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EXHIBIT 99.1
[SCI NEWS LETTERHEAD]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO SELL FRENCH INSURANCE OPERATIONS
AND SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS ESTIMATES
HOUSTON, TEXAS, July 10, 2000 . . . Service Corporation International (NYSE:
SRV), the world's largest funeral and cemetery company, announced today it has
reached an agreement with Mederic Assurances of France to sell Groupe Auxia, the
Company's insurance operations in France. The sale transaction will generate
pretax cash proceeds of 517 million French Francs or approximately $75.1
million, which will be used to further reduce the Company's outstanding debt.
Additionally, 130 million French Francs or $18.3 million was received from Auxia
in the form of a dividend in April 2000.
The sale transaction includes a marketing and distribution agreement with
Mederic Assurances and Zurich France. The marketing and distribution agreement
will provide the Company the uninterrupted ability as well as enhanced
opportunities to continue the sale of prearranged funeral contracts in France.
In 1999, Auxia recorded revenues of $69.3 million. The completion of the sale of
Auxia to Mederic Assurances is subject to various conditions to closing,
including obtaining the approval of French Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Additionally, the Company announced today the sale of its funeral operations in
Northern Ireland which generated pretax cash proceeds in excess of $10 million.
The sale was effective on July 1 and included businesses which performed
approximately 3,000 funeral services per year.
During the first and second quarters of 2000, the Company has focused primarily
on increasing cash flow, paying down debt and reducing overhead costs. The sale
of Auxia and the
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Company's Northern Ireland funeral operations furthers the Company's progress
toward achieving its goal of generating $200 to $300 million in after tax
proceeds in 2000 from the sales of financial and non-core operational assets.
The after tax proceeds associated with the sale of Auxia and the Company's
Northern Ireland operations will be used to further reduce the Company's debt.
Excluding estimated proceeds from the Auxia and Northern Ireland sales
transactions, the Company announced today that its total debt outstanding as of
June 30, 2000, is already within its year-end 2000 targeted range of $3.6
billion to $3.8 billion. This was achieved through the execution of initiatives
resulting in increased cash flows in funeral and cemetery operations, the sale
of certain non-core financial assets and the availability of funds obtained
through the more efficient use of certain of the Company's funeral and cemetery
trusts.
SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS ESTIMATES
The Company also announced today expected diluted earnings per share in the
second quarter of 2000 in the range of $.07 to $.10, before extraordinary gains
on early extinguishments of debt and other non-recurring charges. These amounts
compare to a First Call analyst consensus estimate of $.13 per diluted share.
Factors impacting negatively on expected second quarter earnings include:
o Less than forecasted number of deaths, both internationally and in North
America, particularly for the month of April, causing reduced funeral
revenues and margins.
o Higher interest expense related to non-core asset divestitures that have
not occurred as quickly in 2000 as anticipated, coupled with higher than
expected variable interest rates.
o Continued impact from foreign currency devaluations as compared with
forecasted rates.
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o Higher than forecasted costs associated with trust administration
activities in North America related to efforts to expedite the receipt of
funds due to the Company from certain funeral and cemetery trusts for
services provided and products sold.
o Higher than forecasted technology related costs incurred in North America
to implement new or upgraded cemetery and funeral software systems.
The Company stated its market share in its worldwide funeral operating markets
has essentially remained the same during the second quarter. With the exception
of the specific items described above, expenses were generally in line with
forecasted levels in the second quarter. The Company remains in compliance with
the financial covenants of its debt agreements and continues to work diligently
on the sale of other non-core assets. The revised second quarter earnings per
share estimates reflected above do not include any impact from Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 101, as amended, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements",
published by the SEC last December, which the Company is currently expecting to
adopt in the fourth quarter of 2000.
The Company expects to release full second quarter results on or around August
8, 2000. On the release date, a conference call will be held by the Company to
discuss these results as well as the Company's outlook for the remainder of
2000.
COMMENTING ON THE SALE OF AUXIA AND SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS ESTIMATES, SCI
CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, R. L. WALTRIP, STATED:
"At the beginning of 2000, we dedicated ourselves to paying down debt, reducing
overhead and increasing cash flow. At midyear, we have reduced debt by over $250
million and have reduced total debt to within the range of our $3.6 billion to
$3.8 billion year-end 2000 target level. We will continue to aggressively focus
on debt reduction and increasing operating free cash flow in the last half of
the year as well.
It is important to note our revised second quarter earnings estimates primarily
resulted from factors beyond our control, such as fewer number of deaths, higher
interest rates and currency
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fluctuations. We continue to maintain our market share in our worldwide funeral
markets. Operationally, the roll-out of our Dignity Memorial(TM) national brand
of funeral, burial and cremation services is well into its scheduled
implementation in North America and being well-received in the communities
served by our Company."
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be accompanied by words such
as "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect," "anticipate" or "predict" that
convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based
on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable; however, many important
factors could cause the Company's actual results in the future to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other
documents or oral presentations made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Important
factors which could cause actual results of the Company to differ materially
from those in forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
1) Changes in general economic conditions, both domestically and
internationally, impacting financial markets (e.g. marketable security
values, as well as currency and interest rate fluctuations) that could
negatively affect the Company, particularly but not limited to, levels of
interest expense and negative currency translation effects.
2) Changes in credit relationships impacting the availability of credit.
3) Changes in consumer demand and/or pricing for the Company's products and
services caused by several factors, such as changes in local death rates,
cremation rates, competitive pressures and local economic conditions.
4) The Company's ability to sell preneed heritage cemetery property which is
usually associated with new customers of the Company's cemeteries.
5) The Company's ability to successfully implement ongoing cost reduction
initiatives, as well as changes in domestic and international economic,
political and/or regulatory environments, which could negatively effect the
implementation of the Company's cost reduction initiatives.
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6) The Company's ability to successfully realize the estimated savings
associated with the Company's cost reduction initiatives announced in 1999.
7) The Company's ability to successfully implement certain strategic revenue
and marketing initiatives resulting in increased volume through its
existing facilities.
8) The Company's ability to successfully implement certain strategic cash flow
initiatives, including but not limited to the sale of non-core assets and
the previously announced funeral and cemetery consumer financing program,
which could improve or generate cash flow for the Company and enhance the
Company's ability to reduce debt.
9) Changes in domestic and international political and/or regulatory
environments in which the Company operates, including tax and accounting
policies.
10) The Company's ability to successfully exploit its substantial purchasing
power with certain of the Company's vendors.
The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements
made by the Company.
Service Corporation International is the largest provider of death care services
in the world. As of March 31, 2000, SCI affiliates operated 3,821 funeral
service locations, 525 cemeteries and 198 crematoria in 20 countries on five
continents.
For additional information contact:
Debbie E. Fisher - Director / Investor Relations Tel: (713) 525-9088
Eric D. Tanzberger - Vice President / Investor Relations Tel: (713) 525-7768
Assistant Corporate Controller
Other Service Corporation International and press releases are available through
Company News On-Call by fax, (800) 758-5804, extension 104532, or at
http://www.prnewswire.com or SCI's homepage: http://www.sci-corp.com.
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