The Federal Trade Commission is currently accepting public comments on an application by Service Corporation International (SCI) to sell certain funeral and cemetery assets, as required under the FTC’s April 2014 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.
In the current application, SCI has petitioned the FTC to approve the divestiture of two cemeteries in Georgia, Holly Hill Memorial Park in Fairburn and Eastlawn Memorial Park in McDonough, to Hunsaker Partners, LLC (Hunsaker). Previously, on March 13, 2014, SCI filed an application seeking Commission approval to divest Cheatham Hill Memorial Park/Southern Cremations & Funerals in Marietta, Georgia, to Hunsaker.
According to SCI’s application, Hunsaker will be a strong and effective competitor in the local market, and has the expertise to successfully operate the businesses it plans to acquire. In addition, SCI states that the proposed divestitures will remedy any alleged anticompetitive effects that could result from its acquisition of Stewart in the local market.
The Commission will decide whether to approve the proposed divestiture after expiration of a 30-day public comment period. Public comments may be submitted until August 8, 2014. Written comments should be sent to: FTC Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Comments also can be submitted electronically. Copies of the application can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 131-0163, Docket No. C-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.