care trust investments&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other liabilities (Perpetual Care Due)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in perpetual care trusts&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;500&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 6</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">G&#8212;The Company records $100 of qualifying maintenance expenses (i.e., grounds maintenance).</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Costs and expenses&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;100&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;100</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">H &#8212;As earned, the Company records the net perpetual care trust income receivable due from the trust</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Receivables, net&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;30&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Revenues&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;30&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">I &#8212; The Company receives the cash from the trust for the net perpetual care trust income</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;30&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Receivables, net&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;30</font></div><div style="text-indent:36pt"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Note&#58; Entries G, H, and I continue in perpetuity as the maintenance expenses are incurred and earnings are earned and distributed monthly, and the trust corpus generally can never be withdrawn by the Company.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 7</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Based on the entries above, the Company&#8217;s statement of cash flows presented in accordance with paragraphs 11-13 of SFAS 95 is presented as follows&#58;</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;display:inline-table;margin-bottom:5pt;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:95.906%"><tr><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:52.101%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.113%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.781%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td><td style="width:1.0%"></td><td style="width:9.117%"></td><td style="width:0.1%"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For the year ended December 31, 2004</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="9" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">For the year ended December 31, 2005</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Reference #</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Amount</font></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(Dollars in thousands)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Operating</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Net income</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A B C D </font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,800&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">G H</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(70)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Preneed cemetery receivable and trust investment (1)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(2,500)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">E</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Inventories</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">C</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Other liabilities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">A</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">F</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(500)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Receivables, net</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">H I</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cemetery perpetual care trust investments (2)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">F</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(500)</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 7pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Non-controlling interest in perpetual care trusts (2)</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#8212;&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">F</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="2" style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">500&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Cash provided by operating activities</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">2,300&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">1,930&#160;</font></td><td style="border-top:1pt solid #000;padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="padding:2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Net increase in cash</font></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">2,300</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td colspan="3" style="padding:0 1pt"></td><td style="padding:2px 0 2px 1pt;text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">$</font></td><td style="padding:2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">1,930</font><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">&#160;</font></td><td style="padding:2px 1pt 2px 0;text-align:right;vertical-align:bottom"></td></tr></table></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">(1)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; The Company currently presents the net change of this line item as well as the change in Deferred preneed cemetery revenues and Non-controlling interest in funeral and cemetery trusts as &#8220;Net Effect of Preneed Productions and Maturities&#8221; within operating activities on the Company&#8217;s statement of cash flows.</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> (2)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; The Company currently nets the activity in these two line items together&#59; thus, there is no net source or use of cash in the statement of cash flows from the deposit of the trust corpus to the perpetual care trust.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">In response to the Staff&#8217;s comment regarding additional financial statement disclosures, we believe we have provided in our December 31, 2005 Form 10-K the necessary disclosures for cemetery perpetual care receivables and trust investments (and the related non-controlling interest in the cemetery perpetual care trusts) similar to those we outline above for preneed funeral and cemetery receivables and trust investments (and the related non-controlling interest in the funeral and cemetery trusts). As discussed above and in our June 30, 2006 response letter, we currently track and disclose gross movements within our cemetery perpetual trust investment portfolio in Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements. These gross movement disclosures include gross purchases and sales within the trust investments as well as realized gains and losses related to the sales within the investments. The Company also includes in Note 7 the gross withdrawals and deposits within the trust that are related to cemetery perpetual care trusts. The Company will continue to provide these disclosures in future filings. Additionally, the Company would like clarification from the Staff to the extent additional disclosures are required.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Mr. Larry Spirgel</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">Page 8</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:700;line-height:100%">*****</font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">The Company would like to reiterate to the Staff that management believes it has accounted for cash flows in accordance with the conclusions reached with the Staff and other deathcare industry registrants during our adoption of FIN 46R.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">We would like to again emphasize that the Company&#8217;s goal is to resolve this comment in a timely manner that is acceptable to the Staff. In order to facilitate timely resolution of the above comments, and in particular to ensure that the nature and extent of the &#8220;additional disclosures&#8221; described in the above responses meet the Staff&#8217;s expectations, we would suggest having a follow-up call with the Staff to further discuss this matter at a mutually convenient time.</font></div><div><font><br></font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Sincerely,</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Eric D. Tanzberger</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Senior Vice President and</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div style="min-height:42.75pt;width:100%"><div><font><br></font></div></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%"> </font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">cc&#58;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Bob Carroll &#47; Staff Accountant, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Members of the SCI Audit Committee of the Board of Directors</font></div><div><font style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:11pt;font-weight:400;line-height:100%">Member of the SCI Disclosure Committee</font></div><div style="height:42.75pt;position:relative;width:100%"><div style="bottom:0;position:absolute;width:100%"><div style="text-align:center"><font><br></font></div></div></div></body></html>
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