FTC Approves Four SCI Applications to Divest Funeral and Cemetery Assets in Georgia and Tennessee

Following public comment periods, the Federal Trade Commission has approved four applications by Service Corporation International (SCI) to divest certain funeral and cemetery assets, as required under the FTC’s May 2014 order settling charges that SCI’s acquisition of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. would 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 these actions, the FTC has approved the divestiture of:

• Cole & Garrett Funeral Home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, to William Gregory (through  Cole & Garrett LLC) who also owns and operates funeral homes and cemeteries collectively called Family Legacy.
• Oak Hill Memorial Park, Funerals and Cremations, a combination funeral home and cemetery located in Kingsport, Tennessee, to Heritage Family Funeral Services, Inc. and the Heritage Family Cemetery, Inc.
• Holly Hill Memorial Park and Eastlawn Memorial Park, in Fairburn, Georgia, and in McDonough, Georgia, respectively, to Hunsaker Partners, LLC.
• Cheatham Hill Memorial Park/Southern Cremations & Funerals in Marietta, Georgia, also to Hunsaker Partners, LLC.

 The Commission vote to approve the application was 5-0. (FTC File No. C4423, Docket No. 571788; 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, 600Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., 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.