UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 10, 2011

Carriage Services, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		1-11961 (Commission File Number)		76-0423828 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

3040 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77056
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(713) 332-8400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

     o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

     o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(d) Election of a new Director

     On August 10, 2011, the Board of Directors of Carriage Services, Inc. (the “Company”) elected Donald Patteson, Jr. to serve as a Class III member to the Board of Directors until the 2014 annual meeting of shareholders. Mr. Patteson was appointed to serve on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee.

     Mr. Patteson is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sovereign Business Forms, Inc., a consolidator in the wholesale manufacturing of custom business forms and related products segment of the printing industry. Prior to founding Sovereign in August 1996, he served as Managing Director of Sovereign Capital Partners, an investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts. Mr. Patteson also previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of WBC Holdings, Inc., President and Chief Executive Officer of Temple Marine Drilling, Inc./R.C. Chapman Drilling Co., Inc., and President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Temple Drilling. Mr. Patteson also worked with Atwood Oceanics, Houston Offshore International, Western Oceanic and Arthur Andersen’s management consulting practice earlier in his career. Additionally, Mr. Patteson has served as a director of Rosetta Resources, Inc. since July 2005 and he currently is a member of its audit committee and is chairman of its nominating and corporate governance committee.

     Concurrently with the election, the Board of Directors granted Mr. Patteson $100,000 of the Company’s common stock under our Director Compensation Policy, which equaled 19,193 shares based on the closing price on August 10, 2011. One-half of these shares vest immediately while the remainder vests equally on August 10, 2012 and August 10, 2013.

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.