Item 1.-Business
Overview
We were formed as a Delaware limited partnership in April 2004 to own and operate the assets and businesses previously owned and operated by Cornerstone Family Services, Inc., (“Cornerstone”), which was converted into CFSI LLC, a limited liability company, prior to our initial public offering of common units representing limited partner interests on September 20, 2004. Cornerstone had been founded in 1999 by members of our management team and a private equity investment firm, which we refer to as McCown De Leeuw, in order to acquire a group of 123 cemetery properties and 4 funeral homes. On November 30, 2010, McCown De Leeuw transferred certain of its interests to MDC IV Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010, MDC IV Associates Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010 and Delta Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010, which we collectively refer to as the MDC IV Liquidating Trusts and McCown De Leeuw was subsequently terminated. In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “StoneMor”, the “Company,” or the “Partnership” are to StoneMor Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries.
We are currently the second largest owner and operator of cemeteries in the United States. As of December 31, 2012, we operated 276 cemeteries in 27 states and Puerto Rico. We own 258 of these cemeteries, and we manage or operate the remaining 18 under management or operating agreements with the nonprofit cemetery corporations that own the cemeteries. As of December 31, 2012, we also owned and operated 86 funeral homes in 18 states and Puerto Rico. Forty-one of these funeral homes are located on the grounds of the cemeteries that we own.
The cemetery products and services that we sell include the following:
Interment Rights
Merchandise
Services
• burial lots
• lawn crypts
• mausoleum crypts
• cremation niches
• perpetual care rights
• burial vaults
• caskets
• grave markers and grave marker bases
• memorials
• installation of burial vaults
• installation of caskets
• installation of other cemetery merchandise
• other service items
We sell these products and services both at the time of death, which we refer to as at-need, and prior to the time of death, which we refer to as pre-need. Our sales of real property, including burial lots (with and without installed vaults), lawn and mausoleum crypts and cremation niches, generate qualifying income sufficient for us to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. In 2012, we performed 45,128 burials and sold 29,829 interment rights (net of cancellations). Based on our sales of interment spaces in 2012, our cemeteries have an aggregated weighted average remaining sales life of 246 years.
Our cemetery properties are located in Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. One cemetery in Hawaii that we acquired in December 2007 is still awaiting regulatory approval and has not yet been conveyed to us. Our cemetery operations accounted for approximately 85.3%, 86.7% and 87.1% of our revenues in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Our primary funeral home products are caskets and related items. Our funeral home services include consultation, the removal and preparation of remains, and the use of funeral home facilities for visitation and prayer services.
Our funeral homes are located in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Our funeral home revenues accounted for approximately 14.7%, 13.3% and 12.9% of our revenues in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Our funeral home operations are conducted through various wholly-owned subsidiaries that are treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Operations
Segment Reporting and Related Information
We have five distinct reportable segments which are classified as Cemetery Operations-Southeast, Cemetery Operations-Northeast, Cemetery Operations-West, Funeral Homes, and Corporate.
We have chosen this level of organization and disaggregation of reportable segments due to the fact that a) each reportable segment has unique characteristics that set it apart from other segments; b) we have organized our management personnel at these operational levels; and c) it is the level at which our chief decision makers and other senior management evaluate performance.
Our Cemetery Operations segments sell interment rights, caskets, burial vaults, cremation niches, markers and other cemetery related merchandise. The nature of our customers differs in each of our regionally based Cemetery Operations segments. Cremation rates in the West region are substantially higher than they are in the Southeast region. Rates in the Northeast region tend to be somewhere between the two. Statistics indicate that customers who select cremation services have certain attributes that differ from customers who select other methods of interment. The disaggregation of cemetery operations into the three distinct regional segments is primarily due to these differences in customer attributes along with the previously mentioned management structure and senior management analysis methodologies.
Our Funeral Homes segment offers a range of funeral-related services such as family consultation, the removal of and preparation of remains and the use of funeral home facilities for visitation and prayer services. These services are distinctly different than the cemetery merchandise and services sold and provided by the Cemetery Operations segments.
Our Corporate segment includes various home office selling and administrative expenses that are not allocable to the other operating segments.
Cemetery Operations
Our cemetery operations include sales of cemetery interment rights, merchandise and services and the performance of cemetery maintenance and other services. An interment right entitles a customer to a burial space in one of our cemeteries and the perpetual care of that burial space. Burial spaces, or lots, are parcels of property that hold interred human remains. Our cemeteries require a burial vault be placed in each burial lot. A burial vault is a rectangular container, usually made of concrete but also made of steel or plastic, which sits in the burial lot and in which the casket is placed. The top of the burial vault is buried approximately 18 to 24 inches below the surface of the ground, and the casket is placed inside the vault. Burial vaults prevent ground settling that otherwise occurs when a casket placed directly in the ground begins to decay creating uneven ground surface. Ground settling typically results in higher maintenance costs and increased potential liability for slip-and-fall accidents on the property. Lawn crypts are a series of closely spaced burial lots with preinstalled vaults and other improvements, such as landscaping, sprinkler systems and drainage. A mausoleum crypt is an above-ground structure that may be designed for a particular customer, which we refer to as a private mausoleum, or it may be a larger building that serves multiple customers, which we refer to as a community mausoleum. Cremation niches are spaces in which the ashes remaining after cremation are stored. Cremation niches are often part of community mausoleums, although we sell a variety of cremation niches to accommodate our customers’ preferences.
Grave markers, monuments and memorials are above-ground products that serve as memorials by showing who is remembered, the dates of birth and death and other pertinent information. These markers, monuments and memorials include simple plates, such as those used in a community mausoleum or cremation niche, flush-to-the-ground granite or bronze markers, headstones or large stone obelisks.
One of the principal services we provide at our cemeteries is an “opening and closing,” which is the digging and refilling of burial spaces to install the vault and place the casket into the vault. With pre-need sales, there are usually two openings and closings. During the initial opening and closing, we install the burial vault in the burial space. We usually perform this service shortly after the customer signs a pre-need contract. Advance installation allows us to withdraw the related funds from our merchandise trusts, making the amount in excess of our cost to purchase and install the vault available to us for other uses, and eliminates future merchandise trusting requirements for the burial vault and its installation. During the final opening and closing, we remove the dirt above the vault, open the lid of the vault, place the casket into the vault, close the vault lid and replace the ground cover. With at-need sales, we typically perform the initial opening and closing at the time we perform the final opening and closing. Our other services include the installation of other cemetery merchandise and the perpetual care related to interment rights.
As of December 31, 2012, we provided services to 18 cemeteries under management or operating agreements with the nonprofit cemetery corporations that own the cemeteries. These nonprofit cemeteries are organized as such either because state law requires cemetery properties to be owned by nonprofit entities, such as in New Jersey, or because they were originally established as nonprofit entities. We have voting rights, along with member owners of burial spaces, in the five New Jersey nonprofit cemeteries as a result of owning all of their outstanding certificates of indebtedness or interest. To obtain the benefit of professional management services, the remaining 13 nonprofit cemeteries have entered into agreements with us. The agreements under which we operate these 18 nonprofit cemeteries generally have terms ranging from 3 to 40 years (but some are subject to early termination rights and obligations) and provide us with management or operating fees that approximate what we would earn if we owned those cemeteries and held them in for-profit entities.
In 2012, of the 18 cemeteries we operated under management or operating agreements, the 2 cemeteries that we began operating under long-term operating agreements in 2009 did not qualify as acquisitions for accounting purposes. As a result, we did not consolidate all of the existing assets and liabilities related to these cemeteries. We have consolidated the existing assets and liabilities of each of these cemeteries’ merchandise and perpetual care trusts as variable interest entities since we control and receive the benefits and absorb any losses from operating these trusts. Under these long-term operating agreements, which are subject to certain termination provisions, we are the exclusive operator of these cemeteries. We earn revenues related to sales of merchandise, services, and interment rights and incur expenses related to such sales and the maintenance and upkeep of these cemeteries. Upon termination of these contracts, we will retain all of the benefits and related contractual obligations incurred from sales generated during the contract period. We have also recognized the existing merchandise liabilities assumed as part of these agreements.
Funeral Home Operations
As of December 31, 2012, we owned, operated and/ or managed 86 funeral homes, 41 of which are located on the grounds of cemetery properties that we own. Our funeral homes offer a range of services to meet a family’s funeral needs, including family consultation, the removal and preparation of remains, provision of caskets and related funeral merchandise, the use of funeral home facilities for visitation, worship and funeral services and transportation services. Funeral home operations primarily generate revenues from at-need sales. Our funeral home segment has continued to grow and has become a larger part of our total revenues in each of the last three years.
We purchase caskets from Thacker Caskets, Inc. under a supply agreement that expires on December 31, 2015. This agreement entitles us to specified discounts on the price of caskets but gives Thacker Caskets, Inc. the
right of first refusal on all of our casket purchases. We do not have minimum purchase requirements under this supply agreement.
Cremation Products and Services
We operate crematories at some of our cemeteries or funeral homes, but our primary cremation operations are sales of receptacles for cremated remains, such as urns, and the inurnment of cremated remains in niches or scattering gardens. While cremation products and services usually cost less than traditional burial products and services, they yield higher margins on a percentage basis and take up less space than burials. We sell cremation products and services on both a pre-need and at-need basis.
Seasonality
The death care business is relatively stable and predictable. Although we experience seasonal increases in deaths due to extreme weather conditions and winter flu, these increases have not historically had any significant impact on our results of operations. In addition, we perform fewer initial openings and closings in the winter when the ground is frozen.
Sales Contracts
Pre-need products and services are typically sold on an installment basis. At-need products and services are generally required to be paid for in full in cash by the customer at the time of sale. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Overview-Cemetery Operations-Pre-need Sales” and “-At-need Sales” for a description of our pre-need and at-need products and services.
Trusts
Sales of cemetery products and services are subject to a variety of state regulations. In accordance with these regulations, we are required to establish and fund two types of trusts, merchandise trusts and perpetual care trusts, to ensure that we can meet our future obligations. Our funding obligations are generally equal to a percentage of sales proceeds of the products and services we sell. For a detailed discussion of these trusts, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Trusting.”
Sales Personnel, Training and Marketing
As of December 31, 2012, we employed 824 full-time commissioned salespeople and 134 full-time sales support and telemarketing employees. We have eight regional sales vice presidents supporting our cemetery operations. They are supported by two Divisional Vice Presidents of Sales who report to our Chief Operating Officer. Individual salespersons are typically located at the cemeteries they serve and report directly to the cemetery sales manager. We have made a strong commitment to the ongoing education and training of our sales force and to salesperson retention in order to ensure our customers receive the highest quality customer service and to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements. Our training program includes classroom training at our headquarters, field training, continuously updated training materials that utilize media, such as the Internet, for interactive training and participation in industry seminars. We place special emphasis on training property sales managers, who are key elements to a successful pre-need sales program.
We reward our salespeople with incentives for generating new customers. Sales force performance is evaluated by sales budgets, sales mix and closing ratios, which are equal to the number of contracts written, divided by the number of presentations that are made. Substantially all of our sales force is compensated based solely on performance. Commissions are augmented with various bonus and incentive packages to ensure a high quality, motivated sales force. We pay commissions to our sales personnel on pre-need contracts based upon a percentage of the value of the underlying contracts. Such commissions vary depending upon the type of
merchandise and services sold. We also pay commissions on at-need contracts that are generally equal to a fixed percentage of the contract amount. In addition, cemetery managers receive an override commission that is equal to a percentage of the gross sales price of the contracts entered into by the salespeople assigned to the cemeteries they manage.
We generate sales leads through focused telemarketing, direct mail, television advertising, funeral follow-up and sales force cold calling, with the assistance of database mining and other marketing resources. We have created a marketing department to allow us to use more sophisticated marketing techniques to more effectively focus our telemarketing and direct sales efforts. Sales leads are referred to the sales force to schedule an appointment, most often at the customer’s home. We believe these activities comply in all material respects with legal requirements.
Acquisitions and Long-Term Operating Agreements
Refer to Note 14 of our consolidated financial statements in “Item 8” of this Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion of our acquisitions and long-term operating agreements. A summary of our acquisition activities is as follows:
We completed six acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2012 to acquire 5 cemeteries and 17 funeral homes. The acquired properties were located in Ohio, Illinois, California, Oregon and Florida. The aggregate fair value of the total consideration paid for these acquisitions was $34.9 million. Effective March 31, 2012, we terminated a long-term operating agreement entered into in 2010 related to 3 cemeteries with the Archdiocese of Detroit, resulting in a gain of $1.7 million.
We completed six acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2011 to acquire 17 cemeteries and 12 funeral homes. The acquired properties were located in Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Virginia. The aggregate fair value of the total consideration paid for these acquisitions was $16.4 million. On December 30, 2011, we sold one funeral home in West Virginia for $0.1 million, resulting in a gain of $0.1 million.
We completed four acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2010 and entered into one long-term operating agreement to acquire and operate 22 cemeteries and 6 funeral homes in the aggregate. The acquired properties were located in Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The total consideration paid for these acquisitions was $48.7 million.
Competition
Our cemeteries and funeral homes generally serve customers that live within a 10- to 15-mile radius of a property’s location. Within this localized area, we face competition from other cemeteries and funeral homes located in the area. Most of these cemeteries and funeral homes are independently owned and operated, and most of these owners and operators are smaller than we are and have fewer resources than we do. We generally face limited competition from the three publicly held death care companies that have U.S. operations-Service Corporation International, Stewart Enterprises, Inc. and Carriage Services, Inc.-as they do not directly operate cemeteries in the same local geographic areas where we operate.
Within a localized area of competition, we compete primarily for at-need sales because many of the independently owned, local competitors either do not have pre-need sales programs or have pre-need programs
that are not as developed as ours. Most of these competitors do not have as many of the resources that are available to us to launch and grow a substantial pre-need sales program. The number of customers that cemeteries and funeral homes are able to attract is largely a function of reputation and heritage, although competitive pricing, professional service and attractive, well maintained and conveniently located facilities are also important factors. The sale of cemetery and funeral home products and services on a pre-need basis has increasingly been used by many companies as an important marketing tool. Due to the importance of reputation and heritage, increases in customer base are usually gained over a long period of time.
Competitors within a localized area have an advantage over us if a potential customer’s family members are already buried in the competitor’s cemetery. If any of the three publicly held death care companies operated, or in the future were to operate, cemeteries within close proximity of our cemeteries, they may have a competitive advantage over us because they have greater financial resources available to them due to their size and access to the capital markets.
We believe that we currently face limited competition for cemetery acquisitions. The three publicly held death care companies identified above have historically been the industry’s primary consolidators but have largely curtailed cemetery acquisition activity since 1999. Furthermore, these companies continue to generate a majority of their revenues from funeral home operations. Based on the relative levels of cemetery operations and funeral home operations of the three publicly traded death care companies, which are disclosed in their SEC filings, we believe that we are the only public death care company that focuses a significant portion of its efforts on cemetery operations.
Regulation
General
Our operations are subject to regulation, supervision and licensing under federal, state and local laws which impacts the goods and services that we may sell and the manner in which we may furnish goods and services.
Cooling-Off Legislation
Each of the states where our current cemetery properties are located has “cooling-off” legislation with respect to pre-need sales of cemetery and funeral home products and services. This legislation requires us to refund proceeds from pre-need sales contracts if canceled by the customer for any reason within three to thirty days, or in certain states until death, from the date of the contract, depending on the state (and some states permit cancellation and require refund beyond that time). The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, also requires a cooling-off period of three business days for door to door sales, during which time a contract may be cancelled entitling a customer to refund of the funds paid.
Trusting
Sales of cemetery interment rights and pre-need sales of cemetery and funeral home merchandise and services are generally subject to trusting requirements imposed by state laws in most of the states where we operate. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Trusting.”
Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z
Our pre-need installment contracts are subject to the federal Truth-in-Lending Act, or TILA, and the regulations thereunder, which are referred to as Regulation Z. TILA and Regulation Z promote the informed use of consumer credit by requiring us to disclose, among other things, the annual percentage rate, finance charges and amount financed when extending credit to consumers.
Other Consumer Credit-Related Laws and Regulations
As a provider of consumer credit and a business that generally deals with consumers, we are subject to various other state and federal laws covering matters such as credit discrimination, the use of credit reports, identity theft, the handling of consumer information, consumer privacy, marketing and advertising, debt collection, extensions of credit to service members, and prohibitions on unfair or deceptive trade practices.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or Dodd-Frank
Dodd-Frank, signed into law by President Obama on July 21, 2010, created a new federal Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, or the Bureau. In addition to transferring to the Bureau rule-writing authority for nearly all federal consumer finance-related laws and giving the Bureau rule-writing authority in other areas, Dodd-Frank empowers the Bureau to conduct examinations and bring enforcement actions against certain consumer credit providers and other entities offering consumer financial products or services. While not presently subject to examination by the Bureau, we potentially could be in the future in connection with our pre-need installment contracts. The Bureau also has authority to conduct investigations and bring enforcement actions against providers of consumer financial services, including providers over which it may not currently have examination authority. The Bureau may seek penalties and other relief on behalf of consumers that are substantially in excess of the remedies available under such laws prior to Dodd-Frank. On July 21, 2011, the Bureau officially assumed rule-writing and enforcement authority for most federal consumer finance laws, as well as authority to write rules to prohibit unfair, deceptive or abusive practices related to consumer financial products and services.
Telemarketing Laws
We are subject to the requirements of two federal statutes governing telemarketing practices, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, or TCPA, and the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, or TCFAPA. These statutes impose significant penalties on those who fail to comply with their mandates. The Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, is the federal agency with authority to enforce the TCPA, and the FTC, has jurisdiction under the TCFAPA. The FTC and FCC jointly administer a national “do not call” registry, which consumers can join in order to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls. Primarily as a result of implementation of the “do not call” legislation and regulations, the percentage of our pre-need sales generated from telemarketing leads has decreased substantially in the past ten years. We are also subject to similar telemarketing consumer protection laws in all states in which we currently operate. These states’ statutes similarly permit consumers to prevent unwanted telephone solicitations. In addition, in cases where telephone solicitations are permitted, there are various restrictions and requirements under state and federal law in connection with such calls.
Occupational Safety and Health Act and Environmental Law Requirements
We are subject to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, or OSHA, and comparable state statutes. OSHA’s regulatory requirement known as the Hazard Communication Standard, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (“EPCRA”) and similar state statutes require us to report information about hazardous materials used or maintained for our operations to state, federal and local authorities. We may also be subject to Tier 1 or Tier 2 Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory reporting requirements under EPCRA depending on the amount of hazardous materials maintained on-site at a particular facility. We are also subject to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws which, among other things, may require that we modify our facilities to comply with minimum accessibility requirements for disabled persons.
Federal Trade Commission
Our funeral home operations are comprehensively regulated by the FTC under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act and a trade regulation rule for the funeral industry promulgated thereunder, referred to as the “Funeral Rule.” The Funeral Rule requires funeral service providers to disclose the prices for their goods and services as soon as the subject of price arises in a discussion with a potential customer (this entails presenting various itemized price lists if the consultation is in person, and readily answering all price-related questions posed over the telephone), and to offer their goods and services on an unbundled basis. The Funeral Rule also prohibits misrepresentations in connection with our sale of goods and services, and requires that the consumer receive an itemized statement of the goods and services purchased. Through these regulations, the FTC sought to give consumers the ability to compare prices among funeral service providers and to avoid buying packages containing goods or services that they did not want. The unbundling of goods from services has also opened the way for third-party, discount casket sellers to enter the market, although they currently do not possess substantial market share.
In addition, our pre-need installment contracts for sales of cemetery and funeral home merchandise and services are subject to the FTC’s “Holder Rule,” which requires disclosure in the installment contract that any holder of the contract is subject to all claims and defenses that the consumer could assert against the seller of the goods or services, subject to certain limitations. These contracts are also subject to the FTC’s “Credit Practices Rule,” which prohibits certain credit loan terms and practices.
Future Enactments and Regulation
Federal and state legislatures and regulatory agencies frequently propose new laws, rules and regulations and new interpretations of existing laws, rules and regulations which, if enacted or adopted, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and on the death care industry in general. A significant portion of our operations is located in California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia and any material adverse change in the regulatory requirements of those states applicable to our operations could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We cannot predict the outcome of any proposed legislation or regulations or the effect that any such legislation or regulations, if enacted or adopted, might have on us.
Environmental Regulations and Liabilities
Our operations are subject to federal, state and local environmental regulations in three principal areas: (1) crematories for emissions to air that may trigger requirements under the Clean Air Act, (2) funeral homes for the management of hazardous materials and medical wastes and (3) cemeteries and funeral homes for the management of solid waste, underground and above-ground storage tanks and discharges to wastewater treatment systems and/ or septic systems.
Clean Air Act
The Federal Clean Air Act and similar state laws, which regulate emissions into the air, can affect crematory operations through permitting and emissions control requirements. Our cremation operations may be subject to Clean Air Act regulations under federal and state law and may be subject to enforcement actions if these operations do not conform to the requirements of these laws.
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
As noted above, federal, state and local regulations apply to the storage and use of hazardous materials at our facilities. Depending on the types and quantities of materials we manage at any particular facility, we may be required to maintain and submit Material Safety Data Sheets and inventories of these materials located at our facilities to the regulatory authorities in compliance with EPCRA or similar state statutes.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or CERCLA, and similar state laws affect our cemetery and funeral home operations by, among other things, imposing investigation and remediation obligations for threatened or actual releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or welfare or the environment. Under CERCLA and similar state laws, strict, joint and several liability may be imposed upon generators, site owners and operators, and others regardless of fault or the legality of the original disposal activity. Our operations include the use of some materials that may meet the definition of “hazardous substances” under CERCLA or state laws and thus may give rise to liability if released to the environment through a spill or release. Should we acquire new properties with pre-existing conditions triggering CERCLA or similar state liability, we may become liable for responding to those conditions under CERCLA or similar state laws. We may become involved in proceedings, litigation or investigations at one or more sites where releases of hazardous substances have occurred, and we cannot assure you that the associated costs and potential liabilities would not be material.
Underground and Aboveground Storage Tank Laws and Solid Waste Laws
Federal, state and local laws regulate the installation, removal, operations and closure of underground storage tanks, or USTs and above-ground storage tanks, or ASTs, which are located at some of our facilities as well as the management and disposal of solid waste. Most of the USTs and ASTs contain petroleum for heating our buildings or are used for vehicle maintenance, or general operations. Depending upon the age and integrity of the USTs and ASTs, they may require upgrades, removal and/or closure, and remediation may be required if there has been a potential discharge or release of petroleum into the environment. All of the aforementioned activities may require us to incur capital costs and expenses to ensure continued compliance with environmental requirements. Should we acquire properties with existing USTs and ASTs that are not in compliance with environmental requirements, we may become liable for responding to releases to the environment or for costs associated with upgrades, removal and/or closure costs, and we cannot assure you that the costs or liabilities will not be material in that event. Solid wastes have been disposed of at some of our cemeteries, both lawfully and unlawfully. Prior to acquiring a cemetery, an environmental site assessment is usually conducted to determine, among other conditions, if a solid waste disposal area or landfill exists on the parcel which requires removal, cleaning or management. Depending upon the existence of any such solid waste disposal areas, we may be required by the applicable regulatory authority to remove the waste materials or to conduct remediation and we cannot assure you that the costs or liabilities will not be material in that event.
Employees
As of December 31, 2012, our general partner and its affiliates employed approximately 2,938 full-time and approximately 89 part-time employees. A total of 6 employees at one of our cemeteries located in New Jersey are represented by a union and are subject to a collective bargaining agreement which expires in September 2015. Twenty-three employees at 11 of our cemeteries located in Pennsylvania are represented by 3 different unions and are subject to collective bargaining agreements that expire in June 2013, November 2014 and June 2015. Three employees at 1 of our cemeteries located in Illinois are represented by a union and are subject to a collective bargaining agreement that is currently being renegotiated. Nine employees at 1 of our locations in California are represented by a union and are subject to a collective bargaining agreement that expires in June 2013. Six employees at 1 cemetery in Ohio are represented by a union and are subject to a collective bargaining agreement that expires in December 2013. We believe that our relationship with our employees is good.
Available Information
We maintain an internet website with the address of http://www.stonemor.com. The information on this website is not, and should not be considered part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and is not incorporated by reference into this document. This website address is only intended to be an inactive textual reference. Copies of
our reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K and any amendments to such reports are available for viewing and copying at such Internet website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material with, or furnishing it to, the SEC.
Financial Information
Information for each of our segments is presented in Part II-Item 8 “-Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this report.
Item 1A
Item 1A - Risk Factors
Risk Factors Related to Our Business
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth below. The risks described below should not be considered comprehensive and all-inclusive. Additional risks that we do not yet know of or that we currently think are immaterial may also impair our business operations, financial condition and results of operations. If any events occur that give rise to the following risks, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely impacted. These risk factors should be read in conjunction with other information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes. Many such factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
We may not have sufficient cash from operations to continue paying distributions at their current level, or at all, after we have paid our expenses, including the expenses of our general partner, funded merchandise and perpetual care trusts and established necessary cash reserves.
The amount of cash we can distribute on our units principally depends upon the amount of cash we generate from operations, which fluctuates from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:
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the volume of our sales;
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the prices at which we sell our products and services; and
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the level of our operating and general and administrative costs.
In addition, the actual amount of cash we will have available for distribution will depend on other factors, such as working capital borrowings, capital expenditures and funding requirements for trusts and our ability to withdraw amounts from trusts.
If we do not generate sufficient cash to continue paying distributions at their current level, the market price of our common units may decline materially. We expect that we will need working capital borrowings of approximately $22.0 million during the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2013 in order to have sufficient operating surplus to pay distributions at their current level on all of our common units for that period, although the actual amount of working capital borrowings could be materially more or less. These working capital borrowings enable us to finance the build-up in our accounts receivables, and to construct mausoleums and purchase products for our pre-need sales in advance of the time of need which, in turn, allows us to generate available cash for operating surplus over time by accessing the funds held in trust for the products purchased.
Our substantial level of indebtedness could materially adversely affect our ability to generate sufficient cash for distribution to our unitholders, to fulfill our debt obligations and to operate our business.
We have a substantial amount of debt, which requires significant interest and principal payments. As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately $101.7 million of total debt outstanding on our credit facility that
matures in January 2017, which would give us approximately $28.3 million of available borrowing capacity under our credit facility. Leverage makes us more vulnerable to economic downturns. Because we are obligated to dedicate a portion of our cash flow to service our debt obligations, our cash flow available for operations and for distribution to our unitholders will be reduced. The amount of indebtedness we have could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the markets in which we compete, limit our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes, and require us to dedicate more cash flow to service our debt than we desire. Our ability to satisfy our indebtedness as required by the terms of our debt will be dependent on, among other things, the successful execution of our long-term strategic plan. Subject to limitations in our debt obligations, we may incur additional debt in the future, for acquisitions or otherwise, and servicing this debt could further limit our cash flow available for operations and distribution to unitholders.
Restrictions in our existing and future debt agreements could limit our ability to make distributions to you or capitalize on acquisition and other business opportunities.
The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our senior notes and senior secured debt obligations and any future financing agreements could restrict our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to expand or pursue our business activities. For example, our senior notes and senior secured debt obligations contain covenants that restrict or limit our ability to:
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enter into a new line of business;
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enter into any agreement of merger or acquisition;
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sell, transfer, assign or convey assets;
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grant certain liens;
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incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
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make certain loans, advances and investments;
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declare and pay dividends and distributions;
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enter into transactions with affiliates; and
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make voluntary payments or modifications of indebtedness.
In addition, our secured debt obligations contain covenants requiring us to maintain certain financial ratios and tests. These restrictions may also limit our ability to obtain future financings. Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in our senior notes and senior secured debt obligations may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If market or other economic conditions continue to deteriorate, our ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Long-Term Debt” If we violate any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in our debt obligations, the lenders will be able to accelerate the maturity of all borrowings thereunder and demand repayment of amounts outstanding, and our lenders’ commitment to make further loans to us may terminate. We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. Any subsequent replacement of our obligations or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions.
In addition, our debt obligations limit our ability to make distributions to our unitholders. Our senior notes and senior secured debt obligations prohibit us from making such distributions if we are in default, including with regard to our senior secured debt obligations as a result of our failure to maintain specified financial ratios. We cannot assure you that we will maintain these specified ratios and satisfy these tests for distributing available cash from operating surplus.
If we violate any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in our senior secured debt obligations or senior notes indenture, the applicable lenders will be able to accelerate the maturity of all borrowings thereunder and demand repayment of amounts outstanding, and our lenders’ commitment to make further loans to us may terminate. We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. Any subsequent replacement of our senior debt obligations or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions.
A material weakness was identified in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010.
Due to a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting were not effective as of December 31, 2010, based on the criteria in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. We identified the following material weakness in our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting:
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We did not design and implement adequate controls related to the implementation of a new accounting standard for a material class of transactions, specifically in this instance, applying consolidation guidance to determine whether and how to consolidate another entity as it relates to our cemetery operating agreements. This material weakness resulted in the restatement of previously issued financial statements for the quarters ended June 30, 2009, September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009 for adjustments that were necessary to present the financial statements for such periods in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
To remediate the material weakness, we have implemented a series of controls designed to help ensure that all new accounting pronouncements are sufficiently researched and that our conclusions relative to the effect of such pronouncements on us are communicated to management, the Audit Committee and our auditors. We also employed a new Director of Financial Reporting and added a senior accountant to this function to give us additional resources to address and implement new accounting pronouncements. Management believes that the procedures described above and our changes in personnel have remediated the material weakness.
There were no identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 and 2011. However, if we were to have additional material weaknesses and if we fail to maintain adequate disclosure controls and procedures, current unitholders and potential investors could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business prospects and the trading price of our common units.
Any reductions in the principal or the earnings of the investments held in merchandise and perpetual care trusts could adversely affect our revenues and cash flow.
A substantial portion of our revenue is generated from investment returns that we realize from merchandise and perpetual care trusts. Due to the unstable economic conditions over the last five years, we have at times experienced declines in the fair value of the assets held in these trusts. Future cash flows could be negatively impacted if we are forced to liquidate assets that are in impaired positions.
We invest primarily for current income. We rely on the interest and dividends paid by the assets in our trusts to provide both revenue and cash flow. Interest income from fixed-income securities is particularly susceptible to changes in interest rates and declines in credit worthiness while dividends from equity securities are susceptible to the issuer’s ability to make such payments.
Any decline in the interest rate environment or the credit worthiness of our debt issuers or any suspension or reduction of dividends could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, any significant or sustained unrealized investment losses could result in merchandise trusts having insufficient funds to cover our cost of delivering products and services. In this scenario, we would be required to use our operating cash to deliver those products and perform those services, which could decrease our cash available for distribution.
Pre-need sales typically generate low or negative cash flow in the periods immediately following sales which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
When we sell cemetery merchandise and services on a pre-need basis, we pay commissions on the sale to our salespeople and are required by state law to deposit a portion of the sales proceeds into a merchandise trust. In addition, most of our customers finance their pre-need purchases under installment contracts payable over a number of years. Depending on the trusting requirements of the states in which we operate, the applicable sales commission rates and the amount of the down payment, our cash flow from sales to customers through installment contracts is typically negative until we have paid the sale commission due on the sale or until we purchase the products or perform the services and are permitted to withdraw funds we have deposited in the merchandise trust. To the extent we increase pre-need sales, state trusting requirements are increased or we delay the purchase of the products or performance of the services we sell on a pre-need basis, our cash flow immediately following pre-need sales may be further reduced, and our ability to make distributions to our unitholders could be adversely affected.
The cemetery and funeral home industry continues to be competitive.
We face competition in all of our markets. Most of our competitors are independent operations. Our ability to compete successfully depends on our management’s forward vision, timely responses to changes in the business environment, our cemeteries and funeral homes’ ability to maintain a good reputation and high professional standards as well as offer products and services at competitive prices. We have historically experienced price competition from independent cemetery and funeral home operators. If we are unable to successfully compete, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Because fixed costs are inherent in our business, a decrease in our revenues can have a disproportionate effect on our cash flow and profits.
Our business requires us to incur many of the costs of operating and maintaining facilities, land and equipment regardless of the level of sales in any given period. For example, we must pay salaries, utilities, property taxes and maintenance costs on our cemetery properties and funeral homes regardless of the number of interments or funeral services we perform. If we cannot decrease these costs significantly or rapidly when we experience declines in sales, declines in sales can cause our margins, profits and cash flow to decline at a greater rate than the decline in our revenues.
Our failure to attract and retain qualified sales personnel and management could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
Our ability to attract and retain a qualified sales force and other personnel is an important factor in achieving future success. Buying cemetery and funeral home products and services, especially at-need products and services, is very emotional for most customers, so our sales force must be particularly sensitive to our customers’ needs. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in our efforts to attract and retain a skilled sales force. If we are unable to maintain a qualified and productive sales force, our revenues may decline, and our cash available for distribution may decrease.
Our success also depends upon the services and capabilities of our management team. Management establishes the “tone at the top” by which an environment of ethical values, operating style and management philosophy is fostered. The inability of our senior management team to maintain a proper “tone at the top” or the loss of services of one or more members of senior management as well as the inability to attract qualified managers or other personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We may not be able to locate or employ on acceptable terms qualified replacements for senior management or key employees if their services were no longer available. We do not maintain key employee insurance on any of our executive officers.
We may not be able to identify, complete, fund or successfully integrate additional cemetery acquisitions which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
A primary component of our business strategy is to grow through acquisitions of cemeteries and, to a lesser extent, funeral homes. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify and acquire cemeteries on terms favorable to us or at all. We may face competition from other death care companies in making acquisitions. Historically, we have funded a significant portion of our acquisitions through borrowings. Our ability to make acquisitions in the future may be limited by our inability to secure adequate financing, restrictions under our existing or future debt agreements, competition from third parties or a lack of suitable properties. As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately $28.3 million of available borrowing capacity under our revised credit facility.
In addition, if we complete acquisitions, we may encounter various associated risks, including the possible inability to integrate an acquired business into our operations, diversion of management’s attention and unanticipated problems or liabilities, some or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial performance. Also, when we acquire cemeteries that do not have an existing pre-need sales program or a significant amount of pre-need products and services that have been sold but not yet purchased or performed, the operation of the cemetery and implementation of a pre-need sales program after acquisition may require significant amounts of working capital. This may make it more difficult for us to make acquisitions.
If the trend toward cremation in the United States continues, our revenues may decline which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We and other death care companies that focus on traditional methods of interment face competition from the increasing number of cremations in the United States. Industry studies indicate that the percentage of cremations has steadily increased and that cremations represented approximately 41% of the United States deathcare market in 2010. This percentage of cremations is expected to continue to increase. Because the products and services associated with a cremation, such as niches and urns, produce lower revenues than the products and services associated with a traditional interment, a continuing trend toward cremations may reduce our revenues.
Declines in the number of deaths in our markets can cause a decrease in revenues.
Declines in the number of deaths could cause at-need sales of cemetery and funeral home merchandise and services to decline and could cause a decline in the number of pre-need sales, both of which could decrease revenues. Changes in the number of deaths can vary among local markets and from quarter to quarter, and variations in the number of deaths in our markets or from quarter to quarter are not predictable. However, generally, the number of deaths fluctuates with the seasons with more deaths occurring during the winter months primarily resulting from pneumonia and influenza. These variations can cause revenues to fluctuate.
We rely significantly on information technology and any failure, inadequacy, interruption or security lapse of that technology, including any cybersecurity incidents, could harm our ability to operate our business effectively.
Our ability to manage and maintain our internal reports effectively and integration of new business acquisitions depends significantly on our enterprise resource planning system and other information systems. Some of our information technology systems may experience interruptions, delays or cessations of service or produce errors in connection with ongoing systems implementation work. Cybersecurity attacks in particular are evolving and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in systems, misappropriation of our confidential or otherwise protected information and corruption of data. The failure of these systems to operate effectively or to integrate with other systems, or a breach in security or other unauthorized access of these systems, may also result in reduced efficiency of our operations and could require significant capital investments to remediate any such failure, problem or breach, all of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our pre-need funeral contracts may impact our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Where permitted, customers may arrange their pre-need funeral contract by purchasing a life insurance or annuity policy from third-party insurance companies. The customer/policy holder assigns the policy benefits to our funeral home to pay for the pre-need funeral contract at the time of need. If the financial condition of the third-party insurance companies were to deteriorate materially because of market conditions or otherwise, there could be an adverse effect on our ability to collect all or part of the proceeds of the life insurance policy, including the annual increase in the death benefit. Failure to collect such proceeds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Regulatory and Legal Risks
Our operations are subject to regulation, supervision and licensing under numerous federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, including extensive regulations concerning trusts/escrows, pre-need sales, cemetery ownership, funeral home ownership, marketing practices, crematories, environmental matters and various other aspects of our business.
If state laws or interpretations of existing state laws change or if new laws are enacted, we may be required to increase trust/escrow deposits or to alter the timing of withdrawals from trusts/escrows, which may have a negative impact on our revenues and cash flow.
We are required by most state laws to deposit specified percentages of the proceeds from our pre-need and at-need sales of interment rights into perpetual care trusts and generally proceeds from our pre-need sales of cemetery and funeral home products and services into merchandise trusts/escrows. These laws also determine when we are allowed to withdraw funds from those trusts/escrows. If those laws or the interpretations of those laws change or if new laws are enacted, we may be required to deposit more of the sales proceeds we receive from our sales into the trusts/escrows or to defer withdrawals from the trusts/escrows, thereby decreasing our cash flow until we are permitted to withdraw the deposited amounts. This could also reduce our cash available for distribution.
If state laws or their interpretations change, or new laws are enacted relating to the ownership of cemeteries and funeral homes, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Some states require cemeteries to be organized in the nonprofit form but permit those nonprofit entities to contract with for-profit companies for management services. If state laws change or new laws are enacted that
prohibit us from managing cemeteries in those states, then our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. Some state laws restrict ownership of funeral homes to licensed funeral directors. If state laws change or new laws are enacted that prohibit us from managing funeral homes in those instances, then our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We are subject to legal restrictions on our marketing practices that could reduce the volume of our sales which could have an adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
The enactment or amendment of legislation or regulations relating to marketing activities may make it more difficult for us to sell our products and services. For example, the federal “do not call” legislation has adversely affected our ability to market our products and services using telephone solicitation by limiting who we may call and increasing our costs of compliance. As a result, we rely heavily on direct mail marketing and telephone follow-up with existing contacts. Additional laws or regulations limiting our ability to market through direct mail, over the telephone, through Internet and e-mail advertising or door-to-door may make it difficult to identify potential customers, which could increase our costs of marketing. Both increases in marketing costs and restrictions on our ability to market effectively could reduce our revenues and could have an adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition, as well as our ability to make cash distributions to you.
We are subject to environmental and health and safety laws and regulations that may adversely affect our operating results.
Our cemetery and funeral home operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. We may become subject to liability for the removal of hazardous substances and solid waste under CERCLA and other federal and state laws. Under CERCLA and similar state laws, strict, joint and several liability may be imposed on various parties, regardless of fault or the legality of the original disposal activity. Our funeral home, cemetery and crematory operations include the use of some materials that may meet the definition of “hazardous substances” under CERCLA or state laws and thus may give rise to liability if released to the environment through a spill or release. We cannot assure you that we will not face liability under CERCLA or state laws for any environmental conditions at our facilities, and we cannot assure you that these liabilities will not be material. Our cemetery and funeral home operations are subject to regulation of underground and above ground storage tanks and laws managing the disposal of solid waste. If new requirements under local, state or federal laws were to be adopted, and were more stringent than existing requirements, new permits or capital expenditures may be required.
Our funeral home operations are generally subject to federal and state laws and regulations regarding the disposal of medical waste, and are also subject to regulation by federal, state or local authorities under the EPCRA. We are required by EPCRA to maintain, and report, to the regulatory authorities, if applicable thresholds are met, a list of any hazardous chemicals and extremely hazardous substances, which are stored or used at our facilities.
Our crematory operations may be subject to regulation under the federal Clean Air Act and any analogous state laws. If new regulations applicable to our crematory operations were to be adopted, they could require permits or capital expenditures that could increase our costs of operation and compliance.
Risk Factors Related to an Investment in Us
Our general partner and its affiliates have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary duties, which may permit them to favor their own interests to your detriment.
CFSI LLC owns all of the Class A units of our general partner. Conflicts of interest may arise between CFSI LLC and its affiliates, including our general partner, on the one hand, and us and our unitholders, on the other hand. As a result of these conflicts, our general partner may favor its own interests and the interests of its affiliates over the interests of the unitholders. These conflicts include, among others, the following situations:
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The board of directors of our general partner is elected by the owners of our general partner. Although our general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage us in good faith, the directors of our general partner also have a fiduciary duty to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to the owners of our general partner. By purchasing common units, unitholders will be deemed to have consented to some actions and conflicts of interest that might otherwise constitute a breach of fiduciary or other duties under applicable law.
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Our partnership agreement limits the liability of our general partner, reduces its fiduciary duties and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions that might, without the limitations, constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
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Our general partner determines the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales, capital expenditures, borrowings, issuances of additional limited partner interests and reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash that is distributed to unitholders.
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Our partnership agreement does not restrict our general partner from causing us to pay it or its affiliates for any services rendered to us or entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf.
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Our general partner controls the enforcement of obligations owed to us by our general partner and its affiliates.
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In some instances, our general partner may cause us to borrow funds or sell assets outside of the ordinary course of business in order to permit the payment of distributions, even if the purpose or effect of the borrowing is to make distributions in respect of incentive distribution rights.
Holders of our common units have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect our general partner or its directors, which could reduce the price at which the common units will trade.
Unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our business. Unitholders did not select our general partner or elect the board of directors of our general partner and will have no right to select our general partner or elect its board of directors in the future. We are not required to have a majority of independent directors on our board. The board of directors of our general partner, including the independent directors, is chosen entirely by the owners of our general partner and not our unitholders. As a result of these limitations, the price at which the common units will trade could be diminished because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price.
Our partnership agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our common units.
Unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by the partnership agreement provision providing that any units held by a person that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than the general partner, its affiliates, their transferees and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner, cannot be voted on any matter. In addition, the partnership agreement contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.
Our general partner can transfer its ownership interest in us without unitholder consent under certain circumstances, and the control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.
Our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the unitholders. Furthermore, there is no restriction in the partnership agreement on the ability of the owners of our general partner to transfer their ownership interest in the general partner to a third party. The new owner of our general partner would then be in a position to replace the board of directors and officers of the general partner with its own choices and thereby influence the decisions taken by the board of directors and officers.
We may issue additional common units without your approval, which would dilute your existing ownership interests.
We may issue an unlimited number of limited partner interests of any type without the approval of the unitholders.
The issuance of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank will have the following effects:
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your proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease;
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the amount of cash available for distribution on each unit may decrease;
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the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit may be diminished;
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the market price of the common units may decline; and
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the ratio of taxable income to distributions may increase.
Cost reimbursements due our general partner may be substantial and will reduce the cash available for distribution to you.
Prior to making any distribution on the common units, we will reimburse our general partner and its affiliates, including CFSI LLC and the officers and directors of our general partner, for all expenses they incur on our behalf. The reimbursement of expenses could adversely affect our ability to pay cash distributions to you. Our general partner determines the amount of these expenses. In addition, our general partner and its affiliates may provide us with other services for which we will be charged fees as determined by our general partner.
In establishing cash reserves, our general partner may reduce the amount of available cash for distribution to you.
Subject to the limitations on restricted payments contained in the indenture governing the 10.25% Senior Notes due 2017 and other indebtedness, the master partnership distributes all of our “available cash” each quarter to its limited partners and general partner. “Available cash” is defined in the master partnership’s partnership agreement, and it generally means, for each fiscal quarter, all cash and cash equivalents on hand on the date of determination for that quarter less the amount of cash reserves established at the discretion of the general partner to:
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provide for the proper conduct of our business;
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comply with applicable law, the terms of any of our debt instruments or other agreements; or
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provide funds for distributions to its unitholders and general partner for any one or more of the next four calendar quarters.
These reserves will affect the amount of cash available for distribution to you.
Our general partner has a limited call right that may require you to sell your common units at an undesirable time or price.
If, at any time, our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the common units, our general partner will have the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price not less than their then-current market price. As a result, you may be required to sell your common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return on your investment. You may also incur a tax liability upon the sale of your common units.
You may be required to repay distributions that you have received from us.
Under certain circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, we may not make a distribution to you if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Delaware law provides that for a period of three years from the date of the impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Assignees who become substituted limited partners are liable for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the partnership. However, assignees are not liable for obligations unknown to the assignee at the time the assignee became a limited partner if the liabilities could not be determined from the partnership agreement. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest and liabilities that are non-recourse to the partnership are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.
Tax Risks to Common Unitholders
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, as well as our not being subject to a material amount of additional entity-level taxation by individual states. If the IRS treats us as a corporation for federal tax purposes or we become subject to additional entity-level taxation for state tax purposes, it would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to you. We are currently under audit by the IRS and the scope of the federal income tax audit includes an audit of our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in our common units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Despite the fact that we are a limited partnership under Delaware law, it is possible in certain circumstances for a partnership such as ours to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Although we do not believe based upon our current operations that we are so treated, if our view is incorrect or if there is a change in our business (or a change in current law) we could be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to taxation as an entity. The IRS is currently auditing our federal income tax return for the year ended December 31, 2010. The scope of this federal income tax audit includes an audit of our qualifying income. In order to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, at least 90% of our gross income must be qualifying income. An IRS formal notice of commencement of the audit will be provided to unitholders if the audit is not concluded on or before March 30, 2013. IRS procedures require that we forward the notice no later than April 29, 2013 to specific unitholders (generally unitholders with less than a 1% profits interest in us) that held units during our taxable year ended December 31, 2010 , and the IRS will provide notice to all other unitholders that held units during our taxable year ended December 31, 2010.
If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes for any taxable year for which the statute of limitations remains open, including the tax year currently under audit, or for any future taxable year, we would pay federal income tax on our taxable income for such year(s) at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and would likely pay state income tax at varying rates. Distributions to you would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses or deductions would flow through to you. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, including taxes with respect to prior periods, our cash available for distribution to you would be substantially reduced. Therefore, treatment of us as a corporation
would result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to the unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our common units. Moreover, treatment of us as a corporation could materially and adversely affect our ability to make payment on our debt.
In connection with each public offering of our common units, including our initial public offering, outside counsel reviewed the various categories of our gross income and opined that we would be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We are fully cooperating with the IRS in the audit process. Although no assurance can be given, we do not anticipate any change in our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or any change in prior period taxable income.
Current law may change so as to cause us to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to entity-level taxation. For example, members of Congress have recently considered substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that would affect the tax treatment of certain publicly traded partnerships. In addition, because of widespread state budget deficits and other reasons, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise and other forms of taxation. If any of these states were to impose a tax on us, the cash available for distribution to you would be reduced. We are unable to predict whether any of these changes, or other proposals, will ultimately be enacted. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.
Our partnership agreement provides that if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects us to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects us to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax purposes, distribution amounts will be adjusted to reflect the impact of that law on us.
The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes or differing interpretations, possibly applied on a retroactive basis.
Current law may change to cause us to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise subjecting us to entity-level taxation. Specifically, the present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our common units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial changes or differing interpretations at any time. For example, from time to time, members of Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. We are unable to predict whether any of these changes or other proposals will be reintroduced or will ultimately be enacted. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units. Any modification to U.S. federal income tax laws may be applied retroactively and could make it more difficult or impossible for us to meet the qualifying income requirement to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We have subsidiaries that will be treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes and subject to corporate-level income taxes.
Some of our operations are conducted through subsidiaries that are organized as C corporations. Accordingly, these corporate subsidiaries are subject to corporate-level tax, which reduces the cash available for distribution to our partnership and, in turn, to you. If the IRS were to successfully assert that these corporations have more tax liability than we anticipate or legislation was enacted that increased the corporate tax rate, the cash available for distribution could be further reduced.
Audit adjustments to the taxable income of our corporate subsidiaries for prior taxable years may reduce the net operating loss carryforwards of such subsidiaries and thereby increase their tax liabilities for future taxable periods.
Our business was conducted by an affiliated group of corporations during periods prior to the completion of our initial public offering and, since the initial public offering, continues to be conducted in part by corporate
subsidiaries. The amount of cash distributions we receive from our corporate subsidiaries over the next several years will depend in part upon the amount of net operating losses available to those subsidiaries to reduce the amount of income subject to federal income tax they would otherwise pay. These net operating losses will begin to expire in 2019. The amount of net operating losses available to reduce the income tax liability of our corporate subsidiaries in future taxable years could be reduced as a result of audit adjustments with respect to prior taxable years. Notwithstanding any limited indemnification rights we may have, any increase in the tax liabilities of our corporate subsidiaries because of a reduction in net operating losses will reduce our cash available for distribution.
Changes in the ownership of our units may result in annual limitations on our corporate subsidiaries’ ability to use their net operating loss carryforwards, which could increase their tax liabilities and decrease cash available for distribution in future taxable periods.
Our corporate subsidiaries’ ability to use their net operating loss carryforwards may be limited if changes in the ownership of our units causes our corporate subsidiaries to undergo an “ownership change” under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. In general, an ownership change will occur if the percentage of our units, based on the value of the units, owned by certain unitholders or groups of unitholders increases by more than fifty percentage points during a running three-year period. Recent changes in our ownership, may result in an “ownership change.” A future ownership change may result from issuances of our units, sales or other dispositions of our units by certain significant unitholders, certain acquisitions of our units, and issuances, sales or other dispositions or acquisitions of interests in significant unitholders, and we will have little to no control over any such events. To the extent that an annual net operating loss limitation for any one year does restrict the ability of our corporate subsidiaries to use their net operating loss carryforwards, an increase in tax liabilities of our corporate subsidiaries could result, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to you.
If the IRS contests the federal income tax positions we take, the market for our common units may be adversely impacted, and the cost of any IRS contest will reduce our cash available for distribution to you.
We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or any other matter affecting us. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the positions we take. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of the positions we take. A court may not agree with some or all of the positions we take. Any contest with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for our common units and the price at which they trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner because the costs will reduce our cash available for distribution.
You may be required to pay taxes on income from us even if you do not receive any cash distributions from us.
Because you will be treated as a partner to whom we will allocate taxable income that could be different in amount than the cash we distribute, you may be required to pay any federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes on your share of our taxable income even if you receive no cash distributions from us. You may not receive cash distributions from us equal to your share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax liability resulting from that income.
Tax gain or loss on disposition of our common units could be more or less than expected.
If you sell your common units, you will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between your amount realized and your tax basis in those common units. Because distributions in excess of your allocable share of our total net taxable income decrease your tax basis in your common units, the amount, if any, of such prior excess distributions with respect to the units you sell will, in effect, become taxable income to you if you sell such units at a price greater than your tax basis in those units, even if the price you receive is less than your original cost. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be
taxed as ordinary income due to potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. In addition, because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities, if you sell your units, you may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash you receive from the sale.
Tax-exempt entities and non- U.S. persons face unique tax issues from owning common units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
Investment in common units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs) and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes at the highest applicable effective tax rate, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file United States federal tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income. If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should consult your tax advisor before investing in our common units.
We treat each purchaser of common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the actual common units purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.
Due to a number of factors, including our inability to match transferors and transferees of common units, we take depreciation and amortization positions that may not conform to all aspects of the existing Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to you. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from the sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit adjustments to your tax returns.
We have adopted certain valuation methodologies that may result in a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction between the general partner and the unitholders. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.
When we issue additional units or engage in certain other transactions, we will determine the fair market value of our assets and allocate any unrealized gain or loss attributable to our assets to the capital accounts of our unitholders and our general partner. If the IRS challenges our methodology it may be viewed as understating the value of our assets. In that case, there may be a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction between certain unitholders and the general partner, which may be unfavorable to such unitholders. Moreover, under our valuation methods, subsequent purchasers of common units may have a greater portion of their Internal Revenue Code Section 743(b) adjustment allocated to our tangible assets and a lesser portion allocated to our intangible assets. The IRS may challenge our valuation methods, or our allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to our tangible and intangible assets, and allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction between the general partner and certain of our unitholders.
A successful IRS challenge to these methods or allocations could adversely affect the amount of taxable income or loss being allocated to our unitholders. It also could affect the amount of gain from our unitholders’ sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of the common units or result in audit adjustments to our unitholders’ tax returns without the benefit of additional deductions.
The sale or exchange of 50% or more of our capital and profits interests during any twelve month period will result in the termination of our partnership for federal income tax purposes.
We will be considered to have terminated our partnership for federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For
purposes of determining whether the 50% threshold has been met, multiple sales of the same interest will be counted only once. Our termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders which would result in our filing two tax returns for one fiscal year and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. Our termination currently would not affect our classification as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, but instead, we would be treated as a new partnership for tax purposes. If treated as a new partnership, we must make new tax elections and could be subject to penalties if we are unable to determine that a termination occurred. The IRS has recently announced a relief procedure whereby if a publicly traded partnership that has technically terminated requests and the IRS grants special relief, among other things, the partnership will be required to provide only a single Schedule K-1 to unitholders for the tax years in which the termination occurs.
You will likely be subject to state and local taxes and filing requirements in jurisdictions where you do not live as a result of an investment in units.
In addition to federal income taxes, you will likely be subject to other taxes, including state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property, even if you do not live in any of those jurisdictions. You will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of these jurisdictions. Further, you may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. We own assets or conduct business in a majority of states and in Puerto Rico. Most of these various jurisdictions currently impose, or may in the future impose, an income tax on individuals, corporations and other entities. As we make acquisitions or expand our business, we may own assets or do business in additional states that impose a personal income tax. It is your responsibility to file all United States federal, state and local tax returns.
A unitholder whose units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of units) may be considered as having disposed of those units. If so, the unitholder would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition.
Because there are no specific rules governing the U.S. federal income tax consequence of loaning a partnership interest, a unitholder whose units are the subject of a securities loan may be considered as having disposed of the loaned units. In that case, you may no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan to the short seller and the unitholder may recognize gain or loss from such disposition. Moreover, during the period of the loan to the short seller, any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units may not be reportable by the unitholder and any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units could be fully taxable as ordinary income. Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their units.
We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of our units each month based upon the ownership of our units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular unit is transferred. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.
We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of our units each month based upon the ownership of our units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular unit is transferred. Nonetheless, we allocate certain deductions for depreciation of capital additions based upon the date the underlying property is put in service. The use of this proration method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Recently, however, the U.S. Treasury Department issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which publicly traded partnerships may use
a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders. Nonetheless, the proposed regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. If the IRS were to challenge our proration method, we may be required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties
Cemeteries and Funeral Homes
The following table summarizes the distribution of our cemetery and funeral properties by state as of December 31, 2012 as well as the weighted average estimated remaining sales life in years for our cemeteries based upon number of interment spaces sold during 2012:
We calculated estimated remaining sales life for each of our cemeteries by dividing the number of unsold interment spaces by the number of interment spaces sold at that cemetery in the most recent year. For purposes of estimating remaining sales life, we defined unsold interment spaces as unsold burial lots and unsold spaces in existing mausoleum crypts as of December 31, 2012. We defined interment spaces sold in 2012 as:
•
the number of burial lots sold, net of cancellations;
•
the number of spaces sold in existing mausoleum crypts, net of cancellations; and
•
the number of spaces sold in mausoleum crypts that we have not yet built, net of cancellations.
We count the sale of a double-depth burial lot as the sale of two interment spaces since a double-depth burial lot includes two interment rights. For the same reason we count an unsold double-depth burial lot as two unsold interment spaces. Because our sales of cremation niches were immaterial, we did not include cremation niches in the calculation of estimated remaining sales life. When calculating estimated remaining sales life, we did not take into account any future cemetery expansion. In addition, sales of an unusually high or low number of interment spaces in a particular year affect our calculation of estimated remaining sales life. Future sales may differ from previous years’ sales, and actual remaining sales life may differ from our estimates. We calculated the weighted average estimated remaining sales life by aggregating unsold interment spaces and interment spaces sold on a state-by-state or company-wide basis. Based on the number of interment spaces sold in 2012, we estimate that our cemeteries have an aggregate weighted average remaining sales life of 246 years.
The following table shows the cemetery properties that we owned or operated as of December 31, 2012, grouped by estimated remaining sales life:
We believe that we have either satisfactory title to or valid rights to use all of our cemetery properties. The 18 cemetery properties that we manage or operate under long-term operating agreements have nonprofit owners. We believe that these cemeteries have either satisfactory title to or valid rights to use these cemetery properties and that we have valid rights to use these properties under the long-term agreements. Although title to the cemetery properties is subject to encumbrances such as liens for taxes, encumbrances securing payment obligations, easements, restrictions and immaterial encumbrances, we do not believe that any of these burdens should materially detract from the value of these properties or from our interest in these properties, nor should these burdens materially interfere with the use of our cemetery properties in the operation of our business as described above. Many of our cemetery properties are located in zoned regions, and we believe that cemetery use is permitted for those cemeteries either (1) as expressly permitted under applicable zoning ordinances; (2) through a special exception to applicable zoning designations; or (3) as an existing non-conforming use.
Other
Our home office is located in a 37,000 square foot leased space in Levittown, Pennsylvania. The lease has a term expiring in 2020, and we consider the space to be adequate for our present and anticipated future requirements. We are also tenants under various leases covering office spaces other than our corporate headquarters.
In addition, we own a 13,500-square-foot plant in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where we manufacture burial vaults used in our cemetery operations, and we own a 4,800-square-foot building in Marion, Virginia, which is no longer being used in our business.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We, and certain of our subsidiaries, are parties to legal proceedings that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. We do not expect these matters to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. We carry insurance with coverage and coverage limits that we believe to be customary in the funeral home and cemetery industries. Although there can be no assurance that such insurance will be sufficient to protect us against all contingencies, we believe that our insurance protection is reasonable in view of the nature and scope of our operations.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common units were listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) until December 23, 2011 when our units began listing on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). Our units are listed under the symbol “STON”. As of March 1, 2013, there were 19,732,579 common units outstanding, representing a 98.0% limited partner interest in us. As of February 20, 2013, there were 31,231 beneficial holders and 59 unitholders of record. The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of our common units for the periods indicated, based on the daily composite listing of common unit transactions for the Nasdaq and NYSE, as applicable.
(1) Distributions were declared and paid within 45 days of the close of each quarter.
Cash Distribution Policy
Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash
General
Within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we will distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.
Available cash for any quarter consists of cash on hand at the end of that quarter, plus cash on hand from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter but before the date of determination of available cash for the quarter, less cash reserves. Cash and other investments held in merchandise trusts and perpetual care trusts are not treated as available cash until they are distributed to us.
General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights
Our general partner is entitled to 2% of all distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2% general partner interest. The general partner’s 2% interest in these distributions may be reduced if we issue additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2% general partner interest.
Our general partner also currently holds incentive distribution rights that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 50%, of the cash we distribute from operating surplus in excess of $0.5125 per unit. The maximum distribution of 50% includes distributions paid to the general partner on its 2% general partner interest but does not include any distributions that the general partner may receive on units that it owns.
Unregistered Sale of Securities
Our general partner entered into a Non-Competition Agreement dated as of June 21, 2010 with Ronald P. Robertson, pursuant to which Mr. Robertson agreed not to compete with the general partner and the companies under its management and control. Pursuant to the Non-Competition Agreement, we issued 9,853 common units on the closing date of the transaction and we were obligated to issue additional common units which were initially valued at a fair value of $0.5 million based on a unit price of $20.30 prior to the date of acquisition. As a result, we issued 9,853 units in June of 2012 and 2011, and we are also obligated to issue an additional 4,924 units in June of 2013.
In connection with and as partial consideration for one of our second quarter 2012 acquisitions, we issued 13,720 unregistered common units representing limited partnership interests in us valued at approximately $0.35 million pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. In connection with and as partial consideration for one of our third quarter 2012 acquisitions, we issued 128,299 unregistered common units representing limited partnership interests in us valued at approximately $3.5 million pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. In connection with and as partial consideration for our fourth quarter 2012 acquisition, we issued 28,863 unregistered common units representing limited partnership interests in us valued at approximately $0.65 million pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement.
See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of these acquisitions.
We offered and issued the foregoing common units in reliance upon the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. We relied on this exemption from registration based in part on representations made by the investors.
Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus
General
All cash distributed to unitholders is characterized as either “operating surplus” or “capital surplus.” We distribute available cash from operating surplus differently than available cash from capital surplus. We treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since we began operations equals the operating surplus as of the most recent date of determination of available cash. We will treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus.
Operating Surplus
Operating surplus consists of:
•
our cash balance on September 20, 2004; plus
•
$5.0 million (as described below); plus
•
cash receipts from our operations, including cash withdrawn from merchandise and perpetual care trusts; plus
•
working capital borrowings made after the end of a quarter but before the date of determination of operating surplus for that quarter; less
•
operating expenditures, including cash deposited in merchandise and perpetual care trusts, maintenance capital expenditures and the repayment of working capital borrowings; less
•
the amount of cash reserves for future operating expenditures and maintenance capital expenditures.
As reflected above, operating surplus includes $5.0 million in addition to our cash balance on September 20, 2004, cash receipts from our operations and cash from working capital borrowings. This amount does not reflect
actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders. Rather, it is a provision that will enable us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $5.0 million of cash we receive in the future from non-operating sources, such as asset sales outside the ordinary course of business, sales of our equity and debt securities, and long-term borrowings, that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus.
As described above, operating surplus is reduced by the amount of our maintenance capital expenditures but not our expansion capital expenditures. For our purposes, maintenance capital expenditures are those capital expenditures required to maintain, over the long term, the operating capacity of our capital assets, and expansion capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that increase, over the long term, the operating capacity of our capital assets.
Examples of maintenance capital expenditures include costs to build roads and install sprinkler systems on our cemetery properties and purchases of equipment for those purposes and, in most instances, costs to develop new areas of our cemeteries. Examples of expansion capital expenditures include costs to identify and complete acquisitions of new cemeteries and funeral homes and to construct new funeral homes. Costs to construct mausoleum crypts and lawn crypts may be considered to be a combination of maintenance capital expenditures and expansion capital expenditures. Our general partner, with the concurrence of its conflicts committee, may allocate capital expenditures between maintenance capital expenditures and expansion capital expenditures and may determine the period over which maintenance capital expenditures will be subtracted from operating surplus.
As described above, operating surplus is reduced by the amount of our operating expenditures. Our partnership agreement specifically excludes certain items from the definition of operating expenditures, such as cash expenditures made for acquisitions or capital improvements, including, without limitation, all cash expenditures, whether or not expensed or capitalized for tax or accounting purposes, incurred during the first four years following an acquisition in order to bring the operating capacity of the acquisition to the level expected to be achieved in the projections forming the basis on which our general partner approved the acquisition. Examples of such cash expenditures include certain maintenance capital expenditures and cash expenditures that we believe are necessary to develop the pre-need sales programs of businesses or assets we acquire. Where cash expenditures are made in part for acquisitions or capital improvements and in part for other purposes, our general partner, with the concurrence of our conflicts committee, will determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each and the period over which cash expenditures made for other purposes will be subtracted from operating surplus.
Capital Surplus
Capital surplus consists of:
•
Borrowings other than working capital borrowings;
•
sales of our equity and debt securities; and
•
sales or other dispositions of assets for cash (other than sales or other dispositions of excess cemetery property up to an aggregate amount in any four-quarter period calculated pursuant to our Partnership Agreement; sales or other dispositions of inventory, accounts receivable and other current assets in the ordinary course of business; and sales or other dispositions of assets as a part of normal retirements or replacements).
The exception for sales of excess cemetery property in any four-quarter period generally is calculated by multiplying $1.0 million by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of cemeteries and funeral homes owned and operated by us on the last day of the quarter in which the sale occurs and the denominator of which is 139.
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
The following table illustrates the priority of distributions of available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner. The amounts set forth in the table in the column titled “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of our general partner and the unitholders in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column titled “Total Quarterly Distribution Target Amount per Common Unit,” until the available cash from operating surplus that we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for our general partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume the general partner has contributed any additional capital required to maintain its 2% general partner interest and has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.
Distributions of Available Cash from Capital Surplus
We do not currently expect to make any distributions of available cash from capital surplus. However, to the extent that we make any distributions of available cash from capital surplus, they will be made in the following manner:
•
first, 98% to common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we have distributed for each common unit an amount of available cash from capital surplus equal to the initial public offering price;
•
second, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner; and
•
thereafter, we will make all distributions of available cash from capital surplus as if they were from operating surplus.
The partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from the initial public offering, which is a return of capital. The initial public offering price less any distributions of capital surplus per unit is referred to as the “unrecovered initial unit price.” Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as the corresponding reduction in the unrecovered initial unit price.
If we distribute capital surplus on a unit in an amount equal to the initial unit price and have paid all arrearages on the common units, the target distribution levels will be reduced to zero. Once the target distribution levels are reduced to zero, all subsequent distributions will be from operating surplus, with 50% being paid to the holders of units and 50% to our general partner.
Adjustment of Target Distribution Levels
In addition to adjusting the target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units, we will proportionately adjust:
•
the target distribution levels;
•
the unrecovered initial unit price.
For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units should occur, the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level. We will not make any adjustment by reason of the issuance of additional units for cash or property.
In addition, if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that causes us to become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, we will reduce the target distribution levels for each quarter by multiplying each distribution level by a fraction, the numerator of which is available cash for that quarter and the denominator of which is the sum of available cash for that quarter plus our general partner’s estimate of our aggregate liability for the income taxes payable by reason of that legislation or interpretation. To the extent that the actual tax liability differs from the estimated tax liability for any quarter, the difference will be accounted for in subsequent quarters.
Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation
If we dissolve in accordance with the partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and our general partner, in accordance with their respective capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any taxable gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.
The allocations of taxable gain upon liquidation are intended, to the extent possible, to allow the holders of common units to receive proceeds equal to their unrecovered initial unit price for the quarter during which liquidation occurs prior to any allocation of gain to the common units. There may not be sufficient taxable gain upon our liquidation to enable the holders of common units to fully recover all of these amounts. Any additional taxable gain will be allocated in a manner intended to allow our general partner to receive proceeds in respect of its incentive distribution rights.
If there are losses upon liquidation, they will first be allocated to the general partner and then to the common units and the general partner interest until the capital accounts of the common units have been reduced to zero. Any remaining loss will be allocated to the general partner interest.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
See the equity compensation plan table set forth in Part III, Item 12 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.”
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following tables present selected financial and operating data of the Company for the periods and as of the dates indicated derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The following tables should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Further, data for the 2011 and 2010 years has been recast to retrospectively reflect adjustments made to our initial assessment of the net values of assets and liabilities acquired in acquisitions.
Table 1: Operating and net income data
(1) Includes bonuses of $1.8 million in 2010.
(2) Represents write-downs in previously capitalized debt issuance costs.
Table 2: Balance Sheet Data
(1) Includes the fair value of assets held in the merchandise and perpetual care trusts. Refer to Note 1 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for a detailed discussion of the consolidation rules for these assets.
(2) Represents revenues to be recognized from the sale of merchandise and services. Refer to Note 1 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for a detailed discussion on the revenue recognition rules.
Table 3: Cash Flow and Other Financial Data
Table 4: Operating Data
(1) Net of cancellations. Sales of double-depth burial lots are counted as two sales.
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Part II “Item 8” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Those notes also give more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the following information.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 the current economic downturn; 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; our ability to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; 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 under Risk Factors in Part I, “Item 1A”. Except as required by federal and state securities laws, 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.
Organization
We were organized on April 2, 2004 to own and operate the cemetery and funeral home business conducted by Cornerstone and its subsidiaries. On September 20, 2004, in connection with our initial public offering of common units representing limited partner interests, Cornerstone contributed to us substantially all of its assets, liabilities and businesses, and then converted into CFSI LLC, a limited liability company. This transfer represented a reorganization of entities under common control and was recorded at historical cost.
Cornerstone had been founded in 1999 by members of our management team and a private equity investment firm in order to acquire a group of 123 cemetery properties and 4 funeral homes. Since that time, Cornerstone, succeeded by us, has acquired additional cemeteries and funeral homes, entered into long term cemetery operating agreements, built funeral homes, and sold cemeteries and funeral homes, resulting in the operation of 276 cemeteries and 86 funeral homes as of December 31, 2012.
Capitalization
On September 20, 2004, we completed our initial public offering. Since that time, we have completed additional follow-on public offerings in December 2007, November 2009, September 2010 and February 2011. In addition, in November 2009, certain of our subsidiaries made a private offering to eligible purchasers of $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2017.
Overview
Cemetery Operations
We are currently the second largest owner and operator of cemeteries in the United States. As of December 31, 2012, we operated 276 cemeteries in 27 states and Puerto Rico. We own 258 of these cemeteries, and we operate the remaining 18 under management or operating agreements with the nonprofit cemetery corporations that own the cemeteries. As a result of the agreements, other control arrangements and applicable accounting rules, we have treated 16 of these cemeteries as acquisitions for accounting purposes.
We operate 2 cemeteries under long-term operating agreements that do not qualify as acquisitions for accounting purposes. As a result, we did not consolidate all of the existing assets and liabilities related to these cemeteries. We have consolidated the existing assets and liabilities of each of these cemeteries’ merchandise and perpetual care trusts as variable interest entities since we control and receive the benefits and absorb any losses from operating these trusts. Under these long-term operating agreements, which are subject to certain termination provisions, we are the exclusive operator of these cemeteries. We earn revenues related to sales of merchandise, services, and interment rights and incur expenses related to such sales and the maintenance and upkeep of these cemeteries. Upon termination of these contracts, we will retain all of the benefits and related contractual obligations incurred from sales generated during the contract period. We have also recognized the existing merchandise liabilities assumed as part of these agreements.
We sell cemetery products and services both at the time of death, which we refer to as at-need, and prior to the time of death, which we refer to as pre-need. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we performed 45,128 burials and sold 29,829 interment rights (net of cancellations) compared to 45,236 and 30,047 in 2011 and 41,556 and 28,008 in 2010, respectively. Cemetery revenues accounted for approximately 85.3%, 86.7% and 87.1% during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Our results of operations for our Cemetery Operations are determined primarily by the volume of sales of products and services and the timing of product delivery and performance of services. We derive our cemetery revenues primarily from:
•
at-need sales of cemetery interment rights, merchandise and services, which we recognize as revenue when we have delivered the related merchandise or performed the service;
•
pre-need sales of cemetery interment rights, which we generally recognize as revenues when we have collected 10% of the sales price from the customer;
•
pre-need sales of cemetery merchandise, which we recognize as revenues when we satisfy the criteria specified below for delivery of the merchandise to the customer;
•
pre-need sales of cemetery services which we recognize as revenues when we perform the services for the customer;
•
investment income from assets held in our merchandise trust, which we recognize as revenues when we deliver the underlying merchandise or perform the underlying services and recognize the associated sales revenue as discussed above;
•
investment income from perpetual care trusts, excluding realized gains and losses on the sale of trust assets, which we recognize as revenues as the income is earned in the trust; and
•
other items, such as interest income on pre-need installment contracts and sales of land.
The criteria for recognizing revenue related to the sale of cemetery merchandise is that such merchandise is “delivered” to our customer, which generally means that:
•
the merchandise is complete and ready for installation; or
•
the merchandise is either installed or stored at an off-site location, at no additional cost to us, and specifically identified with a particular customer; and
•
the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the customer.
We generally satisfy these delivery criteria by purchasing the merchandise and either installing it on our cemetery property or storing it, at the customer’s request, in third-party warehouses, at no additional cost to us, until the time of need. With respect to burial vaults, we install the vaults rather than storing them to satisfy the delivery criteria. When merchandise is stored for a customer, we may issue a certificate of ownership to the customer to evidence the transfer to the customer of the risks and rewards of ownership.
Pre-need Sales
As previously noted, we do not recognize revenue on pre-need sales of merchandise and services until we have delivered the merchandise or performed the services. Accordingly, deferred revenues from pre-need sales and related merchandise trust earnings are reflected as a liability on our balance sheet in deferred cemetery revenues, net.
Total deferred cemetery revenues, net, also includes deferred revenues from pre-need sales that were entered into by entities we acquired prior to the time we acquired them. This includes both those entities that we acquired at the time of the formation of Cornerstone and other subsequent acquisitions. Our profit margin on pre-need sales entered into by entities we subsequently acquired is generally less than our profit margin on other pre-need sales because, in accordance with industry practice at the time these acquired pre-need sales were made, none of the selling expenses were recognized at the time of sale. As a result, we are required to recognize all of the expenses (including deferred selling expenses) associated with these acquired pre-need sales when we recognize the revenues from that sale.
Pre-need products and services are typically sold on an installment basis. Subject to state law, these contracts are normally subject to “cooling-off” periods, generally between three and thirty days, during which the customer may elect to cancel the contract and receive a full refund of amounts paid. Also, subject to applicable state law, we are generally permitted to retain the amounts already paid on contracts, including any amounts that were required to be deposited into trust, on contracts cancelled after the “cooling-off” period. Historical post “cooling-off” period cancellations total approximately 10% of our pre-need sales (based on contract dollar amounts). If the products and services purchased under a pre-need contract are needed for interment before payment has been made in full, generally the balance due must be immediately paid in full.
Contracts related to pre-need installment sales are usually for a period not to exceed 60 months, with payments of principal and interest required. Pre-need sales contracts normally contain provisions for both principal and interest. For those contracts that do not bear a market rate of interest, we impute such interest based upon the prime rate plus 150 basis points, which resulted in a rate of 4.75% during 2012, 2011 and 2010.
We normally offer prepayment incentives to customers whose pre-need contracts are longer than 36 months and bear interest. If those customers pay their contracts in full in less than 12 months, we rebate the interest that we have collected from them. Even though this rebate policy reduces the amount of interest income we receive on our accounts receivable, the net effect is an increase in our immediate cash flow.
In certain cases, pre-need contracts will be cancelled before they are fully paid. In these circumstances, we are generally permitted to retain amounts already paid to us, including any amounts that were required to be
deposited into trust. In certain other cases, the products and services purchased under a pre-need contract are needed for interment before payment has been made in full. In these cases, we are generally entitled to be immediately paid in full for any amounts still outstanding.
At-need Sales
Revenue on at-need merchandise sales is deferred until the time that such merchandise is delivered. The lag between the contract origination and delivery is normally minimal. At-need sales of products and services are generally required to be paid for in full at the time of sale. At that time, we will deposit amounts, as legally required, into our perpetual care trusts. We are not required to deposit any amounts from our at-need sales into merchandise trusts.
Expenses
We analyze and categorize our operating expenses as follows:
1. Cost of goods sold and selling expenses
Cost of goods sold reflects the actual cost of purchasing products and performing services. Sales of cemetery lots and interment rights, whether at-need or pre-need, typically have a lower cost of goods sold than other merchandise that we sell.
Selling expenses consist of salesperson and sales management payroll costs, including selling commissions, bonuses and employee benefits. We self-insure medical expenses of our employees up to certain individual and aggregate limits over which we have stop-loss insurance coverage. Our self-insurance policy may result in variability in our future operating expenses. Selling expenses also includes other costs of obtaining product and service sales, such as advertising, marketing, postage and telephone.
Direct costs associated with pre-need sales of cemetery merchandise and services, such as sales commissions and cost of goods sold, are reflected in the balance sheet in deferred selling and obtaining costs and deferred cemetery revenues, net, respectively, and are expensed as the merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. Indirect costs, such as marketing and advertising costs, are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.
2. Cemetery Expenses
Cemetery expenses represent the cost to maintain and repair our cemetery properties and consist primarily of labor and equipment, utilities, real estate taxes and other maintenance items. Repairs necessary to maintain our cemeteries are expensed as they are incurred. Other maintenance costs required over the long term to maintain the operating capacity of our cemeteries, such as to build roads and install sprinkler systems, are capitalized.
3. General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses, which do not include corporate overhead, primarily includes personnel costs, insurance and other costs necessary to maintain our cemetery offices.
4. Depreciation and amortization
We depreciate our property and equipment on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.
5. Acquisition related costs
Acquisition related costs, which include legal fees and other third party costs incurred in acquisition related activities, are expensed as incurred.
Funeral Home Operations
As of December 31, 2012, we owned and operated 86 funeral homes. These properties are located in eighteen states and Puerto Rico. Forty-one of our funeral homes are located on the grounds of cemeteries that we own.
We derive revenues at our funeral homes from the sale of funeral home merchandise, including caskets and related funeral merchandise, and services, including removal and preparation of remains, the use of our facilities for visitation, worship and performance of funeral services and transportation services. We sell these services and merchandise almost exclusively at the time of need utilizing salaried licensed funeral directors. Funeral home revenues accounted for approximately 14.7%, 13.3% and 12.9% during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Pursuant to state law, a portion of proceeds received from pre-need funeral service contracts is put into trust while amounts used to defray the initial administrative costs are not. All investment earnings generated by the assets in the trust (including realized gains and losses) are deferred until the associated merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. The balance of the amounts in these trusts is included within the merchandise trusts above.
We generally include revenues from pre-need casket sales in the results of our cemetery operations. However, some states require that caskets be sold by funeral homes, and revenues from casket sales in those states are included in our funeral home results.
Our funeral home operating expenses consist primarily of compensation to our funeral directors, day to day costs of managing the business and the cost of caskets.
Corporate
We incur fixed costs for corporate overhead primarily for centralized functions, such as payroll, accounting, collections and professional fees. We also incur expenses relating to reporting requirements under U.S. federal securities laws and certain other additional expenses of being a public company.
Revenues by State
The following table shows the percentage of revenues attributable to each of the states in which we operate for the periods presented:
Principal Products and Services
The following table shows the percentage of revenues attributable to our principal products, services and other items during the periods presented:
(1) Installation of the burial vault into the ground.
(2) Includes revenues from niches, mausoleum lights, cremations, pet cemeteries, installation of burial vaults and markers sold to our customers by third parties and pre-need sales made in connection with the relocation of other cemetery interment rights. Also includes document processing fees on pre-need contracts and fees from sales of travel care protection, which covers shipping costs of a body if death occurs more than 100 miles from the place of residence.
(3) Installation of the burial vault into the ground and the placement of the casket into the vault.
(4) Installation of the marker on the ground and its inscription.
(5) Includes revenues from lawn crypts, decorative lights installed on mausoleum crypts, installations of burial vaults, markers sold to our customers by third parties, cremation fees and document-processing fees on at-need contracts.
(6) Includes sales of manufactured burial vaults to third parties, sales of cemetery and undeveloped land, commissions from sales of pre-need funeral and death benefit insurance policies provided through a third-party insurer and other miscellaneous revenues.
Cash Flow
Pre-need sales often generate short-term cash flow deficits due to the timing of when we receive amounts from customers, pay related commissions and deposit amounts into the perpetual care and merchandise trusts.
We generally require customers to make a down payment on a pre-need contract of at least 5% of the total sales price. When we receive a payment from a customer on a pre-need contract, we first deposit the requisite portion into trust as required by state law. Then, we pay all or a portion of the commission due to the salesperson responsible for the sale up to a maximum of total cash received. In many cases, the sum of the commission paid and amount deposited into the trust exceeds the total cash received, causing a short-term cash flow deficit.
If the down payment received from the customer is not sufficient to cover the entire commission, the remaining commission is paid from subsequent installments, but only to the extent of 80% of the cash received from the customer in each installment. Again, in the near-term there is a possibility that the sum of the commission paid and amount deposited into the trust exceeds the total cash received, causing an additional short-term cash flow deficit. These short-term deficits are eventually recaptured as the total amount received exceeds the commissions paid and we meet the requirements for withdrawing amounts deposited into the merchandise trust.
The following example assumes a pre-need contract with a total sales price of $1,000, a 10% down payment, a 40% perpetual care and merchandise trusting requirement, a 15% sales commission and a one-year term without interest, our short-term cash flow would be as follows:
•
When we receive the $100 down payment from the customer, we would deposit 40% of the payment, or $40 in trust and pay 100% of the commission due to the salesperson, or $150, but only to the extent that we received cash from the customer, or $100. Our total cash obligations would be $140 even though we only received $100 from the customer. We would use $40 of our operating cash to pay the sales commission and, at this time, would be cash flow negative on the contract.
•
In month one, when we receive the first $75 installment from the customer, we would deposit 40%, or $30, into trust and pay 100% of the balance of the commission due to the sales person, or $50. Our total cash obligations would be $80 even though we only received $75 from the customer. We would use $5 of our operating cash to pay sales commission and would still be cash flow negative on the contract.
•
In month two, when we receive the next $75 installment from the customer, we would deposit 40%, or $30, into trust, but we would have no further commission due on the sale. The remaining $45 received from the customer would go back into our operating cash, and we would break even on the contract on a cash-flow basis.
•
In month three, when we receive the next $75 installment from the customer, we would deposit 40%, or $30, into trust and the remaining $45 would go back into our operating cash. In this month, we would become cash flow positive on the contract.
We can accelerate our operating cash flow by purchasing and delivering many of our products in advance of the time of customer need, either by installing them in the customer’s burial space (in the case of burial vaults) or storing them for the customer, and by performing certain services prior to the time of need. For example, within the allowances of state law, we purchase burial vaults, grave markers and caskets, and perform initial openings and closings to install the burial vault in the ground before the time of need. When we satisfy the criteria for delivery of pre-need products or perform pre-need services, we are permitted to withdraw the related principal and any income and capital gains that we have not already withdrawn from the merchandise trust, and we recognize the amounts withdrawn, including amounts previously withdrawn, as revenues. Advance purchasing helps us avoid the negative cash flow impact of depositing significant portions of our sales proceeds in trusts while earning rates on those trusts that are currently less than interest rates we pay on our debt. To the extent that we can purchase and deliver products and perform services in advance of the time of need, we can accelerate,
within the limitations of GAAP, the timing of our revenue recognition for these products and services. As a result, decisions made by our management to purchase and deliver products or perform services in advance, for cash flow or other reasons, affect the timing of revenue recognition from the underlying sales.
We are somewhat limited, however, in our ability to purchase some products in advance of the time of need because of their availability. Given our large volume of pre-need sales, it is unlikely that our suppliers could provide, or we could manufacture, all of the products included in our pre-need backlog at any given time. For example, we generally need more vaults per year to fulfill our pre-need contract obligations, than we currently manufacture at our plants. We must purchase any excess from third party suppliers who must also meet the demands of other cemetery operators.
We currently purchase burial vaults from third-party providers to assist us in meeting the demands of our accelerated purchase and delivery program. We are also limited in our ability to perform certain services in advance of the time of need because of their nature or our resources. For example, we cannot perform the final opening and closing, which is the placing of the casket into the ground, or inscribe the date of death on the monument or marker until the time of need. Even if we chose to perform all of the services in our pre-need backlog that could be performed in advance of need, such as installing all of the burial vaults in our pre-need backlog, we would not currently have the labor, equipment or other resources to perform all of those services in a short period of time.
Trusting
We are required to deposit a portion of amounts received on sales of certain cemetery merchandise and services into a perpetual care and/or merchandise trust. These amounts are invested by third-party investment managers who are selected by the Trust and Compliance Committee of the board of directors of our general partner. These investment managers are required to invest our trust funds in accordance with applicable state law and internal investment guidelines adopted by the Trust and Compliance Committee. Our investment managers are monitored by third-party investment advisors selected by the Trust and Compliance Committee who advise the committee on the determination of asset allocations, evaluate the investment managers and provide detailed monthly reports on the performance of each merchandise and perpetual care trust.
Perpetual Care Trust
Pursuant to state law, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property is required to be paid into perpetual care trusts. While this amount varies, it is generally 10% to 20% of the sales price of the interment right. All principal must remain in this trust into perpetuity while interest and dividends may be released to us and used to defray cemetery maintenance costs, which are expensed as incurred. Earnings from the perpetual care trusts are recognized in current cemetery revenues. To maximize this income, we have established investment guidelines for the third-party investment managers that manage the trust so that substantially all of the funds are invested in intermediate-term investment-grade fixed-income securities, high-yield fixed-income securities, master limited partnerships and real estate investment trusts.
We fund these amounts pro-rata on an “as received” basis. As payments are received from the customer, we deposit a pro-rata amount of the payment into a perpetual care trust. For example, if we receive a payment of 20% of the sales price from the customer, we would deposit into the perpetual care trust 20% of the total amount required to be placed into trust for that sale.
We consolidate the assets of the trust in accordance with the provisions of ASC 810, as the trust is considered to be a variable interest entity for which we are the primary beneficiary. Assets are reflected at fair market value on the asset portion of our balance sheet as an asset entitled “perpetual care trusts, restricted, at fair value,” and an equal amount is reflected as a liability as “perpetual care trust corpus.”
Merchandise Trust
We are generally required by state law to deposit a portion of the sales price of pre-need cemetery merchandise and services, or the estimated current cost of providing that merchandise and those services, into a merchandise trust to ensure that we will have sufficient funds in the future to purchase the merchandise or perform the services. The amount we are required to deposit into a merchandise trust varies from state to state but is generally 40% to 70% of the sales price of the merchandise or services.
We fund these amounts pro-rata on an “as received” basis. As payments are received from the customer, we deposit a pro-rata amount of the payment into a merchandise trust. For example, if we receive a payment of 20% of the sales price from the customer, we would deposit into the merchandise trust 20% of the total amount required to be placed into trust for the merchandise and services sold.
We consolidate the assets of the trust in accordance with the provisions of ASC 810, as the trust is considered to be a variable interest entity for which we are the primary beneficiary. Assets are reflected at fair market value on the asset portion of our balance sheet as an asset entitled “merchandise trusts, restricted, at fair value”.
Unlike assets in the perpetual care trusts, assets in the merchandise trusts will be released to us at the time we meet the requirements. These requirements vary from state to state depending upon applicable laws.
Earnings on funds held in merchandise trusts, including investment income and capital gains, are deferred and included in our balance sheet in deferred cemetery revenues, net, until such time that we recognize the revenue from the related sale.
We are permitted to withdraw the investment income, such as interest and dividends, as well as capital gains, from merchandise trusts at varying times depending on the applicable state law. In some states, we are permitted to make monthly withdrawals of investment income, but in other states we are permitted to withdraw income less frequently or only upon death. In all states, however, we are permitted to withdraw trust principal and earnings to purchase the merchandise or perform the services or, generally, when the customer cancels the contract. Some states impose additional restrictions on our ability to withdraw merchandise trust earnings if those trusts have realized losses. For example, if a Pennsylvania merchandise trust realizes a loss, the trust is required to recover the amount of the realized loss, either by earning income or generating capital gains, before we are allowed to withdraw earnings, except to purchase the related products or perform the related services. Other states, such as Virginia, permit continued withdrawals of merchandise trust earnings following a realized loss so long as the fair market value of the funds held in trust equals or exceeds the cost of the related products and services.
We invest the amounts deposited into merchandise trusts, within specified investment guidelines, primarily in intermediate-term, investment-grade fixed-income securities, high-yield fixed-income securities, real estate investment trusts and, to a lesser extent, equity securities and cash.
The income earned on funds held in perpetual care trusts and merchandise trusts can be materially affected by fluctuations in interest rates, dividend payments, and in the case of merchandise trusts, by the performance of the stock market. Investment income from trusts accounted for 9.9%, 10.3% and 9.3% of our 2012, 2011 and 2010 total revenues, respectively. During 2012, 2011 and 2010 our average annual rates of return (not including changes in unrealized gains and losses) on funds held in merchandise trusts were 6.7%, 7.5% and 3.7%, respectively, while our average annual rates of return on funds held in perpetual care trusts were 5.9%, 6.2% and 7.1%, respectively. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
Unrealized gains and losses in merchandise trusts are deferred and accordingly have no immediate impact on our revenues, earnings or cash flow unless the fair market value of the funds declines below the estimated
costs to deliver the related products and services, in which case we would be required to record a current charge to earnings equal to the difference between the fair market value of the funds and the estimated costs.
We determine whether or not the assets in the merchandise and perpetual care trusts have an other-than-temporary impairment on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions, concerns related to the specific issuer and our ability and intent to hold securities until they recover their value. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its market value.
For assets held in the perpetual care trusts, any reduction in the cost basis due to an other-than-temporary impairment is offset with an equal and opposite reduction in the perpetual care trust corpus and has no impact on earnings.
For assets held in the merchandise trusts, any reduction in the cost basis due to an other-than-temporary impairment is recorded in deferred revenue.
The trust footnotes (Notes 5 and 6 of our consolidated financial statements included in Part II “Item 8”) disclose the adjusted cost basis of the assets in the trusts and contain a more detailed discussion of other-than- temporarily impaired assets.
Current Market Conditions and Economic Developments
We are subject to fluctuations in the fair value of equity and fixed-maturity debt securities in our trust. These values can be negatively impacted by contractions in the credit market and overall downturns in economic activity. As of December 31, 2010, the market value of the assets in our merchandise trusts and perpetual care trusts exceeded their amortized cost by 3.7% and 6.5%, respectively.
The financial markets generally improved throughout 2011 and as of December 31, 2011, the market value of the assets in our perpetual care trust exceeded its amortized cost by 0.7%, and the ratio of the fair value to the amortized cost of our merchandise trust assets was 97.7%.
The overall markets have experienced fluctuation during 2012, but have generally improved since 2011. We continued to monitor our invested assets in our merchandise and perpetual care trusts and during 2012, we determined that some of these assets were impaired, and we took a charge of approximately $1.0 million and $2.8 million respectively. As of December 31, 2012, the market value of the assets in our merchandise trusts and perpetual care trusts exceeded their amortized cost by 0.2% and 5.8%, respectively.
Further, we raised capital via a follow-on public offering of our common units, representing a limited partnership interest in us, in February of 2011 and September of 2010. In addition, as of December 31, 2012, the majority of our long-term debt consisted of $150.0 million in Senior Notes due in 2017 and $101.7 million of borrowings on our Credit Facility which expires in 2017. As of December 31, 2012, we had an unused line of $28.3 million under our Credit Agreement.
The average dollar value of pre-need and at-need contracts written has not deteriorated and values for the year ended December 31, 2012 exceed values from 2011.
We will continue to monitor evolving economic conditions and plan accordingly.
Recent Developments
On February 19, 2013, we entered into the First Amendment to our Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which increased the total availability under our Credit Facility by $10.0 million to $140.0 million.
On February 19, 2013, certain of our subsidiaries entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Seawinds Agreement”) with certain Florida limited liability companies and one individual (collectively the “Seller”). Pursuant to the Agreement, we acquired six funeral homes in Florida, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. In consideration for the net assets acquired, we paid the Seller $9.0 million in cash and issued 159,635 common units, which equates to approximately $3.6 million worth of units. We also issued an unsecured promissory note in the amount of $3.0 million that is payable on February 19, 2014 and bears interest at 5%. In addition, we will also pay an aggregate amount of $1.2 million in six equal annual installments commencing on February 19, 2014 in exchange for a non-compete agreement with the Seller.
Change in Market Value of Trust Assets
We have a substantial portfolio of invested assets in both our merchandise trusts and the perpetual care trusts. Both trusts have a mix of cash and cash equivalents, fixed maturity debt securities and equity securities. A critical issue for us had been the decline in the fair value of equity and, to a lesser degree, fixed maturity debt securities held in our trusts. This decline took place primarily during 2008 and 2009. Since that time, the financial markets have been slowly recovering, and continued to improve through the end of 2012. During 2012 and 2011, we determined that some of the assets in our trusts had been impaired and we took an impairment charge of approximately $1.0 million and $0.5 million, respectively, related to assets in our merchandise trusts and a charge of approximately $2.8 million and $0.1 million, respectively, related to our assets in our perpetual care trusts. This charge is deferred until such time that we deliver the merchandise or perform the services for which the trust assets are set aside. The impairment charge reduced the cost basis of the assets to their fair value. As of December 31, 2012, the aggregate post write-down fair value of the assets in our merchandise trust exceeded its amortized cost by 0.2% and the aggregate post write-down fair value of the assets in our perpetual care trust exceeded its amortized cost by 5.8%.
Funds in our trusts are managed by third-party investment managers who are in turn monitored by a third-party investment advisor selected by our Trust and Compliance Committee. The third-party investment advisor is providing the committee with frequent updates on the performance of the investments. We will continue to monitor performance closely. See “Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
The information presented below should be read in conjunction with the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included under “Item 8
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors of StoneMor Partners GP LLC and Unitholders of StoneMor Partners L.P.
Levittown, Pennsylvania
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of StoneMor Partners L.P. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, partners’ capital, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of StoneMor Partners L.P. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 15, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 15, 2013
StoneMor Partners L.P.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(in thousands)
See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
StoneMor Partners L.P.
Consolidated Statement of Operations
(in thousands, except unit data)
See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
StoneMor Partners L.P.
Consolidated Statement of Partners’ Capital
(in thousands)
See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
StoneMor Partners L.P.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
See Accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations
StoneMor Partners L.P. (“StoneMor”, the “Company” or the “Partnership”) is a provider of funeral and cemetery products and services in the death care industry in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, StoneMor offers a complete range of funeral merchandise and services, along with cemetery property, merchandise and services, both at the time of need and on a pre-need basis. As of December 31, 2012, the Partnership owned 258 and operated 276 cemeteries in 27 states and Puerto Rico and owned and operated 86 funeral homes in 18 states and Puerto Rico.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of each of the Company’s subsidiaries. These statements also include the accounts of the merchandise and perpetual care trusts in which the Company has a variable interest and is the primary beneficiary. The Company operates 18 cemeteries under long-term operating or management contracts. The operations of 16 of these managed cemeteries have been consolidated in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 810. The financial statements also include the effects of retrospective adjustments, resulting from the Company’s 2012 and 2011 acquisitions (see Note 14).
The Company operates 2 cemeteries under long-term operating agreements that do not qualify as acquisitions for accounting purposes. As a result, the Company did not consolidate all of the existing assets and liabilities related to these cemeteries. The Company has consolidated the existing assets and liabilities of each of these cemeteries’ merchandise and perpetual care trusts as variable interest entities since the Company controls and receives the benefits and absorbs any losses from operating these trusts. Under these long-term operating agreements, which are subject to certain termination provisions, the Company is the exclusive operator of these cemeteries. The Company earns revenues related to sales of merchandise, services, and interment rights and incurs expenses related to such sales and the maintenance and upkeep of these cemeteries. Upon termination of these contracts, the Company will retain all of the benefits and related contractual obligations incurred from sales generated during the contract period. The Company has also recognized the existing merchandise liabilities that it assumed as part of these agreements.
Total revenues derived from the cemeteries under long-term management or operating contracts totaled approximately $39.2 million, $39.5 million and $33.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The significant accounting policies followed by the Company are summarized below:
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less from the time they are acquired to be cash equivalents.
Cemetery Property
Cemetery property consists of developed and undeveloped cemetery property, constructed mausoleum crypts and lawn crypts and other cemetery property. Cemetery property is valued at cost, which is not in excess of market value.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, whereas additions and major replacements are capitalized and depreciation is recorded over their estimated useful lives as follows:
Merchandise Trusts
Pursuant to state law, a portion of the proceeds from pre-need sales of merchandise and services is put into trust (the “merchandise trust”) until such time that the Company meets the requirements for releasing trust principal, which is generally delivery of merchandise or performance of services. All investment earnings generated by the assets in the merchandise trusts (including realized gains and losses) are deferred until the associated merchandise is delivered or the services are performed (see Note 5).
Perpetual Care Trusts
Pursuant to state law, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property is required to be paid into perpetual care trusts. The perpetual care trust principal does not belong to the Company and must remain in this trust into perpetuity while interest and dividends may be released and used to defray cemetery maintenance costs, which are expensed as incurred. The Company consolidates the trust into the Company’s financial statements in accordance with ASC 810-10-15-(13 through 22) because the trust is considered a variable interest entity for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Earnings from the perpetual care trusts are recognized in current cemetery revenues (see Note 6).
Inventories
Inventories are classified within other current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and include cemetery and funeral home merchandise valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined primarily on a specific identification basis on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventories were approximately $4.7 million and $6.4 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company monitors the recoverability of long-lived assets, including cemetery property, property and equipment and other assets, based on estimates using factors such as current market value, future asset utilization, business and regulatory climate and future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the related assets. The Company’s policy is to evaluate an asset for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that a long-lived asset’s carrying value may not be recovered. An impairment charge is recorded to write-down the asset to its fair value if the sum of future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset. No impairment charges were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Trust Assets
The Company determines whether or not the impairment of a fixed maturity debt security is other-than-temporary by evaluating each of the following:
•
Whether it is the Company’s intent to sell the security. If there is intent to sell, the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary.
•
If there is no intent to sell, the Company evaluates if it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell an impaired investment before its anticipated recovery, the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary.
The Company has further evaluated whether or not all assets in the merchandise trusts have other-than-temporary impairments based upon a number of criteria including the severity of the impairment, length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer.
If an impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair value.
For assets held in the perpetual care trusts, any reduction in the cost basis due to an other-than-temporary impairment is offset with an equal and opposite reduction in the perpetual care trust corpus and has no impact on earnings.
For assets held in the merchandise trusts, any reduction in the cost basis due to an other-than-temporary impairment is recorded in deferred revenue.
The trust footnotes (Notes 5 and 6) disclose the adjusted cost basis of the assets in both the merchandise and perpetual care trust. This adjusted cost basis includes any adjustments to the original cost basis due to other-than-temporary impairments.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. The Company tests goodwill for impairment using a two-step test. In the first step of the test, the Company compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company determines the fair value of each reporting unit using the income approach. The Company does 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 of a reporting unit is less than the related carrying amount, the Company records an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess of the carrying amount of goodwill over the implied fair value. The goodwill impairment test is performed annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that impairment may exist.
Deferred Cemetery Revenues, Net
Revenues from the sale of services and merchandise, as well as any investment income from the merchandise trust is deferred until such time that the services are performed or the merchandise is delivered.
In addition to amounts deferred on new contracts, and investment income and unrealized gains on our merchandise trust, deferred cemetery revenues, net, includes deferred revenues from pre-need sales that were entered into by entities prior to the acquisition of those entities by the Company, including entities that were acquired by Cornerstone Family Services, Inc. upon its formation in 1999. The Company provides for a reasonable profit margin for these deferred revenues (deferred margin) to account for the future costs of delivering products and providing services on pre-need contracts that the Company acquired through acquisition. Deferred margin amounts are deferred until the merchandise is delivered or services are performed.
Sales of Cemetery Merchandise and Services
The Company sells its merchandise and services on both a pre-need and at-need basis. Sales of at-need cemetery services and merchandise are recognized as revenue when the service is performed or merchandise is delivered.
Pre-need sales are usually made on an installment contract basis. Contracts are usually for a period not to exceed 60 months with payments of principal and interest required. For those contracts that do not bear a market rate of interest, the Company imputes such interest based upon the prime rate plus 150 basis points (this resulted in a rate of 4.75% for contracts entered into during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010) in order to segregate the principal and interest component of the total contract value.
At the time of a pre-need sale, the Company records an account receivable in an amount equal to the total contract value less any cash deposit paid net of an estimated allowance for customer cancellations. The revenue from both the sales and interest component is deferred. Interest revenue is recognized utilizing the effective interest method. Sales revenue is recognized in accordance with the rules discussed below.
The allowance for customer cancellations is established based on management’s estimates of expected cancellations and historical experiences and is currently averaging approximately 10% of total contract values. Future cancellation rates may differ from this current estimate. Management will continue to evaluate cancellation rates and will make changes to the estimate should the need arise. Actual cancellations did not vary significantly from the estimates of expected cancellations at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.
Revenue recognition related to sales of cemetery merchandise and services is governed by Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements (“SAB No. 104”), and the retail land sales provisions of ASC 976. Per this guidance, revenue from the sale of burial lots and constructed mausoleum crypts is deferred until such time that 10% of the sales price has been collected, at which time it is fully earned; revenues from the sale of unconstructed mausoleums are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting while revenues from merchandise and services are recognized once such merchandise is delivered (title has transferred to the customer and the merchandise is either installed or stored, at the direction of the customer, at the vendor’s warehouse or a third-party warehouse at no additional cost to us) or services are performed.
In order to appropriately match revenue and expenses, the Company defers certain pre-need cemetery and prearranged funeral direct obtaining costs that vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of new pre-need cemetery and prearranged funeral business. Such costs are accounted for under the provisions of ASC 944, and are expensed as revenues are recognized.
The Company records a merchandise liability equal to the estimated cost to provide services and purchase merchandise for all outstanding and unfulfilled pre-need contracts. The merchandise liability is established and recorded at the time of the sale but is not recognized as an expense until such time that the associated revenue for the underlying contract is also recognized. The merchandise liability is established based on actual costs incurred or an estimate of future costs, which may include a provision for inflation. The merchandise liability is reduced when services are performed or when payment for merchandise is made by the Company and title is transferred to the customer.
Sales of Funeral Home Services
Revenue from funeral home services is recognized as services are performed and merchandise is delivered.
Pursuant to state law, a portion of proceeds received from pre-need funeral service contracts is put into trust while amounts used to defray the initial administrative costs are not. All investment earnings generated by the
assets in the trust (including realized gains and losses) are deferred until the associated merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. The balance of the amounts in these trusts is included within the merchandise trusts above.
Net Income per Unit
Basic net income per unit is determined by dividing net income, after deducting the amount of net income allocated to the general partner interest from its issuance date of September 20, 2004, by the weighted average number of units outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per unit is calculated in the same manner as basic net income per unit, except that the weighted average number of outstanding units is increased to include the dilutive effect of outstanding unit options or phantom unit options. All outstanding unit appreciation rights (See Note 12) that would have a dilutive effect were assumed to be exercised and converted to common units using the average fair market value of a common unit for the period presented. The diluted weighted average number of limited partners’ units outstanding presented on the consolidated statement of operations does not include 253,384 units, 322,866 units and 213,261 units for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively, as their effects would be anti-dilutive.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the prior year presentation of long-term debt have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
Use of Estimates
Preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting periods. As a result, actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates in the consolidated financial statements are the valuation of assets in the merchandise trust and perpetual care trust, allowance for cancellations, unit-based compensation, merchandise liability, deferred sales revenue, deferred margin, deferred merchandise trust investment earnings, deferred obtaining costs and income taxes. Deferred sales revenue, deferred margin and deferred merchandise trust investment earnings are included in deferred cemetery revenues, net, on the consolidated balance sheet.
2. LONG-TERM ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET OF ALLOWANCE
Long-term accounts receivable, net, consisted of the following:
Activity in the allowance for contract cancellations is as follows:
The Company’s customer receivables are considered financing receivables as they primarily relate to pre-need sales which are usually made on an installment contract basis. Contracts are usually for a period not to exceed 60 months with payments of principal and interest required. The Company has a standard contractual agreement that it executes related to these receivables and therefore the Company only has one portfolio segment of receivables with no separate classes of receivables within that segment.
Management evaluates customer receivables for impairment on an individual contract basis based upon the age of the receivable and a customer’s payment history. The Company’s receivables primarily relate to pre-need sales and therefore the Company has not performed the service or fulfilled all of its obligations for the merchandise to which the receivable relates. As a result, the Company has some leverage with its customers in terms of collecting its receivables. Further, the Company will be flexible with customers who have difficulty making payments and will try to create revised or alternative payment agreements with the customer. As a result, the Company does not write-off a receivable until all possible collection efforts have been exhausted. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, approximately 9% of the Company’s gross accounts receivable balance was 90 days past due.
3. CEMETERY PROPERTY
Cemetery property consists of the following:
4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Major classes of property and equipment follow:
Depreciation expense was $7.2 million, $5.9 million and $5.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
5. MERCHANDISE TRUSTS
At December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company’s merchandise trusts consisted of the following types of assets:
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Money Market Funds that invest in low risk short term securities;
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Publicly traded mutual funds that invest in underlying debt securities;
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Publicly traded mutual funds that invest in underlying equity securities;
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Equity investments that are currently paying dividends or distributions. These investments include Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REIT’s”), Master Limited Partnerships and global equity securities;
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Fixed maturity debt securities issued by various corporate entities;
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Fixed maturity debt securities issued by the U.S. Government and U.S. Government agencies; and
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Fixed maturity debt securities issued by U.S. states and local government agencies.
All of these investments are classified as Available for Sale as defined by the Investments in Debt and Equity topic of the ASC. Accordingly, all of the assets are carried at fair value. All of these investments are considered to be either Level 1 or Level 2 assets as defined by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the ASC. See Note 16 for further details. There were no Level 3 assets.
The merchandise trusts are variable interest entities (VIE) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The assets held in the merchandise trusts are required to be used to purchase the merchandise to which they relate. If the value of these assets falls below the cost of purchasing such merchandise, the Company may be required to fund this shortfall.
The Company has included $7.6 million and $6.9 million of investments held in trust by the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, in its merchandise trust assets. As required by law, the Company deposits a portion of certain funeral merchandise sales in West Virginia into a trust that is held by the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association. These trusts are recorded at their account value, which approximates fair value.
The cost and market value associated with the assets held in the merchandise trusts at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is presented below:
The contractual maturities of debt securities as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are presented below:
An aging of unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in fixed maturities and equity securities at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is presented below:
A reconciliation of the Company’s merchandise trust activities for the years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is presented below:
Year ended December 31, 2012
Year ended December 31, 2011
The Company made net deposits into the trusts of approximately $3.1 million and $22.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2012 purchases and sales of securities available for sale included in trust investments were approximately $464.7 million and $461.0 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2011 purchases and sales of securities available for sale included in trust investments were approximately $279.3 million and $262.6 million, respectively. Contributions include $12.0 million and $15.5 million of assets that were acquired through acquisitions during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Distributions include $5.8 million of assets that were divested as a result of the termination of an operating agreement during the year ended December 31, 2012.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Trust Assets
In accordance with ASC 320-10-65-1, the Company assesses whether an impairment is other-than-temporary by performing each of the following:
Fixed Maturity Debt Securities
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The Company assesses whether it has the intent to sell any impaired debt security; or
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The Company assesses whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell any impaired debt security before its anticipated recovery;
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If either of these conditions exists, the impairment is considered to be other than temporary;
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The Company assesses whether or not there is a credit loss on an impaired security. A credit loss is the excess of the amortized cost of the security over the present value of future expected cash flows. If there is a credit loss, the Company recognizes an other-than-temporary impairment in earnings in an amount equal to the credit loss. This amount becomes the new cost basis of the asset and will not be adjusted for subsequent changes in the fair value of the asset;
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The Company assesses the overall credit quality of each issue by evaluating its credit rating as reported by any credit rating agency. The Company also determines if there has been any downgrade in its creditworthiness as reported by such credit rating agency;
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The Company determines if there has been any suspension of interest payments or any announcements of any intention to do so;
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The Company evaluates the length of time until the principal becomes due and whether the ability to satisfy this payment has been impaired.
Equity Securities
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The Company compares the proportional decline in value to the overall sector decline as measured via certain specific indices;
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The Company determines whether there has been further periodic decline from prior periods or whether there has been a recovery in value.
For all securities
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The Company evaluates the severity of the impairment and length of time that a security has been in a loss position;
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The Company determines if there is any publicly available information that would cause us to believe that impairment is other than temporary in nature.
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company determined that there were 8 securities with an aggregate cost basis of approximately $2.0 million and an aggregate fair value of approximately $1.0 million, resulting in an impairment of $1.0 million, wherein such impairment was considered to be other-than-temporary. Accordingly, the Company adjusted the cost basis of these assets to their current value and offset this change against deferred revenue. This reduction in deferred revenue will be reflected in earnings in future periods as the underlying merchandise is delivered or the underlying service is performed.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company determined that there were 4 securities with an aggregate cost basis of approximately $1.5 million and an aggregate fair value of approximately $1.0 million, resulting in an impairment of $0.5 million, wherein such impairment was considered to be other-than-temporary.
Accordingly, the Company adjusted the cost basis of these assets to their current value and offset this change against deferred revenue. This reduction in deferred revenue will be reflected in earnings in future periods as the underlying merchandise is delivered or the underlying service is performed.
6. PERPETUAL CARE TRUSTS
At December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company’s perpetual care trusts consisted of the following types of assets:
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Money Market Funds that invest in low risk short term securities;
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Publicly traded mutual funds that invest in underlying debt securities;
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Publicly traded mutual funds that invest in underlying equity securities;
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Equity investments that are currently paying dividends or distributions. These investments include REIT’s, Master Limited Partnerships and global equity securities;
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Fixed maturity debt securities issued by various corporate entities;
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Fixed maturity debt securities issued by the U.S. Government and U.S. Government agencies; and
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Fixed maturity debt securities issued by U.S. states and local government agencies.
All of these investments are classified as Available for Sale as defined by the Investments in Debt and Equity topic of the ASC. Accordingly, all of the assets are carried at fair value. All of these investments are considered to be either Level 1 or Level 2 assets as defined by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the ASC. See Note 16 for further details. There were no Level 3 assets.
The cost and market value associated with the assets held in perpetual care trusts at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows:
The contractual maturities of debt securities as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:
An aging of unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in fixed maturities and equity securities at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 held in perpetual care trusts is presented below:
A reconciliation of the Company’s perpetual care trust activities for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 is presented below:
Year ended December 31, 2012
Year ended December 31, 2011
The Company made net withdrawals out of the trust of approximately $2.5 million and net deposits into the trust of approximately $1.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2012 purchases and sales of securities available for sale included in trust investments were approximately $299.9 million and $297.8 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2011 purchases and sales of securities available for sale included in trust investments were approximately $139.9 million and $127.2 million, respectively. Contributions include $5.0 million and $8.3 million of assets that were acquired through acquisitions during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Trust Assets
Refer to Note 5 for a detailed discussion of the accounting rules related to other-than-temporarily impaired assets and the Company’s procedures for evaluating whether impairment to assets are other than temporary.
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company determined that there were 2 securities with an aggregate cost basis of approximately $10.6 million and an aggregate fair value of approximately $7.8 million, resulting in an impairment of $2.8 million, wherein such impairment was considered to be other-than-temporary. Accordingly, the Company adjusted the cost basis of these assets to their current value and offset this change against the liability for perpetual care trusts corpus.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company determined that there was a single security with an aggregate cost basis of less than $0.1 million which was substantially impaired, and such impairment was considered to be other-than-temporary. Accordingly, the Company adjusted the cost basis of this asset to its current value and offset this change against the liability for perpetual care trusts corpus.
7. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill
The Company has recorded goodwill of approximately $42.4 million and $32.1 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. This amount represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in acquisitions. Goodwill acquired during 2011 has been retrospectively adjusted for purchase accounting adjustments related to certain 2011 acquisitions. See Note 14 for further details.
A rollforward of goodwill by reportable segment is as follows:
The Company evaluates the carrying value of goodwill during the fourth quarter of each year or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset may have been impaired. No impairment of the Company’s goodwill has been identified during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Other Acquired Intangible Assets
The Company has other acquired intangible assets, most of which have been recognized as a result of acquisitions and long-term operating agreements. These amounts are included within other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. All of the intangible assets are subject to amortization. The major classes of intangible assets are as follows:
Underlying Contract Value of Long-Term Operating Agreements
The Company entered into three long-term operating agreements during 2009, wherein it became the exclusive operator of cemetery properties. These long-term operating agreements did not qualify for acquisition accounting. Further, the Company’s agreement with Kingwood Memorial Park Association was amended in the first quarter of 2012, and subsequently qualified for acquisition accounting as discussed in Note 14. This change caused the entire decrease in the gross carrying amount of the underlying contract value as of December 31, 2012. The fair value of the consideration paid and liabilities assumed to enter into the remaining agreements exceeded the fair value of assets acquired by approximately $6.2 million. This amount, which represents the underlying contract values, has been recorded as an intangible asset and is being amortized on the straight-line basis over the expected life of the contracts, which is 40 years. The amortization expense is included as a component of depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statement of operations.
Non-Compete Agreements
In connection with certain acquisitions entered into in 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Company entered into non-compete agreements with the former owners of the acquired entities (See Note 14 for further details). The non-compete agreements were valued in purchase accounting at a fair value of approximately $6.0 million. The fair value was determined by comparing the discounted cash flows of the acquired business with and without competition. The non-compete agreements are being amortized on the straight-line basis over the life of the agreements, which is 4 to 6 years. The amortization expense is included as a component of depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statement of operations.
At December 31, 2012, amortization expense related to intangible assets with definite lives is estimated to be the following for each of the next five years:
8. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
On November 24, 2009, the Company entered into an interest rate swap (the “First Interest Rate Swap”) wherein the Company agreed to pay the counterparty interest in the amount of three month LIBOR plus 888 basis points in consideration for the counterparties agreement to pay the Company a fixed rate of interest of 10.25% on a principal amount of $108.0 million. On December 4, 2009, the Company entered into an interest rate swap (the “Second Interest Rate Swap”, together with the First Interest Rate Swap, the “Interest Rate Swaps”) wherein the Company agreed to pay the counterparty interest in the amount of three month LIBOR plus 869 basis points in consideration for the counterparties agreement to pay the Company a fixed rate of interest of 10.25% on a principal amount of $27.0 million.
The Interest Rate Swaps did not qualify for hedge accounting. Accordingly, the fair value of the Interest Rate Swaps was reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and periodic changes in the fair value of the Interest Rate Swaps were recorded in earnings. On October 20, 2010, the Company elected to terminate the Interest Rate Swaps early. Upon termination, the Company received a payment of approximately $2.0 million to settle the Interest Rate Swaps. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recognized a gain of approximately $4.7 million related to the change in fair value and termination payment of the Interest Rate Swaps.
9. LONG-TERM DEBT
The Company had the following outstanding debt:
10.25% Senior Notes due 2017
Purchase Agreement
On November 18, 2009, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and among StoneMor Operating LLC (the “Operating Company”), Cornerstone Family Services of West Virginia Subsidiary, Inc. (“CFS West Virginia”), Osiris Holding of Maryland Subsidiary, Inc. (“Osiris”), the Partnership, the subsidiary guarantors named in the Purchase Agreement (together with the Company, the “Note Guarantors”) and Bank of America Securities LLC (“BAS”), acting on behalf of itself and as the representative for the other initial purchasers named in the Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Operating Company, CFS West Virginia and Osiris (collectively, the “Issuers”), each the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, as joint and several obligors, agreed to sell to the Initial Purchasers $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.25% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Senior Notes”), with an original issue discount of approximately $4.0 million, in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, for resale by the Initial Purchasers (i) to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (ii) outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (the “Notes Offering”). The Notes Offering closed on November 24, 2009.
The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties and indemnification and contribution provisions under which the Company, the Issuers, and other Note Guarantors, on one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The Company’s Senior Notes are valued using Level 2 inputs as defined by the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the ASC. Based on trades made at the end of the year, the Company has estimated the fair value of its Senior Notes to be in excess of par and trading at a premium of 4.17%, which would imply a fair value of $156.3 million at December 31, 2012.
Indenture
On November 24, 2009, the Issuers, the Company and the other Note Guarantors, entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Company, the other Note Guarantors and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee (the “Trustee”) governing the Senior Notes.
The Issuers will pay 10.25% interest per annum on the principal amount of the Senior Notes, payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, starting on June 1, 2010. The Senior Notes mature on December 1, 2017.
The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Issuers and:
•
rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured debt of the Issuers;
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rank senior in right of payment to all existing and future senior subordinated and subordinated debt of the Issuers;
•
are effectively subordinated in right of payment to existing and future secured debt of the Issuers, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt; and
•
are structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities of each subsidiary of the Issuers that does not guarantee the Senior Notes.
The Issuers’ obligations under the Senior Notes and the Indenture are jointly and severally guaranteed (the “Note Guarantees”) by the Company and each subsidiary, other than the Issuers, that is a guarantor of any indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (as defined below), or is a borrower under the Credit Agreement and each other subsidiary that the Issuers shall otherwise cause to become a Note Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (each, a “Restricted Subsidiary”).
At any time on or after December 1, 2013, the Issuers, at their option, may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth below, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning December 1 of the years indicated:
At any time prior to December 1, 2013, the Issuers may, on one or more occasions, redeem all or any portion of the Senior Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium (as defined in the Indenture) as of the date of redemption, including accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
Subject to certain exceptions, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture), each holder of Senior Notes will have the right to require the Issuers to purchase that holder’s Senior Notes for a cash price equal to 101% of the principal amounts to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
The Indenture requires the Company, the Issuers and/or the Note Guarantors, as applicable, to comply with various covenants including, but not limited to, covenants that, subject to certain exceptions, limit the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to (i) incur additional indebtedness; (ii) make certain dividends, distributions, redemptions or investments; (iii) enter into certain transactions with affiliates; (iv) create, incur, assume or permit to exist certain liens against their assets; (v) make certain sales of their assets; and (vi) engage in certain mergers, consolidations or sales of all or substantially all of their assets. The Indenture also contains various affirmative covenants regarding, among other things, delivery of certain reports filed with the SEC and materials required pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act to holders of the Senior Notes and joinder of future subsidiaries as Note Guarantors under the Indenture. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants at December 31, 2012.
Events of default under the Indenture that could, subject to certain conditions, cause all amounts owing under the Senior Notes to become immediately due and payable include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. failure by the Issuers to pay interest on any of the Senior Notes when it becomes due and the continuance of any such failure for 30 days;
2. failure by the Issuers to pay the principal on any of the Senior Notes when it becomes due and payable, whether at stated maturity, upon redemption, upon purchase, upon acceleration or otherwise;
3. the Issuers’ failure to comply with the agreements and covenants relating to limitations on entering into certain mergers, consolidations or sales of all or substantially all of their assets or in respect of their obligations to purchase the Senior Notes in connection with a Change of Control;
4. failure by the Company or the Issuers to comply with any other agreement or covenant in the Indenture and the continuance of this failure for 60 days after notice of the failure has been given to the Company by the Trustee or holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes then outstanding;
5. failure by the Company to comply with its covenant to deliver certain reports and the continuance of such failure to comply for a period of 120 days after written notice thereof has been given to the Company by the Trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes then outstanding;
6. certain defaults under mortgages, indentures or other instruments or agreements under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or is incurred after the date of the Indenture;
7. certain judgments or orders that exceed $7.5 million for the payment of money have been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction against the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and such judgments have not been satisfied, stayed, annulled or rescinded within 60 days of being entered;
8. certain events of bankruptcy of the Company, StoneMor GP LLC, the general partner of the Company (the “General Partner”), or any Restricted Subsidiary; or
9. other than in accordance with the terms of the Note Guarantee and the Indenture, any Note Guarantee ceasing to be in full force and effect, being declared null and void and unenforceable, found to be invalid or any Guarantor denying its liability under its Note Guarantee.
Note Purchase Agreement
On August 15, 2007, the Company entered into, along with the General Partner and certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, (collectively, the “Note Issuers”) the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement (the “NPA”). The NPA was amended seven times prior to January 28, 2011 to, among other things, amend borrowing levels, interest rates, maturity dates and covenants. On January 28, 2011, and in connection with the Company’s February 2011 follow-on public offering of common units, the Company entered into an amendment to its credit agreement. This amendment included the lenders’ consent to the use of a portion of the proceeds from the public offering of common units to redeem in full the outstanding $17.5 million of 12.5% Series B and $17.5 million of 12.5% Series C Notes and to pay an aggregate make-whole premium of $4.0 million related thereto, which represented the Company’s final obligations outstanding under the NPA. The make-whole premium has been classified as early extinguishment of debt on the consolidated statement of operations.
Credit Facility
On August 15, 2007, the Company, the General Partner, and the Operating Company and various subsidiaries of the Operating Company (collectively, the “Borrowers”), entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Original Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”), other lenders, and BAS (collectively, the “Lenders”). The Original Credit Agreement provided for both an acquisition credit facility (the “Acquisition Credit Facility”) and a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). Capitalized terms which are not defined in the following description shall have the same meaning assigned to such terms in the Original Credit Agreement, as amended.
The Original Credit Agreement initially provided that: (1) the Acquisition Credit Facility would have a maximum principal amount of $40.0 million (with an option to increase such facility by an additional $15.0 million on an uncommitted basis) and the term of 5 years, and (2) the Revolving Credit Facility would have a maximum principal amount of $25.0 million (with an option to increase such facility by up to $10.0 million on an uncommitted basis) and a term of 5 years. Amounts borrowed under the Acquisition Credit Facility and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed and amounts borrowed under the Revolving Credit Facility and repaid or prepaid during the term may be reborrowed. In addition, Bank of America agreed to provide to the borrowers swing line loans (“Swing Line Loans”) with a maximum limit of $5.0 million, which is a part of the Revolving Credit Facility. Loans outstanding under the Acquisition Credit Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at rates set forth in the Credit Agreement, which has since been amended as described below.
The Original Credit Agreement was amended seven times prior to April 29, 2011, to, among other things, amend borrowing levels, interest rates and covenants. On April 29, 2011, the Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Revised Credit Agreement”) among the Operating Company as
the Borrower, each of the subsidiaries of the Operating Company as additional Borrowers, the General Partner and the Company as Guarantors, the Lenders identified therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer. The terms of the Revised Credit Agreement are substantially the same as the terms of the Original Credit Agreement. The primary purpose of entering into the Revised Credit Agreement was to consolidate the amendments to the Original Credit Agreement and to update outdated references. The Revised Credit Agreement provided for both an Acquisition Credit Facility of $65.0 million and a Revolving Credit Facility of $55.0 million, (together, the “Credit Facility”). This agreement was further amended two times prior to January 19, 2012.
On January 19, 2012, the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) which amended the Revised Credit Agreement. The terms of the Credit Agreement and the Revised Credit Agreement are substantially similar. The current terms of the Credit Agreement are set forth below. Capitalized terms which are not defined in the following description shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement consolidates the Acquisition Credit Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility into a single Revolving Credit Facility with a borrowing limit of $130.0 million. The maturity date of the Credit Facility is January 19, 2017.
Amounts borrowed may be either Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans and amounts repaid or prepaid during the term may be reborrowed. Depending on the type of loan, borrowings bear interest at the Base Rate or Eurodollar Rate, plus applicable margins ranging from 1.25% to 2.75% and 2.25% to 3.75%, respectively, depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio. The Base Rate is the highest of the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, or the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.0%. The Eurodollar rate is the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate.
On February 19, 2013, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which increased the total availability under the Credit Facility by $10.0 million to a maximum total borrowing of $140.0 million.
The Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants that, among other things, prohibit distributions upon defined events of default, restrict investments and sales of assets and require the Company to maintain certain financial covenants, including specified financial ratios. A material decrease in revenues could cause the Company to breach certain of its financial covenants, such as the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Debt Service Coverage Ratio and the Consolidated EBITDA covenant, under the Credit Agreement. Any such breach could allow the Lenders to accelerate (or create cross-default under) the Company’s debt which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company has financial covenants as follows, after considering amendments from the Credit Agreement. The Company will not permit Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed four fiscal quarters of the Partnership (the “Measurement Period”) must not be less than the sum of (i) $53.5 million plus (ii) 80% of the aggregate of all Consolidated EBITDA for each Permitted Acquisition completed after September 30, 2011.The Company’s maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio, which is the ratio of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness to Consolidated EBITDA, is 3.65 to 1.0 for all Measurement Periods. The Consolidated Debt Service Coverage Ratio, which replaces the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and whose calculation does not include distributions made by the Partnership, must not be less than 2.5 to 1.0 for any Measurement Period. In addition, the Company will not be permitted to have Maintenance Capital Expenditures, as defined in the Credit Agreement, for any Measurement Period ending in 2012, 2013, and 2014 and thereafter exceeding $6.7 million, $7.3 million and $8.0 million, respectively.
The Borrowers under the Credit Agreement paid fees to Bank of America, as Administrative Agent, and BAS, as Arranger. In addition, the Credit Agreement requires the Borrowers to pay an unused commitment fee, which is calculated based on the amount by which the commitments under the Credit Agreement exceed the usage of such commitments. The Commitment Fee ranges from 0.375% to 0.75% depending on the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio.
The proceeds of the Credit Facility may be used by the Borrowers to finance working capital requirements, Permitted Acquisitions, and the purchase and construction of mausoleums. The Borrowers’ obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by both the Partnership and StoneMor GP LLC.
The Borrowers’ obligations under the Credit Facility are secured by a first priority lien and security interest in substantially all of the Borrowers’ assets, whether then owned or thereafter acquired, excluding: (i) trust accounts, certain proceeds required by law to be placed into such trust accounts and funds held in trust accounts; (ii) the General Partner’s interest in the Partnership, the incentive distribution rights under the Partnership’s partnership agreement and the deposit accounts of the General Partner into which distributions are received; (iii) Equipment subject to a purchase money security interest or equipment lease permitted under the Credit Agreement and certain other contract rights under which contractual, legal or other restrictions on assignment would prohibit the creation of a security interest or such creation of a security interest would result in a default thereunder.
Events of Default under the Credit Agreement include, but are not limited to, the following:
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non-payment of any principal, interest or other amounts due under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document;
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failure to observe or perform any covenants related to: (i) the delivery of financial statements, compliance certificates, reports and other information; (ii) providing prompt notice of Defaults and other events; (iii) the preservation of the legal existence and good standing of each Borrower and Guarantor; (iv) the ability of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect properties, examine books and records, and discuss financial and business affairs with directors, officers and independent public accountants of each Borrower and Guarantor; (v) restrictions on the use of proceeds; (vi) guarantees by new Subsidiaries; (vii) the maintenance of corporate formalities for each Borrower and Guarantor; (viii) the maintenance of Trust Accounts and Trust Funds; and (ix) any of the negative covenants contained in the Credit Agreement;
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failure to observe or perform any other covenant, if uncured 30 days after notice thereof is provided by the Administrative Agent or Lenders;
•
any default under any other Indebtedness of the Borrowers or Guarantors;
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any insolvency proceedings by a Borrower or Guarantor;
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the insolvency of any Borrower or Guarantor, or a writ of attachment or execution or similar process issuing or being levied against any material part of the property of a Borrower or Guarantor; and
•
any Change in Control.
As of December 31, 2012, there were $101.7 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility, and the Company was in compliance with applicable financial covenants. The carrying amount of the debt approximates its fair value. The Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 3.48 at December 31, 2012. The Consolidated Debt Service Coverage Ratio was 3.48 at December 31, 2012. At December 31, 2012, amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility bear interest at rates that range from 3.6% to 4.1%.
Notes Payable Acquisitions
In July of 2009, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries entered into a $1.4 million note purchase agreement in connection with an operating agreement in which the Company became the exclusive operator of Green Lawn Cemetery (the “Green Lawn Note”). The Green Lawn Note bears interest at a rate of 6.5% per year on unpaid principal and is payable monthly, beginning on August 1, 2009. Principal on the note is due in 96 equal installments beginning on July 1, 2011. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the liability related to the installment note was stated on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at approximately $1.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
In June of 2010, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries issued two installment notes in connection with the second quarter acquisition discussed in Note 14. The installment notes are to be paid over a 4 year period and mature April 1, 2014. The installment notes do not have a stated rate of interest. The Company has recorded the installment notes at their fair market value of approximately $2.6 million. The face amounts of the installment notes were discounted approximately $0.7 million, and the discount will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the installment notes. The installment notes bear 10.25% interest per annum on the portion of the outstanding balance after the maturity date or while there exists any uncured event of default or the exercise by lender of any remedies following the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default. In addition, if StoneMor voluntarily files for bankruptcy or is involved in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, the entire principal balance of the installment notes will automatically become due and payable. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the liability related to the installment notes was stated on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at approximately $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
In June of 2010, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries also issued four notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $5.8 million in connection with the acquisition referenced above. These notes were paid at the closing of the acquisition referenced above by: (i) the issuance by the Company of 293,947 unregistered common units representing limited partnership interests of the Company valued at approximately $5.8 million and (ii) a cash payment of approximately $0.2 million.
The carrying amounts of the notes payable approximate their fair value.
Acquisition Non-Compete Notes
In connection with several of the Company’s 2012, 2011 and 2010 acquisitions, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries issued installment notes in consideration for non-compete agreements executed with the former owners of the acquired entities. The installment notes have varying payment terms and mature between April 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017. The installment notes do not have a stated rate of interest. At inception, the Company recorded the installment notes at their fair market value of approximately $4.8 million. The face amounts of the installment notes were discounted approximately $1.0 million, and the discount will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the installment notes. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the liability related to the installment notes, net of discounts, was stated on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at approximately $3.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively. The carrying amounts of the installment notes approximate their fair value.
10. INCOME TAXES
Effective with the closing of the Partnership’s initial public offering on September 20, 2004 (see Note 1), the Company was no longer a taxable entity for federal and state income tax purposes; rather, the Partnership’s tax attributes, except for those of its corporate subsidiaries, are to be included in the individual tax returns of its partners.
The tax on the Company’s net income is borne by its general and limited partners. Net income for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from the taxable income of such partners as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities and the taxable income allocation requirements under the partnership agreement. The aggregate difference in the basis of the Company’s net assets for financial and tax reporting purposes cannot be readily determined because information regarding each partner’s tax attributes is not available to the Company.
The Partnership’s corporate subsidiaries, account for their income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The tax returns of the Partnership are subject to examination by state and federal tax authorities. If such examinations result in changes to taxable income, the tax liability of the partners could be changed accordingly.
Components of the income tax provision (benefit) applicable to continuing operations for federal and state taxes are as follows:
The difference between the statutory federal income tax and the Company’s effective income tax is summarized as follows:
Deferred tax assets and liabilities result from the following:
At December 31, 2012, the Company had available approximately less than $0.2 million of alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards, which are available indefinitely, and $163.6 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards, which will begin to expire in 2019 and $201.8 million in state net operating losses, a portion of which expires annually.
Management periodically evaluates all evidence, both positive and negative, in determining whether a valuation allowance to reduce the carrying value of deferred tax assets is required. In 2012, the Company concluded, based on the projected allocations of taxable income, that a deferred tax asset of approximately $0.4 million will more likely than not be realized on several subsidiaries. In addition, several separate taxable subsidiaries were in a deferred tax liability position at December 31, 2012 and recognized those liabilities. The vast majority of the taxable subsidiaries continue to accumulate deferred tax assets that will not more likely than not be realized. A full valuation allowance continues to be maintained on these taxable subsidiaries. Ultimate realization of the deferred tax asset is dependent upon, among other factors, the Partnership’s corporate subsidiaries’ ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryforward periods and is subject to change depending on the tax laws in effect in the years in which the carryforwards are used.
The Company follows the provisions of ASC Topic 740 (“ASC 740”) which requires that the Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $0.9 million reversing an unrecognized tax benefit related to uncertain tax positions as the statute of limitations for this item expired. As of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions.
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to US federal income tax as well as income taxes of multiple state jurisdictions. The Company’s effective tax rate fluctuates over time based on income tax rates in the various tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates and based on the level of earnings in those jurisdictions. The Company is currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service. The scope of this audit includes an audit of
the Company’s qualifying income. In order to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, at least 90% of the Company’s gross income must be qualifying income.
If the Company were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes for any taxable year for which the statute of limitations remains open, including the tax year currently under audit, or for any future taxable year, the Company would pay federal income tax on its taxable income for such year(s) at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and would likely pay state income tax at varying rates. Distributions would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses or deductions would flow through to unitholders. Because a tax would be imposed upon the Company as a corporation, including taxes with respect to prior periods, the Company’s cash available for distribution would be substantially reduced.
In connection with each public offering of the Company’s common units, including its initial public offering of common units, outside counsel reviewed the various categories of the Company’s gross income and opined that it would be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. The Company is fully cooperating with the IRS in the audit process. Although no assurance can be given, the Company does not anticipate any change in its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or any change in prior period taxable income.
The Company is not currently under examination by any other federal or state jurisdictions. The federal statute of limitations and certain state statutes of limitations are opened from 2009 forward. Management believes that the accrual for tax liabilities is adequate for all open years. This assessment relies on estimates and assumptions and may involve a series of complex judgments about future events. On the basis of present information, it is the opinion of the Company’s management that there are no pending assessments that will result in a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements over the next twelve months.
The Company recognizes any interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses for all periods presented. The Company has not recorded any material interest or penalties during any of the years presented.
The net change in the valuation allowance for 2012 was an increase of $674. This change in the valuation allowance is the result of the change in unrealized gains and losses of the Company’s investment portfolio, which is recorded within deferred revenues, net; the results of acquisition accounting; net operating losses that are more likely than not to be realized and net operating losses that do not meet the more likely than not standard.
11. DEFERRED CEMETERY REVENUES-NET / DEFERRED SELLING AND OBTAINING COSTS
In accordance with SAB No. 104, the Company defers the revenues and all direct costs associated with the sale of pre-need cemetery merchandise and services until the merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. The Company also defers the costs to obtain new pre-need cemetery and new prearranged funeral business as well as the investment earnings on the prearranged services and merchandise trusts (see Note 1).
At December 31, 2012 and 2011, deferred cemetery revenues, net, consisted of the following:
Deferred selling and obtaining costs are carried as an asset on the consolidated balance sheet in accordance with the Financial Services - Insurance topic of the ASC.
12. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AND RETIREMENT PLANS
Long Term Incentive Plan
Overview
On November 8, 2006, the General Partner’s board of directors adopted the StoneMor Partners L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (“LTIP”) for its employees, consultants and directors, who perform services for the Company. The LTIP permits the grant of awards covering an aggregate of 1,124,000 common units in the form of unit options, unit appreciation rights (“UARs”), restricted units and phantom units. The compensation committee of the Company’s General Partner’s board of directors administers the plan. The plan will continue in effect until the earliest of (i) the date determined by the General Partner’s board of directors; (ii) the date that common units are no longer available for payment of awards under the plan; or (iii) the tenth anniversary of the plan.
The General Partner’s board of directors or compensation committee may, in their discretion, terminate, suspend or discontinue the LTIP at any time with respect to any units for which a grant has not yet been made. The General Partner’s board of directors also has the right to alter or amend the LTIP or any part of the plan from time to time, including increasing the number of units that may be delivered in accordance with awards under the plan, subject to any approvals if required by the exchange upon which the common units are listed at that time. No change in any outstanding grant may be made, however, that would materially impair the rights of the participant without the consent of the participant.
Awards Made Under the LTIP
Phantom Unit Awards
On November 8, 2006, the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Company, entered into a Key Employee Restricted Phantom Unit Agreement (the “Key Employee Agreement”) with certain of its employees (“Key Employees”).
Under the terms of the Key Employee Agreement, Key Employees received Restricted Phantom Units (“Employee Phantom Units”). Employee Phantom Units are the economic equivalent of one common unit representing limited partner interests of the Company. Employee Phantom Units become payable, in cash or common units, at the Company’s election, upon the full vesting of the Employee Phantom Units. Employee Phantom Units contained no distribution equivalent rights during the vesting period.
A total of 360,500 Employee Phantom Units were granted under the Key Employee Agreement. Half of these units were converted into common units prior to 2009 and half were converted into common units in 2010.
On November 8, 2006, the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Company, entered into a Director Restricted Phantom Unit Agreement (the “Director Agreement”) with certain of its outside directors (the “Directors”).
Under the terms of the Director Agreement, each of five directors was awarded 3,000 Restricted Phantom Units (“Director Phantom Units”). Director Phantom Units become payable, in cash or common units, at the Company’s election, upon the separation of the Director from service as a director or upon the occurrence of certain other events specified in the Director Agreement. Each Director Phantom Unit contains a distribution equivalent right which entitles each Director to additional Director Phantom Units upon each distribution made to common unit holders. The calculation of additional Director Phantom Units granted upon each distribution to common unit holders is equal to a Directors total cumulative Director Phantom Units at the time of a distribution multiplied by the per unit monetary distribution divided by the fair value of a common unit at the time of the distribution. Each Director also receives a portion of their annual retainer in deferred restricted phantom units.
There were approximately 71,767, 60,395 and 51,662 Director Phantom Units outstanding at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
On December 16, 2009, the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Company, entered into an Executive Restricted Phantom Unit Agreement (the “Executive Agreement”) with certain of the Company’s executives (the “Executives”). Under the terms of the Executive Agreement, 20,000 Restricted Phantom Units (“Executive Phantom Units”) were issued. These units were vested upon issuance.
On November 7, 2012, the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Company, entered into an Executive Restricted Phantom Unit Agreement (the “2012 Executive Agreement”) with an executive of the Company (the “Executive”). Under the terms of the 2012 Executive Agreement, the Executive was awarded 45,000 Restricted Phantom Units (“Executive Phantom Units”) that vest over 3 years as follows; 15,000 Phantom Units vest one year after the Grant Date, 15,000 Phantom Units vest two years after the Grant Date, and 15,000 Phantom Units vest three years after the Grant Date.
Executive Phantom Units become payable, in cash or common units, at the Company’s election, upon the separation of the Executive from service as an executive or upon the occurrence of certain other events specified in the Executive Agreement. The exercise of Executive Phantom Units may be subject to approval by the Company’s limited partners as required by the NYSE listing rules. Each Executive Phantom Unit contains a distribution equivalent right which entitles each Executive to additional Executive Phantom Units upon each distribution made to common unit holders. The calculation of additional Executive Phantom Units granted upon each distribution to common unit holders is equal to an Executives total cumulative Executive Phantom Units at the time of a distribution multiplied by the per unit monetary distribution divided by the fair value of a common unit at the time of the distribution. There were approximately 71,446, 23,982 and 22,072 Executive Phantom Units outstanding at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Effective April 1, 2012, one of the Executives retired from the Company, and simultaneously entered into a two year consulting agreement where the Executive also agreed to become the Vice Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. This individual owned approximately 13,223 of the Executive Phantom Units outstanding at December 31, 2012.
The table below reflects the LTIP activity for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively:
(1) The weighted-average price for unit awards on the date of grant was $23.84, $27.79, and $22.52 for the years ended December 31 2012, 2011, and 2010, respectively.
As of December 31, 2012, there was approximately $1.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the units issued in the 2012 Executive Agreement. Total compensation expense for unit awards was approximately $0.4 million, $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
There were no modifications made to any existing unit awards in 2012. No unit awards were capitalized during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Unit Appreciation Rights Awards
On November 27, 2006, the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Company, entered into a Key Employee Unit Appreciation Rights Agreement (the “2006 UAR Agreement”) with certain of the Company’s key employees (the “2006 Key Employees). Under the terms of the 2006 UAR Agreement, 2006 Key Employees received Unit Appreciation Rights (“UARs”) wherein 2006 Key Employees became entitled to compensation in the form of units in an amount equal to the fair value of the Company’s common units upon exercise less $24.14 per unit multiplied by the total number of UARs exercised. Units to be issued should be equal to this amount divided by the fair value of common units upon exercise. A total of 120,000 UARs were granted under the 2006 UAR Agreement, all of which had vested at December 31, 2009 and were exercised by December 31, 2011.
On December 16, 2009, the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Company, entered into a Key Employee Unit Appreciation Rights Agreement (the “2009 UAR Agreement”) with certain of the Company’s key employees (the “2009 Key Employees) and non-employee directors.
Under the terms of the 2009 UAR Agreement, 2009 Key Employees and non-employee directors received UARs and became entitled to compensation in the form of units, in an amount equal to the fair value of the Company’s common units upon exercise less $18.80 per unit multiplied by the total number of UARs exercised. Units to be issued should be equal to this amount divided by the fair value of common units upon exercise.
UARs granted under the 2009 UAR Agreement vest at a percentage rate which is equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar months which have elapsed since December 16, 2009 and the denominator of which is 48, subject to forfeiture upon certain conditions set forth in the UAR Agreement. The exercise of such UARs may be subject to approval by the Company’s limited partners as required by the NYSE listing rules. A total of 814,000 UARs were granted under the 2009 UAR Agreement and 694,098 of these units remained outstanding at December 31, 2012.
In the second quarter of 2012, the General Partner, acting on behalf of the Company, entered into a Key Employee Unit Appreciation Rights Agreement (the “2012 UAR Agreement”) with certain of the Company’s key employees (the “2012 Key Employees).
Under the terms of the 2012 UAR Agreements, 2012 Key Employees received UARs wherein 2012 Key Employees became entitled to compensation in the form of units in an amount equal to the fair value of the Company’s common units upon exercise less $24.36 per unit multiplied by the total number of UARs exercised. Units to be issued should be equal to this amount divided by the fair value of common units upon exercise.
UARs granted under the 2012 UAR Agreements vest at a percentage rate which is equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar months which have elapsed since the date of issuance and the denominator of which is 48, subject to forfeiture upon certain conditions set forth in the UAR Agreement. The exercise of such UARs may be subject to approval by the Company’s limited partners as required by the NYSE listing rules. A total of 80,500 UARs were granted under the 2012 UAR Agreements and 80,500 of these units remain outstanding at December 31, 2012.
The fair value of UARs granted under both the 2012 UAR Agreements and the 2009 UAR Agreements was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
The fair value of UARs granted under the 2009 UAR Agreements was $2.39 per UAR and approximately $1.9 million in aggregate.
The fair value of UARs granted under the 2012 UAR Agreements was approximately $3.70 per UAR and approximately $0.3 million in aggregate.
A summary of UAR activity for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 follows:
(1) 694,098 of UARs outstanding at December 31, 2012 were granted under 2009 UAR Agreements and 80,500 of the UARs outstanding at December 31, 2012 were granted under 2012 UAR Agreements.
As of December 31, 2012, there was approximately $0.7 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested UARs. $0.5 million of this cost is expected to be recognized within 1 year, with the remainder being recognized through 2016. Total compensation expense for UARs was approximately $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The Company issued 19,452, 24,682 and 10,936 common units as a result of exercised UARs in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company:
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Made no modifications to any existing UAR awards;
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Did not capitalize any UAR awards;
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Did not receive any cash due to the exercise of UARs;
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Did not recognize any tax benefits due to exercised UARs.
Retirement Plan
The Company has a 401(k) retirement savings plan for employees who may defer up to 15% of their compensation. The Company does not currently match any of the employee contributions.
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Legal
The Company is party to legal proceedings in the ordinary course of its business but does not expect the outcome of any proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Leases
At December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the Company was committed to operating lease payments for premises, automobiles and office equipment under various operating leases with initial terms ranging from one to
ten years and options to renew at varying terms. Expenses under operating leases were $2.5 million, $2.3 million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
At December 31, 2012, operating leases will result in future payments in the following approximate amounts:
Employment Agreements
As of December 31, 2012, the Company has employment agreements with two of its senior executives which are annually renewable, unless the Company or the senior executives provide notice ninety days prior to the expiration of the employment period. The Company also has an employment agreement with the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors which is effective for two years beginning April 1, 2012.
14.
ACQUISITIONS
Acquisition related costs include legal fees and other third party costs incurred in acquisition related activities. In addition, for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, acquisition related costs include legal fees, net of recoveries, of $0.3 million, $1.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, related to amounts paid to pursue the recovery of misappropriation claims related to certain acquisitions.
First Quarter 2012 Acquisition
In the second quarter of 2009, the Company entered into a long-term operating agreement (the “Operating Agreement”) with Kingwood Memorial Park Association (“Kingwood”) wherein the Company became the exclusive operator of the cemetery. At that time, the Operating Agreement did not qualify as an acquisition for accounting purposes. However, the existing merchandise and perpetual care trusts were consolidated as variable interest entities. In addition, merchandise and other liabilities assumed by the Company were also recorded as of the initial contract date. The consideration paid for this transaction, including cash and an assumed liability, exceeded the net assets recorded as of the initial contract date and an intangible asset was recorded for this amount.
In January of 2012, the Company entered into an amended and restated operating agreement (the “Amended Operating Agreement”), that supersedes the Operating Agreement. The Amended Operating Agreement has a term of 40 years and the Company remains the exclusive operator of the cemetery. As consideration for entering into the Amended Operating Agreement, the Company paid $1.7 million in cash and was relieved of a note payable to Kingwood. In addition, the prior trustees of Kingwood have resigned in favor of new trustees appointed by the Company. As a result of the changes in the Amended Operating Agreement, for accounting purposes, the Company has gained control of Kingwood, and acquisition accounting is now applicable.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired, the elimination of debt and other assets, and the purchase price, which results in the recognition of goodwill recorded in the Company’s Cemetery Operations-Southeast segment.
Second Quarter 2012 Acquisitions
On April 10, 2012, certain subsidiaries of the Company (collectively the “Buyer”) entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with several individuals (collectively the “Seller”) to purchase all of the stock of Bronswood Cemetery, Inc., an Illinois Corporation. Through the purchase, the Buyer acquired one cemetery in Illinois, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $0.9 million in cash.
The table below reflects the Company’s preliminary assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired, the purchase price and the gain on bargain purchase. These amounts may be retrospectively adjusted as additional information is received.
In addition, on June 6, 2012, certain subsidiaries of the Company (collectively the “Buyer”) entered into a Purchase Agreement with several individuals and Lodi Funeral Home, Inc. (collectively the “Seller”) to purchase certain assets and assume certain liabilities of Lodi Funeral Home, Inc., a California corporation and all of the stock of Lodi All Faiths Cremation, a California corporation. Through the purchase, the Buyer acquired two funeral homes in California including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. As part of the agreement, the building and underlying real estate of Lodi Funeral Home, Inc. is being leased from the Seller. The lease agreement is a ten year agreement that contains one five year renewal term at the Buyer’s election. In addition, at the end of the original lease or renewal term, the Buyer can elect to purchase the property for fair value less 10% of any rental amounts previously paid under the lease agreement. The Buyer also has a right of first refusal related to any potential sale of the property occurring during the lease term.
In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $0.85 million in cash and issued 13,720 units, which equates to $0.35 million worth of units. The Buyer will also pay an aggregate amount of $0.6 million in equal quarterly installments commencing on January 2, 2013 in exchange for non-compete agreements with the Seller.
The table below reflects the Company’s preliminary assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired. The resulting goodwill is recorded in the Company’s Funeral Homes operating segment. These amounts may be retrospectively adjusted as additional information is received.
Third Quarter 2012 Acquisitions
On July 2, 2012, certain subsidiaries of the Company (collectively the “Buyer) entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Farnstrom Agreement”) with Farnstrom Mortuary, LLC and Farnstrom Properties, LLC, both Oregon limited liability companies, Farnstrom Family, Inc. and Care Cremation Society, Inc., both Oregon corporations and two individuals (collectively the “Seller”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Buyer acquired five funeral homes in Oregon, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $2.3 million in cash. The Buyer will also pay an aggregate amount of $0.3 million in equal quarterly installments commencing on July 2, 2012 in exchange for non-compete agreements with the Seller.
The table below reflects the Company’s preliminary assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired. The resulting goodwill is recorded in the Company’s Funeral Homes operating segment. These amounts may be retrospectively adjusted as additional information is received.
In addition, on July 31, 2012, certain subsidiaries of the Company (collectively the “Buyer) entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Lohman Agreement”) with certain Florida corporations, limited liability companies and four individuals (collectively the “Seller”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Buyer acquired nine funeral homes and four cemeteries in Florida, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities.
In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $20.0 million in cash and issued 128,299 units, which equates to $3.5 million worth of units. The Buyer will also pay an aggregate amount of $1.5 million in five equal annual installments commencing on August 1, 2013 in exchange for a consulting and non-compete agreement with the Seller.
The table below reflects the Company’s preliminary assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired. The resulting goodwill is recorded in both the Company’s Cemetery Operations-Southeast segment and Funeral Homes operating segment. These amounts were retrospectively adjusted in the fourth quarter of 2012 as the
Company obtained additional information related to this acquisition. These amounts may be retrospectively adjusted further as additional information is received.
Fourth Quarter 2012 Acquisition
On December 13, 2012, StoneMor Florida Subsidiary LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, (the “Buyer) entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Harden Agreement”) with a Florida corporation and two individuals (collectively the “Seller”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Buyer acquired one funeral home in Florida, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities.
In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $2.25 million in cash and issued 28,863 units, which equates to $0.7 million worth of units. The Buyer will also pay an aggregate amount of $0.5 million in twenty equal quarterly installments commencing on March 13, 2013 in exchange for a non-compete agreement with the Seller.
The table below reflects the Company’s preliminary assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired. The resulting goodwill is recorded in the Company’s Funeral Homes operating segment. These amounts may be retrospectively adjusted as additional information is received.
If the acquisitions from 2012 and the first and second quarters acquisitions of 2010 had been consummated on January 1, 2010, on a pro forma basis, for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, consolidated revenues, consolidated net income (loss), and net income (loss) per limited partner unit (basic and diluted) would have been as follows:
These pro forma results are unaudited and have been prepared for comparative purposes only and include certain adjustments such as increased interest on the acquisition of debt. They do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have resulted had the combination been in effect on January 1, 2010 or of future results of operations of the locations.
Since their respective dates of acquisition, our properties acquired in 2012 have contributed $4.2 million of revenue and $0.1 million of operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2012.
First Quarter 2011 Acquisition
On January 5, 2011, the Operating Company, StoneMor North Carolina LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company and StoneMor North Carolina Subsidiary LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (collectively the “Buyer”), entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “1st Quarter Purchase Agreement”) with Heritage Family Services, Inc., a North Carolina corporation and an individual (collectively the “Seller”). Pursuant to the 1st Quarter Purchase Agreement, the Buyer acquired three cemeteries in North Carolina, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $1.7 million in cash.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired. The resulting goodwill is recorded in the Company’s Cemetery Operations-Southeast segment.
Second Quarter 2011 Acquisition
On June 22, 2011, the Operating Company, StoneMor Missouri LLC, a Missouri limited liability company and StoneMor Missouri Subsidiary LLC, a Missouri limited liability company, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (collectively the “Buyer”), entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “2nd Quarter Purchase Agreement”) with SCI International, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and Keystone America, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively the “Seller” or “SCI Missouri”). Pursuant to the 2nd Quarter Purchase Agreement, the Buyer acquired three cemeteries and four funeral homes in Missouri, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $2.15 million in cash.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired. The resulting goodwill is recorded in both the Company’s Cemetery Operations-West segment and Funeral Homes operating segment.
Third Quarter 2011 Acquisitions
On August 1, 2011, the Operating Company and CFS West Virginia, an affiliate of the Operating Company, (collectively the “Buyer”) entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with three individuals (collectively the “Seller”) to purchase all of the stock of Prince George Cemetery Corporation, a Virginia corporation. Through the purchase of Prince George Cemetery Corporation, the Buyer acquired one cemetery in Virginia. In consideration for the stock acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller approximately $1.9 million in cash. The Buyer will also pay $0.3 million in cash in even quarterly installments over a five year period in exchange for non-compete agreements with the Seller.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired. The resulting goodwill is recorded in the Company’s Cemetery Operations-Southeast segment.
Also, on August 17, 2011, the Operating Company, StoneMor Puerto Rico LLC, a Puerto Rico limited liability company and StoneMor Puerto Rico Subsidiary LLC, a Puerto Rico limited liability company, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (collectively the “Buyer”), entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Alderwoods Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Seller” or “SCI Puerto Rico”) to purchase all of the stock of SCI Puerto Rico Funeral and Cemetery Services, Inc., a Puerto Rico corporation. Through the purchase of SCI Puerto Rico Funeral and Cemetery Services, Inc., the Buyer acquired five cemeteries and four funeral homes in Puerto Rico. In consideration for the stock acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $4.6 million in cash.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired, the purchase price and the resulting goodwill, which is recorded in both the Company’s Cemetery Operations-Southeast segment and Funeral Homes operating segment, and displays the adjustments made to the revised values reported at December 31, 2011. The Company obtained additional information in the third quarter of 2012 and has retrospectively adjusted these values as noted below.
Fourth Quarter 2011 Acquisitions
On October 4, 2011, the Operating Company and StoneMor Tennessee Subsidiary LLC, a Tennessee limited liability company, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (collectively the “Buyer”), entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “4th Quarter Tennessee Purchase Agreement”) with Forest Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park-East, LLC, a Tennessee limited liability company (“Seller”) and a state court-appointed receiver (“Receiver”).
Pursuant to the 4th Quarter Tennessee Purchase Agreement, the Buyer acquired three cemeteries and three funeral homes in Tennessee out of a state court appointed receivership, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid $4.5 million, the components of which were $1.6 million in cash and $2.9 million in cash to lend monies to the merchandise trusts of these properties to fund their current underfunded status. In addition, the Buyer assumed a commitment to spend $0.5 million for capital improvements or deferred maintenance on the properties within 18 months of the closing date.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired, the purchase price and the resulting goodwill, which is recorded in both the Company’s Cemetery Operations-Southeast segment and Funeral Homes operating segment, and displays the adjustments made to the preliminary values reported at December 31, 2011. The Company obtained additional information during the second quarter of 2012 and has retrospectively adjusted these values as noted below.
Also, on November 3, 2011, the Operating Company, StoneMor Mississippi LLC, a Mississippi limited liability company, and StoneMor Mississippi Subsidiary LLC, a Mississippi limited liability company, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (collectively the “Buyer”), entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “4th Quarter Mississippi Purchase Agreement”) with Serenity Cemeteries III, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company (“Seller”) and two individuals.
Pursuant to the 4th Quarter Mississippi Purchase Agreement, the Buyer acquired two cemeteries and one funeral home in Mississippi, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $1.3 million in cash and made a deposit into trust of less than $0.1 million.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired, the purchase price and the resulting goodwill, which is recorded in both the Company’s Cemetery Operations-Southeast segment and Funeral Homes operating segment.
The results of operations and pro forma results related to the acquisitions made in 2011 are not material to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.
In the aggregate, for the acquisitions consummated during 2011, revenues and net income (loss) included in operations since the dates of acquisition are $15.7 million and $1.0 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $4.3 million and $(0.3) million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2011.
First Quarter 2010 Acquisition
On March 30, 2010, the Operating Company, StoneMor Michigan LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (“Buyer LLC”) and StoneMor Michigan Subsidiary LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (“Buyer NQ Sub” and individually and collectively with StoneMor LLC and Buyer LLC, “Buyer”), each a wholly-owned subsidiary of StoneMor Partners L.P. (the “Company”), entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with SCI Funeral Services, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company (“Parent”), SCI Michigan Funeral Services, Inc., a Michigan corporation (“SCI Michigan”, and together with Parent, “SCI”), Hillcrest Memorial Company, a Delaware corporation (“Hillcrest”), Christian Memorial Cultural Center, Inc., a Michigan corporation (“Christian”), Sunrise Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Inc., a Michigan corporation (“Sunrise”), and Flint Memorial Park Association, a Michigan corporation (“Flint” and individually and collectively with Sunrise, Hillcrest and Christian, “Seller”).
In connection with the Purchase Agreement, on March 30, 2010, StoneMor LLC and Plymouth Warehouse Facilities LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Plymouth” and individually and collectively with StoneMor LLC, “Warehouse Buyer”), entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Warehouse Purchase Agreement”) with SCI, Hillcrest, Sunrise, Flint, Buyer NQ Sub and Buyer LLC.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Buyer acquired nine cemeteries in Michigan, including certain related assets (the “Acquired Assets”), and assumed certain related liabilities (the “Assumed Liabilities”). In consideration for the transfer of the Acquired Assets and in addition to the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities, Buyer paid Seller approximately $14.1 million (the “Closing Purchase Price”) in cash.
Pursuant to the Warehouse Purchase Agreement, Warehouse Buyer acquired one warehouse in Michigan from SCI, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities for $0.5 million in cash, which was deemed part of the $14.1 million consideration paid in connection with the Purchase Agreement.
The Purchase Agreement and Warehouse Purchase Agreement also include various representations, warranties, covenants, indemnification and other provisions which are customary for transactions of this nature.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired, the purchase price and the resulting gain on bargain purchase.
Second Quarter 2010 Acquisition
On April 29, 2010, the Johnson County Circuit Court of Indiana entered the Order Approving Form of Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement and Authorizing Sale of Equity Interests and Assets (the “Indiana Order”). The Indiana Order, subject to certain conditions, permitted Lynette Gray, as receiver (the “Receiver”) of the business and assets of Ansure Mortuaries of Indiana, LLC (“Ansure”), Memory Gardens Management Corporation (“MGMC”), Forest Lawn Funeral Home Properties, LLC (“Forest Lawn”), Gardens of Memory Cemetery LLC (“Gardens of Memory”), Gill Funeral Home, LLC (“Gill”), Garden View Funeral Home, LLC (“Garden View”), Royal Oak Memorial Gardens of Ohio Ltd. (“Royal Oak”), Heritage Hills Memory Gardens of Ohio Ltd. (“Heritage”) and Robert E. Nelms (“Nelms” and collectively with Ansure, MGMC, Forest Lawn, Gardens of Memory, Gill, Garden View, Royal Oak and Heritage, the “Original Sellers”), to enter into and consummate an Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement (the “2nd Quarter Purchase Agreement”) with StoneMor Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“StoneMor LLC”), StoneMor Indiana LLC, an Indiana limited liability company (“StoneMor Indiana”), StoneMor Indiana Subsidiary LLC, an Indiana limited liability company (“StoneMor Subsidiary”) and Ohio Cemetery Holdings, Inc., an Ohio nonprofit corporation
(“Ohio Nonprofit,” and collectively with StoneMor LLC, StoneMor Indiana and StoneMor Subsidiary, the “Buyer”), each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Subject to the receipt of the Indiana Order, the Purchase Agreement was executed by the Buyer and the Receiver on April 2, 2010.
Effective June 21, 2010, certain subsidiaries of the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to the 2nd Quarter Purchase Agreement (“Amendment No. 1”) by and among the Buyer, the Original Sellers, Robert Nelms, LLC (“Nelms LLC,” and collectively with the Original Sellers, the “Sellers”) and the Receiver, which amended the Purchase Agreement executed by the Buyer and the Receiver. Amendment No. 1 amended the 2nd Quarter Purchase Agreement by: adding certain parties to the Purchase Agreement; modifying certain representations and warranties made by the Original Sellers in the 2nd Quarter Purchase Agreement; and providing that the Buyer will assume certain additional liabilities such as the obligation to pay for all claims incurred under the health benefit plans of the Original Sellers on or before the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and Amendment No. 1, but which had not been reported on or prior to the closing.
Effective June 21, 2010, pursuant to the 2nd Quarter Purchase Agreement and Amendment No. 1, the Buyer acquired the stock (the “Stock”) of certain companies owned by Ansure (the “Acquired Companies”) and certain assets (the “Assets”) owned by Nelms, Nelms LLC, Gill, Gardens of Memory, Garden View, Forest Lawn, Heritage, Royal Oak and MGMC, resulting in the acquisition of 8 cemeteries and 5 funeral homes in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio (the “Acquisition”). The Buyer acquired the Stock and Assets, advanced moneys to pay for trust shortfalls of the cemeteries, paid certain liabilities of the Sellers, which were offset by funds held in a Smith Barney Account acquired by the Buyer in the transaction, and paid certain legal fees of the parties to the transaction and other acquisition costs, for a total consideration, including the offset by the funds held in the Smith Barney Account, of approximately $32.5 million. The Acquisition was financed, in part, by borrowing $22.5 million from the Company’s acquisition facility under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated August 15, 2007 among StoneMor LLC, certain of its subsidiaries, the Company, StoneMor GP LLC, Bank of America, N.A., the other lenders party thereto, and Bank of America Securities LLC, as amended.
Settlement Agreement
In connection with the Acquisition, effective June 21, 2010, StoneMor LLC and StoneMor Indiana (collectively, “StoneMor”) and the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with Chapel Hill Associates, Inc., d/b/a Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens of Grand Rapids, Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Inc., Covington Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Covington Memorial Gardens, Inc., Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel Inc., Forest Lawn Memory Gardens Inc., Fred W. Meyer, Jr. by James R. Meyer as Special Administrator to the Estate of Fred W. Meyer, Jr. (the “F. Meyer Estate”), James R. Meyer (“J. Meyer”), Thomas E. Meyer (“T. Meyer”), Nancy J. Cade (“Cade,” and collectively with the F. Meyer Estate, J. Meyer, and T. Meyer, the “Meyer Family”) and F.T.J. Meyer Associates, LLC (“FTJ”).
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, StoneMor agreed to assume, pay and discharge a portion of Ansure’s and Forest Lawn’s obligations under: (i) certain notes issued by Ansure in favor of Fred W. Meyer, Jr., J. Meyer, T. Meyer, and Cade (collectively, the “Original Meyer Family”); and (ii) a note issued by Forest Lawn to FTJ, which was later assigned to the Original Meyer Family.
StoneMor agreed to assume approximately $7.1 million of Ansure’s and Forest Lawn’s obligations under the notes they issued, with the remaining principal, interest and fees due under such notes forgiven by the Meyer Family. In connection with the assumption of these obligations, at Closing, StoneMor issued promissory notes to each member of the Meyer Family (the “Closing Notes”) and additional promissory notes payable in installments to certain members of the Meyer Family (the “Installment Notes”). The Closing Notes were issued effective June 21, 2010 in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $5.8 million, were unsecured subordinated obligations of StoneMor, bore no interest and were payable on demand at the Closing. The Closing Notes were paid at closing by: (i) the issuance by the Company of 293,947 unregistered common units representing limited partnership interests of the Company (the “Units”) valued at approximately $5.8 million pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement; and (ii) a cash payment of approximately $0.2 million.
The Installment Notes were issued effective June 21, 2010 and mature April 1, 2014. The Installment Notes are to be paid over a 4 year period and do not have a stated rate of interest. The Company has recorded the Installment Notes at their fair market value of approximately $2.6 million. The face amounts of the Installment Notes were discounted approximately $0.7 million, and the discount will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the Installment Notes. The Installment Notes bear 10.25% interest per annum on the portion of the outstanding balance after the maturity date or while there exists any uncured event of default or the exercise by the Company of any remedies following the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default. In addition, if StoneMor voluntarily files for bankruptcy or is involved in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, the entire principal balance of the Installment Notes will automatically become due and payable.
J. Meyer, T. Meyer and Cade each entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement-Not-To-Compete with StoneMor, which amended the non-compete agreements each previously entered into with Ansure. In consideration for entering into an Amended and Restated Agreement-Not-To-Compete, StoneMor agreed to pay an aggregate of approximately $2.3 million to J. Meyer, T. Meyer, and Cade, with approximately $0.3 million paid at Closing, and the remainder to be paid in installments over 4 years.
The Settlement Agreement also provides that, if the annual distributions paid by the Company to its unitholders are less than $2.20, StoneMor will pay additional cash consideration to the Meyer Family annually for four years pursuant to a formula contained in the Settlement Agreement. StoneMor may also pay up to approximately $2.4 million to the Meyer Family from the proceeds of the Misappropriation Claims, subject to certain minimum thresholds before payments are required.
In addition, StoneMor provided an assignment from the Receiver to the Meyer Family of the Eminent Domain Claim, as defined in the Settlement Agreement, and the proceeds thereto, at closing. The Meyer Family agreed to assign its rights under the Fraud Claims, as defined in the Settlement Agreement, to StoneMor.
All obligations of StoneMor, the Company, and the Acquired Companies under the Settlement Agreement and other transaction documents are subordinate and junior to the obligations of StoneMor, the Company, and the Acquired Companies under any Senior Debt, as defined in the Settlement Agreement.
The Settlement Agreement also includes various representations, warranties, covenants, mutual releases, indemnification and other provisions, which are customary for a transaction of this nature.
Unregistered Sale of Securities
In connection with the Acquisition, StoneMor GP LLC, the general partner of the Company (“StoneMor GP”), entered into a Non-Competition Agreement (“Non-Competition Agreement”) dated as of June 21, 2010 with Ronald P. Robertson, pursuant to which Mr. Robertson agreed not to compete with StoneMor GP and the companies under its management and control. In consideration for Mr. Robertson’s covenant not to compete and as a partial payment of the Closing Notes to the Meyer Family pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, effective June 21, 2010, the Company issued 303,800 Units.
Pursuant to the Non-Competition Agreement, the Company is obligated to issue additional Units which were initially valued at a fair value of $0.5 million based on a unit price of $20.30 just prior to the date of acquisition. As a result, the Company issued 9,853 units in June of 2011 and June of 2012, and is also obligated to issue an additional 4,924 units in June of 2013.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired. The resulting goodwill is recorded in the Company’s Cemetery Operations-Southeast segment, Cemetery Operations-West segment and Funeral Homes operating segment.
Third Quarter 2010 Acquisition
During the third quarter of 2010, the Company purchased a single cemetery for $1.5 million, which included the payoff of an existing mortgage of $0.3 million. At September 30, 2010, the Company had made a provisional assessment of the fair value of net assets acquired for this transaction. The Company obtained additional information in the fourth quarter of 2010 and had retrospectively adjusted these preliminary values as of December 31, 2010.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets received, the purchase price and the resulting gain on a bargain purchase.
Fourth Quarter 2010 Acquisition
On October 12, 2010, StoneMor LLC, StoneMor Kansas LLC, a Kansas limited liability company and StoneMor Kansas Subsidiary LLC, a Kansas limited liability company, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “4th Quarter Purchase Agreement”) with Fairlawn Burial Park Association and Heritage II Inc., collectively the Sellers, and Edward J. Nazar as the Receiver.
Pursuant to the 4th Quarter Purchase Agreement, Buyer acquired the assets of one cemetery and one funeral home in Kansas, purchased out of receivership. In consideration for the transfer, the Company paid approximately $0.7 million in cash, and posted a bond of approximately $0.3 million to fund permanent maintenance trust shortfalls and incurred approximately $0.6 million of liabilities in connection with this acquisition.
The table below reflects the Company’s final assessment of the fair value of net assets received, the purchase price and the resulting goodwill, which is recorded in both the Company’s Cemetery Operations-West segment and Funeral Homes operating segment.
Since their respective dates of acquisition, our properties acquired in 2010 have contributed $26.0 million of revenue and $6.8 million of net income for the year ended December 31, 2012, $25.6 million and $7.2 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2011 and $11.1 million and $1.1 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2010.
The results of operations and pro forma results related to the third and fourth quarters acquisitions of 2010 are not material to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.
First Quarter 2012 Contract Termination
During the third quarter of 2010, certain subsidiaries of the Company entered into a long-term operating agreement (the “Operating Agreement”) with the Archdiocese of Detroit (the “Archdiocese”) wherein the Company became the exclusive operator of certain cemeteries in Michigan owned by the Archdiocese. The Operating Agreement did not qualify as an acquisition for accounting purposes. However, the existing merchandise trust had been consolidated as a variable interest entity as the Company controlled and directly benefited from the operations of the merchandise trust. In addition, liabilities assumed were also recorded as of the contract date. As no consideration was paid in this transaction, the Company had recorded a deferred gain of approximately $3.1 million within deferred cemetery revenues, net, which represented the excess of the value of the merchandise trust over the liabilities assumed.
Effective March 31, 2012, the Company and the Archdiocese agreed to terminate the Operating Agreement. As of the termination date, the Company no longer operated these properties. All activity occurring after March 31, 2012 is the responsibility of the Archdiocese and the Company has no remaining obligation to fulfill any merchandise liabilities or responsibility to perform any obligations of the properties.
In the first and second quarters of 2012, the Company received payments of approximately $2.0 million from the Archdiocese as a result of the termination. Consequently, the Company recognized a gain of
$1.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2012, which is the amount by which the payments from the Archdiocese exceeded the value of the net assets transferred to the Archdiocese.
Fourth Quarter 2011 Disposition
On December 30, 2011, we sold one funeral home in West Virginia for $0.1 million, resulting in a gain of $0.1 million.
15.
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company is organized into five distinct reportable segments which are classified as Cemetery Operations-Southeast, Cemetery Operations-Northeast, Cemetery Operations-West, Funeral Homes, and Corporate.
The Company has chosen this level of organization of reportable segments due to the fact that a) each reportable segment has unique characteristics that set it apart from other segments; b) the Company has organized its management personnel at these operational levels; and c) it is the level at which the Company’s chief decision makers and other senior management evaluate performance.
The cemetery operations segments sell interment rights, caskets, burial vaults, cremation niches, markers and other cemetery related merchandise. The nature of the Company’s customers differs in each of its regionally based cemetery operating segments. Cremation rates in the West region are substantially higher than they are in the Southeast region. Rates in the Northeast region tend to be somewhere between the two. Statistics indicate that customers who select cremation services have certain attributes that differ from customers who select other methods of interment. The disaggregation of cemetery operations into the three distinct regional segments is primarily due to these differences in customer attributes along with the previously mentioned management structure and senior management analysis methodologies.
The Company’s Funeral Homes segment offers a range of funeral-related services such as family consultation, the removal of and preparation of remains and the use of funeral home facilities for visitation. These services are distinctly different than the cemetery merchandise and services sold and provided by the cemetery operations segments.
The Company’s Corporate segment includes various home office selling and administrative expenses that are not allocable to the other operating segments.
Segment information is as follows:
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2012:
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2011:
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2010:
Results of individual business units are presented based on our management accounting practices and management structure. There is no comprehensive, authoritative body of guidance for management accounting equivalent to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; therefore, the financial results of individual business units are not necessarily comparable with similar information for any other company. The management accounting process uses assumptions and allocations to measure performance of the business units. Methodologies are refined from time to time as management accounting practices are enhanced and businesses change. Revenues and associated expenses are not deferred in accordance with SAB No. 104; therefore, the deferral of these revenues and expenses is provided in the adjustment column to reconcile the Company’s managerial financial statements to those prepared in accordance with GAAP. Pre-need sales revenues included within the sales category consist primarily of the sale of burial lots, burial vaults, mausoleum crypts, grave markers and memorials, and caskets. Management accounting practices included in the Southeast, Northeast, and Western Regions reflect these pre-need sales when contracts are signed by the customer and accepted by the Company. Pre-need sales reflected in the consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP, recognize revenues for the sale of burial lots and mausoleum crypts when the product is constructed and at least 10% of the sales price is collected. With respect to the other products, the consolidated financial statements prepared under GAAP recognize sales revenues when the criteria for delivery under SAB No. 104 are met. These criteria include, among other things, purchase of the product, delivery and installation of the product in the ground, and transfer of title to the customer. In each case, costs are accrued in connection with the recognition of revenues; therefore, the consolidated financial statements reflect Deferred Cemetery Revenue, Net, and Deferred Selling and Obtaining Costs on the consolidated balance sheet, whereas the Company’s management accounting practices exclude these items.
16. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the ASC defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. This topic also establishes a fair value hierarchy that gives the highest priority to observable inputs and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy defined by this topic are described below.
Level 1:
Quoted market prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company includes short-term investments, consisting primarily of money market funds, U.S. Government debt securities and publicly traded equity securities and mutual funds in its level 1 investments.
Level 2:
Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets; quoted prices in non-active markets for identical or similar assets; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable. The Company includes U.S. state and municipal, corporate and other fixed income debt securities in its level 2 investments.
Level 3:
Any and all pricing inputs that are generally unobservable and not corroborated by market data.
The following table allocates the Company’s assets measured at fair value as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.
As of December 31, 2012
Merchandise Trust
Perpetual Care Trust
As of December 31, 2011
Merchandise Trust
Perpetual Care Trust
Level 2 securities primarily consist of corporate and other fixed income debt securities. The Company obtains pricing information for these securities from an independent pricing vendor. The pricing vendor uses various pricing models for each asset class that are consistent with what other market participants would use. The inputs and assumptions to the pricing vendor’s model are derived from market observable sources including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and other market-related data. Since many fixed income securities do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing vendor uses available information as applicable such as benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings, and matrix pricing. Thus, certain securities may not be priced using quoted prices, but rather determined from market observable information. These investments are included in Level 2. The Company reviews the information provided by the pricing vendor on a regular basis. In addition, the pricing vendor has an established process in place for the identification and resolution of potentially erroneous prices.
There were no level 3 assets.
17. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
The following summarizes certain quarterly results of operations:
Net income (loss) per limited partner unit is computed independently for each quarter and the full year based upon respective average units outstanding. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly per share amounts may not equal to the annual per share amounts.
18. PARTNER’S CAPITAL
On February 9, 2011, the Company completed a follow-on public offering of 3,756,155 common units, including an option to purchase up to 731,155 common units to cover over-allotments which was exercised in full by the underwriters, at a price of $29.25 per unit, representing a 19.4% interest in the Company. Total gross proceeds from these transactions were approximately $109.9 million, before offering costs and underwriting discounts. Net proceeds of the offering, including the related capital contribution of the General Partner, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses, were approximately $105.6 million. As part of this transaction, selling unitholders also sold 1,849,366 common units. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds generated by the sale of any units held by the selling unitholders.
On September 22, 2010, the Company completed a follow-on public offering of 1,725,000 common units, including an option to purchase up to 225,000 common units to cover over-allotments which was exercised in full by the underwriters, at a price of $24.00 per unit, representing a 10.9% interest in the Company. Total gross proceeds from these transactions were approximately $41.4 million, before offering costs and underwriting discounts. Net proceeds of the offering, including the related capital contribution of our General Partner, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses, were approximately $39.6 million.
19. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On February 19, 2013, the Company entered into the First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which increased the total availability under the Credit Facility by $10.0 million to $140.0 million.
On February 19, 2013, StoneMor Florida Subsidiary LLC, an indirect subsidiary of the Company (the “Buyer), entered into an Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Seawinds Agreement”) with certain Florida limited liability companies and one individual (collectively the “Seller”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Buyer acquired six funeral homes in Florida, including certain related assets, and assumed certain related liabilities. In consideration for the net assets acquired, the Buyer paid the Seller $9.0 million in cash and issued 159,635 common units, which equates to approximately $3.6 million worth of units. The buyer also issued an unsecured promissory note in the amount of $3.0 million that is payable on February 19, 2014 and bears interest at 5%. In addition, the Buyer will also pay an aggregate amount of $1.2 million in six equal annual installments commencing on February 19, 2014 in exchange for a non-compete agreement with the Seller. A preliminary allocation of the purchase price and fair value of net assets acquired has not been provided as more time is needed to accurately compile this information.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Disclosure Committee and management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b). Based upon, and as of the date of this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in our reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012. In making this assessment, management used the criteria described in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management concluded that we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report which appears herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors of StoneMor Partners GP LLC and Unitholders of StoneMor Partners L.P.
Levittown, Pennsylvania
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Stonemor Partners L.P. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 of the Company and our report dated March 15, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 15, 2013
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Partnership Structure and Management
StoneMor GP LLC, as our general partner, manages our operations and activities. Unitholders are not entitled to participate, directly or indirectly, in our management or operations.
Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. Unitholders do not have the right to elect our general partner or its directors on an annual or other continuing basis. Our general partner may not be removed except by the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding common units, including units owned by our general partner and its affiliates. Because of their controlling ownership interest in our general partner, the MDC IV Liquidating Trusts, are able to control the election of a majority of the directors of our general partner.
Directors and Executive Officers of StoneMor GP LLC
The following table shows information regarding the directors and executive officers of our general partner. Each director is elected for one-year terms or until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Messrs. Miller and M. Stache serve as executive officers of our general partner pursuant to their respective employment agreements. Mr. Shane serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner and as an advisor available to management pursuant to his employment agreement.
1. The Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of our general partner, as amended, or the GP LLC Agreement, specifies that, so long as Mr. Miller serves as Chief Executive Officer of our general partner, he shall also serve as a director of our general partner.
2. Mr. Yost replaced Mr. Shane as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary on April 1, 2012. At that time, Mr. Shane became the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Effective April 30, 2012, Mr. R. Stache retired from his position of Senior Vice President - Sales of our general partner. Mr. Waimberg resigned from his position of Vice President-Finance and Corporate Development and Treasurer of our general partner effective February 28, 2013. Duties and responsibilities of Messrs R. Stache and Waimberg are performed by senior employees of our general partner.
Executive Officer and Board Member
Lawrence Miller serves as both an executive officer and a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner.
Lawrence Miller has served as our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner since our formation in April 2004 and had served as the Chief Executive Officer and
President of Cornerstone, since March 1999 through April 2004. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Mr. Miller was employed by The Loewen Group, Inc. (now known as the Alderwoods Group, Inc.), where he served in various management positions, including Executive Vice President of Operations from January 1997 until June 1998, and President of the Cemetery Division from March of 1995 until December 1996. Prior to joining The Loewen Group, Mr. Miller served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Osiris Holding Corporation, a private consolidator of cemeteries and funeral homes of which Mr. Miller was a one-third owner, from November 1987 until March 1995, when Osiris was sold to The Loewen Group. Mr. Miller served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Morlan International, Inc., one of the first publicly traded cemetery and funeral home consolidators from 1982 until 1987, when Morlan was sold to Service Corporation International. Mr. Miller has been retained in this position due to his extensive experience in the death care industry, his expansive operations experience and acumen, his contacts within the death care community and his long tenure of service with us and our affiliates.
Additional Directors
A brief biography of all non-executive directors of our general partner is included below:
William R. Shane has served on the Board of Directors of our general partner since our formation in April 2004. Mr. Shane has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of our general partner since our formation in April 2004 until April 1, 2012, and had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cornerstone since March 1999 through April 2004. Effective April 1, 2012, Mr. Shane retired from his position as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and became the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Mr. Shane was employed by The Loewen Group, Inc., where he served as Senior Vice President of Finance for the Cemetery Division from March 1995 until January 1998. Prior to joining The Loewen Group, Mr. Shane served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Osiris Holding Corporation, which he founded with Mr. Miller, and of which he was a one-third owner. Prior to founding Osiris, Mr. Shane served as the Chief Financial Officer of Morlan International, Inc. Mr. Shane has been retained in this position due to his extensive experience in financial services and capital raising activities, his contacts within the death care and financial communities and his long tenure of service with us and our affiliates.
Allen R. Freedman has served on the Board of Directors of our general partner since our formation in April 2004, and had served as a director of Cornerstone since October 2000 through April 2004. Mr. Freedman is a graduate of Tufts University and the University of Virginia School of Law. Mr. Freedman retired in July 2000 from his position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fortis, Inc., a specialty insurance company that he started in 1979. He continued to serve on the board of Assurant, Inc. (successor to Fortis, Inc.) until May of 2011. He was previously Chairman of the Board of Systems & Computer Technology Corporation until 2004 and Indus, Inc. until 2007. He currently serves as trustee of the Eaton Vance Mutual Funds Group where he serves on the Governance and Portfolio Management Committees. Mr. Freedman has served on the board of a number of charitable organizations including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the United Way of New York. He currently serves on the board of Opera America, the service organization for over 100 opera companies in the United States, Canada and Europe. He is also a founding director of the Association of Audit Committee Members, Inc. Mr. Freedman has been retained as a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner due to his extensive financial experience, his investment and general management experience in the field or related fields in which the company operates and his experience on other boards of public companies.
Peter Grunebaum has served on the Board of Directors of our general partner since December 2004. Mr. Grunebaum, currently an independent investment banker and corporate consultant, was the Managing Director of Fortrend International, an investment firm headquartered in New York, New York, a position he held from 1989 until the end of 2003. Mr. Grunebaum currently serves as a director and is a member of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Pre Paid Legal Services, Inc., a NYSE listed company that provides legal service plans. Mr. Grunebaum also served on the board of directors and as a member of the Audit Committee of Lucas Energy, Inc., a crude oil and gas company, until February 28, 2013. Mr. Grunebaum has been retained as a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner due to his extensive audit background, his experience with raising capital and his service with other public companies.
Robert B. Hellman, Jr. has served on the Board of Directors of our general partner since our formation in April 2004 and had served as a director of Cornerstone since March 1999 through April 2004. Mr. Hellman is the Chief Executive Officer and a Managing Director of McCown De Leeuw & Co., LLC, which he joined in 1987. McCown De Leeuw & Co., LLC is the sponsor of numerous private equity investment funds. Mr. Hellman was named Managing Director in 1991 and Chief Executive Officer in 2001. Mr. Hellman also co-founded American Infrastructure MLP Funds in 2006. He has been a private equity investor for 25 years and responsible for inventing the pioneering idea of applying the MLP structure to the deathcare industry, which led to our IPO as a MLP. Mr. Hellman received an MBA from the Harvard Business School with Baker Scholar Honors, an MS in economics from the London School of Economics, and a BA in economics from Stanford University. He is a member of the board of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. Mr. Hellman has been retained as a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner due to his involvement in our initial public offering, his extensive investment experience and his prior experience with raising capital.
Martin R. Lautman, Ph.D., has served on the Board of Directors of our general partner since our formation in April 2004 and as a director of Cornerstone since its formation in March 1999 through April 2004. Dr. Lautman is currently the Managing Director of Marketing Channels, Inc., a company that provides marketing and marketing research consulting services to the information industry. Most recently, he served as the President and CEO of GfK Custom Research North America, a division of a public worldwide marketing services company headquartered in Nuremburg, Germany. Prior to that he was the Senior Managing Director of ARBOR a U.S.-based marketing research agency, where he held several positions including Senior Managing Director since 1974. He has also served with Numex Corporation, a public machine-tool manufacturing company, as President from 1987 to 1990 and as a director from 1991 to 1997. From 1986 to 2000, Dr. Lautman served on the Board of Advisors of Bachow Inc., a private equity firm specializing in high-tech companies and software and is now active in venture capital serving as a venture partner in three early stage funds. Dr. Lautman is currently a board member for two family-owned businesses, E.P. Henry, a hardscaping company and A. Duie Pyle, a trucking company. He has lectured on marketing at The Cornell Hotel School and at The Columbia University School of Business and currently teaches marketing strategy in the MBA program at The Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lautman has been retained as a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner due to his involvement in numerous boards, his strategic planning experience and his capital raising background.
Fenton R. “Pete” Talbott has served on the Board of Directors of our general partner since our formation in April 2004 and had served as Chairman of the Board of Cornerstone since April 2000 through April 2004. Mr. Talbott served as the President of Talbott Advisors, Inc., a consulting firm, from January 2006 through January 2010. Mr. Talbott previously served as an operating affiliate of McCown De Leeuw & Co., LLC from November 1999 to December 2004. Additionally, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Telespectrum International, an international telemarketing and market-research company, from August 2000 to January 2001. Prior to 1999, Mr. Talbott held various executive positions with Comerica Bank, American Express Corporation, Bank of America, The First Boston Corp., CitiCorp., and other entities. He currently serves as a board member of the Preventative Medicine Research Institute, Kansas University Board of Trustees, Christus/St. Vincent Hospital Foundation, and Landmark Dividend, LLC and as the Chairman of Cornerstones Community Partnerships. Mr. Talbott has been retained as a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner due to his extensive operational experience, his private consulting experience and his extensive professional contact base.
Howard L. Carver has served on the Board of Directors of our general partner since August 2005. Mr. Carver retired in June 2002 from Ernst & Young. During his 35-year career with the firm, Mr. Carver held a variety of positions in six U.S. offices, culminating with the position of managing partner responsible for the operation of the Hartford, Connecticut office. Since June 2002, Mr. Carver has served on the boards of directors of Assurant, Inc. (formerly Fortis, Inc.) and Phoenix National Trust Company (until its sale in April 2004) and has been the chair of the Audit Committee for both boards. Since September 2004, Mr. Carver had served on the board of directors of Open Solutions, Inc. and was the chair of that company’s Audit Committee (until January 23, 2007 when Open Solutions, Inc was sold). Effective January 2012, Mr. Carver was appointed to the Audit Committee of Pinnacol
Assurance, the workers compensation facility for the State of Colorado, and in January 2013 he was appointed to Pinnacol’s board by the Governor of Colorado. Mr. Carver has been retained as a member of the Board of Directors of our general partner due to his extensive financial and audit experience, and his risk management background.
Executive Officers (Non-Board Members)
A brief biography of additional executive officers is included below:
Michael L. Stache has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since our formation in April 2004 and had served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Cornerstone since March 1999 through April 2004. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Mr. Stache was with Loewen Group International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Loewen Group, Inc., between March 1995 and March 1999. Mr. Stache also served as Vice President of Funeral Home Advanced Planning for the United States and Canada for The Loewen Group from January 1999 until he joined Cornerstone in March 1999. Mr. Stache previously served in several different capacities with The Loewen Group, including as Regional President of the North Central Region between 1996 and 1999 and Regional Vice President of Cemetery Operations in the Midwest between 1995 and 1996. Mr. Stache served as Vice President of Operations for Osiris Holding Corporation between 1994 and 1995 and as General Manager between 1988 and 1994.
Timothy K. Yost has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary since April 1, 2012 and has served as our Vice President of Financial Reporting and Investor Relations from November 2004 until March 31, 2012 . Prior to joining us, Mr. Yost was the Chief Financial Officer of SpinCycle, Inc. a national chain of coin-operated laundromats. He began with that company in 1997. From October 1995 through May 1997, he was a controller for the Magellan Corporations, a real estate limited partnership syndicate specializing in the development and acquisition of multi-unit residential housing properties. From October 1991 through October 1995, Mr. Yost was the Head of Premium Accounting for Republic Western Insurance Company, a division of U-Haul International.
General Information
The GP LLC Agreement specifies that the directors of our general partner shall be elected by a plurality vote of the Class A units of our general partner, subject to the requirements described in footnote (1) to the table above. CFSI LLC holds all of the outstanding Class A units. CFSI LLC is controlled by the MDC IV Liquidating Trusts.
Mr. Hellman serves as the sole member of Gen4 Trust Advisor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which is a trust advisor to the MDC IV Liquidating Trusts, which together beneficially own 87.2% of CFSI LLC through their direct ownership of approximately 10.1% of the Class B units of CFSI LLC and indirectly through their ownership of approximately 90.8% of the membership interests in Cornerstone Family Services LLC, which owns 85% of the Class B units of CFSI LLC. CFSI LLC indirectly owns our 2% general partner interest.
Messrs. M. Stache and R. Stache are brothers.
Board Meetings and Executive Sessions, Communications with Directors and Board Committees
From January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, the Board of Directors of our general partner held four meetings. All directors then in office attended all of these meetings, either in person or by teleconference.
Our Board of Directors holds regular executive sessions, in which non-management board members meet without any members of management present. Mr. Hellman, our Lead Director, presides at regular sessions of the non-management members of our Board of Directors.
Interested parties, including unitholders, may contact one or more members of our Board of Directors, including non-management directors individually or as a group, by writing to the director or directors in care of the Secretary of our general partner at our principal executive offices. A communication received from an interested party or unitholder will be promptly forwarded to the director or directors to whom the communication is addressed. We will not, however, forward sales or marketing materials or correspondence primarily
commercial in nature, materials that are abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate, or correspondence not clearly identified as interested party or unitholder correspondence.
We have standing Audit, Conflicts, Trust and Compliance, and Nominating, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees of the Board of Directors of our general partner. The Board of Directors of our general partner appoints the members of such committees. The Audit Committee has a written charter approved by the board, which is posted on our website at www.stonemor.com under the “Investor Relations” section. Information on our website does not constitute a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The current members of the committees, the number of meetings held by each committee from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012, and a brief description of the functions performed by each committee are set forth below.
Audit Committee (6 meetings)
The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Freedman (Chairman), Grunebaum and Carver. Messrs. Freedman, Carver and Grunebaum attended all meetings of the Audit Committee for the period noted above. The primary responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board of Directors of our general partner in its general oversight of our financial reporting, internal controls and audit functions, and it is directly responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent auditors. Messrs. Freedman, Carver and Grunebaum each qualify as “independent” under applicable standards established by the SEC and NYSE for members of audit committees.
In addition, the Audit Committee includes two members who are determined by the Board of Directors of our general partner to have accounting or related financial management expertise and to meet the qualifications of an “audit committee financial expert” in accordance with NYSE listing standards and SEC rules, as applicable, including that the persons meet the relevant definition of an “independent” director. Messrs. Freedman and Carver are the independent directors who have been determined to have accounting or related financial management expertise and to be audit committee financial experts. Unitholders should understand that this designation is a disclosure requirement of the SEC related to Messrs. Freedman and Carver’s experience and understanding with respect to certain accounting and auditing matters. The designation does not impose on Messrs. Freedman and Carver any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than are generally imposed on them as members of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors of our general partner, and their designation as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this SEC requirement does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Audit Committee or Board of Directors.
Conflicts Committee (no meetings)
The members of the Conflicts Committee are Messrs. Freedman (Chairman), Carver and Grunebaum. The primary responsibility of the Conflicts Committee is to review matters that the directors believe may involve conflicts of interest. The Conflicts Committee determines if the resolution of the conflict of interest is fair and reasonable to us. The members of the Conflicts Committee may not be officers or employees of our general partner or directors, officers, or employees of its affiliates and must meet the independence standards to serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by the NYSE and certain other requirements. Any matters approved by the Conflicts Committee will be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to us, approved by all of our partners, and not a breach by our general partner of any duties it may owe us or our unitholders.
Conflicts of interest may arise between us and our unitholders, on the one hand, and our general partner and its affiliates, including the MDC IV Liquidating Trusts, on the other hand. These conflicts include decisions made by our general partner (such as the amount and timing of borrowings or whether to acquire additional cemeteries) that may result in our general partner receiving incentive distributions.
Nominating, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee (4 meetings)
The members of the Nominating, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Talbott (Chairman), Hellman, and Lautman. All the members attended all meetings of the committee for the period noted
above. The primary responsibility of the Nominating, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee is to oversee compensation decisions for the outside directors of our general partner and executive officers of our general partner (in the event they are to be paid by our general partner) as well as our long-term incentive plan, and to select and recommend nominees for election to the Board of Directors of our general partner.
Trust and Compliance Committee (5 meetings)
The members of the Trust and Compliance Committee are Messrs. Talbott (Chairman), Freedman, Grunebaum and Carver. Funds that are held in merchandise trusts and perpetual care trusts are managed by third-party investment managers within specified investment guidelines adopted by the Trust and Compliance Committee of our board of directors and standards imposed by state law.
These investment managers are monitored by third-party investment advisors selected by our Trust and Compliance Committee who advise the Trust and Compliance Committee on the determination of asset allocations, evaluate the investment managers and provide detailed monthly reports on the performance of each merchandise and perpetual care trust. All the members attended all meetings of the committee for the period noted above.
Code of Ethical Conduct for Financial Managers, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, the Code of Ethics Policy, and the Corporate Governance Guidelines
We adopted a Code of Ethical Conduct applicable to all of our financial managers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Ethical Conduct for Financial Managers incorporates guidelines designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote honest and ethical conduct and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If any amendments are made to the Code of Ethical Conduct for Financial Managers or if we or our general partner grants any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the code to any of its financial managers, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website (www.stonemor.com) or in a report on Form 8-K. We also adopted the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, the Code of Ethics Policy applicable to our officers and other employees, and the Corporate Governance Guidelines, which constitute the framework for our corporate governance.
The Code of Ethical Conduct for Financial Managers, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, the Code of Ethics Policy, and the Corporate Governance Guidelines are publicly available on our website under the “Investor Relations” section at www.stonemor.com. Information on our website does not constitute a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Our general partner’s directors, officers and beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of common units are required to file reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC. Directors, officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common units are also required to furnish us with copies of all such reports that are filed. Based on our review of copies of such forms and amendments, we believe that all of our directors, executive officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners complied with all filing requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the year ended December 31, 2012.
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Our Compensation Process
Our business is managed by the directors, officers and employees of StoneMor GP LLC, our general partner. We have no employees of our own. Accordingly, all decisions relating to compensation of the executive
officers and directors of our general partner are made by the board of directors of our general partner, which we refer to as the board. The Nominating, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee of the board, which we refer to as the compensation committee, is responsible for making recommendations to the board regarding the compensation of executive officers and outside directors and for overseeing all executive officer compensation programs, plans and policies, including those involving the issuance of equity securities.
Our general partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation for managing our business, but is reimbursed by us for all expenses incurred on our behalf. These expenses include all expenses necessary or appropriate to the conduct of our business and allocable to us. The partnership agreement provides that our general partner will determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us. All items of cash compensation reflected in the tables below were incurred on our behalf by our general partner and reimbursed by us.
Objectives and Overview of Our Compensation Programs
Our compensation programs are designed by the board and compensation committee to attract and retain high quality executive officers, to motivate them to achieve our business goals and to maximize the value of our unitholders’ investment by aligning the interests of our executive officers with the interests of our unitholders. Our business goals are to increase our revenues, profits and cash distributions from existing operations, facilitate our growth through acquisitions, promote a cohesive team effort and provide a workplace environment that fosters compliance with the laws and regulations applicable to our business. Our compensation programs include short-term elements, such as annual base salary and annual incentive cash bonus, as well as longer term elements such as equity based awards. Our executive officers also receive health, disability and life insurance benefits and automobile allowances, and are entitled to defer a portion of their compensation pursuant to our 401(k) retirement plan. We do not match any contributions under that plan.
Our general partner has entered into written employment agreements, as amended, with two of our executive officers, Messrs. Miller and M. Stache. Each agreement is for an initial term of one-year and automatically extends for successive one year terms unless either party gives a 90 day written notice of non-renewal. In addition, William Shane serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner pursuant to his employment agreement which is effective for two years beginning April 1, 2012.
How the Elements of Our Executive Compensation Program Further Our Business Goals
The primary elements of our executive compensation program are described below. We have no formula for allocating between long or short-term compensation, cash or non-cash compensation, or among different forms of non-cash compensation, all of which allocations are determined in the discretion of the board and compensation committee.
Base Salary
Base salary is the guaranteed element of our executive officers’ compensation. The amount of base salary reflects the subjective assessment of the compensation committee and board, taking into consideration, the experience of the executive, the competitive market for similarly skilled executives, the complexity of the executive’s job, and our size, financial capabilities and business goals.
Effective April 1, 2012, base salaries of Messrs. Yost and Waimberg were increased to $225,000 and $200,000, respectively, in connection with their promotions to Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively.
Annual Cash Incentive Program
Our annual cash incentive program is designed to motivate our executives to achieve our short-term earnings growth and cash distribution goals by exceeding a pre-determined level of earnings before depreciation, interest, taxes
and amortization, or EBITDA. The amount earned under this program by each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table is set forth in such table under the caption “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”. The aggregate cash incentive payments available for our executive officers are allocated in proportion to their base salaries. For 2012, our EBITDA goal was not achieved, and no payments were made. The minimum EBITDA goal, the other elements of our annual cash incentive program and the identity of the participants in the program are determined at the discretion of the board of directors and compensation committee, after considering the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer related to other executive officers and employees.
Long- Term Incentive Plan
Awards under our long-term incentive plan are designed to motivate our executives to remain employed by us for a sufficient period of time to achieve our longer term business goals and increase unit-holder value. Unless otherwise specified in the award agreements, unvested awards under the long-term incentive plan are forfeited upon an executive’s termination of employment. Pursuant to certain key employee restricted phantom unit agreements and unit appreciation rights agreements with our executives, unvested awards under our long-term incentive plan are forfeited if employment terminates for any reason other than a change of control, death, permanent disability or retirement at age 65 or other age approved by the compensation committee. The grant of awards under our long-term incentive plan is made at the discretion of the board of directors or the compensation committee, as applicable, after considering recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer related to other executive officers and employees.
In connection with Mr. R. Stache’s retirement, the compensation committee approved his retirement age, and no forfeiture of his unit appreciation rights granted under the UAR Agreement applied in connection with his retirement effective April 30, 2012.
The 2012 awards made under our long-term incentive plan to our executive officers included a retention award of 45,000 phantom units that vest over a period of 3 years to Mr. Miller, 1,232 phantom units were credited to each of Messrs. Miller and Shane mandatory deferred compensation accounts, pursuant to their distribution equivalent rights. Phantom units become payable, in cash or common units, at our election, upon the separation of the executive from service or upon the occurrence of certain other events specified in the applicable agreement.
In addition, on April 1, 2012, Messrs. Yost and Waimberg were each granted 25,000 unit appreciation rights that vest over a period of 4 years in connection with their promotions to Chief Financial Officer and Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
For additional information on 2012 awards made to our executive officers, see Note 12 to consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The board does not have a program, plan or practice to time grants of awards in coordination with release of material non-public information.
Severance Payments
The employment agreements for each of Messrs. Miller and M. Stache which were entered into in 2004 and since amended, provide for severance payments in the amount of 2.5 times base salary in the event an executive’s employment is terminated by our general partner without cause or by the executive for good reason. In that circumstance, all of the executive’s unvested equity awards will vest and the executive will be entitled to the continuation of insurance benefits for an agreed period or a cash equivalent (see “Employment Agreements”). The amount of the severance payment and other benefits provided for in the employment agreements were determined by negotiation between the board and each of the executives and reflects the board’s belief at the time such agreements were entered into that the amounts of such payments and benefits and the circumstances under which they would be paid or provided were reasonable. We do not provide cash payments to executives that are triggered by a change of control of our company or our general partner, but upon such a change of control all of our executives’ unvested equity awards will vest.
The employment agreement for Mr. Shane, effective as of April 1, 2012, for a period of two years, provides for severance payments in the amount of the base salary remaining on the two-year employment period if he is terminated by our general partner without cause.
On February 28, 2013, we entered into an Employment Separation Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) with Mr. Waimberg in connection with Mr. Waimberg’s resignation as Vice President - Finance and Corporate Development and Treasurer of our general partner. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Mr. Waimberg is entitled to receive a severance package consisting of: (i) twenty-six weeks’ base salary payable over the period of March 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013; (ii) a contribution to Mr. Waimberg’s COBRA premium for the months of March 2013 through August 2013 on the same basis as StoneMor GP contributed to Mr. Waimberg’s employee health insurance premium prior to the resignation; and (iii) continued vesting of Mr. Waimberg’s unit appreciation rights during the period from March 1, 2013 to August 30, 2013 as approved by the compensation committee.
Perquisites
Our named executive officers participate in a wide array of benefit plans that are available to all of our salaried employees, including health, life and disability insurance plans. We generally do not offer our named executive officers any material compensation in the form of perquisites. Perquisites provided to our named executive officers described in Footnote 3 to the Summary Compensation Table below are linked to our compensation philosophy of encouraging the long-term retention of our executives.
Executive Pay Parity
In 2012, we provided each of Messrs. Miller (our CEO, President and Chairman) and Shane (our former Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and current Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors) with salaries, bonuses, long-term incentives and perquisites, and we provide each of Messrs. M. Stache (our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer) and R. Stache (our former Senior Vice President-Sales who retired effective April 30, 2012) with identical salaries, bonuses and long-term incentives and perquisites. The board and compensation committee believe that pay parity among similar level executives fosters team work and minimizes internal dissension.
Other Matters
The compensation committee and board did not engage outside compensation consultants in 2012 but did consider available comparable company data in making compensation related decisions in 2012. The board has not established a policy for the adjustment of any compensation award or payment if the relevant performance measures on which they are based are restated or adjusted. The board has not established any security ownership guidelines for executive officers and considered the existing equity ownership levels of recipients of awards made during 2009. The board considered the impact of accounting and tax treatments to us and the recipients in granting awards in 2012 under our long-term incentive plan.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the board of directors of our general partner has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2012. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any document previously or subsequently filed with the SEC that incorporates by reference all or any portion of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, except to the extent that we specifically request that the report be incorporated by reference.
By the Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Fenton R. Talbott, Chairman
Robert B. Hellman, Jr.
Martin R. Lautman
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers, referred to as named executive officers, for all services rendered in all capacities to us and our subsidiaries.
(1) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of awards made during the year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 referred to as “ASC Topic 718” based on the assumptions set forth in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. In 2012, Mr. Miller received 46,231.82 Restricted Phantom Units with an aggregate fair value of $1,102,388 and Mr. Shane received 1,231.82 Restricted Phantom Units with an aggregate fair value of $29,138. Also, in 2012, Messrs. Yost and Waimberg each received 25,000 Unit Appreciation Rights (UARs) with
an aggregate fair value of $92,000. In 2011, Messrs. Miller and Shane each received 955.27 Restricted Phantom Units with an aggregate fair value of $26,526. In 2010, Messrs. Miller and Shane each received 1,035.84 Restricted Phantom Units with an aggregate fair value of $23,245.
(2) Represents the amount distributed under our Annual Cash Incentive Program. Payments under the plan are based upon attaining an internally generated calculation of EBITDA.
(3) Other compensation for 2012 includes an auto allowance of $13,200 for Messrs. Miller and Shane, $12,000 for Mr. M. Stache, $4,000 for Mr. B. Stache and $6,000 for Mr. Waimberg, and $3,275 in expenses related to the travel of the spouse of Mr. Miller, $3,179 for the travel of the spouse of Mr. M. Stache and $3,302 for the travel of the spouse of Mr. B. Stache on business trips. Other compensation for 2011 includes an auto allowance of $13,200 for Messrs. Miller and Shane, $12,000 for Messrs. M. Stache and R. Stache, and $6,000 for Mr. Waimberg and $5,747 in expenses related to the travel of the spouse of Mr. Miller, $6,725 for the travel of the spouse of Mr. Shane and $5,803 for the travel of the spouse of Mr. M. Stache on business trips. Other compensation for 2010 includes an auto allowance of $12,100 for Messrs. Miller and Shane and $11,000 for Messrs. M. Stache and R. Stache, $4,490 in expenses related to the travel of the spouses of Messrs. Miller, M. Stache and R. Stache on business trips, and a payment of $17,066 for Messrs. Miller and Shane, $12,348 for Messrs. M. Stache and R. Stache and $3,330 for Mr. Waimburg representing a distribution on units that were set to be issued, but for administrative reasons, were not issued prior to the dividend declaration date.
(4) Base salary is payable pursuant to the terms of an employment agreement effective as of September 20, 2004 (See “Employment Agreements”). In addition, Mr. Shane entered into a new employment agreement effective April 1, 2012.
(5) For information regarding cash distributions that may be received by our named executive officers by reasons of their ownership interests in our general partner or its affiliates see “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence”.
(6) Mr. Yost, formerly Vice President-Financial Reporting and Investor Relations, has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Secretary effective April 1, 2012.
(7) Mr. Waimberg served as our Vice President-Finance and Corporate Development and Treasurer until February 28, 2013.
(8) Mr. Shane, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, elected to retire from that position effective April 1,2012. In connection with such retirement, Mr. Shane entered into the Employment Agreement with our general partner, pursuant to which he serves as an advisor available to management and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of our general partner until April 1, 2014.
(9) Mr. R. Stache served as our Senior Vice President of Sales until April 30, 2012.
2012, 2011 and 2010 Annual Cash Incentive Program
Payments under our Annual Cash Incentive Program are based upon attaining an internally generated calculation of EBITDA.
The table below details the target EBITDA and bonus amounts granted to each named executive for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Total EBITDA generated for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 were approximately $75.3 million, $69.0 million and $71.9 million, respectively. In 2010, we exceeded our target level of approximately $66.0 million in EBITDA and we accrued cash incentive compensation for the named executives
as noted in the Summary Compensation Table above that was paid in 2011. In 2012 and 2011, this amount was below our target level of approximately, $75.4 million and $72.5 million, respectively, and accordingly, we paid no cash incentive compensation.
The EBITDA measurement utilized for our Annual Cash Incentive Program is a non-GAAP financial measure. The table below reconciles Net Income as shown in our Consolidated Statement of Operations (the GAAP measure we believe most closely reconciles to this calculation of EBITDA) to EBITDA used in our calculation of our Annual Cash Incentive Program:
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012
The following table sets forth information regarding grants of plan-based awards to our named executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2012.
(1) Under an executive restricted phantom unit agreement entered into under our long-term incentive plan, Messrs. Miller and Shane were each credited with 1,231.82 phantom units during 2012 pursuant to their distribution equivalent rights.
(2) Mr. Miller was granted 45,000 restricted phantom units that vest one-third on the anniversary date for the next three years.
(3) The fair value of awards to Messrs. Miller and Shane was calculated based on the publically traded price of our units on the day prior to the date the awards were granted. The fair value of awards to Messrs. Yost and Waimberg was calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. See Note 12 to consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2012
The following table sets forth information with respect to outstanding equity awards at December 31, 2012 for our named executive officers.
(1) Pursuant to a unit appreciation rights (UARs) agreement entered into under our long-term incentive plan on December 16, 2009, Messrs. Miller, Yost, M. Stache, Waimberg, Shane and R. Stache were each granted 175,000,25,000, 75,000, 25,000, 175,000, and 75,000 UARs, respectively. The UARs entitle each executive to receive, in our whole common units or cash, at our election, the excess of the fair value of the common unit on the day prior to the exercise date over the base exercise price of $18.80, which was the last trading price of a common unit immediately preceding the grant. The UARs vest ratably over a period of 48 months beginning on the grant date. In addition, pursuant to a unit appreciation rights agreement entered into under our long-term incentive plan on April 2, 2012, Messrs. Yost and Waimberg were each granted 25,000 UARs. The UARs entitle each executive to receive, in our whole common units or cash, at our election, the excess of the fair value of the common unit on the day prior to the exercise date over the base exercise price of $24.36, which was the last trading price of a common unit immediately preceding the grant. The UARs vest ratably over a period of 48 months beginning on the grant date.
(2) Pursuant to an executive restricted phantom unit agreement entered into under our long-term incentive plan, on December 16, 2009, Messrs. Miller and Shane each received 10,000 phantom units and were each credited with an additional 3,223 phantom units through December 31, 2012 pursuant to their distribution equivalent rights. In addition, on November 7, 2012, Mr. Miller was granted 45,000 restricted phantom units under our long-term incentive plan. The phantom units become payable, in cash or common units, at our election, upon the separation of the executive from service as an executive of our general partner or upon the occurrence of certain other events. The market value has been computed by multiplying the closing price of the common units on December 31, 2012 by the number of unvested units.
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED DURING YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012
The following table provides information about the value realized by the named executive officers on the exercise of unit appreciation rights during the year ended December 31, 2012.
(1) Mr. Waimberg exercised 8,000 UARs which had vested under our Long Term Incentive Plan. The UARs had an exercise price of $18.80 per unit and their exercise resulted in the issuance of 1,397 units based upon the difference between the fair value of our outstanding common units on November 13, 2012 ($22.78), the date as of which the number of units to be issued upon the exercise of the UARs was determined. Mr. Waimberg resigned from his position as Vice President-Finance and Corporate Development and Treasurer effective February 28, 2013.
Mr. Stache exercised 48,437 UARs which had vested under our Long Term Incentive Plan. The UARs had an exercise price of $18.80 per unit and their exercise resulted in the issuance of 15,716 units based upon the difference between the fair value of our outstanding common units on July 20, 2012 ($27.83), the date as of which the number of units to be issued upon the exercise of the UARs was determined. Mr. Stache retired from his position as Senior Vice President-Sales effective April 30, 2012.
Employment Agreements
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the employment agreements between our general partner and Messrs. Millerand M. Stache in effect as of December 31, 2012.
The employment agreements contemplate that each employee will serve as an officer of our general partner. Each of the employment agreements has an initial term that expires one year from the effective date, but is automatically extended for successive one-year terms unless either party gives written notice of non-renewal 90 days prior to the end of the term.
The employment agreements provide for a base annual salary of $350,000 for Mr. Miller and $250,000 for Mr. M. Stache, subject to increase in the discretion of our general partner. In addition, each employee is eligible to receive an annual bonus award based upon satisfaction of mutually agreed upon targets established by our general partner and approved by the board of directors of our general partner or the compensation committee of our general partner. If no targets are established, the employee may, at the discretion of our general partner, receive a bonus of up to 50% of base salary for meeting budgeted goals. The employee is also entitled to participate in other discretionary bonus or performance-based bonus programs for senior executives, as determined by the compensation committee of our general partner, including unit incentive plans adopted by our general partner.
If the employee’s employment is terminated without cause or if the employee resigns for good reason, the employee will be entitled to severance in an amount equal to the product of employee’s base salary at the time of termination or resignation and 2.5. The employment agreement of Mr. Miller defines cause as (a) fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence by the employee that materially adversary affects our reputation or the reputation of our general partner and continues after notice and, if requested by the employee, an opportunity to be heard, or (b) any chemical dependence that materially adversely affects the employee’s performance of his duties and responsibilities and for which the employee fails to undertake and maintain treatment. The employment agreement of Mr. M. Stache defines cause as (a) the gross neglect or willful failure by the employee to perform his duties and responsibilities as set forth in the employment agreement, which is not cured within thirty days of notice to the employee; (b) any act of fraud by the employee, whether relating to our general partner or otherwise; (c) the conviction or entry into a plea of nolo contendere by the employee with respect to any felony
or misdemeanor (other than a traffic offense which does not result in imprisonment); (d) the commission by the employee of any willful or intentional act (including any violation of law) which materially injures the reputation or materially adversely affects the business or business relationships of our general partner; or (e) any willful failure or willful breach (not covered by any of clauses above) of any of the material obligations of the employment agreement. An employee will be deemed to have terminated his employment for good reason if, among other things, such employee resigns after the location of the principal office of our general partner is moved outside a 75-mile radius of its former location in Bristol, Pennsylvania; the employee is removed from his executive position; the employee has a material change in duties or compensation, or our general partner willfully breaches the employment agreement.
During the employee’s employment period and for one year thereafter, the employee is generally prohibited from engaging in any business that competes with our general partner in areas in which our general partner conducts business as of the date of termination. During the employee’s employment period and for two years thereafter, the employee is generally prohibited from soliciting or inducing any of our employees to terminate their employment with us or accept employment with anyone else or interfere in a similar manner with our business. The non-competition period may terminate earlier as determined by the board of directors of our general partner if (a) the employee is terminated other than for cause and (b) such termination does not occur within 30 days after a change in control. The employment agreements define a “change in control” as including (i) a bona fide sale of all or substantially all of the assets of our general partner to any person or entity other than an affiliate, (ii) a merger, reorganization, consolidation or other transaction where more than 50% of the combined voting power of the equity interests in our general partner ceases to be owned by certain persons who own such interests at the effective date of the employment agreement or (iii) the acquisition of 40% or more of the equity interests in our general partner by any person not currently part of the ownership of our general partner, except where the person is an employee benefit fund or one who effects the purchase at the request of or with the approval of the board of directors of our general partner.
Section 7 (covenants of the executive) of the employment agreement with Mr. R. Stache survived the termination of the such employment agreement in connection with Mr. R. Stache’s retirement effective April 30, 2012. The terms of employment agreements of Messrs. M. Stache and R. Stache were substantially similar.
We also have an employment agreement with Mr. Shane, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, which is effective for two years beginning April 1, 2012, at an annual salary of $440,000.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control
The following table describes the potential payments and benefits under the employment agreements and agreements relating to awards granted under our long-term incentive plan to which the named executive officers would be entitled upon termination of employment if our general partner terminated their employment without cause or if the executive terminates for good reason, assuming the termination took place on December 31, 2012. A change of control of our general partner or of us would not trigger change of control payments but would accelerate the vesting of the outstanding unvested awards granted under our long-term incentive plan.
(1) Messrs. Miller and M. Stache are each entitled to 2.5 times their base annual salary. Mr. Shane is entitled to the remaining salary on his two year employment period which began April 1, 2012.
(2) Messrs. Miller and M. Stache are each entitled to continued coverage under our medical insurance program for two years. Mr. Shane is entitled to continued coverage for the time remaining on his two year employment period which began April 1, 2012.
(3) At December 31, 2012, Messrs. Miller and Shane held 58,223 and 13,223 deferred executive phantom units, respectively. Messrs. Miller, Shane, M. Stache, R. Stache and Waimberg each had 43,750, 43,750, 18,750, 18,750, and 6,250 unvested UARs for which the strike price was $18.80. The amount calculated hereunder is based upon the fair value of our outstanding common units at December 31, 2012 ($20.83). The fair value of Messrs. Miller and Shane’s deferred executive phantom units is equal to the total units outstanding multiplied by the December 31, 2012 fair value of our common units. The value of all UARs is equaled to the total UARs granted multiplied by the remainder of the fair value of our common units at December 31, 2012 less their strike price ($18.80).
At December 31, 2012, Messrs. Yost and Waimberg each had 20,833 unvested UARs for which the strike price was $24.36. Since the fair value of our outstanding common units at December 31, 2012 was $20.83, these units have not been given a value in the table above. The value of all UARs is equaled to the total UARs granted multiplied by the remainder of the fair value of our common units at December 31, 2012 less their strike price ($18.80).
(4) Robert Stache retired from his position as Senior Vice President-Sales effective April 30, 2012. Per a Board of Director’s resolution, his shares will continue to vest per their original vesting schedule and no units were forfeited.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth compensation information for 2012 for each member of our general partner’s board of directors, except for those directors who are also an executive officer of and/or have an employment agreement with our general partner and do not receive additional compensation for serving on the board. See “Summary Compensation Table” for compensation disclosures related to Lawrence Miller, our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, and William R. Shane, our Vice Chairman of the Board.
(1) Each board member receives an annual cash retainer of $22,500, an annual retainer in deferred restricted phantom units of $12,500, an additional $10,000 annual retainer which can be received in cash, deferred restricted phantom units or a combination of cash and deferred restricted phantom units at the board member’s election, a meeting fee of $1,000 for each meeting of the board of directors attended in person and $750 for each committee meeting attended in person, a fee of $500 for participation in each telephone board call that is greater than one hour, but less than two hours, and $1,000 for participation in each telephone board call that is two hours or more. In addition, Mr. Freedman receives an annual retainer of $10,000 as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and Mr. Talbott receives annual retainers of $2,500 for serving as the Chairman for both our Nominating, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee and our Trusts and Compliance Committee.
(2) During 2012, each of Messrs. Freedman, Lautman, Carver and Hellman were awarded 933.05 deferred restricted phantom units, Mr. Talbott was awarded 725.70 deferred restricted phantom units and Mr. Grunebaum was awarded 518.36 deferred restricted phantom units in payment of the portion of their annual retainer. The deferred restricted phantom units are credited to a mandatory deferred compensation account established for each such person. For each deferred restricted phantom unit in such account, we credit the account, solely in additional deferred restricted phantom units, an amount of distribution equivalent rights so as to provide the deferred restricted phantom unit holders means of participating on a one-for-one basis in distributions made to holders of our common units. In 2012, Messrs. Freedman and Lautman were each credited with an additional 1,269.39 deferred restricted phantom units, Mr. Talbott was credited with an additional 1,242.32 deferred restricted phantom units, Mr. Grunebaum was credited with an additional 1,182.55 deferred restricted phantom units, Mr. Carver was credited with an additional 1,151.61 deferred restricted phantom units and Mr. Hellman was credited with an additional 280.99 deferred restricted phantom units pursuant to their distribution equivalent rights. In addition to these amounts, Messrs. Freedman, Lautman, Talbott, Grunebaum , Carver and Hellman each own additional deferred restricted phantom units, in each case received in connection with their annual directors’ compensation for years prior to 2012.
Accordingly, at December 31, 2012, the aggregate number of awards outstanding for each of our non-employee directors was 14,208.74 for each of Messrs. Freedman and Lautman, 13,788.75 for Mr. Talbott, 13,017.72 for Mr. Grunebaum, 12,944.44 for Mr. Carver and 3,598.76 for Mr. Hellman. Payments to participants of the participant’s mandatory deferred compensation account will be made on the earlier of (i) separation of the participant from service as a director, (ii) disability, (iii) unforeseeable emergency, (iv) death, or (v) change of control of our Company or our general partner Participants and will be paid at our election in our common units or cash. Each board member also owns 15,000 Unit Appreciation Rights, which were granted in 2009.
(3) See the table below:
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of awards made during the year in accordance with ASC Topic 718 based on the assumptions set forth in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The grant date fair value of each grant awarded to each director of our general partner who was not also an Executive Officer of our general partner is as follows:
The fair value per unit is based on publically traded price of our units on the date immediately preceding the date of grant.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
Our general partner has adopted the StoneMor Partners L.P. Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended for its employees, consultants and directors, who perform services for us. The long-term incentive plan permits the
grant of awards covering an aggregate of 1,124,000 common units in the form of unit options, unit appreciation rights, restricted units and phantom units. The plan is administered by the compensation committee of our general partner’s board of directors. The plan will continue in effect until the earliest of (i) the date determined by the board of directors of our general partner; (ii) the date that common units are no longer available for payment of awards under the plan; or (iii) the tenth anniversary of the plan.
Our general partner’s board of directors or compensation committee may, in their discretion, terminate, suspend or discontinue the long-term incentive plan at any time with respect to any units for which a grant has not yet been made. Our general partner’s board of directors also has the right to alter or amend the long-term incentive plan or any part of the plan from time to time, including increasing the number of units that may be delivered in accordance with awards under the plan, subject to any approvals if required by the exchange upon which the common units are listed at that time. No change in any outstanding grant may be made, however, that would materially impair the rights of the participant without the consent of the participant.
Restricted Units and Phantom Units
A restricted unit is a common unit that is subject to forfeiture. Upon vesting, the grantee receives a common unit that is not subject to forfeiture. A phantom unit is a notional unit that entitles the grantee to receive a common unit upon the vesting of the phantom unit, or, in the discretion of the compensation committee, cash equivalent to the fair market value of a common unit. The compensation committee may make grants of restricted units and phantom units under the plan to employees, consultants and directors containing such terms as the compensation committee shall determine under the plan, including the period over which restricted units and phantom units granted will vest. The committee may, in its discretion, base its determination on the grantee’s period of service or upon the achievement of specified financial objectives. In addition, the restricted and phantom units will vest upon a change of control of us, or our general partner, subject to additional or contrary provisions in the award agreement.
If a grantee’s employment, consulting arrangement or membership on the board of directors terminates for any reason, the grantee’s restricted units and phantom units will be automatically forfeited unless, and to the extent, the compensation committee provides otherwise or unless otherwise provided in an award agreement. Common units to be delivered with respect to these awards may be common units acquired by our general partner in the open market, common units acquired by our general partner directly from us or any other person or any combination of the foregoing. Our general partner will be entitled to reimbursement by us for the cost incurred in acquiring common units. If we issue new common units with respect to these awards, the total number of common units outstanding will increase.
Distributions on restricted units may be subject to the same vesting requirements as the restricted units, in the compensation committee’s discretion. The compensation committee, in its discretion, may also grant tandem distribution-equivalent rights with respect to phantom units. These are rights that entitle the grantee to receive cash equal to the cash distributions made on the common units. The compensation committee, in its discretion, may also grant tandem unit distribution rights with respect to restricted units, which entitle the grantee to distributions we make with respect to our restricted units.
We intend for the issuance of the common units upon vesting of the restricted units and phantom units under the plan to serve as a means of incentive compensation for performance and not primarily as an opportunity to participate in the equity appreciation of the common units. Therefore, plan participants will not pay any consideration for the common units they receive, and we will receive no remuneration for the units.
Unit Options and Unit Appreciation Rights
The long-term incentive plan permits the grant of options and unit appreciation rights (“UARs”) covering common units. A UAR entitles the grantee to a payment in cash or units, in the discretion of the compensation committee, equal to the appreciation of the unit price between the grant date and the exercise date. The
compensation committee may make grants under the plan to employees, consultants and directors containing such terms, as the committee shall determine, including the grant of tandem distribution-equivalent rights. It is our intention not to issue Unit Options and UARs with an exercise price less than the fair market value of the units on the date of the grant. In general, unit options and UARs granted will become exercisable over a period determined by the compensation committee and, in the compensation committee’s discretion, may provide for accelerated vesting upon the achievement of specified performance objectives. In addition, unless otherwise provided in an award agreement, the unit options and UARs will become exercisable upon a change in control of us or our general partner. Unless otherwise provided in an award agreement, unit options and UARs may be exercised only by the participant during his lifetime or by the person to whom the participant’s right will pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
If a grantee’s employment, consulting arrangement or membership on the board of directors terminates for any reason, the grantee’s unvested options and UARs will be automatically forfeited unless, and to the extent, the compensation committee provides otherwise or unless otherwise provided in an award agreement. Upon exercise of a unit option or UAR, the general partner will acquire common units in the open market or directly from us or any other person or any combination of the foregoing. The general partner will be entitled to reimbursement by us for the difference between the cost incurred by it in acquiring these common units and proceeds it receives from a grantee at the time of exercise. Thus, the cost of the unit options and UARs above the proceeds from grantees will be borne by us. If we issue new common units upon exercise of the unit options, the total number of common units outstanding will increase, and our general partner will pay us the proceeds it received from the grantee upon exercise of the unit option.
The plan has been designed to furnish additional compensation to our employees, consultants and directors and to align their economic interests with those of common unit holders. Awards may be granted under the plan in substitution of similar awards held by individuals who become our employees, consultants or directors as a result of an acquisition. These substitute awards may have exercise prices less than the fair market value of a common unit on the date of substitution.
Risk Assessment in Compensation Policies and Practices for Employees
The compensation committee reviewed the elements of our compensation policies and practices for all employees, including executive officers, in order to evaluate whether risks that may arise from such compensation policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company. The compensation committee concluded that the following features of our compensation programs guard against excessive risk-taking:
•
compensation programs provide a balanced mix of short-term and long-term incentives in the form of cash and equity compensation;
•
base salaries are consistent with employees’ duties and responsibilities;
•
corporate performance goals are appropriately set to avoid targets that, if not achieved, result in a large percentage loss of compensation;
•
cash incentive awards are capped by the compensation committee; and
•
cash incentive awards are tied mostly to corporate performance goals, rather than individual performance goals.
The compensation committee believes that, for all employees, including executive officers, our compensation programs do not lead to excessive risk-taking and instead encourage behavior that supports sustainable value creation. We believe that risks that may arise from our compensation policies and practices for our employees, including executive officers, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the persons who served as members of the Nominating, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee (Fenton R. Talbott, Robert B. Hellman, Jr. or Martin R. Lautman) in 2012 has ever been an officer or other employee of our company, or has any relationship requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K other than as described in “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
Additionally, there were no compensation committee “interlocks” during 2012, which generally means that none of executive officers of our general partner served as a director or member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director or member of the Nominating, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee of the board of directors of our general partner.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The following table sets forth, the beneficial ownership of the common units of StoneMor as of March 1, 2013 held by beneficial owners of 5% or more of the units, if any, by directors and named executive officers of our general partner and by all directors and executive officers of our general partner as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each unitholder is c/o StoneMor Partners L.P., 311 Veterans Highway, Suite B, Levittown, PA 19056. Unless otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner named in the table is deemed to have sole voting and sole dispositive power of the units set forth opposite such beneficial owner’s name.
* Less than one percent
(1) Includes 64,167 common units held by LDLM Associates, LP, and 28,500 common units held by Osiris Investments, LP. Mr. Miller is the grantor and trustee of the Miller Revocable Trust, which is the general partner of LDLM Associates, LP. Mr. Miller is also a limited partner of LDLM Associates, LP, holding 98% of its limited partner interests. Mr. Miller and Mr. Shane are each 50% members of Osiris Investments LLC, which is the general partner of Osiris Investments LP. Mr. Miller therefore may be deemed to beneficially own all of the units beneficially owned by LDLM Associates, LP and Osiris Investments, LP. Pursuant to an agreement between Mr. Miller and Bank of America, N.A., as lender (the “Lender”), Mr. Miller pledged 151,200 common units as security for a loan Lender made to Mr. Miller (the “Pledge Agreement”). In the absence of a default, the Pledge Agreement does not grant to the Lender the power to dispose or direct the disposition of the pledged securities.
(2) Includes 64,167 common units held by Ten Twenty, LP and 28,500 common units held by Osiris Investments, LP. Mr. Shane is the general partner of Ten Twenty LP. Mr. Miller and Mr. Shane are each 50% members of Osiris Investments LLC, which is the general partner of Osiris Investments LP. Mr. Shane therefore may be deemed to beneficially own all of the units beneficially owned by Ten Twenty LP and Osiris Investments, LP.
(3) Includes 21,798 common units held by Mr. Freedman’s spouse and over which Mr. Freedman may be deemed to have beneficial ownership.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table details information regarding our equity compensation plan as of December 31, 2012:
(1) Includes 143,213 in restricted phantom units and 67,644 UARs that would be issued upon exercise based upon the strike price of the UAR and the fair value of our common units at December 31, 2012. Column (a) does not include the anti-dilutive effects of 80,500 UARs that have an exercise price greater than the fair value of our common units at December 31, 2012.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Independence of Directors
Even though most companies listed on the NYSE are required to have a majority of independent directors serving on the board of directors of the listed company, the NYSE does not require a listed limited partnership like us to have a majority of independent directors on the board of directors of its general partner. The board of directors has determined that Allen Freedman, Howard Carver, Martin Lautman, Robert Hellman, Fenton Talbott and Peter Grunebaum qualify as “independent” directors in accordance with the applicable requirements of the NYSE and rules promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Related Party Transactions Policy and Procedures
The board of directors of our general partner established the Conflicts Committee, which is authorized to exercise all of the power and authority of the board of directors in connection with investigating, reviewing and acting on matters referred or disclosed to it where a conflict of interest exists or arises and performing such other functions as the board may assign to the Conflicts Committee from time to time. Pursuant to the Conflicts Committee Charter, the Conflicts Committee is responsible for reviewing all matters involving a conflict of interest submitted to it by the board of directors or as required by any written agreement involving a conflict of interest to which we are a party. In approving or ratifying any transaction or proposed transaction, the Conflicts Committee determines whether the transaction complies with our policies on conflicts of interests.
Distributions and Payments to our General Partner and its Affiliates
We were formed as a Delaware limited partnership to own and operate cemetery and funeral home properties previously owned and operated by Cornerstone. The following table summarizes the distributions and payments to be made by us to our general partner and its affiliates in connection with our ongoing operation and any liquidation. These distributions and payments were determined by and among affiliated entities and, consequently, are not the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
Distributions of available cash to our general partner and its affiliates
We will generally make cash distributions 98% to the unitholders, including our general partner, in respect of the common units that it owns, and 2% to our general partner. If distributions exceed target distribution levels, our general partner will be entitled to increasing percentages of the distributions, up to 50% of the distributions above the highest level.
Payments to our general partner and its affiliates
Our general partner and its affiliates do not receive any management fee or other compensation for the management of our business and affairs, but they are reimbursed for all expenses that they incur on our behalf, including general and administrative expenses and corporate overhead. As the sole purpose of the general partner is to act as our general partner, substantially all of the expenses of our general partner are incurred on our behalf and reimbursed by us or our subsidiaries. Our general partner determines the expenses that are allocable to us in good faith.
Withdrawal or removal of our general Partner
If our general partner withdraws or is removed, its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights will either be sold to the new general partner for cash or converted into common units, in each case for an amount equal to the fair market value of those interests.
Liquidation
Upon our liquidation, the unitholders and our general partner will be entitled to receive liquidating distributions according to their respective capital account balances.
Ownership Interests in our General Partner
Our general partner owns our 2% general partner interest and our incentive distribution rights. The following table shows the owners of our general partner:
(1) In connection with the conversion of Cornerstone into CFSI LLC, all of the outstanding shares of Cornerstone common stock were converted into Class B units of CFSI LLC, and all of the outstanding shares of Cornerstone preferred stock were converted into Class A units of CFSI LLC (since redeemed). CFSI LLC is owned directly by Cornerstone Family Services LLC (85% of the Class B units), the MDC IV Liquidating Trusts (approximately 10.1% of the Class B units), Messrs. Miller and Shane (each of whom owns, along with family partnerships, approximately 1.2% of the Class B units), and other individuals, including the following directors and executive officers of our general partner, each of whom owns less than 1% of the Class B units: M. Stache, R. Stache, Waimberg, Talbott, Lautman and Freedman.
Cornerstone Family Services LLC is, in turn, owned directly by the MDC IV Liquidating Trusts (approximately 89.8% membership interest), institutional investors (approximately 5.3% aggregate membership interest) and other individuals, including the following directors and executive officers of our general partner: Messrs. Miller, Shane and Lautman. Each of Messrs. Shane and Miller owns an approximately 1.6% membership interest in Cornerstone Family Services LLC through family partnerships and Mr. Lautman owns less than approximately a 1% membership interest in Cornerstone Family Services LLC. As a result of their ownership interests in CFSI LLC and Cornerstone Family Services LLC, each of these executive officers and directors of our general partner holds an indirect interest in the Class A units of our general partner, which are described below.
The membership interests in our general partner are represented by two classes of units, the Class A units and the Class B units. Each of Messrs. Miller and Shane owns 24 Class B units, or 30% of the 80 outstanding Class B units and each of Messrs M. Stache and R. Stache owns 16 Class B units or 20% of the 80 outstanding Class B units. The compensation committee of our general partner may issue up to 20 additional Class B units to other executive officers of our general partner without the consent of Mr. Miller or Mr. Shane. At such time that 100 or more Class B units are issued and outstanding, Messrs. Miller and Shane must consent to any additional issuances of Class B units for so long as both of them are executive officers of our general partner and holders of Class B units. If at that time only one of Messrs. Miller and Shane is both an executive officer of our general partner and a holder of Class B units, then only that one must consent to such additional issuances. If at that time neither of Messrs. Miller and Shane is both an executive officer of our general partner and a holder of Class B units, then holders of a majority of outstanding Class B units must consent to such additional issuances. Additional issuances of Class B units will dilute all outstanding Class B units on a pro rata basis.
The Class B units in the aggregate are entitled to 50% of all quarterly cash distributions that we pay to our general partner with respect to its general partner interest and 25% of all quarterly cash distributions that we pay to our general partner with respect to its incentive distribution rights.
Messrs. Miller, Shane, M. Stache, R. Stache, Waimberg, Talbott, Lautman and Freedman also indirectly own Class A units of our general partner as a result of their direct and indirect ownership of membership interests in Cornerstone Family Services LLC and CFSI LLC discussed in footnote (1) to the table above. These persons directly hold an aggregate of approximately 4.5% of the Class B units in CFSI LLC. In addition, Messrs. Miller, Shane and Lautman own an approximate aggregate 3.9% membership interest in Cornerstone Family Services LLC, which in turn owns 85% of the Class B units in CFSI LLC, which will initially own all of the Class A units of our general partner. As a result, these persons collectively own, indirectly, an aggregate of approximately 7.8% of the Class A units of our general partner. The Class A units of our general partner are entitled to the remaining 50% interest on distributions that we pay to our general partner with respect to its general partner interest and the remaining 75% of all distributions that we pay to our general partner with respect to its incentive distribution rights.
The Class A and Class B units of our general partner are subject to certain transfer and purchase rights and obligations upon the occurrence of certain events, such as:
•
a change of control of CFSI LLC or our general partner;
•
transfers by certain holders of Class A units of our general partner; or
•
the death or disability of a holder of Class B units of our general partner.
Relationships and Related Transactions with CFSI LLC and Cornerstone Family Services LLC
Agreements Governing the Partnership
We, our general partner, our operating company and other parties have entered into various documents and agreements that effected the initial public offering transactions, including the vesting of assets in, and the assumption of liabilities by, us and our subsidiaries, and the application of the proceeds of the initial public
offering. These agreements are not the result of arm’s-length negotiations, and we cannot assure you that they, or any of the transactions that they provide for, have been effected on terms at least as favorable to the parties to these agreements as could have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties. All of the transaction expenses incurred in connection with these transactions, including the expenses associated with transferring assets into our subsidiaries, have been paid from the proceeds of the initial public offering.
Omnibus Agreement
On September 20, 2004 we entered into an omnibus agreement with McCown De Leeuw, Cornerstone Family Services LLC, CFSI LLC, our general partner and StoneMor Operating LLC.
Under the omnibus agreement, as long as our general partner is an affiliate of McCown De Leeuw, McCown De Leeuw will agree, and will cause its controlled affiliates to agree, not to engage, either directly or indirectly, in the business of owning and operating cemeteries and funeral homes (including the sales of cemetery and funeral home products and services) in the United States. On November 30, 2010, MDC IV Liquidating Trusts became successors to McCown De Leeuw, and McCown De Leeuw was subsequently terminated. The MDC IV Liquidating Trusts assumed and agreed to be bound by and perform all of the obligations and duties of McCown De Leeuw under the omnibus agreement.
CFSI LLC had agreed to indemnify us for all federal, state and local income tax liabilities attributable to the operation of the assets contributed by CFSI LLC to us prior to the 2004 closing of the public offering. CFSI LLC had also agreed to indemnify us against additional income tax liabilities, if any, that arise from the consummation of the 2004 transactions related to our formation in excess of those believed to result at the time of the 2004 closing of our initial public offering. We had estimated that $600,000 of state income taxes and no federal income taxes would be due as a result of these formation transactions. CFSI LLC had also agreed to indemnify us against the increase in income tax liabilities of our corporate subsidiaries resulting from any reduction or elimination of our net operating losses to the extent those net operating losses are used to offset any income tax gain or income resulting from the prior operation of the assets of CFSI LLC contributed to us in 2004, or from our formation transactions in excess of such gain or income believed to result at the time of the 2004 closing of the initial public offering. Until all of its indemnification obligations under the omnibus agreement had been satisfied in full, CFSI LLC was subject to limitations on its ability to dispose of or encumber its interest in our general partner or the common units held by it (except upon a redemption of common units by the partnership upon any exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) and would also be prohibited from incurring any indebtedness or other liability. An amendment to the omnibus agreement dated January 24, 2011 was entered into by all parties to the omnibus agreement (and after due consideration approved by our conflicts committee, which retained independent counsel; the committee was chaired by Mr. Carver). An accompanying certification by our general partner established that as of the date of the amendment, CFSI LLC’s indemnification obligations under the omnibus agreement were discharged and CFSI LLC was no longer subject to the limitations and prohibition described above in this paragraph. Those indemnification obligations pertain to the taxable year 2004 of CFSI LLC. To our knowledge, there has been no inquiry from or instigation of proceedings by any taxing authority which could reasonably be expected to require indemnification under the omnibus agreement. We believe the expiration has occurred of all applicable statutes of limitations (including any extensions thereof) relating to the filing of all tax returns which could reasonably be expected to require indemnification under the omnibus agreement, except if there were certain omissions of gross income of more than 25% or fraud. Our general partner has certified to its knowledge there was no such omission or fraud. CFSI LLC is also subject to certain limitations on its ability to transfer its interest in our general partner or the common units held by it if the effect of the proposed transfer would trigger an “ownership change” under the Internal Revenue Code that would limit our ability to use our federal net operating loss carryovers. Please read Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates-Income Taxes.”
The omnibus agreement may not be further amended without the prior approval of the conflicts committee if our general partner determines that the proposed amendment will adversely affect holders of our common units.
Any further action, notice, consent, approval or waiver permitted or required to be taken or given by us under the indemnification provisions of the omnibus agreement as amended must be taken or given by the conflicts committee of our general partner.
Relationship with MDC IV Liquidating Trusts
MDC IV Liquidating Trusts is the beneficial owner of approximately 87.2% of the Class B units of CFSI LLC through its direct ownership of approximately 10.1% of the Class B units of CFSI LLC and indirectly through its ownership of approximately 90.8% of the membership interests in Cornerstone Family Services LLC, which owns approximately 85% of the Class B units of CFSI LLC.
Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement of CFSI LLC, MDC IV Liquidating Trusts has the right to designate at least three individuals, and such other greater number of individuals, to serve on the board of managers of CFSI LLC. In addition, for so long as Mr. Miller serves as an officer of CFSI LLC, he will also serve as a manager of CFSI LLC, and for so long as Mr. Shane serves as an officer of CFSI LLC, he will also serve as a manager of CFSI LLC. Prior to the conversion of Cornerstone into CFSI LLC, a stockholders agreement among Cornerstone and its stockholders required each stockholder to vote all of its shares of Cornerstone to elect and maintain a board of directors of Cornerstone comprised of at least three, and such other greater number, of individuals designated by the MDC IV Liquidating Trusts.
The Limited Liability Company Agreement of CFSI LLC contains provisions that require CFSI LLC, through its direct control of our general partner and its indirect control of us and our subsidiaries, to prevent us, our subsidiaries and our general partner from taking certain significant actions without the approval of CFSI LLC. These actions include:
•
certain acquisitions, borrowings and capital expenditures by us, our subsidiaries or our general partner;
•
issuances of equity interests in us or our subsidiaries; and
•
certain dispositions of equity interests in, or assets of, us, our general partner or our subsidiaries.
Under the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cornerstone Family Services LLC, MDC IV Liquidating Trusts has the right to designate at least three individuals, and such other greater number of individuals, to serve on the board of managers of Cornerstone Family Services LLC. In addition, for so long as Mr. Miller serves as an officer of Cornerstone Family Services, LLC, he will also serve as a manager of Cornerstone Family Services LLC, and for so long as Mr. Shane serves as an officer of Cornerstone Family Services LLC, he will also serve as a manager of Cornerstone Family Services, LLC.
Under the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Cornerstone Family Services LLC and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of CFSI LLC, each manager of Cornerstone Family Services LLC and each manager of CFSI LLC have agreed to cause Cornerstone Family Services LLC, CFSI LLC and any of their respective subsidiaries, as the case may be, to designate at least three individuals, and such other greater number of individuals designated by MDC IV Liquidating Trusts to serve as members of the board of managers of StoneMor Operating LLC; and to take such actions as may be necessary to cause the election of additional persons designated by MDC IV Liquidating Trusts as managers of StoneMor Operating LLC and to amend the limited liability company agreement of StoneMor Operating LLC as necessary.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees paid or accrued for professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the audit of our annual financial statements for fiscal years 2012 and 2011 and the aggregate fees paid or accrued for audit-related services and all other services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for fiscal years 2012 and 2011.
The category of “Audit fees” includes fees for our annual audit, quarterly reviews and services rendered in connection with regulatory filings with the SEC, such as the issuance of comfort letters and consents.
The category of “Audit-related fees” includes fees for services related to employee benefit plan audits, internal control reviews and accounting consultation.
The category of “Tax fees” includes fees for the consultation and preparation of federal state and local tax returns.
All above audit services, audit-related services and tax services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by Deloitte & Touche LLP was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. The Audit Committee’s outside auditor independence policy provides for pre-approval of all services performed by the outside auditors.
Part IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Financial Statements and Financial Schedules
(1) The following financial statements of StoneMor Partners L.P. are included in Part II, Item 8:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011
Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010
Consolidated Statement of Common Stockholders’ / Partners’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.20*
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 30, 2010, by and among StoneMor Operating LLC, StoneMor Michigan LLC, StoneMor Michigan Subsidiary LLC, SCI Funeral Services, LLC, SCI Michigan Funeral Services, Inc., Hillcrest Memorial Company, Christian Memorial Cultural Center, Inc., Sunrise Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Inc. and Flint Memorial Park Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2010).
10.21*
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 30, 2010, by and among StoneMor Operating LLC, Plymouth Warehouse Facilities LLC, SCI Funeral Services, LLC, SCI Michigan Funeral Services, Inc., Hillcrest Memorial Company, Sunrise Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Inc., Flint Memorial Park Association, StoneMor Michigan LLC and StoneMor Michigan Subsidiary LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2010).
10.22.1*
Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement by and among StoneMor Operating LLC, StoneMor Indiana LLC, StoneMor Indiana Subsidiary LLC, Ohio Cemetery Holdings, Inc., Ansure Mortuaries of Indiana, LLC, Memory Gardens Management Corporation, Forest Lawn Funeral Home Properties, LLC, Gardens of Memory Cemetery LLC, Gill Funeral Home, LLC, Garden View Funeral Home, LLC, Royal Oak Memorial Gardens of Ohio Ltd., Heritage Hills Memory Gardens of Ohio Ltd., Robert E. Nelms and Lynnette Gray, as receiver, dated April 2, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2010).
10.22.2*
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement by and among StoneMor Operating LLC, StoneMor Indiana LLC, StoneMor Indiana Subsidiary LLC, Ohio Cemetery Holdings, Inc., Ansure Mortuaries of Indiana, LLC, Memory Gardens Management Corporation, Forest Lawn Funeral Home Properties, LLC, Gardens of Memory Cemetery LLC, Gill Funeral Home, LLC, Garden View Funeral Home, LLC, Royal Oak Memorial Gardens of Ohio Ltd., Heritage Hills Memory Gardens of Ohio Ltd., Robert E. Nelms, Robert Nelms, LLC and Lynnette Gray, as receiver, dated June 21, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2010).
10.23*
Settlement Agreement by and among StoneMor Indiana LLC, StoneMor Operating LLC, StoneMor Partners L.P., Chapel Hill Associates, Inc., Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Inc., Covington Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Covington Memorial Gardens, Inc., Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel Inc., Forest Lawn Memory Gardens Inc., Fred W. Meyer, Jr. by James R. Meyer as Special Administrator to the Estate of Fred W. Meyer, Jr., James R. Meyer, Thomas E. Meyer, Nancy Cade, and F.T.J. Meyer Associates, LLC dated June 21, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2010).
10.24.1*
Omnibus Agreement by and among McCown De Leeuw & Co. IV, L.P., McCown De Leeuw & Co. IV Associates, L.P., MDC Management Company IV, LLC, Delta Fund LLC, Cornerstone Family Services LLC, CFSI LLC, StoneMor Partners L.P., StoneMor GP LLC, StoneMor Operating LLC, dated as of September 20, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for its quarterly period ended September 30, 2004).
10.24.2*
Amendment No. 1 to Omnibus Agreement entered into on, and effective as of, January 24, 2011 by and among MDC IV Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010, MDC IV Associates Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010, Delta Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010 (successors respectively to McCown De Leeuw & Co. IV, L.P., a California limited partnership, McCown De Leeuw IV Associates, L.P., a California limited partnership, Delta Fund LLC, a California limited liability company, and MDC Management Company IV, LLC, a California limited liability company), Cornerstone Family Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, CFSI LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, StoneMor Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, StoneMor GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for itself and on behalf of the Partnership in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership, and StoneMor Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2011).
Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
* Incorporated by reference, as indicated
 Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
STONEMOR PARTNERS L.P.
By:
StoneMor GP LLC, its General Partner
March 15, 2013
By:
/S/ LAWRENCE MILLER
Lawrence Miller
Chief Executive Officer, President and
Chairman of the Board
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
Description
10.20*
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 30, 2010, by and among StoneMor Operating LLC, StoneMor Michigan LLC, StoneMor Michigan Subsidiary LLC, SCI Funeral Services, LLC, SCI Michigan Funeral Services, Inc., Hillcrest Memorial Company, Christian Memorial Cultural Center, Inc., Sunrise Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Inc. and Flint Memorial Park Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2010).
10.21*
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 30, 2010, by and among StoneMor Operating LLC, Plymouth Warehouse Facilities LLC, SCI Funeral Services, LLC, SCI Michigan Funeral Services, Inc., Hillcrest Memorial Company, Sunrise Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Inc., Flint Memorial Park Association, StoneMor Michigan LLC and StoneMor Michigan Subsidiary LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 30, 2010).
10.22.1*
Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement by and among StoneMor Operating LLC, StoneMor Indiana LLC, StoneMor Indiana Subsidiary LLC, Ohio Cemetery Holdings, Inc., Ansure Mortuaries of Indiana, LLC, Memory Gardens Management Corporation, Forest Lawn Funeral Home Properties, LLC, Gardens of Memory Cemetery LLC, Gill Funeral Home, LLC, Garden View Funeral Home, LLC, Royal Oak Memorial Gardens of Ohio Ltd., Heritage Hills Memory Gardens of Ohio Ltd., Robert E. Nelms and Lynnette Gray, as receiver, dated April 2, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2010).
10.22.2*
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement by and among StoneMor Operating LLC, StoneMor Indiana LLC, StoneMor Indiana Subsidiary LLC, Ohio Cemetery Holdings, Inc., Ansure Mortuaries of Indiana, LLC, Memory Gardens Management Corporation, Forest Lawn Funeral Home Properties, LLC, Gardens of Memory Cemetery LLC, Gill Funeral Home, LLC, Garden View Funeral Home, LLC, Royal Oak Memorial Gardens of Ohio Ltd., Heritage Hills Memory Gardens of Ohio Ltd., Robert E. Nelms, Robert Nelms, LLC and Lynnette Gray, as receiver, dated June 21, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2010).
10.23*
Settlement Agreement by and among StoneMor Indiana LLC, StoneMor Operating LLC, StoneMor Partners L.P., Chapel Hill Associates, Inc., Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Inc., Covington Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., Covington Memorial Gardens, Inc., Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel Inc., Forest Lawn Memory Gardens Inc., Fred W. Meyer, Jr. by James R. Meyer as Special Administrator to the Estate of Fred W. Meyer, Jr., James R. Meyer, Thomas E. Meyer, Nancy Cade, and F.T.J. Meyer Associates, LLC dated June 21, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2010).
10.24.1*
Omnibus Agreement by and among McCown De Leeuw & Co. IV, L.P., McCown De Leeuw & Co. IV Associates, L.P., MDC Management Company IV, LLC, Delta Fund LLC, Cornerstone Family Services LLC, CFSI LLC, StoneMor Partners L.P., StoneMor GP LLC, StoneMor Operating LLC, dated as of September 20, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for its quarterly period ended September 30, 2004).
10.24.2*
Amendment No. 1 to Omnibus Agreement entered into on, and effective as of, January 24, 2011 by and among MDC IV Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010, MDC IV Associates Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010, Delta Trust U/T/A November 30, 2010 (successors respectively to McCown De Leeuw & Co. IV, L.P., a California limited partnership, McCown De Leeuw IV Associates, L.P., a California limited partnership, Delta Fund LLC, a California limited liability company, and MDC Management Company IV, LLC, a California limited liability company), Cornerstone Family Services LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, CFSI LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, StoneMor Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, StoneMor GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for itself and on behalf of the Partnership in its capacity as general partner of the Partnership, and StoneMor Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2011).
Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
* Incorporated by reference, as indicated
 Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement