Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (the “Company”) is the third largest provider of products and services in the death care industry in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the Company offers a complete line of funeral merchandise and services, along with cemetery property, merchandise and services. For the year ended October 31, 2000, the funeral and cemetery segments contributed approximately 61 percent and 39 percent, respectively, of consolidated total revenues and 65 percent and 35 percent, respectively, of consolidated total gross profit.

As of October 31, 2000, the Company owned and operated 627 funeral homes and 163 cemeteries in 30 states within the United States and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Argentina, France and Belgium. The Company commenced its international operations in Mexico in fiscal year 1994 and entered Australia in fiscal year 1995, New Zealand and Canada in fiscal year 1996, Spain and Portugal in fiscal year 1997, and the Netherlands, Argentina, France and Belgium in fiscal year 1998. For fiscal year 2000, foreign operations contributed approximately 20 percent of consolidated total revenue and, as of October 31, 2000, represented approximately 19 percent of consolidated total assets.