CARRIAGE SERVICES INC
8-K/A, 1997-03-14
PERSONAL SERVICES
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            -------------------------
                                   FORM 8-K/A
                            -------------------------

                                  AMENDING THE
                           CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
                             FILED JANUARY 21, 1997

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 7, 1997

                             CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        DELAWARE                    1-11961                  76-0423828
(State of Incorporation)    (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer
                                                         Identification No.)

  1300 POST OAK BLVD., SUITE 1500, HOUSTON, TX              77056
     (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code)

                                 (281) 556-7400
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
<PAGE>
ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

     On January 7, 1997, Carriage Services, Inc. (the "Company"), through a
wholly owned subsidiary, completed its merger with the CNM Group, a California
corporation which, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the ten Wilson &
Kratzer funeral homes located in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California
and the Rolling Hills Memorial Park Cemetery located in Richmond, California. Of
the ten funeral home locations acquired, nine are currently operational and one
is being converted from a library to a funeral home and will be operational by
late 1997. Total consideration for the merger consisted of 107,445 shares of the
Company's Class A Common Stock, 19,999,992 shares of the Company's Series F
Preferred Stock, assumption of existing indebtedness of $2,367,112 and cash of
approximately $15.5 million. The cash portion of the purchase consideration was
made available through utilization of the Company's existing credit facility.
The consideration was determined through negotiations between the Company and
representatives of the CNM Group. In connection with this merger, the Company
entered into customary employment, consulting and non-compete agreements with
certain key employees and former owners of the CNM Group. The merger will be
accounted for under the purchase method of accounting for financial reporting
purposes.

     The Company is not aware of any pre-existing material relationships between
(i) the CNM Group or any of its shareholders, on the one hand, and (ii) the
Company, any of the Company's affiliates, directors and officers or any
associate of such directors and officers, on the other.

     The Company also completed the acquisition of several other businesses (the
"Other Acquisitions") since June 30, 1996. None of the Other Acquisitions is
material, individually or in the aggregate, to the results of operations or
financial position of the Company. However, the merger with the CNM Group
requires the filing of financial statements and pro forma financial information
pursuant to Rules 3-05(b)(1)(i) and 11-01(c) of Regulation S-X since such
business constitutes a "significant subsidiary" under such Rules.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

          This Form 8-K/A is being filed to include in the Current Report on
     Form 8-K filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission on January 21, 1997 the financial statements and pro forma
     financial information required by Item 7.

     (A)  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE BUSINESS ACQUIRED

                                                                      PAGE
                                                                      ----
     THE CNM GROUP

     Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and March 31, 1996.....    13

     Statements of Operations for the Nine Months Ended December 31,
          1996 and the Year Ended March 31, 1996...................    14

     Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended December 31,
          1996 and the Year Ended March 31, 1996...................    15

     Stockholders' Equity for the Nine Months Ended December 31,
          1996 and the Year Ended March 31, 1996...................    16

     Notes to Financial Statements.................................    17

                                       2
<PAGE>
     (B)  PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                                                                      PAGE
                                                                      ----
     CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.

     Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet -- 
          September 30, 1996.......................................     7

     Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations -- 
          Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996.....................     8

     Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations -- 
          Year Ended December 31, 1995.............................     9

     Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements    10

     (C)  EXHIBITS

     10.22  --  Merger Agreement dated October 17, 1996 among Carriage Services,
                Inc., Carriage Funeral Services of California, Inc., CNM and the
               shareholders of CNM

                                       3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, THE
REGISTRANT HAS DULY CAUSED THIS CURRENT REPORT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE
UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED.

                                                   CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.

                                                   By:/s/ THOMAS C. LIVENGOOD
                                                          THOMAS C. LIVENGOOD
                                                    EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND
                                                      CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Dated:  March 11, 1997

                                       4
<PAGE>
                    UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     On January 7, 1997, Carriage Services, Inc. (the "Company"), through a
wholly owned subsidiary, completed its merger with the CNM Group, a California
corporation which through its subsidiaries owns and operates the ten Wilson &
Kratzer funeral homes located in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California
and the Rolling Hills Memorial Park Cemetery located in Richmond, California. Of
the ten funeral home locations acquired, nine are currently operational and one
is being converted from a library to a funeral home and will be operational by
late 1997. Total consideration for the merger consisted of 107,445 shares of the
Company's Class A Common Stock 19,999,992 shares of the Company's Series F
Preferred Stock, assumption of existing indebtedness of $2,367,112 and cash of
approximately $15.5 million. The cash portion of the purchase consideration was
made available through utilization of the Company's existing credit facility.
The consideration was determined through negotiations between the Company and
representatives of the CNM Group. In connection with this merger, the Company
entered into customary employment, consulting and non-compete agreements with
certain employees and former owners of the CNM Group. The merger will be
accounted for under the purchase method of accounting for financial reporting
purposes.

     The accompanying Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet as of
September 30, 1996 includes the accounts of the Company and reflects the CNM
merger as if such merger had occurred on September 30, 1996. The accompanying
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months
ended September 30, 1996 and the year ended December 31, 1995 include the
accounts of the Company and reflect the CNM merger as if such merger had been
completed as of the beginning of each of the respective periods. The
accompanying Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements do not
include the pro forma results of other businesses acquired by the Company since
June 30, 1996 as the financial position and results of operations of such other
acquired businesses were not deemed, individually or in the aggregate, to be
significant pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

     The accompanying Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements have
been prepared based upon certain assumptions and include adjustments as detailed
in the Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements. The
estimated fair market values reflected in the Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated
Financial Statements are based on preliminary estimates and assumptions and are
subject to revision as more information regarding asset and liability valuations
becomes available. In management's opinion, the preliminary allocation reflected
herein is not expected to be materially different from the final allocation.

     The Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Operations do not assume
any additional profitability resulting from the application of the Company's
revenue enhancement measures or cost reduction programs to the historical
results of the CNM Group, nor do they assume increases in corporate general and
administrative expenses which may have resulted from the Company managing the
CNM Group for the periods presented.

     The following Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements should
be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company
and the related notes thereto as included in the Company's Form 10-Q as of
September 30, 1996 and the prospectus dated August 8, 1996. Such pro forma
information is based on historical data with respect to the Company and the CNM
Group. The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the results
that might have occurred had such transactions actually taken place at the
beginning of the period specified and is not intended to be a projection of
future results. The pro forma information presented herein is provided to comply
with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The pro forma
information does not reflect any adjustments to reflect the manner in which the
acquired entity is being or will be operated under the control of the Company.

                                       5
<PAGE>
                            CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
                 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          CARRIAGE       THE CNM      PRO FORMA         TOTAL
               ASSETS                  SERVICES, INC.     GROUP     ADJUSTMENTS(1)    PRO FORMA
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
<S>                                       <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>      
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents..........     $  1,805       $1,040        $   (876)      $   1,969
  Accounts receivable --
     Trade, net of allowance.........        4,297        5,702            (355)          9,644
     Other...........................          585           83             (37)            631
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
                                             4,882        5,785            (392)         10,275
  Marketable securities..............          129         --           --                  129
  Inventories and other current
     assets..........................        3,693          698            (456)          3,935
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
          Total current assets.......       10,509        7,523          (1,724)         16,308
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, at
  cost (net).........................       43,192        5,997           6,562          55,751
CEMETERY PROPERTY, at cost...........        2,542        1,775          11,954          16,271
NAMES AND REPUTATIONS, net...........       56,017          397          17,185          73,599
DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER NONCURRENT
  ASSETS.............................        6,390          939            (923)          6,406
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
                                          $118,650       $16,631       $ 33,054       $ 168,335
                                       ==============    =======    ==============    =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable...................     $  1,602       $  707        $   (603)      $   1,706
  Accrued liabilities................        3,310          666            (553)          3,423
  Current portion of long-term debt
     and capital leases..............        1,010          226            (226)          1,010
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
          Total current
             liabilities.............        5,922        1,599          (1,382)          6,139
PRENEED LIABILITIES, net.............        3,136        2,734             (16)          5,854
LONG-TERM DEBT, net..................       33,182        4,764          13,064          51,010
OBLIGATIONS UNDER CAPITAL LEASES, net
  of current portion.................          643          212         --                  855
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES................        2,267          207           6,931           9,405
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
          Total liabilities..........       45,150        9,516          18,597          73,263
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK...........       17,775         --            20,000          37,775
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Class A Common Stock...............           39         --                 1              40
  Class B Common Stock...............           45         --           --                   45
  Treasury stock, at cost............         (341)        --           --                 (341)
  Contributed capital................       64,003         --             1,571          65,574
  Retained deficit...................       (8,021)        --           --               (8,021)
  CNM equity.........................      --             7,115          (7,115)         --
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
          Total stockholders'
             equity..................       55,725        7,115          (5,543)         57,297
                                       --------------    -------    --------------    ---------
                                          $118,650       $16,631       $ 33,054       $ 168,335
                                       ==============    =======    ==============    =========
</TABLE>
    See the accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial 
                                  Statements.

                                       6
<PAGE>
                            CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
            UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                  FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          CARRIAGE       THE CNM     PRO FORMA        TOTAL
                                       SERVICES, INC.     GROUP     ADJUSTMENTS     PRO FORMA
                                       --------------    -------    -----------     ---------
<S>                                       <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>    
Revenues, net........................     $ 27,070       $8,735       $    --        $35,805

Costs and expenses...................       22,687        6,321           330 (2)     29,588
                                                                          123 (3)
                                                                          127 (4)
                                       --------------    -------    -----------     ---------
                                            22,687        6,321           580         29,588
                                       --------------    -------    -----------     ---------
     Gross profit....................        4,383        2,414          (580)         6,217
General and administrative
  expenses...........................        1,766        1,094           --           2,860
                                       --------------    -------    -----------     ---------
     Operating income................        2,617        1,320          (580)         3,357
Interest expense, net................        3,713          334           593 (5)      4,640
                                       --------------    -------    -----------     ---------
     Income (loss) before income
       taxes and extraordinary
       item..........................       (1,096)         986        (1,173)        (1,283)
Provision (benefit) for income
  taxes..............................          (21)         420          (912)(6)       (513)
                                       --------------    -------    -----------     ---------
     Income (loss) before extraordinary
       item..........................       (1,075)         566          (261)          (770)
Extraordinary item -- loss on early
  extinguishment of debt, net of
  income tax benefit of $332.........         (498)         --            --            (498)
                                       --------------    -------    -----------     ---------
     Net income (loss)...............       (1,573)         566          (261)        (1,268)
Preferred stock dividend
  requirements.......................          351          --            630 (7)        981
                                       --------------    -------    -----------     ---------
     Net income (loss) attributable to
       common stockholders...........     $ (1,924)      $  566       $  (891)       $(2,249)
                                       ==============    =======    ===========     =========
(Loss) per share:
     (Loss) per common and common
       equivalent share before
       extraordinary item,
       attributable to common
       stockholders..................     $   (.39)                                  $  (.47)
     Extraordinary item..............         (.14)                                     (.13)
                                       --------------                               ---------
     Net (loss) per common share.....     $   (.53)                                  $  (.60)
                                       ==============                               =========
Weighted average number of common and
  common equivalent shares
  outstanding (in thousands).........        3,662                        107 (8)      3,769
                                       ==============               ===========     =========
</TABLE>
    See the accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
                                  Statements.

                                       7
<PAGE>
                            CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
            UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           CARRIAGE       THE CNM     PRO FORMA       TOTAL
                                        SERVICES, INC.     GROUP     ADJUSTMENTS    PRO FORMA
                                        --------------    -------    -----------    ---------
<S>                                        <C>            <C>          <C>           <C>    
Revenues, net........................      $ 24,237       $11,338      $   --        $35,575
Costs and expenses...................        20,247        8,143           440 (2)    29,169
                                                                           170 (3)
                                                                           169 (4)
                                        --------------    -------    -----------    ---------
                                             20,247        8,143           779        29,169
                                        --------------    -------    -----------    ---------
     Gross profit....................         3,990        3,195          (779)        6,406
General and administrative
  expenses...........................         2,106        1,144        --             3,250
                                        --------------    -------    -----------    ---------
     Operating income................         1,884        2,051          (779)        3,156
Interest expense, net................         3,684          436           888 (5)     5,008
                                        --------------    -------    -----------    ---------
     Income (loss) before income
       taxes and extraordinary
       item..........................        (1,800)       1,615        (1,667)       (1,852)
Provision (benefit) for income
  taxes..............................           694          694        (2,129)(6)      (741)
                                        --------------    -------    -----------    ---------
     Net income (loss)...............        (2,494)         921           462        (1,111)
Preferred stock dividend
  requirements.......................       --              --             800 (7)       800
                                        --------------    -------    -----------    ---------
     Net income (loss) attributable
       to common stockholders........      $ (2,494)      $  921       $  (338)      $(1,911)
                                        ==============    =======    ===========    =========
(Loss) per share:
     Net (loss) per common and common
       equivalent share, attributable
       to common stockholders........      $   (.66)                                 $  (.49)
                                        ==============                              =========
Weighted average number of common and
  common equivalent shares
  outstanding (in thousands).........         3,781                        107 (8)     3,888
                                        ==============               ===========    =========
</TABLE>
    See the accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial
                                  Statements.

                                       8
<PAGE>
                            CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
         NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET ADJUSTMENTS

     The accompanying Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet as of
September 30, 1996 gives effect to the CNM merger. The estimated fair market
values reflected herein are based on preliminary estimates and assumptions and
are subject to revision as more information becomes available. In management's
opinion, the preliminary allocation is not expected to be materially different
from the final allocation.

     (1)  To record the elimination of assets and liabilities not acquired or
assumed by the Company and record the total consideration (including estimated
transaction costs) and the preliminary allocation of total consideration to the
identifiable net assets of the acquired business.

     The effect of the CNM merger on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at September
30, 1996 was as follows:

                                             1996
                                        ---------------
                                        (IN THOUSANDS)
Current assets.......................   $     5,799
Cemetery property....................        13,729
Property, plant and equipment........        12,559
Deferred charges and other noncurrent
assets...............................            16
Names and reputations................        17,582
Current liabilities..................          (217)
Other liabilities....................       (10,068)
                                        ---------------
                                             39,400
Consideration:
Redeemable preferred stock issued....       (20,000)
Debt assumed.........................        (2,367)
Class A Common Stock issued..........        (1,572)
                                        ---------------
     Cash used for acquisition.......   $    15,461
                                        ===============

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS ADJUSTMENTS

     The accompanying Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Operations
for the year ended December 31, 1995 and nine months ended September 30, 1996
give effect to the CNM merger as if such merger occurred at the beginning of
each of the respective periods.

     (2)  To record adjustment to amortization expense relative to the Company's
new basis in net assets acquired in conjunction with the CNM merger as if said
merger had occurred as of the beginning of each of the respective periods
presented. The amortization expense of $330,000 and $440,000 for the nine months
ended September 30, 1996 and the year ended December 31, 1995, respectively, is
resultant from the amortization, over a 40 year life, of the $17,582,000 in
names and reputations recorded in conjunction with the merger with CNM.

     (3)  To record additional depreciation expense of $123,000 and $170,000 for
the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and the year ended December 31, 1995,
respectively, relative to the Company's increased basis in property and
equipment resultant from the merger with CNM as if said merger had occurred at
the beginning of each of the respective periods presented. Pro forma
depreciation expense has been recorded based on the Company's estimate of the
useful lives of the acquired assets using the Company's depreciation methods.

                                        9
<PAGE>
                            CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.
 NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)

     (4)  To record amortization expense relative to non-prepaid, non-compete
agreements of $127,000 and $169,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 1996
and the year ended December 31, 1995, respectively. These agreements are
amortized over the term of the agreements.

     (5)  To record additional interest expense of $593,000 and $888,000 for the
nine months ended September 30, 1996 and the year ended December 31, 1995,
respectively, which would have been incurred by the Company assuming the CNM
merger had occurred as of the beginning of each of the respective periods
presented. It has been calculated as a function of the $15.5 million utilization
on the available line of credit used to fund certain costs incurred in
conjunction with the merger.

     (6)  To record the tax benefit to reflect a normal effective rate of 40%.
This adjustment reflects a tax benefit of $912,000 and $2,129,000 for the nine
months ended September 30, 1996 and the year ended December 31, 1995,
respectively. The Company's management believes that this effective rate is
indicative of the Company's normal tax position assuming the merger was made as
of the beginning of the respective periods presented, not considering the
utilization of previously existing NOLs.

     (7)  To reflect the pro forma dividends on the Company's Series F
Convertible Preferred Stock issued in conjunction with the CNM merger as if the
related stock issuance had occurred as of the beginning of the respective
periods presented. A total of 19,999,992 shares of Series F Convertible
Preferred Stock have been issued. These shares would have yielded a pro forma
cash dividend of $630,000 and $800,000 for the nine months ended September 30,
1996 and the year ended December 31, 1995, respectively.

     (8)  To adjust weighted average shares outstanding to reflect the pro forma
effects of the 107,445 Class A Common Stock shares issued in conjunction with
the CNM merger as if such shares were issued as of the beginning of the
respective periods presented. The shares of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock
are not common stock equivalents.

                                       10
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To the CNM Group:

     We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of the CNM Group as of
December 31, 1996, and March 31, 1996, and the related statements of operations,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 1996,
and for the year ended March 31, 1996. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the CNM Group's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of the CNM Group as of December
31, 1996, and March 31, 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for the nine months ended December 31, 1996, and for the year ended March
31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Houston, Texas
January 17, 1997

                                       11
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                        DECEMBER 31,       MARCH 31,
                                            1996             1996
                                        ------------      -----------
               ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
     Cash and cash equivalents.......   $  1,039,677      $ 1,975,368
                                        ------------      -----------
     Accounts receivable --
          Trade, net of allowance for
             doubtful accounts of
             $544,677 and $550,000 at
             December 31, 1996, and
             March 31, 1996,
             respectively............      5,702,153        5,611,358
          Other......................         82,824          104,377
                                        ------------      -----------
                                           5,784,977        5,715,735
     Inventories and other current
       assets........................        698,708          433,029
                                        ------------      -----------
               Total current
                  assets.............      7,523,362        8,124,132
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
     Land............................      2,978,980        2,978,980
     Buildings and improvements......      4,067,481        3,928,245
     Furniture and equipment.........      1,505,784        1,488,047
     Automobiles.....................        631,729          603,147
                                        ------------      -----------
                                           9,183,974        8,998,419
     Less -- Accumulated
       depreciation..................     (3,187,321)      (2,994,087)
                                        ------------      -----------
                                           5,996,653        6,004,332
CEMETERY PROPERTY, at cost...........      1,774,818        1,307,514
NAMES AND REPUTATIONS, net of
  accumulated amortization of
  $830,771 and $784,745 at December
  31, 1996, and March 31, 1996,
  respectively.......................        396,554          442,580
DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER NONCURRENT
  ASSETS.............................        939,303          970,023
                                        ------------      -----------
               Total assets..........   $ 16,630,690      $16,848,581
                                        ============      ===========

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
     Accounts payable................   $    706,320      $   446,618
     Accrued liabilities.............        666,280        1,016,943
     Current portion of long-term
       debt and obligations under
       capital leases................        226,246          255,571
                                        ------------      -----------
               Total current
                  liabilities........      1,598,846        1,719,132
PRENEED LIABILITIES..................      2,733,828        3,114,676
LONG-TERM DEBT, net of current
  portion............................      4,764,093        4,946,902
OBLIGATIONS UNDER CAPITAL LEASES, net
  of current portion.................        211,847          211,210
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES................        207,120          307,643
                                        ------------      -----------
               Total liabilities.....      9,515,734       10,299,563
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY.................      7,114,956        6,549,018
                                        ------------      -----------
               Total liabilities and
                  stockholders'
                  equity.............   $ 16,630,690      $16,848,581
                                        ============      ===========

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       12
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                          FOR THE
                                        NINE MONTHS         FOR THE
                                           ENDED          YEAR ENDED
                                        DECEMBER 31,       MARCH 31,
                                            1996             1996
                                        ------------      -----------
REVENUES, net........................    $8,734,651       $11,337,693
COSTS AND EXPENSES...................     6,320,904         8,142,840
                                        ------------      -----------
     Gross profit....................     2,413,747         3,194,853
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.............................     1,094,423         1,143,623
                                        ------------      -----------
     Operating income................     1,319,324         2,051,230
INTEREST EXPENSE, net................       333,354           436,499
                                        ------------      -----------
     Income before income taxes......       985,970         1,614,731
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES...........       420,032           693,652
                                        ------------      -----------
     Net income......................    $  565,938       $   921,079
                                        ============      ===========

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       13
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                          FOR THE
                                        NINE MONTHS         FOR THE
                                           ENDED          YEAR ENDED
                                        DECEMBER 31,       MARCH 31,
                                            1996             1996
                                        ------------      -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income.........................    $  565,938       $   921,079
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
     to net cash provided by
     operating activities --
     Depreciation and amortization...       452,122           575,374
     Bad debt expense................       --                 50,000
     Deferred income tax benefit.....      (100,523)          (55,220)
     Decrease (increase) in accounts
     receivable......................       (63,919)          245,156
     Increase in inventories and
       other current assets..........      (271,002)          (91,945)
     Increase (decrease) in accounts
       payable.......................       259,702           (15,005)
     Decrease in accrued and preneed
       liabilities and other.........      (732,311)          (26,519)
                                        ------------      -----------
          Net cash provided by
             operating activities....       110,007         1,602,920
                                        ------------      -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchase of property and equipment
     and cemetery property...........      (883,269)       (1,019,475)
  Proceeds from sale of property and
     equipment.......................        49,068            96,248
                                        ------------      -----------
          Net cash used in investing
             activities..............      (834,201)         (923,227)
                                        ------------      -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Payments on long-term debt.........      (211,497)         (415,250)
                                        ------------      -----------
          Net cash used in financing
             activities..............      (211,497)         (415,250)
                                        ------------      -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND
  CASH EQUIVALENTS...................      (935,691)          264,443
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning
  of period..........................     1,975,368         1,710,925
                                        ------------      -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of
period...............................    $1,039,677       $ 1,975,368
                                        ============      ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW
INFORMATION:
  Interest paid......................    $  358,741       $   487,161
  Taxes paid.........................       413,400           664,614

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       14
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                       STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

BALANCE, March 31, 1995..............  $  5,627,939
     Net income......................       921,079
                                       ------------
BALANCE, March 31, 1996..............     6,549,018
     Net income......................       565,938
                                       ------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1996...........  $  7,114,956
                                       ============

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       15
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY
    OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

  BASIS OF PRESENTATION/NATURE OF BUSINESS

     Effective January 7, 1997, Carriage Funeral Services of California, Inc.
(Carriage), a wholly owned subsidiary of Carriage Services, Inc., acquired the
stock of CNM, Inc., and two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Rolling Hills
Memorial Park and Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries (these three entities are
hereinafter referred to as the Group or the CNM Group), for aggregate
consideration in excess of the recorded amount of the net assets of the Group.
The net assets and results of operations of a third subsidiary owned by CNM,
Inc., which was not engaged in the death care industry and which was not
acquired by Carriage, have not been included in the accompanying financial
statements. Based on this presentation, the Group's stockholders' equity has
been presented on an aggregated basis to reflect the equity of the Group rather
than the equity of CNM, Inc.

     The Group owns and operates 10 funeral homes and one cemetery in Northern
California. The Group performs personal and professional services related to
funerals and interments at its funeral homes and cemetery. Prearranged funerals
and preneed cemetery products and services are marketed in the geographic
markets served by the Group's locations.

  FUNERAL AND CEMETERY REVENUES

     The CNM Group records the sale of funeral merchandise and services upon
performance. The Group records the sale of the right of cemetery interment or
mausoleum entombment and related merchandise at the time of sale. State law
requires cash receipts for certain cemetery products and services to be fully
trusted; the revenue for these sales is recognized upon delivery. Provision for
bad debts is recorded at the date of sale and cancellations are recorded in the
period of cancellation.

  TRUST FUNDS

     The CNM Group is required by state law to deposit amounts in a trust fund
related to prearranged funeral arrangements. The principal and interest earned
is withdrawn when the funeral services are provided. The proceeds of the
original amounts paid by the purchaser of the prearranged funeral contract are
available to the CNM Group only in the event of death of the purchaser and are
refundable to the purchaser under certain state laws that provide for the return
of all or a portion of amounts collected under the purchaser's option to cancel
the prearranged funeral contract. No funeral revenue is recognized on the funds
collected from the purchaser of the prearranged funeral contract, and interest
earned on such funds is deferred, until performance of the specific service. The
prearranged funeral trust assets were approximately $2,223,000 and $2,267,000 at
December 31, 1996, and March 31, 1996, respectively, which exceeds the future
costs under such arrangements. The CNM Group does not have the right to withdraw
any of such balances and, accordingly, these trust fund balances are not
reflected in the accompanying financial statements.

     In accordance with respective state laws, the CNM Group is generally
required to deposit a specified amount into perpetual and memorial care trust
funds for each interment/entombment right and memorial sold. Income from such
trust funds is used to provide care and maintenance for the cemeteries and
mausoleums and is periodically distributed to the CNM Group. The CNM Group does
not have the right to withdraw any of the principal balances of these funds,
which were approximately $3,923,000 and $3,788,000 at December 31, 1996, and
March 31, 1996, respectively. Accordingly, these trust fund balances are not
reflected in the accompanying balance sheets.

     The CNM Group is also required to deposit a specified amount into a
merchandise and service trust fund for cemetery merchandise and service
contracts sold on a preneed basis. The principal of the trust may

                                       16
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)

be withdrawn by the CNM Group upon maturity (generally, death of the purchaser)
or cancellation of the contract. Accumulated earnings provided by the underlying
assets held by the trust are periodically distributed by the trust and recorded
as income when received. Revenue, as it relates to merchandise and service
contracts sold on a preneed basis, is recognized at the time of service.
Merchandise and service trust fund balances, in the aggregate, were
approximately $2,464,000 and $2,266,000 at December 31, 1996, and March 31,
1996, respectively. The CNM Group does not have the right to withdraw any of the
principal balances on these funds. Accordingly, these trust fund balances are
not reflected in the accompanying balance sheets.

  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the CNM Group considers all
highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to
be cash equivalents.

  INVENTORY

     Inventory is stated at the lower of its cost basis (as determined by the
specific identification method) or market.

  NAMES AND REPUTATIONS

     The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and
identifiable intangible assets acquired, as determined by management in
transactions accounted for as purchases, is included in the financial statements
as names and reputations of the operations acquired. Such amounts are being
amortized over 20 years.

     In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of." This
statement establishes the recognition and measurement standards related to the
impairment of long-lived assets. SFAS No. 121 was adopted by the Group on April
1, 1996. Such adoption did not have a material effect on the Group's financial
position or results of operations.

  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

     Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation of property and
equipment is based on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives
of the assets. The costs of ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to
operations, while renewals and replacements are capitalized.

     Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the depreciable
assets as follows:

                                        YEARS
                                        -----
Building and improvements............   10-32
Furniture and fixtures...............    3-10
Automobiles..........................     3-5

  INCOME TAXES

     The CNM Group accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109,
"Accounting for Income Taxes." Under SFAS No. 109, the Group determines
deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the estimated future tax effects of
differences between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and
liabilities.

  USE OF ESTIMATES

     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the

                                       17
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)

reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.

2.  DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS:

     Deferred charges and other noncurrent assets at December 31, 1996, and
March 31, 1996, were as follows:

                                        DECEMBER 31,    MARCH 31,
                                            1996          1996
                                        ------------    ---------
Investment in affiliated entity......     $892,247      $ 891,447
Agreements not to compete, net of
  accumulated amortization of
  $1,086,216 in December 1996 and
  $1,054,696 in March 1996...........       44,056         75,576
Other................................        3,000          3,000
                                        ------------    ---------
                                          $939,303      $ 970,023
                                        ============    =========

3.  LONG-TERM DEBT:

The CNM Group's long-term debt consisted of the following:

                                        DECEMBER 31,    MARCH 31,
                                            1996           1996
                                        ------------    ----------
Note payable to former stockholder,
  secured by deed of trust and
  security agreements covering
  certain real property, due in
  monthly installments of $16,667,
  including interest at 8.0% through
  May 2003 with a final payment of
  approximately $1,632,415 due in May
  2003...............................    $2,034,250     $2,061,286
Note payable, secured by deed of
  trust and security agreements
  covering certain real property, due
  in monthly installments of $13,901,
  including interest at 9.0% through
  December 2007......................     1,679,686      1,690,992
Note payable, secured by deed of
  trust and security agreements
  covering certain real property, due
  in monthly installments of $7,923,
  including interest at 9.5% through
  July 2010..........................       724,031        742,993
Note payable, secured by deed of
  trust and security agreements
  covering certain real property, due
  in monthly installments of $2,608,
  including interest at 9.25% through
  April 2004.........................       166,178        177,671
Notes payable, secured by deed of
  trust and security agreements
  covering certain real property, due
  in monthly installments of $3,144,
  including interest at 7.0% through
  May 2001...........................       140,655        160,967
Note payable, secured by deed of
  trust and security agreements
  covering certain real property, due
  in monthly installments of $3,144,
  including interest at 7.0% through
  May 2001...........................       140,655        160,967
Note payable, secured by deed of
  trust and security agreements
  covering certain real property, due
  in monthly installments ranging
  from $404 to $5,313, including
  interest ranging from 8.0% to
  10.25% with payment through October
  1996 to September 2008.............       104,884        207,597
Less -- Current portion..............      (226,246)      (255,571)
                                        ------------    ----------
                                         $4,764,093     $4,946,902
                                        ============    ==========

     The aggregate maturities of long-term debt for the three-month period ended
March 31, 1997, and the subsequent five years are approximately $77,000,
$228,000, $288,000, $290,000, $316,000, $272,000, respectively, and $3,519,000
thereafter. The debt agreements do not contain any significant restrictive
covenants.

                                       18
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)

4.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

  CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS

     The Group is subject to certain claims and lawsuits arising in the normal
course of business, relating to employment discrimination, harassment, personal
injury and compensation issues being reviewed by the Labor Board. The Group
maintains various insurance coverages in order to minimize financial risk
associated with the claims. In the opinion of management, uninsured losses, if
any, resulting from the ultimate resolution of these matters will not be
material to the Group's financial position or results of operations.

  BENEFIT PLAN

     The CNM Group sponsors a defined contribution benefit plan covering
substantially all full-time employees having at least one year of service. In
its sole discretion, the Group can make contributions to the plan. Contributions
to such plan totaled $79,000 and $112,610 for the nine months ended December 31,
1996, and for the year ended March 31, 1996, respectively. These amounts are
included in "Costs and Expenses" in the accompanying statements of operations.

  LEASES

     The CNM Group leases certain office facilities, vehicles and equipment for
periods from one to seven years with options on some of the facilities for
extended periods. Certain operating leases provide for an annual adjustment to
rent in accordance with changes in relevant pricing indices. Rent expense was
approximately $121,000 and $160,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 1996,
and for the year ended March 31, 1996, respectively.

     In addition, the CNM Group leases a mortuary facility under a capital
lease. Accumulated depreciation relating to the leased assets is $67,000 and
$63,000 as of December 31, 1996, and March 31, 1996, respectively.

     Minimum payments over the lease periods will be as follows (in thousands):

                                         MINIMUM LEASE PAYMENTS
                                        ------------------------
                                        OPERATING       CAPITAL
                                          LEASES         LEASES
                                        ----------      --------
Three months ending 1997.............     $   40         $    6
Years ending March 31 --
     1998............................        158             24
     1999............................        160             26
     2000............................        160             26
     2001............................        160             26
     2002............................        160             26
     Thereafter......................        861            459
                                        ----------      --------
Total minimum lease payments.........     $1,699            593
                                        ==========
Less -- Amount representing
  interest...........................                       381
                                                        --------
Long-term obligations under capital
leases...............................                    $  212
                                                        ========

                                       19
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)

5.  INCOME TAXES:

     Historically, the CNM Group has been included in the consolidated U.S.
federal income tax return for CNM, Inc. The only significant temporary
differences between the Group's financial statement and tax bases of accounting
relate to accruals made in connection with preneed marker and base sales, and
differences relating to depreciation. Permanent differences relate to tax-exempt
income received from certain trust funds and state income taxes. The income tax
provision for the nine months ended December 31, 1996, and for the year ended
March 31, 1996, consisted of:

                                             FOR THE         FOR THE
                                           NINE MONTHS         YEAR
                                              ENDED           ENDED
                                           DECEMBER 31,      MARCH 31,
                                               1996            1996
                                           ------------      ---------
Current --
     U.S. federal.......................    $  404,103       $ 573,455
     State..............................       116,452         175,417
                                           ------------      ---------
                                               520,555         748,872
                                           ------------      ---------
Deferred --
     U.S. federal.......................       (83,003)        (39,516)
     State..............................       (17,520)        (15,704)
                                           ------------      ---------
                                              (100,523)        (55,220)
                                           ------------      ---------
                                            $  420,032       $ 693,652
                                           ============      =========

     The differences in the income taxes provided for and the amounts determined
by applying the federal statutory rate to income taxes of the CNM Group for the
nine months ended December 31, 1996 and for the year ended March 31, 1996, are
summarized as follows:

                                             FOR THE           FOR THE
                                           NINE MONTHS          YEAR
                                              ENDED             ENDED
                                           DECEMBER 31,       MARCH 31,
                                               1996             1996
                                           ------------      ---------
Federal income statutory rate...........       34.0%            34.0%
Effect of state income taxes, net of
  federal benefit.......................        6.2              6.2
Effect of nondeductible expenses and
  other.................................        2.4              2.8
                                           ------------      ---------
                                               42.6%            43.0%
                                           ============      =========

     The following table sets forth the gross deferred tax assets and
liabilities as of December 31, 1996, and March 31, 1996:

                                           DECEMBER 31,      MARCH 31,
                                               1996            1996
                                           ------------      ---------
Deferred income tax assets --
     Noncurrent.........................    $   53,033       $  53,033
                                           ------------      ---------
Deferred income tax liabilities --
     Noncurrent.........................      (260,153)       (360,676)
                                           ------------      ---------
Net deferred tax liability..............    $ (207,120)      $(307,643)
                                           ============      =========

                                       20
<PAGE>
                                   CNM GROUP
                  NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)

     The sources of significant temporary differences and related tax effect
were as follows:

                                          FOR THE        FOR THE
                                        NINE MONTHS       YEAR
                                           ENDED          ENDED
                                        DECEMBER 31,    MARCH 31,
                                            1996          1996
                                        ------------    ---------
Depreciation and amortization........    $   (9,997)    $  35,306
Preneed marker and bases.............       (90,526)      (90,526)
                                        ------------    ---------
Total deferred income tax benefit....    $ (100,523)    $ (55,220)
                                        ============    =========

6.  RELATED PARTIES:

     The Group has $24,850 in notes payable to officers of Wilson & Kratzer
Mortuaries originated on September 24, 1996, paying interest at 6.58 percent per
annum. To date, no principal payments have been made.

     The Group has paid interest of $4,201 and $7,601 for the nine months ended
December 31, 1996, and the year ended March 31, 1996, respectively, on the
outstanding debt obligations of $57,518 and $79,815 as of the respective
period-end dates to the chairperson of the board for CNM, Inc. and Rolling
Hills Memorial Park. The obligation pays interest at 8.0 percent per annum.

     The Group leases a facility owned by a related party which is wholly owned
by members of the board of directors of CNM, Inc., Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries,
and Rolling Hills Memorial Park. Lease expense of $21,833 and $29,029 was
recognized for the nine months ended December 31, 1996, and the year ended March
31, 1996, respectively, relating to this facility.

     Additionally, compensation of $202,500 and $279,000 for the nine months
ended December 31, 1996, and the year ended March 31, 1996, respectively, was
paid in the form of directors' fees and consultation fees to various members of
the respective board of directors and/or related parties.

                                       21
<PAGE>
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT NO.                     DESCRIPTION                                 PAGE
- -----------    ---------------------------------------------------          ----

  10.22   --   Merger Agreement dated October 17, 1996 among 
               Carriage Services, Inc., Carriage Funeral Services
               of California, Inc., CNM and the shareholders of CNM.......    24

                                       23

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                  THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of October 17, 1996
(this "Agreement"), among CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Purchaser"), CARRIAGE FUNERAL SERVICES OF CALIFORNIA, INC., a California
corporation (the "Acquisition Subsidiary"), CNM, a California corporation (the
"Company"), and MARK F. WILSON, a resident of Contra Costa County, California,
WENDY WILSON BOYER, a resident of Contra Costa County, California, WARREN A.
BROWN, IV, a resident of Alameda County, California, William Boyer and Wendy
Wilson Boyer, Trustees of THE BOYER FAMILY TRUST DATED SEPTEMBER 22, 1986, fbo
Wendy Wilson Boyer, Marie Dietz and Mark F. Wilson, Trustees of TRUST B UNDER
AGREEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 1977 by Francis Wilson, and Marie Dietz and Mark F.
Wilson, Trustees of TRUST C UNDER AGREEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 9, 1977 by Francis
Wilson (together, the "Shareholders");

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidi aries,
owns and operates the nine Wilson & Kratzer Funeral Homes located in Alameda and
Contra Costa Counties, California as more particularly described on Schedule I
hereto (collectively, the "Homes"), and the Rolling Hills Memorial Park Cemetery
located in Contra Costa County, California, also more particularly described on
Schedule I (the "Cemetery"), and the Shareholders collectively own all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company in the respective amounts
shown on Schedule II hereto; and

                  WHEREAS, the parties desire that the Company merge with and
into the Acquisition Subsidiary in a statutory merger (the "Merger") to be
consummated under the laws of the State of California and upon the terms and
conditions and for the consideration herein set forth;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:


1.       REORGANIZATION AND MERGER.

                  1.1. THE MERGER. At the Effective Time of the Merger (as
         defined in Section 1.2 below), the Company shall be merged with and
         into the Acquisition Subsidiary in a statutory merger (the "Merger") to
         be consummated pursuant to and on the terms and conditions set forth in
         this Agreement and in accordance with the California General
         Corporation Law ("CGCL"). The Acquisition Subsidiary shall be the
         surviving corporation of the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation"), and
         shall continue its corporate existence as a corporation governed by the
         laws of the State of California.

                  1.2.     EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER.  The Merger shall
         become effective at such time (the "Effective Time of the
         Merger") as a copy of this Agreement (or a short-form version
         hereof meeting the statutory requirements of the CGCL) and the
         requisite officers' certificate pursuant to Section 1103 of

                                       -1-
<PAGE>
         the CGCL are filed with the Secretary of State of California and become
         effective; such filing shall be made, and shall provide that the
         instruments filed therewith shall become effective, as soon as
         practicable after the Closing referred to in Section 4.1.

                  1.3. EFFECTS OF THE MERGER. The Merger shall have the effects
         set forth in Section 1107 of the CGCL.

                  1.4. SS.368 REORGANIZATION. It is the intention of the parties
         that the Merger constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of
         Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
         (the "Code"), in accordance with Section 368(a)(2)(D) of the Code. The
         parties agree to file all of their respective tax returns and reports
         in a manner consistent with such intention, and to not take any filing
         position in a manner inconsistent with such intention unless compelled
         to do so by court order or administrative decree. Each party agrees to
         furnish such information and take such action as may be reasonably
         requested of the other party in connection with the foregoing (which
         action shall not include any change in the commercial terms of the
         Merger and the other transactions incident thereto). In no event,
         however, shall the Purchaser or the Surviving Corporation be required
         to incur any out-of-pocket expenses in defending such position or
         providing such information or taking such action, but shall cooperate
         to the extent reasonably necessary in connection with the defense by
         the Shareholders of the intended tax free nature of the reorganization,
         nor shall the foregoing constitute a warranty or guaranty that the
         Merger will in fact constitute such a reorganization.

                  2. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BYLAWS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.

                  2.1. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. From and after the Effective
         Time of the Merger, the Articles of Incorporation of the Acquisition
         Subsidiary in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
         Merger shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
         Corporation, subject to the right of the Surviving Corporation to amend
         its Articles of Incorporation after the Effective Time of the Merger in
         accordance with such Articles of Incorporation and the CGCL.

                  2.2. BYLAWS. From and after the Effective Time of the Merger,
         the bylaws of the Acquisition Subsidiary in effect immediately prior to
         the Effective Time of the Merger, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving
         Corporation, until changed or amended as provided therein.

                  2.3. DIRECTORS. From and after the Effective Time of the
         Merger, the directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be three (3),
         who shall be those persons who are directors of the Acquisition
         Subsidiary immediately prior thereto and Mark F. Wilson, each of whom
         shall hold office subject to the provisions of, and the number of
         directors shall be subject to adjustment as provided in, the CGCL and
         the Articles of Incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

                  2.4. OFFICERS. From and after the Effective Time of the
         Merger, the officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be those
         persons who are officers of the Acquisition Subsidiary immediately
         prior thereto, except that at the Effective Time of the Merger Mark F.
         Wilson shall become President of the Surviving Corporation. Each of the
         foregoing officers shall thereafter hold office subject to the
         provisions of the CGCL and the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
                  3.   CONVERSION OF SHARES.

                  3.1. CONVERSION OF SHARES. The manner of converting shares of
         the capital stock of the Company and the Acquisition Subsidiary issued
         and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger
         into shares of Common Stock, no par value, of the Surviving
         Corporation, or into the right to receive shares of Class A Common
         Stock, $.01 par value, of the Purchaser ("Class A Common Stock"),
         shares of Series F Preferred Stock, $.01 par value ("Series F Preferred
         Stock"), of the Purchaser, cash or Deferred Merger Consideration (as
         hereafter defined), as the case may be, shall be as follows:

                           (a) At the Effective Time of the Merger, each share
                  of Common Stock, no par value, of the Acquisition Subsidiary
                  then issued and outstanding shall, by virtue of the Merger and
                  without any action on the part of the Acquisition Subsidiary
                  or the holder of such shares, be converted into one share of
                  Common Stock, no par value, of the Surviving Corporation.

                           (b) At the Effective Time of the Merger, each share
                  of capital stock of the Company issued and held in its
                  treasury, shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any
                  action on the part of the holder thereof, cease to be
                  outstanding and shall be cancelled and retired without the
                  payment of any consideration in respect thereof.

                           (c) Each share of Company Common Stock issued and
                  outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
                  Merger shall, by virtue of the Merger, without any action on
                  the part of the holders thereof, automatically be converted
                  into and become, at the Effective Time of the Merger, the
                  right to receive from the Purchaser, consideration
                  (collectively, the "Merger Consideration"), determined as
                  follows:

                  FIRST, the aggregate Merger Consideration for all shares of
                  issued and outstanding Company Common Stock shall be
                  calculated as the sum of the following:

                           (A)      An amount in cash equal to $14,900,000.00
                                    LESS the outstanding balance as of the
                                    Effective Time of the Merger of the Closing
                                    Date Liabilities (as defined in Section
                                    3.7), PLUS $54,189.00 PLUS those Interim
                                    Expenses for the Danville Property that are
                                    approved pursuant to Section 7.3(d) PLUS an
                                    amount accruing at the rate of $109.10 per
                                    diem from September 20, 1996 through the
                                    Closing Date;

                           (B)      200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock;

                           (C)      15,000,000 shares of Series F Preferred
                                    Stock;

                           (D)      $5,000,000.00 payable in installments after
                                    the Closing as provided in Section 3.6 below
                                    (the "Deferred Merger Consideration");

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
                           (E)      An amount (not to exceed $250,000.00),
                                    payable in cash, equal to the amount of the
                                    aggregate cash balances at the Effective
                                    Time of the Merger of the Company and the
                                    Subsidiaries referred to in Section 5.4
                                    (excluding any cash balances dedicated to
                                    fund preneed, merchandise and perpetual care
                                    trusts and accounts), which amount shall be
                                    set forth in a certificate of the
                                    Shareholders as to such balances; and

                           (F)      The amount of those accounts receivable of
                                    the Subsidiaries outstanding at the
                                    Effective Time of the Merger which arise
                                    from the sale of merchandise and services
                                    for funeral service performed at the Homes
                                    prior to the Closing Date and from the
                                    at-need sale of Cemetery merchandise and
                                    plots at the Cemetery prior to the Closing
                                    Date (collectively "Closing Date
                                    Receivables") specifically excluding preneed
                                    cemetery accounts receivables. An amount
                                    equal to 50% of those Closing Date
                                    Receivables which are less than 90 days past
                                    the invoice date at the Effective Time of
                                    the Merger shall be paid in cash at the
                                    Closing, and the remainder shall be payable
                                    as provided in Section 3.8.

                  SECOND, the Merger Consideration payable per share of
                  outstanding Company Common Stock shall be determined by
                  dividing the aggregate Merger Consideration calculated above
                  by the number of shares of Company Common Stock which are
                  issued and outstanding at the Effective Time of the Merger.
                  Each component of Merger Consideration set forth in clauses
                  (A) through (F) above shall be allocated equally among all of
                  the shares of Company Common Stock which are issued and
                  outstanding at the Effective Time of the Merger, unless the
                  Purchaser receives, at least thirty (30) days prior to the
                  date set for the Closing, a written notice (which shall be
                  irrevocable and binding on each Shareholder) signed by all of
                  the Shareholders, setting forth a different allocation of such
                  components of the Merger Consideration specified in clauses
                  (A), (B), (C) and (D) above. Such notice may provide for a
                  reallocation of each such component of the Merger
                  Consideration among the Shareholders without affecting the
                  total allocation of Merger Consideration to such component, or
                  may provide for a reallocation of Merger Consideration from
                  one or more such components to one or more other such
                  components, all as shall be specified in such notice, which
                  notice shall be attached to this Agreement and constitute a
                  part hereof when accepted by the Purchaser; provided, however,
                  that (i) for purposes of any such reallocation, each share of
                  Class A Common Stock shall be deemed to have a value of
                  $15.00, each share of Series F Preferred Stock shall be deemed
                  to have a value of $1.00, and the Deferred Merger
                  Consideration shall be based upon the present value thereof on
                  the Closing Date at a discount rate of seven percent (7%) per
                  annum; (ii) in no event shall the aggregate Merger
                  Consideration be affected; (iii) in no event shall the net
                  amount under clause (A) above, after deducting the amount of
                  Closing Date Liabilities, be reduced to below zero; and (iv)
                  the amount under clause (C) above shall in

                                       -4-
<PAGE>
                  no event exceed 20,000,000 shares of Series F Preferred Stock.
                  The terms and provisions applicable to the Series F Preferred
                  Stock shall be as described in Section 3.5 below, the terms
                  and provisions applicable to the Deferred Merger Consideration
                  shall be as described in Section 3.6 below, and the terms
                  applicable to the Closing Date Receivables shall be as
                  described in Section 3.8 below.

                      (d) At the Effective Time of the Merger, all options,
                  warrants, calls, or other securities convertible into or
                  exchangeable with Company Common Stock, and all hereafter
                  issued Company Common Stock that is not issued and outstanding
                  on the date of this Agreement, shall, by virtue of the Merger
                  and without any action on the part of any holder thereof,
                  cease to be outstanding and shall be cancelled and retired
                  without the payment of any con sideration in respect thereof.

                           (e) No fractional shares of Class A Common Stock or
                  Series F Preferred Stock (collectively, "Purchaser Stock") or
                  scrip will be issued in respect of fractional interests; in
                  lieu of any fractional shares of Purchaser Stock which may be
                  issued in respect of shares of Company Common Stock as
                  aforesaid, the holders thereof instead shall receive a cash
                  payment in an amount equal to the product of such fraction
                  multiplied by $15.00.

                  3.2. SURRENDER AND PAYMENT. After the Effective Time of the
         Merger, each holder of an outstanding certificate which prior to the
         Effective Time of the Merger represented shares of Company Common Stock
         shall, upon surrender of such certifi cate to the Surviving
         Corporation, be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant
         to Section 3.1(c) of this Agreement. Until so surrendered, each
         outstanding certificate which prior to the Effective Time of the Merger
         represented shares of Company Common Stock shall, upon and after the
         Effective Time of the Merger, represent and evidence only the right to
         receive payment therefor as provided in Section 3.1(c) of this
         Agreement.

                  3.3. NO FURTHER TRANSFERS. Upon and after the Effective Time
         of the Merger, no transfer of shares of Company Common Stock issued and
         outstanding immediately prior to the Effec tive Time of the Merger
         shall be made on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation.

                  3.4. CONSENT TO MERGER; WAIVER OF DISSENTERS' RIGHTS. Each
         Shareholder, in his or her capacity as a shareholder of the Company,
         and the Purchaser, in its capacity as a share holder of the Acquisition
         Subsidiary, hereby (i) consent to the Merger pursuant to Chapter 12 of
         the CGCL, and (ii) irrevocably and unconditionally waive all
         dissenters' and other similar rights with respect to the Merger under
         and pursuant to Chapter 13 of the CGCL.

                  3.5. SERIES F PREFERRED STOCK. The terms and provisions of the
         Series F Preferred Stock shall be as provided in the Certificate of
         Designation, Preferences, Rights and Limita tions of the Series F
         Preferred Stock in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H attached
         hereto, with such amendments thereto as shall be agreed upon by the
         parties hereto, and which shall be the form on file with the Secretary
         of State of Delaware and in effect at the Effective Time of the Merger

                                       -5-
<PAGE>
         (the "Series F Designation"), subject to amendment as therein provided.
         Of the shares of Series F Preferred Stock to be so issued as part of
         the Merger Consideration (as the same may be reallocated prior to the
         Closing as described in Section 3.1(c)), one-third (1/3) of such shares
         (rounded down to the nearest whole share) shall be issued as
         "Designated Preferred Stock" (within the meaning of the Series F
         Designation) and the remainder of such shares shall constitute Series F
         Preferred Stock which is not Designated Preferred Stock.

                  3.6. DEFERRED MERGER CONSIDERATION. The Deferred Merger
         Consideration shall be payable in ten (10) equal annual installments of
         $500,000.00 each, payable on or before the first through tenth
         anniversaries of the Closing Date. Each installment of Deferred Merger
         Consideration shall be payable to each Shareholder on a pro rata basis
         in proportion to his or her respective holdings of Company Common Stock
         at the Effective Time of the Merger, except as the same may be
         reallocated among the Shareholders as provided in Section 3.1(c). No
         interest shall accrue or be payable in respect of the Deferred Merger
         Consideration. For federal income tax purposes, the parties agree that
         the Deferred Merger Consideration shall be deemed to include an imputed
         rate of interest of seven percent (7%) per annum.

                  3.7. CLOSING DATE LIABILITIES. At the Closing, the
         Shareholders shall deliver to the Purchaser a statement, certified by
         them to be true and complete, of all liabilities and obligations of the
         Company and the Subsidiaries of whatever nature and character including
         (but not limited to) indebtedness for borrowed money, indebtedness
         secured by Liens against any assets or properties of the Company or any
         Subsidiary, accounts and trade payable, accrued liabilities, any
         liabilities under suits, claims, judgments or orders then pending or
         any other liability or obligation of the Company and the Subsidiaries
         attributable to the operation of the their businesses prior to Closing
         (collectively, "Closing Date Liabilities"), EXCLUDING (i) obligations
         under preneed funeral contracts for which the full amount has been
         deposited in trust or funded by insurance as required under applicable
         law, and under cemetery endowment care, merchandise and service
         contracts for which the full amount has been deposited in trust, the
         merchandise has been purchased, or as to which there are outstanding
         preneed accounts receivable covering such obligations, and obligations
         in respect of commissions for preneed services and merchandise based
         upon cemetery preneed accounts receivable to the extent not collected
         as of the Effective Time of the Merger, (ii) obligations arising after
         the Closing under the executory contracts listed on Schedule 5.13 under
         the heading "Executory Contracts" and under the Greer Lease, (iii) any
         obligations to be paid by the Company or Purchaser with respect to the
         Danville Property pursuant to Section 7.3(d) hereof, and (iv)
         obligations payable after the Closing under the Stahl Agreement
         referred to in Section 5.6(h). Such statement of the Shareholders shall
         include a proration, as of the Closing Date, of proratable items, such
         as property taxes, rents under leases (including the Greer Lease) and
         (to the extent known) utilities, subject to reconciliation as described
         in Section 3.9. In the case of indebtedness for borrowed money or
         secured by Liens against any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary,
         such statement shall be accompanied by statements of the holders of
         such indebtedness certifying as to the balance thereof, including per
         diem interest. For purposes of

                                       -6-
<PAGE>
         calculating the amount of Closing Date Liabilities, there shall be
         included all amounts necessary to pay and discharge the same in full at
         the Effective Time of the Merger, includ ing principal, interest, fees,
         prepayment fees or premiums, and other similar amounts, however
         characterized. Such statement shall include estimated federal and state
         income tax liabilities, which shall be reconciled as described in
         Section 3.9. To the extent that Closing Date Liabilities are
         outstanding at the Effective Time of the Merger, the amount thereof
         shall be deducted from the cash portion of the Merger Consideration as
         described in Section 3.1(c)(A). Any Closing Date Liabilities remaining
         unpaid after the Closing which are not set forth on such statement of
         the Shareholders shall be paid by the Shareholders and shall be subject
         to indemnification under Section 10.1.

                  3.8. CLOSING DATE RECEIVABLES. At the Closing, the
         Shareholders shall deliver to the Purchaser a list of the Closing Date
         Receivables, certified by them to be true and complete. That portion of
         the Merger Consideration payable under Section 3.1(c)(F), which is not
         paid at the Closing, shall be payable as hereafter provided in this
         Section 3.8. Within 30 days after the last day of each of the third,
         eighth and twelfth calendar months following the Closing Date (each
         such date being referred to as a "Collection Date"), the Surviving
         Corporation shall deliver to the Shareholders a certificate of the
         Surviving Corporation, certified by it to be true and complete, as to
         the amount of collections received by it on Closing Date Receivables
         from the Effective Time of the Merger through such Collection Date
         ("Post-Closing Collections"). To the extent that the cumulative amount
         of Post-Closing Collections through each Collection Date exceed the
         amount theretofore paid by the Purchaser as Merger Consideration in
         respect of Closing Date Receivables pursuant to Section 3.1(c)(F)
         (including amounts payable hereunder in respect of previous Collection
         Dates), the Purchaser shall pay the amount of the excess to the
         Shareholders in cash upon delivery of each such certificate; provided,
         however, that such payment in respect of the Collection Date which is
         the last day of the third month after the Closing shall be subject to
         reconciliation as provided in Section 3.9. Neither the Surviving
         Corporation nor the Purchaser shall have any duty to pursue collection
         of Closing Date Receivables by means greater than used on its
         collection of other accounts receivable, and in no event shall the
         Surviving Corporation or the Purchaser be required to institute suit or
         refer any account to a collection agency. If the amount of all
         collections on Closing Date Receivables is less than the amount paid
         under clause (F) of Section 3.1(c), or if any Closing Date Receivables
         remain uncollected on such last Collection Date and are thereafter
         collected, in either event there shall be no further adjustments to the
         Merger Consideration or payments in respect thereof.

                  3.9. POST-CLOSING RECONCILIATION. Within 30 days after the
         first Collection Date referred to in Section 3.8, the Purchaser shall
         deliver to the Shareholders a certificate certified by it to be true
         and complete, of the following reconciling items as of the Effective
         Time of the Merger:

                           (i) Any trade or accounts payable of the Company or
                  any Subsidiary outstanding at the Effective Time of the
                  Merger, or other Closing Date Liabilities (including federal
                  income tax liabilities), to the extent not

                                       -7-
<PAGE>
                  deducted from the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section
                  3.1(c)(A);

                           (ii) Any proratable items described in Section 3.7,
                  as adjusted to reflect information regarding such prorations
                  which became known after the Closing;

                           (iii) non-trusted cemetery merchandise obligations
                  for lawn crypts, markers and granite bases, which shall be
                  reconciled in a manner to be mutually determined among the
                  parties prior to the Closing Date; and

                           (iv) the non-preneed and non-trusted cash balances of
                  the Company and the Subsidiaries that, despite the
                  Shareholders' best efforts to reduce such balances to below
                  $250,000 by the Effective Time of the Merger, is in excess of
                  such amount and therefore has not been added to the Merger
                  Consideration under Section 3.1(c)(A).

                  Based upon a reconciliation of the foregoing items, the Merger
         Consideration shall be adjusted as hereafter provided. The Shareholders
         shall be given credit as of such Collection Date for the first Closing
         Date Receivables reconciliation then due under Section 3.8, and for
         proratable items to the extent of expenses arising after the Effective
         Time of the Merger; and the Purchaser shall be given credit for Closing
         Date Liabilities under (i) above and proratable times to the extent of
         expenses arising prior to the Effective Time of the Merger. If, based
         upon such reconciliation, the Merger Consideration shall be increased,
         the Purchaser shall pay to the Shareholders the amount of such increase
         in cash within 30 days after such reconciliation, and if the Merger
         Consideration shall be decreased, the Shareholders shall pay to the
         Purchaser the amount of such decrease within 30 days after such
         reconciliation.

                  3.10. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each party agrees to execute and
         deliver from time to time after the Effective Time of the Merger, at
         the reasonable request of any other party, and without further
         consideration, such additional instruments of conveyance and transfer,
         and to take such other action as the other party may reasonably require
         to more effectively carry out the terms and provisions of the Merger
         and the other transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

                  4. THE CLOSING.

                  4.1. TIME AND PLACE. The Closing of the Merger (the "Closing")
         shall occur at the offices of Freeland, Cooper, LeHocky & Hamburg, 150
         Spear Street, Suite 1800, San Francisco, California on the second
         business day following the date that the last of the conditions to
         Closing under Section 8 hereof have been satisfied, or at such other
         date, time or place as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties, but
         in no event later than January 10, 1997. The date and time of the
         Closing is herein called the "Closing Date". At the Closing, the
         Shareholders shall surrender for cancellation pursuant to the Merger
         all certificates representing their respective shares of capital stock
         of the Company, against receipt from the Purchaser of the Merger
         Consideration. All action to be taken at the Closing as hereinafter set
         forth, and all documents and instruments executed and delivered, and
         all payments made with respect thereto, shall be considered to have
         been taken, delivered or made simultaneously, and no such

                                       -8-
<PAGE>
         action or delivery or payment shall be considered as complete until all
         action incident to the Closing has been completed.

                  4.2. RELATED TRANSACTIONS. In addition to the Merger, at the
         Closing the following transactions shall occur:

                           (a) The Purchaser and the Shareholders shall each
                  execute and deliver to the other a Stock Registration
                  Agreement to be dated the Closing Date and in substantially
                  the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Registration Agreement");

                           (b) The number of positions on the Purchaser's Board
                  of Directors shall be increased by one (1), and Mark Wilson
                  ("Wilson") shall be elected to the vacancy created by such
                  increase, as a Class III Director, within the meaning of the
                  Purchaser's By-laws;

                           (c) The Acquisition Subsidiary, on the one hand, and
                  each of Wilson and Wendy Wilson Boyer ("Boyer"), on the other,
                  shall each execute and deliver a separate Employment Agreement
                  to be dated the Closing Date and in substantially the forms of
                  Exhibits B-1 and B-2 hereto, respectively (collectively, the
                  "Employment Agreements");

                           (d) The Acquisition Subsidiary shall establish its
                  Carriage Partners Program for California in substantially the
                  form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Program"), and Wilson shall
                  become a participant in the Program in accordance with the
                  terms and provisions thereof;

                           (e) The Acquisition Subsidiary and the Purchaser, on
                  the one hand, and each of Wilson and Boyer, on the other,
                  shall each execute and deliver a separate Non- Competition
                  Agreement to be dated the Closing Date and in substantially
                  the forms of Exhibits D-1 and D-2, respectively, hereto
                  (collectively, the "Non-Competition Agreements");

                           (f)      Melvin C. Payne, Mark W. Duffey, C. Byron
                  Snyder and Barry K. Fingerhut (collectively, the
                  "Carriage Stockholders") and the Shareholders shall each
                  execute and deliver to the other a Co-Sale Agreement to
                  be dated the Closing Date and in substantially the form
                  of Exhibit E hereto (the "Co-Sale Agreement");

                           (g) Crockett Properties, a California partnership
                  ("Related Partnership"), shall convey fee simple title to
                  Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries, a California corporation and
                  wholly owned subsidiary of the Company ("Wilson & Kratzer"),
                  all of the real property and improvements on which the Grant
                  Miller Chapel in Oakland, California is situated (as more
                  particularly described on Schedule 5.6, hereafter the "Grant
                  Real Property"), free and clear of all Liens other than
                  Permitted Liens against such property described on Schedule
                  5.6, for a consideration consisting entirely in cash or notes
                  of Wilson & Kratzer that will, at the Effective Time of the
                  Merger, constitute Closing Date Liabilities deducted from the
                  Merger Consideration under Section 3.1(c)(A); and

                           (h) BWB Diablo Properties, LLC ("BWB") shall convey
                  and assign to Wilson & Kratzer fee simple title to all of the
                  real property and improvements located at 825 Hartz

                                       -9-
<PAGE>
                  Way in Danville, Contra Costa County, California more
                  particularly described on Schedule 5.6(c) (the "Danville
                  Property"), acquired by BWB from The Danville Community
                  Development Agency pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement
                  between BWB and such Agency dated July 22, 1996 (the "Danville
                  Purchase Agreement"), such assignment to include BWB's rights
                  under the Danville Purchase Agree ment, under the
                  Architectural and Engineering Services Agreement and the
                  Interior Design, Procurement and Installment Series Agreement,
                  both dated March 5, 1996 and both with The Doody Group, and
                  under all other con tracts, agreements and appurtenant rights
                  acquired or entered into in connection with the foregoing (all
                  of the foregoing being collectively referred to as the
                  "Danville Agreements"), without payment or obligation on the
                  part of the Company or any Subsidiary, subject to Section
                  7.3(d).

                  5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SHAREHOLDERS. The
Shareholders jointly and severally represent and warrant to and agree with the
Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary that:

                  5.1. TITLE TO SHARES. The Shareholders are the owners and
         holders, beneficially and of record, of all of the issued and
         outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company as shown on Schedule
         II, and the Shareholders have good and marketable title to all of such
         issued and outstanding shares, free and clear of any and all liens,
         encumbrances, pledges, security interests, mortgages or claims of any
         other person (collectively, "Liens").

                  5.2. ORGANIZATION AND EXISTENCE. The Company is a corpo ration
         duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
         the State of California, and has all requisite corporate power to enter
         into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to carry on
         its business as now conducted. The Shareholders have delivered to the
         Purchaser complete and correct copies of the Articles of Incorporation,
         certified by the Secretary of State of California, and the Bylaws,
         certified by its Secretary, of the Company, all as in effect on the
         date hereof.

                  5.3. CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the
         Company consists of 100,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value, of
         which 41,625 shares are issued and outstanding and held by the
         Shareholders. All such issued and outstanding shares are validly issued
         and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable and not issued in
         violation of the preemptive rights of any person. No such shares of
         capital stock are held by the Company as treasury stock. The Company
         does not have any outstanding subscriptions, options or other
         agreements or commitments obligating it to issue shares of its capital
         stock. There are no shareholders, buy-sell, voting or other similar
         agreements or commitments affecting the voting or transferability of
         any such shares.

                  5.4. SUBSIDIARIES. Schedule 5.4 sets forth the name and
         jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of Wilson & Kratzer and
         every other corporation in which the Company directly or indirect has
         an ownership interest (collectively, the "Subsidiaries"), other than
         Brown & Wilson, Inc., a California corporation which is a subsidiary of
         Wilson & Kratzer ("Brown & Wilson"). Each Subsidiary is a corporation
         duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
         the laws of the State of California, and has all requisite power to
         carry on its business as now conducted. The Shareholders have delivered
         to the Purchaser complete and correct copies of the Articles of
         Incorporation and bylaws of each Subsidiary, both as in effect on the
         date hereof. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of
         each Subsidiary is correctly and completely described on Schedule 5.4.
         All such shares of stock are issued and outstanding and owned by the
         Company (except for 208 shares of the non-voting common stock of Wilson
         & Kratzer which are owned by Dennis Steiner, hereafter the "Steiner
         Shares"), free and clear of all Liens (except for a pledge of the
         outstanding shares of Rolling Hills to secure obligations under the
         Stahl Agreement), fully paid and nonassessable, and not issued in
         violation of the preemptive rights of any person. No shares of any
         Subsidiary have been issued that are held by it in its treasury. No
         Subsidiary has any outstanding subscriptions, options or other
         agreements or commitments obligating it to issue any shares of its
         capital stock. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has an investment
         or ownership interest in any corporation, limited liability company,
         partnership, joint venture or other business entity, except as
         described on Schedule 5.4 and except for Brown & Wilson.

                  5.5. FINANCIAL INFORMATION. The Shareholders have delivered to
         the Purchaser (i) for Wilson & Kratzer, (x) its unaudited (compiled)
         balance sheet at March 31, 1996 (the "Wilson & Kratzer Balance Sheet")
         and the related unaudited (compiled) statement of earnings of Wilson &
         Kratzer for the twelve months then ended, together with the
         supplementary schedules thereto and the compilation report thereon of
         Alphonse deRoo & Associates, and (y) its unaudited (compiled) balance
         sheet at March 31, 1995 and the related unaudited (compiled) statement
         of earnings of Wilson & Kratzer for the twelve months then ended,
         together with the supplementary schedules thereto and the compilation
         report thereon of Alphonse deRoo & Associates; and (ii) for Rolling
         Hills Memorial Park, a California corporation and one of the
         Subsidiaries ("Rolling Hills"), (x) its unaudited (reviewed) balance
         sheet at March 31, 1996 (the "Rolling Hills Balance Sheet") and the
         related unaudited (reviewed) statements of income and retained
         earnings, and cash flows of Rolling Hills for the twelve months then
         ended, together with the notes thereto and the review report thereon of
         Hood and Strong dated June 27, 1996, and (y) its unaudited (reviewed)
         balance sheet at March 31, 1995 and the related unaudited (reviewed)
         state ments of income and retained earnings, and cash flows of Rolling
         Hills for the twelve months then ended, together with the notes thereto
         and the review report thereon of Hood and Strong dated July 14, 1995.
         The Wilson & Kratzer Balance Sheet and the Rolling Hills Balance Sheet
         are sometimes here after collectively referred to as the "Year-End
         Balance Sheets". All such financial statements are true and correct in
         all material respects, have been prepared in accordance with the books
         and records of the applicable Subsidiaries, and present fairly the
         respective financial positions of such Subsidiaries at the dates
         indicated and their respective results of operations for the periods
         then ended in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
         consistently applied. The Company has no assets or properties other
         than the outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary, has no
         liabilities or obligations of any kind (other than arising under this
         Agreement and for federal income tax liability based upon the
         consolidated earnings and profits of its

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
         subsidiaries, for which the Shareholders shall be responsible as
         described in Section 12.1), and has no income or expenses except for
         dividend income and nominal expenses incident to the maintenance of its
         corporate status. Each Home performed the number of funeral services in
         each of the twelve-month periods ended March 31, 1994 through 1996 as
         set forth on Schedule 5.5 hereto. The Cemetery performed at least the
         number of interments as set forth on Schedule 5.5.

                  5.6. REAL PROPERTY.

                           (a) DESCRIPTION AND TITLE. Schedule 5.6 will set
                  forth a legal description of all parcels of real property in
                  which the Company or the Subsidiaries have any interest or
                  which is used in their respective businesses (collectively,
                  the "Real Property"), and also briefly describes each building
                  and major structure and improvement thereon. No person other
                  than the Company or a Subsidiary (as to be shown on Schedule
                  5.6) has any ownership, leasehold or other interest of any
                  kind in the Real Property, other than (i) the Real Property on
                  which the Greer Mortuary is located (the "Greer Real
                  Property"), which is validly leased to Wilson & Kratzer under
                  the Greer Lease described in paragraph (b) below, (ii) the
                  Grant Real Property, which is validly leased to Wilson &
                  Kratzer by the Related Partnership and which will be conveyed
                  to Wilson & Kratzer on the Closing Date as contemplated in
                  Section 4.2(g), and (iii) the undeveloped portion of the
                  Cemetery which is subject to option under the Stahl Agreement.
                  The Real Property is the only interest in real property
                  required for the conduct of the business of the Homes and the
                  Cemetery as presently conducted. To the best knowledge of
                  Shareholders, all of the buildings, structures and im
                  provements located on the Real Property are in good oper ating
                  condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted. To the best of the
                  Shareholders' knowledge, none of such build ings, structures
                  or improvements, or the operation or maintenance thereof as
                  now operated or maintained, contravenes any zoning ordinance
                  or other administrative regulation or violates any restrictive
                  covenant or any provision of law, the effect of which would
                  interfere with or prevent their continued use for the purposes
                  for which they are now being used. There is not pending nor,
                  to the knowledge of any Shareholder, threatened any proceeding
                  for the taking or condemnation of the Real Property or any
                  portion thereof. As shown on Schedule 5.6, each Subsidiary has
                  good and marketable fee simple title to all of its respective
                  Real Property, free and clear of all Liens, other than (i)
                  easements and other similar title exceptions to be described
                  on Schedule 5.6 ("Permitted Liens"), (ii) the Greer Real
                  Property, in which Wilson & Kratzer has good and marketable
                  title to its leasehold interest thereto, free and clear of any
                  and all Liens, (iii) the Grant Real Property, and at the
                  Closing Wilson & Kratzer will have good and marketable fee
                  simple title to the Grant Real Property free and clear of all
                  Liens other than Permitted Liens to be described on Schedule
                  5.6, and (iv) that portion of the Cemetery subject to option
                  under the Stahl Agreement.

                           (b) GREER LEASE. All of the Greer Real Property is
                  validly leased to Wilson & Kratzer under the Lease Agreement
                  dated January 16, 1983 among Don L. Koubek and

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
                  Mary Sue Koubek dba DLK Properties, as lessor, and Ralph
                  Greer, Freda Greer and Holly Haugen dba Greer Family Mortuary
                  - Alameda Chapel, as lessee (such Lease Agreement, together
                  with all amendments thereto, being hereafter referred to as
                  the "Greer Lease"); Wilson & Kratzer is the current lessee
                  under the Greer Lease; a true and complete copy of the Greer
                  Lease has been provided to the Purchaser; there have been no
                  amendments or modifications to the Greer Lease except for
                  those for which copies have been provided to the Purchaser;
                  the Greer Lease is in full force and effect and valid and
                  binding on the parties thereto, and neither Wilson & Kratzer
                  nor (to the Shareholders' knowledge) the lessor thereunder is
                  in default thereunder.

                           (c) DANVILLE PROPERTY. Schedule 5.6(c) sets forth a
                  true and complete legal description of the Danville Property,
                  and also accurately and completely lists each Danville
                  Agreement. The Shareholders have provided to the Purchaser a
                  true and correct copy of each Danville Agreement. Each
                  Danville Agreement is valid, binding and enforceable against
                  the parties, and neither BWB nor (to the knowledge of the
                  Shareholders) the other parties thereto are in default
                  thereunder. Prior to the closing under the Danville Purchase
                  Agreement, BWB conducted a reasonable due diligence review of
                  the matters covered thereby, and nothing has come to its
                  attention before or after such closing which would reasonably
                  cause it to believe that any of the representations and
                  warranties of the seller thereunder are untrue in any material
                  respect. Schedule 5.6(c) also sets forth a true and complete
                  listing of all closing costs, fees and expenses paid by BWB
                  pursuant to the Danville Purchase Agreement, as well as all
                  out-of-pocket expenses, professional fees and other sums paid
                  or incurred through the date hereof in renovating or
                  refurbishing the improvements located on the Danville Property
                  (collectively, "Danville Expenses").

                           (d) FIRPTA. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or
                  the Shareholders is a "foreign person" (as defined in Section
                  1445(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
                  (the "Code"), and the regulations issued thereunder), and the
                  Shareholders shall deliver at Closing one or more non-foreign
                  affidavits in recordable form containing such information as
                  shall be required by Code Section 1445(b)(2) and the
                  regulations issued thereunder.

                           (e) BILLS PAID. All bills and other payments due with
                  respect to the ownership, operation, and maintenance of the
                  Real Property have been (and on the Closing Date will be)
                  paid, and no Liens (except for Permitted Liens) or other
                  claims for the same have been filed or asserted against any
                  part of the Real Property.

                           (f) NO FLOOD HAZARDS. To the best of the
                  Shareholders' knowledge, no portion of the Real Property is
                  located within an area that has been designated by the Federal
                  Insurance Administration, the Army Corp of Engineers, or any
                  other governmental agency or body as being subject to special
                  flooding hazards.

                           (g) STATUS OF CEMETERY PROPERTY. All of the Real
                  Property used in the business of the Cemetery has been plotted
                  for cemetery use. The Cemetery (including the Real Property
                  remaining under option under Stahl

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
                  Agreement) consists of approximately 96 acres (of which 46
                  acres have been developed and 50 acres are undeveloped), had,
                  as of September 30, 1996, at least 3,068 unsold developed
                  individual grave spaces, 151 unsold niches, 136 unsold
                  mausoleum crypts and 1,132 unsold lawn crypts.

                           (h) STAHL AGREEMENT. The Shareholders have delivered
                  to the Purchaser a true and complete copy of the Exclusive
                  Option dated March 31, 1960 among Tennessee Land Company and
                  John M. Stahl (collectively, "Stahl"), and Rolling Hills
                  Memorial Park, predecessor to Rolling Hills, as amended by the
                  letter agreement dated May 29, 1963 (collectively, the "Stahl
                  Agreement"). The Stahl Agreement is currently in full force
                  and effect, Rolling Hills is the valid successor in interest
                  as the "Second Party" thereunder, and neither Rolling Hills
                  nor, to the Shareholders' knowledge, the "First Party" is in
                  default thereunder. Rolling Hills has duly and validly
                  acquired all of the Cemetery Real Property owned by it in
                  accordance with the Stahl Agreement, and Rolling Hills has the
                  continuing option to acquire one acre per year (of which there
                  remains approximately 40 acres to be acquired) under the Stahl
                  Agreement, subject to Rolling Hills' continued compliance
                  therewith. All necessary consents to the transfer of the
                  outstanding stock of Rolling Hills to the Company has been
                  obtained, and the only person required to consent to the
                  transactions under the terms of the Stahl Agreement is Rosalie
                  K. Stahl.

                  5.7. TITLE TO AND STATUS OF PROPERTIES. All assets, rights and
         properties utilized in the conduct of the business of the Homes and the
         Cemetery are owned by the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries,
         and none of such assets, rights or properties is subject to any lease
         or license, except for Real Property leased to Wilson & Kratzer as
         described in Section 5.6 and except for those assets which are leased
         as described in Schedule 5.13. The Company and each Subsidiary is in
         actual possession and control of all properties owned by it, and has
         good and marketable title to all of its assets, rights and properties,
         including without limitation, all properties and assets reflected in
         the Year-End Balance Sheets, free and clear of all Liens, except for
         (i) Liens to be discharged and released at or prior to Closing, and
         (ii) Permitted Liens against Real Property.

                  5.8. ABSENCE OF CHANGES OR EVENTS. Since the date of the
         Year-End Balance Sheets, there has not been:

                              (i) any material adverse change in the finan cial
                  condition, operations, business, properties or pros pects of
                  the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                             (ii) any change in the authorized capital or
                  outstanding securities of the Company or any Subsidiary;

                            (iii) any capital stock, bonds or other securi ties
                  which the Company or any Subsidiary has issued, sold,
                  delivered or agreed to issue, sell or deliver, nor has the
                  Company or any Subsidiary granted or agreed to grant any
                  options, warrants or other rights calling for the issue, sale
                  or delivery thereof;

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
                             (iv) any borrowing or agreement by the Company or
                  any Subsidiary to borrow any funds, nor has the Company or any
                  Subsidiary incurred, or become subject to, any absolute or
                  contingent obligation or liability, except trade payables
                  incurred in the ordinary course of business and obligations
                  incurred in connection with the acquisition or improvement of
                  the Danville Property;

                              (v) any declaration or payment of any bonus or
                  other extraordinary compensation to any employee of the
                  Company or any Subsidiary;

                             (vi) any hiring, firing, reassignment or other
                  change in any key personnel of the Company or any
                  Subsidiary;

                            (vii) any sale, transfer or other disposition of, or
                  agreement to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, any of
                  the inventories or other assets or properties of the Company
                  or any Subsidiary, except in the ordinary course of business;

                           (viii) any material damage, destruction or losses
                  against the Company or any Subsidiary, or any waiver of any
                  rights of material value to the Company or any Subsidiary;

                             (ix) any labor strike or labor dispute, or the
                  entering into of any collective bargaining agreement, with
                  respect to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary;

                              (x) any claim or liability for any material
                  damages for any actual or alleged negligence or other tort or
                  breach of contract against or affecting the Company or any
                  Subsidiary, except as set forth in Schedule 5.18;

                             (xi) any new competitor that has, to the knowledge
                  of any Shareholder, built, commenced to build or announced
                  intentions to build a funeral home or mortuary in direct
                  competition with any Home or a cemetery or mausoleum in direct
                  competition with the Cemetery; or

                            (xii) any other transaction or event entered into or
                  affecting the Company or any Subsidiary other than in the
                  ordinary course of business, except for the acquisition of the
                  Danville Property and as set forth in Schedule 5.18.

                  5.9. ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as set forth
         in the Year-End Balance Sheets, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
         has any, and none of their respective assets or properties are subject
         to any, liabilities or obligations of any kind or nature, other than
         unsecured trade accounts pay able, accrued expenses and preneed
         obligations (fully funded by insurance or covered by trust) arising in
         the ordinary course of the business since the date of the Year-End
         Balance Sheets, except as set forth in Schedule 5.9.

                  5.10.    TAX MATTERS.  All federal, state, county, local
         and other taxes due and payable by the Company and the
         Subsidiaries on or before the date of this Agreement have been

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
         paid or are adequately provided for in the Year-End Balance Sheets. The
         Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns and reports
         required to be filed by each of them with all taxing authorities, and
         all such tax returns and reports are true, complete and correct in all
         material respects. True and correct copies of the federal, state and
         local income tax returns filed by or for the Company and the
         Subsidiaries for each of their last three taxable years have been
         furnished to the Purchaser. For each of such years, the Company and
         each Subsidiary has been included in the consolidated group of
         corporations of which the Company is the parent corporation. No
         assessments of deficiencies for taxes of any kind have been made
         against the Company or any Subsidiary which are presently pending or
         outstanding. No state of facts exists or has existed which would
         constitute grounds for the assessment of any tax liability against the
         Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any prior taxable period
         which has not been audited by the Internal Revenue Service or which has
         not been closed by applicable statute. There are no outstanding
         agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitations
         applica ble to any income tax return of the Company or any Subsidiary
         for any period.

                  5.11. INVENTORY; ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. The inven tories
         reflected in the Year-End Balance Sheets, and all items placed in
         inventory since the date thereof, are (i) accounted for in accordance
         with generally accepted accounting prin ciples applied on a consistent
         basis, and (ii) saleable or usable in the ordinary course of business
         of the Company and the Subsidiaries at usual and customary prices,
         subject to normal returns and markdowns consistent with past practice.
         All cemetery pre-need accounts and notes receivable reflected in the
         Year-End Balance Sheets, and all such accounts and notes receivable
         arising since the date thereof, (x) represent bona fide claims against
         customers for goods sold or services rendered, and (y) to the
         Shareholder's knowledge, are not subject to offsets or defenses of any
         kind. At the Closing, the Shareholders shall deliver to the Purchaser a
         list, certi fied by the Shareholders to be complete and correct, of all
         of the inventory of the Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and all of
         their accounts receivable arising from the preneed sale of services or
         merchandise by the Cemetery as of the Closing Date.

                  5.12. FIXED ASSETS. Schedule 5.12 will list all motor vehicles
         and all other material items of equipment, fix tures, furniture and
         other fixed assets owned by the Company and the Subsidiaries. All such
         items are in good operating condition and repair, ordinary wear and
         tear excepted.

                  5.13. CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS. Schedule 5.13 will set forth
         a complete description of:

                             (i) all loan, credit and similar agreements to
                  which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it
                  is bound, and all notes or other evidences of indebtedness of,
                  or agreements creating any Lien on any property of, the
                  Company or any Subsidiary;

                            (ii)    all employment contracts, noncompetition
                  agreements and other agreements relating to the employment of 
                  any employees of the Company and the Subsidiaries;

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
                           (iii) all contracts and agreements affecting the
                  Company or any Subsidiary which do not terminate or are not
                  terminable by the Company or such Subsidiary upon notice of 30
                  days or less or which involve an obligation on its part in
                  excess of $1,000 per annum or $5,000 in the aggregate; and

                            (iv) all other contracts and commitments of the
                  Company or any Subsidiary entered into outside the ordi nary
                  course of business.

                  Each contract and commitment to be described on Schedule 5.13
         is valid and binding on the parties thereto and in full force and
         effect, and neither the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, as the
         case may be, nor, to the knowledge of the Shareholders, any of the
         other parties thereto, are in default thereunder. The Shareholders will
         have furnished to the Purchaser a true and complete copy of each
         document listed on Schedule 5.13.

                  5.14. PRENEED CONTRACTS AND TRUST ACCOUNTS. Schedule 5.14
         hereto will accurately and completely list, as of the date of this
         Agreement (i) all preneed contracts of the Company and the Subsidiaries
         unfulfilled as of the date hereof, including contracts for the sale of
         funeral merchandise and services and for cemetery merchandise and
         plots, and (ii) all trust accounts relating to the Homes and the
         Cemetery, indicating the location of each and the balance thereof. All
         preneed contracts required to be listed on Schedule 5.14 (x) have been
         entered into in the normal course of business at regular retail prices
         then in effect, or pursuant to a sales promotion program, solely for
         use by the named customers and members of their families on terms not
         more materially favorable than shown on the specimen contracts which
         have been delivered to the Purchaser, (y) are subject to the rules and
         regulations of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary as now in force
         (copies of which have been delivered to the Purchaser), and (z) on the
         date hereof are in full force and effect, subject to the Shareholders'
         knowledge, to no offsets, claims or waivers, and neither the Company or
         the applicable Subsidiary, as the case may be, nor such customer is in
         default thereunder, except as to be set forth in Schedule 5.14. All
         funds received by the Company and the Subsidiaries under preneed
         contracts have been deposited in the appropriate accounts and
         administered and reported in accordance with the terms thereof and as
         required by applicable laws and regulations. The Shareholders make no
         representation or warranty to the effect that the market value of the
         preneed accounts, trusts or other deposits is equal to or greater than
         the preneed liability related thereto. The services heretofore provided
         by the Company and the Subsidiaries have been rendered in a
         professional and competent manner consistent with prevailing
         professional standards, practices and customs.

                  5.15. TRADEMARKS, ETC. Schedule 5.15 accurately and completely
         describes all trademarks, copyrights, patents and other intellectual
         property rights, and applications and licenses for the foregoing
         (collectively, "Intangible Rights"), owned by or licensed to or in the
         name of the Company or any Subsidiary. The Company and the Subsidiaries
         own or possess valid rights or adequate licenses for all of such
         Intangible Rights as are necessary to the conduct of the business of
         the Homes and the Cemetery as presently conducted.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
         Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is charged with infringement of
         any Intangible Rights of any other person, nor does any Shareholder
         know of any such infringement, whether or not claimed by any person.

                  5.16. INSURANCE. The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain
         such policies of insurance in such amounts, and which insure against
         such losses and risks, as are, in the Company's opinion, generally
         maintained for comparable businesses and properties. Valid policies for
         such insurance will be outstanding and duly in force at all times prior
         to the Closing.

                  5.17. LICENSES, PERMITS, ETC. Schedule 5.17 hereto will
         correctly and completely list all licenses, franchises, permits,
         certificates, consents, rights and privileges issued to or held by the
         Company and each Subsidiary, which will be all that are necessary or
         appropriate for the operation of the Homes and the Cemetery as
         presently operated. All such items are in full force and effect.

                  5.18. LITIGATION. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.18, there
         are no claims, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending
         or, to the knowledge of any Shareholder, threatened against or
         affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective
         assets or properties, at law or in equity or before or by any court or
         federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission,
         board, agency or instrumentality. Neither the Company nor any
         Subsidiary is subject to any continuing court or administrative order,
         writ, injunction or decree, nor is the Company or any Subsidiary in
         default with respect to any order, writ, injunction or decree issued by
         any court or foreign, federal, state, municipal or other governmental
         department, commission, board, agency or instrumentality.

                  5.19. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The Company and the Subsidiaries
         have complied and are in compliance in all material respects with all
         federal, state, municipal and other statutes, rules, ordinances, and
         regulations applicable to the Company, the Subsidiaries and their
         respective assets, rights and properties, and to the operation of each
         Home and the Cemetery (including without limitation all occupational
         safety and health rules, regulations and laws, and laws and regula
         tions applicable to preneed and perpetual care contracts and trust
         accounts, including the so-called "FTC Funeral Rule").

                  5.20.    ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

                           (a) The Company and each Subsidiary has complied and
                  is in compliance in all material respects with all
                  Environmental Laws, insofar as the same relate to
                  asbestos-containing materials ("ACM") that are friable,
                  underground storage tanks and the ownership and operation of
                  crematories ("Identified Environmental Concerns"), and to the
                  Shareholders' knowledge have so complied as to all other
                  matters.

                           (b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
                  the Company and each Subsidiary has obtained, and has complied
                  and is in compliance with, all permits, licenses and other
                  authorizations that may be required pursuant to Environmental
                  Laws for the occupation of the Real Property and the operation
                  of the business of the

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
                  Company and the Subsidiaries, insofar as the same relates to
                  Identified Environmental Concerns and, to the Shareholders'
                  knowledge, as to all other matters.

                           (c) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has
                  received any notice, report or other information regarding any
                  liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
                  unliquidated or otherwise) or investigatory, remedial or
                  corrective obligations, relating to their respective
                  businesses or any of the Real Property arising under
                  Environmental Laws.

                           (d) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.20, none of the
                  following exists on any portion of the Real Property:

                                    (i) Underground storage tanks or surface
                           impoundments;

                                    (ii) Any friable ACM, or to the
                           Shareholders' knowledge, any other ACM in any form or
                           condition; or

                                    (iii) To the Shareholders' knowledge, any
                           materials or equipment containing polychlorinated
                           biphenyls.

                           (e) In respect of Identified Environmental Concerns,
                  and to the knowledge of the Shareholders, in all other
                  respects, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has treated,
                  stored, disposed of, arranged for or permitted the disposal
                  of, transported, handled, or Released any substance, including
                  without limitation any Hazardous Materials, or owned or
                  operated any facility or property, so as to give rise to
                  liabilities for response costs, natural resource damages or
                  attorneys fees pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental
                  Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"),
                  as amended, or similar state Environmental Laws.

                           (f) To the knowledge of the Shareholders, neither
                  this Agreement nor the consummation of the transaction that is
                  the subject of this Agreement will result in any obligations
                  for site investigation or cleanup, or notification to or
                  consent of any governmental authority or third parties,
                  pursuant to any so-called "transaction- triggered" or
                  "responsible property transfer" Environmental Laws.

                           (g) To the knowledge of the Shareholders, without
                  limiting the foregoing, no facts, events or conditions
                  relating to the past or present facilities, properties or
                  operations of the Company or any Subsidiary will prevent,
                  hinder or limit continued compliance with Environmental Laws,
                  give rise to any investigatory, remedial or corrective
                  obligations pursuant to Environmental Laws, or give rise to
                  any other liabilities (whether accrued absolute, contingent,
                  unliquidated or otherwise) pursuant to Environmental Laws,
                  including without limitation any relating to onsite or offsite
                  Releases or threatened Releases of Hazardous Materials,
                  substances or wastes, personal injury, property damage or
                  natural resource damage.

                           (h) For purposes of this Section 5.20:

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
                           "Environmental Laws" means all laws concerning
                  pollution or protection of the environment (including without
                  limitation all those relating to the presence, use,
                  production, generation, handling, transportation, treatment,
                  storage, disposal, distribution, labeling, testing,
                  processing, discharge, Release, threatened Release, control or
                  cleanup of any Hazardous Materials, substances or wastes,
                  chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides, pollutants,
                  contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or
                  byproducts, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, noise or
                  radiation).

                           "Hazardous Materials" means any hazardous, toxic,
                  dangerous or other waste, substance of material defined as
                  such in, regulated by or for purposes of any Environmental
                  Law.

                           "Release" has the meaning set forth in CERCLA.

                  5.21. EMPLOYEES. Schedule 5.21 will correctly and completely
         list the names and monthly or hourly rates of salary and other
         compensation of all the employees and agents of the Company and the
         Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.21 will also set forth the date of the last
         salary increase for each employee listed thereon, the outstanding
         balances of all loans and advances, if any, made by the Company or any
         Subsidiary to any employee or agent thereof, and the number of vacation
         days or other time off to which each such employee is presently
         eligible to take. There are not pending or, to the knowledge of any
         Shareholder, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary any
         general labor disputes, strikes or concerted work stoppages, and there
         are no discussions, negotiations, demands or proposals that are pending
         or have been conducted or made with or by any labor union or
         association with respect to any employees of the Company or any
         Subsidiary. No Shareholder is aware of the existence of any serious
         health condition of any key management personnel of the Company or any
         Subsidiary that might impair any such person's ability to perform the
         essential functions of his or her normal duties into the foreseeable
         future after the Closing. The Share holders believe that the relations
         between the Company and the Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and their
         respective employees, on the other, are good.

                  5.22. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Schedule 5.22 will set forth a
         description of all plans, contracts, commitments, programs and policies
         (including, without limitation, pension, profit sharing, thrift, bonus,
         deferred compensation, severance, retirement, disability, medical,
         life, dental and accidental insurance, vacation, sick leave, death
         benefit and other similar employee benefit plans and policies)
         maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary which provides benefits to
         any employee or former employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. True
         and complete copies of all such benefit plans have been provided to the
         Purchaser. All obligations of the Company and the Subsidiaries under
         the Plans have been fully paid, fully funded or adequate accruals
         therefor have been made on the Year-End Balance Sheets. All necessary
         governmental approvals have been obtained for all Plans subject to the
         Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") and have been
         qualified under Section 401 of the Code, and each trust established for
         any Plan is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to Section
         501(a) of the Code. With respect to any such Plan, there has been no
         (i)

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
         "reportable event" as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, (ii) event
         described in Section 4062(e) or 4063(a) of ERISA, or (iii) in the case
         of any defined benefit plan, termination or partial termination.

                  5.23. AFFILIATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Except as described on
         Schedule 5.23, the Company and the Subsidiaries have been operated and
         are being operated in a manner separate from the personal and other
         business activities of the Share holders and their affiliates, and none
         of the Company, any Subsidiary nor any of their respective assets are
         subject to any affiliated party commitments or transactions.

                  5.24. BOOKS AND RECORDS. All books and records of the Company
         and each Subsidiary are true, correct and complete and have been
         maintained by them in accordance with good business practices and in
         accordance with all laws, regula tions and other requirements
         applicable to the Company and the Subsidiaries. The corporate records
         of the Company and the Subsidiaries reflect a true record of all
         meetings and pro ceedings of the respective Boards of Directors and
         sharehold ers of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

                  5.25. FINDERS. None of the Company, any Subsidiary nor any
         Shareholder is a party to or in any way obligated under any contract or
         other agreement, and there are no out standing claims against any of
         them, for the payment of any broker's or finder's fee in connection
         with the origin, nego tiation, execution or performance of this
         Agreement.

                  5.26. AUTHORITY OF THE SHAREHOLDERS. Each Share holder has the
         full right, capacity and authority to enter into and perform this
         Agreement and the other documents to be executed by such Shareholder as
         provided in this Agreement, and to consummate the transactions
         contemplated hereby and thereby. For each Shareholder that is a trust,
         the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement is within
         such trust's powers, and each of the undersigned trustees of such trust
         has all requisite authority to enter into this Agreement on behalf of
         such trust. This Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery
         by each Shareholder, each of such other documents will constitute, the
         legal, valid and binding obligations of the Shareholders enforceable
         against them in accordance with their respective terms. Neither the
         execution, delivery nor performance of this Agreement or any of such
         other documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
         hereby or thereby, will: (i) result in a violation or breach of any
         term or provision of, constitute a default or acceleration under,
         require notice to or consent of any third party to, or result in the
         creation of any Lien by virtue of (x) the Articles of Incorporation or
         Bylaws of the Company or any Subsidiary or the trust documents of any
         Shareholder that is a trust or (y) any contract, agreement, lease,
         license or other commitment to which the Company, any Subsidiary or any
         Shareholder is a party or by which the Company, any such Subsidiary or
         any such Shareholder or his, her or its respective assets or properties
         are bound, other than those contracts and commitments described on
         Schedule 5.26 (provided, however, that all necessary consents under the
         Stahl Agreement have been duly and validly obtained); nor (ii) violate
         any statute or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court,
         administrative agency or governmental body, other than the filing of a
         notification of

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
         change of ownership with the California Department of Consumer Affairs
         (the "CDCA Consent").

                  5.27. AUTHORITY OF THE COMPANY. The execution, delivery and
         performance by the Company of this Agreement have been duly authorized
         by its Board of Directors. This Agree ment is legally binding and
         enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. Neither
         the execution, delivery nor performance by the Company of this
         Agreement will result in a violation or breach of, nor constitute a
         default or accelerate the performance required under, the Articles of
         Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any Subsidiary or any
         indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other contract or agreement to
         which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it or its
         properties are bound, other than those described in Section 5.26 above,
         or violate any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court,
         administrative agency or governmental body, other than the CDCA
         Consent.

                  5.28. ACQUISITION OF PURCHASER STOCK. The Purchaser Stock to
         be acquired by the Shareholders pursuant to the Merger will be acquired
         by them for investment purposes only and not with the present intention
         or view to, or resale in connection with, any distribution thereof
         within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Each
         Shareholder understands that such Purchaser Stock will not be
         registered under such Securities Act or any state securities or blue
         sky laws, that transferability of such Purchaser Stock will be
         restricted in accordance with applicable state and federal securities
         laws, and that a restrictive legend to such effect will be inscribed on
         each certificate representing such Purchaser Stock. Prior to the
         Closing, each Shareholder will have had full opportunity to receive
         such information and ask such questions of representatives of the
         Purchaser concerning the Purchaser, its subsidiaries and their
         business, opera tions, assets and prospects, and concerning an
         investment in the Purchaser Stock, as such Shareholder will then have
         deemed appropriate in order to make an informed investment decision
         with respect to the Purchaser Stock.

                  5.29. FULL DISCLOSURE. The representations and war ranties
         made by the Shareholders hereunder or in any Schedules or certificates
         furnished to the Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, do not and will
         not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material fact required to be stated herein or therein necessary to make
         the representa tions or warranties herein or therein, in light of the
         circum stances in which they are made, not misleading.

                  5.30. SCHEDULES. The Schedules identified in the
         Exhibit/Schedule Page hereto as "Delivered" have been prepared as of
         the date hereof in a separate binder or volume contemporaneously with
         the execution of this Agreement, and have been signed for
         identification by the Shareholders. The Shareholders shall deliver to
         the Purchaser those Schedules identified on the Exhibit/ Schedule Page
         as "To Be Delivered" within fifteen (15) business days after the date
         of execution of this Agreement.

                  The representations and warranties of the Shareholders herein
         or in any Schedules or certificates furnished to Purchaser pursuant
         hereto are the only representations and warranties upon which Purchaser
         is relying in connection with the transactions described herein.
         Purchaser is an

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
         experienced and sophisticated owner and operator of mortuaries and
         cemeteries and is not relying upon the Shareholders (except for such
         representations and warranties) in determining the extent to which it
         will conduct any due diligence investigations in evaluating the truth
         and accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Shareholders
         contained herein. No statement, assurance or other action by any other
         person or entity, whether or not an employee, affiliate, agent or other
         representative of the Company or the Shareholders shall be deemed to be
         a representation or warranty upon which Purchaser may rely unless same
         shall be set forth herein or pursuant hereto.

                  6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER AND THE
ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY. The Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary jointly and
severally represent and warrant to and agree with the Shareholders that:

                  6.1. ORGANIZATION AND EXISTENCE. The Acquisition Subsidiary is
         a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
         under the laws of the State of California, and has all requisite
         corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under this
         Agreement and the other documents to which it is a party. The Purchaser
         is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
         under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all requisite
         corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under this
         Agreement, including the issuance and delivery of the Purchaser Stock
         to the Shareholders as provided in this Agreement. The Purchaser has
         delivered to the Shareholders complete and correct copies of the
         Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
         Purchaser and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
         Acquisition Subsidiary, both as in effect on the date hereof.

                  6.2. CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the
         Purchaser consists of (i) 15,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock,
         $.01 par value, of which 3,942,194 shares were issued and outstanding
         as of September 30, 1996; (ii) 15,000,000 shares of Class B Common
         Stock, $.01 par value; of which 4,501,466 shares were issued and
         outstanding as of September 30, 1996, and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of
         Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of which (x) 19,000,000 shares have
         been (or will be) designated as Series D Preferred Stock, $.01 par
         value of which 17,775,616 shares were issued and outstanding as of
         September 30, 1996 and (y) 11,000,000 shares have been (or will be)
         designated as Series E Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, none of which
         shares were issued and outstanding as of September 30, 1996; and (z)
         20,000,000 shares have been (or will be) designated as Series F
         Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, none of which shares were issued and
         outstanding as of September 30, 1996. All such issued and outstanding
         shares are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable
         and not issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any person. No
         such shares of capital stock are held by the Purchaser as treasury
         stock. Neither the Purchaser nor the Acquisition Subsidiary has any
         outstanding subscriptions, options or other agreements or commitments
         obligating it to issue shares of its capital stock, other than options
         granted under one or more of the Purchaser's stock incentive and option
         plans, of which options covering an aggregate of 689,900 shares were
         outstanding on September 30, 1996. There are no shareholders, buy-sell,
         voting or other similar agreements or commitments affecting the voting
         or

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
         transferability of any such shares, of which the Purchaser has actual
         knowledge, except as described in the Registration Statement referred
         to in Section 6.3.

                  6.3. REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Purchaser has filed
         all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934, as amended. The Purchaser has delivered to the
         Shareholders true and complete copies of (i) its Registration Statement
         on Form S-1 (No. 333-05545) relating to the initial public offering of
         the Purchaser's Class A Common Stock, and (ii) its Quarterly Report on
         Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1996, both as filed
         with the Securities and Exchange Commission (collec tively, "SEC
         Filings"). In addition, the Purchaser will deliver to the Shareholders
         a true and complete copy of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         quarterly period ended September 30, 1996, promptly after the filing
         thereof. As of their respective dates, the SEC Filings did not, and
         such Form 10-Q at September 30, 1996 will not, contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
         light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
         All of the financial statements included in the SEC Filings are or will
         be (as the case may be) true and correct in all material respects, have
         been (or will be) prepared in accordance with the books and records of
         the Purchaser and its subsidiaries, and present (or will present)
         fairly the consolidated financial positions of the Purchaser and its
         subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the consolidated results of
         their operations for the periods then ended in accordance with
         generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

                  6.4. NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since June 30, 1996, there
         has not been any material adverse change in the financial condition,
         operations, properties or prospects of the Purchaser and its
         consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  6.5. AUTHORITY. The execution, delivery and performance by the
         Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary of this Agree ment and the
         documents contemplated in this Agreement to be executed and delivered
         by them have been duly authorized by their respective Boards of
         Directors. This Agreement is, and upon their execution and delivery as
         herein provided such other documents will be, valid and binding upon
         the Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary and enforceable against
         each of them in accordance with their respective terms. Neither the
         execution, delivery or performance by the Purchaser or the Acquisition
         Subsidiary of this Agreement or any such other document will conflict
         with or result in a violation or breach of any term or provision of,
         nor constitute a default under, the Amended and Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation or Bylaws of the Purchaser or the Articles of
         Incorporation or Bylaws of the Acquisition Subsidiary, or under any
         indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other contract or agreement to
         which the Purchaser or the Acquisition Subsidiary is a party or by
         which they or their respective properties are bound, except for such
         contracts and commitments for which all necessary consents have been
         duly and validly obtained, or violate any order, writ, injunction or
         decree of any court, administrative agency or governmental body, except
         for the CDCA Consent. Consummation of the transactions contemplated by
         this Agreement will not require the consent or approval of

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
         the stockholders of the Purchaser, under the laws of the State of
         Delaware, under applicable rules and regulations of the National
         Association of Securities Dealers, or otherwise.

                  6.6. NO MATERIAL DEFAULTS OR LITIGATION. There exists no
         material default by the Purchaser or any of its consolidated
         Subsidiaries under its senior credit agreement or any other material
         agreement to which the Purchaser or any such Subsidiary is a party, or
         any pending or, to the Purchaser's knowledge, threatened, claim,
         action, suit, proceeding or investigation against the Purchaser or any
         such subsidiary, any of which would reasonably be expected to have a
         material adverse effect on the financial condition, operations,
         properties or prospects of the Purchaser and such Subsidiaries taken as
         a whole. The Purchaser is not in default in the payment of dividends on
         its preferred stock which require the payment of dividends.

                  6.7. FULL DISCLOSURE. The representations and warranties made
         by the Purchaser hereunder or in any certificate furnished to the
         Shareholders pursuant hereto or thereto, do not and will not contain
         any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
         fact required to be stated herein or therein necessary to make the
         representations or warranties herein or therein, in light of the
         circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

                  6.8. FINDERS. Except as described in Section 13.1, neither the
         Purchaser nor the Acquisition Subsidiary is a party to or in any way
         obligated under any contract or other agreement, and there are no
         outstanding claims against either of them, for the payment of any
         broker's or finder's fee in connection with the origin, negotiation,
         execution or per formance of this Agreement.

                  6.9. DISCLAIMER OF RELIANCE. The representations and
         warranties of the Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary herein or in
         any certificates furnished to the Shareholders pursuant hereto are the
         only representations and warranties upon which the Shareholders are
         relying in connection with the transactions described herein. The
         Shareholders are experienced and sophisticated in transactions of this
         nature. No statement, assurance or other action by any other person or
         entity, whether or not an employee, affiliate, agent or other
         representation of the Purchaser or the Acquisition Subsidiary, shall be
         deemed to be a representation or warranty upon which any Shareholder
         may rely unless the same shall be set forth herein or pursuant hereto.

                  7. COVENANTS PENDING CLOSING.

                  7.1. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SHAREHOLDERS. The
         Company and the Shareholders jointly and severally covenant and agree
         with the Purchaser that:

                           (a) CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. From the date of this
                  Agreement to the Closing Date, the business of the Company and
                  each Subsidiary will be operated only in the ordinary course,
                  and, in particular, without the prior written consent of the
                  Purchaser, the Company will not, and the Shareholders will not
                  cause or allow the Company to, and neither the Company nor any
                  Shareholder will cause or allow any Subsidiary to, do any the
                  following:

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
                                    (i) cancel or permit any insurance to lapse
                           or terminate, unless renewed or replaced by like
                           coverage;

                                    (ii) amend or otherwise modify its Articles
                           of Incorporation or Bylaws;

                                    (iii) issue or enter into any subscriptions,
                           options, agreements or other commitments in respect
                           of the issuance, transfer, sale or encumbrance of any
                           shares of capital stock of the Company or any
                           Subsidiary, except for the acquisition by Wilson &
                           Kratzer of the Steiner Shares as described in Section
                           8.1(n);

                                    (iv) take any action described in Section
                           5.8;

                                    (v) enter into any contract, agreement or
                           other commitment of the type described in Sec tion
                           5.13, except for (1) the sale of the assets of
                           Brown-Wilson and its dissolution as described in
                           Section 8.1(m), and the sale by the Subsidiaries to
                           the Shareholders for consideration consisting only of
                           cash, without recourse or warranty to such
                           Subsidiary, of those assets described on Schedule
                           7.1(a), (2) the acquisition of the Grant Real
                           Property and the Danville Property, and (3) the sale
                           of four (4) residences owned by Rolling Hills located
                           on Alhambra Avenue, El Sobrante, California.

                                    (vi) hire, fire, reassign or make any other
                           change in key personnel of the Company, or increase
                           the rate of compensation of or declare or pay any
                           bonuses to any employee in excess of that listed on
                           Schedule 5.21, other than year-end bonuses consistent
                           with past practices; or

                                    (vii) take any other action which would
                           cause any of the representations and warranties made
                           in Section 5 hereof not to be true and correct in all
                           material respects on and as of the Closing Date with
                           the same force and effect as if the same had been
                           made on and as of the Closing Date.

                           (b) ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Prior to Closing, the
                  Company will give to the Purchaser and its counsel,
                  accountants and other representatives, full and free ac cess
                  to all of the properties, books, contracts, commit ments and
                  records of the Company and the Subsidiaries so that the
                  Purchaser may have full opportunity to make such investigation
                  as it shall desire to make of the affairs of the Company and
                  each Subsidiary.

                           (c) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. The Company and the
                  Shareholders will use their best efforts to obtain the
                  necessary consents and approvals of other persons which may be
                  required to be obtained on their part to consum mate the
                  transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                           (d) NO SHOP. For so long as this Agreement remains in
                  effect, neither the Company nor any Shareholder shall enter
                  into any agreements or commitments, or initiate,

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
                  solicit or encourage any offers, proposals or expressions of
                  interest, or otherwise hold any discussions with or respond to
                  any inquiries or expressions of interest with any potential
                  buyers, investors investment bankers or finders, with respect
                  to the possible sale or other disposition of all or any
                  substantial portion of the assets and business of the Company
                  or any Subsidiary or any other sale of the Company or any
                  Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of any
                  shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or
                  otherwise), other than with the Purchaser and the Acquisition
                  Subsidiary as contemplated in this Agreement. If, during such
                  period, the Company or any Shareholder receives an inquiry or
                  expression of interest regarding any such transaction, the
                  Company or such Shareholder, as the case may be, shall
                  promptly notify the Purchaser of such fact; provided that the
                  foregoing shall not require that the source of such expression
                  of interest be disclosed.

                  7.2. COVENANTS OF THE PURCHASER AND THE ACQUISITION
         SUBSIDIARY. The Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary jointly and
         severally covenant with the Shareholders that:

                           (a) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. The Purchaser and the
                  Acquisition Subsidiary will use their best efforts to obtain
                  the necessary consents and approvals of other persons which
                  may be required to be obtained on their part to consummate the
                  transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

                           (b) SERIES F PREFERRED STOCK. From the date of this
                  Agreement to the Closing Date: the Purchaser will not cause or
                  permit any amendment or modification to the Series F
                  Designation as in effect on the date of this Agreement and in
                  the form delivered to the Shareholders pursuant to Section
                  6.1, nor shall the Purchaser issue to any person, other than
                  to the Shareholders pursuant to this Agreement, any shares of
                  Series F Preferred Stock, nor shall the Purchaser issue any
                  shares of capital stock or take any action which would be
                  prohibited under the provisions of, or would require the
                  consent of the holders of, the Series F Preferred Stock, had
                  the Series F Preferred Stock been issued and outstanding on
                  the date hereof.

                  7.3. MUTUAL COVENANTS. Each party agrees with one another
         that:

                           (a) CONFIDENTIALITY. Prior to the Closing, such party
                  will hold in confidence any data and information obtained with
                  respect to the other party or parties from any representative,
                  officer, director or employee thereof, including their
                  accountants or legal counsel, or from any books or records of
                  any of them, in connection with the transactions contemplated
                  by this Agreement, except that such party may disclose such
                  information to its outside attorneys and accountants and to
                  its lenders, provided that the disclosing party shall remain
                  responsi ble to the other parties for any unauthorized
                  disclosure thereof by such attorneys, accountants or lenders.
                  If the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated,
                  no party in receipt of such information shall disclose such
                  data or information to others, except as such data or
                  information is published or is a matter of public

                                      -27-
<PAGE>
                  knowledge or is required by an applicable law or regula tion
                  to be disclosed. If this Agreement is terminated for any
                  reason, any party receiving such confidential information
                  shall return to the party which provided it all such data and
                  information so obtained which is in written form.

                           (b) PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. Any public announcement
                  with respect to this Agreement or the transactions con
                  templated hereby will be issued, if at all, at such time and
                  in such manner as may be determined by the Purchaser. Unless
                  consented to by the Purchaser in advance, prior to the Closing
                  neither the Company nor any Shareholder shall (and the Company
                  shall not cause or permit any Subsidiary to) make any public
                  announcement or disclosure of this Agreement or such
                  transactions. The Purchaser and the Shareholders shall consult
                  with one another concerning the means by which the employees,
                  customers and suppliers of the Company and the Subsidiaries
                  will be informed of such transactions, and representatives of
                  the Purchaser shall have the right to be present for any such
                  communication.

                           (c) HART-SCOTT-RODINO. The Company, as the "ulti mate
                  parent entity" of the acquired person (as defined in the
                  Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
                  amended, hereafter the "HSR Act") shall promptly pre pare and
                  cause to be filed a premerger notification and report under
                  the HSR Act, and the Purchaser, as the "ultimate parent
                  entity" of the acquiring person, shall promptly prepare and
                  cause to be filed a premerger notification and report under
                  the HSR Act. The Purchaser shall bear sole responsibility for
                  the cost of the filing fee due under ss.605 of PL 101-162 (103
                  Stat 1031), as amended by PL 103-317 (108 Stat 1724). Each
                  such party shall request early termination in connection
                  therewith and shall promptly respond to any inquiries of the
                  Federal Trade Commission or Department of Justice in
                  connection with such filings and shall coordinate the
                  foregoing with one another.

                           (d) DANVILLE PROPERTY. At the Closing, and subject to
                  the conditions herein specified, the Purchaser shall pay to
                  BWB the sum of $669,647. From the date of this Agreement
                  through the Closing, the Shareholders shall keep the Purchaser
                  advised regarding the progress of the renovation and
                  refurbishing of the improvements on the Danville Property. In
                  addition, the Shareholders shall provide the Purchaser with
                  periodic estimates of expenses incurred or to be incurred
                  after October 11, 1996 in connection with such renovation and
                  refurbishing ("Interim Expenses"), and for purposes of the
                  Purchaser's expense reimbursement obligation set forth below,
                  such estimates shall be subject to the Purchaser's approval,
                  which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
                  At the Closing, the Purchaser shall also pay, as a portion of
                  the Merger Consideration under Section 3.1(C)(a), all Interim
                  Expenses which have been so approved in advance by the
                  Purchaser.

                  8. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

                  8.1. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASER AND THE
         ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY. The obligations of the Purchaser and

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
         the Acquisition Subsidiary under this Agreement shall be sub ject to
         the following conditions, any of which may be express ly waived by the
         Purchaser in writing:

                           (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES TRUE; COVENANTS
                  PERFORMED. The Purchaser shall not have discovered any
                  material error, misstatement or omission in the
                  representations and warranties made by the Shareholders in
                  Section 5 hereof; the representations and warranties made by
                  the Shareholders herein shall be deemed to have been made
                  again at and as of the time of Closing and shall then be true
                  and correct; the Company and the Shareholders shall have
                  performed and complied with all agreements and conditions
                  required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by
                  them at or prior to the Closing; and the Purchaser shall have
                  received a certifi cate, signed by the Shareholders and an
                  executive officer of the Company, to the effect of the
                  foregoing provisions of this Section 8.1(a).

                           (b) OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL. The Shareholders shall
                  have caused to be delivered to the Purchaser an opinion of
                  Freeland, Cooper, LeHocky & Hamburg, legal counsel for the
                  Company, the Subsidiaries and the Shareholders, dated the
                  Closing Date, in substantially the form attached as Exhibit F.

                           (c) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. The Company and the
                  Shareholders shall have obtained all consents and approvals of
                  other persons and governmental authorities to the transactions
                  contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the
                  generality of the foregoing, the lessor under the Greer Lease
                  shall have delivered to the Purchaser a written instrument
                  pursuant to which such lessor (x) consents to the transactions
                  hereunder (or certifies that such consent is not required) and
                  (y) represents to the Purchaser that the Greer Lease is in
                  full force and effect and that neither it nor, to its
                  knowledge, Wilson & Kratzer is in default thereunder.

                           (d) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Prior to the Closing
                  there shall not have occurred any loss or damage to the assets
                  and properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, including
                  (without limitation) any of the Real Property or any
                  improvements located thereon (regardless of whether such loss
                  or damage was insured), or any other event or condition, the
                  effect of which could reasonably be expected to have a
                  material adverse effect on the condition, business, operations
                  or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a
                  whole. The foregoing shall not be construed to include (i)
                  events or conditions affecting the United States economy or
                  the funeral/cemetery industry in general, or (ii) the
                  consummation or failure to consummate any transaction
                  unrelated to the transactions hereunder.

                           (e) RELATED TRANSACTIONS. The Shareholders shall have
                  executed and delivered to the Purchaser the Registration
                  Agreement; each of Wilson and Boyer shall have executed and
                  delivered to the Acquisition Subsidiary their respective
                  Employment Agreements and their respec tive Non-Competition
                  Agreements; Wilson shall have exe cuted and delivered his plan
                  adoption agreement pursuant to the terms of the Program; the
                  Shareholders shall have

                                      -29-
<PAGE>
                  executed and delivered the Co-Sale Agreement; the Related
                  Partnership shall have conveyed fee simple title to the Grant
                  Real Property to Wilson & Kratzer in the manner specified in
                  Section 4.2(g); and BWB shall have conveyed to Wilson &
                  Kratzer the Danville Property and the Danville Agreements in
                  the manner specified in Section 4.2(h).

                           (f) ENVIRONMENTAL, OSHA AND STRUCTURAL REPORTS. There
                  shall have been conducted, at the Purchaser's expense, (i) a
                  Phase I (and, if deemed necessary by Purchaser, a Phase II)
                  environmental audit of each parcel of Real Property by an
                  environmental consulting firm selected by Purchaser, (ii) a
                  health and safety inspection of each Home and each building on
                  the Cemetery by a person (who may be an employee of the
                  Purchaser) or firm selected by the Purchaser and who is
                  qualified and experienced in such matters in the funeral
                  service indus try, and (iii) a structural inspection of each
                  Home and each building on the Cemetery by an engineering firm
                  selected by the Purchaser. The Shareholders agree to take the
                  action (and pay any costs in taking such action) as may be
                  reasonably recommended by such firms and/or persons, up to
                  $10,000 in the aggregate at any Home or at the Cemetery, as
                  the case may be. In any event, it shall be a condition to the
                  Purchaser's obligations hereunder that the results of the
                  reports of such firms or persons (together with any remedial
                  action, if any, taken by Shareholders, regardless of the cost,
                  in response there to) shall be satisfactory to Purchaser in
                  its sole discretion.

                           (g) TITLE INSURANCE. The Shareholders shall have
                  provided to the Acquisition Subsidiary a Leasehold Policy of
                  Title Insurance (with respect to the Greer Real Property) and
                  one or more Owner's Policies of Title Insurance (with respect
                  to all other Real Property) issued to the applicable
                  Subsidiary in agreed-upon amounts, issued by one or more title
                  companies with offices in Contra Costa or Alameda County,
                  California and reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser (whether
                  one or more, the "Title Company"), insuring the applicable
                  Subsidiary's leasehold or ownership interest (as the case may
                  be) in the Real Property, subject only to the Per mitted Liens
                  and any standard printed exceptions included in a California
                  standard form Policy of Title Insurance; provided, however,
                  that such policy shall have deleted any exception regarding
                  restrictions or be limited to restrictions that are Permitted
                  Liens, any standard exception pertaining to discrepancies,
                  conflicts or shortages in area shall be deleted except for
                  "shortages in area", and any standard exception for taxes
                  shall be limited to subsequent years. The Purchaser and the
                  Shareholders shall each bear one-half the cost of issuing such
                  policies of title insurance under this paragraph (g) and for
                  the surveys under paragraph (h) below, provided that in no
                  event shall the Shareholders' aggregate share of such costs
                  exceed $35,000.

                           (h) SURVEY. The Purchaser shall have received an
                  ALTA/ACSM survey prepared by a licensed surveyor approved by
                  the Purchaser and acceptable to the Title Company, with
                  respect to each parcel of Real Property, which survey shall
                  comply with any applicable standards under

                                      -30-
<PAGE>
                  California law, be sufficient for Title Company to delete any
                  survey exception contained in each applicable policy of title
                  insurance referred to in Section 8.1(g), save and except for
                  the phrase "shortages in area", and otherwise be in form and
                  content acceptable to the Purchaser.

                           (i) ZONING. The Purchaser shall have received a
                  letter or other acceptable form of communication from a
                  responsible officer of each of the municipalities or other
                  governmental authorities having jurisdiction over zoning
                  ordinances or regulations of all or substantially all of the
                  Real Property, or an opinion of counsel for the Company,
                  indicating the zoning classification for each such parcel,
                  affirmatively stating that the use thereof as funeral homes or
                  as a cemetery, as the case may be, complies with such
                  classification.

                           (j) RELIANCE LETTERS. The Purchaser shall have
                  received a letter or other written instrument acceptable in
                  form and substance to the Purchaser from each of Alphonse
                  deRoo & Associates and Hood and Strong, pursuant to which such
                  firms permit the Purchaser to rely upon their respective
                  review or compilation reports (as the case may be) referred to
                  in Section 5.5 and waive any requirement or defense of privity
                  in connection therewith.

                           (k) LIEN RELEASES. The holders of the Liens against
                  any assets of the Company, including any of the Real Property
                  (other than Permitted Liens, the vehicle lease described on
                  Schedule 5.9 and any Liens securing Closing Date Liabilities
                  which are deducted from the Merger Consideration under Section
                  3.1(c)(A)) shall have executed and delivered written releases
                  of such Liens, all in recordable form and otherwise acceptable
                  to the Purchaser.

                           (l) SCHEDULE DELIVERY. The Purchaser shall have
                  received those schedules identified on the Exhibit/Schedule
                  Page as "To Be Delivered," together with a certificate of the
                  Shareholders certifying that the same are true and complete,
                  on or before the 15th business day after the date hereof, and
                  within ten (10) (10) business days thereafter the Purchaser
                  shall not have evidenced its disapproval of any of such
                  schedules (or the information disclosed therein) by written
                  notice to such effect delivered to the Shareholders.

                           (m) BROWN & WILSON. All of the assets of Brown &
                  Wilson shall have been conveyed and transferred to one or more
                  of the Shareholders (or another person designated by them),
                  and Brown & Wilson shall have been dissolved and liquidated,
                  in accordance with the laws of the State of California,
                  without any further liabilities or obligations continuing
                  after the Closing Date.

                           (n) STEINER SHARES. Wilson & Kratzer shall have duly
                  and validly acquired all of the Steiner Shares, for a
                  consideration payable solely in cash, with the result that
                  Wilson & Kratzer shall become a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
                  Company.

                                      -31-
<PAGE>
                  8.2. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY AND THE
         SHAREHOLDERS. The obligations of the Company and the Share holders
         under this Agreement shall be subject to the following conditions, any
         of which may be expressly waived by the Shareholders in writing:

                           (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES TRUE; COVENANTS
                  PERFORMED. The Shareholders shall not have discovered any
                  material error, misstatement or omission in the
                  representations and warranties made by the Purchaser and the
                  Acquisition Subsidiary in Section 6 hereof; the
                  representations and warranties made by the Purchaser and the
                  Acquisition Subsidiary herein shall be deemed to have been
                  made again at and as of the time of Closing and shall then be
                  true and correct; the Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary
                  shall have performed and complied with all agreements and
                  conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or
                  complied with by them at or prior to the Closing; and the
                  Shareholders shall have received a certificate, signed by an
                  executive officer of each of the Purchaser and the Acquisition
                  Subsidiary, to the effect of the foregoing provisions of this
                  Section 8.2(a).

                           (b) OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL. The Purchaser shall
                  have caused to be delivered to the Shareholders an opinion of
                  Snell & Smith, A Professional Corporation, legal counsel for
                  the Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary, in substantially
                  the form attached as Exhibit G.

                           (c) OPINION OF TAX COUNSEL. The Purchaser shall have
                  caused to be delivered to the Shareholders an opinion of
                  Arthur Andersen, L.L.P., tax counsel for the Purchaser and the
                  Acquisition Subsidiary, in form and substance reasonably
                  acceptable to the Shareholders, to the effect that the Series
                  F Preferred Stock constitutes "stock" for purposes of Code
                  Section 368(a)(2)(D).

                           (d) CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. The Purchaser and the
                  Acquisition Subsidiary shall have obtained all consents and
                  approvals of other persons and governmental authori ties to
                  the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                           (e) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Prior to the Closing
                  there shall not have occurred any event or condition, the
                  effect of which could reasonably be expected to have a
                  material adverse effect on the condition, business, operations
                  or prospects of the Purchaser and its consolidated
                  subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The foregoing shall not be
                  construed to include (i) events or conditions affecting the
                  United States economy or the funeral/cemetery industry in
                  general, or (ii) the consummation or failure to consummate any
                  transaction unrelated to this transaction.

                           (f) RELATED TRANSACTIONS. The Purchaser shall have
                  executed and delivered to the Shareholders the Registration
                  Agreement; the number of positions on the Purchaser's Board of
                  Directors shall have been increased by one (1) and Wilson
                  shall have been elected to the vacancy created by such
                  increase; the Acquisition Subsidiary shall have executed and
                  delivered the Employment Agreements and the Non-Competition
                  Agreements

                                      -32-
<PAGE>
                  to each of Wilson and Boyer; the Acquisition Subsidiary shall
                  have established the Program and executed and delivered to
                  Wilson his plan adoption agreement thereunder; and the
                  Carriage Stockholders shall have executed and delivered the
                  Co-Sale Agreement.

                           (g) MARKET PRICE. The Trading Price (as defined in
                  the Series F Designation) as of the second trading day
                  immediately preceding the Closing Date shall not be less than
                  $15.00 per share of Class A Common Stock.

                           (h) NO CHANGE IN CONTROL. The Purchaser shall not
                  have announced, or entered into any agreement for, a
                  transaction involving the sale of all or substantially all of
                  its assets, the merger or consolidation of the Purchaser with
                  an unaffiliated entity in which the Purchaser will not be the
                  survivor, the sale of more than 50% of the voting control of
                  the Purchaser's fully diluted Class A Common Stock, or any
                  other equivalent change in control transaction.

                           (i) NO CHANGE IN TAX LAW. There shall not have been
                  between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date (i)
                  any change in the Code or the Revenue Regulations promulgated
                  thereunder, or (ii) any pronouncement by the Internal Revenue
                  Service to the effect that a change in the interpretation of
                  the Code or such regulations has occurred, in any case which,
                  solely by virtue of such change, the Merger shall not qualify
                  as a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section
                  368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.

                  8.3.     MUTUAL CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.  The respective obli
         gations of each of the parties under this Agreement shall be
         subject to the following mutual conditions, which may be
         waived only by the unanimous agreement of all parties:

                           (a) HSR ACT. Any person required in connection with
                  the transactions contemplated hereby to file a notification
                  and report form in compliance with the HSR Act shall have
                  filed such form and the applicable waiting period with respect
                  to each such form (including any extension thereof by reason
                  of a request for additional information) shall have expired or
                  been terminated.

                           (b) CLOSING CERTIFICATES. The Company, the Purchaser
                  and the Acquisition Subsidiary shall have executed and
                  delivered to each other such certificates as to the incumbency
                  of its officers who are executing and delivering documents
                  hereunder and as to the adoption of resolutions by its
                  directors and (where applicable) shareholders, and shall have
                  provided certificates of public officials certifying as to
                  their existence and good standing, all as shall be reasonably
                  requested by the other parties hereunder.

                           (c)      NO INJUNCTIONS.  There shall not have been
                  entered or issued any injunction, writ or order of a
                  court of competent jurisdiction which prohibits or
                  substantially limits the consummation of the transactions
                  contemplated by this Agreement.

                  9. NATURE AND SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

                                      -33-
<PAGE>
                  9.1. NATURE OF STATEMENTS. All statements contained in this
         Agreement or any Schedule or Exhibit hereto shall be deemed
         representations and warranties of the party executing or delivering the
         same.

                  9.2. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Regard less
         of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of any party
         hereto, all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made
         hereunder or pursuant hereto or any Schedule or Exhibit hereto or in
         connection with the trans actions contemplated hereby and thereby shall
         not terminate but shall survive the Closing and continue in effect
         thereafter.

                  10. INDEMNIFICATION.

                  10.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE SHAREHOLDERS. THE SHAREHOLDERS
         JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE
         PURCHASER AND (FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER) THE
         SURVIVING CORPORATION, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS,
         FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS,
         COSTS OR EXPENSES (ANY ONE SUCH ITEM BEING HEREIN CALLED A "LOSS" AND
         ALL SUCH ITEMS BEING HEREIN COLLECTIVELY CALLED "LOSSES") WHICH ARE
         CAUSED BY OR ARISE OUT OF (I) ANY BREACH OR DEFAULT IN THE PERFORMANCE
         BY THE COMPANY OR ANY SHAREHOLDER OF ANY COVENANT OR AGREEMENT OF THE
         COMPANY OR THE SHAREHOLDERS CONTAINED IN THIS AGREE MENT, (II) ANY
         BREACH OF WARRANTY OR INACCURATE OR ERRONEOUS REPRESENTATION MADE BY
         ANY SHAREHOLDER HEREIN, IN ANY SCHEDULE DELIVERED TO THE PURCHASER
         PURSUANT HERETO OR IN ANY CERTIFI CATE OR OTHER INSTRUMENT DELIVERED BY
         OR ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY OR ANY SHAREHOLDER PURSUANT HERETO, (III)
         ANY CLOSING DATE LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY OF ANY KIND
         OR NATURE, WHETHER ABSOLUTE OR CONTINGENT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, TO THE
         EXTENT NOT PAID OR DISCHARGED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME OF THE MERGER
         OR NOT DISCLOSED PURSUANT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF THE SHAREHOLDERS
         DELIVERED TO THE PURCHASER AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 3.7, (IV) ANY CLAIMS,
         ACTIONS, SUITES, PROCEEDINGS OR INVESTIGATIONS DISCLOSED ON SCHEDULE
         5.18, (V) ANY LIABILITIES OR OBLIGATIONS OF ANY NATURE RELATING TO THE
         OPERATION OR OWNERSHIP OF BROWN & WILSON, AND (VI) ANY AND ALL ACTIONS,
         SUITS, PROCEEDINGS, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, JUDGMENTS, COSTS AND EXPENSES
         (INCLUDING REASONABLE LEGAL FEES) INCIDENT TO ANY OF THE FOREGOING.

                  10.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE PURCHASER. THE PUR CHASER AND THE
         ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND
         HOLD HARMLESS THE SHAREHOLDERS AND THEIR HEIRS AND ASSIGNS FROM AND
         AGAINST ANY LOSSES WHICH ARE CAUSED BY OR ARISE OUT OF (I) ANY BREACH
         OR DEFAULT IN THE PERFORMANCE BY THE PURCHASER OR THE ACQUISITION
         SUBSIDIARY OF ANY COVENANT OR AGREEMENT OF THE PURCHASER OR THE
         ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, (II) ANY BREACH OF
         WARRANTY OR INACCURATE OR ERRONEOUS REPRESENTATION MADE BY THE
         PURCHASER OR THE ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY HEREIN OR IN ANY

                                      -34-
<PAGE>
         CERTIFICATE OR OTHER INSTRUMENT DELIVERED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE
         PURCHASER OR THE ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY PURSUANT HERETO, (III) ANY
         CLOSING DATE LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY WHICH HAS BEEN
         DEDUCTED FROM THE CASH PORTION OF THE MERGER CONSIDERATION PURSUANT TO
         SECTION 3.1(C) OR ANY LIABILITY OF THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY WHICH
         IS DESCRIBED IN CLAUSES (I) THROUGH (IV) OF SECTION 3.7, AND (IV) ANY
         AND ALL ACTIONS, SUITS, PROCEEDINGS, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, JUDGMENTS, COSTS
         AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING REASONABLE LEGAL FEES) INCIDENT TO ANY OF THE
         FOREGOING.

                  10.3. THIRD PARTY CLAIMS. If any third person asserts a claim
         against a party entitled to indemnification hereunder ("indemnified
         party") that, if successful, might result in a claim for
         indemnification against another party hereunder ("indemnifying party"),
         the indemnifying party shall be given prompt written notice thereof and
         shall have the right (i) to participate in the defense thereof and be
         repre sented, at its own expense, by advisory counsel selected by it,
         and (ii) to approve any settlement if the indemnifying party is, or
         will be, required to pay any amounts in connec tion therewith, which
         approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Notwithstanding
         the foregoing, if within ten (10) business days after delivery of the
         indemnified party's notice described above, the indemnifying party
         indicates in writing to the indemnified party that, as between such
         parties, such claims shall be fully indemnified for by the indemnifying
         party as provided herein, then the indem nifying party shall have the
         right to control the defense of such claim, provided that the
         indemnified party shall have the right (i) to participate in the
         defense thereof and be repre sented, at its own expenses, by advisory
         counsel selected by it, and (ii) to approve any settlement if the
         indemnified party's interests are, or would be, affected thereby.

                  11. TERMINATION.

                  11.1. BEST EFFORTS TO SATISFY CONDITIONS. The Company and the
         Shareholders agree to use their best efforts to bring about the
         satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 8.1 hereof; and the
         Purchaser and the Acquisition Subsidiary agree to use their best
         efforts to bring about the satisfaction of the conditions specified in
         Section 8.2 hereof.

                  11.2. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated prior to
         Closing by:

                           (a) the mutual written consent of the Shareholders
                  and the Purchaser;

                           (b) the Purchaser if a material default shall be made
                  by the Company or any Shareholder in the observance or in the
                  due and timely performance by any of their covenants herein
                  contained, or if there shall have been a material breach or
                  misrepresentation by the Company or any Shareholder of any of
                  their warranties and representations herein contained, or if
                  the conditions of this Agreement to be complied with or
                  performed by the Company or any Shareholder at or before the
                  Closing shall not have been complied with or performed at the
                  time required for such compliance or performance and such

                                      -35-
<PAGE>
                  noncompliance or nonperformance shall not have been expressly
                  waived by the Purchaser in writing;

                           (c) the Shareholders if a material default shall be
                  made by the Purchaser or the Acquisition Subsidiary in the
                  observance or in the due and timely performance by the
                  Purchaser or the Acquisition Subsidiary of any of their
                  covenants herein contained, or if there shall have been a
                  material breach or misrepresentation by the Purchaser or the
                  Acquisition Subsidiary of any of their warranties and
                  representations herein contained, or if the conditions of this
                  Agreement to be complied with or performed by the Purchaser
                  and the Acquisition Subsidiary at or before the Closing shall
                  not have been complied with or performed at the time required
                  for such compli ance or performance and such noncompliance or
                  nonper formance shall not have been expressly waived by the
                  Shareholders in writing; or

                           (d) either the Shareholders or the Purchaser, if the
                  Closing has not occurred by January 10, 1997.

                  11.3. LIABILITY UPON TERMINATION. If this Agreement is
         terminated under paragraph (a) or (d) of Section 11.2, then no party
         shall have any liability to any other parties here under. If this
         Agreement is terminated under paragraph (b) or (c) of Section 11.2,
         then (i) the party so terminating this Agreement shall not have any
         liability to any other party hereto, provided the terminating party has
         not breached any representation or warranty or failed to comply with
         any of its covenants in this Agreement, and (ii) such termination shall
         not prejudice the rights and remedies of the terminating party against
         any other party which has breached any of its representations,
         warranties or covenants herein prior to such termination.

                  12. POST-CLOSING COVENANTS.

                  12.1. TAX MATTERS. The Shareholders shall be fully responsible
         for all federal, state and local taxes (including, but not limited to,
         income taxes) of the Company accrued through the Closing and for
         completing, filing and handling all tax returns and reports in respect
         in of all periods through Closing and consummation of the Merger,
         including responding to any inquiries, examinations or audits regarding
         such taxes, returns and reports. Without limiting the generality of the
         foregoing, the Shareholders will cause the preparation of a
         short-period federal income tax return for the Company's current year
         through the Closing Date (after which time the Surviving Corporation
         and the Subsidiaries will be included as part of the consolidated group
         of which the Purchaser is the parent corporation), and the Shareholders
         shall pay or cause to be paid all federal income taxes in respect
         thereof. Without limiting the generality of the "Losses" for which the
         Purchaser and the Surviving Corporation shall be indemnified against
         under Section 10.1, such indemnity shall additionally include all
         Losses arising from (i) all federal, state and local taxes associated
         with the operation of the Company and the Subsidiaries and the
         ownership of their assets for all periods prior to the Effective Time
         of the Merger, together with any fees, interest, fines or penalties
         associated therewith, (ii) all returns and reports filed in respect of
         all such taxes, and (iii) any federal and state income tax liability
         (less the net

                                      -36-
<PAGE>
         present value of any realized net federal income tax benefits) arising
         from any disallowance of the Merger as a "reorganization" within the
         meaning of Code Section 368(a)(1)(A), other than resulting from a
         violation of the Purchaser's covenants under Section 12.4.

                  12.2. EMPLOYEE MATTERS. At Closing, the Shareholders will
         cause the Company to pay or satisfy all vacation, holiday and other
         accrued benefits to employees of the Company and the Subsidiaries which
         are then outstanding. Following the Closing, the Shareholders shall be
         fully responsible for funding all necessary contributions to each
         pension, profit sharing or other similar employee benefit plan
         described on Schedule 5.22 that is required to be qualified under ERISA
         (collectively, "Pension Plans") for all periods, and following the
         Closing the Shareholders shall take all necessary action to terminate
         the Pension Plans in accordance with applicable law, in connection with
         which the Shareholders shall file all necessary forms and pay all
         appropriate fees, fines, penalties and other sums due in respect
         thereof and make any necessary distributions to plan beneficiaries.
         Without limiting the generality of Section 10.1, the "Losses" against
         which the Purchaser and the Surviving Corporation shall be indemnified
         against shall include all such liabilities, obligations and
         responsibilities arising in connection with the Pension Plans (whether
         arising before or after the Closing). The Shareholders shall keep the
         Purchaser reasonably informed regarding the progress of the
         termination, winding up and distribution of the Pension Plans.

                  12.3. LOCK-UP AGREEMENT. The Shareholders agree with the
         Purchaser and with the managing underwriters of the initial public
         offering of the Purchaser's Class A Common Stock ("Underwriters") that,
         during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on February
         7, 1997, no Shareholder will, without the prior written consent of the
         Purchaser and the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, (i) offer,
         pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to sell,
         grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise
         dispose of or transfer any shares of Purchaser Stock, whether owned on
         the date hereof or hereafter acquired by the Shareholders or with
         respect to which the Shareholders have or thereafter acquire the power
         of disposition, or file any registration statement under the Securities
         Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii)
         enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that
         transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic
         consequence of ownership of the Purchaser Stock, whether any such swap
         or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Purchaser Stock or other
         securities, in cash or otherwise.

                  12.4. NO SALE OF ASSETS. For a period of three (3) years
         following the Closing, the Purchaser shall not cause or allow the
         Surviving Corporation to dispose of a substantial interest in the stock
         of any Subsidiary or cause or allow either Subsidiary to sell or
         otherwise dispose of all or any material portion of its assets to any
         person, other than (in any such case) to another subsidiary included in
         the consolidated group of corporations of which the Purchaser is the
         corporate parent, provided such transferee subsidiary is at the same
         relative tier of ownership as the Subsidiary making such disposition,
         unless the Purchaser shall have first delivered to the Shareholders (i)
         the written opinion

                                      -37-
<PAGE>
         (reasonably acceptable in form and substance to the Shareholders) of
         Arthur Andersen L.L.P. or another "big six" public accounting firm that
         such disposition should not cause a disallowance of the Merger as a
         "reorganization" within the meaning of Code Section 368(a)(1)(A), and
         (ii) the Purchaser's written agreement (reasonably acceptable in form
         and substance to the Shareholders), to indemnify the Shareholders for
         any Losses (including interest, fines, fees and penalties) they may
         suffer as a result of such disallowance due to such disposition.
         Without limiting the generality of the "Losses" for which the
         Shareholders shall be indemnified against hereunder, such indemnity
         shall include any federal and state income tax liability arising from
         any disallowance of the Merger as a "reorganization" within the meaning
         of Code Section 368(a)(1)(A), as a result of such disposition.

                  12.5. CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION. For so long after the
         Closing as the Shareholders hold Purchaser Stock and are eligible to
         dispose of Class A Common Stock in reliance on Rule 144 promulgated
         under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except to the extent that
         Rule 144(k) is available), the Purchaser shall maintain "current public
         information" as required under Rule 144(c) (for as long as Rule 144
         requires such current public information to be so maintained for
         dispositions to be permitted under Rule 144).

                  13. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  13.1. EXPENSES. Regardless of whether the Closing occurs, the
         parties shall pay their own expenses in connection with the
         negotiation, preparation and carrying out of this Agreement and the
         consummation of the transactions contem plated herein. If the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Exhibits hereto are
         consummated, the Company shall have no obligation for, nor shall the
         Company be charged with, any such expenses of the Shareholders. All
         finders' and similar fees and expenses of Thomas Pierce & Co. shall be
         borne solely by the Purchaser, and in no event shall any Shareholder be
         charged or responsible therefor. All sales, transfer, stamp or other
         similar taxes, if any, which may be assessed or charged in connection
         with the transactions hereunder shall be borne by the Shareholders.

                  13.2. NOTICES. All notices, requests, consents and other
         communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
         have been given when personally delivered or three business days
         following the date, mailed, first class, registered or certified mail,
         postage prepaid, as follows:

                           (i) if to the Company or any Shareholder, to:

                                    Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries
                                    455 - 24th Street
                                    Richmond, California 94804
                                    Facsimile: (415) 233-4383

                                    with a copy to:

                                    Freeland, Cooper, LeHocky & Hamburg
                                    150 Spear Street, Suite 1800
                                    San Francisco, California  94105
                                    Attention: Mr. Steven A. Cooper, or
                                               Mrs. Kate C.  Freeland
                                    Facsimile: (415) 495-4332

                                      -38-
<PAGE>
                           (ii)  if to the Purchaser or the Acquisition 
                                 Subsidiary, to:

                                    Carriage Services, Inc.
                                    1300 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1500
                                    Houston, Texas  77056
                                    Attention:  Mr. Melvin C. Payne
                                    Facsimile:  (713)  556-7401

                                    with a copy to:

                                    Snell & Smith, A Professional Corporation
                                    1000 Louisiana, Suite 3650
                                    Houston, Texas  77002
                                    Attention:  Mr. W. Christopher Schaeper
                                    Facsimile:  (713)  651-8010

         or to such other address as shall be given in writing by any party to
         the other parties hereto.

                  13.3. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement may not be assigned by any
         party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties;
         provided, however, that following the Closing the Purchaser or the
         Surviving Corporation may assign its rights hereunder without the
         consent of the Shareholders to a successor-in-interest to the Purchaser
         or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be (whether by merger,
         sale of assets or otherwise).

                  13.4. SUCCESSORS BOUND. Subject to the provisions of Section
         13.3, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
         the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and
         personal representatives.

                  13.5. SECTION AND PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. The section and
         paragraph headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only
         and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

                  13.6. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended only by an
         instrument in writing executed by all of the parties hereto.

                  13.7. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the Exhibits,
         Schedules, certificates and other documents referred to herein,
         constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto, and supersede
         all prior understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof and
         thereof.

                  13.8. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed and
         enforced under and in accordance with and governed by the law of the
         State of California.

                                      -39-
<PAGE>
                  13.9. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
         counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
         which shall constitute the same instrument.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and
delivered as of the date first above written.

                                       THE PURCHASER:

                                       CARRIAGE SERVICES, INC.


                                       By:__________________________
                                          MELVIN C. PAYNE, President

                                       THE ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY:

                                       CARRIAGE FUNERAL SERVICES
                                       OF CALIFORNIA, INC.


                                       By:__________________________
                                          MELVIN C. PAYNE, President

                                       THE COMPANY:

                                       CNM

                                       By:__________________________
                                          MARK F. WILSON, President

                                       THE SHAREHOLDERS:

                                       _____________________________
                                       MARK WILSON

                                       _____________________________
                                       WENDY WILSON BOYER

                                       _____________________________
                                       WARREN A. BROWN, IV

                                      -40-
<PAGE>
                                       THE BOYER FAMILY TRUST DATED
                                       SEPTEMBER 22, 1986


                                       By:__________________________
                                          William Boyer, Trustee


                                       By:__________________________
                                          Wendy Wilson Boyer, Trustee

                                       TRUST B UNDER AGREEMENT DATED
                                       SEPTEMBER 9, 1977


                                       By:__________________________
                                          Marie Dietz, Trustee


                                       By:__________________________
                                          Mark F.  Wilson, Trustee

                                       TRUST C UNDER AGREEMENT DATED
                                       SEPTEMBER 9, 1977


                                       By:__________________________
                                          Marie Dietz, Trustee


                                       By:__________________________
                                          Mark F.  Wilson, Trustee

                                      -41-


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