Certain statements made herein or elsewhere by or on behalf of the Company that are not historical facts are intended to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The Company recently revised its short-term outlook and goals. Management’s current goal is to continue to increase its average revenue per funeral service performed worldwide at least 2 to 3 percent annually. The Company’s goal is to grow its cemetery sales by 2 percent over 2000 with costs increasing 1 percent. Fiscal year 2001 goals also include spending $10.0 million on internal growth initiatives. The current tax rate anticipated for fiscal year 2001 is 36.5 percent, and the Company’s weighted average cost of debt as of October 31, 2000, was 6.7 percent. During fiscal year 2001, the Company plans to continue its focus on improving liquidity and leverage. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources”. Any refinancing of the Company’s debt is likely to be at interest rates substantially higher than those currently in effect, although the effect of the rate increases may be moderated if the Company is able to substantially reduce its total debt prior to or in connection with such refinancing.

Absent any nonrecurring charges related to the cumulative effect of implementing SAB 101 and any asset sales, the Company’s current goal for fiscal year 2001 is earnings per share consistent with fiscal year 2000, and the Company’s goal is to increase earnings per share for fiscal year 2002 with accelerating improvement thereafter. The Company’s goal is $80 to $90 million in cash flow from operations in fiscal year 2001.

The Company’s cash flow initiatives include analyzing the benefits associated with the sale of some or all of its foreign operations and analyzing excess cemetery property, under-performing assets and real estate for sale or re-deployment. The potential sale of some or all foreign operations could result in a material charge to earnings but could generate significant cash for debt reduction.

In response to changes in the acquisition market, the Company has not included acquisitions in its growth expectations for fiscal year 2001 and beyond.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about future events and are therefore inherently uncertain; actual results may differ materially from those projected. See “Cautionary Statements.”