LEVITTOWN, Pa., March 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StoneMor Partners L.P. (NYSE:STON) announced today that it was the successful bidder to purchase 9 funeral homes, 12 cemeteries and 2 crematories in Central Florida, North Carolina, Southeastern Pennsylvania and Virginia from Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI). On March 21, 2014, SCI submitted its application to the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") to approve StoneMor's acquisition of certain of these properties. The bidding and approval process was initiated by SCI in connection with the recently completed acquisition of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. by SCI pursuant to an FTC Decision and Order.
Speaking of the potential acquisition, Larry Miller, President & CEO of StoneMor, said, "A number of properties have become available as a result of SCI's acquisition of Stewart, and we had the opportunity to look at them. This transaction is subject to obtaining FTC approval, entering into a final agreement with SCI as well as satisfying the closing conditions, but StoneMor is pleased to be the successful bidder for these properties that are mature and are expected to be cash accretive immediately."
About StoneMor Partners L.P.
StoneMor Partners L.P., headquartered in Levittown, Pennsylvania, is an owner and operator of cemeteries and funeral homes in the United States, with 278 cemeteries and 90 funeral homes in 28 states and Puerto Rico. StoneMor is the only publicly traded deathcare company structured as a partnership. StoneMor's cemetery products and services, which are sold on both a pre-need (before death) and at-need (at death) basis, include: burial lots, lawn and mausoleum crypts, burial vaults, caskets, memorials, and all services which provide for the installation of this merchandise.
For additional information about StoneMor Partners L.P., please visit StoneMor's website, and the Investors section, at www.stonemor.com. Information on StoneMor's website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and does not constitute a part of this press release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, information regarding the status and progress of our operating activities, the plans and objectives of our management, assumptions regarding our future performance and plans, and any financial guidance provided, as well as certain information in our other filings with the SEC and elsewhere are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "project," "expect," "predict" and similar expressions identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied, including, but not limited to, the following: uncertainties associated with future revenue and revenue growth; the effect of economic downturns; the impact of our significant leverage on our operating plans; our ability to service our debt and pay distributions; the decline in the fair value of certain equity and debt securities held in our trusts; our ability to attract, train and retain an adequate number of sales people; uncertainties associated with the volume and timing of pre-need sales of cemetery services and products; increased use of cremation; changes in the death rate; changes in the political or regulatory environments, including potential changes in tax accounting and trusting policies; our ability to successfully implement a strategic plan relating to achieving operating improvements, strong cash flows and further deleveraging; our ability to successfully compete in the cemetery and funeral home industry; uncertainties associated with the integration or anticipated benefits of our recent acquisitions or any future acquisitions; our ability to complete and fund additional acquisitions; litigation or legal proceedings that could expose us to significant liabilities and damage our reputation; the effects of cyber security attacks due to our significant reliance on information technology; uncertainties relating to the financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our pre-need funeral contracts; and various other uncertainties associated with the death care industry and our operations in particular.
When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports filed with the SEC. Except as required under applicable law, we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.