FORM 10-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                     to                    

Commission file number: 1-14260

The GEO Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Florida   65-0043078

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Park Place, Suite 700,

621 Northwest 53rd Street

Boca Raton, Florida

  33487-8242
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561) 893-0101

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-Accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the 62,587,316 voting and non-voting shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 28, 2013 (based on the last reported sales price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such date, the last business day of the registrant’s quarter ended June 30, 2013 of $33.95 per share) was approximately $2.1 billion.

As of February 26, 2014, the registrant had 72,094,580 shares of common stock outstanding.

Certain portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for its 2014 annual meeting of shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
PART I   
Item 1.  

Business

     3   
Item 1A.  

Risk Factors

     26   
Item 1B.  

Unresolved Staff Comments

     48   
Item 2.  

Properties

     48   
Item 3.  

Legal Proceedings

     48   
Item 4.  

Mine Safety Disclosures

     48   
PART II   
Item 5.  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

     49   
Item 6.  

Selected Financial Data

     52   
Item 7.  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     53   
Item 7A.  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     85   
Item 8.  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

     85   
Item 9.  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

     161   
Item 9A.  

Controls and Procedures

     161   
Item 9B.  

Other Information

     161   
PART III   
Item 10.  

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

     162   
Item 11.  

Executive Compensation

     162   
Item 12.  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

     162   
Item 13.  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

     162   
Item 14.  

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

     162   
PART IV   
Item 15.  

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

     162   
 

Signatures

     167   

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Business

As used in this report, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “GEO” and the “Company” refer to The GEO Group, Inc., its consolidated subsidiaries and its unconsolidated affiliates, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

General

We are a fully-integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) specializing in the ownership, leasing and management of correctional, detention and re-entry facilities and the provision of community-based services and youth services in the United States, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Canada. We own, lease and operate a broad range of correctional and detention facilities including maximum, medium and minimum security prisons, immigration detention centers, minimum security detention centers, as well as community based re-entry facilities. We develop new facilities based on contract awards, using our project development expertise and experience to design, construct and finance what we believe are state-of-the-art facilities that maximize security and efficiency. We provide innovative compliance technologies, industry-leading monitoring services, and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers and pretrial defendants. We also provide secure transportation services for offender and detainee populations as contracted domestically and in the United Kingdom through our joint venture GEO Amey PECS Ltd. (“GEOAmey”). As of December 31, 2013, our worldwide operations included the management and/or ownership of approximately 77,000 beds at 98 correctional, detention and community based facilities, including idle faclities and projects under development, and also included the provision of monitoring of more than 70,000 offenders in a community-based environment on behalf of approximately 900 federal, state and local correctional agencies located in all 50 states.

We provide a diversified scope of services on behalf of our government clients:

 

   

our correctional and detention management services involve the provision of security, administrative, rehabilitation, education, and food services, primarily at adult male correctional and detention facilities;

 

   

our community-based services involve supervision of adult parolees and probationers and the provision of temporary housing, programming, employment assistance and other services with the intention of the successful reintegration of residents into the community;

 

   

our youth services include residential, detention and shelter care and community-based services along with rehabilitative and educational programs;

 

   

we provide comprehensive electronic monitoring and supervision services;

 

   

we develop new facilities, using our project development experience to design, construct and finance what we believe are state-of-the-art facilities that maximize security and efficiency;

 

   

we provide secure transportation services for offender and detainee populations as contracted; and

 

   

our services are provided at facilities which we either own, lease or our owned by our customers.

We began operating as a REIT for federal income tax purposes effective January 1, 2013. As a result of the REIT conversion, we reorganized our operations and moved non-real estate components into taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”). We are a Florida corporation originally organized in 1984.

Business Segments

We conduct our business through four reportable business segments: our U.S. Corrections & Detention segment; our GEO Community Services segment; our International Services segment and our Facility

 

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Construction & Design segment. We have identified these four reportable segments to reflect our current view that we operate four distinct business lines, each of which constitutes a material part of our overall business. Our U.S. Corrections & Detention segment primarily encompasses our U.S.-based privatized corrections and detention business. Our GEO Community Services segment, which conducts its services in the U.S., consists of our community based services business, our youth services business and our electronic monitoring and supervision service. Our International Services segment primarily consists of our privatized corrections and detention operations in South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. Our Facility Construction & Design segment primarily contracts with various states, local and federal agencies for the design and construction of facilities for which we generally have been, or expect to be, awarded management contracts. Financial information about these segments for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 is contained in “Note 16 — Business Segments and Geographic Information” of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in this Form 10-K.

Recent Developments

On April 3, 2013, we entered into the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. (with GEO as the sole term loan borrower, and GEO and GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. as joint and several revolver borrowers), BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders who are, or may from time to time become, a party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement evidences a Senior Credit Facility (the “Senior Credit Facility”) consisting of a $300 million Term Loan (the “Term Loan”) initially bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% (with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%), and a $700 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) initially bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% (with no LIBOR floor), in each case subject to adjustment based on a total leverage ratio pricing grid. We also have the ability to increase the Senior Credit Facility by an additional $350 million, subject to lender demand, prevailing market conditions and satisfying the borrowing and other conditions thereunder. The Revolver component is scheduled to mature on April 3, 2018 and the Term Loan component is scheduled to mature on April 3, 2020. The Term Loan and Revolver may be prepaid in whole or in part by us at any time without premium or penalty, subject to certain conditions. The Senior Credit Facility is a refinancing of the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Prior Senior Credit Facility”) which consisted of a Term Loan A, Term Loan A-2, Term Loan A-3, Term Loan B (“Prior Term Loans”) and a revolver (“Prior Revolver”).

As of December 31, 2013, we had $298.5 million in aggregate borrowings outstanding, net of discount, under the Term Loan and $340.0 million in borrowings under the Revolver, and approximately $61.0 million in letters of credit which left $299.0 million in additional borrowing capacity under the Revolver.

5.125% Senior Notes

On March 19, 2013, we issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due 2023 (the “5.125% Senior Notes”) in a private offering under the indenture, dated as of March 19, 2013, among us, certain of our domestic subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The 5.125% Senior Notes were offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The 5.125% Senior Notes were issued at a coupon rate and yield to maturity of 5.125%. Interest on the 5.125% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on April 1 and October 1 each year. The 5.125% Senior Notes mature on April 1, 2023. The 5.125% Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of our restricted subsidiaries that guarantee obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, our 6.625% senior notes due 2021 (the “6.625% Senior Notes”), and our 5 7/8% Senior Notes (see discussion of 5 7/8% Senior Notes issuance below). The 5.125% Senior Notes and the guarantees are our general unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt, including our 6.625% Senior Notes and the 5 7/8% Senior Notes. The 5.125% Senior Notes and the guarantees are effectively subordinated to any of our and the guarantors’ existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the

 

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assets securing such debt, including all anticipated borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility. The 5.125% Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 5.125% Senior Notes. A portion of the proceeds received from the 5.125% Senior Notes were used on the date of the financing to repay the outstanding Prior Term Loans under the Prior Senior Credit Facility (see discussion above).

Under the terms of a registration rights agreement dated as of March 19, 2013, among us, the guarantors and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as the representative of the initial purchasers of the 5.125% Senior Notes, we agreed to register under the Securities Act notes having terms identical in all material respects to the 5.125% Senior Notes (the “5.125% Exchange Notes”) and to make an offer to exchange the 5.125% Exchange Notes for the 5.125% Senior Notes. We filed the registration statement on May 30, 2013 which was declared effective on September 12, 2013. We launched the exchange offer on September 13, 2013 and the exchange offer expired on October 11, 2013.

5 7/8% Senior Notes

On October 3, 2013, we issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5 7/8% senior notes due 2022 (the “5 7/8% Senior Notes”) in a private offering under the indenture, dated as of October 3, 2013, among us, certain of our domestic subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes were offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulations S under the Securities Act. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes were issued at a coupon rate and yield to maturity of 5 7/8%. Interest on the 5 7/8% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on January 15 and July 15 each year. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes mature on January 15, 2022. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of our restricted subsidiaries that guarantee obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, our 6.625% Senior Notes, and our 5.125% Senior Notes (see discussion of 5.125% Senior Notes issuance above). The 5 7/8% Senior Notes and the guarantees are our general unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt, including our 6.625% Senior Notes and the 5.125% Senior Notes. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes and the guarantees are effectively subordinated to any of our and the guarantors’ existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, including all anticipated borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 5 7/8% Senior Notes. We used the net proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, to fund the repurchase, redemption or other discharge of our 7 3/4% senior notes (see discussion below) and to pay related transaction fees and expenses.

Under the terms of a registration rights agreement, dated as of October 3, 2013, among us, the guarantors and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as the representative of the initial purchasers of the notes, we agreed to register under the Securities Act notes having terms identical in all material respects to the 5 7/8% Senior Notes (the “5 7/8% Exchange Notes”) and to make an offer to exchange the 5 7/8% Exchange Notes for the 5 7/8% Senior Notes. We filed the registration statement on October 2, 2013 which was declared effective on January 6, 2014. We launched the exchange offer on January 6, 2014 and the exchange offer expired on February 4, 2014.

7 3/4% Senior Notes Tender Offer

On September 19, 2013, we announced the commencement of a cash tender offer and consent solicitation for any and all of our outstanding $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7 3/4% senior notes due 2017 (the “7 3/4% Senior Notes”). Holders who validly tendered their 7 3/4% Senior Notes prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard time on October 2, 2013 (“Consent Payment Deadline”), received a cash payment of $1,043.45 for each $1,000 principal amount of notes, which included a consent payment of $30.00 per $1,000 principal amount of notes. Holders of the 7 3/4% Senior Notes accepted for purchase received accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the applicable payment date. Valid early tenders received by us represented $209.1 million aggregate principal amount of the 7 3/4% Senior Notes which was 83.6% of the outstanding principal balance. We settled these notes on October 3, 2013. There were no holders who tendered their notes after the Consent

 

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Payment Deadline, but before the expiration date of 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard time on October 17, 2013 (the “Expiration Date”) who would have otherwise been entitled to receive $1,013.45 per $1,000 principal amount of notes. On November 4, 2013, we completed the redemption of the remaining 7 3/4% Senior Notes in connection with the terms of the notice of redemption delivered to the noteholders pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the 7 3/4% Senior Notes. We financed the purchase of the 7 3/4% Senior Notes under the tender offer and the redemption of the remaining 7 3/4% Senior Notes with the net cash proceeds from our 5 7/8% Senior Notes offering discussed above and cash on hand.

Debt Deafeasance

We consolidated South Texas Local Development Corporation (“STLDC”), a variable interest entity (“VIE”) until September 30, 2013. STLDC was created to finance construction for the development of a 1,904-bed facility in Frio County, Texas. STLDC, the owner of the complex, issued $49.5 million in taxable revenue bonds and had an operating agreement with us, which provided us with the sole and exclusive right to operate and manage the detention center. The operating agreement and bond indenture required the revenue from the contract to be used to fund the periodic debt service requirements as they became due. The net revenues, if any, after various expenses such as trustee fees, property taxes and insurance premiums were distributed to us to cover operating expenses and management fees. We were responsible for the entire operations of the facility including the payment of all operating expenses whether or not there were sufficient revenues. The bonds had a 10-year term and were non-recourse to us. At the end of the 10-year term of the bonds, or if the bonds were redeemed, canceled or defeased, title and ownership of the facility transfers from STLDC to us.

On September 30, 2013, we completed a defeasance of the bonds and the title to the facility was transferred to us. In connection with the defeasance, we incurred a $1.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt which represented the excess of the reacquisition price of the defeasance over the net carrying value of the bonds and other defeasance related fees and expenses. Upon the closing of the transaction, the operating agreement was terminated and STLDC is no longer a VIE and is no longer consolidated with us. The carrying value of the facility as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $25.2 million and $25.8 million, respectively, and is included in Property and Equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Prospectus Supplement

On May 8, 2013, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a prospectus supplement related to the offer and sale from time to time of the Company’s common stock at an aggregate offering price of up to $100 million through sales agents. Sales of shares of the Company’s common stock under the prospectus supplement and the equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. There were no sales of shares of the Company’s common stock under the prospectus supplement during the year ended December 31, 2013.

Contract awards and facility activations

The following contract awards and facility activations occurred during fiscal year 2013:

On September 9, 2013, we announced that we have entered into a five year contract inclusive of renewal options, with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) for the housing of immigration detainees in a new 400-bed transfer center to be located at England Airpark in Alexandria, Louisiana (the “Center”). We will finance, develop and manage the company-owned Center, which is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2014. Our contract with ICE is expected to generate approximately $8.5 million in annualized revenues.

On September 23, 2013, we announced that we have signed five year contracts with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the housing of 1,400 California inmates at the Company-owned

 

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700-bed Central Valley Modified Community Correctional Facility and the Company-owned 700-bed Desert View Modified Community Correctional Facility located in McFarland, California and Adelanto, California, respectively. We began the intake of inmates at both facilities in the fourth quarter of 2013. The facilities are expected to generate approximately $30.7 million in combined annualized revenues at full occupancy. These facilities were previously included in our idle facility inventory.

On October 21, 2013, we announced that we have signed a new contract, effective from November 1, 2013 through June 30, 2018, with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the housing of 700 California inmates at the Company-owned Golden State Modified Community Correctional Facility located in McFarland, California. The new agreement, which will replace our existing contract at the facility that was previously effective through June 30, 2016, will expand the facility’s contract capacity by 100-beds and is expected to generate an additional $2.2 million in annual revenues. At full occupancy of 700 beds, the facility is expected to generate approximately $15.3 million in annualized revenues.

On February 3, 2014, we announced that we had assumed management of the 985-bed Moore Haven Correctional Facility, the 985-bed Bay Correctional Facility and the 1,884- bed Graceville Correctional Facility under contracts with the Florida Department of Management Services effective February 1, 2014. The managed-only agreements have contract terms of 3 years with successive 2-year renewal option periods. The facilities are expected to generate approximately $31.6 million in combined annualized revenues at full occupancy.

Also on February 3, 2014, we announced that we have increased the contracted capacity at the Company-owned Rio Grande Detention Center in Laredo, Texas from 1,500 beds to 1,900 beds under a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Marshals Service is expected to occupy up to 1,228 beds with the remaining 672 beds reserved for ICE. The 1,900-bed center is expected to generate approximately $38 million in total annualized revenue.

Contract terminations

The contract for the housing of Alaskan inmates at the Hudson Correctional Facility located in Hudson, Colorado was terminated during the third quarter of 2013. The termination of this contract did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.

On November 1, 2013, we terminated the contract for the management of the county-owned 688-bed Maverick County Detention Center located in Maverick, Texas. The termination of this managed-only contract did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.

There were no contract terminations subsequent to December 31, 2013.

We are currently marketing approximately 6,000 vacant beds at six of our idle facilities to potential customers. The annual carrying cost of idle facilities in 2014 is estimated to be $21.9 million, including depreciation expense of $5.9 million. As of December 31, 2013, these facilities had a net book value of $193.6 million. We currently do not have any firm commitment or agreement in place to activate these facilities. Historically, some facilities have been idle for multiple years before they received a new contract award. Currently, our North Lake Correctional Facility located in Baldwin, Michigan and our Great Plains Correctional Facility located in Hinton, Oklahoma have been idle the longest of our idle facility inventory. Both facilities have been idle since October of 2010. These idle facilities are included in the U.S. Corrections & Detention segment. The per diem rates that we charge our clients often vary by contract across our portfolio. However, if all of these idle facilities were to be activated using our U.S. Corrections & Detention average per diem rate in 2013, (calculated as the U.S. Corrections & Detention revenue divided by the number of U.S. Corrections & Detention mandays) and based on the average occupancy rate in our U.S. Corrections & Detention facilities for 2013, we would expect to receive incremental revenue of approximately $125 million and an increase in earnings per share of approximately $.35 to $.40 per share based on our average U.S. Corrections and Detention operating margin.

 

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Quality of Operations

We operate each facility in accordance with our company-wide policies and procedures and with the standards and guidelines required under the relevant management contract. For many facilities, the standards and guidelines include those established by the American Correctional Association, or ACA. The ACA is an independent organization of corrections professionals, which establishes correctional facility standards and guidelines that are generally acknowledged as a benchmark by governmental agencies responsible for correctional facilities. Many of our contracts in the United States require us to seek and maintain ACA accreditation of the facility. We have sought and received ACA accreditation and re-accreditation for all such facilities. We achieved a median re-accreditation score of 99.7% as of December 31, 2013. Approximately 91.4% of our 2013 U.S. Corrections & Detention revenue was derived from ACA accredited facilities for the year ended December 31, 2013. In January 2012, we also received accreditation at our Blackwater River Correctional Facility and at Hudson Correctional Facility. We have also achieved and maintained accreditation by The Joint Commission (TJC), at three of our correctional facilities and at nine of our youth services locations. We have been successful in achieving and maintaining accreditation under the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, or NCCHC, in a majority of the facilities that we currently operate. The NCCHC accreditation is a voluntary process which we have used to establish comprehensive health care policies and procedures to meet and adhere to the ACA standards. The NCCHC standards, in most cases, exceed ACA Health Care Standards and we have achieved this accreditation at six of our U.S. Corrections & Detention facilities and at two youth services locations. Additionally, B.I. Incorporated (“BI”) has achieved a certification for ISO 9001:2008 for the design, production, installation and servicing of products and services produced by the Electronic Monitoring business units, including electronic home arrest and domestic violence intervention monitoring services and products, installation services, and automated caseload management services.

Business Development Overview

We intend to pursue a diversified growth strategy by winning new clients and contracts, expanding our government services portfolio and pursuing selective acquisition opportunities. Our primary potential customers include: governmental agencies responsible for local, state and federal correctional facilities in the United States; governmental agencies responsible for correctional facilities in Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Canada; federal, state and local government agencies in the United States responsible for community-based services for adult and juvenile offenders; federal, state and local government agencies responsible for monitoring community-based parolees, probationers and pretrial defendants; and other foreign governmental agencies. We achieve organic growth through competitive bidding that begins with the issuance by a government agency of a request for proposal, or RFP. We primarily rely on the RFP process for organic growth in our U.S. and international corrections operations as well as in our community based re-entry services and electronic monitoring services business.

For our facility management contracts, our state and local experience has been that a period of approximately sixty to ninety days is generally required from the issuance of a request for proposal to the submission of our response to the request for proposal; that between one and four months elapse between the submission of our response and the agency’s award for a contract; and that between one and four months elapse between the award of a contract and the commencement of facility construction or management of the facility, as applicable.

For our facility management contracts, our federal experience has been that a period of approximately sixty to ninety days is generally required from the issuance of a request for proposal to the submission of our response to the request for proposal; that between twelve and eighteen months elapse between the submission of our response and the agency’s award for a contract; and that between four and eighteen weeks elapse between the award of a contract and the commencement of facility construction or management of the facility, as applicable.

If the state, local or federal facility for which an award has been made must be constructed, our experience is that construction usually takes between nine and twenty-four months to complete, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Therefore, management of a newly constructed facility typically commences between ten and twenty-eight months after the governmental agency’s award.

 

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For the services provided by BI, state, local and federal experience has been that a period of approximately thirty to ninety days is generally required from the issuance of an RFP or Invitation to Bid, or ITB, to the submission of our response; that between one and three months elapse between the submission of our response and the agency’s award for a contract; and that between one and three months elapse between the award of a contract and the commencement of a program or the implementation of program operations, as applicable.

The term of our local, state and federal contracts range from one to five years and some contracts include provisions for optional renewal years beyond the initial contract term. Contracts can, and are periodically, extended beyond the contract term and optional renewal years through alternative procurement processes including sole source justification processes, cooperative procurement vehicles and agency decisions to add extension time periods.

We believe that our long operating history and reputation have earned us credibility with both existing and prospective customers when bidding on new facility management contracts or when renewing existing contracts. Our success in the RFP process has resulted in a pipeline of new projects with significant revenue potential.

During 2013, we activated five new or expansion projects representing an aggregate of 5,354 additional beds compared to the activation of four new or expansion projects representing an aggregate of 2,082 beds during 2012.

In addition to pursuing organic growth through the RFP process, we will from time to time selectively consider the financing and construction of new facilities or expansions to existing facilities on a speculative basis without having a signed contract with a known customer. We also plan to leverage our experience and scale of service offerings to expand the range of government-outsourced services that we provide. We will continue to pursue selected acquisition opportunities in our core services and other government services areas that meet our criteria for growth and profitability. We have engaged and intend in the future to engage independent consultants to assist us in developing privatization opportunities and in responding to requests for proposals, monitoring the legislative and business climate, and maintaining relationships with existing customers.

Facility Design, Construction and Finance

We offer governmental agencies consultation and management services relating to the design and construction of new correctional and detention facilities and the redesign and renovation of older facilities. Domestically, as of December 31, 2013, we have provided services for the design and construction of approximately 50 facilities and for the redesign, renovation and expansion of approximately 43 facilities. Internationally, as of December 31, 2013, we have provided services for the design and construction of 10 facilities and for the redesign, renovation and expansion of one facility.

Contracts to design and construct or to redesign and renovate facilities may be financed in a variety of ways. Governmental agencies may finance the construction of such facilities through any of the following methods:

 

   

a one time general revenue appropriation by the governmental agency for the cost of the new facility;

 

   

general obligation bonds that are secured by either a limited or unlimited tax levy by the issuing governmental entity; or

 

   

revenue bonds or certificates of participation secured by an annual lease payment that is subject to annual or bi-annual legislative appropriations.

We may also act as a source of financing or as a facilitator with respect to the financing of the construction of a facility. In these cases, the construction of such facilities may be financed through various methods including the following:

 

   

funds from equity offerings of our stock;

 

   

cash on hand and/or cash flows from our operations;

 

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borrowings by us from banks or other institutions (which may or may not be subject to government guarantees in the event of contract termination);

 

   

funds from debt offerings of our notes; or

 

   

lease arrangements with third parties.

If the project is financed using direct governmental appropriations, with proceeds of the sale of bonds or other obligations issued prior to the award of the project, then financing is in place when the contract relating to the construction or renovation project is executed. If the project is financed using project-specific tax-exempt bonds or other obligations, the construction contract is generally subject to the sale of such bonds or obligations. Generally, substantial expenditures for construction will not be made on such a project until the tax-exempt bonds or other obligations are sold; and, if such bonds or obligations are not sold, construction and therefore, management of the facility, may either be delayed until alternative financing is procured or the development of the project will be suspended or entirely canceled. If the project is self-financed by us, then financing is generally in place prior to the commencement of construction.

Under our construction and design management contracts, we generally agree to be responsible for overall project development and completion. We typically act as the primary developer on construction contracts for facilities and subcontract with bonded National and/or Regional Design Build Contractors. Where possible, we subcontract with construction companies that we have worked with previously. We make use of an in-house staff of architects and operational experts from various correctional disciplines (e.g. security, medical service, food service, inmate programs and facility maintenance) as part of the team that participates from conceptual design through final construction of the project. This staff coordinates all aspects of the development with subcontractors and provides site-specific services.

When designing a facility, our architects use, with appropriate modifications, prototype designs we have used in developing prior projects. We believe that the use of these designs allows us to reduce the potential of cost overruns and construction delays and to reduce the number of correctional officers required to provide security at a facility, thus controlling costs both to construct and to manage the facility. Our facility designs also maintain security because they increase the area under direct surveillance by correctional officers and make use of additional electronic surveillance.

The following table sets forth the current expansion and development project at its stage of completion:

 

Facilities Under Construction

   Additional
Beds
     Capacity
Following
Expansion/
Construction
     Estimated
Completion
Date
     Customer      Financing  

Alexandria Transfer Center, Louisiana

     400         400         Q4 2014         ICE         GEO   

Competitive Strengths

Leading Corrections Provider Uniquely Positioned to Offer a Continuum of Care

We are the second largest provider of privatized correctional and detention facilities worldwide, the largest provider of community-based re-entry services, youth service and electronic monitoring services in the U.S. corrections industry. We believe these leading market positions and our diverse and complementary service offerings enable us to meet the growing demand from our clients for comprehensive services throughout the entire corrections lifecycle. Our continuum of care enables us to provide consistency and continuity in case management, which we believe results in a higher quality of care for offenders, reduces recidivism, lowers overall costs for our clients, improves public safety and facilitates successful reintegration of offenders back into society.

 

10


Table of Contents

Attractive REIT Profile

Key characteristics of our business make us a highly attractive REIT. We believe that, fundamentally we are in a real estate intensive industry. Since our inception, we have financed and developed dozens of facilities. We have a diversified set of investment grade customers in the form of government agencies which are required to pay us on time by law. We have historically experienced customer retention in excess of 90%. Our strong and predictable occupancy rates generate a stable and sustainable stream of revenue. This stream of revenue combined with our low maintenance capital expenditure requirement translates into steady predictable cash flow. The REIT structure also allows us to pursue growth opportunities due to the capital intensive nature of corrections/detention business.

Large Scale Operator with National Presence

We operate the sixth largest correctional system in the U.S. by number of beds, including the federal government and all 50 states. We currently have operations in approximately 33 states and offer electronic monitoring services in every state. In addition, we have extensive experience in overall facility operations, including staff recruitment, administration, facility maintenance, food service, security, and in the supervision, treatment and education of inmates. We believe our size and breadth of service offerings enable us to generate economies of scale which maximize our efficiencies and allows us to pass along cost savings to our clients. Our national presence also positions us to bid on and develop new facilities across the U.S.

Long-Term Relationships with High-Quality Government Customers

We have developed long-term relationships with our federal, state and other governmental customers, which we believe enhance our ability to win new contracts and retain existing business. We have provided correctional and detention management services to the United States Federal Government for 27 years, the State of California for 26 years, the State of Texas for approximately 26 years, various Australian state government entities for 22 years and the State of Florida for approximately 20 years. These customers accounted for approximately 62.7% of our consolidated revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Recurring Revenue with Strong Cash Flow

Our revenue base is derived from our long-term customer relationships, with contract renewal rates and facility occupancy rates both approximating 90% over the past five years. We have been able to expand our revenue base by continuing to reinvest our strong operating cash flow into expansionary projects and through strategic acquisitions that provide scale and further enhance our service offerings. Our consolidated revenues have grown from $877.0 million in 2007 to $1.5 billion in 2013. We expect our operating cash flow to be well in excess of our anticipated annual maintenance capital expenditure needs, which would provide us significant flexibility for growth in capital expenditures, future dividend payments in connection with operating as a REIT, acquisitions and/or the repayment of indebtedness.

Sizeable International Business

Our international infrastructure, which leverages our operational excellence in the U.S., allows us to aggressively target foreign opportunities that our U.S. based competitors without overseas operations may have difficulty pursuing. We currently have international operations in Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Our International services business generated approximately $208 million of revenues, representing approximately 14% of our consolidated revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2013. We believe we are well positioned to continue benefiting from foreign governments’ initiatives to outsource correctional services.

Experienced, Proven Senior Management Team

Our Chief Executive Officer and the Founder, George C. Zoley, Ph.D., has led our Company for 29 years and has established a track record of growth and profitability. Under his leadership, our annual consolidated

 

11


Table of Contents

revenues from continuing operations have grown from $40.0 million in 1991 to $1.5 billion in 2013. Mr. Zoley is one of the pioneers of the industry, having developed and opened what we believe to be one of the first privatized detention facilities in the U.S. in 1986. Our Chief Financial Officer, Brian R. Evans, has been with our company for over thirteen years and has led our conversion to a REIT as well as the integration of our recent acquisitions and financing activities. Our top seven senior executives have an average tenure with our company of over 11 years.

Business Strategies

Provide High Quality, Comprehensive Services and Cost Savings Throughout the Corrections Lifecycle

Our objective is to provide federal, state and local governmental agencies with a comprehensive offering of high quality, essential services at a lower cost than they themselves could achieve. We believe government agencies facing budgetary constraints will increasingly seek to outsource a greater proportion of their correctional needs to reliable providers that can enhance quality of service at a reduced cost. We believe our expanded and diversified service offerings uniquely position us to bundle our high quality services and provide a comprehensive continuum of care for our clients, which we believe will lead to lower cost outcomes for our clients and larger scale business opportunities for us.

Maintain Disciplined Operating Approach

We refrain from pursuing contracts that we do not believe will yield attractive profit margins in relation to the associated operational risks. In addition, although we engage in facility development from time to time without having a corresponding management contract award in place, we endeavor to do so only where we have determined that there is medium to long-term client demand for a facility in that geographical area. We have also elected not to enter certain international markets with a history of economic and political instability. We believe that our strategy of emphasizing lower risk and higher profit opportunities helps us to consistently deliver strong operational performance, lower our costs and increase our overall profitability.

Pursue International Growth Opportunities

As a global provider of privatized correctional services, we are able to capitalize on opportunities to operate existing or new facilities on behalf of foreign governments. We have seen increased business development opportunities including opportunities to cross sell our expanded service offerings in recent years in the international markets in which we operate and are currently bidding on several new projects. We will continue to actively bid on new international projects in our current markets and in new markets that fit our target profile for profitability and operational risk.

Selectively Pursue Acquisition Opportunities

We intend to continue to supplement our organic growth by selectively identifying, acquiring and integrating businesses that fit our strategic objectives and enhance our geographic platform and service offerings. Since 2005, and including the acquisition of BI, we have completed six acquisitions for total consideration, including debt assumed, in excess of $1.7 billion. Our management team utilizes a disciplined approach to analyze and evaluate acquisition opportunities, which we believe has contributed to our success in completing and integrating our acquisitions.

 

12


Table of Contents

Facilities and Day Reporting Centers

The following table summarizes certain information with respect to: (i) U.S. and international detention and corrections facilities; (ii) community-based services facilities; and (iii) residential and non-residential youth services facilities. The information in the table includes the facilities that we (or a subsidiary or joint venture of GEO) owned, operated under a management contract, had an agreement to provide services, had an award to manage or was in the process of constructing or expanding as of December 31, 2013:

 

Facility Name &

Location

  Capacity(1)   Primary
Customer
  Facility
Type
  Security
Level
  Commencement
of Current
Contract(2)
  Base
Period
  Renewal
Options
  Managed
Leased/
Owned
Corrections & Detention — Western Region:
Adelanto Detention Facility, Adelanto, CA   1,300   ICE - IGA   Federal

Detention

  Minimum/

Medium

  May 2011   5 years   None   Owned
Alhambra City Jail, Los Angeles, CA   67   Los

Angeles
County

  City Jail   All

Levels

  July 2008   3 years   Two,
One-year,
Plus 1
Year
Extension
  Managed
Arizona State-Prison Florence West Florence, AZ   750   AZ DOC   State DUI/

RTC

Correctional

  Minimum   October

2002

  10 years   Two,
Five-year
  Managed
Arizona State-Prison Phoenix West Phoenix, AZ   500   AZ DOC   State DWI

Correctional

  Minimum   July 2002   10 years   Two,
Five-year
  Managed
Aurora/ICE Processing Center Aurora, CO   1,532   ICE / USMS   Federal

Detention

  All
Levels
  September
2011/ October
2012
  2 years / 2
years
  Four,
Two-year
/ Four,
Two-year
  Owned
Baldwin Park City Jail, Baldwin Park, CA   32   Los Angeles
County
  City Jail   All

Levels

  July 2003   3 years   Three,
Three-year
  Managed
Central Arizona Correctional Facility Florence, AZ   1,280   AZ DOC   State Sex

Offender

Correctional

  Minimum/

Medium

  December

2006

  10 years   Two,
Five-year
  Managed
Central Valley MCCF McFarland, CA   700   CDCR   State
Correctional
Facility
  Medium   October 2013   Four Years
and Eight
Months
  None   Owned
Desert View MCCF Adelanto, CA   700   CDCR   State
Correctional
Facility
  Medium   October 2013   Four Years
and Eight
Months
  None   Owned
Downey City Jail Los Angeles, CA   30   Los Angeles
County
  City Jail   All

Levels

  June 2003   3 years   Three,
Three-year
  Managed
Fontana City Jail Los Angeles, CA   39   Los Angeles
County
  City Jail   All

Levels

  February

2007

  5 months   Five,
One-year,
Plus 2
Year
Extension
  Managed
Garden Grove City Jail Los Angeles, CA   16   Los Angeles
County
  City Jail   All

Levels

  January

2010

  30 months   Unlimited   Managed
Golden State MCCF McFarland, CA   700   CDCR   State

Correctional

  Medium   November
2013
  Four Years
and Eight
Months
  None   Owned
Guadalupe County Correctional Facility Santa Rosa, NM(3)   600   NMCD - IGA   Local/State

Correctional

  Medium   January

1999

  Perpetual   Automatic
One-year
  Owned

 

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Table of Contents

Facility Name &

Location

  Capacity(1)   Primary
Customer
  Facility
Type
  Security
Level
  Commencement
of Current
Contract(2)
  Base
Period
  Renewal
Options
  Managed
Leased/
Owned
Hudson Correctional Facility Hudson, CO   1,250   Idle             Leased
Lea County Correctional Facility Hobbs, NM(3)   1,200   NMCD - IGA   Local/State

Correctional

  Medium   September

1998

  Perpetual   Automatic
One-year
  Owned
Leo Chesney Community Correctional Facility Live Oak, CA   318   Idle             Leased
McFarland Community Correctional Facility McFarland, CA   260   Idle             Owned
Mesa Verde Community Correctional Facility Bakersfield, CA   400   Idle             Owned
Montebello City Jail Los Angeles, CA   25   Los Angeles
County
  City Jail   All

Levels

  January 1996   2 years   Unlimited,
One-year
  Managed
Northeast New Mexico Detention Facility Clayton, NM(3)   625   NMDOC /
Clayton
County
  Local/State

Correctional

  Medium   August

2008

  5 years   Five,
one-year
  Managed
Northwest Detention Center Tacoma, WA   1,575   ICE   Federal

Detention

  All

Levels

  October

2009

  1 year   Four,
One-year
  Owned
Ontario City Jail Los Angeles, CA   40   Los Angeles
County
  City Jail   Any

Level

  September

2006

  3 years   Unlimited,
One-year
  Managed
Western Region Detention Facility San Diego, CA   770   USMS   Federal

Detention

  Maximum   Janaury

2006

  5 year   One,
Five-year
  Leased
Corrections & Detention — Central Region:
Big Spring Correctional Center Big Spring, TX   3,509   BOP   Federal

Correctional

  Medium   April

2007

  4 years   Three,
Two-year
  Owned
Central Texas Detention Facility San Antonio, TX(3)   688   USMS / ICE /
Bexar County
  Local &

Federal

Detention

  Minimum/

Medium

  April

2009

  10 years   None   Managed
Cleveland Correctional Center Cleveland, TX   520   TDCJ   State

Correctional

  Minimum   Janaury

2009

  2.6 years   Two,
Two-year
  Managed
Great Plains Correctional Facility Hinton, OK   2,048   Idle             Owned
Joe Corley Detention Facility Conroe, TX(4)   1,517   USMS /
ICE - IGA
  Local

Correctional

  Medium   July

2008/July

2008

  Perpetual   Perpetual   Owned
Karnes Correctional Center Karnes City, TX(4)   679   USMS - IGA   Local &

Federal

Detention

  All

Levels

  February
1998
  Perpetual   None   Owned
Karnes Civil Detention Center Karnes City, TX(4)   600   ICE - IGA   Federal

Detention

  All

Levels

  December

2010

  5 years   None   Owned

 

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Table of Contents

Facility Name &

Location

  Capacity(1)   Primary
Customer
  Facility
Type
  Security
Level
  Commencement
of Current
Contract(2)
  Base
Period
  Renewal
Options
  Managed
Leased/
Owned
Lawton Correctional Facility Lawton, OK   2,526   OK DOC   State

Correctional

  Medium   October 2013   1 year   Four,
Automatic
One-year
  Owned
Lockhart Work Program Facilities Lockhart, TX   1,000   TDCJ   State

Correctional

  Minimum/

Medium

  January

2009

  2.6 years   Two,
Two-year
  Managed
Reeves County Detention Complex R1/R2 Pecos, TX(3)   2,407   Reeves
County / BOP
  Federal

Correctional

  Low   February

2007

  10 years   Unlimited,
Ten year
  Managed
Reeves County Detention Complex R3 Pecos, TX(3)   1,356   Reeves
County / BOP
  Federal

Correctional

  Low   January

2007

  10 years   Unlimited,
Ten year
  Managed
Rio Grande Detention Center Laredo, TX   1,900   USMS   Federal

Detention

  Medium   October

2008

  5 years   Three,
Five-year
  Owned
South Texas Detention Complex Pearsall, TX   1,904   ICE   Federal

Detention

  All

Levels

  December

2011

  11 months   Four,
One-year
  Owned
Val Verde Correctional Facility Del Rio, TX(3)   1,407   USMS - IGA   Local &

Federal

Detention

  All

Levels

  January

2001

  Perpetual   None   Owned
Corrections & Detention — Eastern Region:
Allen Correctional Center Kinder, LA   1,538   LA DOC   State

Correctional

  Medium/

Maximum

  July 2010   10 years   None   Managed
Blackwater River Correctional Facility Milton, FL   2,000   FL DMS   State

Correctional

  Medium/

close

  October 2013   3 years   Two,
Two-year
  Managed
Broward Transition Center Deerfield Beach, FL   700   ICE   Federal

Detention

  Minimum   April 2009   11 months   Four,
One-year,
Unlimited
6-month
  Owned
D. Ray James Correctional Facility Folkston, GA   2,507   BOP   Federal

Detention

  All

Levels

  October

2010

  4 years   Three,
Two-year
  Owned
D. Ray James Detention Facility Folkston, GA   340   USMS / IGA   Federal

Detention

  All

Levels

  January 2007   Perpetual   None   Owned
Plainfield Indiana STOP Program Plainfield, IN   1,066   IN DOC   State

Correctional

  Minimum   March

2011

  4 years   One,
Unspecified
  Managed
LaSalle Detention Facility Jena, LA(3)   1,160   ICE - IGA   Federal

Detention

  Minimum/

Medium

  July 2007   5 years   Forty,
One-year
  Owned
Lawrenceville Correctional Center Lawrenceville, VA   1,536   VA DOC   State

Correctional

  Medium   March

2003

  5 years   Ten,
One-year
  Managed
Moshannon Valley Correctional Center Philipsburg, PA   1,820   BOP   Federal

Correctional

  Medium   April

2006

  36 months   Seven,
One-year
  Owned

 

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Table of Contents

Facility Name &

Location

  Capacity(1)   Primary
Customer
  Facility
Type
  Security
Level
  Commencement
of Current
Contract(2)
  Base
Period
  Renewal
Options
  Managed
Leased/
Owned
New Castle Correctional Facility New Castle, IN   3,094   IN DOC   State

Correctional

  All

Levels

  January

2006

  4 years   Three,
two-year,
then thru
2020 with
two
additional
5 year
extension
  Managed
North Lake Correctional Facility Baldwin, MI   1,740   Idle             Owned
Queens Private Detention Facility Jamaica, NY   222   USMS   Federal

Detention

  Minimum/

Medium

  January

2008

  2 years   Four,
Two-year
  Owned
Riverbend Correctional Facility Milledgeville, GA   1,500   GA DOC   State

Correctional

  Medium   July 2010   Partial 1
year
  Forty,
One-year
  Owned
Rivers Correctional Institution Winton, NC   1,450   BOP   Federal

Correctional

  Low   April 2011   4 years   Three,
Two-year
  Owned
Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility Lovejoy, GA   768   USMS   Federal

Detention

  Medium   February

2008

  5 years   Three,
Five year
  Leased
South Bay Correctional Facility South Bay, FL   1,898   FL DMS   State

Correctional

  Medium/

Close

  July 2009   3 years   Unlimited,
Two-year
  Managed
Corrections & Detention — Australia:
Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre Queensland, Australia   890   QLD

DCS

  State

Remand

Prison

  High/

Maximum

  January

2008

  5 years   One,
Five-year
  Managed
Fulham Correctional Centre & Nalu Challenge Community Victoria, Australia   785   VIC DOJ   State Prison   Minimum/

Medium

  October

1995

  22 years   None   Managed
Junee Correctional Centre New South Wales, Australia   790   NSW   State Prison   Minimum/

Medium

  April 2009   5 years   Two,
Five-year
  Managed
Parklea Correctional Centre Sydney, Australia   823   NSW   State

Remand

Prison

  All
Levels
  October

2009

  5 years   One,
Two-year
  Managed
Corrections & Detention — United Kingdom:
Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre, South Lanarkshire, UK   249   UKBA   Detention

Centre

  Minimum   September

2011

  5 years   None   Managed
Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre London, UK   620   UKBA   Detention

Centre

  Minimum   June 2011   3 years   None   Managed

 

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Table of Contents

Facility Name &

Location

  Capacity(1)   Primary
Customer
  Facility
Type
  Security
Level
  Commencement
of Current
Contract(2)
  Base
Period
  Renewal
Options
  Managed
Leased/
Owned
Corrections & Detention — South Africa:
Kutama-Sinthumule Correctional Centre Limpopo Province, Republic of South Africa   3,024   RSA DCS   National

Prison

  Maximum   February

2002

  25 years   None   Managed
Corrections & Detention — Canada:
New Brunswick Youth Centre Mirimachi, Canada(4)   N/A   PNB   Provincial

Juvenile

Facility

  All
Levels
  October

1997

  25 years   One,

Ten-year

  Managed
Corrections & Detention — Leased:

Delaney Hall

Newark, NJ

  1,200   Community

Education

Centers

  Community

Corrections

  Community   None   —     —     Owned
GEO Community Services — Community Based Services:
Beaumont Transitional Treatment Center Beaumont, TX   180   TDCJ   Community

Corrections

  Community   September

2003

  2 years   Five,
Two-year
and One
six-month
  Owned
Bronx Community Re-entry Center Bronx, NY   110   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   April 2013   2 month
and 21
days
  Four,
Two-month
  Leased
Cordova Center Anchorage, AK   262   ABOP / AK
DOC
  Community

Corrections

  Community   January 2013   2 years /
4 months
  Four,
one-year/
Four,
one-year,
One
five-month
  Owned
El Monte Center El Monte, CA   70   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   July 2013   1 year   Four, one
year
  Leased
Grossman Center Leavenworth, KS   150   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   November
2012
  2 years   Three,
one-year
  Leased
Las Vegas Community Correctional Center Las Vegas, NV   124   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   October

2010

  2 years   Three,
one-year
  Owned
Leidel Comprehensive Sanction Center Houston, TX   190   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   January

2011

  2 years   Three,
one-year
  Owned
Marvin Gardens Center Los Angeles, CA   60   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   March 2012   2 years   Three,
one-year
  Leased
McCabe Center Austin, TX   113   Multiple
Counties
  Community

Corrections

  Community   September
2012
  1 year   Three,
one-year
  Owned
Mid Valley House Edinburg, TX   100   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   December

2008

  2 years   Three,
one-year
and one,
six-month
  Leased
Midtown Center Anchorage, AK   32   AK DOC   Community

Corrections

  Community   March 13   4 months   Four,
one-year,
One
Five-month
  Owned

 

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Table of Contents

Facility Name &

Location

  Capacity(1)   Primary
Customer
  Facility
Type
  Security
Level
  Commencement
of Current
Contract(2)
  Base
Period
  Renewal
Options
  Managed
Leased/
Owned
Northstar Center Fairbanks, AK   143   AK DOC   Community

Corrections

  Community   February

2011

  5 months   Four,
one-year,
One
Five-month
  Leased
Oakland Center Oakland, CA   69   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   November

2008

  3 years   Seven,
one-year
  Owned
Parkview Center Anchorage, AK   112   AK DOC   Community

Corrections

  Community   March 2013   4 months   Four,
one-year,
One
Five-month
  Owned
Reality House Brownsville, TX   94   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   September
2011
  2 year   Three,
one-year
  Owned
Salt Lake City Center Salt Lake City, UT   115   BOP   Community

Corrections

  Community   June

2011

  2 years   Three
one-year
  Leased
Seaside Center Nome, AK   50   AK DOC   Community

Corrections

  Community   December

2007

  7 month   Four,
one-year
and One,
5-month
  Leased
Southeast Texas Transitional Center Houston, TX   500   TDCJ   Community

Corrections

  Community   September

2003

  2 years   Five,
two-year
  Owned
Taylor Street Center San Francisco, CA   210   BOP / CDCR   Community

Corrections

  Community   April
2006/January
2012
  2 years,
8 month /
3 years
  Seven,
one-year
  Owned
Tundra Center Bethel, AK   85   AK DOC   Community

Corrections

  Community   February
2012
  5 months   Four,
one-year
and One,
5-month
  Owned
GEO Community Services — Youth Services:
Residential Facilities                
Abraxas Academy Morgantown, PA   214   Various   Youth

Residential

  Secure   June 2005   N/A   N/A   Owned
Abraxas I Marienville, PA   250   Various   Youth

Residential

  Staff

Secure

  May 2005   N/A   N/A   Owned
Abraxas Ohio Shelby, OH   100   Various   Youth

Residential

  Staff

Secure

  June 2005   N/A   N/A   Owned
Abraxas Youth Center South Mountain, PA   72   PA Dept of
Public
Welfare
  Youth

Residential

  Secure/

Staff

Secure

  June 2005   N/A   N/A   Leased
Contact Interventions Wauconda, IL   32   Idle             Owned
DuPage Interventions Hinsdale, IL   36   IL

DASA,

Medicaid,

Private

  Youth

Residential

  Staff

Secure

  June 2005   N/A   N/A   Owned
Erie Residential Programs Erie, PA   53   Idle             Owned
Hector Garza Center San Antonio, TX   133   TYC   Youth

Residential

  Staff

Secure

  June 2005   N/A   N/A   Owned
Leadership Development Program South Mountain, PA   128   Various   Youth

Residential

  Staff

Secure

  June 2005   N/A   N/A   Leased

 

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Table of Contents

Facility Name &

Location

  Capacity(1)   Primary
Customer
  Facility
Type
  Security
Level
  Commencement
of Current
Contract(2)
  Base
Period
  Renewal
Options
  Managed
Leased/
Owned
Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center Canon City, CO   136   Various   Youth

Residential

  Staff

Secure

  June 2005   N/A   N/A   Owned
Southwood Interventions Chicago, IL   128   IL DASA,

City of

Chicago,

Medicaid

  Youth

Residential

  Staff

Secure

  June 2005   N/A   N/A   Owned
Woodridge Interventions Woodridge, IL   90   IL DASA,

Medicaid

  Youth

Residential

  Staff

Secure

  June 2005   N/A   N/A   Owned
GEO Community Services — Youth Services:
Non-residential Facilities:                
Abraxas Counseling Center Columbus, OH   120   Various   Youth

Non-

residential

  Open   2008   N/A   N/A   Lease
Cincinnati Counseling Center Cincinnati, OH   55   City of
Cincinnati
  Youth

Non-

residential

  Open   2012   N/A   N/A   Lease
Harrisburg Community-Based Programs Harrisburg, PA   145   Dauphin or

Cumberland

Counties

  Youth

Non-

residential

  Open   1995   N/A   N/A   Lease
Lehigh Valley Community-Based Programs Lehigh Valley, PA   30   Lehigh and

Northampton

Counties

  Youth

Non-

residential

  Open   1987   N/A   N/A   Lease
Philadelphia Community-Based Programs Philadelphia, PA   71   Philadelphia
DHS, C&Y
Division
  Youth

Non-

residential

  Open   1987   N/A   N/A   Lease
WorkBridge Pittsburgh, PA   725   Allegheny

County

  Youth

Non-

residential

  Open   1987   N/A   N/A   Lease

 

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The following table summarizes certain information with respect to our re-entry Day Reporting Centers, which we refer to as DRCs. The information in the table includes the DRCs that we (or a subsidiary or joint venture of GEO) operated under a management contract or had an agreement to provide services as of December 31, 2013:

 

DRC Location

  

Number of

reporting

centers

  

Type of

Customers

  

Commencement

of current

contract(s)

  

Base

period

  

Renewal

options

  

Manage only/

lease

Colorado(5)    15    State, County   

Various,

2004 – 2012

  

Various,

1 year to

18 months

  

One to Four, One

year

   Lease
California    17    State, County   

Various,

2007 – 2012

  

Various,

1 to 5 years

   Varies    Lease
North Carolina    6    State    2012    2 years    One, Two year    Lease
New Jersey    4    State, County    2008    3 years   

Two, One

year

   Lease
Pennsylvania    4    County   

Various,

2006 – 2010

  

Various,

1 to 3 years

  

Indefinite, One

year

   Lease
Illinois    1    State, County    2003    5 years   

One, Five

year

  

Lease or Manage

only

Kansas    2    County    2011    4 years   

Four, One

year

   Lease
Louisiana    1    State    2010    1 year   

Two, One

year

   Lease
Kentucky    1    County    2010    2 years   

Three, One

year

   Lease
Georgia    1    County    2012    1 year    One, One year    Lease
New York    1    County    2010    6 months   

Four, One

year

   Lease

Customer Legend:

 

Abbreviation

  

Customer

AZ DOC    Arizona Department of Corrections
AK DOC    Alaska Department of Corrections
BOP    Federal Bureau of Prisons
CDCR    California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation
CO DOC    Colorado Department of Corrections
FL DMS    Florida Department of Management Services
GDOC    Georgia Department of Corrections
ICE    U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement
IDOC    Indiana Department of Correction
IGA    Intergovernmental Agreement
IL DASA    Illinois Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
LA DOC    Louisiana Department of Corrections
LEDD    LaSalle Economic Development District
NMCD    New Mexico Corrections Department
NSW    Commissioner of Corrective Services for New South Wales
OK DOC    Oklahoma Department of Corrections
OFDT    Office of Federal Detention Trustee
PNB    Province of New Brunswick

 

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Abbreviation

  

Customer

QLD DCS    Department of Corrective Services of the State of Queensland
RSA DCS    Republic of South Africa Department of Correctional Services
TDCJ    Texas Department of Criminal Justice
TDFPS    Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
TYC    Texas Youth Commission
UKBA    United Kingdom Border Agency
USMS    United States Marshals Service
USPO    United States Probation Office
VA DOC    Virginia Department of Corrections
VIC DOJ    Department of Justice of the State of Victoria
YCCYS    York County Human Services Division, Children and Youth Services

 

(1) Capacity as used in the table refers to operational capacity consisting of total beds for all facilities except for the six Non-residential service centers under Youth Services for which we have provided service capacity which represents the number of juveniles that can be serviced daily.
(2) For Youth Services Non-Residential Service Centers, the contract commencement date represents either the program start date or the date that the facility operations were acquired by Cornell. The service agreements under these arrangements, with the exception of Schaffner Youth Center, provide for services on an as-contracted basis and there are no guaranteed minimum populations or management contracts with specified renewal dates. These arrangements are more perpetual in nature.
(3) GEO provides services at these facilities through various Inter-Governmental Agreements, or IGAs, through the various counties and other jurisdictions.
(4) The contract for this facility only requires GEO to provide maintenance services.
(5) The Colorado Day Reporting Centers provide many of the same services as the full service Day Reporting Centers, but rather than providing these services through comprehensive treatment plans dictated by the governing authority, these services are provided on a fee for service basis. Such services may be connected to government agency contracts and would be reimbursed by those agencies. Other services are offered directly to offenders allowing them to meet court-ordered requirements and paid by the offender as the service is provided.

Government Contracts — Terminations, Renewals and Competitive Re-bids

Generally, we may lose our facility management contracts due to one of three reasons: the termination by a government customer with or without cause at any time; the failure by a customer to renew a contract with us upon the expiration of the then current term; or our failure to win the right to continue to operate under a contract that has been competitively re-bid in a procurement process upon its termination or expiration. Our facility management contracts typically allow a contracting governmental agency to terminate a contract with or without cause at any time by giving us written notice ranging from 30 to 180 days. If government agencies were to use these provisions to terminate, or renegotiate the terms of their agreements with us, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. See “Risk Factors — “We are subject to the loss of our facility management contracts, due to terminations, non-renewals or competitive re-bids, which could adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity, including our ability to secure new facility management contracts from other government customers”.

Aside from our customers’ unilateral right to terminate our facility management contracts with them at any time for any reason, there are two points during the typical lifecycle of a contract which may result in the loss by us of a facility management contract with our customers. We refer to these points as contract “renewals” and contract “re-bids.” Many of our facility management contracts with our government customers have an initial fixed term and subsequent renewal rights for one or more additional periods at the unilateral option of the customer. Because most of our contracts for youth services do not guarantee placement or revenue, we have not considered these contracts to ever be in the renewal or re-bid stage since they are more perpetual in nature. As such, the contracts for youth services are not considered as renewals or re-bids nor are they included in the table

 

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below. We count each government customer’s right to renew a particular facility management contract for an additional period as a separate “renewal.” For example, a five-year initial fixed term contract with customer options to renew for five separate additional one-year periods would, if fully exercised, be counted as five separate renewals, with one renewal coming in each of the five years following the initial term. As of December 31, 2013, 46 of our facility management contracts representing approximately 26,700 beds are scheduled to expire on or before December 31, 2014, unless renewed by the customer at its sole option in certain cases, or unless renewed by mutual agreement in other cases. These contracts represented 39.4% of our consolidated revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. We undertake substantial efforts to renew our facility management contracts. Our average historical facility management contract renewal approximates 90%. However, given their unilateral nature, we cannot assure you that our customers will in fact exercise their renewal options under existing contracts. In addition, in connection with contract renewals, either we or the contracting government agency have typically requested changes or adjustments to contractual terms. As a result, contract renewals may be made on terms that are more or less favorable to us than those in existence prior to the renewals.

We define competitive re-bids as contracts currently under our management which we believe, based on our experience with the customer and the facility involved, will be re-bid to us and other potential service providers in a competitive procurement process upon the expiration or termination of our contract, assuming all renewal options are exercised. Our determination of which contracts we believe will be competitively re-bid may in some cases be subjective and judgmental, based largely on our knowledge of the dynamics involving a particular contract, the customer and the facility involved. Competitive re-bids may result from the expiration of the term of a contract, including the initial fixed term plus any renewal periods, or the early termination of a contract by a customer. Competitive re-bids are often required by applicable federal or state procurement laws periodically in order to encourage competitive pricing and other terms for the government customer. Potential bidders in competitive re-bid situations include us, other private operators and other government entities. While we are pleased with our historical win rate on competitive re-bids and are committed to continuing to bid competitively on appropriate future competitive re-bid opportunities, we cannot in fact assure you that we will prevail in future competitive re-bid situations. Also, we cannot assure you that any competitive re-bids we win will be on terms more favorable to us than those in existence with respect to the expiring contract.

As of December 31, 2013, nine of our facility management contracts representing 10.5% and $160.5 million of our fiscal year 2013 consolidated revenues are subject to competitive re-bid in 2014. The following table sets forth the number of facility management contracts that we currently believe will be subject to competitive re-bid in each of the next five years and thereafter, and the total number of beds relating to those potential competitive re-bid situations during each period:

 

Year

   Re-bid      Total Number of Beds up for Re-bid  

2014

     9         6,426   

2015

     21         5,569   

2016

     14         7,864   

2017

     13         11,120   

2018

     7         6,677   

Thereafter

     21         20,277   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     85         57,933   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In addition to the facility management contracts subject to competitive re-bid in the table above, certain of our other management contracts are also subject to competitive re-bid including our contract to provide services to ICE under the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (“ISAP”) which is subject to competitive re-bid in 2014. We generated revenues under this contract during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 of $41.9 million, or 2.8%, of our consolidated revenues.

 

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Competition

We compete primarily on the basis of the quality and range of services we offer; our experience domestically and internationally in the design, construction, and management of privatized correctional and detention facilities; our reputation; and our pricing. We compete directly with the public sector, where governmental agencies responsible for the operation of correctional, detention, youth services, community based services and re-entry facilities are often seeking to retain projects that might otherwise be privatized. In the private sector, our U.S. Corrections & Detention and International Services business segments compete with a number of companies, including, but not limited to: Corrections Corporation of America; Management and Training Corporation; Louisiana Corrections Services, Inc.; Emerald Companies; Community Education Centers; LaSalle Southwest Corrections; Group 4 Securicor; Sodexo Justice Services (formerly Kaylx); and Serco. Our GEO Community Service business segment competes with a number of different small-to-medium sized companies, reflecting the highly fragmented nature of the youth services and community based services industry. BI’s electronic monitoring business competes with a number of companies, including, but not limited to: G4 Justice Services, LLC; Elmo-Tech, a 3M Company; and Pro-Tech, a 3M Company. Some of our competitors are larger and have more resources than we do. We also compete in some markets with small local companies that may have a better knowledge of the local conditions and may be better able to gain political and public acceptance.

Employees and Employee Training

At December 31, 2013, we had 16,292 full-time employees. Of our full-time employees, 462 were employed at our headquarters and regional offices and 15,830 were employed at facilities and international offices. We employ personnel in positions of management, administrative and clerical, security, educational services, human services, health services and general maintenance at our various locations. Approximately 2,580 and 1,694 employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements in the United States and at international offices, respectively. We believe that our relations with our employees are satisfactory.

Under the laws applicable to most of our operations, and internal company policies, our correctional officers are required to complete a minimum amount of training. We generally require at least 40 hours of pre-service training before an employee is allowed to assume their duties plus an additional 120 hours of training during their first year of employment in our domestic facilities, consistent with ACA standards and/or applicable state laws. In addition to the usual 160 hours of training in the first year, most states require 40 or 80 hours of on-the-job training. Florida law requires that correctional officers receive 520 hours of training. We believe that our training programs meet or exceed all applicable requirements.

Our training program for domestic facilities typically begins with approximately 40 hours of instruction regarding our policies, operational procedures and management philosophy. Training continues with an additional 120 hours of instruction covering legal issues, rights of inmates, techniques of communication and supervision, interpersonal skills and job training relating to the particular position to be held. Each of our employees who has contact with inmates receives a minimum of 40 hours of additional training each year, and each manager receives at least 24 hours of training each year.

At least 160 hours of training are required for our employees in Australia and South Africa before such employees are allowed to work in positions that will bring them into contact with inmates. Our employees in Australia and South Africa receive a minimum of 40 hours of refresher training each year. In the United Kingdom, our corrections employees also receive a minimum of 240 hours prior to coming in contact with inmates and receive additional training of approximately 25 hours annually.

With respect to BI and the ISAP services contract, new employees are required to complete training requirements as outlined in the contract within 14 days of hire and prior to being assigned autonomous ISAP related duties. These employees receive 25 hours of refresher training annually thereafter. Program managers for our ISAP contract must receive 24 hours of additional initial training. BI’s monitoring services maintains its own

 

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comprehensive certification and training program for all monitoring service specialists. We require all new personnel hired for a position in monitoring operations to complete a seven-week training program. Successful completion of our training program and a final certification is required of all of our personnel performing monitoring operations. We require that certification is achieved prior to being permitted to work independently in the call center.

Business Regulations and Legal Considerations

Many governmental agencies are required to enter into a competitive bidding procedure before awarding contracts for products or services. The laws of certain jurisdictions may also require us to award subcontracts on a competitive basis or to subcontract or partner with businesses owned by women or members of minority groups.

Certain states, such as Florida, deem correctional officers to be peace officers and require our personnel to be licensed and subject to background investigation. State law also typically requires correctional officers to meet certain training standards.

The failure to comply with any applicable laws, rules or regulations or the loss of any required license could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, our current and future operations may be subject to additional regulations as a result of, among other factors, new statutes and regulations and changes in the manner in which existing statutes and regulations are or may be interpreted or applied. Any such additional regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Insurance

The nature of our business exposes us to various types of third-party legal claims, including, but not limited to, civil rights claims relating to conditions of confinement and/or mistreatment, sexual misconduct claims brought by prisoners or detainees, medical malpractice claims, product liability claims, intellectual property infringement claims, claims relating to employment matters (including, but not limited to, employment discrimination claims, union grievances and wage and hour claims), property loss claims, environmental claims, automobile liability claims, contractual claims and claims for personal injury or other damages resulting from contact with our facilities, programs, electronic monitoring products, personnel or prisoners, including damages arising from a prisoner’s escape or from a disturbance or riot at a facility. In addition, our management contracts generally require us to indemnify the governmental agency against any damages to which the governmental agency may be subject in connection with such claims or litigation. We maintain a broad program of insurance coverage for these general types of claims, except for claims relating to employment matters, for which we carry no insurance. There can be no assurance that our insurance coverage will be adequate to cover all claims to which we may be exposed. It is our general practice to bring merged or acquired companies into our corporate master policies in order to take advantage of certain economies of scale.

We currently maintain a general liability policy and excess liability policies with total limits of $67.0 million per occurrence and in the aggregate covering the operations of U.S. Corrections & Detention, GEO Community Services’ community based services, GEO Community Services’ youth services and BI. We have a claims-made liability insurance program with a specific loss limit of $35.0 million per occurrence and in the aggregate related to medical professional liability claims arising out of correctional healthcare services. We are uninsured for any claims in excess of these limits. We also maintain insurance to cover property and other casualty risks including, workers’ compensation, environmental liability and automobile liability.

For most casualty insurance policies, we carry substantial deductibles or self-insured retentions of $3.0 million per occurrence for general liability and medical professional liability, $2.0 million per occurrence for workers’ compensation and $1.0 million per occurrence for automobile liability. In addition, certain of our facilities located in Florida and other high-risk hurricane areas carry substantial windstorm deductibles. Since

 

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hurricanes are considered unpredictable future events, no reserves have been established to pre-fund for potential windstorm damage. Limited commercial availability of certain types of insurance relating to windstorm exposure in coastal areas and earthquake exposure mainly in California and the Pacific Northwest may prevent us from insuring some of our facilities to full replacement value.

With respect to our operations in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia, we utilize a combination of locally-procured insurance and global policies to meet contractual insurance requirements and to protect us. In addition to these policies, our Australian subsidiary carries tail insurance on a general liability policy related to a discontinued contract.

Of the reserves discussed above, our most significant insurance reserves relate to workers’ compensation, general liability and auto claims. These reserves are undiscounted and were $47.6 million and $45.1 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively and are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheets. We use statistical and actuarial methods to estimate amounts for claims that have been reported but not paid and claims incurred but not reported. In applying these methods and assessing their results, we consider such factors as historical frequency and severity of claims at each of our facilities, claim development, payment patterns and changes in the nature of our business, among other factors. Such factors are analyzed for each of our business segments. Our estimates may be impacted by such factors as increases in the market price for medical services and unpredictability of the size of jury awards. We also may experience variability between our estimates and the actual settlement due to limitations inherent in the estimation process, including our ability to estimate costs of processing and settling claims in a timely manner as well as our ability to accurately estimate our exposure at the onset of a claim. Because we have high deductible insurance policies, the amount of our insurance expense is dependent on our ability to control our claims experience. If actual losses related to insurance claims significantly differ from our estimates, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely impacted.

International Operations

Our international operations for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 consisted of the operations of our wholly-owned Australian subsidiaries, our wholly owned subsidiary in the United Kingdom, and South African Custodial Management Pty. Limited, our consolidated joint venture in South Africa, which we refer to as SACM. In Australia, our wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Australia, currently manages four facilities. We operate one facility in South Africa through SACM. During fourth quarter 2004, we opened an office in the United Kingdom to pursue new business opportunities throughout Europe. Since June 29, 2009, GEO UK has managed the 620-bed Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre in London, England. In September 2011, we activated the 217-bed Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre located near Glasgow, Scotland. See Item 7 for more discussion related to the results of our international operations. Financial information about our operations in different geographic regions appears in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Note 16 Business Segments and Geographic Information.”

Business Concentration

Except for the major customers noted in the following table, no other single customer made up greater than 10% of our consolidated revenues, excluding discontinued operations, for these years.

 

Customer

   2013     2012     2011  

Various agencies of the U.S Federal Government:

     45     47     40

Credit risk related to accounts receivable is reflective of the related revenues.

Available Information

Additional information about us can be found at www.geogroup.com. We make available on our website, free of charge, access to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on

 

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Form 8-K, our annual proxy statement on Schedule 14A and amendments to those materials filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically submit such materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. In addition, the SEC makes available on its website, free of charge, reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including GEO. The SEC’s website is located at http://www.sec.gov. Information provided on our website or on the SEC’s website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following are certain risks to which our business operations are subject. Any of these risks could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations. These risks could also cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements contained herein and elsewhere. The risks described below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks not currently known to us or those we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business operations.

Risks Related to REIT Status

If we fail to remain qualified as a REIT, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as a regular corporation and could face a substantial tax liability, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

We began operating as a REIT on January 1, 2013. We received an opinion of our special REIT tax counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (“Special Tax Counsel”), with respect to our qualification as a REIT. Investors should be aware, however, that opinions of counsel are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or any court. The opinion of Special Tax Counsel represents only the view of Special Tax Counsel based on its review and analysis of existing law and on certain representations as to factual matters and covenants made by us, including representations relating to the values of our assets and the sources of our income. The opinion is expressed as of the date issued. Special Tax Counsel will have no obligation to advise us or the holders of our common stock of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed or of any subsequent change in applicable law. Furthermore, both the validity of the opinion of Special Tax Counsel and our qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis, the results of which will not be monitored by Special Tax Councel. Our ability to satisfy the asset tests depends upon our analysis of the characterization and fair market values of our assets, some of which are not susceptible to a precise determination, and for which we will not obtain independent appraisals.

We have received a favorable private letter ruling from the IRS with respect to certain issues relevant to our qualification as a REIT. Although we may generally rely upon the ruling, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our qualification as a REIT on the basis of other issues or facts outside the scope of the ruling.

If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, and dividends paid to our shareholders would not be deductible by us in computing our taxable income. Any resulting corporate tax liability could be substantial and would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders, which in turn could have an adverse impact on the value of our common stock. Unless we were entitled to relief under certain Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) provisions, we also would be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year in which we failed to qualify as a REIT. If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we may need to borrow additional funds or liquidate some investments to pay any additional tax liability. Accordingly, funds available for investment and making payments on our indebtedness would be reduced.

 

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Qualifying as a REIT involves highly technical and complex provisions of the Code.

Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex Code provisions for which only limited judicial and administrative authorities exist. Even a technical or inadvertent violation could jeopardize our REIT qualification. Our qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational, distribution, shareholder ownership and other requirements on a continuing basis.

Complying with the REIT requirements may cause us to liquidate or forgo otherwise attractive opportunities.

To qualify as a REIT, we must ensure that, at the end of each calendar quarter, at least 75% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash items, government securities and “real estate assets” (as defined in the Code), including certain mortgage loans and securities. The remainder of our investments (other than government securities, qualified real estate assets and securities issued by a TRS) generally cannot include more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer or more than 10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. In addition, in general, no more than 5% of the value of our total assets (other than government securities, qualified real estate assets and securities issued by a TRS) can consist of the securities of any one issuer, and no more than 25% of the value of our total assets can be represented by securities of one or more TRSs. If we fail to comply with these requirements at the end of any calendar quarter, we must correct the failure within 30 days after the end of the calendar quarter or qualify for certain statutory relief provisions to avoid losing our REIT qualification and suffering adverse tax consequences. As a result, we may be required to liquidate or forgo otherwise attractive investments. These actions could have the effect of reducing our income, amounts available for distribution to our shareholders and amounts available for making payments on our indebtedness.

In addition to the asset tests set forth above, to qualify as a REIT we must continually satisfy tests concerning, among other things, the sources of our income, the amounts we distribute to our shareholders and the ownership of our stock. We may be unable to pursue investments that would be otherwise advantageous to us in order to satisfy the source-of-income or asset-diversification requirements for qualifying as a REIT. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to make certain attractive investments and make payments on our indebtedness.

Dividends payable by REITs do not qualify for the reduced tax rates available for some dividends.

The maximum U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to income from “qualified dividends” payable to U.S. shareholders that are individuals, trusts and estates is currently 20%. Dividends payable by REITs, however, generally are not eligible for the reduced rates. Although these rules do not adversely affect the taxation of REITs, the more favorable rates applicable to regular corporate qualified dividends could cause investors who are individuals, trusts and estates to perceive investments in REITs to be relatively less attractive than investments in the stocks of non-REIT corporations that pay dividends, which could adversely affect the value of the stock of REITs, including our common stock.

REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.

We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gains, in order for us to qualify as a REIT (assuming that certain other requirements are also satisfied) so that U.S. federal corporate income tax does not apply to earnings that we distribute. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement and qualify for taxation as a REIT but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, including any net capital gains, we will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our undistributed net taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we distribute to our shareholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal tax laws. We intend to make distributions to our shareholders to comply with the REIT requirements of the Code.

 

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From time to time, we may generate taxable income greater than our cash flow as a result of differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash or the effect of nondeductible capital expenditures, the creation of reserves or required debt or amortization payments. If we do not have other funds available in these situations, we could be required to borrow funds on unfavorable terms, sell assets at disadvantageous prices or distribute amounts that would otherwise be invested in future acquisitions to make distributions sufficient to enable us to pay out enough of our taxable income to satisfy the REIT distribution requirement and to avoid corporate income tax and the 4% excise tax in a particular year. These alternatives could increase our costs or reduce our equity or adversely impact our ability to raise short and long-term debt. Furthermore, the REIT distribution requirements may increase the financing need to fund capital expenditures, further growth and expansion initiatives. Thus, compliance with the REIT requirements may hinder our ability to grow, which could adversely affect the value of our common stock.

Our cash distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate.

A REIT generally is required to distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its shareholders. Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, will determine on a quarterly basis the amount of cash to be distributed to our shareholders based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, our results of operations, cash flow and capital requirements, economic conditions, tax considerations, borrowing capacity and other factors, including debt covenant restrictions that may impose limitations on cash payments and plans for future acquisitions and divestitures. Consequently, our distribution levels may fluctuate.

Certain of our business activities may be subject to corporate level income tax and foreign taxes, which would reduce our cash flows, and would have potential deferred and contingent tax liabilities.

We may be subject to certain federal, state, local and foreign taxes on our income and assets, including alternative minimum taxes, taxes on any undistributed income and state, local or foreign income, franchise, property and transfer taxes. In addition, we could, in certain circumstances, be required to pay an excise or penalty tax, which could be significant in amount, in order to utilize one or more relief provisions under the Code to maintain qualification for taxation as a REIT. In addition, we may incur a 100% excise tax on transactions with a TRS if they are not conducted on an arm’s length basis. Any of these taxes would decrease our earnings and our available cash.

Our TRS assets and operations will continue to be subject, as applicable, to federal and state corporate income taxes and to foreign taxes in the jurisdictions in which those assets and operations are located.

We will also be subject to a federal corporate level tax at the highest regular corporate rate (currently 35%) on the gain recognized from a sale of assets occurring during our first ten years as a REIT, up to the amount of the built-in gain that existed on January 1, 2013, which is based on the fair market value of those assets in excess of our tax basis as of January 1, 2013. Gain from a sale of an asset occurring after the specified period ends will not be subject to this corporate level tax. We currently do not expect to sell any asset if the sale would result in the imposition of a material tax liability. We cannot, however, assure you that we will not change our plans in this regard.

REIT ownership limitations may restrict or prevent you from engaging in certain transfers of our common stock.

In order to satisfy the requirements for REIT qualification, no more than 50% in value of all classes or series of our outstanding shares of stock may be owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) at any time during the last half of each taxable year beginning with our 2014 taxable year. Although the required steps for the REIT conversion have been implemented, GEO also intends to merge GEO into a newly formed entity, to facilitate GEO’s compliance with REIT rules by

 

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implementing ownership limitations that generally restrict shareholders from owning more than 9.8% of our outstanding shares. Under applicable constructive ownership rules, any shares of stock owned by certain affiliated owners generally would be added together for purposes of the common stock ownership limits, and any shares of a given class or series of preferred stock owned by certain affiliated owners generally would be added together for purposes of the ownership limit on such class or series.

If our shareholders do not approve the merger agreement, we may not be able to satisfy the REIT stock ownership limitations on a continuing basis, which could cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

Our significant use of TRSs may cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

The net income of our TRSs is not required to be distributed to us, and such undistributed TRS income is generally not subject to our REIT distribution requirements. However, if the accumulation of cash or reinvestment of significant earnings in our TRSs causes the fair market value of our securities in those entities, taken together with other non-qualifying assets to exceed 25% of the fair market value of our assets, in each case as determined for REIT asset testing purposes, we would, absent timely responsive action, fail to qualify as a REIT.

There are uncertainties relating to the special earnings and profits (“E&P”) distribution.

To qualify for taxation as a REIT, we were required to distribute to our shareholders all of our pre-REIT accumulated earnings and profits, if any, as measured for federal income tax purposes, prior to the end of our first taxable year as a REIT, which was the taxable period ended December 31, 2013. We declared and paid a special dividend during the fourth quarter of 2012 for the purposes of distributing to our shareholders our pre-REIT accumulated earnings and profits. The calculation of the amount to be distributed in a special E&P distribution was a complex factual and legal determination. We currently believe our special E&P distribution paid during the fourth quarter of 2012, together with distributions paid in 2013, satisfied the requirements relating to the distribution of our pre-REIT accumulated earnings and profits. No assurance can be given, however, that the IRS will agree with our calculation. If the IRS finds additional amounts of pre-REIT E&P, there are procedures generally available to cure any failure to distribute all of our pre-REIT E&P.

Legislative or other actions affecting REITs could have a negative effect on us.

The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”). Changes to the tax laws or interpretations thereof, with or without retroactive application, could materially and adversely affect our investors or us. We cannot predict how changes in the tax laws might affect our investors or us. New legislation, Treasury regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions could significantly and negatively affect our ability to qualify as a REIT or the U.S. federal income tax consequences to our investors and us of such qualification.

We have limited experience operating as a REIT, which may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, per share trading price of our common stock and ability to satisfy debt service obligations.

We have only been operating as a REIT since January 1, 2013. Accordingly, the experience of our senior management operating a REIT is limited. Our pre-REIT operating experience may not be sufficient to operate successfully as a REIT. Failure to maintain REIT status could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, per share trading price of our common stock and ability to satisfy debt service obligations.

 

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Risks Related to Our High Level of Indebtedness

Our significant level of indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling our debt service obligations.

We have a significant amount of indebtedness. Our total consolidated indebtedness as of December 31, 2013 was approximately $1.5 billion, excluding non-recourse debt of $84.1 million and capital lease obligations of $11.9 million. As of December 31, 2013, we had $61.0 million outstanding in letters of credit and $340.0 million in borrowings outstanding under the Revolver. Also as of December 31, 2013, we had the ability to borrow $299.0 million under the Revolver, after applying the limitations and restrictions in our debt covenants and subject to our satisfying the relevant borrowing conditions under the Senior Credit Facility with respect to the incurrence of additional indebtedness.

Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences. For example, it could:

 

   

make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our senior notes and our other debt and liabilities;

 

   

require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, and other general corporate purposes including to make distributions on our common stock as currently contemplated or necessary to maintain our qualification as a REIT;

 

   

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

   

increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

   

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors that may be less leveraged;

 

   

restrict us from pursuing strategic acquisitions or exploiting certain business opportunities; and

 

   

limit our ability to borrow additional funds or refinance existing indebtedness on favorable terms.

If we are unable to meet our debt service obligations, we may need to reduce capital expenditures, restructure or refinance our indebtedness, obtain additional equity financing or sell assets. We may be unable to restructure or refinance our indebtedness, obtain additional equity financing or sell assets on satisfactory terms or at all. In addition, our ability to incur additional indebtedness will be restricted by the terms of our Senior Credit Facility, the indenture governing the 6.625% Senior Notes, the indenture governing the 5.125% Senior Notes, and the indenture governing the 5 7/8% Senior Notes.

We are incurring significant indebtedness in connection with substantial ongoing capital expenditures. Capital expenditures for existing and future projects may materially strain our liquidity.

As of December 31, 2013, we were developing a number of projects that we estimate will cost approximately $68.9 million, of which $19.8 million was spent through December 31, 2013. We estimate our remaining capital requirements to be approximately $49.1 million, which we anticipate will be spent in fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Capital expenditures related to facility maintenance costs are expected to be $23.0 million for fiscal year 2014. We intend to finance these and future projects using our own funds, including cash on hand, cash flow from operations and borrowings under the Revolver. In addition to these current estimated capital requirements for 2014 and 2015, we are currently in the process of bidding on, or evaluating potential bids for the design, construction and management of a number of new projects. In the event that we win bids for these projects and decide to self-finance their construction, our capital requirements in 2014 and/or 2015 could materially increase. As of December 31, 2013, we had the ability to borrow $299.0 million under the Revolver

 

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after applying the limitations and restrictions in our debt covenants and subject to our satisfying the relevant borrowing conditions under the Senior Credit Facility. In addition, we have the ability to increase the Senior Credit Facility by an additional $350 million subject to lender demand, prevailing market conditions and satisfying the relevant borrowing conditions thereunder. While we believe we currently have adequate borrowing capacity under our Senior Credit Facility to fund our operations and all of our committed capital expenditure projects, we may need additional borrowings or financing from other sources in order to complete potential capital expenditures related to new projects in the future. We cannot assure you that such borrowings or financing will be made available to us on satisfactory terms, or at all. In addition, the large capital commitments that these projects will require over the next 12-18 month period may materially strain our liquidity and our borrowing capacity for other purposes. Capital constraints caused by these projects may also cause us to have to entirely refinance our existing indebtedness or incur more indebtedness. Such financing may have terms less favorable than those we currently have in place, or not be available to us at all. In addition, the concurrent development of these and other large capital projects exposes us to material risks. For example, we may not complete some or all of the projects on time or on budget, which could cause us to absorb any losses associated with any delays.

Despite current indebtedness levels, we may still incur more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks described above.

The terms of the indentures governing the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes and the 57/8% Senior Notes, and our Senior Credit Facility restrict our ability to incur but do not prohibit us from incurring significant additional indebtedness in the future. As of December 31, 2013, we had the ability to borrow an additional $299.0 million under the revolver portion of our Senior Credit Facility after applying the limitations and restrictions in our debt covenants and subject to our satisfying the relevant borrowing conditions under the Senior Credit Facility. We also would have the ability to increase the Senior Credit Facility by an additional $350 million subject to lender demand, prevailing market conditions and satisfying relevant borrowing conditions. Also, we may refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, including borrowings under our Senior Credit Facility, the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, and the 57/8% Senior Notes. The terms of such refinancing may be less restrictive and permit us to incur more indebtedness than we can now. If new indebtedness is added to our and our subsidiaries’ current debt levels, the related risks that we and they now face related to our significant level of indebtedness could intensify.

The covenants in the indentures governing the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, and the

5 7/8% Senior Notes and our Senior Credit Facility impose significant operating and financial restrictions which may adversely affect our ability to operate our business.

The indentures governing the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, and the 57/8% Senior Notes and our Senior Credit Facility impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and certain of our subsidiaries, which we refer to as restricted subsidiaries. These restrictions limit our ability to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

pay dividends and or distributions on our capital stock, repurchase, redeem or retire our capital stock, prepay subordinated indebtedness, make investments;

 

   

issue preferred stock of subsidiaries;

 

   

guarantee other indebtedness;

 

   

create liens on our assets;

 

   

transfer and sell assets;

 

   

make capital expenditures above certain limits;

 

   

create or permit restrictions on the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us;

 

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enter into sale/leaseback transactions;

 

   

enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

   

merge or consolidate with another company or sell all or substantially all of our assets.

These restrictions could limit our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs, make acquisitions or pursue available business opportunities. In addition, our Senior Credit Facility requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy certain financial covenants, including maintaining a maximum senior secured leverage ratio and total leverage ratio, and a minimum interest coverage ratio. Some of these financial ratios will become more restrictive over the life of the Senior Credit Facility. We may be required to take action to reduce our indebtedness or to act in a manner contrary to our business objectives to meet these ratios and satisfy these covenants. We could also incur additional indebtedness having even more restrictive covenants. Our failure to comply with any of the covenants under our Senior Credit Facility, the indentures governing the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, and the 57/8% Senior Notes, or any other indebtedness could prevent us from being able to draw on the Revolver, cause an event of default under such documents and result in an acceleration of all of our outstanding indebtedness. If all of our outstanding indebtedness were to be accelerated, we likely would not be able to simultaneously satisfy all of our obligations under such indebtedness, which would materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Servicing our indebtedness will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control and we may not be able to generate the cash required to service our indebtedness.

Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

Our business may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or future borrowings may not be available to us under our Senior Credit Facility or otherwise in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or debt securities, including the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, and the 57/8% Senior Notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs. As a result, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. However, we may not be able to complete such refinancing on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Because portions of our senior indebtedness have floating interest rates, a general increase in interest rates will adversely affect cash flows.

Borrowings under our Senior Credit Facility bear interest at a variable rate. As a result, to the extent our exposure to increases in interest rates is not eliminated through interest rate protection agreements, such increases will result in higher debt service costs which will adversely affect our cash flows. We currently do not have interest rate protection agreements in place to protect against interest rate fluctuations on borrowings under our Senior Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2013 we had $298.5 million of indebtedness outstanding under our Senior Credit Facility, and a one percent increase in the interest rate applicable to the Senior Credit Facility would increase our annual interest expense by $3.0 million.

We depend on distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments on our indebtedness. These distributions may not be made.

A substantial portion of our business is conducted by our subsidiaries. Therefore, our ability to meet our payment obligations on our indebtedness is substantially dependent on the earnings of certain of our subsidiaries and the payment of funds to us by our subsidiaries as dividends, loans, advances or other payments. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and, unless they expressly guarantee any indebtedness of ours, they are not obligated to make funds available for payment of our indebtedness in the form of loans, distributions

 

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or otherwise. Our subsidiaries’ ability to make any such loans, distributions or other payments to us will depend on their earnings, business results, the terms of their existing and any future indebtedness, tax considerations and legal or contractual restrictions to which they may be subject. If our subsidiaries do not make such payments to us, our ability to repay our indebtedness may be materially adversely affected. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our subsidiaries accounted for 72.2% of our consolidated revenues, and as of December 31, 2013, our subsidiaries accounted for 92.5% of our total assets.

We may not be able to satisfy our repurchase obligations in the event of a change of control because the terms of our indebtedness or lack of funds may prevent us from doing so.

Upon a change of control as specified in the indentures governing the terms of our senior notes, each holder of the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes and the 5 7/8% Senior Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase their notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, and, liquidated damages, if any, to the date of repurchase. The terms of the Senior Credit Facility limit our ability to repurchase the notes in the event of a change of control. Any future agreement governing any of our indebtedness may contain similar restrictions and provisions. Accordingly, it is possible that restrictions in the Senior Credit Facility or other indebtedness that may be incurred in the future will not allow the required repurchase of the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes and the 5 7/8% Senior Notes upon a change of control. Even if such repurchase is permitted by the terms of our then existing indebtedness, we may not have sufficient funds available to satisfy our repurchase obligations. Our failure to purchase any of the senior notes would be a default under the indenture governing such notes, which in turn would trigger a default under the Senior Credit Facility and the indentures governing the other senior notes.

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

From time to time, we may not have a management contract with a client to operate existing beds at a facility or new beds at a facility that we are expanding and we cannot assure you that such a contract will be obtained. Failure to obtain a management contract for these beds will subject us to carrying costs with no corresponding management revenue.

From time to time, we may not have a management contract with a client to operate existing beds or new beds at facilities that we are currently in the process of renovating and expanding. While we will always strive to work diligently with a number of different customers for the use of these beds, we cannot assure you that a contract for the beds will be secured on a timely basis, or at all. While a facility or new beds at a facility are vacant, we incur carrying costs. We are currently marketing approximately 6,000 vacant beds at seven of our idle facilities to potential customers. The annual carrying cost of idle facilities in 2014 is estimated to be $21.9 million, including depreciation expense of $5.9 million, if the facilities remain vacant for the remainder of 2014. As of December 31, 2013, these facilities had a net book value of $193.6 million. Failure to secure a management contract for a facility or expansion project could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows. We review our facilities for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the net book value of the facility may not be recoverable. Impairment charges taken on our facilities could require material non-cash charges to our results of operations. In addition, in order to secure a management contract for these beds, we may need to incur significant capital expenditures to renovate or further expand the facility to meet potential clients’ needs.

Negative conditions in the capital markets could prevent us from obtaining financing, which could materially harm our business.

Our ability to obtain additional financing is highly dependent on the conditions of the capital markets, among other things. The capital and credit markets have experienced significant volatility and disruption since 2008. During this time period, the economic impacts observed have included a downturn in the equity and debt markets, the tightening of the credit markets, the general economic slowdown and other macroeconomic conditions, volatility in currency exchange rates and concerns over sovereign debt levels abroad and in the U.S. and concerns over the failure to adequately address the federal deficit and the debt ceiling. If those

 

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macroeconomic conditions continue or worsen in the future, we could be prevented from raising additional capital or obtaining additional financing on satisfactory terms, or at all. If we need, but cannot obtain, adequate capital as a result of negative conditions in the capital markets or otherwise, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Additionally, such inability to obtain capital could prevent us from pursuing attractive business development opportunities, including new facility constructions or expansions of existing facilities, and business or asset acquisitions.

We are subject to the loss of our facility management contracts, due to terminations, non-renewals or competitive re-bids, which could adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity, including our ability to secure new facility management contracts from other government customers.

We are exposed to the risk that we may lose our facility management contracts primarily due to one of three reasons: (i) the termination by a government customer with or without cause at any time; (ii) the failure by a customer to exercise its unilateral option to renew a contract with us upon the expiration of the then current term; or (iii) our failure to win the right to continue to operate under a contract that has been competitively re-bid in a procurement process upon its termination or expiration. Our facility management contracts typically allow a contracting governmental agency to terminate a contract with or without cause at any time by giving us written notice ranging from 30 to 180 days. If government agencies were to use these provisions to terminate, or renegotiate the terms of their agreements with us, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Aside from our customers’ unilateral right to terminate our facility management contracts with them at any time for any reason, there are two points during the typical lifecycle of a contract which may result in the loss by us of a facility management contract with our customers. We refer to these points as contract “renewals” and contract “re-bids.” Many of our facility management contracts with our government customers have an initial fixed term and subsequent renewal rights for one or more additional periods at the unilateral option of the customer. Because most of our contracts for youth services do not guarantee placement or revenue, we have not considered these contracts to ever be in the renewal or re-bid stage since they are more perpetual in nature. We count each government customer’s right to renew a particular facility management contract for an additional period as a separate “renewal.” For example, a five-year initial fixed term contract with customer options to renew for five separate additional one-year periods would, if fully exercised, be counted as five separate renewals, with one renewal coming in each of the five years following the initial term. As of December 31, 2013, 46 of our facility management contracts representing approximately 26,700 beds are scheduled to expire on or before December 31, 2014, unless renewed by the customer at its sole option in certain cases, or unless renewed by mutual agreement in other cases. These contracts represented 39.4% of our consolidated revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. We undertake substantial efforts to renew our facility management contracts. Our average historical facility management contract renewal rate approximates 90%. However, given their unilateral nature, we cannot assure you that our customers will in fact exercise their renewal options under existing contracts. In addition, in connection with contract renewals, either we or the contracting government agency have typically requested changes or adjustments to contractual terms. As a result, contract renewals may be made on terms that are more or less favorable to us than those in existence prior to the renewals.

We define competitive re-bids as contracts currently under our management which we believe, based on our experience with the customer and the facility involved, will be re-bid to us and other potential service providers in a competitive procurement process upon the expiration or termination of our contract, assuming all renewal options are exercised. Our determination of which contracts we believe will be competitively re-bid may in some cases be subjective and judgmental, based largely on our knowledge of the dynamics involving a particular contract, the customer and the facility involved. Competitive re-bids may result from the expiration of the term of a contract, including the initial fixed term plus any renewal periods, or the early termination of a contract by a customer. Competitive re-bids are often required by applicable federal or state procurement laws periodically in order to further competitive pricing and other terms for the government customer. Potential bidders in competitive re-bid situations include us, other private operators and other government entities.

 

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As of December 31, 2013, nine of our facility management contracts representing $160.5 million (or 10.5%) of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 are subject to competitive re-bid in 2014. While we are pleased with our historical win rate on competitive re-bids and are committed to continuing to bid competitively on appropriate future competitive re-bid opportunities, we cannot in fact assure you that we will prevail in future re-bid situations. Also, we cannot assure you that any competitive re-bids we win will be on terms more favorable to us than those in existence with respect to the expiring contract.

For additional information on facility management contracts that we currently believe will be competitively re-bid during each of the next five years and thereafter, please see “Business — Government Contracts — Terminations, Renewals and Competitive Re-bids”. The loss by us of facility management contracts due to terminations, non-renewals or competitive re-bids could materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity, including our ability to secure new facility management contracts from other government customers.

We may not be able to successfully identify, consummate or integrate acquisitions.

We have an active acquisition program, the objective of which is to identify suitable acquisition targets that will enhance our growth. The pursuit of acquisitions may pose certain risks to us. We may not be able to identify acquisition candidates that fit our criteria for growth and profitability. Even if we are able to identify such candidates, we may not be able to acquire them on terms satisfactory to us. We will incur expenses and dedicate attention and resources associated with the review of acquisition opportunities, whether or not we consummate such acquisitions.

Additionally, even if we are able to acquire suitable targets on agreeable terms, we may not be able to successfully integrate their operations with ours. Achieving the anticipated benefits of any acquisition will depend in significant part upon whether we integrate such acquired businesses in an efficient and effective manner. We may not be able to achieve the anticipated operating and cost synergies or long-term strategic benefits of our acquisitions within the anticipated timing or at all. For example, elimination of duplicative costs may not be fully achieved or may take longer than anticipated. For at least the first year after a substantial acquisition, and possibly longer, the benefits from the acquisition will be offset by the costs incurred in integrating the businesses and operations. We may also assume liabilities in connection with acquisitions that we would otherwise not be exposed to. An inability to realize the full extent of, or any of, the anticipated synergies or other benefits of an acquisition as well as any delays that may be encountered in the integration process, which may delay the timing of such synergies or other benefits, could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

As a result of our acquisitions, we have recorded and will continue to record a significant amount of goodwill and other intangible assets. In the future, our goodwill or other intangible assets may become impaired, which could result in material non-cash charges to our results of operations.

We have a substantial amount of goodwill and other intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions. As of December 31, 2013, we had $653.6 million of goodwill and other intangible assets. At least annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment in the carrying value as defined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP, we will evaluate this goodwill for impairment by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount. Estimated fair values could change if there are changes in our capital structure, cost of debt, interest rates, capital expenditure levels, operating cash flows, or market capitalization. Impairments of goodwill or other intangible assets could require material non-cash charges to our results of operations.

 

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Our growth depends on our ability to secure contracts to develop and manage new correctional, detention and community based facilities and to secure contracts to provide electronic monitoring services, community-based re-entry services and monitoring and supervision services, the demand for which is outside our control.

Our growth is primarily dependent upon our ability to obtain new contracts to develop and manage new correctional, detention and community based facilities, because contracts to manage existing public facilities have not to date typically been offered to private operators. Additionally, our growth is generally dependent upon our ability to obtain new contracts to offer electronic monitoring services, provide community-based re-entry services and provide monitoring and supervision services. Public sector demand for new privatized facilities in our areas of operation may decrease and our potential for growth will depend on a number of factors we cannot control, including overall economic conditions, governmental and public acceptance of the concept of privatization, government budgetary constraints, and the number of facilities available for privatization.

In particular, the demand for our correctional and detention facilities and services, electronic monitoring services, community-based re-entry services and monitoring and supervision services could be adversely affected by changes in existing criminal or immigration laws, crime rates in jurisdictions in which we operate, the relaxation of criminal or immigration enforcement efforts, leniency in conviction, sentencing or deportation practices, and the decriminalization of certain activities that are currently proscribed by criminal laws or the loosening of immigration laws. For example, any changes with respect to the decriminalization of drugs and controlled substances could affect the number of persons arrested, convicted, sentenced and incarcerated, thereby potentially reducing demand for correctional facilities to house them. Similarly, reductions in crime rates could lead to reductions in arrests, convictions and sentences requiring incarceration at correctional facilities. Immigration reform laws which are currently a focus for legislators and politicians at the federal, state and local level also could materially adversely impact us. Various factors outside our control could adversely impact the growth of our GEO Community Service business, including government customer resistance to the privatization of residential treatment facilities, and changes to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs.

We may not be able to meet state requirements for capital investment or locate land for the development of new facilities, which could adversely affect our results of operations and future growth.

Certain jurisdictions, including California, have in the past required successful bidders to make a significant capital investment in connection with the financing of a particular project. If this trend were to continue in the future, we may not be able to obtain sufficient capital resources when needed to compete effectively for facility management contracts. Additionally, our success in obtaining new awards and contracts may depend, in part, upon our ability to locate land that can be leased or acquired under favorable terms. Otherwise desirable locations may be in or near populated areas and, therefore, may generate legal action or other forms of opposition from residents in areas surrounding a proposed site. Our inability to secure financing and desirable locations for new facilities could adversely affect our results of operations and future growth.

We depend on a limited number of governmental customers for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of, or a significant decrease in business from, these customers could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations.

We currently derive, and expect to continue to derive, a significant portion of our revenues from a limited number of governmental agencies. Of our governmental clients, four customers, through multiple individual contracts, accounted for 48.6% of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013. In addition, three federal governmental agencies with correctional and detention responsibilities, the Bureau of Prisons, ICE, and the U.S. Marshals Service, accounted for 44.6% of our total consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 through multiple individual contracts, with the Bureau of Prisons accounting for 16.8% of our total consolidated revenues for such period, ICE accounting for 16.7% of our total consolidated revenues for such period, and the U.S. Marshals Service accounting for 11.1% of our total consolidated revenues for such period; however, no individual contract with these clients accounted for more than 5.0% of our total consolidated revenues. Government agencies from the State of Florida accounted for 4.0% of our total consolidated revenues

 

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for the year ended December 31, 2013 through multiple individual contracts. Our revenues depend on our governmental customers receiving sufficient funding and providing us with timely payment under the terms of our contracts. If the applicable governmental customers do not receive sufficient appropriations to cover their contractual obligations, they may delay or reduce payment to us or terminate their contracts with us. With respect to our federal government customers, any future impasse or struggle impacting the federal government’s ability to reach agreement on the federal budget and debt ceiling or any future federal government shut downs could result in material payment delays, payment reductions or contract terminations. Additionally, our governmental customers may request in the future that we reduce our per diem contract rates or forego increases to those rates as a way for those governmental customers to control their spending and address their budgetary shortfalls. The loss of, or a significant decrease in, business from the Bureau of Prisons, ICE, the U.S. Marshals Service, the State of Florida or any other significant customers could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations. We expect to continue to depend upon these federal and state agencies and a relatively small group of other governmental customers for a significant percentage of our revenues.

A decrease in occupancy levels could cause a decrease in revenues and profitability.

While a substantial portion of our cost structure is generally fixed, most of our revenues are generated under facility management contracts which provide for per diem payments based upon daily occupancy. Several of these contracts provide minimum revenue guarantees for us, regardless of occupancy levels, up to a specified maximum occupancy percentage. However, many of our contracts have no minimum revenue guarantees and simply provide for a fixed per diem payment for each inmate/detainee/patient actually housed. As a result, with respect to our contracts that have no minimum revenue guarantees and those that guarantee revenues only up to a certain specified occupancy percentage, we are highly dependent upon the governmental agencies with which we have contracts to provide inmates, detainees and patients for our managed facilities. Under a per diem rate structure, a decrease in our occupancy rates could cause a decrease in revenues and profitability. In October 2011, the State of California implemented its Criminal Justice Realignment Plan. As a result of the implementation of the Criminal Justice Realignment Plan, the State of California discontinued contracts with Community Correctional Facilities which housed low level state offenders across the state. The implementation of the Criminal Justice Realignment Plan by California resulted in the cancellation of our agreements for the housing of low level state offenders at three of our California Community Corrections facilities as well as an agreement for the housing of out-of-state California inmates at our North Lake Correctional Facility in Michigan. Also, in Michigan there have been recommendations for the early release of inmates to relieve overcrowding conditions. When combined with relatively fixed costs for operating each facility, regardless of the occupancy level, a material decrease in occupancy levels at one or more of our facilities could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profitability, and consequently, on our financial condition and results of operations.

State budgetary constraints may have a material adverse impact on us.

State budgets continue their slow to moderate recovery. While most states anticipate revenues to increase in fiscal year 2014 compared with fiscal year 2013, several states still face budget shortfalls. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, despite these positive trends, federal deficit reduction actions, increasing program pressures, international debt crises and the impact from recent storms will continue to challenge lawmakers as they begin their new legislative sessions. As of December 31, 2013, we had eleven state correctional clients: Florida, Georgia, Alaska, Louisiana, Virginia, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. If state budgetary constraints persist or intensify, our eleven state customers’ ability to pay us may be impaired and/or we may be forced to renegotiate our management contracts with those customers on less favorable terms and our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely impacted. In addition, budgetary constraints in states that are not our current customers could prevent those states from outsourcing correctional, detention or community based service opportunities that we otherwise could have pursued.

 

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Competition for inmates may adversely affect the profitability of our business.

We compete with government entities and other private operators on the basis of cost, bed availability, quality and range of services offered, experience in managing facilities, and reputation of management and personnel. Barriers to entering the market for the management of correctional and detention facilities may not be sufficient to limit additional competition in our industry. In addition, some of our government customers may assume the management of a facility currently managed by us upon the termination of the corresponding management contract or, if such customers have capacity at the facilities which they operate, they may take inmates currently housed in our facilities and transfer them to government operated facilities. Since we are paid on a per diem basis with no minimum guaranteed occupancy under some of our contracts, the loss of such inmates and resulting decrease in occupancy could cause a decrease in both our revenues and our profitability.

We are dependent on government appropriations, which may not be made on a timely basis or at all and may be adversely impacted by budgetary constraints at the federal, state and local levels.

Our cash flow is subject to the receipt of sufficient funding of and timely payment by contracting governmental entities. If the contracting governmental agency does not receive sufficient appropriations to cover its contractual obligations, it may terminate our contract or delay or reduce payment to us. Any delays in payment, or the termination of a contract, could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and financial condition, which may make it difficult to satisfy our payment obligations on our indebtedness, including the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, the 57/8% Senior Notes, and the Senior Credit Facility, in a timely manner. In addition, as a result of, among other things, recent economic developments, federal, state and local governments have encountered, and may continue to encounter, unusual budgetary constraints. As a result, a number of state and local governments are under pressure to control additional spending or reduce current levels of spending which could limit or eliminate appropriations for the facilities that we operate. Additionally, as a result of these factors, we may be requested in the future to reduce our existing per diem contract rates or forego prospective increases to those rates. Budgetary limitations may also make it more difficult for us to renew our existing contracts on favorable terms or at all. Further, a number of states in which we operate are experiencing budget constraints for fiscal year 2014. We cannot assure that these constraints will not result in reductions in per diems, delays in payment for services rendered or unilateral termination of contracts.

Public resistance to privatization of correctional, detention and community based facilities could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The management and operation of correctional, detention and community based facilities by private entities has not achieved complete acceptance by either government agencies or the public. Some governmental agencies have limitations on their ability to delegate their traditional management responsibilities for such facilities to private companies and additional legislative changes or prohibitions could occur that further increase these limitations. In addition, the movement toward privatization of such facilities has encountered resistance from groups, such as labor unions, that believe that correctional, detention and community based facilities should only be operated by governmental agencies. In addition, negative publicity about poor conditions, an escape, riot or other disturbance at a privately managed facility may result in adverse publicity to us and the private corrections industry in general. Any of these occurrences or continued trends may make it more difficult for us to renew or maintain existing contracts or to obtain new contracts. Changes in governing political parties could also result in significant changes to previously established views of privatization. Increased public resistance to the privatization of correctional, detention and community based facilities in any of the markets in which we operate, as a result of these or other factors, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Operating juvenile correctional facilities poses certain unique or increased risks and difficulties compared to operating other facilities.

As a result of the acquisition of Cornell Companies, Inc. (the “Cornell Acquisition”) in 2010, we re-entered the market of operating juvenile correctional facilities. We intentionally had exited the market of operating juvenile correctional facilities a number of years prior to the Cornell Acquisition. Operating juvenile correctional facilities may pose increased operational risks and difficulties that may result in increased litigation, higher personnel costs, higher levels of turnover of personnel and reduced profitability. Examples of the increased operational risks and difficulties involved in operating juvenile correctional facilities include, mandated client to staff ratios as high as 1:6, elevated reporting and audit requirements, a reduced number of options to use with offenders (e.g., mechanical restraints and seclusion are not permitted options to use with offenders in juvenile correctional facilities), and multiple funding sources as opposed to a single source payer. Additionally, juvenile services contracts related to educational services may provide for annual collection several months after a school year is completed. This may pose a risk that we will not be able to collect the full amount owed thereby reducing our profitability or it may adversely impact our annual budgeting process due to the lag time between us providing the educational services required under a contract and collecting the amount owed to us for such services. We cannot assure that we will be successful in operating juvenile correctional facilities or that we will be able to minimize the risks and difficulties involved while yielding an attractive profit margin.

Adverse publicity may negatively impact our ability to retain existing contracts and obtain new contracts.

Any negative publicity about an escape, riot or other disturbance or perceived poor conditions at a privately managed facility, any failures experienced by our electronic monitoring services or the loss or unauthorized access to any of the data we maintain in the course of providing our services may result in publicity adverse to us and the private corrections industry in general. Any of these occurrences or continued trends may make it more difficult for us to renew existing contracts or to obtain new contracts or could result in the termination of an existing contract or the closure of one or more of our facilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Such negative events may also result in a significant increase in our liability insurance costs.

We may incur significant start-up and operating costs on new contracts before receiving related revenues, which may impact our cash flows and not be recouped.

When we are awarded a contract to manage a facility, we may incur significant start-up and operating expenses, including the cost of constructing the facility, purchasing equipment and staffing the facility, before we receive any payments under the contract. These expenditures could result in a significant reduction in our cash reserves and may make it more difficult for us to meet other cash obligations, including our payment obligations on the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, the 5 7/8% Senior Notes, and the Senior Credit Facility. In addition, a contract may be terminated prior to its scheduled expiration and as a result we may not recover these expenditures or realize any return on our investment.

Failure to comply with extensive government regulation and applicable contractual requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

The industry in which we operate is subject to extensive federal, state and local regulation, including educational, environmental, health care and safety laws, rules and regulations, which are administered by many regulatory authorities. Some of the regulations are unique to the corrections industry, and the combination of regulations affects all areas of our operations. Corrections officers and juvenile care workers are customarily required to meet certain training standards and, in some instances, facility personnel are required to be licensed and are subject to background investigations. Certain jurisdictions also require us to award subcontracts on a competitive basis or to subcontract with businesses owned by members of minority groups. We may not always successfully comply with these and other regulations to which we are subject and failure to comply can result in material penalties or the non-renewal or termination of facility management contracts. In addition, changes in existing regulations could require us to substantially modify the manner in which we conduct our business and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

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In addition, private prison managers are increasingly subject to government legislation and regulation attempting to restrict the ability of private prison managers to house certain types of inmates, such as inmates from other jurisdictions or inmates at medium or higher security levels. Legislation has been enacted in several states, and has previously been proposed in the United States House of Representatives, containing such restrictions. Although we do not believe that existing legislation will have a material adverse effect on us, future legislation may have such an effect on us.

Governmental agencies may investigate and audit our contracts and, if any improprieties are found, we may be required to refund amounts we have received, to forego anticipated revenues and we may be subject to penalties and sanctions, including prohibitions on our bidding in response to Requests for Proposals, or RFPs, from governmental agencies to manage correctional facilities. Governmental agencies we contract with have the authority to audit and investigate our contracts with them. As part of that process, governmental agencies may review our performance of the contract, our pricing practices, our cost structure and our compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards. For contracts that actually or effectively provide for certain reimbursement of expenses, if an agency determines that we have improperly allocated costs to a specific contract, we may not be reimbursed for those costs, and we could be required to refund the amount of any such costs that have been reimbursed. If we are found to have engaged in improper or illegal activities, including under the United States False Claims Act, we may be subject to civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, including termination of contracts, forfeitures of profits, suspension of payments, fines and suspension or disqualification from doing business with certain governmental entities. An adverse determination in an action alleging improper or illegal activities by us could also adversely impact our ability to bid in response to RFPs in one or more jurisdictions.

In addition to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, our facility management contracts typically have numerous requirements addressing all aspects of our operations which we may not be able to satisfy. For example, our contracts require us to maintain certain levels of coverage for general liability, workers’ compensation, vehicle liability, and property loss or damage. If we do not maintain the required categories and levels of coverage, the contracting governmental agency may be permitted to terminate the contract. In addition, we are required under our contracts to indemnify the contracting governmental agency for all claims and costs arising out of our management of facilities and, in some instances, we are required to maintain performance bonds relating to the construction, development and operation of facilities. Facility management contracts also typically include reporting requirements, supervision and on-site monitoring by representatives of the contracting governmental agencies. Failure to properly adhere to the various terms of our customer contracts could expose us to liability for damages relating to any breaches as well as the loss of such contracts, which could materially adversely impact us.

We may face community opposition to facility location, which may adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts.

Our success in obtaining new awards and contracts sometimes depends, in part, upon our ability to locate land that can be leased or acquired, on economically favorable terms, by us or other entities working with us in conjunction with our proposal to construct and/or manage a facility. Some locations may be in or near populous areas and, therefore, may generate legal action or other forms of opposition from residents in areas surrounding a proposed site. When we select the intended project site, we attempt to conduct business in communities where local leaders and residents generally support the establishment of a privatized correctional or detention facility. Future efforts to find suitable host communities may not be successful. In many cases, the site selection is made by the contracting governmental entity. In such cases, site selection may be made for reasons related to political and/or economic development interests and may lead to the selection of sites that have less favorable environments.

 

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Our business operations expose us to various liabilities for which we may not have adequate insurance.

The nature of our business exposes us to various types of third-party legal claims, including, but not limited to, civil rights claims relating to conditions of confinement and/or mistreatment, sexual misconduct claims brought by prisoners or detainees, medical malpractice claims, product liability claims, intellectual property infringement claims, claims relating to employment matters (including, but not limited to, employment discrimination claims, union grievances and wage and hour claims), property loss claims, environmental claims, automobile liability claims, contractual claims and claims for personal injury or other damages resulting from contact with our facilities, programs, electronic monitoring products, personnel or prisoners, including damages arising from a prisoner’s escape or from a disturbance or riot at a facility. In addition, our management contracts generally require us to indemnify the governmental agency against any damages to which the governmental agency may be subject in connection with such claims or litigation. We maintain insurance coverage for these general types of claims, except for claims relating to employment matters, for which we carry no insurance. However, we generally have high deductible payment requirements on our primary insurance policies, including our general liability insurance, and there are also varying limits on the maximum amount of our overall coverage. As a result, the insurance we maintain to cover the various liabilities to which we are exposed may not be adequate. Any losses relating to matters for which we are either uninsured or for which we do not have adequate insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, any losses relating to employment matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We may not be able to obtain or maintain the insurance levels required by our government contracts.

Our government contracts require us to obtain and maintain specified insurance levels. The occurrence of any events specific to our company or to our industry, or a general rise in insurance rates, could substantially increase our costs of obtaining or maintaining the levels of insurance required under our government contracts, or prevent us from obtaining or maintaining such insurance altogether. If we are unable to obtain or maintain the required insurance levels, our ability to win new government contracts, renew government contracts that have expired and retain existing government contracts could be significantly impaired, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our international operations expose us to risks which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, our international operations accounted for 14% of our consolidated revenues from continuing operations. We face risks associated with our operations outside the United States. These risks include, among others, political and economic instability, exchange rate fluctuations, taxes, duties and the laws or regulations in those foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. In the event that we experience any difficulties arising from our operations in foreign markets, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

We conduct certain of our operations through joint ventures, which may lead to disagreements with our joint venture partners and adversely affect our interest in the joint ventures.

We conduct our operations in South Africa through our consolidated joint venture, South African Custodial Management Pty. Limited, which we refer to as SACM, and through our 50% owned joint venture South African Custodial Services Pty. Limited, referred to as SACS. We conduct our prisoner escort and related custody services in the United Kingdom through our 50% unconsolidated joint venture in GEO Amey PECS Limited, which we refer to as GEOAmey. We may enter into additional joint ventures in the future. Although we have the majority vote in our consolidated joint venture, SACM, through our ownership of 62.5% of the voting shares, we share equal voting control on all significant matters to come before SACS. We also share equal voting control on all significant matters to come before GEOAmey. These joint venture partners, as well as any future partners, may have interests that are different from ours which may result in conflicting views as to the conduct of the

 

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business of the joint venture. In the event that we have a disagreement with a joint venture partner as to the resolution of a particular issue to come before the joint venture, or as to the management or conduct of the business of the joint venture in general, we may not be able to resolve such disagreement in our favor and such disagreement could have a material adverse effect on our interest in the joint venture or the business of the joint venture in general.

We are dependent upon our senior management and our ability to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel.

We are dependent upon the continued service of each member of our senior management team, including George C. Zoley, Ph.D., our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brian R. Evans, our Chief Financial Officer, John M. Hurley, our Senior Vice President, Operations and President, U.S. Corrections & Detention, Jorge A. Dominicis, Senior Vice President, GEO Community Services, and also our other five executive officers at the Vice President level and above. The unexpected loss of Mr. Zoley, Mr. Evans or any other key member of our senior management team could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

In addition, the services we provide are labor-intensive. When we are awarded a facility management contract or open a new facility, depending on the service we have been contracted to provide, we may need to hire operating management, correctional officers, security staff, physicians, nurses and other qualified personnel. The success of our business requires that we attract, develop and retain these personnel. Our inability to hire sufficient qualified personnel on a timely basis or the loss of significant numbers of personnel at existing facilities could have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our profitability may be materially adversely affected by inflation.

Many of our facility management contracts provide for fixed management fees or fees that increase by only small amounts during their terms. While a substantial portion of our cost structure is generally fixed, if, due to inflation or other causes, our operating expenses, such as costs relating to personnel, utilities, insurance, medical and food, increase at rates faster than increases, if any, in our facility management fees, then our profitability could be materially adversely affected.

Various risks associated with the ownership of real estate may increase costs, expose us to uninsured losses and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Our ownership of correctional and detention facilities subjects us to risks typically associated with investments in real estate. Investments in real estate, and in particular, correctional and detention facilities, are relatively illiquid and, therefore, our ability to divest ourselves of one or more of our facilities promptly in response to changed conditions is limited. Investments in correctional and detention facilities, in particular, subject us to risks involving potential exposure to environmental liability and uninsured loss. Our operating costs may be affected by the obligation to pay for the cost of complying with existing environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, as well as the cost of complying with future legislation. In addition, although we maintain insurance for many types of losses, there are certain types of losses, such as losses from hurricanes, earthquakes, riots and acts of terrorism, which may be either uninsurable or for which it may not be economically feasible to obtain insurance coverage, in light of the substantial costs associated with such insurance. As a result, we could lose both our capital invested in, and anticipated profits from, one or more of the facilities we own. Further, even if we have insurance for a particular loss, we may experience losses that may exceed the limits of our coverage.

Risks related to facility construction and development activities may increase our costs related to such activities.

When we are engaged to perform construction and design services for a facility, we typically act as the primary contractor and subcontract with other companies who act as the general contractors. As primary

 

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contractor, we are subject to the various risks associated with construction (including, without limitation, shortages of labor and materials, work stoppages, labor disputes and weather interference) which could cause construction delays. In addition, we are subject to the risk that the general contractor will be unable to complete construction within the level of budgeted costs or be unable to fund any excess construction costs, even though we typically require general contractors to post construction bonds and insurance. Under such contracts, we are ultimately liable for all late delivery penalties and cost overruns.

The rising cost and increasing difficulty of obtaining adequate levels of surety credit on favorable terms could adversely affect our operating results.

We are often required to post performance bonds issued by a surety company as a condition to bidding on or being awarded a facility development contract. Availability and pricing of these surety commitments is subject to general market and industry conditions, among other factors. Recent events in the economy have caused the surety market to become unsettled, causing many reinsurers and sureties to reevaluate their commitment levels and required returns. As a result, surety bond premiums generally are increasing. If we are unable to effectively pass along the higher surety costs to our customers, any increase in surety costs could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, we may not continue to have access to surety credit or be able to secure bonds economically, without additional collateral, or at the levels required for any potential facility development or contract bids. If we are unable to obtain adequate levels of surety credit on favorable terms, we would have to rely upon letters of credit under our senior credit facility, which would entail higher costs even if such borrowing capacity was available when desired, and our ability to bid for or obtain new contracts could be impaired.

Adverse developments in our relationship with our employees could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

At December 31, 2013, approximately 26% of our workforce was covered by collective bargaining agreements and, as of such date, collective bargaining agreements with approximately 14% of our employees were set to expire in less than one year. While only approximately 26% of our workforce schedule is covered by collective bargaining agreements, increases in organizational activity or any future work stoppages could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

Technological change could cause our electronic monitoring products and technology to become obsolete or require the redesign of our electronic monitoring products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Technological changes within the electronic monitoring business in which we conduct business may require us to expend substantial resources in an effort to develop and/or utilize new electronic monitoring products and technology. We may not be able to anticipate or respond to technological changes in a timely manner, and our response may not result in successful electronic monitoring product development and timely product introductions. If we are unable to anticipate or timely respond to technological changes, our business could be adversely affected and could compromise our competitive position, particularly if our competitors announce or introduce new electronic monitoring products and services in advance of us. Additionally, new electronic monitoring products and technology face the uncertainty of customer acceptance and reaction from competitors.

Any negative changes in the level of acceptance of or resistance to the use of electronic monitoring products and services by governmental customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Governmental customers use electronic monitoring products and services to monitor low risk offenders as a way to help reduce overcrowding in correctional facilities, as a monitoring and sanctioning tool, and to promote public safety by imposing restrictions on movement and serving as a deterrent for alcohol usage. If the level of

 

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acceptance of or resistance to the use of electronic monitoring products and services by governmental customers were to change over time in a negative manner so that governmental customers decide to decrease their usage levels and contracting for electronic monitoring products and services, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We depend on a limited number of third parties to manufacture and supply quality infrastructure components for our electronic monitoring products. If our suppliers cannot provide the components or services we require and with such quality as we expect, our ability to market and sell our electronic monitoring products and services could be harmed.

If our suppliers fail to supply components in a timely manner that meets our quantity, quality, cost requirements, or technical specifications, we may not be able to access alternative sources of these components within a reasonable period of time or at commercially reasonable rates. A reduction or interruption in the supply of components, or a significant increase in the price of components, could have a material adverse effect on our marketing and sales initiatives, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The interruption, delay or failure of the provision of our services or information systems could adversely affect our business.

Certain segments of our business depend significantly on effective information systems. As with all companies that utilize information technology, we are vulnerable to negative impacts if information is inadvertently interrupted, delayed, compromised or lost. We routinely process, store and transmit large amounts of data for our clients. We continually work to update and maintain effective information systems. Despite the security measures we have in place and any additional measures we may implement in the future, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party service providers, could be vulnerable to security breaches, computer viruses, lost or misplaced data, programming errors, human errors, acts of vandalism, or other events. For example, several well-known companies have recently disclosed high-profile security breaches, involving sophisticated and highly targeted attacks on their company’s infrastructure or their customers’ data, which were not recognized or detected until after such companies had been affected notwithstanding the preventative measures they had in place. Any security breach or event resulting in the interruption, delay or failure of our services or information systems, or the misappropriation, loss, or other unauthorized disclosure of client data or confidential information, whether by us directly or our third-party service providers, could damage our reputation, expose us to the risks of litigation and liability, disrupt our business, result in lost business or otherwise adversely affect our results of operations.

An inability to acquire, protect or maintain our intellectual property and patents in the electronic monitoring space could harm our ability to compete or grow.

We have numerous United States and foreign patents issued as well as a number of United States patents pending in the electronic monitoring space. There can be no assurance that the protection afforded by these patents will provide us with a competitive advantage, prevent our competitors from duplicating our products, or that we will be able to assert our intellectual property rights in infringement actions.

In addition, any of our patents may be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. There can be no assurance that we will be successful should one or more of our patents be challenged for any reason. If our patent claims are rendered invalid or unenforceable, or narrowed in scope, the patent coverage afforded to our products could be impaired, which could significantly impede our ability to market our products, negatively affect our competitive position and harm our business and operating results.

There can be no assurance that any pending or future patent applications held by us will result in an issued patent, or that if patents are issued to us, that such patents will provide meaningful protection against competitors or against competitive technologies. The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its validity or its enforceability. The United States federal courts or equivalent national courts or patent offices elsewhere may

 

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invalidate our patents or find them unenforceable. Competitors may also be able to design around our patents. Our patents and patent applications cover particular aspects of our products. Other parties may develop and obtain patent protection for more effective technologies, designs or methods. If these developments were to occur, it could have an adverse effect on our sales. We may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our technical knowledge or trade secrets by consultants, vendors, former employees and current employees, despite the existence of nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements and other contractual restrictions. Furthermore, the laws of foreign countries may not protect our intellectual property rights effectively or to the same extent as the laws of the United States. If our intellectual property rights are not adequately protected, we may not be able to commercialize our technologies, products or services and our competitors could commercialize our technologies, which could result in a decrease in our sales and market share that would harm our business and operating results.

Additionally, the expiration of any of our patents may reduce the barriers to entry into our electronic monitoring line of business and may result in loss of market share and a decrease in our competitive abilities, thus having a potential adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our electronic monitoring products could infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, which may lead to litigation that could itself be costly, could result in the payment of substantial damages or royalties, and/or prevent us from using technology that is essential to our products.

There can be no assurance that our current products or products under development will not infringe any patent or other intellectual property rights of third parties. If infringement claims are brought against us, whether successfully or not, these assertions could distract management from other tasks important to the success of our business, necessitate us expending potentially significant funds and resources to defend or settle such claims and harm our reputation. We cannot be certain that we will have the financial resources to defend ourselves against any patent or other intellectual property litigation.

In addition, intellectual property litigation or claims could force us to do one or more of the following:

 

   

cease selling or using any products that incorporate the asserted intellectual property, which would adversely affect our revenue;

 

   

pay substantial damages for past use of the asserted intellectual property;

 

   

obtain a license from the holder of the asserted intellectual property, which license may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all; or

 

   

redesign or rename, in the case of trademark claims, our products to avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties, which may not be possible and could be costly and time-consuming if it is possible to do.

In the event of an adverse determination in an intellectual property suit or proceeding, or our failure to license essential technology, our sales could be harmed and/or our costs could increase, which would harm our financial condition.

We license intellectual property rights in the electronic monitoring space, including patents, from third party owners. If such owners do not properly maintain or enforce the intellectual property underlying such licenses, our competitive position and business prospects could be harmed. Our licensors may also seek to terminate our license.

We are a party to a number of licenses that give us rights to third-party intellectual property that is necessary or useful to our business. Our success will depend in part on the ability of our licensors to obtain, maintain and enforce our licensed intellectual property. Our licensors may not successfully prosecute any applications for or maintain intellectual property to which we have licenses, may determine not to pursue litigation against other

 

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companies that are infringing such intellectual property, or may pursue such litigation less aggressively than we would. Without protection for the intellectual property we license, other companies might be able to offer similar products for sale, which could adversely affect our competitive business position and harm our business prospects.

If we lose any of our right to use third-party intellectual property, it could adversely affect our ability to commercialize our technologies, products or services, as well as harm our competitive business position and our business prospects.

We may be subject to costly product liability claims from the use of our electronic monitoring products, which could damage our reputation, impair the marketability of our products and services and force us to pay costs and damages that may not be covered by adequate insurance.

Manufacturing, marketing, selling, testing and the operation of our electronic monitoring products and services entail a risk of product liability. We could be subject to product liability claims to the extent our electronic monitoring products fail to perform as intended. Even unsuccessful claims against us could result in the expenditure of funds in litigation, the diversion of management time and resources, damage to our reputation and impairment in the marketability of our electronic monitoring products and services. While we maintain liability insurance, it is possible that a successful claim could be made against us, that the amount of our insurance coverage would not be adequate to cover the costs of defending against or paying such a claim, or that damages payable by us would harm our business.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

The market price of our common stock may vary substantially.

The trading prices of equity securities issued by REITs have historically been affected by changes in market interest rates. One of the factors that may influence the market price of our common stock is the annual yield from distributions on our common stock as compared to yields on other financial instruments. An increase in market interest rates, or a decrease in our distributions to shareholders, may lead prospective purchasers of our shares to demand a higher annual yield, which could reduce the market price of our common stock.

Other factors that could affect the market price of our common stock include the following:

 

   

actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly results of operations;

 

   

changes in market valuations of companies in the correctional and detention industries;

 

   

changes in expectations of future financial performance or changes in estimates of securities analysts;

 

   

fluctuations in stock market prices and volumes;

 

   

issuances of common stock or other securities in the future;

 

   

the addition or departure of key personnel;

 

   

announcements by us or our competitors of acquisitions, investments or strategic alliances; and

 

   

changes in the prospects of the privatized corrections and detention industry.

Future sales of shares of our common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and may be dilutive to current shareholders.

Sales of shares of our common stock, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the price for our common stock. As of December 31, 2013, there were 90,000,000 shares of common stock authorized under our Articles of Incorporation, of which 72,082,071 shares were outstanding. Our Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of additional authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or other

 

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authorized but unissued securities of ours at any time, including pursuant to equity incentive plans and stock purchase plans. In addition, we have filed a registration statement with the SEC allowing us to offer, from time to time, an indefinite amount of common stock, subject to certain market conditions and other factors. Accordingly, we may, from time to time and at any time, seek to offer and sell shares of our common stock based upon market conditions and other factors. For example, on May 8, 2013, we filed with the SEC a prospectus supplement related to the offer and sale from time to time of our common stock at an aggregate offering price of up to $100 million through certain sales agents. Sales of shares of our common stock under this prospectus supplement and the equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933.

An offering of shares of our common stock may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share and funds from operations per share after giving effect to the issuance of our common stock in this offering and the receipt of the expected net proceeds. The actual amount of dilution from any offering of our equity securities, cannot be determined at this time. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market pursuant to an offering, or otherwise, or as a result of the perception or expectation that such sales could occur.

Various anti-takeover protections applicable to us may make an acquisition of us more difficult and reduce the market value of our common stock.

We are a Florida corporation and the anti-takeover provisions of Florida law impose various impediments to the ability of a third party to acquire control of our company, even if a change of control would be beneficial to our shareholders. In addition, provisions of our articles of incorporation may make an acquisition of us more difficult. Our articles of incorporation authorize the issuance by our Board of Directors of “blank check” preferred stock without shareholder approval. Such shares of preferred stock could be given voting rights, dividend rights, liquidation rights or other similar rights superior to those of our common stock, making a takeover of us more difficult and expensive. In addition to discouraging takeovers, the anti-takeover provisions of Florida law and our articles of incorporation may have the impact of reducing the market value of our common stock.

Failure to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could have an adverse effect on our business and the trading price of our common stock.

If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, in accordance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, our exposure to fraud and errors in accounting and financial reporting could materially increase. Also, inadequate internal controls would likely prevent us from concluding on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Such failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls could adversely impact our business and the price of our common stock.

We may issue additional debt securities that could limit our operating flexibility and negatively affect the value of our common stock.

In the future, we may issue additional debt securities which may be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants that could place restrictions on the operation of our business and the execution of our business strategy in addition to the restrictions on our business already contained in the agreements governing our existing debt. In addition, we may choose to issue debt that is convertible or exchangeable for other securities, including our common stock, or that has rights, preferences and privileges senior to our common stock. Because any decision to issue debt securities will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of any future debt financings and we may be required to accept unfavorable terms for any such financings. Accordingly, any future issuance of debt could dilute the interest of holders of our common stock and reduce the value of our common stock.

 

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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

Item 2. Properties

We lease our corporate offices which are located in Boca Raton, Florida, under a lease agreement which was amended in October 2011. The current lease expires in March 2020 and has two 5-year renewal options, which if exercised will result in a maximum term ending March 2030. In addition, we lease office space for our eastern regional office in Charlotte, North Carolina; our central regional office in San Antonio, Texas; our western regional office in Los Angeles, California; and our youth services division in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a result of the BI acquisition in February 2011, we are also currently leasing office space in Boulder, Colorado. We also lease office space in Sydney, Australia, in Sandton, South Africa, and in Berkshire, England, through our overseas affiliates to support our Australian, South African, and UK operations, respectively. We consider our office space adequate for our current operations.

See the Facilities and Day Reporting Centers listing under Item 1 for a list of the correctional, detention and re-entry properties we own or lease in connection with our operations. In addition to the properties listed under Item 1, we also lease 37 ISAP service centers, 68 electronic monitoring field offices and an electronic monitoring call center in Anderson, Indiana. We consider our correctional, detention and re-entry properties, our field offices and our electronic monitoring call center adequate for our current and planned levels of operations.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

The nature of our business exposes us to various types of third-party legal claims, including, but not limited to, civil rights claims relating to conditions of confinement and/or mistreatment, sexual misconduct claims brought by prisoners or detainees, product liability claims, intellectual property infringement claims, claims relating to employment matters (including, but not limited to, employment discrimination claims, union grievances and wage and hour claims), property loss claims, environmental claims, automobile liability claims, contractual claims and claims for personal injury or other damages resulting from contact with our facilities, programs, electronic monitoring products, personnel or prisoners, including damages arising from a prisoner’s escape or from a disturbance or riot at a facility. We do not expect the outcome of any pending claims or legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GEO.” The following table shows the high and low prices for our common stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, for each of the four quarters of fiscal years 2013 and 2012. The prices shown have been rounded to the nearest $1/100. The approximate number of shareholders of record as of February 26, 2014 is 684.

 

     2013      2012  

Quarter

   High      Low      High      Low  

First

   $ 36.63       $ 31.54       $ 19.36       $ 16.56   

Second

     35.96         30.11         22.91         18.77   

Third

     39.35         32.84         28.19         22.00   

Fourth

     37.72         28.51         32.36         26.38   

On July 14, 2011, the Company announced that its Board approved a stock repurchase program of up to $100.0 million of its common stock. The stock repurchase program was funded primarily with cash on hand, free cash flow, and borrowings under the Company’s Prior Revolver. The stock repurchase program was implemented through purchases made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable securities and stock exchange requirements. The stock repurchase program did not obligate the Company to purchase any specific amount of its common stock. During fiscal year 2012, 295,959 shares of common stock at a cost of $8.6 million were purchased from certain members of GEO’s management team in connection with the divestiture of all of GEO’s health care facility assets and related management contracts in the United States and Australia (“Residential Treatment Services” or “RTS”). Refer to Note 2 — Discontinued Operations. In addition, during fiscal year 2012 the Company repurchased and retired 57,457 shares of fully vested employee equity awards. During the fiscal year ended January 1, 2012, the Company purchased approximately 3.9 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $75.0 million primarily purchased with proceeds from the Company’s Prior Revolver. The stock repurchase program expired on December 31, 2012.

On May 8, 2013, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a prospectus supplement related to the offer and sale from time to time of the Company’s common stock at an aggregate offering price of up to $100 million through sales agents. Sales of shares of the Company’s common stock under the prospectus supplement and the equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933. There were no sales of shares of the Company’s common stock under the prospectus supplement during the year ended December 31, 2013.

As a REIT, the Company is required to distribute annually at least 90% of its REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and by excluding net capital gain). The amount, timing and frequency of future distributions will be at the sole discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will be declared based upon various factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including, the Company’s financial condition and operating cash flows, the amount required to maintain REIT status and reduce any income taxes that the Company otherwise would be required to pay, limitations on distributions in the Company’s existing and future debt instruments, limitations on the Company’s ability to fund distributions using cash generated through our TRS and other factors that the Company’s Board of Directors may deem relevant.

During the year ended December 31, 2011, a pre-REIT year, there were no cash distributions declared. Prior to the conversion to a REIT, on August 7, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $.20 per share to shareholders of record as of August 21, 2012 which was paid on September 7, 2012 for a total of $12.3 million. On October 31, 2012, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $.20 per share to shareholders of record as of November 16, 2012 which was paid on November 30, 2012 for a total of $12.3 million. On December 6, 2012, we announced the declaration by the Board of Directors of a special dividend of accumulated earnings and

 

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profits to shareholders of record as of December 12, 2012, with each shareholder having the right to elect cash or shares of common stock, except that we limited the amount of cash payable to the amount of cash paid pursuant to a lottery procedure plus 20% of the total dividend amount remaining after the lottery. The special dividend, amounting to $352.2 million, or $5.68 per share of common stock, was paid on December 31, 2012 to shareholders of record as of December 12, 2012. Pursuant to the special dividend, we issued 9,688,568 shares of common stock and paid cash of $77.8 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, we declared and paid the following regular cash distributions to our stockholder which were treated as qualified and non-qualified ordinary income dividends for federal income tax purposes as stated below:

 

                  Ordinary Dividends     Capital Gains              

Declaration Date

  Payment
Date
  Record
Date
  Distribution
per share
    Total     Qualified     Non-
Qualified
    Total     Unrecaptured
Section 1250
    Long
Term
    Non
Dividend
Distributions
    Aggregate
Payment
Amount
(in

millions)
 

January 17, 2013

  March 1,
2013
  February 15,
2013
  $ 0.50      $ 0.50      $ 0.1551057      $ 0.3448943      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 35.7   

May 7, 2013

  June 3, 2013   May 20, 2013     0.50        0.50        0.1551057        0.3448943        —          —          —          —          35.8   

July 30, 2013

  August 29,
2013
  August 19,
2013
    0.50        0.50        0.1551057        0.3448943        —          —          —          —          36.1   

November 1, 2013

 

  November 26,
2013
  November 14,
2013
    0.55        0.55        0.1706163        0.3793837        —          —          —          —          39.6   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

      $ 2.05      $ 2.05      $ 0.6359334      $ 1.4140666      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 147.2   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Percentage

        100.0     100.0     31.0     69.0     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0  

We intend to continue paying regular quarterly cash dividends consistent with our stated expectation to pay at least 75% of our adjusted funds from operations (“AFFO”) in dividends with a goal to increase our dividend payout ratio over time. The amount, timing and frequency of future dividends will be at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors based upon the factors discussed above.

In addition to these factors, the indentures governing our 6.625% Senior Notes, 5.125% Senior Notes, 57/ 8% Senior Notes and our Senior Credit Facility also place material restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. See the Liquidity and Capital Resources section in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 14 — Debt in “Item 8 — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”, for further description of these restrictions. We believe we have the ability to continue to fund our working capital, our debt service requirements, and our maintenance and growth capital expenditure requirements, while maintaining sufficient liquidity for other corporate purposes.

 

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Performance Graph

The following performance graph compares the performance of our common stock to the Russell 2000, the S&P 500 Commercial Services and Supplies Index, the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index and the MSCI U.S. REIT Index and is provided in accordance with Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K. We have added the MSCI U.S. REIT Index because it is comprised of equity REITs with the exception of specialty equity REITs that do not generate a majority of their revenue and income from real estate rental and leasing operations. We believe that since we began operating as a REIT effective January 1, 2013, the MSCI U.S. REIT Index provides an appropriate comparison of our stock performance with the performance of other equity REITs. We have retained the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index for this year for comparison purposes since it was included in our performance graph last year, but we will not include that index in our stock performance graph going forward.

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return*

The GEO Group, Inc., Russell 2000,

S&P 500 Commercial Services and Supplies,

the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index

and MSCI U.S. REIT Index

(Performance through December 31, 2013)

 

LOGO

 

Date   

The GEO

Group, Inc.

     Russell 2000     

S&P 500

Commercial

Services and

Supplies

    

Wilshire

5000

    

MSCI U.S.

REIT
Index

 

December 31, 2008

   $ 100.00       $ 100.00       $ 100.00       $ 100.00       $ 100.00   

December 31, 2009

   $ 121.37       $ 125.22       $ 110.04       $ 129.42       $ 120.97   

December 31, 2010

   $ 136.77       $ 156.90       $ 119.68       $ 152.55       $ 149.44   

December 31, 2011

   $ 92.95       $ 148.35       $ 111.85       $ 153.45       $ 156.47   

December 31, 2012

   $ 193.10       $ 170.06       $ 122.96       $ 178.18       $ 177.69   

December 31, 2013

   $ 234.16       $ 232.98       $ 158.65       $ 238.80       $ 175.21   

Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2008 in our common stock and the Index companies.

 

* Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends.

 

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth selected historical financial data as of and for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2013. The selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the notes to the consolidated financial statements (in thousands, except per share and operational data).

 

Year Ended:

  2013     2012     2011     2010     2009  

Results of Continuing Operations:

         

Revenues

  $ 1,522,074      $ 1,479,062      $ 1,407,172      $ 1,084,592      $ 976,504   

Operating income from continuing operations

    185,484        184,353        179,599        126,902        123,348   

Income from continuing operations

  $ 117,462      $ 144,558      $ 69,644      $ 54,371      $ 58,890   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations per common share attributable to The GEO Group, Inc.:

         

Basic:

  $ 1.65      $ 2.39      $ 1.12      $ 0.99      $ 1.15   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted:

  $ 1.64      $ 2.37      $ 1.11      $ 0.98      $ 1.13   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:

         

Basic

    71,116        60,934        63,425        55,379        50,879   

Diluted

    71,605        61,265        63,740        55,989        51,922   

Cash and Stock Dividends per Common Share:

         

Quarterly Cash Dividends

  $ 2.05      $ .40        —          —          —     

Special Dividend-Cash and Stock(3)

    —        $ 5.68        —          —          —     

Financial Condition:

         

Current assets

  $ 384,345      $ 337,183      $ 459,329      $ 422,084      $ 279,634   

Current liabilities

    223,125        259,871        288,818        267,287        177,448   

Total assets

    2,889,364        2,839,194        3,049,923        2,412,373        1,447,818   

Long-term debt, including current portion (excluding non-recourse debt and capital leases)

    1,488,722        1,351,697        1,338,384        807,837        457,538   

Total Shareholders’ equity

  $ 1,023,976      $ 1,047,304      $ 1,038,521      $ 1,039,490      $ 665,098   

Operational Data:

         

Facilities in operation(2)

    86        87        90        98        50   

Operational capacity of contracts(2)

    66,130        65,949        65,787        70,552        49,388   

Compensated mandays(1)

    20,867,016        20,530,885        19,884,802        17,203,880        15,888,828   

 

(1) Compensated mandays are calculated as follows: (a) for per diem rate facilities — the number of beds occupied by residents on a daily basis during the fiscal year; and (b) for fixed rate facilities — the capacity of the facility multiplied by the number of days the facility was in operation during the fiscal year.
(2) Excludes idle facilities and assets held for sale.
(3) Special Dividend paid on December 31, 2012 — Refer to Note 3 — Shareholders’ Equity of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Introduction

The following discussion and analysis provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our consolidated results of operations and financial condition. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors including, but not limited to, those described above under “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and “Forward-Looking Statements — Safe Harbor” below. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.

We are a real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, leasing and management of correctional, detention and re-entry facilities and the provision of community-based services and youth services in the United States, Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Canada. We own, lease and operate a broad range of correctional and detention facilities including maximum, medium and minimum security prisons, immigration detention centers, minimum security detention centers, and community based re-entry facilities. We offer counseling, education and/or treatment to inmates with alcohol and drug abuse problems at most of the domestic facilities we manage. We are also a provider of innovative compliance technologies, industry-leading monitoring services, and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers and pretrial defendants. Additionally, we have an exclusive contract with ICE to provide supervision and reporting services designed to improve the participation of non-detained aliens in the immigration court system. We develop new facilities based on contract awards, using our project development expertise and experience to design, construct and finance what we believe are state-of-the-art facilities that maximize security and efficiency. We also provide secure transportation services for offender and detainee populations as contracted domestically and in the United Kingdom through our joint venture GEOAmey.

As of December 31, 2013, our worldwide operations included the management and/or ownership of approximately 77,000 beds at 98 correctional, detention and re-entry facilities, including idle facilities and projects under development and also included the provision of monitoring of more than 70,000 offenders in a community-based environment on behalf of approximately 900 federal, state and local correctional agencies located in all 50 states.

For each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had consolidated revenues of $1.5 billion and we maintained an average company wide facility occupancy rate of 94.8% including 66,130 active beds and excluding 6,016 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2013, and 95.7% including 66,730 active beds and excluding 6,056 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2012.

REIT Conversion

We began operating as a REIT for federal income tax purposes effective January 1, 2013. As a result of the REIT conversion, we reorganized our operations and moved non-real estate components into TRSs. Through the TRS structure, the portion of our businesses which are non-real estate related, such as our managed-only contracts, international operations, electronic monitoring services, and other non-residential and community based facilities, are part of wholly-owned taxable subsidiaries of the REIT. Most of our business segments, which are real estate related and involve company-owned and company-leased facilities, are part of the REIT. The TRS structure allows us to maintain the strategic alignment of almost all of our diversified business segments under one entity. The TRS assets and operations will continue to be subject to federal and state corporate income taxes and to foreign taxes as applicable in the jurisdictions in which those assets and operations are located.

As a REIT, we are required to distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and by excluding net capital gain) and we began paying regular distributions in 2013. On January 17, 2013, our Board of Directors declared GEO’s first quarterly REIT cash

 

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dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock, which was paid on March 1, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2013. On May 7, 2013, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock, which was paid on June 3, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 20, 2013. On July 30, 2013, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock, which was paid on August 29, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 19, 2013. On November 1, 2013, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share of common stock which was paid on November 26, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 14, 2013.

Divestiture of RTS

Applicable REIT rules substantially restrict the ability of REITs to operate health care facilities. As a result, in order to achieve and preserve our REIT status, on December 31, 2012, we completed the divestiture of all of our Residential Treatment Services. The operating results of RTS have been retroactively reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented in the Form 10-K. Refer to Note 2 — Discontinued Operations of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

Change in Fiscal Year

In connection with our conversion to a REIT, on December 31, 2012, we changed our fiscal year to a calendar year and changed our fiscal quarters to coincide with each calendar quarter. The fiscal year 2012 means the 52 week period from January 2, 2012 through December 31, 2012 and the fiscal year 2011 means the 52 week period from January 3, 2011 through January 1, 2012.

Critical Accounting Policies

We believe that the accounting policies described below are critical to understanding our business, results of operations and financial condition because they involve the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We have discussed the development, selection and application of our critical accounting policies with the audit committee of our Board, and our audit committee has reviewed our disclosure relating to our critical accounting policies in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. As such, we are required to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that we believe are reasonable based upon the information available. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We routinely evaluate our estimates based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that our management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. If actual results significantly differ from our estimates, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially impacted.

Other significant accounting policies, primarily those with lower levels of uncertainty than those discussed below, are also critical to understanding our consolidated financial statements. The notes to our consolidated financial statements contain additional information related to our accounting policies and should be read in conjunction with this discussion.

Revenue Recognition

Facility management revenues are recognized as services are provided under facility management contracts with approved government appropriations based on a net rate per day per inmate or on a fixed monthly rate, as applicable. A limited number of our contracts have provisions upon which a small portion of the revenue for the contract is based on the performance of certain targets. Revenue based on the performance of certain targets is

 

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less than 1% of our consolidated annual revenues. These performance targets are based on specific criteria to be met over specific periods of time. Such criteria includes our ability to achieve certain contractual benchmarks relative to the quality of service we provide, non-occurrence of certain disruptive events, effectiveness of our quality control programs and our responsiveness to customer requirements and concerns. For the limited number of contracts where revenue is based on the performance of certain targets, revenue is either (i) recorded pro rata when revenue is fixed and determinable or (ii) recorded when the specified time period lapses. In many instances, we are a party to more than one contract with a single entity. In these instances, each contract is accounted for separately. We have not recorded any revenue that is at risk due to future performance contingencies.

Construction revenues are recognized from our contracts with certain customers to perform construction and design services (“project development services”) for various facilities. In these instances, we act as the primary developer and subcontract with bonded National and/or Regional Design Build Contractors. These construction revenues are recognized as earned on a percentage of completion basis measured by the percentage of costs incurred to date as compared to the estimated total cost for each contract. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts and changes to cost estimates are made in the period in which we determine that such losses and changes are probable. Typically, we enter into fixed price contracts and do not perform additional work unless approved change orders are in place. Costs attributable to unapproved change orders are expensed in the period in which the costs are incurred if we believe that it is not probable that the costs will be recovered through a change in the contract price. If we believe that it is probable that the costs will be recovered through a change in the contract price, costs related to unapproved change orders are expensed in the period in which they are incurred, and contract revenue is recognized to the extent of the costs incurred. Revenue in excess of the costs attributable to unapproved change orders is not recognized until the change order is approved. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions, and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to estimated costs and income, and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined. For the year ended December 31, 2013 and the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and January 1, 2012, there have been no changes in job performance, job conditions and estimated profitability that would require a revision to the estimated costs and income related to project development services. As the primary contractor, we are exposed to the various risks associated with construction, including the risk of cost overruns. Accordingly, we record our construction revenue on a gross basis and include the related cost of construction activities in Operating Expenses.

When evaluating multiple element arrangements for certain contracts where we provide project development services to our clients in addition to standard management services, we follow revenue recognition guidance for multiple element arrangements. This revenue recognition guidance related to multiple deliverables in an arrangement provides guidance on determining if separate contracts should be evaluated as a single arrangement and if an arrangement involves a single unit of accounting or separate units of accounting and if the arrangement is determined to have separate units, how to allocate amounts received in the arrangement for revenue recognition purposes. In instances where we provide these project development services and subsequent management services, generally, the arrangement results in no delivered elements at the onset of the agreement. The elements are delivered over the contract period as the project development and management services are performed. Project development services are not provided separately to a customer without a management contract. One of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, BI, periodically sells its monitoring equipment and other services together in multiple-element arrangements. In such cases, we allocate revenue on the basis of the relative selling price of the delivered and undelivered elements. The selling price for each of the elements is estimated based on the price we charge when the elements are sold on a stand alone basis.

Reserves for Insurance Losses

The nature of our business exposes us to various types of third-party legal claims, including, but not limited to, civil rights claims relating to conditions of confinement and/or mistreatment, sexual misconduct claims brought by prisoners or detainees, product liability claims, intellectual property infringement claims, claims relating to employment matters (including, but not limited to, employment discrimination claims, union grievances and wage and hour claims), property loss claims, environmental claims, automobile liability claims,

 

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contractual claims and claims for personal injury or other damages resulting from contact with our facilities, programs, electronic monitoring products, personnel or prisoners, including damages arising from a prisoner’s escape or from a disturbance or riot at a facility. In addition, our management contracts generally require us to indemnify the governmental agency against any damages to which the governmental agency may be subject in connection with such claims or litigation. We maintain a broad program of insurance coverage for these general types of claims, except for claims relating to employment matters, for which we carry no insurance. There can be no assurance that our insurance coverage will be adequate to cover all claims to which we may be exposed. It is our general practice to bring merged or acquired companies into our corporate master policies in order to take advantage of certain economies of scale.

We currently maintain a general liability policy and excess liability policies with total limits of $67.0 million per occurrence and in the aggregate covering the operations of U.S. Corrections & Detention, GEO Community Services’ community based services, GEO Community Services’ youth services and BI. We have a claims-made liability insurance program with a specific loss limit of $35.0 million per occurrence and in the aggregate related to medical professional liability claims arising out of correctional healthcare services. We are uninsured for any claims in excess of these limits. We also maintain insurance to cover property and other casualty risks including, workers’ compensation, environmental liability and automobile liability.

For most casualty insurance policies, we carry substantial deductibles or self-insured retentions of $3.0 million per occurrence for general liability and medical professional liability, $2.0 million per occurrence for workers’ compensation and $1.0 million per occurrence for automobile liability. In addition, certain of our facilities located in Florida and other high-risk hurricane areas carry substantial windstorm deductibles. Since hurricanes are considered unpredictable future events, no reserves have been established to pre-fund for potential windstorm damage. Limited commercial availability of certain types of insurance relating to windstorm exposure in coastal areas and earthquake exposure mainly in California and the Pacific Northwest may prevent the Company from insuring some of its facilities to full replacement value.

With respect to operations in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Australia, we utilize a combination of locally-procured insurance and global policies to meet contractual insurance requirements and protect us. In addition to these policies, our Australian subsidiary carries tail insurance on a general liability policy related to a discontinued contract.

Of the reserves discussed above, our most significant insurance reserves relate to workers’ compensation, general liability and auto claims. These reserves are undiscounted and were $47.6 million and $45.1 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively and are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheets. We use statistical and actuarial methods to estimate amounts for claims that have been reported but not paid and claims incurred but not reported. In applying these methods and assessing their results, we consider such factors as historical frequency and severity of claims at each of our facilities, claim development, payment patterns and changes in the nature of our business, among other factors. Such factors are analyzed for each of our business segments. Our estimates may be impacted by such factors as increases in the market price for medical services and unpredictability of the size of jury awards. We also may experience variability between our estimates and the actual settlement due to limitations inherent in the estimation process, including our ability to estimate costs of processing and settling claims in a timely manner as well as our ability to accurately estimate our exposure at the onset of a claim. Because we have high deductible insurance policies, the amount of our insurance expense is dependent on our ability to control our claims experience. If actual losses related to insurance claims significantly differ from our estimates, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely impacted.

Income Taxes

The consolidated financial statements reflect provisions for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, as well as operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using

 

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enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences and carryforwards are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities as a result of a change in tax rates is recognized as income in the period that includes the enactment date. At December 31, 2012, we reversed certain deferred tax assets and liabilities related to our REIT activities (Refer to Note 17- Income Taxes in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K). Effective January 1, 2013, as a REIT that plans to distribute 100% of its taxable income to shareholders, we do not expect to pay federal income taxes at the REIT level (including our qualified REIT subsidiaries), but instead a dividends paid deduction will generally offset our taxable income. Since we do not expect to pay taxes on our REIT taxable income, we do not expect to be able to recognize such net deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Deferred income taxes are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities given the provisions of enacted tax laws. Significant judgments are required to determine the consolidated provision for income taxes. Deferred income tax provisions and benefits are based on changes to the assets or liabilities from year to year. Realization of our deferred tax assets is dependent upon many factors such as tax regulations applicable to the jurisdictions in which we operate, estimates of future taxable income and the character of such taxable income.

Additionally, we must use significant judgment in addressing uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations. If actual circumstances differ from our assumptions, adjustments to the carrying value of deferred tax assets or liabilities may be required, which may result in an adverse impact on the results of our operations and our effective tax rate. Valuation allowances are recorded related to deferred tax assets based on the “more likely than not” criteria. We have not made any significant changes to the way we account for our deferred tax assets and liabilities in any year presented in the consolidated financial statements, with the exception of the reversal of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities related to our REIT activities. Based on our estimate of future earnings and our favorable earnings history, we currently expect full realization of the deferred tax assets net of any recorded valuation allowances. Furthermore, tax positions taken by us may not be fully sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities. In determining the adequacy of our provision (benefit) for income taxes, potential settlement outcomes resulting from income tax examinations are regularly assessed. As such, the final outcome of tax examinations, including the total amount payable or the timing of any such payments upon resolution of these issues, cannot be estimated with certainty.

In September 2013, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued new regulations for capitalizing and deducting costs incurred to acquire, produce, or improve tangible property. These new regulations are effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014; however, they are considered enacted as of the date of issuance, September 15, 2013. As a result of the new regulations, we are required to review our existing income tax accounting methods related to tangible property, and determine which, if any, income tax accounting method changes are required; whether we will early adopt any of the new provisions through income tax accounting method changes for the 2012 or 2013 tax years; whether we will file any income tax accounting method changes with our 2014 federal income tax return; and the potential financial statement impact. Because additional implementation guidance from the IRS is anticipated, we are in the process of reviewing our existing income tax accounting methods related to tangible property; however, we believe that certain of our historical income tax accounting policies may differ from what is prescribed in the new regulations. While some of our assets are held by our TRSs, the vast majority are held by the REIT which is not subject to tax. Based on our initial assessment, the new regulations will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Buildings and improvements are depreciated over 2 to 50 years. Equipment and furniture and fixtures are depreciated over 3 to 10 years. Accelerated methods of depreciation are generally used for income tax purposes. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease. We perform ongoing evaluations of the estimated useful lives of the property and equipment for depreciation purposes. The estimated useful lives are determined and continually evaluated based on the period over which services are expected to be rendered by the asset. If the assessment indicates that assets will be used for a longer

 

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or shorter period than previously anticipated, the useful lives of the assets are revised, resulting in a change in estimate. We have not made any changes in estimates during the year ended December 31, 2013 or the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and January 1, 2012. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Interest is capitalized in connection with the construction of correctional and detention facilities. Cost for self-constructed correctional and detention facilities includes direct materials and labor, capitalized interest and certain other indirect costs associated with construction of the facility, such as property taxes, other indirect labor and related benefits and payroll taxes. The Company begins the capitalization of costs during the pre-construction phase, which is the period during which costs are incurred to evaluate the site, and continues until the facility is substantially complete and ready for occupancy. Labor costs capitalized for the year and fiscal years ended December 31, 2013, December 31, 2012 and January 1, 2012 were not significant. Capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset to which it relates and is amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life.

Assets Held for Sale

As of December 31, 2013, we had no facilities classified as held for sale in the consolidated balance sheet. We classify a long-lived asset (disposal group) as held for sale in the period in which all of the following criteria are met (i) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the asset (disposal group), (ii) the asset (disposal group) is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to the terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets (disposal groups), (iii) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset (disposal group) have been initiated, (iv) the sale of the asset (disposal group) is probable, and transfer of the asset (disposal group) is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale, within one year, except as permitted, (v) the asset (disposal group) is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value, and (vi) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn. We record assets held for sale at the lower of cost or estimated fair value and estimate fair value by using third party appraisers or other valuation techniques. We do not record depreciation for assets held for sale. Any gain or loss on the sale of operating assets is included in the operating income of the reportable segment to which it relates.

Asset Impairments

We had property and equipment of $1.7 billion as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 including approximately 6,000 vacant beds at six idle facilities with a carrying value of $193.6 million which are being marketed to potential customers as of December 31, 2013, excluding equipment and other assets that can be easily transferred for use at other facilities.

We review long-lived assets to be held and used for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable. Events that would trigger an impairment assessment include deterioration of profits for a business segment that has long-lived assets, or when other changes occur that might impair recovery of long-lived assets such as the termination of a management contract or a significant decrease in inmate population. If impairment indicators are present, we perform a recoverability test to determine whether or not an impairment loss should be measured.

We test idle facilities for impairment upon notification that the facilities will no longer be utilized by the customer. If a long-lived asset is part of a group that includes other assets, the unit of accounting for the long-lived asset is its group. Generally, we group assets by facility for the purpose of considering whether any impairment exists. The estimates of recoverability are based on projected undiscounted cash flows associated with actual marketing efforts where available or, in other instances, projected undiscounted cash flows that are comparable to historical cash flows from management contracts at similar facilities and sensitivity analyses that consider reductions to such cash flows. Our sensitivity analyses include adjustments to projected cash flows compared to the historical cash flows due to current business conditions which impact per diem rates as well as labor and other operating costs, changes related to facility mission due to changes in prospective clients, and changes in projected capacity and occupancy rates. We also factor in prolonged periods of vacancies as well as

 

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the time and costs required to ramp up facility population once a contract is obtained. We perform the impairment analyses on an annual basis for each of the idle facilities and update each quarter for market developments for the potential utilization of each of the facilities in order to identify events that may cause us to reconsider the most recent assumptions. Such events could include negotiations with a prospective customer for the utilization of an idle facility at terms significantly less favorable than used in our most recent impairment analysis, or changes in legislation surrounding a particular facility that could impact our ability to house certain types of inmates at such facility. Further, a substantial increase in the number of available beds at other facilities that we own, or in the marketplace, could lead to deterioration in market conditions and projected cash flows. Although they are not frequently received, an unsolicited offer to purchase any of our idle facilities, at amounts that are less than their carrying value could also cause us to reconsider the assumptions used in the most recent impairment analysis. We have identified marketing prospects to utilize each of the remaining currently idled facilities and do not see any catalysts that would result in a current impairment. However, we can provide no assurance that we will be able to secure management contracts to utilize our idle facilities, or that we will not incur impairment charges in the future. In all cases, the projected undiscounted cash flows in our analysis as of December 31, 2013 substantially exceeded the carrying amounts of each facility.

Our evaluations also take into consideration historical experience in securing new management contracts to utilize facilities that had been previously idled for periods comparable to or in excess of the periods our currently idle facilities have been idle. Such previously idle facilities are currently being operated under contracts that generate cash flows resulting in the recoverability of the net book value of the previously idled facilities by substantial amounts. Due to a variety of factors, the lead time to negotiate contracts with federal and state agencies to utilize idle bed capacity is generally lengthy which has historically resulted in periods of idleness similar to the ones we are currently experiencing. As a result of our analyses, we determined each of these assets to have recoverable values substantially in excess of the corresponding carrying values.

By their nature, these estimates contain uncertainties with respect to the extent and timing of the respective cash flows due to potential delays or material changes to forecasted terms and conditions in contracts with prospective customers that could impact the estimate of projected cash flows. Notwithstanding the effects the current economy has had on our customers’ demand for prison beds in the short term which has led to our decision to idle certain facilities, we believe the long-term trends favor an increase in the utilization of our idle correctional facilities. This belief is also based on our experience in operating in recessionary environments and based on our experience in working with governmental agencies faced with significant budgetary challenges which is a primary contributing factor to the lack of appropriated funding to build new bed capacity by federal and state agencies.

Discontinued Operations

We report the results of operations of a component of an entity that either has been disposed of or is classified as held for sale or where the management contracts with that component have terminated either by expiration or otherwise in discontinued operations. We present such events as discontinued operations so long as the financial results can be clearly identified, the future operations and cash flows are completely eliminated from ongoing operations, and so long as we do not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the component after the disposal or termination transaction.

When a component of an entity has been disposed of or classified as held for sale or a management contract is terminated, we look at our overall relationship with the customer. If the operations or cash flows of the component have been (or will be) eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity as a result of the transaction and the entity will not have significant continuing involvement in the operations of the component after the transaction, the results of operations of the component of an entity are reported in discontinued operations. If we will continue to maintain a relationship generating significant cash flows and having continuing involvement with the customer, the disposal, the asset held for sale classification or the loss of the management contract(s) is not treated as discontinued operations. If the disposal, the asset held for sale classification or the loss of the management contract(s) results in a loss in the overall customer relationship as no future significant

 

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cash flows will be generated and we will have no continuing involvement with the customer, the results are classified in discontinued operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The following accounting standards have an implementation date subsequent to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and as such, have not yet been adopted by us during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013:

In March 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (“ASU 2013-05”). The objective of ASU 2013-05 is to resolve diversity in practice regarding the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity. ASU 2013-05 is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The ASU is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-10, Inclusion of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (or Overnight Index Swap Rate) as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (“ASU 2013-10”). The objective of ASU 2013-10 is to provide for the inclusion of the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes, in addition to U.S Government Treasury obligations and the London Interbank Offered Rate. ASU 2013-10 is effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. The ASU is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Tax Force) (“ASU 2013-11”). The objective of ASU 2013-11 is to resolve diversity in practice regarding the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward exists. ASU 2013-11 is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The ASU is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the SEC did not, or are not expected to, have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes to the consolidated financial statements accompanying this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and those included in other portions of this report.

The discussion of our results of operations below excludes the results of discontinued operations reported in 2013, 2012 and 2011. Refer to Note 2 — Discontinued Operations of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in this Form 10-K for additional information.

In connection with our conversion to a REIT, on December 31, 2012 we changed our fiscal year to a calendar year and changed our fiscal quarters to coincide with each calendar quarter. For the purposes of the discussion below, “2012” means the period from January 2, 2012 to December 31, 2012, and “2011” means the period from January 3, 2011 to January 1, 2012.

 

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2013 versus 2012

Revenues

 

     2013      % of Revenue     2012      % of Revenue     $ Change     % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

U.S. Corrections & Detention

   $ 1,011,818         66.5   $ 974,780         65.9   $ 37,038        3.8

GEO Community Services

     302,094         19.8     291,891         19.7     10,203        3.5

International Services

     208,162         13.7     212,391         14.4     (4,229     (2.0 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

   $ 1,522,074         100.0   $ 1,479,062         100.0   $ 43,012        2.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

U.S. Corrections & Detention

Revenues increased in 2013 as compared to 2012 primarily due to aggregate increases of $24.3 million due to the activation and intake of inmates at Adelanto East in August 2012, Central Valley and Desert View in fourth quarter 2013 and the commencement of services under our contract, signed in October 2012, with the United States Marshals Service for the housing of up to 320 federal detainees at our Aurora Detention Facility. We also experienced aggregate increases in revenues of $28.9 million at certain of our facilities primarily due to net increases in population, transportation services and/or rates, including the expansion of New Castle in the first quarter of 2012. These increases were partially offset by an aggregate decrease of $16.1 million due to contract terminations.

The number of compensated mandays in U.S. Corrections & Detention facilities was 17.1 million in 2013 as compared to 16.6 million in 2012. We experienced an aggregate net increase of approximately 400,000 mandays as a result of our new contracts discussed above and also as a result of population increases at certain facilities. These increases were partially offset by decreases resulting from contract terminations. We look at the average occupancy in our facilities to determine how we are managing our available beds. The average occupancy is calculated by taking compensated mandays as a percentage of capacity. The average occupancy in our U.S. Detention & Corrections facilities was 95.4% and 96.3% of capacity in 2013 and 2012, respectively, excluding idle facilities.

GEO Community Services

The increase in revenues for GEO Community Based Services in 2013 compared to 2012 is primarily attributable to increases of $8.7 million due to new electronic monitoring equipment and an increase in ISAP counts at BI. In addition, we experienced a net increase of $5.5 million due to population increases at certain youth facilities and new programs and growth at our community based and re-entry centers. These increases were partially offset by decreases in revenues of $4.1 million related to contract terminations and census declines at certain facilities.

International Services

The decrease in revenues in 2013 compared to 2012 is primarily due to the result of foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $(14.6) million caused by the weakening of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies. This decrease was partially offset by an aggregate net increase of $10.4 million primarily attributable to our Australian subsidiary related to population increases, contractual increases linked to the inflationary index, and the provision of additional services under certain contracts.

Operating Expenses

 

     2013      % of  Segment
Revenues
    2012      % of  Segment
Revenues
    $ Change     % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

U.S. Corrections & Detention

   $ 731,788         72.3   $ 689,226         70.7   $ 42,562        6.2

GEO Community Services

     200,826         66.5     199,752         68.4     1,074        0.5

International Services

     192,251         92.4     200,254         94.3     (8,003     (4.0 )% 
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total

   $ 1,124,865         73.9   $ 1,089,232         73.6   $ 35,633        3.3
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

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Operating expenses consist of those expenses incurred in the operation and management of our correctional, detention and GEO Community Services facilities and expenses incurred in our Facility Construction and Design segment, except that there were no significant expenses incurred in such segment for 2013 or 2012.

U.S. Corrections & Detention

The increase in operating expenses for U.S. Corrections & Detention reflects the following: (i) the activation and intake of inmates at Adelanto East in August 2012, Central Valley and Desert View during fourth quarter 2013 and the commencement of services under our contract, signed in October 2012, with the United States Marshals Service at our Aurora Detention Facility which contributed an aggregate increase to operating expenses of $15.2 million; (ii) increases of $22.4 million at certain of our facilities primarily related to net population increases, higher levels of required staffing, additional medical costs and other variable costs; (iii) in 2012 we received approximately $10 million in net operating tax refunds, not related to income taxes, for certain previously disputed claims in various jurisdictions that did not recur in 2013; and (iv) in connection with our annual actuarial analysis we recorded an additional $6.1 million to our insurance reserves in 2013. Additionally, in 2012, we recorded a $0.8 million decrease to our reserve based on the same actuarial analysis. These increases were partially offset by aggregate decreases in operating expenses of $8.7 million due to contract terminations. We also donated one of our facilities during fourth quarter 2012 which resulted in a decrease over 2013 of $2.8 million. The additional charge to our insurance reserve in 2013 as compared to the net operating tax refunds received in 2012 resulted in an increase in our operating expenses as a percentage of revenues.

GEO Community Services

Operating expenses for GEO Community Services increased by $1.1 million during 2013 from 2012 primarily due to net increases of $4.5 million due to the following: (i) variable costs associated with increases in electronic monitoring contracts and ISAP services at BI; (ii) population increases at certain youth facilities and the related variable costs; and (iii) new programs and program growth at our community based and re-entry centers. In addition, in connection with our annual actuarial analysis, we recorded an additional $2.1 million to our insurance reserves during 2013. In 2012, we recorded an additional $1.3 million to our insurance reserves based on this same analysis. These increases were partially offset by decreases that resulted from contract terminations and census declines of $4.2 million. The decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of revenue is primarily due to a shift in our product mix to BI products that have higher profit margins.

International Services

Operating expenses for our International Services segment during 2013 decreased $8.0 million over 2012 which was primarily attributable to the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations of $(13.4) million caused by the weakening of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies. In addition, there was a net decrease of $4.2 million primarily related to cost cutting measures implemented to reduce overhead costs in the United Kingdom. These decreases were partially offset by a net increase of $9.6 million primarily attributable to our Australian subsidiary due to population increases, contractual increases in labor and additional services provided under new contracts at those facilities.

Depreciation and Amortization

 

     2013      % of  Segment
Revenue
    2012      % of  Segment
Revenue
    $ Change     % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

U.S. Corrections & Detention

   $ 62,112         6.1   $ 62,578         6.4   $ (466     (0.7 )% 

GEO Community Services

     29,989         9.9     26,738         9.2     3,251        12.2

International Services

     2,563         1.2     2,369         1.1     194        8.2
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

Total

   $ 94,664         6.2   $ 91,685         6.2   $ 2,979        3.2
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

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U.S. Corrections & Detention

U.S. Corrections & Detention depreciation and amortization expense decreased slightly in 2013 compared to 2012 primarily due to certain intangible assets which became fully amortized towards the end of 2012.

GEO Community Services

GEO Community Services depreciation and amortization increased by $3.3 million in 2013 compared to 2012. The increase is primarily due to an increase in monitoring and other equipment at BI in 2013 related to certain contract wins.

International Services

Depreciation and amortization expense increased slightly in 2013 compared to 2012 primarily due to increases in capital expenditures at our Australian subsidiary. This increase was partially offset by exchange rate fluctuations caused by the weakening of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies.

Other Unallocated Operating Expenses

 

    2013     % of Revenue     2012     % of Revenue     $ Change     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)  

General and Administrative Expenses

  $ 117,061        7.7   $ 113,792        7.0   $ 3,269        2.9

General and administrative expenses comprise substantially all of our other unallocated operating expenses including primarily corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. The increase in general and administrative expenses in 2013 compared to 2012 was primarily due to professional fees incurred in connection with our various debt refinancing activities and related registration statements in 2013. Refer to Note 14 — Debt of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Non Operating Income and Expense

Interest Income and Interest Expense

 

     2013      % of Revenue     2012      % of Revenue     $ Change     % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Interest Income

   $ 3,324         0.2   $ 6,716         0.5   $ (3,392     (50.5 )% 

Interest Expense

   $ 83,004         5.5   $ 82,189         5.6   $ 815        1.0

The majority of our interest income generated in 2013 and 2012 is from the cash balances at our foreign subsidiaries. Interest income decreased in 2013 primarily due to lower cash balances at our foreign subsidiaries along with declining interest rates in 2013.

Interest expense increased slightly in 2013 compared to 2012 due to the following: (i) interest expense increased by $12.5 million in connection with the completion of our $300 million 5.125% Senior Notes offering in March 2013; (ii) an increase of $1.2 million caused by the capitalization of interest in 2012; and (iii) interest expense increased by $3.7 million in connection with the completion of our $250 million 5 7/8% Senior Notes offering during the fourth quarter 2013. These increases were partially offset by decreases due to the following (i) interest expense on the Municipal Corrections Finance L.P. (“MCF”) 8.47% Taxable Revenue Bonds, Series 2001, due August 1, 2016 issued by MCF (the “MCF Bonds”) was $3.3 million (the MCF bonds were redeemed in August 2012); (ii) interest expense decreased in 2013 by $6.6 million as a result of our refinancing the Prior Senior Credit Facility in the second quarter 2013; (iii) a decrease of $4.1 million in connection with our tender offer and redemption of the 7 3/4% Senior Notes during the fourth quarter 2013; (iv) a decrease of $0.5 million related to the defeasance of the STLDC bonds in the third quarter 2013; and (v) other less significant decreases of $2.1 million. Refer to Note 14 — Debt of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

 

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Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt

 

    2013     % of Revenue     2012     % of Revenue     $ Change     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)  

Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt

  $ 20,657        1.4   $ 8,462        0.6   $ 12,195        144.1

The loss on extinguishment of debt in 2013 is the result of the following: (i) in the second quarter 2013, we refinanced our Prior Senior Credit Facility and entered into a new Credit Agreement, as a result of which, we wrote off $4.4 million of unamortized deferred financing costs and unamortized debt discount pertaining to the Prior Senior Credit Facility and expensed $1.1 million in fees related to the new Credit Agreement; (ii) our defeasance of the non-recourse bonds related to STLDC on September 30, 2013, as a result of which, we incurred a $1.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt which represented the excess of the reacquisition price over the carrying value of the bonds and other defeasance related fees and expenses; and (iii) in the fourth quarter 2013, we completed a tender offer and redemption of our 7 3/4% Senior Notes which resulted in a loss of $17.7 million related to the tender premium and deferred costs associated with the 7 3/4% Senior Notes. This loss was partially offset by proceeds of $4.0 million received for the settlement of the interest rate swaps related to the 7 3/4% Senior Notes. The loss on extinguishment of debt in 2012 was the result of our early redemption of the MCF Bonds. Refer to Note 14 — Debt of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Income Tax Benefit

 

     2013     Effective Rate     2012     Effective Rate  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Income Tax Benefit

   $ (26,050     (30.6 )%    $ (40,562     (40.4 )% 

The income tax benefit was $26.1 million in 2013 compared to $40.6 million in 2012 and the effective tax rate increased from (40.4)% to (30.6%). The benefit in both years is primarily attributable to our REIT conversion which became effective January 1, 2013. As a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to shareholders and in turn are allowed a deduction for the distribution at the REIT level. The Company’s wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiaries continue to be fully subject to federal, state and foreign income taxes, as applicable. In 2013, GEO had a net tax benefit relating to its REIT conversion, IRS settlement and miscellaneous nonrecurring items of $21.9 million. Together these items had a favorable impact to the effective tax rate. In 2012, GEO had a net tax benefit relating to the REIT conversion of $79.0 million which was primarily related to the reversal of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities upon conversion.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates

 

     2013      % of Revenue     2012      % of Revenue     $ Change      % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates

   $ 6,265         0.4   $ 3,578         0.2   $ 2,687         75.1

Equity in earnings of affiliates, presented net of income taxes, represents the earnings of SACS and GEOAmey, respectively. Overall, we experienced an increase in equity in earnings of affiliates during 2013 compared to 2012, which is primarily due to increased performance from the operations of GEOAmey in 2013 compared to 2012.

 

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2012 versus 2011

Revenues

 

     2012      % of Revenue     2011      % of Revenue     $ Change      % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

U.S. Corrections & Detention

   $ 974,780         65.9   $ 925,098         65.7   $ 49,682         5.4

GEO Community Services

     291,891         19.7     280,080         19.9     11,811         4.2

International Services

     212,391         14.4     201,994         14.4     10,397         5.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

Total

   $ 1,479,062         100.0   $ 1,407,172         100.0   $ 71,890         5.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

U.S. Corrections & Detention

Revenues increased in 2012 as compared to 2011 primarily due to aggregate increases of $55.6 million due to the activation and intake of inmates at Adelanto East, Riverbend Correctional Facility (“Riverbend”) and Karnes Civil Detention Center (“Karnes”). We also experienced aggregate increases in revenues of $37.5 million at certain of our facilities primarily due to net increases in population, transportation services and/or rates, including the expansion of New Castle in the first quarter of 2012. These increases were partially offset by an aggregate decrease of $44.0 million due to contract terminations and other decreases primarily related to lower populations at some facilities.

The number of compensated mandays in U.S. Corrections & Detention facilities was 16.6 million in 2012 as compared to 16.1 million in 2011. We experienced an aggregate net increase of approximately 500,000 mandays as a result of our new contracts discussed above and also as a result of population increases at certain facilities. These increases were partially offset by decreases resulting from contract terminations. We look at the average occupancy in our facilities to determine how we are managing our available beds. The average occupancy is calculated by taking compensated mandays as a percentage of capacity. The average occupancy in our U.S. Detention & Corrections facilities was 96.3% and 95.6% of capacity in 2012 and 2011, respectively, excluding idle facilities.

GEO Community Services

The increase in revenues for GEO Community Services in 2012 as compared to 2011 is primarily attributable to a full year of revenues generated by BI in 2012 compared to approximately ten and a half months of revenues in 2011 which contributed to an increase of $16.9 million. We also experienced a net increase in revenues of $5.1 million at certain of our facilities primarily due to increases in population and/or rates. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in revenues of $10.2 million related to our terminated contracts.

International Services

Revenues for our International Services segment during 2012 increased by $10.4 million over 2011 primarily due to the following factors: (i) aggregate increases at our Australian subsidiary of $7.8 million related to population increases, contractual increases linked to the inflationary index and the provision of additional services under certain contracts; (ii) aggregate increases at our South African subsidiary of $1.4 million primarily due to increases in the inflationary index; and (iii) an increase of $7.3 million due to the provision of additional services at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre (“Harmondsworth”) and the assumption of operations at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre (“Dungavel”) on September 25, 2011. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $2.7 million as a result of foreign exchange rate fluctuations and a decrease of $4.0 million in revenues due to the termination of the management contracts for the operation of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre (“Campsfield House”).

 

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Operating Expenses

 

     2012      % of  Segment
Revenues
    2011      % of  Segment
Revenues
    $ Change      % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

U.S. Corrections & Detention

   $ 689,226         70.7   $ 654,609         70.8   $ 34,617         5.3

GEO Community Services

     199,752         68.4     194,539         69.5     5,213         2.7

International Services

     200,254         94.3     186,862         92.5     13,392         7.2
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total

   $ 1,089,232         73.6   $ 1,036,010         73.6   $ 53,222         5.1
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Operating expenses consist of those expenses incurred in the operation and management of our correctional, detention and GEO Community Services facilities and expenses incurred on our Facility Construction and Design segment, except that there were no significant expenses incurred in such segment for 2012 and 2011.

U.S. Corrections & Detention

The increase in operating expenses for U.S. Corrections & Detention reflects the following: (i) the activation and intake of inmates at Adelanto East, Riverbend and Karnes which contributed an aggregate increase to operating expenses of $42.6 million, and (ii) increases of $28.7 million at certain of our facilities primarily related to net population increases, higher levels of required staffing and additional medical costs. We also donated one of our facilities during the fourth quarter 2012 which resulted in an increase of $2.8 million. These increases were partially offset by aggregate decreases in operating expenses of $30.0 million due to contract terminations. In addition, operating expenses decreased by $9.7 million in 2012 due to net operating tax refunds received, not related to income taxes, for certain previously disputed tax claims in various jurisdictions.

GEO Community Services

Operating expenses for GEO Community Services increased $5.2 million during 2012 from 2011 primarily due to BI, which was operating for a full year during 2012 compared to a partial year during 2011 as BI was acquired in February 2011. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in operating expenses for terminated contracts. During 2012, we experienced a decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of revenue due to improved margins resulting from our acquisition of BI.

International Services

Operating expenses for our International Services segment during 2012 increased $13.4 million over the prior year primarily due to: (i) an increase in operating expenses at our Australian and South African subsidiaries of $7.2 million related to increases in population and additional services provided at certain of those facilities; and (ii) a net increase of $8.4 million in operating expenses in the United Kingdom primarily due to the opening of Dungavel on September 25, 2011, partially offset by the termination of our contract for the management of Campsfield House effective in May 2011, and an increase in international bid costs incurred during 2012. These net increases were partially offset by a decrease of $2.7 million as a result of foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

Depreciation and Amortization

 

     2012      % of  Segment
Revenue
    2011      % of  Segment
Revenue
    $ Change      % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

U.S. Corrections & Detention

   $ 62,578         6.4   $ 55,207         6.0   $ 7,371         13.4

GEO Community Services

     26,738         9.2     24,271         8.7     2,467         10.2

International Services

     2,369         1.1     2,070         1.0     299         14.4
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total

   $ 91,685         6.2   $ 81,548         5.8   $ 10,137         12.4
  

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

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U.S. Corrections & Detention

U.S. Corrections & Detention depreciation and amortization expense increased by $7.4 million in 2012 compared to 2011 primarily as a result of the completion of construction projects in 2011 and 2012.

GEO Community Services

The increase in depreciation and amortization expense for GEO Community Services in 2012 compared to 2011 is primarily due to an increase in monitoring and other equipment at BI in 2012 related to certain contract wins and amortization of BI intangible assets. As BI was acquired in February 2011, 2011 does not include a full year of depreciation and amortization expense for BI.

International Services

Depreciation and amortization expense increased slightly in 2012 over 2011 primarily due to increases in capital expenditures at our Australian subsidiary and also from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in depreciation expense due to the termination of our Campsfield House management contract effective May 2011.

Other Unallocated Operating Expenses

 

    2012     % of Revenue     2011     % of Revenue     $ Change     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)  

General and Administrative Expenses

  $ 113,792        7.7   $ 110,015        7.8   $ 3,777        3.4

General and administrative expenses comprise substantially all of our other unallocated operating expenses including primarily corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. The increase in general and administrative expenses in 2012 compared to 2011 was due to REIT conversion related expenses and transaction costs related to the acquisition of MCF, offset by start-up costs incurred in 2011 in connection with the acquisition costs of BI and start-up costs incurred in 2011 for our joint venture in the United Kingdom.

Non Operating Income and Expense

Interest Income and Interest Expense

 

     2012      % of Revenue     2011      % of Revenue     $ Change     % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Interest Income

   $ 6,716         0.5   $ 7,032         0.5   $ (316     (4.5 )% 

Interest Expense

   $ 82,189         5.6   $ 75,378         5.4   $ 6,811        9.0

The majority of our interest income generated in 2012 and 2011 is from the cash balances at our foreign subsidiaries.

The increase in interest expense of $6.8 million is attributable to more indebtedness outstanding in 2012 compared to 2011. We incurred $2.2 million in additional interest expense during 2012 due to the issuance of our 6.625% Senior Notes in February 2011. We also incurred aggregate increases in interest expense of $5.3 million due to greater outstanding borrowings under our Prior Senior Credit Facility and due to the issuance of non-recourse debt by our wholly owned subsidiary in December 2011. We also had a reduction in capitalized interest in 2012 of $1.8 million due to the completion of the Karnes and Adelanto projects in the first half of 2012. These increases were partially offset by decreases in interest expense aggregating $2.3 million primarily due to lower outstanding borrowings on certain of our other non-recourse debt.

 

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Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt

 

    2012     % of Revenue     2011     % of Revenue     $ Change     % Change  
    (Dollars in thousands)  

Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt

  $ 8,462        0.6   $ —          —     $ 8,462        100.0

The loss on early extinguishment of debt in 2012 was the result of our early redemption of the MCF Bonds and consisted of a make-whole premium of $14.9 million which includes $0.1 million of bond redemption costs, offset by the effect of the unamortized bond premium of $6.4 million.

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes

 

     2012     Effective Rate     2011      Effective Rate  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes

   $ (40,562     (40.4 )%    $ 43,172         38.8

The effective tax rate for 2012 was (40.4)% and includes certain items related to the REIT conversion that had an overall favorable impact on the effective tax rate. Without these items our effective tax rate would have been 38.3% The effective tax rate for the same period in the prior year was 38.8% which included certain favorable one-time items. Excluding these one-time items, the effective tax rate for the same period in the prior year would have been 38.2%.

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates

 

     2012      % of Revenue     2011      % of Revenue     $ Change      % Change  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Equity in Earnings of Affiliates

   $ 3,578         0.2   $ 1,563         0.1   $ 2,015         128.9

Equity in earnings of affiliates, presented net of income taxes, represents the earnings (loss) of SACS and GEOAmey, respectively. Overall, we experienced an increase in equity in earnings of affiliates due to an increase in net earnings from SACS of $1.4 million, and a decreased net loss of $0.7 million from the operations of GEOAmey, which began operating in August 2011.

Financial Condition

Capital Requirements

Our current cash requirements consist of amounts needed for working capital, distributions of our REIT taxable income in order to maintain our REIT qualification under the Code, debt service, supply purchases, investments in joint ventures, and capital expenditures related to either the development of new correctional, detention and re-entry facilities, or the maintenance of existing facilities. In addition, some of our management contracts require us to make substantial initial expenditures of cash in connection with opening or renovating a facility. Generally, these initial expenditures are subsequently fully or partially recoverable as pass-through costs or are billable as a component of the per diem rates or monthly fixed fees to the contracting agency over the original term of the contract. Additional capital needs may also arise in the future with respect to possible acquisitions, other corporate transactions or other corporate purposes.

In connection with GEOAmey, our joint venture in the United Kingdom, we and our joint venture partner have each provided a line of credit of £12 million, or $19.8 million, based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2013, for GEOAmey’s operations.

We are currently developing a number of projects using Company financing. We estimate that these existing capital projects will cost approximately $68.9 million, of which $19.8 million was spent through the fiscal year

 

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ended December 31, 2013. We have future committed capital projects for which we estimate our remaining capital requirements to be approximately $49.1 million, which will be spent through fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Capital expenditures related to facility maintenance costs are expected to be approximately $23.0 million for fiscal year 2014. In addition to these current estimated capital requirements for 2014 and 2015, we are currently in the process of bidding on, or evaluating potential bids for the design, construction and management of a number of new projects. In the event that we win bids for these projects and decide to self-finance their construction, our capital requirements could materially increase.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Credit Agreement

On April 3, 2013, we entered into the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. (with GEO as the sole term loan borrower, and GEO and GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. as joint and several revolver borrowers), BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders who are, or may from time to time become, a party thereto. The Credit Agreement evidences a Senior Credit Facility consisting of a $300 million Term Loan initially bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% (with a LIBOR floor of 0.75%), and a $700 million revolving credit facility initially bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% (with no LIBOR floor), in each case subject to adjustment based on a total leverage ratio pricing grid. We also have the ability to increase the Senior Credit Facility by an additional $350 million, subject to lender demand, prevailing market conditions and satisfying the borrowing and other conditions thereunder. The Revolver component is scheduled to mature on April 3, 2018 and the Term Loan component is scheduled to mature on April 3, 2020. The Term Loan and Revolver may be prepaid in whole or in part by us at any time without premium or penalty, subject to certain conditions. The Senior Credit Facility is a refinancing of the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which consisted of a Term Loan A, Term Loan A-2, Term Loan A-3, Term Loan B and a revolver.

As of December 31, 2013, we had $298.5 million in aggregate borrowings outstanding, net of discount, under the Term Loan and $340.0 million in borrowings under the Revolver, and approximately $61.0 million in letters of credit which left $299.0 million in additional borrowing capacity under the Revolver.

In addition to the debt outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility, the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, and the 5 7/8% Senior Notes (each of which is discussed below), we also have significant debt obligations which, although these obligations are non-recourse to us, require cash expenditures for debt service. Our significant debt obligations could have material consequences. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our High Level of Indebtedness” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We are exposed to various commitments and contingencies which may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity. We also have guaranteed certain obligations for our South African joint venture and other of our international subsidiaries. These non-recourse obligations, commitments and contingencies and guarantees are further discussed in Notes 1, 14 and 18 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We are also considering opportunities for future business and/or asset acquisitions. If we are successful in our pursuit of these new projects, our cash on hand, cash flows from operations and borrowings under the existing Senior Credit Facility may not provide sufficient liquidity to meet our capital needs through 2014 and we could be forced to seek additional financing or refinance our existing indebtedness. There can be no assurance that any such financing or refinancing would be available to us on terms equal to or more favorable than our current financing terms, or at all. In the future, our access to capital and ability to compete for future capital-intensive projects will also be dependent upon, among other things, our ability to meet certain financial covenants in the indentures governing the 6.625% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes, the 5 7/8% Senior Notes, and our Senior Credit Facility. A substantial decline in our financial performance could limit our access to capital pursuant to these covenants and have a material adverse affect on our liquidity and capital resources and,

 

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as a result, on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition to these foregoing potential constraints on our capital, a number of state government agencies have been suffering from budget deficits and liquidity issues. While we expect to be in compliance with our debt covenants, if these constraints were to intensify, our liquidity could be materially adversely impacted as could our ability to remain in compliance with these debt covenants.

As a REIT, we are subject to a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement that we annually distribute to our shareholders an amount equal to at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (determined before the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital gain). Generally, we expect to distribute all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income so as not to be subject to the income or excise tax on undistributed REIT taxable income. The amount, timing and frequency of distributions will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will be based upon various factors. We began paying regular distributions in 2013. On January 17, 2013, our Board of Directors declared GEO’s first quarterly REIT cash dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock, which was paid on March 1, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2013. On May 7, 2013, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock, which was paid on June 3, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 20, 2013. On July 30, 2013, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock, which was paid on August 29, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 19, 2013. On November 1, 2013, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share of common stock which was paid on November 26, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 14, 2013.

We plan to fund all of our capital needs, including distributions of our REIT taxable income in order to maintain our REIT qualification under the Code, and capital expenditures, from cash on hand, cash from operations, borrowings under our Senior Credit Facility and any other financings which our management and Board, in their discretion, may consummate. Currently, our primary source of liquidity to meet these requirements is cash flow from operations and borrowings under the $700.0 million Revolver. Our management believes that cash on hand, cash flows from operations and availability under our Senior Credit Facility will be adequate to support our capital requirements for 2014 and 2015 as disclosed under “Capital Requirements” above.

Senior Credit Facility

Indebtedness under the Revolver bears interest based on the Total Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement, as of the most recent determination date, as defined, in each of the instances below at the stated rate:

 

    

Interest Rate under the Revolver

and Term Loan A

LIBOR borrowings

   LIBOR plus 1.75% to 2.75%.

Base rate borrowings

   Prime Rate plus 0.75% to 1.75%.

Letters of credit

   1.75% to 2.75%.

Unused Revolver

   0.35% to 0.375%.

The Credit Agreement contains certain representations and warranties, certain affirmative covenants and certain negative covenants that (subject to certain exceptions and allowances) restrict our ability to, among other things, (i) create, incur or assume indebtedness, (ii) create, incur, assume or permit liens, (iii) make loans and other investments, (iv) engage in mergers, acquisitions, liquidations and asset sales, (v) make certain restricted payments, (vi) issue, sell or otherwise dispose of certain types of non-common equity, (vii) engage in transactions with affiliates, (viii) allow the total leverage ratio to exceed 5.75 to 1.00, allow the senior secured leverage ratio to exceed 3.50 to 1.00 or allow the interest coverage ratio to be less than 3.00 to 1.00, (ix) cancel,

 

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forgive, make any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on, or redeem or acquire for value certain of our senior notes, except as permitted, (x) alter the business we conduct, and (xi) materially impair our lenders’ security interests in the collateral for our loans.

The Senior Credit Facility generally requires the Interest Coverage Ratio to be calculated as (a) Adjusted EBITDA (as defined under the Senior Credit Facility) for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to (b) Interest Expense (as defined under the Senior Credit Facility), minus Interest Expense attributable to Indebtedness of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Other Consolidated Persons that is Non-Recourse to us and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such four quarter period (capitalized terms are defined in the Senior Credit Facility).

Events of default under the Credit Agreement include, but are not limited to, (i) our failure to pay principal or letter of credit reimbursement obligations when due or to pay any interest or other amounts within three business days of the payment deadline, (ii) our material breach of any representations or warranty, (iii) covenant defaults, (iv) liquidation, reorganization or other relief relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, (v) cross default under certain other material indebtedness, (vi) unsatisfied final monetary judgments over a specified threshold, (vii) material environmental liability claims which have been asserted against us, and (viii) a change in control. All of the obligations under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by each of our domestic subsidiaries that are restricted subsidiaries under the Senior Credit Facility. The Senior Credit Facility and the related guarantees are secured on a first-priority basis by substantially all of our present and future tangible and intangible assets, subject to certain exceptions, and all present and future tangible and intangible assets, subject to certain exceptions, of each guarantor. Our failure to comply with any of the covenants under our Credit Agreement could cause an event of default under such documents and result in an acceleration of all outstanding senior secured indebtedness. We believe we were in compliance with all of the covenants of the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2013.

6.625% Senior Notes

On February 10, 2011, we completed an offering of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes in a private offering under the indenture dated as of February 10, 2011 among us, certain of our domestic subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The 6.625% Senior Notes were offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The 6.625% Senior Notes were issued at a coupon rate and yield to maturity of 6.625%. Interest on the 6.625% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on February 15 and August 15 each year. The 6.625% Senior Notes mature on February 15, 2021. The 6.625% Senior Notes and the guarantees are our general unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt, including our 5.125% Senior Notes and the 5 7/8% Senior Notes. The 6.625% Senior Notes and the guarantees are effectively subordinated to any of our and the guarantors’ existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, including all anticipated borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility. The 6.625% Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 6.625% Senior Notes.

At any time on or prior to February 15, 2014, we may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding 6.625% Senior Notes issued under the indenture at a redemption price of 106.625% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages (as defined in the indenture), if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings; provided, that: (1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes issued under the indenture (including any additional notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding notes held by us and our subsidiaries); and (2) the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such equity offering. In addition, we may, at our option, redeem all or part of the 6.625% Senior Notes prior to February 15, 2016, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of

 

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each note to be redeemed plus a “make whole” premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of redemption.

On or after February 15, 2016, we may, at our option, redeem all or part of the 6.625% Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages, if any, on the 6.625% Senior Notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on February 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

  

Percentage

 

2016

     103.313

2017

     102.208

2018

     101.104

2019 and thereafter

    
100.000

If there is a “change of control” (as defined in the indenture), holders of the 6.625% Senior Notes will have the right to cause us to repurchase their 6.625% Senior Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 6.625% Senior Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the purchase date.

The indenture governing the notes contains certain covenants, including limitations and restrictions on us and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to: incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock; make dividend payments or other restricted payments; create liens; sell assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; and enter into mergers, consolidations or sales of all or substantially all of our assets. As of the date of the indenture, all of our subsidiaries, other than certain dormant domestic and other subsidiaries and all foreign subsidiaries in existence on the date of the indenture, were restricted subsidiaries. Our failure to comply with certain of the covenants under the indenture governing the 6.625% Senior Notes could cause an event of default of any indebtedness and result in an acceleration of such indebtedness. In addition, there is a cross-default provision which becomes enforceable upon failure of payment of indebtedness at final maturity. Our unrestricted subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants in the indenture. We believe we were in compliance with all of the covenants of the indenture governing the 6.625% Senior Notes as of December 31, 2013.

The indenture also contains events of default with respect to, among other things, the following: failure by us to pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the 6.625% Senior Notes when due, which failure continues for 30 days; failure by us to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the 6.625% Senior Notes when due; failure by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries to comply with their obligations to offer to repurchase the 6.625% Senior Notes at the option of the holders of the 6.625% Senior Notes upon a change of control, to offer to redeem notes under certain circumstances in connection with asset sales with “excess proceeds” (as defined in the indenture) in excess of $25.0 million or to observe certain restrictions on mergers, consolidations and sales of substantially all of their assets; the failure by us or any guarantor to comply with any of the other agreements in the indenture, which failure continues for 60 days after notice; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of us or a restricted subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary or any group of restricted subsidiaries that together would constitute a significant subsidiary. We realized net proceeds of $293.3 million upon the closing of the transaction and used the net proceeds of the offering, together with borrowings of $150.0 million under the Prior Senior Credit Facility, to finance the BI Acquisition. The remaining net proceeds from the offering were used for general corporate purposes.

Under the terms of the registration rights agreement, dated as of February 10, 2011, among us, the guarantors and the initial purchasers of the notes, we agreed to register under the Securities Act notes having terms identical in all material respects to the 6.625% Senior Notes (the “6.625% Exchange Notes”) and to make an offer to exchange the 6.625% Exchange Notes for the 6.625% Senior Notes. We filed the registration

 

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statement on April 12, 2011 which was declared effective on July 22, 2011. We launched the exchange offer on July 25, 2011 and the exchange offer expired on August 22, 2011.

5.125% Senior Notes

On March 19, 2013, we completed an offering of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Notes in a private offering under the indenture dated as of March 19, 2013 among us, certain of our domestic subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The 5.125% Senior Notes were offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The 5.125% Senior Notes mature on April 1, 2023 and have a coupon rate and yield to maturity of 5.125%. Interest on the 5.125% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on April 1 and October 1 each year. The 5.125% Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of our restricted subsidiaries that guarantee obligations under the Senior Credit Facility, our 6.625% Senior Notes, and our 5 7/8% Senior Notes. The 5.125% Senior Notes and the guarantees are our general unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt, including our 6.625% Senior Notes and the 5 7/8% Senior Notes. The 5.125% Senior Notes and the guarantees are effectively subordinated to any of our and the guarantors’ existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, including all anticipated borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility. The 5.125% Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 5.125% Senior Notes.

At any time on or prior to April 1, 2016, we may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes issued under the indenture at a redemption price of 105.125% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages (as defined in the indenture), if any, to the redemption date, with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings (as defined in the indenture); provided, that: (1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Notes issued under the indenture (including any additional notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding notes held by us and our subsidiaries); and (2) the redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing of such equity offering. At any time prior to April 1, 2018, we may, at our option, redeem all or a part of the 5.125% Senior Notes upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) the Applicable Premium (as defined in the indenture) as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the date of redemption.

On or after April 1, 2018, we may, at our option, redeem all or a part of the 5.125% Senior Notes upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days notice at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the 5.125% Senior Notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the 12 months period beginning on April 1 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

    Percentage   

2018

    102.563

2019

    101.708

2020

    100.854

2021 and thereafter

    100.000

As discussed above, on April 3, 2013, our Prior Senior Credit Facility was refinanced and a portion of the proceeds of the 5.125% Senior Notes were used to pay the outstanding Prior Term Loans under the Senior Credit Facility. Loan costs of $6.8 million were incurred and capitalized in connection with the issuance of the 5.125% Senior Notes.

 

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If there is a “change of control” (as defined in the indenture), holders of the 5.125% Senior Notes will have the right to cause us to repurchase their 5.125% Senior Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 5.125% Senior Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the purchase date.

The indenture governing the 5.125% Senior Notes contains certain covenants, including limitations and restrictions on our and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to: incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock; make dividend payments or other restricted payments; create liens; sell assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; and enter into mergers, consolidations or sales of all or substantially all of our assets. As of the date of the indenture, all of our subsidiaries, other than certain dormant domestic and other subsidiaries and all foreign subsidiaries in existence on the date of the indenture, were restricted subsidiaries. Our failure to comply with certain of the covenants under the indenture governing the 5.125% Senior Notes could cause an event of default of any indebtedness and result in an acceleration of such indebtedness. In addition, there is a cross-default provision which becomes enforceable upon failure of payment of indebtedness at final maturity. Our unrestricted subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants in the indenture. We believe we were in compliance with all of the covenants of the indenture governing the 5.125% Senior Notes as of December 31, 2013.

The indenture also contains events of default with respect to, among other things, the following: failure by us to pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the 5.125% Senior Notes when due, which failure continues for 30 days; failure by us to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the 5.125% Senior Notes when due; failure by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries to comply with their obligations to offer to repurchase the 5.125% Senior Notes at the option of the holders of the 5.125% Senior Notes upon a change of control, to offer to redeem notes under certain circumstances in connection with asset sales with “excess proceeds” (as defined in the indenture) in excess of $25.0 million or to observe certain restrictions on mergers, consolidations and sales of substantially all of their assets; the failure by us or any guarantor to comply with any of the other agreements in the indenture, which failure continues for 60 days after notice; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of us or a restricted subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary or any group of restricted subsidiaries that together would constitute a significant subsidiary.

Under the terms of a registration rights agreement dated as of March 19, 2013, among us, the guarantors and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as the representative of the initial purchasers of the 5.125% Senior Notes, we agreed to register under the Securities Act the 5.125% Exchange Notes and to make an offer to exchange the 5.125% Exchange Notes for the 5.125% Senior Notes. We filed the registration statement on May 30, 2013 which was declared effective on September 12, 2013. We launched the exchange offer on September 13, 2013 and the exchange offer expired on October 11, 2013.

5 7/8% Senior Notes

On October 3, 2013, we completed an offering of $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5 7/8% Senior Notes in a private offering under the indenture dated as of October 3, 2013 among us, certain of our domestic subsidiaries, as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes were offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulations S under the Securities Act. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes were issued at a coupon rate and yield to maturity of 5 7/8% . Interest on the 5 7/8% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on January 15 and July 15 each year. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes mature on January 15, 2022. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes and the guarantees are our general unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt, including our 6.625% Senior Notes and the 5.125% Senior Notes. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes and the guarantees are effectively subordinated to any of our and the guarantors’ existing and future secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, including all anticipated borrowings

 

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under the Senior Credit Facility. The 5 7/8% Senior Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 5 7/8% Senior Notes.

Up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 5 7/8% Senior Notes may be redeemed on or prior to January 15, 2016, with the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 105.875% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages (as defined in the indenture), if any, to the redemption date. In addition, we may, at our option, redeem the 5 7/8% Senior Notes in whole or in part before January 15, 2017 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 5 7/8% Senior Notes being redeemed plus a “make-whole” premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the redemption date. On or after January 15, 2017, we may, at our option, redeem all or part of the 5 7/8% Senior Notes upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest and including Liquidated Damages, if any, on the 5 7/8% Senior Notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on January 15 of the years indicated below:

 

Year

     Percentage   

2017

     104.406%   

2018

     102.938%   

2019

     101.469%   

2020 and thereafter

    
100.000%
  

If there is a “change of control” (as defined in the indenture), holders of the 5 7/8% Senior Notes will have the right to cause us to repurchase their 5 7/8% Senior Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 5 7/8% Senior Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the purchase date.

The indenture governing the 5 7/8% Senior Notes contains certain covenants, including limitations and restrictions on our and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to: incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock; make dividend payments or other restricted payments; create liens; sell assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; and enter into mergers, consolidations or sales of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets. As of the date of the indenture, all of our subsidiaries, other than certain dormant domestic and other subsidiaries and all foreign subsidiaries in existence on the date of the indenture, were restricted subsidiaries. Our failure to comply with certain of the covenants under the indenture governing the 5 7/8% Senior Notes could cause an event of default of any indebtedness and result in an acceleration of such indebtedness. In addition, there is a cross-default provision which becomes enforceable upon failure of payment of indebtedness at final maturity. Our unrestricted subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the restrictive covenants in the indenture. We believe we were in compliance with all of the covenants of the indenture governing the 5 7/8% Senior Notes as of December 31, 2013.

The indenture also contains events of default with respect to, among other things, the following: failure by us to pay interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the 5 7/8% Senior Notes when due, which failure continues for 30 days; failure by us to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on, the 5 7/8% Senior Notes when due; failure by us or any of our restricted subsidiaries to comply with their obligations to offer to repurchase the 5 7/8% Senior Notes at the option of the holders of the 5 7/8% Senior Notes upon a change of control, to offer to redeem notes under certain circumstances in connection with asset sales with “excess proceeds” (as defined in the indenture) in excess of $25.0 million or to observe certain restrictions on mergers, consolidations and sales of substantially all of their assets; the failure by us or any guarantor to comply with any of the other agreements in the indenture, which failure continues for 60 days after notice; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of us or a restricted subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary or any group of restricted subsidiaries that together would constitute a significant subsidiary. We used the net proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, to fund the repurchase, redemption or other discharge of our 7 3/4% Senior Notes (see discussion below) and to pay related transaction fees and expenses. Loan costs of $5.9 million were incurred and capitalized in connection with the offering.

 

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Under the terms of the registration rights agreement, dated as of October 3, 2013, among us, the guarantors and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as the representative of the initial purchasers of the notes, we agreed to register under the Securities Act the 5 7/8% Exchange Notes and to make an offer to exchange the 5 7/8% Exchange Notes for the 5 7/8% Senior Notes. We filed the registration statement on October 2, 2013 which was declared effective on January 6, 2014. We launched the exchange offer on January 6, 2014 and the exchange offer expired on February 4, 2014.

7 3/4% Senior Notes

On October 20, 2009, we completed a private offering of $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our 7 3/4% Senior Notes. These senior unsecured notes paid interest semi-annually in cash in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2010.

On September 19, 2013, we announced the commencement of a cash tender offer and consent solicitation for any and all of our outstanding 7 3/4% Senior Notes. On October 3, 2013, we completed the purchase of $209.1 million in aggregate principal amount of our 7 3/4% Senior Notes validly tendered in connection with our tender offer and consent solicitation on or prior to the consent payment deadline. On November 4, 2013, we completed the redemption of the remaining 7 3/4% Senior Notes in connection with the terms of the notice of redemption delivered to the noteholders pursuant to the terms of the indenture governing the 7 3/4% Senior Notes. We financed the purchase of the 7 3/4% Senior Notes under the tender offer and the redemption of the remaining 7 3/4% Senior Notes with the net cash proceeds from the 5 7/8% Senior Notes and cash on hand (see discussion above).

Non-Recourse Debt

South Texas Detention Complex

We had a debt service requirement related to the development of the South Texas Detention Complex, a 1,904-bed detention complex in Frio County, Texas acquired in November 2005 from Correctional Services Corporation (“CSC”). CSC was awarded the contract in February 2004 by the Department of Homeland Security, ICE for development and operation of the detention center. In order to finance the construction of the complex, STLDC was created and issued $49.5 million in taxable revenue bonds. These bonds matured in February 2016 and had fixed coupon rates between 4.63% and 5.07%. Additionally, we were owed $5.0 million in the form of subordinated notes by STLDC which represented the principal amount of financing provided to STLDC by CSC for initial development.

On September 30, 2013, we completed a legal defeasance of the $49.5 million taxable revenue bonds with an outstanding balance of $17.2 million which were to mature in February 2016. Upon closing of the transaction, we received $17.3 million of funds held in trust with respect to the STLDC which was held for future debt service and other reserves. These funds were previously included in our current and non-current restricted cash and investments. In connection with the defeasance, we incurred a $1.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt which represented the excess of the reacquisition price of the defeasance over the net carrying value of the bonds and other defeasance related fees and expenses.

Northwest Detention Center

On June 30, 2003, CSC arranged financing for the construction of a detention center in Tacoma, Washington, referred to as the Northwest Detention Center, which was completed and opened for operation in April 2004. We began to operate this facility following our acquisition of CSC in November 2005 (this facility was expanded by us in 2009 to 1,575 beds from the original 1,030 beds).

In connection with the original financing, CSC of Tacoma, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CSC, issued a $57.0 million note payable to the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority (“WEDFA”), an instrumentality of the State of Washington, which issued revenue bonds (“2003 Revenue Bonds”) and subsequently loaned the proceeds of the bond issuance back to CSC for the purposes of constructing the

 

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Northwest Detention Center. The proceeds of the loan were disbursed into escrow accounts held in trust to be used to pay the issuance costs for the revenue bonds, to construct the Northwest Detention Center and to establish debt service and other reserves. The bonds are non-recourse to us and the loan from WEDFA to CSC is non-recourse to us. These bonds mature in October 2014 and have fixed coupon rates of 4.10%.

Additionally, on December 9, 2011, WEDFA issued $54.4 million of its Washington Economic Development Finance Authority Taxable Economic Development Revenue Bonds, series 2011 (“2011 Revenue Bonds”). The bonds were rated AA- by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and the scheduled payment of principal and interest is guaranteed by municipal bond insurance issued by Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. The 2011 Revenue Bonds have an average all-in cost of approximately 6.4%, including debt issuance costs and the bond discount, and maturity dates ranging from October 1, 2014 through October 1, 2021. The 2011 Revenue Bonds were issued to provide funds to make a loan to CSC of Tacoma, LLC for purposes of reimbursing us for costs incurred by us for the 2009 expansion of the Northwest Detention Facility and paying the costs of issuing the 2011 Revenue Bonds. The payment of principal and interest on the bonds is non-recourse to us. None of the bonds nor CSC’s obligations under the loan are our obligations nor are they guaranteed by us.

As of December 31, 2013, the remaining balance of the debt service requirement related to the 2003 Revenue Bonds and 2011 Revenue Bonds is $61.2 million, of which $11.8 million is classified as current in the accompanying balance sheet. As of December 31, 2013, included in restricted cash and investments is $11.5 million (all current) of funds held in trust with respect to the Northwest Detention Center for debt service and other reserves which had not been released to us as of December 31, 2013.

Australia

Our wholly-owned Australian subsidiary financed the development of a facility and subsequent expansion in 2003 with long-term debt obligations. These obligations are non-recourse to us and total $23.9 million (AUD 26.9 million) and $34.8 million (AUD 33.6 million) at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, based on exchange rates in effect as of December 31, 2013. The term of the non-recourse debt is through 2017 and it bears interest at a variable rate quoted by certain Australian banks plus 140 basis points. Any obligations or liabilities of the subsidiary are matched by a similar or corresponding commitment from the government of the State of Victoria. As a condition of the loan, we are required to maintain a restricted cash balance of AUD 5.0 million along with interest earned on the account, which, at December 31, 2013, was $5.1 million (including interest) based on exchange rates in effect as of December 31, 2013. This amount is included in non-current restricted cash and the annual maturities of the future debt obligation are included in Non-Recourse Debt.

Guarantees

In connection with the creation of SACS, we entered into certain guarantees related to the financing, construction and operation of the prison. We guaranteed certain obligations of SACS under our debt agreements to SACS’ senior lenders through the issuance of letters of credit for 60.0 million South African Rand. During the fiscal year ended January 1, 2012, we were notified by SACS’ lenders that these guarantees were reduced from 60.0 million South African Rand to 34.8 million South African Rand, or $3.3 million based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2013. Additionally, SACS was required to fund a Rectification Account for the repayment of certain costs in the event of contract termination. As such, we had guaranteed the payment of 60% of amounts which may have been payable by SACS into the Rectification Account by providing a standby letter of credit of 8.4 million South African Rand as security for this guarantee. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, SACS met its obligation for the funding of the Rectification Account and the letter of credit for 8.4 million South African Rand relative to this guarantee was not renewed. In the event SACS is unable to maintain the required funding in the Rectification Account, the guarantee for the shortfall will need to be re-instated. No amounts were drawn against these letters of credit. The remaining guarantee of 34.8 million South African Rand is included as part of the value of our outstanding letters of credit under our Revolver as of December 31, 2013.

 

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In addition to the above, we have also agreed to provide a loan, of up to 20.0 million South African Rand, or $1.9 million based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2013, referred to as the Shareholder’s Loan, to SACS for the purpose of financing SACS’ obligations under its contract with the South African government. No amounts have been funded under the Shareholder’s Loan, and we do not currently anticipate that such funding will be required by SACS in the future. Our obligations under the Shareholder’s Loan expire upon the earlier of full funding or SACS’s release from its obligations under its debt agreements. The lenders’ ability to draw on the Shareholder’s Loan is limited to certain circumstances, including termination of the contract.

We have also guaranteed certain obligations of SACS to the security trustee for SACS’ lenders. We secured our guarantee to the security trustee by ceding our rights to claims against SACS in respect of any loans or other finance agreements, and by pledging our shares in SACS. Our liability under the guarantee is limited to the cession and pledge of shares. The guarantee expires upon expiration of the cession and pledge agreements.

In connection with a design, build, finance and maintenance contract for a facility in Canada, we guaranteed certain potential tax obligations of a trust. The potential estimated exposure of these obligations is Canadian Dollar (“CAD”) $2.5 million, or $2.3 million based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2013, commencing in 2017. We have a liability of $2.0 million and $2.2 million related to this exposure included in Other Non-Current Liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. To secure this guarantee, we purchased Canadian dollar denominated securities with maturities matched to the estimated tax obligations in 2017 to 2021. We have recorded an asset equal to the current fair market value of those securities included in Other Non-Current Assets as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, on our consolidated balance sheets. We do not currently operate or manage this facility.

At December 31, 2013, we also had eight letters of guarantee outstanding under separate international facilities relating to performance guarantees of our Australian subsidiary totaling $10.8 million.

In connection with the creation of GEOAmey, we and our joint venture partner guarantee the availability of working capital in equal proportion to ensure that GEOAmey can comply with current and future contractual commitments related to the performance of our operations. We and the 50% joint venture partner have each extended a £12 million line of credit of which £12.0 million, or $19.8 million based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2013, was outstanding as of December 31, 2013. Our maximum exposure relative to the joint venture is its note receivable of $19.8 million and future financial support necessary to guarantee performance under the contract.

Executive Retirement Agreements

We have a non-qualified deferred compensation agreement with our Chief Executive Officer, which we refer to as our CEO. The current agreement, as amended, provides for a lump sum payment upon retirement, no sooner than age 55. As of December 31, 2013, our CEO had reached age 55 and was eligible to receive the payment upon retirement. On August 22, 2012, the agreement was amended to eliminate the tax gross-up provision for taxes applicable to our CEO’s lump sum retirement payment. In exchange for the elimination of the tax gross-up provision, the amount of the lump sum retirement payment our CEO is entitled to receive has been proportionately increased so that our CEO would receive substantially the same net benefit he would otherwise have received if the tax gross-up provision remained in place. If our CEO had retired as of December 31, 2013, we would have had to pay him $6.8 million. Based on our current capitalization, we do not believe that making this payment would materially adversely impact our liquidity.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Except as discussed above, we do not have any off balance sheet arrangements.

We are also exposed to various commitments and contingencies which may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity. See Note 18 — Commitments and Contingencies of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Derivatives

Our Australian subsidiary is a party to an interest rate swap agreement to fix the interest rate on the variable rate non-recourse debt to 9.7%. We have determined the swap, which has a notional amount of $50.9 million, payment and expiration dates, and call provisions that coincide with the terms of the non-recourse debt, to be an effective cash flow hedge. Accordingly, we record the change in the value of the interest rate swap in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes. Total net unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the periods and recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, related to this cash flow hedge was $(0.5) million and $(1.2) million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and January 1, 2012, respectively. The net unrealized gain (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2013 was not significant. The total value of the swap liability as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $0.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and is recorded as a component of other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. There was no material ineffectiveness of this interest rate swap for the fiscal periods presented. We do not expect to enter into any transactions during the next twelve months which would result in the reclassification into earnings or losses associated with this swap currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Contractual Obligations

The following is a table of certain of our contractual obligations, as of December 31, 2013, which requires us to make payments over the periods presented.

 

     Payments Due by Period  

Contractual Obligations

   Total      Less Than
1  Year
     1-3 Years      3-5 Years      More Than
5 Years
 
     (In thousands)  

Long-Term Debt

   $ 850,221       $ 185       $ 25       $ 8       $ 850,003   

Term Loan

     298,500         3,000         6,000         6,000         283,500   

Revolver

     340,000         —           —           340,000         —     

Capital Lease Obligations (includes imputed interest)

     16,722         1,949         3,867         3,870         7,036   

Operating Lease Obligations

     153,659         38,028         58,872         32,871         23,888   

Non-Recourse Debt

     85,091         17,978         27,193         16,911         23,009   

Estimated interest payments on debt(a)

     718,814         79,303         169,064         173,683         296,764   

Estimated funding of pension and other post retirement benefits

     20,034         7,228         874         976         10,956   

Estimated construction commitments

     49,100         48,650         450         —           —     

Estimated tax payments for uncertain tax positions(b)

     2,542         —           2,542         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,534,683       $ 196,321       $ 268,887       $ 574,319       $ 1,495,156   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Due to the uncertainties of future LIBOR rates, the variable interest payments on our Senior Credit Facility and swap agreements were calculated using an average LIBOR rate of 1.72% based on projected interest rates through fiscal 2019.
(b) State income tax payments are reflected net of the federal income tax benefit.

 

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Cash Flow

Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2013 was $52.1 million, compared to $31.8 million as of December 31, 2012 and was impacted by the following:

Cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $192.2 million, $255.2 million, and $185.7 million, respectively. Cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations in 2013 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, loss on extinguishment of debt, stock-based compensation expense and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. These positive impacts were offset by changes in our working capital components which were primarily driven by increases in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets along with decreases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets increased by $27.2 million, representing a negative impact on cash. The increase was primarily driven by federal and state income tax overpayments of $22.4 million included in prepaid expenses and other current assets at December 31, 2013 and the timing of billings and collections. Increases in equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax, the tax benefit related to equity compensation and a release of reserves for uncertain tax positions also negatively impacted cash. Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities decreased by $10.0 million which negatively impacted cash. The decrease was primarily caused by general liability insurance settlements in 2013, a release of reserves for uncertain tax positions and the timing of payments on accounts payable and accrued payroll and related taxes.

Cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations in 2012 was positively impacted by increases in net income attributable to GEO, non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization and stock based compensation expense. These positive impacts were offset by the deferred income tax benefit and changes in our working capital components which were primarily driven by decreases in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets along with increases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased by $44.7 million and represented a source of cash. The decrease was primarily caused by increased operations at several new facilities which opened during 2011 and 2012. Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities increased by $27.4 million, net of acquisitions, and represented a use of cash. The increase was primarily caused by the timing of payments and a $15 million customer prepayment in 2012.

Cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations in 2011 was positively impacted by increases in net income attributable to GEO, non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization and stock based compensation expense as well as from cash dividends received from our joint venture in South Africa of $9.9 million. These positive impacts were offset by changes in our working capital components which were primarily driven by decreases in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets along with decreases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased by $20.1 million, net of acquisitions, and represented a use of cash. The decrease was primarily due to the timing of billings and collections. Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities decreased by $16.8 million, net of acquisitions, and represented a use of cash. The decrease was primarily caused by the timing of payments.

Cash used in investing activities by continuing operations of $99.0 million in 2013 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $117.6 million, offset by an decrease in restricted cash of $17.4 million. Cash used in investing activities by continuing operations of $52.6 million in 2012 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $107.6 million and the acquisition of the ownership interests in MCF of $35.2 million, offset by a decrease in restricted cash of $51.2 million and the proceeds from the RTS divestiture of $33.3 million. Cash used in investing activities in 2011 of $632.5 million primarily related to our cash consideration of the purchase of BI for $409.6 million and $222.0 million for capital expenditures.

Cash used in financing activities by continuing operations in 2013 reflects payments of $1,134.5 million on indebtedness offset by $1,238.0 million of proceeds from long term debt, including $300.0 million from the

 

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5.125% Senior Notes, $250.0 million from the 5 7/8% Senior Notes as well as $688.0 million of borrowings under our Revolver. We also paid cash dividends of $147.2 million, deferred debt issuance costs of $23.8 million and debt issuance fees of $13.4 million.

Cash used in financing activities by continuing operations in 2012 reflects payments of $456.5 million on indebtedness offset by $358.0 million of borrowings under our Prior Senior Credit Facility which includes proceeds of $100.0 million from our prior Term Loan A-3. We also made a cash distribution of $5.8 million to the partners of MCF, paid a $102.4 million dividend to our shareholders and paid $14.9 million in fees, including a make-whole provision, related to the early extinguishment of debt in connection with the redemption of the MCF bonds.

Cash provided by financing activities by continuing operations in 2011 of $454.0 million reflects proceeds from our Prior Senior Credit Facility and 6.625% Senior Notes of $782.2 million and proceeds of $53.2 million from our 2011 Revenue Bonds, net of discount, offset by payments on indebtedness of $289.8 million. We also made a cash distribution of $4.0 million to the partners of MCF and paid $15.5 million in connection with the issuance of 2011 Revenue Bonds and the financing of the BI Acquisition. Additionally, we paid $75.0 million in 2011 for purchases of our common stock.

Inflation

We believe that inflation, in general, did not have a material effect on our results of operations during 2013, 2012 and 2011. While some of our contracts include provisions for inflationary indexing, inflation could have a substantial adverse effect on our results of operations in the future to the extent that wages and salaries, which represent our largest expense, increase at a faster rate than the per diem or fixed rates received by us for our management services.

Outlook

The following discussion of our future performance contains statements that are not historical statements and, therefore, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied in the forward-looking statement. Please refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the “Forward-Looking Statements — Safe Harbor,” as well as the other disclosures contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further discussion on forward-looking statements and the risks and other factors that could prevent us from achieving our goals and cause the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements and the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements.

Revenue

Domestically, we continue to pursue a number of opportunities for corrections and detention facilities. Continued need for corrections facilities in various states and the need for bed space at federal prisons and detention facilities are two of the factors that have contributed to these opportunities. At the state level, we recently signed two contracts with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the housing of 1,400 inmates at our company-owned, 700-bed Central Valley Modified Community Correctional Facility and our company-owned, 700-bed Desert View Modified Community Correctional Facility. Additionally, we executed a new contract for the continued housing of California inmates at our company-owned Golden State Modified Community Correctional Facility, which increased the facility’s contract capacity from 600 to 700 beds. In Florida, the Department of Management Services awarded us three contracts for the management of 3,854 contract prison beds which are currently managed by a different private operator. Effective February 1, 2014, we assumed operation of the 1,884-bed Graceville Correctional Facility, the 985-bed Moore Haven Correctional Facility, and the 985-bed Bay Correctional Facility. At the federal level, we recently signed a contract with ICE for the development and management of a new 400-bed immigration transfer center in Alexandria, Louisiana. We continue to be encouraged by opportunities as

 

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discussed above; however any positive trends may, to some extent, be adversely impacted by government budgetary constraints in the future. While more than two-thirds of legislative fiscal directors described their state fiscal situation as stable, still seventeen states reported that at least one major category of spending was significantly over budget for fiscal year 2014 and of those, ten states indicated that their corrections budgets were overspent in the first four months of fiscal year 2014, according to a survey conducted in the Fall of 2013 by the National Conference of State Legislatures. As a result of budgetary pressures, state correctional agencies may pursue a number of cost savings initiatives which may include reductions in per diem rates and/or the scope of services provided by private operators. These potential cost savings initiatives could have a material adverse impact on our current operations and/or our ability to pursue new business opportunities. Additionally, if state budgetary constraints, as discussed above, persist or intensify, our state customers’ ability to pay us may be impaired and/or we may be forced to renegotiate our management contracts on less favorable terms and our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be materially adversely impacted. We plan to actively bid on any new projects that fit our target profile for profitability and operational risk. Although we are pleased with the overall industry outlook, positive trends in the industry may be offset by several factors, including budgetary constraints, unanticipated contract terminations, contract non-renewals, and/or contract re-bids. Although we have historically had a relatively high contract renewal rate, there can be no assurance that we will be able to renew our expiring management contracts on favorable terms, or at all. Also, while we are pleased with our track record in re-bid situations, we cannot assure that we will prevail in any such future situations.

Internationally, we are exploring a number opportunities in our current markets and will continue to actively bid on any opportunities that fit our target profile for profitability and operational risk.

With respect to our youth services, electronic monitoring services, and re-entry services business conducted through our GEO Community business segment, we are currently pursuing a number of business development opportunities. In connection with our merger with Cornell in August 2010 and our acquisition of BI in February 2011, we have significantly expanded GEO Community’s operations by adding 36 facilities, 7 nonresidential service centers, and 35 Day Reporting Centers. We also expanded the service offerings of GEO Community by adding electronic monitoring services, community re-entry and immigration related supervision services. Relative to opportunities for community-based re-entry centers, we expect to compete for several formal solicitations from the Bureau of Prisons (the “BOP”) for re-entry centers across the country and are also working with our existing local and state correctional clients to leverage new opportunities for both residential facilities as well as non-residential day reporting centers. We continue to expend resources on informing state and local governments about the benefits of privatization and we anticipate that there will be new opportunities in the future as those efforts begin to yield results. We believe we are well positioned to capitalize on any suitable opportunities that become available in this area.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses consist of those expenses incurred in the operation and management of our contracts to provide services to our governmental clients. Labor and related cost represented 58.3% of our operating expenses in 2013. Additional significant operating expenses include food, utilities and inmate medical costs. In 2013, operating expenses totaled 73.9% of our consolidated revenues. Our operating expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2014 will be impacted by the opening of any new or existing facilities as a result of the cost of transitioning and/or start-up operations related to a facility opening. During 2014, we will incur carrying costs for facilities that are currently vacant in 2013. The carrying costs associated with the approximately 6,000 beds we are currently marketing are expected to be $21.9 million in 2014, including depreciation of $5.9 million. As of December 31, 2013, our worldwide operations include the management and/or ownership of approximately 77,000 beds at 98 correctional, detention and residential treatment, youth services and community-based facilities including idle facilities, and also include the provision of monitoring of approximately 70,000 offenders in a community-based environment on behalf of approximately 900 federal, state and local correctional agencies located in all 50 states.

 

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General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. In 2013, general and administrative expenses totaled 7.7% of our consolidated revenues. We expect general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2014 to decrease as a result of cost savings initiatives and decreases in nonrecurring costs related to our REIT conversion. We expect business development costs to remain consistent as we pursue additional business development opportunities in all of our business lines. We also plan to continue expending resources from time to time on the evaluation of potential acquisition targets.

Idle Facilities

We are currently marketing approximately 6,000 vacant beds at six of our idle facilities to potential customers. The annual carrying cost of idle facilities in 2013 is estimated to be $21.9 million, including depreciation expense of $5.9 million. As of December 31, 2013, these facilities had a net book value of $193.6 million. We currently do not have any firm commitment or agreement in place to activate these facilities. Historically, some facilities have been idle for multiple years before they received a new contract award. Currently, our North Lake Correctional Facility located in Baldwin, Michigan and our Great Plains Correctional Facility located in Hinton, Oklahoma have been idle the longest of our idle facility inventory. Both facilities have been idle since October of 2010. These idle facilities are included in the U.S. Corrections & Detention segment. The per diem rates that we charge our clients often vary by contract across our portfolio. However, if all of these idle facilities were to be activated using our U.S. Corrections & Detention average per diem rate in 2013, (calculated as the U.S. Corrections & Detention revenue divided by the number of U.S. Corrections & Detention mandays) and based on the average occupancy rate in our U.S. Corrections & Detention facilities for 2013, we would expect to receive incremental revenue of approximately $125 million and an increase in earnings per share of approximately $.35 to $.40 per share based on our average U.S. Corrections and Detention operating margin.

Forward-Looking Statements — Safe Harbor

This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. “Forward-looking” statements are any statements that are not based on historical information. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are “forward-looking” statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate” or “continue” or the negative of such words or variations of such words and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements and we can give no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, or “cautionary statements,” include, but are not limited to:

 

   

our ability to timely build and/or open facilities as planned, profitably manage such facilities and successfully integrate such facilities into our operations without substantial additional costs;

 

   

our ability to remain qualified for taxation as a REIT;

 

   

our ability to fulfill our debt service obligations and its impact on our liquidity;

 

   

the instability of foreign exchange rates, exposing us to currency risks in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and South Africa, or other countries in which we may choose to conduct our business;

 

   

our ability to activate the inactive beds at our idle facilities;

 

   

our ability to maintain occupancy rates at our facilities;

 

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an increase in unreimbursed labor rates;

 

   

our ability to expand, diversify and grow our correctional, detention, mental health, residential treatment, re-entry, community-based services, youth services, monitoring services, evidence-based supervision and treatment programs and secure transportation services businesses;

 

   

our ability to win management contracts for which we have submitted proposals, retain existing management contracts and meet any performance standards required by such management contracts;

 

   

our ability to control operating costs associated with contract start-ups;

 

   

our ability to raise new project development capital given the often short-term nature of the customers’ commitment to use newly developed facilities;

 

   

our ability to estimate the government’s level of dependency on privatized correctional services;

 

   

our ability to accurately project the size and growth of the U.S. and international privatized corrections industry;

 

   

our ability to successfully respond to delays encountered by states privatizing correctional services and cost savings initiatives implemented by a number of states;

 

   

our ability to develop long-term earnings visibility;

 

   

our ability to identify suitable acquisitions and to successfully complete and integrate such acquisitions on satisfactory terms, and estimate the synergies to be achieved as a result of such acquisitions;

 

   

our exposure to the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets as a result of our acquisitions;

 

   

our ability to successfully conduct our operations through joint ventures;

 

   

our ability to obtain future financing on satisfactory terms or at all, including our ability to secure the funding we need to complete ongoing capital projects;

 

   

our exposure to political and economic instability and other risks impacting our international operations;

 

   

our exposure to risks impacting our information systems, including those that may cause an interruption, delay or failure in the provision of our services;

 

   

our exposure to rising general insurance costs;

 

   

our exposure to state and federal income tax law changes internationally and domestically and our exposure as a result of federal and international examinations of our tax returns or tax positions;

 

   

our exposure to claims for which we are uninsured;

 

   

our exposure to rising employee and inmate medical costs;

 

   

our ability to manage costs and expenses relating to ongoing litigation arising from our operations;

 

   

our ability to accurately estimate on an annual basis, loss reserves related to general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims;

 

   

the ability of our government customers to secure budgetary appropriations to fund their payment obligations to us and to continue to operate under our existing agreements and/or renew our existing agreements;

 

   

our ability to pay quarterly dividends consistent with our expectations;

 

   

our ability to comply with government regulations and applicable contractual requirements;

 

   

our ability to acquire, protect or maintain our intellectual property; and

 

   

other factors contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, including, but not limited to, those detailed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

 

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We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this report.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risks related to changes in interest rates with respect to our Senior Credit Facility. Payments under the Senior Credit Facility are indexed to a variable interest rate. Based on borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2013 under the Senior Credit Facility of $298.5 million, for every one percent increase in the interest rate applicable to the Senior Credit Facility, our total annual interest expense would increase by $3.0 million.

We have entered into certain interest rate swap arrangements for hedging purposes, fixing the interest rate on our Australian non-recourse debt to 9.7%. The difference between the floating rate and the swap rate on these instruments is recognized in interest expense within the respective entity. Because the interest rates with respect to these instruments are fixed, a hypothetical 100 basis point change in the current interest rate would not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Additionally, we invest our cash in a variety of short-term financial instruments to provide a return. These instruments generally consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities at the date of purchase of three months or less. While these instruments are subject to interest rate risk, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase or decrease in market interest rates would not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risks related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar, the Australian Dollar, the Canadian Dollar, the South African Rand and the British Pound currency exchange rates. Based upon our foreign currency exchange rate exposure as of December 31, 2013 with respect to our international operations, every 10 percent change in historical currency rates would have a $4.6 million effect on our financial position and a $1.5 million impact on our results of operations over the next fiscal year.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

 

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