Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Service Corporation International (SCI) and all subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Our financial statements also include the accounts of the funeral merchandise and service trusts, cemetery merchandise and service trusts, and cemetery perpetual care trusts in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassifications and Revision of Prior Period Financial Statements

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows. We sold our German operations and the financial data related to those operations has been reclassified as discontinued operations in all periods. We also retrospectively adjusted the financial statements to reflect measurement period adjustments made throughout 2014 related to our acquisition of Stewart Enterprises (Stewart). For further information on this acquisition and these adjustments, see Note 19.

Additionally, we have revised our prior period amounts to correct for the following:


•	$30.0 million from Long-term debt to Current maturities of long-term debt in our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013. The original misclassification, which was identified and disclosed in the first quarter of 2014, relates to amounts payable in 2014 for our Term Loan due July 2018.

•

Misstatements in the determination of certain deferred tax amounts originating in 2013 and prior periods and primarily relating to the 2006 purchase accounting for the acquisition of Alderwoods Group Inc. that were identified during the fourth quarter of 2014. Other adjustments primarily relate to the tax basis of fixed assets, intangibles, and deferred revenue. The correction of these items impacted the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 as presented in the company’s annual report.

We assessed the applicable guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and concluded that these misstatements were not material to our consolidated financial statements for the aforementioned prior periods; however, we did conclude that correcting these prior misstatements would be material to the full year consolidated statement of operations. As a result of this analysis, all prior period consolidated financial statements have been revised in this Form 10-K filing. Any other changes throughout the remainder of the Form 10-K reflect the changes below. The following is a summary of the consolidated statement of operations, the consolidated balance sheet, and the consolidated statement of cash flows line items impacted by the debt and income tax revisions:




	Year Ended December 31, 2013
	As previously reported			Revisions		Reclassifications		As revised
	(in thousands)
Provision for income taxes	$	(96,615	)	$	3,484	$	107	$	(93,024	)
Net income	$	149,104		$	3,484	$	—	$	152,588
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	143,848		$	3,484	$	—	$	147,332
Net income attributable to common stockholders per share:
Basic	$	0.68		$	0.02	$	—	$	0.70
Diluted	$	0.67		$	0.01	$	—	$	0.68




	Year Ended December 31, 2012
	As previously reported			Revisions		Reclassifications		As revised
	(in thousands)
Provision for income taxes	$	(91,548	)	$	1,299	$	138	$	(90,111	)
Net income	$	154,135		$	1,299	$	—	$	155,434
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	152,546		$	1,299	$	—	$	153,845
Net income attributable to common stockholders per share:
Basic	$	0.71		$	—	$	—	$	0.71
Diluted	$	0.70		$	—	$	—	$	0.70



Summary of Revised Consolidated Balance Sheet Amounts
	December 31, 2013
	As previously reported			Revisions			Reclassifications			As revised
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets	$	39,074		$	(3,750	)	$	(5,042	)	$	30,282
Total current assets	$	393,747		$	(3,750	)	$	(10,901	)	$	379,096
Goodwill	$	1,922,102		$	(91,016	)	$	(5,365	)	$	1,825,721
Total assets	$	12,906,070		$	(94,766	)	$	22,296		$	12,833,600
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	146,362		$	30,000		$	—		$	176,362
Income taxes	$	6,391		$	(1,202	)	$	74		$	5,263
Total current liabilities	$	642,584		$	28,798		$	2,200		$	673,582
Long-term debt	$	3,155,548		$	(30,000	)	$	—		$	3,125,548
Deferred tax liabilities	$	619,200		$	(190,355	)	$	(41,676	)	$	387,169
Other liabilities	$	430,393		$	40,941		$	19,904		$	491,238
Accumulated deficit	$	(145,876	)	$	55,850		$	—		$	(90,026	)
Total equity	$	1,424,378		$	55,850		$	—		$	1,480,228
Total liabilities and equity	$	12,906,070		$	(94,766	)	$	22,296		$	12,833,600



Summary of Revised Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows⁽¹⁾ Amounts
	Year Ended December 31, 2013
	As previously reported			Revisions			Reclassifications			As revised
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	149,104		$	3,484		$	—		$	152,588
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for deferred income taxes	$	74,100		$	(2,282	)	$	(110	)	$	71,708
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions:
(Decrease) increase in payables and other liabilities	$	(284	)	$	(1,202	)	$	(509	)	$	(1,995	)



Summary of Revised Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows⁽¹⁾ Amounts
	Year Ended December 31, 2012
	As previously reported		Revisions			Reclassifications		As revised
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net income	$	154,135	$	1,299		$	—	$	155,434
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for deferred income taxes	$	72,984	$	(1,299	)	$	—	$	71,685
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions:
(Decrease) increase in payables and other liabilities	$	25,240	$	—		$	1,120	$	26,360

(1) These revisions had no net impact on Net cash provided by operating, investing, or financing activities.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Our trade receivables primarily consist of amounts due for funeral services already performed. We provide various allowances and cancellation reserves for our funeral and cemetery preneed and atneed receivables as well as for our preneed funeral and preneed cemetery deferred revenues. These allowances are based on an analysis of historical trends of collection and cancellation activity. Atneed funeral and cemetery receivables are considered past due after 30 days. Collections are generally managed by the locations or third party agencies acting on behalf of the locations, until a receivable is 180 days delinquent at which time it is fully reserved and sent to a collection agency. These estimates are impacted by a number of factors, including changes in the economy, relocation, and demographic or competitive changes in our areas of operation.

Inventories and Cemetery Property

Funeral and cemetery merchandise are stated at the lower of average cost or market. Cemetery property is recorded at cost. Inventory costs and cemetery property are relieved using specific identification in performance of a contract. Amortization expense for cemetery property was $60.4 million, $48.3 million, and $45.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense whereas renewals and major replacements that extend the assets useful lives are capitalized. Depreciation is recognized ratably over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets. Buildings are depreciated over a period ranging from seven to forty years, equipment is depreciated over a period from three to eight years, and leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or ten years. Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment was $140.0 million, $122.2 million, and $119.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. When property is sold or retired, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the consolidated balance sheet; resulting gains and losses are included in the consolidated statement of operations in the period of sale or disposal.

Leases

We have lease arrangements primarily related to funeral service locations and transportation equipment that were primarily classified as capital leases at December 31, 2014. Lease terms related to funeral home properties generally range from one to 40 years with options to renew at varying terms. Lease terms related to transportation equipment generally range from one to five years with options to renew at varying terms. We calculate operating lease expense ratably over the lease term. We consider reasonably assured renewal options and fixed escalation provisions in our calculation. For more information related to leases, see Note 12.

Goodwill

The excess of purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is tested annually, during the fourth quarter, for impairment by assessing the fair value of each of our reporting units.

Our goodwill impairment test involves estimates and management judgment. In the first step of our goodwill impairment test, we compare the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. We determine fair value of each reporting unit using both a market and income approach. Our methodology considers discounted cash flows and multiples of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization). The discounted cash flow valuation uses projections of future cash flows and includes assumptions concerning future operating performance and economic conditions that may differ from actual future cash flows. We do not record an impairment of goodwill in instances where the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount. If the aggregate fair value is less than the related carrying amount for a reporting unit, we compare the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying amount of goodwill. If the carrying amount of reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

For our most recent annual impairment test performed in the fourth quarter, we used a 7.0% discount rate, growth rates ranging from 1.9% to 6.3% over a five-year period, plus a terminal value determined using the constant growth method in projecting our future cash flows. Fair value was calculated as the sum of the projected discounted cash flows of our reporting units over the next five years plus terminal value at the end of those five years. Our terminal value was calculated using a long-term growth rate of 2.5% and 2.9% for our funeral and cemetery reporting units, respectively.

In addition to our annual review, we assess the impairment of goodwill whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be greater than fair value. Factors that could trigger an interim impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results and significant negative industry or economic trends. No interim goodwill impairment reviews were required in 2014 or 2013. For more information related to goodwill, see Note 8.

Other Intangible Assets

Our intangible assets include customer relationships, trademarks and tradenames, and other intangible assets primarily resulting from acquisitions. Our trademark and tradenames and certain other intangible assets are considered to have an indefinite life and are not subject to amortization. We test for impairment of intangible assets annually during the fourth quarter.

Our intangible assets impairment tests involve estimates and management judgment. For trademark and tradenames, our test uses the relief from royalty method whereby we determine the fair value of the assets by discounting the cash flows that represent a savings over having to pay a royalty fee for use of the trademark and tradenames. The discounted cash flow valuation uses projections of future cash flows and includes assumptions concerning future operating performance and economic conditions that may differ from actual future cash flows. For our most recent annual impairment test performed in the fourth quarter, we estimated that the pre-tax savings would range from 1.0% to 4.0% of the revenues associated with the trademark and tradenames, based primarily on our research of intellectual property valuation and licensing databases. We also assumed a terminal growth rate of 2.5% and 2.9% for our funeral and cemetery segments, respectively, and discounted the cash flows at a 7.2% discount rate based on the relative risk of these assets to our overall business.

In addition to our annual review, we assess the impairment of intangible assets whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be greater than the fair value. Factors that could trigger an interim impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant under-performance relative to historical or projected future operating results and significant negative industry or economic trends. No interim intangible impairment reviews were required in 2014 or 2013.

Certain of our intangible assets associated with prior acquisitions are relieved using specific identification in performance of a contract. We amortize all other finite-lived intangible assets on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives which range from two to forty years. For more information related to intangible assets, see Note 8.

Fair Value Measurements

We measure the available-for-sale securities held by our funeral merchandise and service, cemetery merchandise and service, and cemetery perpetual care trusts at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We utilize a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:


•	Level 1 — inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;


•	Level 2 — inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument; and


•	Level 3 — inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

An asset’s or liability’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Certain available-for-sale securities held by our funeral merchandise and service, cemetery merchandise and service, and cemetery perpetual care trusts have been classified in Level 3 of the hierarchy due to the significant management judgment required as a result of the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, or the long-term nature of the securities. For additional disclosures for all of our available-for-sale securities, see Notes 4, 5, and 6.

Treasury Stock

We make treasury stock purchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions subject to market conditions and normal trading restrictions. We account for the repurchase of our common stock under the par value method. In 2014, we canceled 10.9 million shares of common stock held in our treasury. We canceled 0.3 million and 17.2 million shares of common stock held in our treasury in 2013 and 2012, respectively. These retired treasury shares were changed to authorized but unissued status.

Foreign Currency Translation

All assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect as of the end of the reporting period. Revenue and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the reporting period. The resulting translation adjustments are included in Equity as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated statement of equity and consolidated balance sheet.

The functional currency of SCI and its subsidiaries is the respective local currency. The transactional currency gains and losses that arise from transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of our operations are recorded in Other income (expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations. We do not have an investment in foreign operations considered to be in highly inflationary economies.

Funeral Operations

Revenue is recognized when funeral merchandise is delivered or funeral services are performed. We sell price-guaranteed preneed funeral contracts through various programs providing for future funeral services at prices prevailing when the agreements are signed. Revenue associated with sales of preneed funeral contracts is deferred until funeral merchandise is delivered or the funeral services are performed, generally at the time of need. Travel protection insurance and certain memorialization merchandise sold on a preneed basis is delivered to the customer at the time of sale and is recognized at the time delivery has occurred. While these items are sold as part of preneed funeral arrangements they are also offered on a stand-alone basis. The total consideration received for these arrangements is allocated to each item based on relative selling price determined using either vendor specific objective evidence of the selling price or third-party evidence of selling price. Vendor specific objective evidence of the selling price is determined based on the price we sell the items for on a stand-alone basis. Third-party evidence of selling price is based on the price of our largely interchangeable products that are sold in stand-alone sales to similarly situated customers. There is no general right of return for delivered items.

Pursuant to state or provincial law, all or a portion of the proceeds from funeral merchandise or services sold on a preneed basis may be required to be paid into trust funds. We defer investment earnings related to these merchandise and service trusts until the associated merchandise is delivered or services are performed. Costs related to sales of merchandise and services are charged to expense when merchandise is delivered or services are performed. Sales taxes collected are recognized on a net basis in our consolidated financial statements. See Note 4 for more information regarding preneed funeral activities.

Cemetery Operations

Revenue associated with sales of cemetery merchandise and services is recognized when merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. Revenue associated with sales of preneed cemetery property interment rights is deferred until the property is constructed and a minimum of 10% of the sales price is collected. For non-personalized merchandise (such as vaults) and services, we defer the revenues until the merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. For personalized marker merchandise, with the customer’s direction generally obtained at the time of sale, we can choose to order, store, and transfer title to the customer. In situations in which we have no further obligation or involvement related to the merchandise, we recognize revenues and record the cost of sales upon the earlier of vendor storage of these items or delivery in our cemetery. The total consideration received for these arrangements is allocated to each item based on relative selling price determined using vendor specific objective evidence of the selling price. Vendor specific objective evidence of the selling price is determined based on the price we sell the items for on a stand-alone basis. There is no general right of return for delivered items.

Pursuant to state or provincial law, all or a portion of the proceeds from cemetery merchandise or services sold on a preneed basis may be required to be paid into trust funds. We defer investment earnings related to these merchandise and services trusts until the associated merchandise is delivered or services are performed.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights is required by state or provincial law to be paid into perpetual care trust funds. Investment earnings from these trusts are distributed to us regularly, are recognized in current cemetery revenues, and are intended to defray cemetery maintenance costs, which are expensed as incurred. The principal of such perpetual care trust funds generally cannot be withdrawn.

Costs related to the sale of property interment rights include the property and construction costs specifically identified by project. Property and construction costs are charged to expense when the revenue is recognized by specific identification in the performance of a contract. Costs related to sales of merchandise and services are charged to expense when merchandise is delivered or when services are performed. Sales taxes collected are recognized on a net basis in our consolidated financial statements. See Notes 5 and 6 for more information regarding preneed cemetery and perpetual care activities.

Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receivables

We sell preneed funeral and cemetery contracts whereby the customer enters into arrangements for future merchandise and services prior to the time of need. As these contracts are entered into prior to the delivery of the related merchandise and services, the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by a comparable deferred revenue amount. These receivables have an interest component for which interest income is recorded when the interest amount is considered collectible and realizable, which typically coincides with cash payment. We do not accrue interest on financing receivables that are not paid in accordance with the contractual payment date given the nature of our merchandise and services, the nature of our contracts with customers, and the timing of the delivery of our services. We do not consider receivables to be past due until the merchandise or services are required to be delivered at which time the preneed receivable is paid or reclassified as a trade receivable with payment terms of less than 30 days. As the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by comparable deferred revenue amounts, we have no risk of loss related to these receivables.

If a preneed contract is canceled prior to delivery, state or provincial law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, if any, including the amount of the attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, we receive the amount of principal deposited to the trust and previously undistributed net investment earnings and, where required, issue a refund to the customer. We retain excess funds, if any, and recognize the attributed investment earnings (net of any investment earnings payable to the customer) as revenue in the consolidated statement of operations. In certain jurisdictions, we may be obligated to fund any shortfall if the amount deposited by the customer exceed the funds in trust. Based on our historical experience, we have provided an allowance for cancellation of these receivables, which is recorded as a reduction in receivables with a corresponding offset to deferred revenue.

Income Taxes

We compute income taxes using the liability method. Our ability to realize the benefit of our federal and state deferred tax assets requires us to achieve certain future earnings levels. We have established a valuation allowance against a portion of our deferred tax assets and we could be required to further adjust that valuation allowance if market conditions change materially and future earnings are, or are projected to be, significantly different than our current estimates.

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended the Income Taxes Topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) to eliminate a diversity in practice for the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when net operating loss carryforwards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exist. The amendment requires that the unrecognized tax benefit be presented as a reduction of the deferred tax assets associated with the carryforwards except in certain circumstances when it would be reflected as a liability. We adopted this amendment effective January 1, 2014 with no impact on our consolidated results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows.