Markets Wired

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved two applications by Service Corporation International (SCI) to divest certain funeral and cemetery assets, as required under the FTC’s order settling charges that SCI’s acquisition of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. would likely be anticompetitive. In total, the order requires the combined SCI/Stewart to divest 53 funeral homes and 38 cemeteries to ensure competition is maintained in 59 communities throughout the United States.

Through this action, the FTC has approved the divestiture of several funeral home and cemetery properties in South Carolina to Rollings Funeral Services, Inc.; and in Rockville, Maryland, to Edward Sagel Funeral Direction, Inc., as detailed in SCI’s April 7, 2014, applications to the Commission.

The Commission vote to approve both applications was 5-0. (FTC File No. 131-0163, Docket No. 4423; the staff contact is Elizabeth A. Piotrowski, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2623)

The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to antitrust{at}ftc{dot}gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room CC-5422, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.