2007 FUNERAL INDUSTRY PRICE COMPARISON REPORT

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1 2007 FUNERAL INDUSTRY PRICE COMPARISON REPORT LARGE, MULTI-STATE FUNERAL HOME BUSINESSES VERSUS LOCAL, PRIVATELY-OWNED FUNERAL HOME BUSINESSES

2 Everest s Funeral Planning and Concierge Service Everest is an independent consumer advocate that provides its clients with funeral planning and concierge services to prepare for and deal with a funeral. As an impartial third party focused on keeps its clients interests paramount, Everest does not sell funeral goods or services, nor does the company receive any commissions from funeral homes or other service providers in the industry. Everest is committed to presenting objective information to its clients in an easy to understand format and as a result unveiled its PriceFinder Report earlier this year. Funeral provider pricing information presented on Everest PriceFinder was gathered pursuant to the disclosure requirements funeral providers must comply with under the Federal Trade Commission s Funeral Rule. Overview of the Everest PriceFinder Report The Everest PriceFinder Report outlines the costs of three types of services offered by funeral homes in or near the zip code you provided. The Traditional Funeral A traditional funeral includes a visitation which provides loved ones and friends with an opportunity to pay their respects to the deceased and surviving family members. Visitation is followed by a funeral service conducted at the funeral home the next day, after which the deceased is taken to the final resting place. Cremation with a Memorial Service Family and friends attend a service at the funeral home to memorialize the deceased in which the ashes may or may not be present based on the desires of the surviving family members. Direct Cremation When a direct cremation occurs, the funeral home takes the deceased into their care until the appropriate state permits are obtained and necessary documentation is completed. At that time, the deceased is cremated and the ashes are returned to the family unless other arrangements have been made. There is no formal viewing or services with this option. The 2007 Funeral Industry Price Comparison Report The 2007 Funeral Industry Price Report was constructed from the data contained in Everest s PriceFinder database. The data has been extracted in order to compare itemized service charges of funeral homes that belong to various organizations, groups and corporate entities. The report summarizes the itemized price structure of two groups: Large, multi-state funeral home operators and local, privately-owned funeral home businesses. A description of the participants in each group is presented below:

3 Large, multi-state funeral home operators: Service Corporation International (SCI): SCI, located in Houston, Texas, is the largest operator of funeral homes and cemeteries in the world and its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol: SCI. For more information see Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (Stewart): Stewart, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the second largest operator of funeral homes and cemeteries in the United States and its stock is traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol: STEI. For more information see Carriage Services, Inc. (Carriage): Carriage, located in Houston, Texas, is the third largest operator of funeral homes and cemeteries in the United States and its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol: CSV. For more information see Keystone Group Holdings, Inc. (Keystone): Keystone, located in Tampa, Florida, is the largest privately held, multistate operator of funeral homes and cemeteries in the United States. For more information see Local, privately-owned funeral home businesses: International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR): Founded in the early 1900 s, this Not-For-Profit organization of approximately 1,000 independently owned funeral homes across the U.S. is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information see Selected Independent Funeral Homes (Selected): Founded in the early 1900 s, this Not-For-Profit organization of approximately 1,000 independently owned funeral homes across the U.S. is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. For more information see NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Award Winners (POE): This group of approximately 300 funeral homes have won the National Funeral Directors Association s highest award for service excellence and are generally believed to be among the best operated businesses in the funeral industry. Although primarily composed of local, privatelyowned funeral home businesses, there are some large, multi-state operator s individual locations included. For more information about the NFDA see

4 TABLE 1: SUMMARY REPORT LARGE, MULTI-STATE LOCAL, PRIVATELY-OWNED ALL FUNERAL HOMES FUNERAL HOME FUNERAL HOME OPERATORS BUSINESSES High ITEMIZED SERVICES FOR A TRADITIONAL FUNERAL Embalming Dressing & Casketing Facilities & Staff for Visitation Facilities & Staff for Services Transfer Vehicle to Funeral Home Hearse Utility/ Flower Vehicle Lead Car CREMATION WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE Services of Director & Staff plus a Memorial Service DIRECT CREMATION $100 $1,608 $5,650 $195 $2,032 $5,460 $100 $1,565 $5,650 $25 $578 $1,995 $95 $801 $1,695 $25 $555 $1,995 $10 $196 $1,150 $45 $245 $600 $10 $191 $1,150 $10 $367 $2,560 $49 $392 $1,845 $10 $364 $2,560 $25 $440 $3,700 $50 $529 $2,200 $25 $431 $3,700 $25 $243 $1,570 $90 $387 $995 $25 $228 $1,570 $15 $253 $895 $65 $311 $800 $15 $247 $895 $25 $137 $950 $30 $191 $795 $25 $131 $950 $5 $122 $795 $25 $176 $795 $5 $116 $550 $3,944 $5,063 $3,830 $630 $2,124 $8,200 $995 $2,628 $8,200 $630 $2,073 $5,925 $10 $131 $1,195 $28 $149 $600 $10 $129 $1,195 $25 $270 $1,105 $25 $298 $600 $100 $268 $1,105 $2,525 $3,075 $2,470 $325 $1,639 $6,000 $396 $2,047 $6,000 $325 $1,597 $4,880 $10 $131 $1,195 $28 $149 $600 $10 $129 $1,195 $100 $270 $1,105 $25 $298 $600 $100 $268 $1,105 $2,040 $2,494 $1,994 Price Disclaimer: The prices presented here were accurate only as of the date or dates such prices were obtained. Such prices may vary over time and the actual prices determined at the time services are provided may vary significantly. Everest Information Services, LLC and its affiliates make no representation, guaranty or warranty of any kind that prices at the time services are provided will be the same as those presented here Everest Information Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved Everest PriceFinder, PriceFinder and the Everest PriceFinder logo are service marks of Everest Information Services, LLC. Everest and the Everest logo are service marks of Everest Funeral Package, LLC.

5 TABLE 2: LARGE, MULTI-STATE FUNERAL HOME OPERATORS SERVICE CORPORATION STEWART ENTERPRISES CARRIAGE SERVICES KEYSTONE GROUP INTERNATIONAL High ITEMIZED SERVICES FOR A TRADITIONAL FUNERAL Embalming Dressing & Casketing Facilities & Staff for Visitation Facilities & Staff for Services Transfer Vehicle to Funeral Home Hearse Utility/ Flower Vehicle Lead Car CREMATION WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE Services of Director & Staff plus a Memorial Service DIRECT CREMATION $195 $2,039 $5,460 $530 $1,851 $3,395 $895 $1,952 $2,995 $860 $2,294 $4,795 $95 $880 $1,695 $275 $617 $995 $350 $642 $995 $250 $544 $1,095 $45 $265 $600 $50 $188 $570 $75 $202 $345 $50 $171 $395 $49 $396 $1,845 $145 $420 $895 $95 $380 $680 $95 $331 $890 $50 $534 $2,200 $235 $571 $895 $245 $525 $895 $125 $424 $800 $90 $421 $995 $100 $320 $495 $100 $287 $495 $125 $289 $595 $75 $325 $800 $125 $301 $450 $120 $273 $445 $65 $235 $500 $35 $214 $795 $50 $144 $450 $30 $136 $300 $50 $101 $375 $25 $189 $795 $75 $173 $315 $30 $135 $300 $45 $106 $200 $5,262 $4,584 $4,532 $4,495 $1,030 $2,731 $8,200 $1,100 $2,331 $5,205 $1,395 $2,409 $4,305 $995 $2,539 $4,595 $28 $153 $600 $75 $146 $299 $55 $133 $495 $45 $132 $325 $95 $303 $600 $250 $337 $445 $25 $270 $400 $165 $283 $575 $3,187 $2,813 $2,812 $2,955 $396 $2,117 $6,000 $795 $1,742 $4,510 $850 $1,875 $3,655 $850 $2,043 $3,390 $28 $153 $600 $75 $146 $299 $55 $133 $495 $45 $132 $325 $95 $303 $600 $250 $337 $445 $25 $270 $400 $165 $283 $575 $2,573 $2,224 $2,277 $2,459 Price Disclaimer: The prices presented here were accurate only as of the date or dates such prices were obtained. Such prices may vary over time and the actual prices determined at the time services are provided may vary significantly. Everest Information Services, LLC and its affiliates make no representation, guaranty or warranty of any kind that prices at the time services are provided will be the same as those presented here Everest Information Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved Everest PriceFinder, PriceFinder and the Everest PriceFinder logo are service marks of Everest Information Services, LLC. Everest and the Everest logo are service marks of Everest Funeral Package, LLC.

6 NFDA PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE TABLE 3: LOCAL, PRIVATELY-OWNED FUNERAL HOME BUSINESSES SELECTED INDEPENDENT FUNERAL HOMES INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF THE GOLDEN RULE ALL LOCAL, PRIVATELY-OWNED High High ITEMIZED SERVICES FOR A TRADITIONAL FUNERAL Embalming Dressing & Casketing Facilities & Staff for Visitation Facilities & Staff for Services Transfer Vehicle to Funeral Home Hearse Utility/ Flower Vehicle Lead Car CREMATION WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE Services of Director & Staff plus a Memorial Service DIRECT CREMATION $350 $1,777 $4,500 $450 $1,699 $4,790 $490 $1,685 $4,325 $100 $1,565 $5,650 $65 $627 $1,195 $50 $579 $1,495 $50 $575 $1,185 $25 $555 $1,995 $20 $217 $600 $25 $210 $745 $25 $205 $600 $10 $191 $1,150 $90 $401 $1,515 $75 $402 $1,595 $50 $391 $1,950 $10 $364 $2,560 $175 $491 $1,595 $135 $496 $1,595 $25 $471 $1,500 $25 $431 $3,700 $100 $272 $695 $40 $253 $695 $70 $238 $1,295 $25 $228 $1,570 $75 $261 $595 $15 $256 $595 $100 $255 $695 $15 $247 $895 $30 $135 $495 $30 $126 $500 $25 $118 $475 $25 $131 $950 $30 $122 $425 $25 $111 $385 $30 $115 $450 $5 $116 $550 $4,303 $4,132 $4,053 $3,830 $700 $2,353 $4,305 $700 $2,355 $5,075 $755 $2,343 $5,355 $630 $2,073 $5,925 $25 $135 $525 $25 $124 $395 $35 $113 $595 $10 $129 $1,195 $150 $274 $650 $140 $282 $1,105 $133 $262 $675 $100 $268 $1,105 $2,762 $2,761 $2,718 $2,470 $495 $1,823 $3,655 $475 $1,807 $3,625 $534 $1,821 $4,780 $325 $1,597 $4,880 $25 $135 $525 $25 $124 $395 $35 $113 $595 $10 $129 $1,195 $150 $274 $650 $140 $282 $1,105 $133 $262 $675 $100 $268 $1,105 $2,232 $2,213 $2,195 $1,994 Price Disclaimer: The prices presented here were accurate only as of the date or dates such prices were obtained. Such prices may vary over time and the actual prices determined at the time services are provided may vary significantly. Everest Information Services, LLC and its affiliates make no representation, guaranty or warranty of any kind that prices at the time services are provided will be the same as those presented here Everest Information Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved Everest PriceFinder, PriceFinder and the Everest PriceFinder logo are service marks of Everest Information Services, LLC. Everest and the Everest logo are service marks of Everest Funeral Package, LLC.