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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 17, 1996
THE LOEWEN GROUP INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
British Columbia, Canada 0-18429 98-0121376
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
incorporation) Identification No.)
4126 Norland Avenue, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 3S8
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(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 604-299-9321
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N/A
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Exhibit Index is on page 3
Page 1 of 4
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
Pursuant to Form 8-K, General Instructions F, registrant hereby incorporates by
reference the press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
Exhibit No. Description
Exhibit 99 The Loewen Group Inc. Press Release dated October 17,
1996
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: October 18, 1996
THE LOEWEN GROUP INC.
By: /s/ PETER S. HYNDMAN
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Name: Peter S. Hyndman
Title: Corporate Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Sequential
Number Exhibit Page Number
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99 The Loewen Group Inc. 4
Press Release dated October 17, 1996
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EXHIBIT 99
Stock Symbols: Investor Contacts:
NYSE: LWN Paul Wagler, Senior Vice President, Finance
TSE: LWN Dwight Hawes, Vice President, Finance
ME: LWN The Loewen Group Inc.
Tel: (800) 347-7010
Media Contacts:
Dave Laundy, Vice President, Communications
The Loewen Group Inc.
Tel: (604) 293-7857
Thomas C. Franco
Broadgate Consultants, Inc.
(212) 229-2222
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOEWEN GROUP PREVAILS ON NEW YORK FEDERAL COURT MOTION
LOEWEN'S ANTITRUST LAWSUIT AGAINST SCI TO PROCEED
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VANCOUVER, October 17, 1996 -- The Loewen Group Inc. (NYSE, TSE, ME: LWN)
announced today that the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of New York has denied in all respects a motion by Service Corporation
International (SCI) to dismiss, stay or transfer Loewen's pending antitrust
action against SCI and Equity Corporation International, of which SCI owns
approximately 40%.
In its ruling in favor of Loewen, United States District Judge Frederic Block
found that Loewen was not precluded from proceeding with its antitrust lawsuit
in New York challenging the proposed business combination of SCI and Loewen
under the Clayton Act and Section 1 of the Sherman Act. In making its
determination, the court found that SCI's Texas declaratory judgment lawsuit
was anticipatory and preemptive which created sufficient special circumstances
to deny SCI's motion seeking to halt Loewen's New York federal antitrust suit.
Loewen's federal antitrust lawsuit alleges SCI's proposed acquisition of Loewen
would, if successful, substantially lessen competition in the markets for
locally-offered funeral and cemetery services, "pre-need" funeral services, and
the funeral home and cemetery acquisition markets.
The anti-competitive effects of the proposal are being reviewed by the FTC and
have prompted regulatory scrutiny in numerous states, including New York,
Florida, Hawaii, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. In addition,
the Canadian Competition Bureau is investigating the effects of the proposal
under the Canadian Competition Act, and in that respect has made a request for
information from the Company.
