Skip to main content

SERVICE CORP INTERNATIONAL

For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Feb 13, 2024.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2023 · Filed Feb 13, 2024

SCI$73.74-2.3%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026
See the whole filing, with its images and exhibits
Contents

Note

  1. Leases

Our leases principally relate to office, maintenance, and transportation equipment and funeral service real estate. The majority of our lease arrangements contain options to (i) purchase the property at fair value on the exercise date, (ii) purchase the property for a value determined at the inception of the lease, or (iii) renew the lease for the fair rental value at the end of the primary lease term.

Future lease payments for non-cancelable operating and finance leases as of December 31, 2023 were as follows:

Operating · Finance · Total
(In thousands)
2024$9,953$49,166$59,119
20259,04429,16138,205
20267,69522,28429,979
20276,68014,83521,515
20285,5348,92814,462
2029 and thereafter31,41928,98260,401
Total lease payments$70,325$153,356$223,681
Less: Interest(16,493)(21,317)(37,810)
Present value of lease liabilities$53,832$132,039$185,871

The components of lease cost were as follows:

Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
(In thousands)
Amortization of leased assets$34,212$35,321$37,569
Interest on lease liabilities4,7953,9904,642
Total finance lease cost39,00739,31142,211
Operating lease cost10,53111,02111,586
Variable lease cost872437178
Total lease cost$50,410$50,769$53,975

FORM 10-K 67

PART II

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

Lease TypeBalance Sheet ClassificationDecember 31, 2023December 31, 2022
(In thousands)
Operating lease right-of-use assets (1)Deferred charges and other assets$50,973$49,741
Finance lease right-of-use assets (1)Property and equipment, net127,425115,813
Total right-of-use assets (1)$178,398$165,554
OperatingAccounts payable and accrued liabilities$7,782$7,083
FinanceCurrent maturities of long-term debt44,10942,469
Total current lease liabilities51,89149,552
OperatingOther liabilities46,05045,314
FinanceLong-term debt87,93078,368
Total non-current lease liabilities133,980123,682
Total lease liabilities$185,871$173,234

(1) Right-of-use assets are presented net of accumulated amortization.

The weighted-average life remaining and discount rates of our leases were as follows:

December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
OperatingFinanceOperatingFinance
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)11.15.211.84.5
Weighted-average discount rate4.4%4.6%4.0%3.3%

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

Years Ended December 31,
202320222021
(In thousands)
Cash paid for amounts in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows for operating leases$10,473$10,994$11,693
Operating cash flows for finance leases5,1913,8384,207
Financing cash flows for finance leases34,48235,54234,617
Total cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities$50,146$50,374$50,517
New finance leases57,96221,14821,097
Finance lease renewals and extensions829(264)1,095
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for finance lease liabilities$58,791$20,884$22,192
New operating leases6,5342,7043,268
Operating lease renewals and extensions2,9852,3244,554
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities$9,519$5,028$7,822

We have 80 operating leases where we are the lessor and the non-cancelable term is greater than one year, resulting in $4.0 million and $4.3 million in lease income for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We determine whether an arrangement is or contains a lease at the inception of the arrangement based on the terms of the arrangement. We lease retail space, office space, and land, and we are party to cellular agreements and land easements. The underlying assets of these lease agreements are buildings and land. We generally do not have sales-type leases, direct financing leases, or lease receivables. Certain of our agreements include variable rental income based on a percentage of sales over base contractual levels. Renewal options that can be cancelled by the lessees are not included in our disclosure of future lease income, which includes only the non-cancelable terms and fixed escalation provisions. Certain lease arrangements contain options to purchase the property at fair value at the conclusion of the lease term. Non-lease components are excluded from rental income disclosures.

68 Service Corporation International

PART II

Future undiscounted lease income from operating leases where we are the lessor were as follows as of December 31, 2023 (in thousands):

2024$3,967
20253,297
20262,512
20272,043
20281,682
2029 and thereafter11,793
Total expected cash receipts$25,294

We own certain land, buildings, and improvements for the sole purpose of generating lease income. Property is recorded at cost, and depreciation is recognized ratably over the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets. Buildings and improvements are depreciated over a period ranging from ten years to forty years. For these properties, we recorded depreciation expense of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $0.7 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. As of December 31, 2023, our Consolidated Balance Sheet includes Land of $33.9 million, and Buildings and improvements of $12.6 million, net of $2.3 million accumulated depreciation, related to these properties.

  1. Commitments and Contingencies

Insurance Loss Reserves

We purchase comprehensive general liability, morticians and cemetery professional liability, automobile liability, and workers’ compensation insurance coverage structured with high deductibles. The high-deductible insurance program means we are primarily self-insured for claims and associated costs and losses covered by these policies. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we have self-insurance reserves of $103.3 million and $99.3 million, respectively.

Litigation and Regulatory Matters

We are a party to various litigation and regulatory matters, investigations, and proceedings. Some of the more frequent routine litigations incidental to our business are based on burial practices claims and employment-related matters, including discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour laws and regulations. For each of our outstanding legal matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies, and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in the matters described herein; however, if we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated, or if we determine an amount for which we would be willing to settle the matter to avoid further costs and risk, we establish the necessary accruals. We hold certain insurance policies that may reduce cash outflows with respect to an adverse outcome of these matters. We accrue such insurance recoveries when they become probable of being paid and can be reasonably estimated.

Operational Claims. We are named as a defendant in various lawsuits alleging operational claims, including but not limited to the State of California and Taylor lawsuits described below.

The People of the State of California v. Service Corporation International, a Texas corporation, SCI Direct, Inc. a Florida Corporation, S.E. Acquisition of California, Inc., a California corporation dba Neptune Society of Northern California, Neptune Management Corp., a California corporation, Trident Society, Inc. a California corporation, and Does 1 through 100, inclusive, Case No. RG 19045103; in the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Alameda. In July 2019, we received a letter from the Attorney General, State of California, Department of Justice (“CAAG") alleging that the allocation of prices among certain of our cremation service contracts and cremation merchandise contracts, and the related preneed trust funding, violates section 7735 of the California Business and Professions Code and that provisions of these same contracts constitute false advertising and deceptive sales practices in violation of California consumer protection laws. On November 21, 2019, we filed a complaint, S.E. Combined Services of California, Inc., a California Corporation dba Neptune Society of Northern California, Neptune Management Corp. a California Corporation, and Trident Society, Inc. v. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General of the State of California, and Does 1-50, Case No. 34-2019-00269617; in the Sacramento County Superior Court seeking declaratory relief holding, in general, that our practices, methods, and documentation utilized in the sale of preneed funeral goods and services are in all respects compliant with California law. On December 2, 2019, the CAAG filed the complaint, referenced above, seeking permanent injunction from making false statements and engaging in unfair competition, a placement of funds into preneed trusts, civil penalties, customer refunds, attorneys’ fees, and costs. While we believe our contracts comply with applicable laws, the parties have engaged in settlement discussions in an effort to resolve this dispute, which may or may not be successful. We anticipate any settlement in connection with this matter may include preneed contract refunds, governmental investigative costs, and other legal expenses.

Nancy Taylor, on behalf of herself and others similarly situated v. Service Corporation International and others, Case No. 20-cv-60709; in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division. This case was filed in April 2020 as a Florida class action alleging that the allocation of prices among certain of our cremation service contracts and cremation merchandise contracts, and the related preneed trust funding, and the failure to disclose commissions paid and sales practices associated with the sale of third-party travel protection plans, violate the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade

FORM 10-K 69

PART II

Practices Act and constitute unjust enrichment. Plaintiff sought refunds; general, actual, compensatory and exemplary damages; civil penalties, interest, and attorney fees. The parties have reached a settlement of the lawsuit that included an immaterial payment of attorney fees and provided consumers enhanced cancellation rights for a period of sixty days. The impact of these enhanced cancellation rights was not material to our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. The court has approved the settlement, the class has been certified, and the administrative claims process is now complete. We consider this matter resolved.

Unclaimed Property Audits

We have received notices from auditors representing the unclaimed property departments of approximately forty states regarding the escheatment of preneed trust funds held in association with unused preneed funeral and cemetery contracts ("Unused Preneed Trust Funds"). The states claim that these Unused Preneed Trust Funds are subject to the states’ unclaimed property or escheatment laws and generally assert that all or a portion of the Unused Preneed Trust Funds are escheatable if the beneficiary and/or purchaser is deceased or presumed deceased and no services or merchandise have been provided. We received notice that no additional property is due to be reported for the states of Alabama, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming. We consider the unclaimed property audits resolved in those eighteen states.

We have entered into an audit resolution agreement with the State of Florida Department of Financial Services and Division of Unclaimed Property ("Florida Agreement"). The Florida Agreement provides for the Company to retain the trust fund earnings and to escheat the principal to the State of Florida, which resulted in an increase in trust fund income in 2023.

We have reserved all of our rights, claims, and defenses. Given the nature of these matters, we are unable to reasonably estimate the total possible loss or ranges of loss, if any.

We believe we have strong defenses to these claims and we intend to vigorously defend all of the above matters; however, an adverse decision in one or more of such matters could have a material effect on us, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

ContentsView on SEC.gov

The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.