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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 14, 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 5
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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
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Exhibit 99 The Loewen Group Inc. Press Release dated October 14,
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 15, 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 14, 1996
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Stock Symbols: Investor Contacts:
NYSE: LWN Paul Wagler, Senior Vice
TSE: LWN President, Finance
ME: LWN Dwight Hawes,
Vice President, Finance
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
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PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL STARTS ANTITRUST PROBE OF SERVICE CORPORATION'S
PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF LOEWEN GROUP
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VANCOUVER, October 14, 1996 -- The Loewen Group Inc. (NYSE, TSE, ME: LWN)
announced today that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Office of the Attorney
General has commenced an investigation of the proposed acquisition of Loewen by
Service Corporation International (SCI).
In a letter to The Loewen Group, the Deputy Attorney General, Antitrust Section
indicated concern about the potential anticompetitive impact the proposed
acquisition may have in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The letter also
indicated that the Attorney General's office was "very interested in
coordinating its investigation with any investigation that may be conducted by
the FTC." The Office of the Attorney General has authority under the federal
antitrust laws to review potentially anticompetivie mergers that may affect
Pennsylvania's general economy.
The anti-competitive effects of the proposal are already being reviewed by the
FTC and have prompted regulatory scrutiny in numerous states, including New
York, Florida, Hawaii, Texas, California 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.
Last Thursday, Loewen announced that it had filed an antitrust lawsuit in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against SCI
and Equity Corporation International, of
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which SCI owns approximately 40%. The lawsuit alleges SCI's proposed
acquisition 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 complaint
alleges that SCI and Equity Corporation International are "co-conspirators" in
actions that are designed to eliminate Loewen as a competitive factor.
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