e10vq
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number: 1-11961
 
CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
DELAWARE   76-0423828
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
3040 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 300, Houston, TX   77056
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 332-8400
 
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer þ  Non-accelerated filer o  Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
     The number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, outstanding as of August 3, 2011 was 18,408,247.
 
 

 


 

CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
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 EX-11.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
                 
    December 31,     June 30,  
    2010     2011  
            (unaudited)  
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,279     $ 5,184  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debts of $979 in 2010 and $843 in 2011
    15,587       13,643  
Inventories and other current assets
    10,828       10,405  
 
           
Total current assets
    27,694       29,232  
 
           
 
               
Preneed cemetery trust investments
    79,691       81,710  
Preneed funeral trust investments
    81,143       77,982  
Preneed receivables, net of allowance for bad debts of $1,236 in 2010 and $1,741 in 2011
    24,099       23,846  
Receivables from preneed funeral trusts
    21,866       22,406  
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $71,700 in 2010 and $74,533 in 2011
    128,472       129,308  
Cemetery property
    71,128       71,094  
Goodwill
    183,324       186,917  
Deferred charges and other non-current assets
    7,860       10,579  
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments
    45,735       44,666  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 671,012     $ 677,740  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
             
Current liabilities:
               
Current portion of senior long-term debt and capital lease obligations
  $ 563     $ 574  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    9,700       12,870  
Accrued liabilities
    14,896       15,948  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    25,159       29,392  
Senior long-term debt, net of current portion
    132,416       131,558  
Convertible junior subordinated debentures due in 2029 to an affiliate
    92,858       91,520  
Obligations under capital leases, net of current portion
    4,289       4,221  
Deferred preneed cemetery revenue
    50,125       50,419  
Deferred preneed funeral revenue
    39,517       39,829  
Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust
    79,691       81,710  
Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust
    81,143       77,982  
Care trusts’ corpus
    45,941       44,817  
 
           
Total liabilities
    551,139       551,448  
 
           
Commitments and contingencies
               
Redeemable preferred stock
    200       200  
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common Stock, $.01 par value; 80,000,000 shares authorized; 21,311,000 and 21,502,000 shares issued at December 31, 2010 and June 30, 2011, respectively
    213       215  
Additional paid-in capital
    200,987       200,948  
Accumulated deficit
    (70,951 )     (65,071 )
Treasury stock, at cost; 3,153,000 and 3,108,000 shares at December 31, 2010 and June 30, 2011, respectively
    (10,576 )     (10,000 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    119,673       126,092  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 671,012     $ 677,740  
 
           
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited and in thousands, except per share data)
                                 
    For the three months     For the six months  
    ended June 30,     ended June 30,  
    2010     2011     2010     2011  
Revenues:
                               
Funeral
  $ 32,435     $ 35,565     $ 68,525     $ 74,673  
Cemetery
    12,082       12,343       22,839       24,092  
 
                       
 
    44,517       47,908       91,364       98,765  
Field costs and expenses:
                               
Funeral
    20,754       22,366       43,089       46,832  
Cemetery
    7,854       7,693       15,133       14,810  
Depreciation and amortization
    2,127       2,280       4,233       4,424  
Regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs
    1,750       2,022       3,359       4,030  
 
                       
 
    32,485       34,361       65,814       70,096  
 
                       
Gross profit
    12,032       13,547       25,550       28,669  
 
                               
Corporate costs and expenses:
                               
General and administrative costs and expenses
    3,410       4,781       7,567       9,602  
Home office depreciation and amortization
    361       242       724       496  
 
                       
 
    3,771       5,023       8,291       10,098  
 
                       
Operating income
    8,261       8,524       17,259       18,571  
 
                               
Interest expense
    (4,572 )     (4,510 )     (9,126 )     (9,064 )
Interest income and other, net
    252       358       470       387  
 
                       
Total interest and other
    (4,320 )     (4,152 )     (8,656 )     (8,677 )
 
                       
 
                               
Income before income taxes
    3,941       4,372       8,603       9,894  
Provision for income taxes
    (1,642 )     (1,771 )     (3,530 )     (4,008 )
 
                       
Net income
    2,299       2,601       5,073       5,886  
Preferred stock dividend
    3       3       7       7  
 
                       
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 2,296     $ 2,598     $ 5,066     $ 5,879  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic earnings per common share:
  $ 0.13     $ 0.14     $ 0.29     $ 0.32  
 
                       
Diluted earnings per common share:
  $ 0.13     $ 0.14     $ 0.29     $ 0.32  
 
                       
Dividends declared per share
  $     $ 0.025     $     $ 0.025  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    17,504       18,367       17,472       18,301  
 
                       
Diluted
    17,752       18,407       17,707       18,340  
 
                       
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited and in thousands)
                 
    For the six months ended June 30,  
    2010     2011  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 5,073     $ 5,886  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    4,956       4,920  
Amortization of deferred financing costs
    362       362  
Gain on purchase of convertible junior subordinated debentures
    (316 )     (366 )
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
    1,903       2,028  
Stock-based compensation expense
    949       1,095  
Deferred income taxes
    3,282       (2,242 )
Other
    (149 )     (25 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities that provided (required) cash:
               
Accounts and preneed receivables
    (1,306 )     521  
Inventories and other current assets
    88       47  
Deferred charges and other
          (38 )
Preneed funeral and cemetery trust investments
    (837 )     2,812  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (32 )     3,895  
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery revenue
    601       103  
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust
    (57 )     (3,237 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    14,517       15,761  
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Acquisitions
    (15,519 )     (5,100 )
Net proceeds from the sale of assets
    400        
Capital expenditures
    (4,387 )     (4,608 )
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (19,506 )     (9,708 )
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Borrowings under (payments on) the bank credit facility
    3,200       (600 )
Payments on senior long-term debt and obligations under capital leases
    (212 )     (315 )
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and employee stock purchase plan
    348       206  
Dividend on common stock
          (460 )
Dividend on redeemable preferred stock
    (7 )     (7 )
Purchase of convertible junior subordinated debentures
    (576 )     (972 )
Other financing costs
    (42 )      
 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    2,711       (2,148 )
 
           
 
               
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (2,278 )     3,905  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    3,616       1,279  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 1,338     $ 5,184  
 
           
The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

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CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
     The Company
     Carriage Services, Inc. (“Carriage”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is a leading provider of deathcare services and merchandise in the United States. As of June 30, 2011, the Company owned and operated 151 funeral homes in 25 states and 33 cemeteries in 12 states.
     Principles of Consolidation
     The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
     Interim Condensed Disclosures
     The information for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2011 is unaudited, but in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments which are normal, recurring and necessary for a fair presentation of financial position and results of operations as of and for the interim periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures, normally included in annual financial statements, have been condensed or omitted. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared consistent with the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and should be read in conjunction therewith.
     Cash and Cash Equivalents
     The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
     Use of Estimates
     The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, realization of accounts receivable, goodwill, intangible assets, property and equipment and deferred tax assets. We base our estimates on historical experience, third party data and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these considerations form the basis for making judgments about the amount and timing of revenues and expenses, the carrying value of assets and the recorded amounts of liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such estimates may change if the underlying conditions or assumptions change. Historical performance should not be viewed as indicative of future performance, as there can be no assurance the margins, operating income and net earnings as a percentage of revenues will be consistent from year to year.
     Business Combinations
     Tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value and goodwill is recognized for any difference between the price of the acquisition and fair value. We customarily estimate related transaction costs known at closing. To the extent that information not available to us at the closing date subsequently becomes available during the allocation period, we may adjust goodwill, assets, or liabilities associated with the acquisition.
     We will recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at the fair values as of that date. Goodwill is measured as a residual of the fair values at acquisition date. Acquisition related costs are recognized separately from the acquisition and are expensed as incurred.
     During the second quarter of 2010, the Company completed four acquisitions consisting of one cemetery and three funeral home businesses. During the second quarter of 2011, the Company completed two funeral home acquisitions. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements herein for further information on these acquisitions.

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     Stock Plans and Stock-Based Compensation
     The Company has stock-based employee and director compensation plans in the form of restricted stock, performance units, stock options and employee stock purchase plans, which are described in more detail in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Company recognizes compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair value of the share-based awards issued over the period of vesting. Fair value is determined on the date of the grant. The fair value of options or awards containing options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.
     Computation of Earnings Per Common Share
     Basic earnings per share are computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share are computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive common equivalent shares consist of stock options.
     Share-based awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are recognized as participating securities and included in the computation of both basic and diluted earnings per share. Our grants of restricted stock awards to our employees and directors are considered participating securities and we have prepared our earnings per share calculations to include outstanding unvested restricted stock awards in both the basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding calculation. For the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2011, there was no material impact to basic and diluted earnings per share as presented in Exhibit 11.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
     Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Trust Funds
     The Company’s preneed and perpetual care trust funds are reported in accordance with the principles of consolidating Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”). In the case of preneed trusts, the customers are the legal beneficiaries. In the case of perpetual care trusts, the Company does not have a right to access the corpus in the perpetual care trusts. For these reasons, the Company has recognized financial interests of third parties in the trust funds in our financial statements as Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus. The investments of such trust funds are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair market value; therefore, the unrealized gains and losses, as well as accumulated and undistributed income and realized gains and losses are recorded to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company’s future obligations to deliver merchandise and services are reported at estimated settlement amounts. Preneed funeral and cemetery trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings, along with preneed contract collections not required to be placed in trust, are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenue and Deferred preneed cemetery revenue until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.
     A noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary, which is sometimes referred to as an unconsolidated investment, is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as a component of equity in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Consolidated net income is reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest. The disclosure, on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Operations, is of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest.
     In accordance with respective state laws, the Company is required to deposit a specified amount into perpetual and memorial care trust funds for each interment/entombment right and memorial sold. Income from the trust funds is distributed to Carriage and used to provide care and maintenance for the cemeteries and mausoleums. Such trust fund income is recognized as revenue when realized by the trust and distributable to the Company. The Company is restricted from withdrawing any of the principal balances of these funds.
     An enterprise is required to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest(s) give it a controlling financial interest in a Variable Interest Entity. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company’s analysis continues to support its position as the primary beneficiary in certain of our funeral and cemetery trust funds.
     Fair Value Measurements
     We define fair value as the price that would be received in the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). We disclose the extent to which fair value is used to measure financial assets and liabilities, the inputs utilized in calculating valuation measurements, and the effect of the measurement of significant unobservable inputs on earnings, or changes in net assets, as of the measurement date. Additional required disclosures

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are provided in Note10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We have not elected to measure any additional financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value.
     To determine the fair value of assets and liabilities in an environment where the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased, the exit price is used as the fair value measurement. For the three months ended June 30, 2011, we did not incur significant decreases in the volume of level of activity of any asset or liability. The Company considers an impairment of debt and equity securities other-than-temporary unless (a) the investor has the ability and intent to hold an investment and (b) evidence indicating the cost of the investment is recoverable before the Company is more likely than not required to sell the investment. If impairment is indicated, then an adjustment will be made to reduce the carrying amount to fair value. As of June 30, 2011, no impairment has been identified.
     The fair value disclosures to disclose transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and the gross presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the Level 3 reconciliation of the three-tier fair value hierarchy are presented herein in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company currently does not have any assets that have fair values determined by Level 3 inputs and no liabilities measured at fair value.
     In the ordinary course of business, we are typically exposed to a variety of market risks. Currently, these are primarily related to changes in fair market values related to outstanding debts and changes in the values of securities associated with the preneed and perpetual care trusts. Management is actively involved in monitoring exposure to market risk and developing and utilizing appropriate risk management techniques when appropriate and when available for a reasonable price. Our 77/8% Senior Notes were issued to the public at par in January 2005 and are carried at a cost of $130 million. At June 30, 2011, these securities were typically trading at a price of approximately $100.50, indicating a fair market value of approximately $131 million. Our convertible junior subordinated debentures, payable to Carriage Services Capital Trust (the “Trust”), pay interest at the fixed rate of 7% and are carried on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at a cost of approximately $91.5 million. The fair value of these securities is estimated to be approximately $72 million at June 30, 2011 based on available broker quotes of the corresponding preferred securities issued by the Trust.
     Income Taxes
     The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. Federal income tax return and separate income tax returns in the states in which we operate. We record deferred taxes for temporary differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities. The Company records a valuation allowance to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets for which realization is uncertain. Management reviews the valuation allowance at the end of each quarter and makes adjustments if it is determined that it is more likely than not that the tax benefits will be realized.
     The Company analyzes tax benefits for uncertain tax positions and how they are to be recognized, measured, and derecognized in financial statements; provides certain disclosures of uncertain tax matters; and specifies how reserves for uncertain tax positions should be classified on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has reviewed its income tax positions and identified certain tax deductions, primarily related to business acquisitions that are not certain. Our policy with respect to potential penalties and interest is to record them as “Other” expense and “Interest” expense, respectively. The entire balance of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company does not anticipate a significant increase or decrease in its unrecognized tax benefits during the next six months.
2. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
     Allowance for Credit Losses of Financing Receivables
     In July 2010, new guidance was issued which increased the disclosure requirements about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses. The intent of the disclosure is to provide additional information about the nature of credit risks inherent in our financing receivables, how credit risk is analyzed and assessed when determining the allowance for credit losses, and the reasons for the change in the allowance for credit losses. The disclosures related to period-end information were required for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2010, and thus effective for the Company at December 31, 2010. Disclosures of activity that occurs during the reporting period are required for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2010, and thus was effective for the Company for the period beginning January 1, 2011. The additional required disclosures are provided in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
     Goodwill Impairment Testing
     In December 2010, new guidance was issued as to when to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. The guidance modifies the first step of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing guidance and

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examples, which require that goodwill of a reporting unit be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and thus was effective for the Company for the period beginning January 1, 2011. Our goodwill impairment testing is described in more detail in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
     Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations
     In December 2010, new guidance was issued for disclosing supplementary pro forma information for business combinations that are material on an individual or aggregate basis. The guidance specifies that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The guidance also expands the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. This guidance is effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010, and thus was effective for the Company for the period beginning January 1, 2011. The adoption of this accounting standard update will apply to future material business combinations and is not expected to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
     Fair Value Measurements
     In May 2011, additional guidance was issued regarding how fair value measurements and disclosures should be applied where it is already required or permitted under International Financial Reporting Standards or United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This new guidance clarifies and aligns the existing application of fair value measurement guidance and revises certain language. This guidance is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2011, thus effective for the Company for the period beginning January 1, 2012. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.
     Comprehensive Income
     In June 2011, new guidance was issued regarding the reporting of comprehensive income in the financial statements. Entities will have the option to present the components of net income and comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or two separate but consecutive statements. This new guidance eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of changes in stockholder’s equity. This guidance requires retrospective application and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, thus effective for the Company for the period beginning January 1, 2012. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.
3. ACQUISITIONS
     Our growth strategy includes the execution of our Strategic Acquisition Model. The goal of that model is to build concentrated groups of businesses in ten to fifteen strategic markets. We assess acquisition candidates using six strategic ranking criteria and to differentiate the price we are willing to pay. Those criteria are:
    Size of business
 
    Size of market
 
    Competitive standing
 
    Demographics
 
    Strength of brand
 
    Barriers to entry
     During the second quarter of 2011, the Company completed two acquisitions. The consideration paid for those businesses was $5.1 million in cash. The Company acquired substantially all the assets and assumed certain operating liabilities, including obligations associated with existing preneed contracts. The assets and liabilities were recorded at fair value and included goodwill. The results of the acquired business are included in the Company’s results from the date of acquisition. Selected information on the acquisitions follows (in millions):

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            Assets        
            Acquired       Liabilities
            (Excluding   Goodwill   and Debt
Acquisition Date   Type of Business   Market   Goodwill)   Recorded   Assumed
April 2011
  Three Funeral Homes   Amarillo, TX   $0.9   $2.4  
April 2011   Funeral Home   Miami, FL   $0.6   $1.2  
     The effect of the acquisitions on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2011 was as follows (in thousands):
         
Current assets
  $ 44  
Property, plant & equipment
    1,058  
Tradenames
    400  
Goodwill
    3,598  
Receivables from preneed funeral contracts
    388  
Deferred preneed funeral revenue
    (388 )
 
     
 
  $ 5,100  
 
     
4. GOODWILL
     Many of the former owners and staff of acquired funeral homes have provided high quality service to families for generations. The resulting loyalty often represents a substantial portion of the value of a funeral business. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired, as determined by management in business acquisition transactions accounted for as purchases, is recorded as goodwill.
The following table presents the changes in goodwill in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):
         
    June 30, 2011  
Goodwill at beginning of year
  $ 183,324  
Acquisitions and changes in previous estimates
    3,593  
 
     
Goodwill at end of period
  $ 186,917  
 
     
     Changes in previous estimates are related to adjustments for inventory.
5. PRENEED TRUST INVESTMENTS
     Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments
     Preneed cemetery trust investments represent trust fund assets that the Company will withdraw when the merchandise or services are provided. The components of preneed cemetery trust investments in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and June 30, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
                 
    December 31, 2010     June 30, 2011  
Preneed cemetery trust investments
  $ 81,771     $ 84,129  
Less: allowance for contract cancellation
    (2,080 )     (2,419 )
 
           
 
  $ 79,691     $ 81,710  
 
           
     Upon cancellation of a preneed cemetery contract, a customer is generally entitled to receive a refund of the corpus and some or all of the earnings held in trust. In certain jurisdictions, the Company is obligated to fund any shortfall if the amounts deposited by the customer exceed the funds in trust, including some or all investment income. As a result, when realized or unrealized losses of a trust result in the trust being under-funded, the Company assesses whether it is responsible for replenishing the corpus of the trust, in which case a loss provision would be recorded.
     The cost and fair market values associated with preneed cemetery trust investments at June 30, 2011 are detailed below (in thousands). The Company determines whether or not the assets in the preneed cemetery trusts have an other-than-temporary impairment on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria, including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair market value. Any reduction in the cost basis due to an other-than-temporary impairment is recorded in Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. There will be no impact on earnings unless and until such time that this asset is withdrawn from the trust in accordance with state regulations at an amount that is less than its original basis.

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            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
Cash and money market accounts
  $ 3,419     $     $     $ 3,419  
Fixed income securities:
                               
Corporate debt
    29,003       1,389       (395 )     29,997  
Other
    2                   2  
Common stock
    44,514       3,118       (1,654 )     45,978  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    3,708       301             4,009  
 
                       
Trust securities
  $ 80,646     $ 4,808     $ (2,049 )   $ 83,405  
 
                       
 
                               
Accrued investment income
  $ 724                     $ 724  
 
                           
 
                               
Preneed cemetery trust investments
                          $ 84,129  
 
                             
 
                               
Fair market value as a percentage of cost
                            104.3 %
 
                             
     The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands):
         
Due in one year or less
  $  
Due in one to five years
    2,065  
Due in five to ten years
    8,298  
Thereafter
    19,636  
 
     
 
  $ 29,999  
 
     
     Preneed cemetery trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest income and other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    For the three months     For the six months  
    ended June 30,     ended June 30,  
    2010     2011     2010     2011  
Investment income
  $ 756     $ 966     $ 1,579     $ 1,865  
Realized gains
    5,588       6,936       5,756       10,092  
Realized losses
    (696 )     (475 )     (706 )     (546 )
Expenses and taxes
    (196 )     (671 )     (319 )     (853 )
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust
    (5,452 )     (6,756 )     (6,310 )     (10,558 )
 
                       
 
  $     $     $     $  
 
                       
     Purchases and sales of investments in the preneed cemetery trusts were as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    For the three months   For the six months
    ended June 30,   ended June 30,
    2010   2011   2010   2011
Purchases
  $ 30,869     $ (32,375 )   $ 32,369     $ (45,065 )
Sales
    29,687       32,869       31,186       45,676  
     Preneed Funeral Trust Investments
     Preneed funeral trust investments represent trust fund assets that the Company expects to withdraw when the services and merchandise are provided. Preneed funeral contracts are secured by funds paid by the customer to the Company. Preneed funeral trust investments are reduced by the trust earnings the Company has been allowed to withdraw prior to performance by the Company and amounts received from customers that are not required to be deposited into trust, pursuant to various state laws. The components of preneed funeral trust investments in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2010 and June 30, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
                 
    December 31, 2010     June 30, 2011  
Preneed funeral trust investments
  $ 83,324     $ 80,314  
Less: allowance for contract cancellation
    (2,181 )     (2,332 )
 
           
 
  $ 81,143     $ 77,982  
 
           

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     Upon cancellation of a preneed funeral contract, a customer is generally entitled to receive a refund of the corpus and some or all of the earnings held in trust. In certain jurisdictions, the Company is obligated to fund any shortfall if the amounts deposited by the customer exceed the funds in trust, including some or all investment income. As a result, when realized or unrealized losses of a trust result in the trust being under-funded, the Company assesses whether it is responsible for replenishing the corpus of the trust, in which case a loss provision would be recorded.
     The cost and fair market values associated with preneed funeral trust investments at June 30, 2011 are detailed below (in thousands). The Company determines whether or not the assets in the preneed funeral trusts have an other-than-temporary impairment on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair market value. Any reduction in the cost basis due to an other-than-temporary impairment is recorded as a reduction to Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust. There will be no impact on earnings unless and until such time that this asset is withdrawn from the trust in accordance with state regulations at an amount that is less than its original basis.
                                 
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
Cash and money market accounts
  $ 10,961     $     $     $ 10,961  
Fixed income securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury debt
    5,438       100       (6 )     5,532  
Mortgage backed securities
    507       20             527  
Corporate debt
    19,844       1,158       (244 )     20,758  
Common stock
    27,137       1,995       (1,004 )     28,128  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    9,337       185       (111 )     9,411  
Fixed income
    4,454       6       (12 )     4,448  
Other Investments
    63             (14 )     49  
 
                       
Trust securities
  $ 77,741     $ 3,464     $ (1,391 )   $ 79,814  
 
                       
 
   
Accrued investment income
  $ 500                     $ 500  
 
                           
 
   
Preneed funeral trust investments
                          $ 80,314  
 
                             
 
   
Fair market value as a percentage of cost
                            103.3 %
 
                             
     The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands):
         
Due in one year or less
  $ 2,093  
Due in one to five years
    4,837  
Due in five to ten years
    6,990  
Thereafter
    12,897  
 
     
 
  $ 26,817  
 
     
     Preneed funeral trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest income and other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    For the three months     For the six months  
    ended June 30,     ended June 30,  
    2010     2011     2010     2011  
Investment income
  $ 816     $ 771     $ 1,580     $ 1,552  
Realized gains
    4,838       5,046       5,176       8,370  
Realized losses
    (409 )     (375 )     (476 )     (488 )
Expenses and taxes
    (323 )     (474 )     (508 )     (728 )
Increase in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust
    (4,922 )     (4,968 )     (5,772 )     (8,706 )
 
                       
 
  $     $     $     $  
 
                       

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     Purchases and sales of investments in the preneed funeral trusts were as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    For the three months   For the six months
    ended June 30,   ended June 30,
    2010   2011   2010   2011
Purchases
  $ 306     $ (27,452 )   $ 2,452     $ (44,703 )
Sales
    14       25,226       2,774       42,537  
6. PRENEED CEMETERY RECEIVABLES
     Preneed sales of cemetery interment rights are usually financed through interest-bearing installment sales contracts, generally with terms of up to five years with such earnings reflected as Preneed Cemetery Finance Charges. In substantially all cases, we receive an initial down payment at the time the contract is signed. The interest rates generally range between 9.5% and 12%. Occasionally, we have offered zero percent interest financing to promote sales for limited-time offers. Preneed sales of cemetery interment rights are generally recorded as revenue when 10% of the contract amount related to the interment right has been collected. For the six month period ending June 30, 2011, 88.8% of sales of interment rights were recognized in the current year. Merchandise and services may similarly be sold on an installment basis, but revenue is recorded when delivery has occurred. For all contracts, receivables are recorded at cost and finance charges are recorded upon receipt of payment. At June 30, 2011, the balance of preneed receivables for cemetery interment rights and for merchandise and services was $18.1 million and $9.5 million, respectively.
     The Company determines an allowance for customer cancellations and refunds on contracts in which revenue has been recognized on sales of cemetery interment rights. We reserve 100% of the receivables on contracts in which the revenue has been recognized and payments are 120 days past due or more, which was approximately 1.6% of the total receivables on recognized sales at June 30, 2011. The allowance is recorded at the date that the contract is executed and periodically adjusted thereafter based upon actual collection experience at the business level. At June 30, 2011, the allowance for contract cancellations was as follows (in thousands).
         
    June 30, 2011  
Beginning balance
  $ 1,454  
Recoveries
     
Provision
    (186 )
 
     
Ending balance
  $ 1,268  
 
     
     The Company has a collections policy where past due notification is sent to the customers beginning at 15 days past due and thereafter periodically until 90 days past due. Any items on contracts that are past due 120 days are sent to a third-party collector. No uncollectible financing receivables are directly charged off to the statement of operations.
     The aging of past due financing receivables as of June 30, 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
                                                         
    31-60   61-90   91-120   >120   Total Past           Total Financing
    Past Due   Past Due   Past Due   Past Due   Due   Current   Receivables
     
Recognized revenue
  $ 672     $ 378     $ 180     $ 304     $ 1,534     $ 17,417     $ 18,951  
Deferred revenue
    298       164       69       140       671       7,970       8,641  
     
Total contracts
  $ 970     $ 542     $ 249     $ 444     $ 2,205     $ 25,387     $ 27,592  
     
7. RECEIVABLES FROM PRENEED FUNERAL TRUSTS
     The receivables from preneed funeral trusts represent assets in trusts which are controlled and operated by third parties in which the Company does not have a controlling financial interest (less than 50%) in the trust assets. The Company accounts for these investments at cost. As of June 30, 2011, receivables from preneed funeral trusts was as follows (in thousands):
                 
    December 31, 2010     June 30, 2011  
Preneed funeral trust funds
  $ 22,542     $ 23,097  
Less: allowance for contract cancellation
    (676 )     (691 )
 
           
 
  $ 21,866     $ 22,406  
 
           
8. CONTRACTS SECURED BY INSURANCE
     Certain preneed funeral contracts are secured by life insurance contracts. Generally, the proceeds of the life insurance policies have been assigned to the Company and will be paid upon the death of the insured. The proceeds will be used to satisfy the beneficiary’s obligations under the preneed contract for services and merchandise. Preneed funeral contracts secured by

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insurance totaled $205.0 million and $212.7 million at December 31, 2010 and June 30, 2011, respectively, and are not included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
9. CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE TRUST INVESTMENTS
     Cemetery Care trusts’ corpus on the Consolidated Balance Sheets represent the corpus of those trusts plus undistributed income. The components of Cemetery Care trusts’ corpus as of December 31, 2010 and June 30, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
                 
    December 31, 2010     June 30, 2011  
Trust assets, at fair value
  $ 45,735     $ 44,666  
Pending withdrawals of income from trust
          151  
Obligations due to trust
    206        
 
           
Care trusts’ corpus
  $ 45,941     $ 44,817  
 
           
     The Company is required by various state laws to pay a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights into perpetual care trust funds. The following table reflects the cost and fair market values associated with the trust investments held in perpetual care trust funds at June 30, 2011 (in thousands). The Company determines whether or not the assets in the cemetery perpetual care trusts have an other-than-temporary impairment on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria, including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair market value. Any reduction in the cost basis due to an other-than-temporary impairment is recorded as a reduction to Care trusts’ corpus.
                                 
            Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair Market  
    Cost     Gains     Losses     Value  
Cash and money market accounts
  $ 730     $     $     $ 730  
Fixed income securities:
                               
Corporate debt
    26,477       857       (374 )     26,960  
Common stock
    16,110       1,185       (880 )     16,415  
 
                       
Trust securities
  $ 43,317     $ 2,042     $ (1,254 )   $ 44,105  
 
                       
 
                               
Accrued investment income
  $ 561                     $ 561  
 
                           
 
                               
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments
                          $ 44,666  
 
                             
 
                               
Fair market value as a percentage of cost
                            103.1 %
 
                             
     The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands):
         
Due in one year or less
  $  
Due in one to five years
    2,021  
Due in five to ten years
    11,759  
Thereafter
    13,180  
 
     
 
  $ 26,960  
 
     
     Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest income and other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    For the three months     For the six months  
    ended June 30,     ended June 30,  
    2010     2011     2010     2011  
Undistributable realized gains
  $ 2,305     $ 3,432     $ 2,542     $ 5,681  
Undistributable realized losses
    (722 )     (218 )     (738 )     (315 )
Increase in Care trusts’ corpus
    (1,583 )     (3,214 )     (1,804 )     (5,366 )
 
                       
 
  $     $     $     $  
 
                       

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     Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in Cemetery revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    For the three months     For the six months  
    ended June 30,     ended June 30,  
    2010     2011     2010     2011  
Investment income
  $ 603     $ 1,178     $ 1,233     $ 1,757  
Realized gains
    490       1,121       850       1,942  
Expenses
                (21 )      
 
                       
Total
  $ 1,093     $ 2,299     $ 2,062     $ 3,699  
 
                       
     Purchases and sales of investments in the perpetual care trusts were as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    For the three months   For the six months
    ended June 30,   ended June 30,
    2010   2011   2010   2011
Purchases
  $ 19,794     $ (14,823 )   $ 23,074     $ (23,930 )
Sales
    18,569       14,697       23,562       22,658  
10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
     Fair value is defined as the price that would be received in the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date applicable for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. We disclose the extent to which fair value is used to measure financial assets and liabilities, the inputs utilized in calculating valuation measurements, and the effect of the measurement of significant unobservable inputs on earnings, or changes in net assets, as of the measurement date.
     The Company evaluated its financial assets and liabilities for those financial assets and liabilities that met the criteria of the disclosure requirements and fair value framework. The Company identified investments in fixed income securities, common stock and mutual funds presented within the preneed and perpetual trust investments categories on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as having met such criteria. The following three-level valuation hierarchy based upon the transparency of inputs is utilized in the measurement and valuation of financial assets or liabilities as of the measurement date:
    Level 1—Fair value of securities based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock, certain fixed income securities, and equity mutual funds;
 
    Level 2—Fair value of securities estimated based on quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable or that can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation. These inputs include interest rates, yield curves, credit risk, prepayment speeds, rating and tax-exempt status. Our investments classified as Level 2 securities include certain fixed income securities and fixed income mutual funds
 
    Level 3—Unobservable inputs based upon the reporting entity’s internally developed assumptions which market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As of June 30, 2011, the Company did not have any assets that had fair values determined by Level 3 inputs and no liabilities measured at fair value.
     The Company accounts for its investments as available-for-sale and measures them at fair value under standards of financial accounting and reporting for investments in equity instruments that have readily determinable fair values and for all investments in debt securities.
     The following table presents information about our assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by us to determine the fair values as of June 30, 2011 (in thousands). Certain fixed income and other securities are reported at fair value using Level 2 inputs. For these securities, the Company uses pricing services and dealer quotes. As of June 30, 2011, the Company did not have any liabilities measured at fair value.

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            Significant Other     Significant        
    Quoted Prices in     Observable     Unobservable        
    Active Markets     Inputs     Inputs        
    (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)     June 30, 2011  
Assets:
                               
Fixed income securities:
                               
U.S. Treasury debt
  $ 5,532     $     $     $ 5,532  
Mortgage backed securities
          530             530  
Corporate debt
          77,716             77,716  
Common stock
    90,519                   90,519  
Mutual funds:
                               
Equity
    13,469                   13,469  
Fixed income
          4,449             4,449  
 
                       
Total Assets
  $ 109,520     $ 82,695     $     $ 192,215  
 
                       
     There were no significant transfers between Levels 1 and 2 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011.
11. LONG-TERM DEBT
     The Company has outstanding a principal amount of $130 million of 77/8% unsecured Senior Notes, due in 2015, with interest payable semi-annually. The Company also has a senior secured revolving credit facility (the “credit facility”) for which borrowings bear interest at prime or LIBOR options with the current LIBOR option set at LIBOR plus 350 basis points and is collateralized by all personal property and by funeral home real property in certain states. The credit facility was undrawn at June 30, 2011, except for letters of credit of $0.1 million. Interest is payable quarterly. The credit facility matures in November 2012.
     Carriage, the parent entity, has no material assets or operations independent of its subsidiaries. All assets and operations are held and conducted by subsidiaries, each of which (except for Carriage Services Capital Trust, which is a single purpose entity that holds our 7% debentures issued in connection with the issuance of the Trust’s term income deferrable equity securities (“TIDES”) 7% convertible preferred securities) have fully and unconditionally guaranteed the Company’s obligations under the 77/8% Senior Notes. Additionally, the Company does not currently have any significant restrictions on its ability to receive dividends or loans from any subsidiary guarantor under the 77/8% Senior Notes. In April 2011, the Company repurchased 26,192 shares of these TIDES for approximately $953,000 and recorded a gain of $359,000. The Company converted and immediately cancelled these preferred shares at the current conversion rate of 2.4465 into shares of common stock equal to 64,079 shares. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company has purchased 26,742 shares of TIDES for approximately $972,000 and recorded a gain of $366,000. Additionally, 45,015 shares of common stock held in treasury that were repurchased TIDES in prior quarters were cancelled. At June 30, 2011, amounts outstanding under the convertible junior subordinated debenture totaled $91.5 million.
     The Company was in compliance with the covenants contained in the credit facility and the Senior Notes as of June 30, 2010 and 2011.
12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
     Litigation
     We are a party to various litigation matters and proceedings. For each of our outstanding legal matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies, and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. We intend to defend ourselves in the lawsuits described herein. If we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated, we establish the necessary accruals. We hold certain insurance policies that may reduce cash outflows with respect to an adverse outcome of certain of these litigation matters.
     Leathermon, et al. v. Grandview Memorial Gardens, Inc., et al., United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Case No. 4:07-cv-137. On August 17, 2007, five plaintiffs filed a putative class action against the current and past owners of Grandview Cemetery in Madison, Indiana, including the Carriage subsidiaries that owned the cemetery from January 1997 until February 2001, on behalf of all individuals who purchased cemetery and burial goods and services at Grandview Cemetery. Plaintiffs claim that the cemetery owners performed burials negligently, breached Plaintiffs’ contracts, and made misrepresentations regarding the cemetery. The Plaintiffs also allege that the claims occurred prior, during and after the Company owned the cemetery. On October 15, 2007, the case was removed from Jefferson County Circuit Court, Indiana to the Southern District of Indiana. On April 24, 2009, shortly before Defendants had been scheduled to file their briefs in opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, Plaintiffs moved to amend their complaint to add new class representatives and claims, while also seeking to abandon other claims. The Company, as well as several other Defendants, opposed Plaintiffs’ motion to amend their complaint and add parties. In April 2009, two Defendants moved to disqualify Plaintiffs’ counsel from further representing Plaintiffs in this action. On March 31, 2010, the Court granted the Defendants’ motion to disqualify Plaintiffs’ counsel. In that order, the Court gave Plaintiffs 60 days within which to retain new counsel. In addition, all discovery has been

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stayed and all pending motions including Plaintiffs’ motion for leave to file an amended complaint and Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification were dismissed without prejudice to re-file with leave of Court upon retention of new counsel. On May 6, 2010, Plaintiffs filed a petition for writ of mandamus with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals seeking relief from the trial court’s order of disqualification of counsel. On May 19, 2010, the Defendants responded to the petition of mandamus. On July 8, 2010, the Seventh Circuit denied Plaintiffs’ petition for writ of mandamus. Thus, pursuant to the trial court’s order, Plaintiffs were given 60 days from July 8, 2010 in which to retain new counsel to prosecute this action on their behalf. Plaintiffs retained new counsel and the trial Court granted the newly retained Plaintiffs’ counsel 90 days to review the case and advise the Court whether or not Plaintiffs would seek leave to amend their complaint to add and/or change the allegations as are currently stated therein and whether or not they would seek leave to amend the proposed class representatives for class certification. Plaintiffs moved for leave to amend both the class representatives and the allegations stated within the complaint. Defendants filed oppositions to such amendments. The Court has recently issued an order permitting the Plaintiffs to proceed with amending the class representatives and a portion of their claims; however, certain of Plaintiffs’ claims have been dismissed. Discovery in this matter will proceed. Carriage intends to defend this action vigorously. Because the lawsuit is in its preliminary stages, we are unable to evaluate the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome to the Company or to estimate the amount or range of any potential loss, if any, at this time.
13. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
     Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
     During the first quarter of 2011, 207,549 stock options were awarded to officers and certain employees. No stock options were awarded during the second quarter of 2011. As of June 30, 2011, 335,628 stock options remain unvested.
     For the second quarter of 2011, employees purchased a total of 19,743 shares of common stock through the employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) at a weighted average price of $4.13 per share. The Company recorded pre-tax stock-based compensation expense for the ESPP and for stock options totaling $66,000 and $95,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively and $124,000 and $172,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively.
     The fair value of the right (option) to purchase shares under the ESPP, is estimated on the date of grant (January 1, 2011) associated with the four quarterly purchase dates using the following assumptions:
                 
    2010   2011
Dividend yield
    0 %     0 %
Expected volatility
    70 %     29 %
Risk-free interest rate
    0.08%, 0.18%, 0.31%, 0.45 %     0.15%, 0.19%, 0.24%, 0.29 %
Expected life (years)
    .25, .50, .75, 1       .25, .50, .75, 1  
     Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility during the previous twelve months of the underlying common stock. The risk-free rate for the quarterly purchase periods is based on the U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant (January 1). The expected life of the ESPP grants represents the calendar quarters from the grant date (January 1) to the purchase date (end of each quarter).
     Common Stock Grants
     The Company, from time to time, issues shares of restricted common stock to certain officers, directors and key employees of the Company from its stock benefit plans. The restricted stock issued to officers and key employees vest in either 25% or 331/3% increments over four or three year periods, respectively. The Company granted 200,051 and 15,376 shares of restricted stock to certain officers and employees during the first and second quarters, respectively, of 2011 which vest in 331/3% increments over three years. Related to the vesting of restricted stock awards previously awarded to our officers and employees, the Company recorded $333,000 and $379,000 in pre-tax compensation expense, included in general, administrative and other expenses, for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and $611,000 and $761,000 in pre-tax compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively.
     Effective March 22, 2010, and subsequently revised on July 14, 2010, the Board of Directors approved a Director Compensation Policy in which the directors no longer have an option to elect to receive all or a portion of their fees in stock. Consequently, all meeting fees after March 22, 2010 were paid in cash. During the second quarter of 2011, each independent director was granted an annual equity retainer equal to $40,000 of the Company’s common stock. During the second quarter, the Company issued 20,524 shares of common stock to the independent directors for such retainer. One new director joined the Board of Directors during the second quarter of 2011, at which time he was granted 17,006 shares valued in total at $100,000. One-half of those shares vested immediately; the remainder vest over two years. The Company recorded $49,000 and $354,000 in pre-tax compensation expense, included in general, administrative and other expenses, for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and $326,000 and $407,000 in pretax compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively, related to the director fees, annual retainers and deferred compensation amortization.

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     As of June 30, 2011, the Company had $2.3 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested restricted stock awards, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.9 years.
     Cash Dividends
     On May 17, 2011, our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend policy for our common stock. The Board declared the first quarterly dividend of $0.025 share, totaling $460,000, which was paid on June 1, 2011 to common share record holders as of May 17, 2011. The Company has a dividend reinvestment program so that stockholders may elect to reinvest their dividends into additional shares of the Company’s common stock.
14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
     A member of the Company’s Board of Directors is a key member of management and Chief Investment Officer of an otherwise unrelated company that holds $7.3 million of the Company’s 77/8% Senior Notes for investment purposes.
15. MAJOR SEGMENTS OF BUSINESS
     Carriage conducts funeral and cemetery operations only in the United States. The following table presents revenue, pre-tax income and total assets by segment (in thousands):
                                 
    Funeral   Cemetery   Corporate   Consolidated
Revenues from operating activities:
                               
Six months ended June 30, 2011
  $ 74,673     $ 24,092     $     $ 98,765  
Six months ended June 30, 2010
  $ 68,525     $ 22,839     $     $ 91,364  
 
                               
Income (loss) before income taxes:
                               
Six months ended June 30, 2011
  $ 22,139     $ 6,327     $ (18,572 )   $ 9,894  
Six months ended June 30, 2010
  $ 20,506     $ 4,831     $ (16,734 )   $ 8,603  
 
                               
Total assets:
                               
June 30, 2011
  $ 409,128     $ 243,341     $ 25,271     $ 677,740  
December 31, 2010
  $ 409,329     $ 242,461     $ 19,222     $ 671,012  

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16. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION
     The following information is supplemental disclosure for the Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):
                                 
    For the three months     For the six months  
    ended June 30,     ended June 30,  
    2010     2011     2010     2011  
Revenues
                               
Goods
                               
Funeral
  $ 13,054     $ 13,986     $ 27,651     $ 29,590  
Cemetery
    8,008       8,246       14,988       15,458  
 
                       
Total goods
  $ 21,062     $ 22,232     $ 42,639     $ 45,048  
 
                               
Services
                               
Funeral
  $ 17,458     $ 19,309     $ 36,700     $ 40,867  
Cemetery
    2,456       2,533       4,772       5,056  
 
                       
Total services
  $ 19,914     $ 21,842     $ 41,472     $ 45,923  
 
                               
Financial revenue
                               
Preneed funeral commission income
  $ 497     $ 414     $ 1,185     $ 887  
Preneed funeral trust earnings
    1,426       1,856       2,989       3,329  
Cemetery trust earnings
    1,211       1,228       2,248       2,889  
Cemetery finance charges
    407       336       831       689  
 
                       
Total financial revenue
  $ 3,541     $ 3,834     $ 7,253     $ 7,794  
 
                       
 
                               
Total revenues
  $ 44,517     $ 47,908     $ 91,364     $ 98,765  
 
                       
 
                               
Cost of revenues
                               
Goods
                               
Funeral
  $ 11,045     $ 11,684     $ 23,118     $ 24,550  
Cemetery
    6,197       6,043       11,848       11,516  
 
                       
Total goods
  $ 17,242     $ 17,727     $ 34,966     $ 36,066  
 
                               
Services
                               
Funeral
  $ 9,217     $ 10,291     $ 19,313     $ 21,548  
Cemetery
    1,657       1,650       3,285       3,293  
 
                       
Total services
  $ 10,874     $ 11,941     $ 22,598     $ 24,841  
 
                               
Financial expenses
                               
Preneed funeral commissions
  $ 312     $ 391     $ 658     $ 734  
 
                       
Total financial expenses
  $ 312     $ 391     $ 658     $ 734  
 
                       
 
                               
Total cost of revenues
  $ 28,428     $ 30,059     $ 58,222     $ 61,641  
 
                       
     The costs of revenues, for purposes of this supplemental disclosure, include only field costs and expenses that are directly allocable between the goods, services and financial categories in the funeral and cemetery segments. Depreciation and amortization and regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs are not included in this disclosure.

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17. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
     The following information is supplemental disclosure for the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):
                 
    For the six months
    ended June 30,
    2010   2011
Cash paid for interest and financing costs
  $ 8,890     $ 8,810  
Cash paid for income taxes
    407       670  
Fair value of stock issued to directors, officers and certain employees
    1,097       1,464  
Restricted common stock withheld for payroll taxes
    56       301  
Net withdrawals from preneed funeral trusts
    1,269       2,290  
Net (deposits)/withdrawals into/from preneed cemetery trusts
    (786 )     581  
Net (deposits)/withdrawals into/from perpetual care trusts
    (606 )     310  
Net decrease in preneed funeral receivables
    85       375  
Net (increase)/decrease in preneed cemetery receivables
    (433 )     210  
Net (deposits)/withdrawals of receivables into/from preneed funeral trusts
    (714 )     (369 )
Net change in preneed funeral receivables increasing deferred revenue
    910       105  
Net change in preneed cemetery receivables decreasing deferred revenue
    (309 )     (2 )
Net withdrawals from preneed funeral trust accounts decreasing deferred preneed funeral receipts
    (1,269 )     (2,290 )
Net deposits/(withdrawals) in cemetery trust accounts increasing/(decreasing) deferred cemetery receipts
    786       (581 )
Net deposits/(withdrawals) in perpetual care trust accounts increasing/(decreasing) perpetual care trusts’ corpus
    426       (366 )

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
     In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include any projections of earnings, revenues, asset sales, cash flow, debt levels or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include the words “may”, “will”, “estimate”, “intend”, “believe”, “expect”, “project”, “forecast”, “plan”, “anticipate” and other similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements include those risks related to our business and our industry set forth in Item 1A., “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
OVERVIEW
     General
     We operate two types of businesses: funeral homes, which account for approximately 75% of our revenues, and cemeteries, which account for approximately 25% of our revenues. Funeral homes are principally service businesses that provide funeral services (traditional burial and cremation) and sell related merchandise, such as caskets and urns. Cemeteries are primarily a sales business that sells interment rights (grave sites and mausoleum spaces) and related merchandise, such as markers and outer burial containers. As of June 30, 2011, we operated 151 funeral homes in 25 states and 33 cemeteries in 12 states within the United States. Substantially all administrative activities are conducted in our home office in Houston, Texas.
     We have implemented long-term initiatives in our operations designed to improve operating and financial results by growing market share and increasing profitability. We have a decentralized, entrepreneurial and local operating model that includes operating and financial standards developed from our best operations, along with an incentive compensation plan to reward business managers for successfully meeting or exceeding the standards. The model essentially eliminates the use of line-item financial budgets in favor of the standards. The operating model and standards, which we refer to as the “Standards Operating Model” focus on the key drivers of a successful operation, organized around three primary areas – market share, people and operating and financial metrics. The model and standards are the measures by which we judge the success of each business. To date, the Standards Operating Model has driven significant changes in our organization, leadership and operating practices. Most importantly, the Standards Operating Model allowed us to measure the sustainable revenue growth and earning power of our portfolio of deathcare businesses, which then led to the development of a Strategic Acquisition Model, described below under “—Acquisitions,” that guides our acquisition and disposition strategies. We expect both models, to drive longer term, sustainable increases in market share, revenue, earnings and cash flow. The standards are not designed to produce maximum short-term earnings because we do not believe such performance is sustainable without ultimately stressing the business, which often leads to declining market share, revenues and earnings. Important elements of the Standards Operating Model include:
Balanced Operating Model – We believe a decentralized structure works best in the deathcare industry. Successful execution of the Standards Operating Model is highly dependent on strong local leadership, intelligent risk taking, entrepreneurial drive and corporate support aligned with the key drivers.
Incentives Aligned with Standards – Empowering Managing Partners to do the right things in their operations and local communities, and providing appropriate support with operating and financial practices, will enable long-term growth and sustainable profitability. Each Managing Partner participates in a variable bonus plan whereby they earn a percentage of their business’ earnings based upon the actual standards achieved. Each Managing Partner has the opportunity to share in the earnings of the business as long as the performance exceeds our minimum standards.

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The Right Local Leadership – Successful execution of our operating model is highly dependent on strong local leadership as defined by our 4E Leadership Model, intelligent risk taking and entrepreneurial empowerment. Over time, a Managing Partner’s performance is judged according to achievement of the Standards for that business.
     Funeral and Cemetery Operations
     Factors affecting our funeral operating results include: demographic trends in terms of population growth and average age, which impact death rates and number of deaths; establishing and maintaining leading market share positions supported by strong local heritage and relationships; effectively responding to increasing cremation trends by packaging complementary services and merchandise; controlling salary and merchandise costs; and exercising pricing leverage related to our atneed business to increase average revenues per contract. In simple terms, volume and price are the two variables that affect funeral revenues. The average revenue per contract is influenced by the mix of traditional burial and cremation services because our average cremation service revenue is approximately one-third of the average revenue earned from a traditional burial service. Funeral homes have a relatively fixed cost structure. Thus, small changes in revenues, up or down, normally cause significant changes to our profitability.
     Our funeral volumes have increased gradually from 23,366 in 2007 to 25,801 in 2010 (compound annual increase of 3.4%). Our funeral operating revenue has increased from $119.2 million in 2007 to $129.7 million in 2010 (compound annual increase of 2.9%). The increases are primarily because of businesses we acquired in 2007 through 2010 and our ability to increase the average revenue per funeral through expanded service offerings and packages. We experienced an increase of 13.5% in volumes in the first six months of 2011 compared to the first six months of 2010, 0.5% of which resulted from organic growth and 13.0% through acquisitions. Funeral operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were up 9.5% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010.
     The percentage of funeral services involving cremations has increased from 35.8% for the year ended 2007 to 44.1% for the year ended 2010 and was 46.3% for the first six months of 2011. A significant portion of that trend is the result of acquiring businesses in high cremation areas. On a same store basis, the cremation rate has risen to 41.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2011, up from 40.1% for the comparable period in 2010.
     Cemetery operating results are affected by the size and success of our sales organization. Approximately 52% of our 2010 cemetery revenues related to preneed sales of interment rights and mausoleums and related merchandise and services. As of June 30, 2011, those preneed sales were approximately 50.0% of cemetery revenues. We believe that changes in the level of consumer confidence (a measure of whether consumers will spend for discretionary items) also affect the amount of cemetery revenues. Currently, approximately 14.8% of our cemetery revenues are attributable to investment earnings on trust funds and finance charges on installment contracts. Changes in the capital markets and interest rates affect this component of our cemetery revenues.
     Our cemetery financial performance from 2007 through 2010 was characterized by fluctuating operating revenues and field level profit margins. Cemetery operating revenue for the first six months of 2011 increased 3.8% over the comparable period in 2010 and we experienced a 16.2% increase in trust fund earnings and finance charges. Also a 5.1% increase in atneed revenues contributed to the growth of revenues. Our goal is to build broader and deeper teams of sales leaders and counselors in our larger and more strategically located cemeteries in order to focus on growth of our preneed property sales. Additionally, a portion of our capital expenditures in 2011 is designed to expand our cemetery product offerings.
     Financial Revenue
     We market funeral and cemetery services and products on a preneed basis. Preneed funeral or cemetery contracts enable families to establish, in advance, the type of service to be performed, the products to be used and the cost of such products and services. Preneed contracts permit families to eliminate issues of making deathcare plans at the time of need and allow input from other family members before the death occurs. We guarantee the price and performance of the preneed contracts to the customer.
     Preneed funeral contracts are usually paid on an installment basis. The performance of preneed funeral contracts is usually secured by placing the funds collected in trust for the benefit of the customer or by the purchase of a life insurance policy, the proceeds of which will pay for such services at the time of need. Insurance policies, intended to fund preneed funeral contracts, cover the original contract price and generally include an element of growth (earnings) designed to offset future inflationary cost increases. Revenue from preneed funeral contracts, along with accumulated earnings, is not recognized until the time the funeral service is performed. The accumulated earnings from the trust investments and insurance policies is intended to offset the inflation in funeral prices. Additionally, we generally earn a commission from the insurance company from the sale of insurance-funded policies reflected as Preneed Insurance Commission. The commission income is recognized as revenue when the period of refund expires (generally one year), which helps us defray the costs we incur to originate the preneed contract (primarily commissions we pay to our sales counselors).
     Preneed sales of cemetery interment rights are usually financed through interest-bearing installment sales contracts, generally with terms of up to five years with such earnings reflected as Preneed Cemetery Finance Charges. In substantially all

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cases, we receive an initial down payment at the time the contract is signed. The interest rates generally range between 9.5% and 12% per annum. Occasionally, we have offered zero percent interest financing to promote sales for limited-time offers. In most states, regulations require a portion (generally 10%) of the sale amount of cemetery property and memorials to be placed in a perpetual care trust.
     We have established a variety of trusts in connection with funeral home and cemetery operations as required under applicable state law. Such trusts include (i) preneed funeral trusts; (ii) preneed cemetery merchandise and service trusts; and (iii) perpetual care trusts. These trusts are typically administered by independent financial institutions selected by the Company. Independent financial advisors are also used for investment management and advisory services.
     Preneed funeral trust fund income earned and the receipt and recognition of any insurance benefits are deferred until the service is performed. Applicable state laws generally require us to deposit a specified amount (which varies from state to state, generally 50% to 100% of selling price) into a merchandise and service trust fund for preneed cemetery merchandise and service sales. The related trust fund income earned is recognized when the related merchandise and services are delivered. In most states, regulations require a portion (generally 10%) of the sale amount of cemetery property and memorials to be placed in a perpetual care trust. The income from perpetual care trusts provides a portion of the funds necessary to maintain cemetery property and memorials in perpetuity. This trust fund income is recognized, as earned, in cemetery revenues.
     Acquisitions
     Our growth strategy includes the execution of the Strategic Acquisition Model. The goal of that model is to build concentrated groups of businesses in ten to fifteen strategic markets. We use six strategic ranking criteria to assess acquisition candidates and to differentiate the price we are willing to pay. Those criteria are:
    Size of business;
 
    Size of market;
 
    Competitive standing;
 
    Demographics;
 
    Strength of brand; and
 
    Barriers to entry.
     In general terms, our price expectations range from four to five times pre-tax earnings before depreciation for “tuck-ins” to six to seven times pre-tax earnings before depreciation for businesses that rank very high in the ranking criteria. We derive the pre-tax earnings amounts based primarily on the size and product mix of the target business applied to our standards-based operating model. During 2010, we acquired one cemetery and five funeral home businesses. The consideration paid for these acquisitions was cash, which was generated from our operations. There were no businesses acquired during the first quarter of 2011. During the second quarter of 2011, we acquired two funeral home businesses. The consideration paid for these acquisitions was $5.1 million cash.
     Financial Highlights
     Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2011 totaled $2.6 million, equal to $0.14 per diluted share, compared to net income for the three months ended June 30, 2010 which totaled $2.3 million equal to $0.13 per diluted share. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2011 totaled $5.9 million, equal to $0.32 per diluted share, compared to $5.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, or $0.29 per diluted share. Total revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 was $47.9 million and $98.8 million, respectively, an increase of 7.6% and 8.1%, respectively, compared to $44.5 million and $91.4 millionfor the comparable periods in 2010. Our field reporting groups, funeral and cemetery, had increases in revenue and profit but were offset by increases in overhead due to personnel changes and upgrades.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
     The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an on-going basis, we evaluate estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, realization of accounts receivable, inventories, goodwill, other intangible assets, property and equipment and deferred tax assets. We base our estimates on historical experience, third party data and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these considerations form the basis for making judgments about the amount and timing of revenues and expenses, the carrying value of assets and the recorded amounts of liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such estimates may change if the underlying conditions or assumptions change. Historical performance should not be viewed as indicative of future performance, because there can be no assurance the margins, operating income and net earnings as a percentage of revenues will be consistent from year to year.
     Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) is based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements presented herewith, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles

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generally accepted in the United States. Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Our critical accounting policies are those that are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgment. These critical accounting policies are discussed in MD&A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
     The following is a discussion of our results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2011. The term “same store” or “existing operations” refers to funeral homes and cemeteries acquired prior to January 1, 2007 and owned and operated for the entirety of each period being presented. Funeral homes and cemeteries purchased after January 1, 2007 are referred to as “acquired.” This classification of acquisitions has been important to management and investors in monitoring the results of these businesses and to gauge the leveraging performance contribution that a selective acquisition program can have on the total company performance. Depreciation and amortization and regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs are not included in operating profit.
     Funeral Home Segment. The following table sets forth certain information regarding the revenues and operating profit from the funeral home operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2011.
Three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to three months ended June 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended        
    June 30,     Change  
    2010     2011     Amount     %  
Revenues:
                               
Same store operating revenue
  $ 25,953     $ 25,876     $ (77 )     (0.3 )%
Acquired operating revenue
    4,546       7,419       2,873       63.2 %
Preneed funeral insurance commissions
    497       414       (83 )     (16.7 )%
Preneed funeral trust earnings
    1,439       1,856       417       29.0 %
 
                         
Total
  $ 32,435     $ 35,565     $ 3,130       9.6 %
 
                         
 
                               
Operating profit:
                               
Same store operating profit
  $ 8,776     $ 9,190     $ 414       4.7 %
Acquired operating profit
    1,281       2,131       850       66.3 %
Preneed funeral insurance commissions
    185       23       (162 )     (87.6 )%
Preneed funeral trust earnings
    1,439       1,856       417       29.0 %
 
                         
Total
  $ 11,681     $ 13,200     $ 1,519       13.0 %
 
                         
     Funeral home same store operating revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2011 decreased $0.1 million, or 0.3%, when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010. We experienced a 0.7% decrease in the number of contracts, however, the average revenue per contract increased 1.3% or $75 per contract for those existing operations at $5,662. The average revenue per contract includes the impact of the funeral trust fund earnings recognized at the time that we provide the needed services for preneed families. Excluding funeral trust earnings, the average revenue per contract increased 0.4% to $5,360. The number of traditional burial contracts declined slightly while the average revenue per burial contract increased 2.2% to $8,269. The cremation rate for the same store businesses rose from 40.1% to 41.4%. The average revenue per same store cremation contract decreased 3.9% to $3,006 and the number of cremation contracts increased 2.4%. Cremations with services declined from 45.9% of total cremation contracts in the second quarter of 2010 to 38.3% in the second quarter of 2011. The average revenue for “other” contracts, which make up approximately 6.9% of the number of contracts, increased 6.5% from $1,879 to $2,001. Other contracts consist of charges for merchandise or services for which we do not perform a funeral service for the deceased during the period.
     Same store operating profit for the three months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.4 million, or 4.7%, from the comparable three months of 2010, and as a percentage of funeral same store operating revenue, increased from 33.8% to 35.5%. Despite higher self-insured costs, lower merchandise costs and general liability insurance expenses were the primary reasons for the increase in operating profit.
     Funeral home acquired revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2011 increased $2.9 million, or 63.2%, when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010, as we experienced a 72.0% increase in the number of contracts, yet a decrease of 4.6%,

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to $4,049, in the average revenue per contract for those acquired operations. Excluding funeral trust earnings, the average revenue per contract declined 5.1% to $3,844. The cremation rate for the acquired businesses was 59.9% for the second quarter of 2011, up from 55.1% in the prior year period, as these businesses are located in higher cremation areas compared to our existing locations. The average revenue per cremation contract increased 7.7% to $2,660 for the second quarter of 2011 and the number of cremation contracts increased 87.0% compared to the same period of 2010.
     Acquired operating profit for the three months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.8, or 66.3%, from the comparable three months of 2010 and, as a percentage of revenue from acquired businesses, was 28.2% for the second quarter of 2010 compared to 28.7% for the second quarter of 2011. As those funeral homes acquired in 2010 and 2011 transition into Carriage’s Standard Operating Model, we expect to see profit margins similar to those on a same store basis.
     The two categories of financial revenue, insurance commissions and trust earnings on matured preneed contracts increased $0.4 million, or 17.2%, in revenue and decreased $0.2 million, or 15.7%, in operating profit, compared to the second quarter of 2010 primarily due to higher realization in the current year of interest income, dividends and capital gains that have been allocated to individual maturing contracts.
Six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to six months ended June 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands):
                                 
    Six Months Ended        
    June 30,     Change  
    2010     2011     Amount     %  
Revenues:
                               
Same store operating revenue
  $ 54,635     $ 55,196     $ 561       1.0 %
Acquired operating revenue
    9,684       15,261       5,577       57.6 %
Preneed funeral insurance commissions
    1,185       887       (298 )     (25.1 )%
Preneed funeral trust earnings
    3,021       3,329       308       10.2 %
 
                         
Total
  $ 68,525     $ 74,673     $ 6,148       9.0 %
 
                         
 
                               
Operating profit:
                               
Same store operating profit
  $ 19,136     $ 19,967     $ 831       4.3 %
Acquired operating profit
    2,752       4,392       1,640       60.0 %
Preneed funeral insurance commissions
    527       153       (374 )     (71.0 )%
Preneed funeral trust earnings
    3,021       3,329       308       10.2 %
 
                         
Total
  $ 25,436     $ 27,841     $ 2,405       9.4 %
 
                         
     Funeral home same store operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.6 million, or 1.0%, when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. We experienced a 0.6% increase in the number of contracts and the average revenue per contract increased 0.4% for those existing operations at $5,654. The average revenue per contract includes the impact of the funeral trust fund earnings recognized at the time that we provide the needed services for preneed families. Excluding funeral trust earnings, the average revenue per contract increased 0.5% to $5,401. The number of traditional burial contracts remained flat while the average revenue per burial contract increased 1.5% to $8,215. The cremation rate for the same store businesses rose from 40.1% to 41.2%. The average revenue per same store cremation contract decreased 1.5% to $3,048 and the number of cremation contracts increased 3.4%. Cremations with services declined from 46.2% of total cremation contracts in the six months ended June 30, 2010 to 39.0% in the six months ended June 30, 2011. The average revenue for “other” contracts, which make up approximately 7.1% of the number of contracts, increased 10.0% from $1,984 to $2,139.
     Same store operating profit for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.8 million, or 4.3%, from the comparable six months of 2010, and as a percentage of funeral same store operating revenue, increased from 35.0% to 36.2%. Despite higher self-insured costs, the growth in revenues, lower merchandise costs and a decline in bad debt expense were the primary reasons for the increase in operating profit.
     Funeral home acquired revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $5.6 million, or 57.6%, when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010 as we experienced a 69.4% increase in the number of contracts, yet a decrease of 6.7%, to $4,013, in the average revenue per contract for those acquired operations. Excluding funeral trust earnings, the average revenue per contract declined 6.9% to $3,826. The cremation rate for the acquired businesses was 59.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2011, up from 52.2% in the prior year period, as these businesses are located in higher cremation areas compared to our existing locations. The average revenue per cremation contract increased 6.8% to $2,630 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and the number of cremation contracts increased 92.5% compared to the same period of 2010.

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     Acquired operating profit for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $1.6 million, or 60.0%, from the comparable six months of 2010 and, as a percentage of revenue from acquired funeral homes, was 28.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to 28.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 as those businesses acquired in 2010 have not fully transitioned into Carriage’s Standard Operating Model.
     The two categories of financial revenue, insurance commissions and trust earnings on matured preneed contracts, on a combined basis, were relatively flat in revenue yet decreased 1.9% in operating profit, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010.
     Cemetery Segment. The following table sets forth certain information regarding our revenues and operating profit from the cemetery operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2011.
Three months ended June 30, 2010 compared to three months ended June 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended        
    June 30,     Change  
    2010     2011     Amount     %  
Revenues:
                               
Same store operating revenue
  $ 8,916     $ 9,089     $ 173       1.9 %
Acquired operating revenue
    1,548       1,690       142       9.2 %
Cemetery trust earnings
    1,211       1,228       17       1.4 %
Preneed cemetery finance charges
    407       336       (71 )     (17.4 )%
 
                         
Total
  $ 12,082     $ 12,343     $ 261       2.2 %
 
                         
 
                               
Operating profit:
                               
Same store operating profit
  $ 2,192     $ 2,554     $ 362       16.5 %
Acquired operating profit
    418       531       113       27.0 %
Cemetery trust earnings
    1,211       1,228       17       1.4 %
Preneed cemetery finance charges
    407       336       (71 )     (17.4 )%
 
                         
Total
  $ 4,228     $ 4,649     $ 421       9.9 %
 
                         
     Cemetery same store operating revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.2 million, or 1.9%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010. Same store revenue from preneed property sales and deliveries of preneed merchandise and services deliveries increased slightly and atneed revenues increased $0.1 million, or 1.5%. We experienced 12.9% decrease in the number of interment rights (property) sold yet a 7.0% increase in the average price per interment compared to the second quarter of 2010. The percentage of those interment rights sold that we were able to recognize as revenue, because we received at least 10% of the sales price from the customer, decreased 1.0% to 89.3%.
     Cemetery same store operating profit for the three months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.4 million, or 16.5%. As a percentage of revenues, cemetery same store operating profit increased from 24.6% to 28.1%. The increase in operating profit is primarily a result of a decline of $0.2 million, or 9.5%, in promotional expenses (primarily preneed sales commissions), a decrease of $0.1 million, or 5.2%, in preneed and atneed merchandise and service expenses and a $0.1 million decrease, or 8.2%, in facilities expenses.
     Cemetery acquired revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.1 million, or 9.2%, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010. Acquired revenue from preneed property sales increased 11.6%, preneed revenue from merchandise and services deliveries increased 24.5% and atneed revenues increased 3.3%. Cemetery acquired operating profit increased $0.1 million due to the increase in revenue.
     The two categories of financial revenue consist of trust earnings and finance charges on preneed receivables. Total trust earnings decreased 3.3%, when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010. Earnings from perpetual care trust funds totaled $0.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 17.8%. Trust earnings recognized upon the delivery of merchandise and service contracts increased $0.2 million compared to the same period in 2010. Finance charges on the preneed contracts declined $0.1 million, or 17.4%.

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Six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to six months ended June 30, 2011 (dollars in thousands):
                                 
    Six Months Ended        
    June 30,     Change  
    2010     2011     Amount     %  
Revenues:
                               
Same store operating revenue
  $ 16,672     $ 17,152     $ 480       2.9 %
Acquired operating revenue
    3,088       3,362       274       8.9 %
Cemetery trust earnings
    2,248       2,889       641       28.5 %
Preneed cemetery finance charges
    831       689       (142 )     (17.1 )%
 
                         
Total
  $ 22,839     $ 24,092     $ 1,253       5.5 %
 
                         
 
                               
Operating profit:
                               
Same store operating profit
  $ 3,744     $ 4,627     $ 883       23.6 %
Acquired operating profit
    883       1,077       194       22.0 %
Cemetery trust earnings
    2,248       2,889       641       28.5 %
Preneed cemetery finance charges
    831       689       (142 )     (17.1 )%
 
                         
Total
  $ 7,706     $ 9,282     $ 1,576       20.4 %
 
                         
     Cemetery same store operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.5 million, or 2.9%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. Same store revenue from preneed property sales increased $0.1 million, or 2.0% and atneed revenues increased $0.4 million, or 6.1%. Deliveries of preneed merchandise and services decreased slightly. We experienced a 13.5% decrease in the number of interment rights (property) sold, yet an 8.8% increase in the average price per interment compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. The percentage of those interment property rights sold that we were able to recognize as revenue, because we received at least 10% of the sales price from the customer, remained flat at 87.9%.
     Cemetery same store operating profit for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.9 million, or 23.6%. As a percentage of revenues, cemetery same store operating profit increased from 22.5% to 27.0%. The increase in operating profit is primarily a result from a decline of $0.3 million, or 10.0%, in promotional expenses (primarily preneed sales commissions) and a decrease of $0.2 million, or 22.0%, in bad debts in addition to an approximate 1.9% decrease in other controllable costs.
     Cemetery acquired revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.3 million, or 8.9%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. Acquired revenue from preneed property sales increased $0.2 million, or 15.8%, and preneed revenue from merchandise and services deliveries increased $0.1 million, or 18.7% while atneed revenues remained flat. Cemetery acquired operating profit increased $0.2 million due to the increase in revenue.
     The two categories of financial revenue which consist of trust earnings and finance charges on preneed receivables had a meaningful impact on cemetery revenues and operating profit. Total trust earnings increased $0.5 million, or 16.2%, when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. Earnings from perpetual care trust funds totaled $2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $2.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, an increase of 11.4%. Trust earnings recognized upon the delivery of merchandise and service contracts increased $0.4 million compared to the same period in 2010. Finance charges on the preneed contracts declined $0.1 million, or 17.1%.
     Other. General and administrative expenses totaled $9.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, an increase of $2.0 million, or 26.9%, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010, primarily due to the expansion and upgrade of talent in our regional operations organization and home office support departments.
     Income Taxes. The Company recorded income taxes at the estimated effective rate of 40.5% for the year ended December 31, 2010 and for the first six months of 2011. Carriage has utilized its remaining $12.6 million of net operating loss carryforwards to offset federal taxable income during the current period. Carriage also has approximately $56.1 million of state net operating loss carryforwards that will expire between 2013 and 2030, if not utilized. Based on management’s assessment of the various state net operating losses, it has been determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able to realize tax benefits on a substantial amount of the state losses. Accordingly, a valuation allowance of approximately $2.2 million was established and is reviewed every quarter related to the deferred tax asset related to the state operating losses.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
     Carriage began 2011 with $1.3 million in cash and other liquid investments and ended the second quarter with $5.2 million in cash and an undrawn $40.0 million bank credit facility (including $0.1 million of letters of credit). The elements of cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2011 consisted of the following (in millions):
         
Cash and liquid investments at beginning of year
  $ 1.3  
Cash flow from operations
    15.8  
Acquisitions
    (5.1 )
Paydown on the bank credit facility
    (0.6 )
Maintenance capital expenditures
    (3.4 )
Dividends on common stock
    (0.5 )
Purchase of convertible junior subordinated debentures
    (1.0 )
Growth capital expenditures — funeral homes
    (0.3 )
Growth capital expenditures — cemeteries
    (1.0 )
 
     
Cash at June 30, 2011
  $ 5.2  
 
     
     For the six months ended June 30, 2011, cash provided by operating activities was $15.8 million as compared to $14.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Capital expenditures totaled $4.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to $4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Capital expenditures for the first six months of 2011 included $1.3 million for cemetery inventory development projects and funeral home expansion projects.
     The outstanding principal of senior debt at June 30, 2011 totaled $136.3 million and consisted of $130.0 million in 77/8% Senior Notes maturing in 2015, and $6.3 million in acquisition indebtedness and capital lease obligations. Additionally, $0.1 million in letters of credit were issued and outstanding under the credit facility at June 30, 2011.
     The Company has a $40.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility that matures in November 2012 and is collateralized by all personal property and funeral home real property in certain states. The credit facility also contains an accordion provision to borrow up to an additional $20.0 million. Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest at either prime or LIBOR options. At June 30, 2011, the prime rate option was equivalent to 5.75% and the LIBOR option was equivalent to 3.69%, which is set at the 30 day LIBOR rate plus 350 basis points.
     A total of $91.5 million was outstanding at June 30, 2011 under the convertible junior subordinated debenture. Amounts outstanding under the debenture are payable to our affiliate trust, Carriage Services Capital Trust, bear interest at 7.0% and mature in 2029. Substantially all the assets of the Trust consist of the convertible junior subordinated debentures. In 1999, the Trust issued 1.875 million shares of TIDES. The rights under the debentures are functionally equivalent to those of the TIDES. In April 2011, the Company repurchased 26,192 shares of these TIDES for approximately $0.9 million and recorded a gain of $0.4 million. The Company converted and immediately cancelled these preferred shares at the current conversion rate of 2.4465 into shares of common stock equal to 64,079 shares. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company has purchased 26,742 shares of TIDES for approximately $1.0 million and recorded a gain of $0.4 million. Additionally, 45,015 shares of common stock held in treasury that were repurchased TIDES in prior quarters were cancelled.
     The convertible junior subordinated debenture payable to the affiliated Trust, and the TIDES, each contain a provision for the deferral of interest payments and distributions for up to 20 consecutive quarters. During any period in which distribution payments are deferred, distributions will continue to accumulate at the 7% annual rate. Also, the deferred distributions themselves accumulate distributions at the annual rate of 7%. During any deferral period, Carriage is prohibited from paying dividends on the common stock or repurchasing common stock, subject to limited exceptions. The Company currently expects to continue paying the distributions as due.
     On May 17, 2011, our Board of Directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend policy for its common stock. The Board declared the first quarterly dividend of $0.025 per share, which was paid on June 1, 2011, to common share record holders as of May 17, 2011.
     The Company intends to use its cash and credit facility primarily to acquire funeral home and cemetery businesses and for internal growth projects, such as cemetery inventory development. The Company has the ability to draw on our revolving credit facility, subject to customary terms and conditions of the credit agreement.
     We believe our cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and the available capacity under our credit facility described above will be adequate to meet our working capital needs and other financial obligations over the next twelve months.

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SEASONALITY
     Our business can be affected by seasonal fluctuations in the death rate. Generally, the rate is higher during the winter months because the incidences of death from influenza and pneumonia are higher during this period than other periods of the year.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
     In the ordinary course of business, we are typically exposed to a variety of market risks. Currently, these are primarily related to changes in fair market values related to outstanding debts and changes in the values of securities associated with the preneed and perpetual care trusts. For information regarding the Company’s exposure to certain market risks, see Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”, in the Company’s Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s market risk from that disclosed in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
     The 77/8% Senior Notes were issued to the public at par and are carried at a cost of $130 million. At June 30, 2011, these securities were typically trading at a price of approximately $100.50, indicating a fair market value of approximately $131 million.
     The convertible junior subordinated debentures, payable to Carriage Services Capital Trust, pay interest at the fixed rate of 7% and are carried on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at a cost of approximately $91.5 million. The fair value of these securities is estimated to be approximately $72 million at June 30, 2011 based on available broker quotes of the corresponding preferred securities issued by the Trust.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
     In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2011 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Our disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
     There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the six months ended June 30, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
     In addition to the matters in Note 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, we and our subsidiaries are parties to a number of legal proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. We self-insure against certain risks and carry insurance with coverage and coverage limits for risk in excess of the coverage amounts consistent with our assessment of risks in our business and of an acceptable level of financial exposure. Although there can be no assurance that self-insurance reserves and insurance will be sufficient to mitigate all damages, claims or contingencies, we believe that the reserves and our insurance provides reasonable coverage for known asserted and unasserted claims. In the event we sustained a loss from a claim and the insurance carrier disputed coverage or coverage limits, we may record a charge in a different period than the recovery, if any, from the insurance carrier.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
     There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
     None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
     None.
Item 4. [Removed and Reserved]
Item 5. Other Information
     The Company reported on Form 8-K during the quarter covered by this report all information required to be reported on such form.
Item 6. Exhibits
11.1   Computation of Per Share Earnings
 
31.1   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Melvin C. Payne in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
31.2   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Terry E. Sanford in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
32   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Melvin C. Payne and Terry E. Sanford in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
 
*101   Interactive Data Files
 
*   Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability.

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SIGNATURE
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
 
 
Date: August 5, 2011  /s/ Terry E. Sanford    
  Terry E. Sanford   
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer 
 
 

 


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CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
11.1   Computation of Per Share Earnings
 
31.1   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Melvin C. Payne in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
31.2   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Terry E. Sanford in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
32   Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Melvin C. Payne and Terry E. Sanford in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
 
*101   Interactive Data Files
 
*   Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability.