GEO GROUP INC (GEO)
SIC breadcrumb: Construction > Building Construction General Contractors And Operative Builders > SIC 1520 General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs
SEC company page: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=923796. Latest filing source: 0001193125-26-071747.
Informational only - descriptive public-record data, not investment advice.
Business
Read GEO's verbatim Item 1 Business section from its latest 10-K: Business.
Risk Factors
Read GEO's verbatim Item 1A Risk Factors from its latest 10-K: Risk Factors.
Selected Fundamentals
| Metric | Value | Unit | FY | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 2,631,549,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
| Net income | 254,372,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
| Assets | 3,843,622,000 | USD | 2025 | 2026-02-25 |
Financials
Annual standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-02-25. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000923796.json. Derived margins, ratios, and free cash flow are computed from the extracted annual SEC facts.
| Metric | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 2,263,420,000 | 2,331,386,000 | 2,477,922,000 | 2,350,098,000 | 2,256,612,000 | 2,376,727,000 | 2,413,167,000 | 2,423,702,000 | 2,631,549,000 | |||||
| Net income | 148,715,000 | 146,241,000 | 145,089,000 | 166,603,000 | 113,032,000 | 77,418,000 | 171,813,000 | 107,325,000 | 31,966,000 | 254,372,000 | ||||
| Operating income | 265,584,000 | 248,285,000 | 264,665,000 | 303,106,000 | 229,405,000 | 288,083,000 | 383,945,000 | 352,389,000 | 309,975,000 | 257,490,000 | ||||
| Diluted EPS | 1.33 | 1.21 | 1.20 | 1.40 | 0.94 | 0.58 | 1.17 | 0.72 | 0.22 | 1.82 | ||||
| Operating cash flow | -28,028,000 | 381,042,000 | 274,475,000 | 338,143,000 | 441,733,000 | 282,635,000 | 287,979,000 | 277,782,000 | 242,236,000 | 72,611,000 | ||||
| Capital expenditures | 81,565,000 | 148,406,000 | 195,666,000 | 117,244,000 | 108,800,000 | 69,394,000 | 90,026,000 | 73,002,000 | 78,691,000 | 197,512,000 | ||||
| Share buybacks | 8,666,000 | 0.00 | 1,844,000 | 2,786,000 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 95,175,000 | 0.00 | 9,009,000 | 91,021,000 | ||||
| Assets | 3,749,409,000 | 4,226,908,000 | 4,258,118,000 | 4,317,534,000 | 4,460,126,000 | 4,537,408,000 | 3,760,383,000 | 3,696,406,000 | 3,632,080,000 | 3,843,622,000 | ||||
| Stockholders' equity | 975,056,000 | 1,199,241,000 | 1,040,503,000 | 996,830,000 | 913,102,000 | 976,211,000 | 1,166,398,000 | 1,291,768,000 | 1,334,936,000 | 1,505,806,000 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 68,038,000 | 81,377,000 | 31,255,000 | 32,463,000 | 283,524,000 | 506,491,000 | 95,073,000 | 93,971,000 | 76,896,000 | 68,995,000 | ||||
| Free cash flow | -109,593,000 | 232,636,000 | 78,809,000 | 220,899,000 | 332,933,000 | 213,241,000 | 197,953,000 | 204,780,000 | 163,545,000 | -124,901,000 |
Ratios
| Metric | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 6.46% | 6.22% | 6.72% | 4.81% | 3.43% | 7.23% | 4.45% | 1.32% | 9.67% | |||||
| Operating margin | 10.97% | 11.35% | 12.23% | 9.76% | 12.77% | 16.15% | 14.60% | 12.79% | 9.78% | |||||
| Return on equity | 15.25% | 12.19% | 13.94% | 16.71% | 12.38% | 7.93% | 14.73% | 8.31% | 2.39% | 16.89% | ||||
| Return on assets | 3.97% | 3.46% | 3.41% | 3.86% | 2.53% | 1.71% | 4.57% | 2.90% | 0.88% | 6.62% | ||||
| Current ratio | 1.38 | 1.57 | 0.85 | 1.37 | 1.73 | 2.49 | 1.27 | 1.21 | 1.47 | 2.01 |
Industry Peer Context
Net margin peer context
ROE peer context
ROA peer context
Financial Bridges
Free cash flow = operating cash flow - capital expenditures
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts FY 2025. Operating cash flow: accession 0001193125-26-071747; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities | Capital expenditures: accession 0001193125-26-071747; concept PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment | Free cash flow: accession 0001193125-26-071747; concept NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment; source concepts us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Financial Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax. Source concepts: us-gaap:RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: OperatingIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:OperatingIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock. Source concepts: us-gaap:PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: Assets. Source concepts: us-gaap:Assets.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: StockholdersEquity. Source concepts: us-gaap:StockholdersEquity.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue. Source concepts: us-gaap:CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2025 ended 2025-12-31; accession 0001193125-26-071747; filed 2026-02-25. Concept: NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities - PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities; us-gaap:PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment.
Quarterly
Quarterly standardized facts from SEC companyfacts as of latest extracted filing date 2026-05-07. Source: https://data.sec.gov/api/xbrl/companyfacts/CIK0000923796.json.
| Quarter | End Date | Revenue | Net Income | Diluted EPS | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-Q2 | 2022-06-30 | 0.37 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2022-Q3 | 2022-09-30 | 0.26 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q1 | 2023-03-31 | 0.19 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2023-Q2 | 2023-06-30 | 593,891,000 | 29,571,000 | 0.20 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q3 | 2023-09-30 | 602,785,000 | 24,519,000 | 0.16 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2023-Q4 | 2023-12-31 | 608,282,000 | 25,232,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2024-Q1 | 2024-03-31 | 605,672,000 | 22,668,000 | 0.14 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q2 | 2024-06-30 | 607,185,000 | -32,513,000 | -0.25 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q3 | 2024-09-30 | 603,125,000 | 26,320,000 | 0.19 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2024-Q4 | 2024-12-31 | 607,720,000 | 15,491,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2025-Q1 | 2025-03-31 | 604,647,000 | 19,558,000 | 0.14 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-03-31 | 0.21 | reported discrete quarter | ||
| 2025-Q2 | 2025-06-30 | 636,169,000 | 29,108,000 | reported discrete quarter | |
| 2025-Q3 | 2025-09-30 | 682,341,000 | 173,940,000 | 1.24 | reported discrete quarter |
| 2025-Q4 | 2025-12-31 | 707,695,000 | 31,766,000 | derived Q4 = FY annual - nine-month YTD | |
| 2026-Q1 | 2026-03-31 | 705,213,000 | 38,334,000 | 0.29 | reported discrete quarter |
Quarterly Charts
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001193125-26-211821; filed 2026-05-07. Concept: RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax. Source concepts: us-gaap:RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001193125-26-211821; filed 2026-05-07. Concept: NetIncomeLoss. Source concepts: us-gaap:NetIncomeLoss.
Figure provenance: SEC companyfacts. Latest point: FY 2026 ended 2026-03-31; accession 0001193125-26-211821; filed 2026-05-07. Concept: EarningsPerShareDiluted. Source concepts: us-gaap:EarningsPerShareDiluted.
Macro Cross-References
- CPIAUCSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
- UNRATE - Unemployment Rate
- FEDFUNDS - Federal Funds Effective Rate
- CES0500000003 - Average Hourly Earnings of All Employees, Total Private
- DFEDTARU - Federal Funds Target Range - Upper Limit
- DFEDTARL - Federal Funds Target Range - Lower Limit
- DGS3MO - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 3-Month Constant Maturity
- DGS2 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 2-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS10 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 10-Year Constant Maturity
- DGS30 - Market Yield on U.S. Treasury Securities at 30-Year Constant Maturity
- T10Y2Y - 10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Minus 2-Year Treasury Constant Maturity
- CPILFESL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items Less Food and Energy
- CPIUFDSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Food
- CPIENGSL - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Energy
- CUSR0000SAH1 - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Shelter
- PCEPI - Personal Consumption Expenditures: Chain-type Price Index
- PCEPILFE - Personal Consumption Expenditures Excluding Food and Energy: Chain-type Price Index
- PPIACO - Producer Price Index by Commodity: All Commodities
- T10YIE - 10-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate
- U6RATE - Total Unemployed, Plus All Marginally Attached Workers Plus Total Employed Part Time for Economic Reasons
- PAYEMS - All Employees, Total Nonfarm
- CIVPART - Labor Force Participation Rate
- EMRATIO - Employment-Population Ratio
- UNEMPLOY - Unemployed
- CE16OV - Employment Level
- ICSA - Initial Claims
- JTSJOL - Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
- JTSQUR - Quits: Total Nonfarm
- GDPC1 - Real Gross Domestic Product
- A191RL1Q225SBEA - Real Gross Domestic Product: Percent Change from Preceding Period
- INDPRO - Industrial Production: Total Index
- TCU - Capacity Utilization: Total Index
- HOUST - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
- PERMIT - New Privately-Owned Housing Units Authorized in Permit-Issuing Places: Total Units
- RSAFS - Advance Retail Sales: Retail Trade
- PCE - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- DSPIC96 - Real Disposable Personal Income
- PSAVERT - Personal Saving Rate
- M2SL - M2
- BOPGSTB - U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Balance
- MSPUS - Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
- HSN1F - New One Family Houses Sold: United States
- RHORUSQ156N - Homeownership Rate in the United States
- TTLCONS - Total Construction Spending: Total Construction in the United States
- RRVRUSQ156N - Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
- TOTALSL - Total Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- REVOLSL - Revolving Consumer Credit Owned and Securitized
- DRCCLACBS - Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks
- GDP - Gross Domestic Product
- GPDI - Gross Private Domestic Investment
- GCE - Government Consumption Expenditures and Gross Investment
- PCEC - Personal Consumption Expenditures
- NETEXP - Net Exports of Goods and Services
- GFDEBTN - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt
- GFDEGDQ188S - Federal Debt: Total Public Debt as Percent of Gross Domestic Product
- FYFSD - Federal Surplus or Deficit
- FGRECPT - Federal Government Current Receipts
- FGEXPND - Federal Government: Current Expenditures
- MANEMP - All Employees, Manufacturing
- USCONS - All Employees, Construction
- USTRADE - All Employees, Retail Trade
- USFIRE - All Employees, Financial Activities
- USGOVT - All Employees, Government
- AWHAETP - Average Weekly Hours of All Employees, Total Private
- DGORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Durable Goods
- NEWORDER - Manufacturers' New Orders: Nondefense Capital Goods Excluding Aircraft
- BUSINV - Total Business Inventories
- EXPGS - Exports of Goods and Services
- IMPGS - Imports of Goods and Services
- IR - Import Price Index (End Use): All Commodities
- PPIFIS - Producer Price Index by Commodity: Final Demand
Latest quarter (10-Q)
Latest 10-Q source: 0001193125-26-211821.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Forward-Looking Information
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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, legal proceedings and potential steps to address our future debt maturities 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:
•
any adverse impact on our financial results caused by the most recent and any future federal government shutdown;
•
our ability to timely build and/or open facilities as planned, successfully manage such facilities and successfully integrate such facilities into our operations without substantial additional costs;
•
our ability to estimate the government’s level of utilization of public-private partnerships for secure services and the impact of any modifications or reductions by our government customers of their utilization of public-private partnerships;
•
our ability to accurately project the size and growth of public-private partnerships for secure services in the U.S. and internationally and our ability to capitalize on opportunities for public-private partnerships;
•
our ability to successfully respond to any challenges or concerns that our government customers may raise regarding their use of public-private partnerships for secure services, including finding other government customers or alternative uses for facilities where a government customer has discontinued or announced that a contract with us will be discontinued;
•
the impact of adopted or proposed executive action or legislation aimed at limiting public-private partnerships for secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers or limiting or restricting the business and operations of financial institutions or others who do business with us;
•
our ability to successfully respond to delays encountered by states pursuing public-private partnerships for secure services and cost savings initiatives implemented by a number of states;
•
our ability to activate the inactive beds at our idle facilities;
•
our ability to maintain or increase occupancy rates at our facilities and the impact of fluctuations in occupancy levels or participants in ISAP on our revenues and profitability;
•
our ability to expand, diversify and grow our secure services, reentry, community-based 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, prevail in any challenge or protest involving the award of a management contract and meet any performance standards required by such management contracts;
•
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 develop long-term earnings visibility;
•
our ability to successfully conduct our operations in the United Kingdom and South Africa through joint ventures;
•
the instability of foreign exchange rates, exposing us to currency risks in Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, or other countries in which we may choose to conduct our business;
•
an increase in unreimbursed labor rates;
•
our exposure to rising medical costs;
30
•
our ability to manage costs and expenses relating to ongoing litigation arising from our operations;
•
the risks associated with the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear our appeal in the Nwauzor case and our ability to prevail on the merits, our company being required to record an additional accrual for the judgments in the future, and our ability to defend similar other pending litigation and the effect such litigation may have on our company;
•
our ability to accurately estimate on an annual basis, loss reserves related to general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims;
•
our ability to fulfill our debt service obligations and its impact on our liquidity;
•
our ability to deleverage and repay, refinance or otherwise address our debt maturities in an amount or on the timeline we expect, or at all;
•
despite current indebtedness levels, we may still incur more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks relating to our indebtedness;
•
the covenants in the indentures governing the Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes and the Credit Agreement impose significant operating and financial restrictions which may adversely affect our ability to operate our business;
•
servicing our indebtedness will require a significant amount of cash and 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;
•
because portions of our senior indebtedness have floating interest rates, an increase in interest rates would adversely affect cash flows;
•
we depend on distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments on our indebtedness and these distributions may not be made;
•
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;
•
the Unsecured Notes and the guarantees on the Unsecured Notes will be effectively subordinated to our and the guarantors' senior secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Unsecured Notes;
•
the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations under the Secured Notes;
•
our ability to identify and successfully complete any potential acquisitions of assets and businesses or sales of additional Company-owned assets and businesses, including the potential sale of multiple facilities to ICE, on commercially advantageous terms on a timely basis, or at all;
•
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;
•
negative conditions in the capital markets could prevent us from obtaining future financing on desirable terms, which could materially harm our business;
•
we are subject to the loss of our facility management contracts, due to executive orders, 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;
•
our growth depends on our ability to secure contracts to develop and manage new secure facilities, processing centers and community-based facilities and to secure contracts to provide electronic monitoring services, community-based reentry services and monitoring and supervision services, the demand for which is outside our control;
•
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;
•
we partner with a limited number of governmental customers who account for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of, or a significant decrease in revenues from, these customers could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations;
•
efforts to reduce the U.S. federal deficit could adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
•
State budgetary constraints may have a material adverse impact on us;
•
competition for contracts may adversely affect the profitability of our business;
31
•
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, local and foreign government levels;
•
public and political resistance to the use of public-private partnerships for secure facilities, electronic monitoring and supervision as alternatives to detention, processing centers and community reentry centers could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, impact our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing or enter into commercial arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our securities;
•
adverse publicity may negatively impact our ability to retain existing contracts and obtain new contracts;
•
we may incur significant start-up and operating costs on new contracts before receiving related revenues, which may impact our cash flows and may not be recouped;
•
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;
•
we may face community opposition to facility locations, which may adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts;
•
our business operations expose us to various liabilities for which we may not have adequate insurance, including legal claims and proceedings, and may 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 exposure to rising general insurance costs;
•
natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, global political events and other serious catastrophic events could disrupt operations and otherwise materially adversely affect our business and financial condition;
•
our international operations expose us to risks that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations;
•
we conduct certain of our operations through joint ventures or consortiums, which may lead to disagreements with our joint venture partners or business partners and adversely affect our interest in the joint ventures or consortiums;
•
we are dependent upon our senior management and our ability to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel;
•
our profitability may be materially adversely affected by inflation;
•
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;
•
risks related to facility construction and development activi
[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]
Latest 10-K MD&A
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.
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses 2025 and 2024 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2025 and 2024. Discussions of 2023 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and are incorporated herein by reference.
We specialize in the ownership, leasing and management of secure, reentry facilities and processing centers and the provision of community-based services in the United States, Australia and South Africa. We own, lease and operate a broad range of secure facilities including maximum, medium and minimum-security facilities, processing centers, and community-based reentry facilities. We offer counseling, education and/or treatment for 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 a 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, 2025, our worldwide operations included the management and/or ownership of approximately 75,000 beds at 95 correctional, detention and reentry facilities, including idle facilities, and also included the provision of servicing individuals in a community-based environment on behalf of federal, state and local correctional agencies located throughout the country.
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had consolidated revenues of $2.6 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively and we maintained an average company-wide facility occupancy rate of 89.2% including 68,157 active beds and excluding 6,646 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2025, and 87.2% including 67,604 active beds and excluding 11,675 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The consolidated financial statements in this report are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. A summary of our significant accounting policies is described in Note 1 – Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The significant accounting policies and estimates which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:
Idle Facilities/Asset Impairments
The following table summarizes our idled facilities as of December 31, 2025 and their respective carrying values, excluding equipment and other assets that can be easily transferred to other facilities.
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| Secure Services | Reentry Services | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Services | Reentry Services | Net Carrying Value | Net Carrying Value | Net Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||||
| Facility | Year Idled | Design Capacity (beds) | Design Capacity (beds) | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||
| Rivers Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,320 | - | 35,969 | - | 35,969 | |||||||||||||||
| Big Spring Correctional Facility | 2021 | 924 | - | 32,005 | - | 32,005 | |||||||||||||||
| Flightline Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,452 | - | 39,761 | - | 39,761 | |||||||||||||||
| McFarland Female Community Reentry Facility | 2020 | 300 | - | 10,481 | - | 10,481 | |||||||||||||||
| Cheyenne Mountain Recovery Center | 2020 | 700 | - | 17,314 | - | 17,314 | |||||||||||||||
| Lea County Correctional Facility | 2025 | 1,200 | — | 45,412 | — | 45,412 | |||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia Residential [1] | 2024 | - | 400 | - | 6,032 | 6,032 | |||||||||||||||
| Coleman Hall [1] | 2017 | - | 350 | - | 5,531 | 5,531 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 5,896 | 750 | $ | 180,942 | $ | 11,563 | $ | 192,505 |
[1] We had entered into a purchase and sale agreement in the second quarter of 2024 for these facilities that was less than the net carrying values. As such, we recorded a total impairment loss for both facilities of approximately $2.3 million during the second quarter of 2024 which is included in gain (loss) on asset divestitures/impairment in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The purchase and sale agreement was later terminated. There was no indication of impairment related to our idle facilities during the year ended December 31, 2025 or 2023.
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 prolonged decrease in 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 achieved in the past at that facility or at similar facilities and probability weighted cash flows. Our probability weighted cash flows 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 perform the impairment analysis on an annual basis for each of the idle facilities, or more frequently if needed, and take into consideration updates each quarter for market developments affecting the potential utilization of each of the facilities in order to identify events that may cause the Company 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 the terms 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 individuals at such facility. Further, a substantial increase in the number of available beds at other facilities 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 have determined that no current impairment exists. 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 undiscounted cash flows in our analysis as of December 31, 2025, exceeded the carrying amounts of each facility, therefore no impairment charges were recorded.
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 individuals within our care, 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
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liability claims, contractual claims and claims for personal injury or other damages resulting from contact with our facilities, programs, electronic monitoring products, personnel or individuals within our care, including damages arising from the escape of an individual in our care 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.
On October 1, 2021, GEO formed a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary, Florina Insurance Company, Inc. (“Florina”), to enhance our risk financing strategies. Florina is incorporated in the state of Vermont and is licensed and regulated by the state of Vermont, including with respect to its insurance programs, levels of liquidity and other requirements. GEO began procuring insurance policies to cover deductibles for workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, medical professional liability and directors' and officers’ liability as well as the option of procuring insurance policies for its excess liability and excess medical professional liability through Florina effective October 1, 2021. Florina holds cash and investments in order to meet solvency requirements and meet financial obligations as presented, including an investment portfolio of marketable fixed income and equity securities.
We currently maintain a general liability policy and excess liability policies with total limits of $75.0 million per occurrence and $95.0 million total general liability annual aggregate limits covering the operations of U.S. Secure Services, Reentry Services and Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services through commercial and captive policies. We have a professional liability insurance program with a specific loss limit of $45.0 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, cybersecurity liability and automobile liability.
For most casualty insurance policies, we carry substantial deductibles or self-insured retentions of $4.0 million per occurrence for general liability and $5.0 million per occurrence for medical professional liability, $2.0 million per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $2.3 million per occurrence for directors' and officers’ liability 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 us from insuring some of our facilities to full replacement value.
Of the insurance policies discussed above, our most significant insurance reserves relate to workers’ compensation, general liability and auto claims. These reserves, which include Florina’s reserves and GEO’s legacy reserves and administrative costs for the plans, are undiscounted and were $67.3 million and $56.9 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and are included in Accrued Expenses in the accompanying Consolidated 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.
With respect to operations in South Africa and Australia, we utilize locally-procured insurance to meet contractual insurance requirements and protect us.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The following accounting standard was adopted in the current period:
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 focuses on the tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosure in the Provision for Income Taxes. ASU No. 2023-09 requires a public business entity (PBE) to annually disclose a tabular rate reconciliation using both percentages and currency amounts. The tabular
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information is to be broken out into specified categories. Information provided under the specified categories may need to be further broken out by nature and jurisdiction to the extent those items exceed a specified threshold, generally 5% of the federal tax amount. In addition, entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign, with further disaggregation by jurisdiction, if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax paid, net of refunds received. For PBEs, the new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in this ASU prospectively by providing the revised disclosures for the period ended December 31, 2025, and continuing to provide the pre-ASU disclosures for the prior periods. Alternatively, entities may apply ASU 2023-09 retrospectively by providing the revised disclosures for all periods presented. We adopted this ASU prospectively for the period ended December 31, 2025, which impacted our disclosures with no impact to our financial condition and results of operations. Refer to Note 15 - Income Taxes of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
The following accounting standards will be adopted in future periods:
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Topic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software”. This amendment modernizes and makes targeted improvements to the accounting for software costs found under Topic 350-40, effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In July 2025, the FASB issued ASU No. 2025-05, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets, which provides a practical expedient related to the estimation of expected credit losses for current accounts receivable and current contract assets arising from transactions accounted for under ASC 606. The ASU is effective for the Registrants for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2025. The guidance should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact of this standard on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. This ASU requires an entity to disclose the amounts of purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization included in each relevant expense caption. It also requires an entity to include certain amounts that are already required to be disclosed under current GAAP in the same disclosure. Additionally, it requires an entity to disclose a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively, and to disclose the total amount of selling expenses and, in annual reporting periods, an entity’s definition of selling expenses. The amendments in the ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments prospectively for reporting periods after the effective date or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. We expect this ASU will impact only our disclosures and not our financial condition and results of operations.
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 our 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.
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2025 versus 2024
Revenues
| 2025 | % of Revenue | 2024 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,827,000 | 69.4 | % | $ | 1,604,386 | 66.2 | % | $ | 222,614 | 13.9 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 320,919 | 12.2 | % | 332,826 | 13.7 | % | (11,907 | ) | (3.6 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 286,521 | 10.9 | % | 277,566 | 11.5 | % | 8,955 | 3.2 | % | |||||||||||||||
| International Services | 197,109 | 7.5 | % | 208,924 | 8.6 | % | (11,815 | ) | (5.7 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,631,549 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,423,702 | 100.0 | % | $ | 207,847 | 8.6 | % |
U.S. Secure Services
Revenues for U.S. Secure Services increased by $222.6 million in 2025 compared to 2024 due to aggregate net increases of $152.4 million related to the activations of our new contracts at our company-owned Delaney Hall, North Lake and D. Ray James facilities as well as our managed-only contract at the North Florida Detention Center and new transportation contracts. We also experienced an aggregate net increase of $121.3 million due to increases in occupancies, transportation services, rates and/or per diem amounts in connection with contract modifications. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of approximately $51.1 million related to contract terminations.
The number of compensated mandays in U.S. Secure Services facilities was approximately 17.2 million in 2025 and 16.6 million in 2024. We experienced an aggregate net increase of approximately 600,000 mandays as a result of contract activations and increases in occupancies discussed above. 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. Secure Services facilities was 88.7% and 86.6% of capacity in 2025 and 2024, respectively, excluding idle facilities.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Revenues for Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services decreased by $11.9 million in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to decreases in average participant counts under the Intensive Supervision and Appearance Program ("ISAP").
Reentry Services
Revenues for Reentry Services increased by $9.0 million in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to increases of $6.9 million due to new day reporting center contracts. We also experienced a net aggregate increase of $5.4 million primarily related to increased census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to increased programming needs and referrals. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of $3.3 million due to contract terminations.
International Services
Revenues for International Services decreased by $11.8 million in 2025 compared to 2024. We experienced a net decrease of $14.6 million primarily due to the transition of our managed-only contract for the Junee Correctional Centre in Australia to the government effective March 31, 2025. Partially offsetting this decrease was an increase due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $2.8 million.
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Operating Expenses
| 2025 | % of Segment Revenues | 2024 | % of Segment Revenues | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,407,622 | 77.0 | % | $ | 1,215,784 | 75.8 | % | $ | 191,838 | 15.8 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 170,522 | 53.1 | % | 160,948 | 48.4 | % | 9,574 | 5.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 212,123 | 74.0 | % | 205,650 | 74.1 | % | 6,473 | 3.1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| International Services | 178,214 | 90.4 | % | 192,097 | 91.9 | % | (13,883 | ) | (7.2 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,968,481 | $ | 1,774,479 | $ | 194,002 | 10.9 | % |
Operating expenses consist of those expenses incurred in the operation and management of our U.S. Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services segments.
U.S. Secure Services
Operating expenses for U.S. Secure Services increased by $191.8 million in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to aggregate net increases of $138.3 million in connection with labor and medical costs, transportation services, increased occupancies and additional staffing and training costs we continue to incur in preparation of expected future growth. We also experienced an increase of approximately $93.4 million related to the activations of our new contracts at our company-owned Delaney Hall, North Lake and D. Ray James facilities as well as our managed-only contract at the North Florida Detention Center and new transportation contracts. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of approximately $39.9 million related to contract terminations.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Operating expenses for Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services increased by $9.6 million in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to an increase in fixed costs related to our conversion to a cloud based data platform and employee severance costs as part of our efficiency initiative.
Reentry Services
Operating expenses for Reentry Services increased by $6.5 million during 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due an increase of $5.7 million due to new day reporting center contracts. We also experienced an aggregate net increase of 9.1 million related to increased census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to increased programming needs and referrals and the associated variable costs. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of $8.3 million due to contract terminations.
International Services
Operating expenses for International Services decreased in 2025 compared to 2024 by $13.9 million. We experienced a net decrease of $10.8 million primarily due to the transition of our managed-only contract for the Junee Correctional Centre in Australia to the government effective March 31, 2025. We also experienced a decrease of $3.1 million related to foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
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Depreciation and Amortization
| 2025 | % of Segment Revenue | 2024 | % of Segment Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 90,823 | 5.0 | % | $ | 85,685 | 5.3 | % | $ | 5,138 | 6.0 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 25,411 | 7.9 | % | 24,523 | 7.4 | % | 888 | 3.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 13,405 | 4.7 | % | 13,619 | 4.9 | % | (214 | ) | (1.6 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 2,400 | 1.2 | % | 2,393 | 1.1 | % | 7 | 0.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 132,039 | 5.0 | % | $ | 126,220 | 5.2 | % | $ | 5,819 | 4.6 | % |
U.S. Secure Services
U.S. Secure Services depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to renovations at certain of our company-owned and leased facilities as well as the impact of our purchase of the Western Region Detention Center offset by the sale of our company-owned Lawton Correctional Facility in July 2025.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to renovations at certain of our leased centers.
Reentry Services
Reentry Services depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to certain assets becoming
fully depreciated and/or amortized as well as certain asset dispositions at our company-owned centers.
International Services
Depreciation and amortization expense was relatively consistent in 2025 compared to 2024.
Other Unallocated Operating Expenses
| 2025 | % of Revenue | 2024 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | $ | 235,939 | 9.0 | % | $ | 213,028 | 8.8 | % | $ | 22,911 | 10.8 | % |
General and administrative expenses comprise substantially all of our other unallocated operating expenses which primarily includes, corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $22.9 million in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to the reorganization of our senior management team at the end of 2024, other employee restructuring expenses in 2025, higher employee related benefit costs and support for the revenue growth from our new contract awards.
Contingent Litigation Reserve
| 2025 | % of Revenue | 2024 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent Liability Reserve | $ | 37,600 | 1.4 | % | $ | — | (— | )% | $ | 37,600 | 100.0 | % |
During 2025, we incurred a non-cash contingent litigation reserve of $37.6 million in connection with a legal case in the State of Washington, Nwauzor v. GEO Group. Refer to Note 16 - Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
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Non-Operating Income and Expense
Interest Income and Interest Expense
| 2025 | % of Revenue | 2024 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | $ | 9,076 | 0.3 | % | $ | 8,787 | 0.4 | % | $ | 289 | 3.3 | % | ||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | $ | 160,521 | 6.1 | % | $ | 190,624 | 7.9 | % | $ | (30,103 | ) | (15.8 | )% |
Interest income increased in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
Interest expense decreased by $30.1 million in 2025 compared to 2024 primarily due to our Senior Notes Offering and new Term Loan under our new credit agreement that closed on April 18, 2024 which resulted in overall lower interest expense due to lower interest rates. We also retired the majority of our 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 during 2024 and had lower overall principal balances in 2025 compared to 2024. Additionally, on July 14, 2025, we amended our Credit Agreement which increased our borrowing capacity and lowered the applicable interest rate. Lastly, we paid off our Term Loan under the credit agreement in July 2025. Refer to Note 11 - Debt of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
| 2025 | % of Revenue | 2024 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on Extinguishment of Debt | $ | 8,446 | 0.3 | % | $ | 86,637 | 3.6 | % | $ | (78,191 | ) | (90.3 | )% |
During 2025, we paid off our Term Loan under our Credit Agreement. In connection with the repayment, we wrote off the related deferred financing costs and paid call premiums. During 2024, we completed a Senior Note Offering which resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $86.6 million which consisted of the write-off of existing deferred financing costs and net discounts/premiums and the payment of call premiums. Refer to Note 11- Debt of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Other Income
| 2025 | % of Revenue | 2024 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Income | $ | 5,514 | 0.2 | % | $ | — | 0.0 | % | $ | 5,514 | 100.0 | % |
In 2025, we received an aggregate of $5.5 million under the Employee Retention Tax Credit provisions of the CARES Act. This amount was recognized as other income in the consolidated financial statements.
Net Gain (Loss) on Asset Divestitures/Impairment
| 2025 | % of Revenue | 2024 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Gain (Loss) on Asset Divestitures/Impairment | $ | 232,381 | 8.8 | % | $ | (2,907 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 235,288 | (8,093.8 | )% |
During 2025, we experienced a gain on asset divestitures of approximately $232.4 million related to the sale of our company-owned 2,388-bed Lawton Correctional Facility located in Lawton Oklahoma to the State of Oklahoma. Also included in the gain is the sale of our company-owned and previously idled 139-bed Hector Garza Center in San Antonio, Texas. During 2024, we experienced an impairment loss of approximately $2.3 million related to two of our Company-owned facilities. We also donated a parcel of undeveloped land in Kern County, California which resulted in a loss on asset divestiture of approximately $0.6 million.
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Provision for Income Taxes
| 2025 | Effective Rate | 2024 | Effective Rate | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | $ | 85,720 | 25.6 | % | $ | 9,401 | 24.4 | % | $ | 76,319 | 811.8 | % |
The provision for income taxes in 2025 increased compared to 2024 along with the effective tax rate. In 2025 and 2024, there was a $53.4 million net discrete tax expense and $4.8 million net discrete tax benefit, respectively. Included in the provision for income taxes in 2025 and 2024 was a $3.2 million discrete tax benefit and a $1.1 million discrete tax benefit related to stock compensation that vested during the respective periods. Also included in the provision for income taxes in 2025 was a $56.6 million discrete tax expense related to the sale of our Lawton Facility and in the provision for income taxes in 2024 was a $3.5 million discrete tax benefit from the interest deduction related to GEO shares issued to the holders of our 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 that participated in private exchange transactions. We estimate our 2026 annual effective tax rate to be in the range of 28% to 30%, exclusive of any discrete items.
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates
| 2025 | % of Revenue | 2024 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Earnings of Affiliates | $ | 4,532 | 0.2 | % | $ | 2,703 | 0.1 | % | $ | 1,829 | 67.7 | % |
Equity in earnings of affiliates, presented net of income taxes, represents the earnings of SACS and GEOAmey in the aggregate. Equity in earnings of affiliates in 2025 compared to 2024 increased primarily due to favorable performance at SACS and GEOAmey.
Financial Condition
Capital Requirements
Our current cash requirements consist of amounts needed for working capital, debt service, supply purchases, investments in joint ventures, and capital expenditures related to either the development of new secure, processing and reentry 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.
As of December 31, 2025, we were developing a number of contractually committed projects that we estimate will cost approximately $90.5 million, of which $58.5 million was spent through December 31, 2025. We estimate our remaining contractually committed capital requirements to be approximately $32.0 million. These projects are expected to be completed through 2026.
We plan to fund all of our capital needs, including capital expenditures, from cash on hand, cash from operations, borrowings under our
Credit Agreement 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 our Credit Agreement. We completed our annual budgeting process, and for 2026, we will continue to strategically manage our capital expenditures to maintain both short and long term financial objectives. Additionally, we may from time to time pursue transactions for the potential sale of additional assets and businesses and/or other strategic transactions including potential acquisitions. Our management believes that cash on hand, cash flows from operations and availability under our Credit Agreement will be adequate to support our capital requirements for 2026 as disclosed under “Capital Requirements” above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Senior Notes Offering and Credit Agreement
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On April 18, 2024, we announced the closing of our previously announced private offering of $1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes, comprised of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.625% senior secured notes due 2029 and $625.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.250% senior notes due 2031.
We also entered into a credit agreement, dated April 18, 2024 (the "Credit Agreement") to, among other things, evidence and govern a first-lien senior secured revolving credit facility and the commitments thereunder, and a first-lien senior secured term loan facility. The aggregate principal amount of revolving credit commitments under the senior revolving credit facility was originally $310 million (including a $175 million letter of credit subfacility) and the aggregate principal amount of the senior secured term loan facility was originally $450.0 million.
We used the net proceeds of the senior notes offering, borrowings under the new term loan, and cash on hand to refinance approximately $1.5 billion of existing indebtedness at that time, including to fund the repurchase, redemption or other discharge of our existing Tranche 1 Term Loan and Tranche 2 Term Loan under our prior senior credit facility, the 9.50% senior second lien secured notes due 2028, the 10.50% senior second lien secured notes due 2028, and the 6.00% senior notes due 2026, to pay related premiums, transaction fees and expenses, and for general corporate purposes of the Company.
With these transactions, as well as the private exchange transactions involving our 6.50% Exchangeable Notes due 2026 discussed below, we have been able to push out substantially all of our debt maturities to 2029 and 2031.
On July 14, 2025, we entered into a First Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”) which amended our Credit Agreement dated as of April 18, 2024. The Amendment increased our Revolving Credit Facility (the “Revolver”) commitments from $310 million to $450 million and extends the Revolver’s maturity from April 15, 2029 to July 14, 2030. The Amendment also lowered the applicable interest rates based on the total leverage ratio for loans using the Alternate Base Rate and loans using the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) by 0.50%. Prior to the closing of the Amendment, we repaid $132 million of the Term Loan B outstanding under the Credit Agreement. Subsequently, as a result of an asset sale of one of our owned facilities, we repaid the remaining balance of the Term Loans under the Credit Agreement.
On November 13, 2025, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”), by and among each of GEO and GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc., as the Borrowers, the guarantors named therein, Citizens Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto. The Amendment effectively removes the 3.00 to 1.00 total leverage ratio hurdle from one-half of the $150.0 million general carve-out to the Credit Agreement’s restricted payments negative covenant.
On January 20, 2026, we entered into a Third Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”). The Amendment increased the revolving credit facility commitments from $450 million to $550 million. The Amendment decreased the Incremental Amount (as defined in the Amendment) from $250 million to $150 million that we may request in the future in additional term loans, incremental equivalent debt or an increase to the revolving credit facility commitments, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions in the Amendment and the credit agreement.
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
On February 24, 2021, our wholly owned subsidiary, GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. ("GEOCH"), completed a private offering of $230 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes were scheduled to mature on February 23, 2026, unless earlier repurchased or exchanged. The Convertible Notes bore interest at the rate of 6.50% per year plus an additional amount based on the dividends paid by the Company on its common stock, $0.01 par value per share. Interest on the Convertible Notes was payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2021.
Subject to certain restrictions on share ownership and transfer, holders were able to exchange the Convertible Notes at their option prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding November 25, 2025, but only under the following circumstances: (1) during the five consecutive business day period after any five consecutive trading day period, or the measurement period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes for each trading day of such measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the exchange rate for the Convertible Notes on each such trading day; or (2) upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate events. On or after November 25, 2025, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the Convertible Notes, holders were able to exchange their Convertible Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon exchange of a Convertible Note, we would pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock.
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Upon conversion, we would pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock. The initial conversion rate was 108.4011 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $9.225 per share of common stock). The conversion rate was subject to adjustment in certain events. If we had undergone a fundamental change, holders could have required GEOCH to purchase the Convertible Notes in whole or in part for cash at a fundamental change purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date.
During 2024, we retired $229.9 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes as a result of private exchange transactions with an exchange value of approximately $415 million. The consideration consisted of cash of $229.9 million, using a combination of the net proceeds from the Senior Notes Offering and cash on hand, and approximately 12.4 million shares of GEO common stock. Of the total amount of shares issued, we issued 4,209,847 shares that were in treasury. During the first quarter of 2025, we entered into the last repurchase transaction that resulted in the retirement of the remaining principal balance.
We consider opportunities for future business and/or asset acquisitions or dispositions as we deem appropriate when market conditions
present opportunities. If we are successful in our pursuit of any new projects or acquisitions, our cash on hand, cash flows from operations and borrowings under the new Credit Agreement may not provide sufficient liquidity to meet our capital needs 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 indenture governing the Secured Notes, the indenture governing the Unsecured Notes and our Credit Agreement. A substantial decline in our financial performance could limit our access to capital pursuant to these covenants and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources and, 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. Also, the federal government has been experiencing delays in paying GEO under its contracts as a result of the prior government shutdown and we could experience further delays if there were to be another government shutdown. While we were in compliance with our debt covenants as of December 31, 2025, and we expect to continue 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.
GEO’s Secured Notes and Unsecured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis (except on a senior secured basis in the case of the Secured Notes) by certain of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
Share Repurchase Program
On August 4, 2025, our Board of Directors ("Board") authorized and approved a Share Repurchase Program covering the repurchase of up to $300 million of shares of our common stock through an expiration date of June 30, 2028. Repurchases of our common stock will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws and may be made at senior management’s discretion from time to time in the open market, by block purchase, through privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to a trading plan, or otherwise in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The authorization for the share repurchase program may be extended, increased, decreased, suspended or terminated by our Board of Directors in its discretion at any time. Repurchases of our common stock (and the timing thereof) will depend upon market conditions, regulatory requirements, our existing obligations, including our Credit Agreement, other corporate liquidity requirements and priorities and other factors as may be considered in our sole discretion. The authorization for the share repurchase program does not obligate us to purchase any particular amount of our common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2025, we repurchased 4,939,452 shares of our common stock under the program.
On November 4, 2025, our Board authorized and approved an increase to the size of the Share Repurchase Program from $300 million to $500 million and also extended the expiration date from June 30, 2028 to December 31, 2029.
Automatic Shelf Registration on Form S-3
On October 30, 2023, we filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that enables us to offer for sale, from time to time and as the capital markets permit, an unspecified amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, guarantees of debt securities, warrants and units. The shelf registration statement became automatically effective upon filing and is valid for three years.
Prospectus Supplement
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On December 28, 2023, in connection with the shelf registration, 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 $300 million through sales agents. Sales of shares of our common stock under the prospectus supplement and equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, will 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 shares of common stock sold under this prospectus supplement during the year ended December 31, 2025.
Other
We have entered into two identical Notes (as defined below) in the aggregate amount of $44.3 million which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. The terms of the Notes are through September 1, 2034 and bear interest at SOFR plus 205 basis points and are payable in monthly installments plus interest. We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest rate to 4.22%. Included in the balance at December 31, 2025 is $0.4 million of deferred loan costs incurred in the transaction. Refer to Note 6 – Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Guarantees
The Company has entered into certain guarantees in connection with the design, financing and construction of certain facilities as well as loan, working capital and other obligation guarantees for our subsidiaries in Australia, South Africa and our joint ventures. Refer to Note 11 - Debt in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Executive Retirement Agreement
We have a non-qualified deferred compensation agreement with our Executive Chairmen. The agreement provides for a lump sum payment upon retirement, no sooner than age 55. As of December 31, 2025, our Executive Chairman had reached age 55 and was eligible to receive the payment upon retirement.
GEO and our Executive Chairman entered into on May 27, 2021, and effective July 1, 2021, an Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement which replaced the prior February 26, 2020 agreement discussed below. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement, upon the date that the Executive Chairman ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay to the Executive Chairman an amount equal to $3,600,000 (the "2021 Grandfathered Payment") which shall be paid in cash. The Grandfathered Payment shall be credited with interest at a rate of 5% compounded quarterly (the “Grandfathered Earnings Account”). Additionally, at the end of each calendar year provided that our Executive Chairman is still providing services to GEO pursuant to the Executive Chairman Employment Agreement, we will credit an amount equal to $1,000,000 at the end of each calendar year (the “Employment Contributions Account”). The Employment Contributions Account will be credited with interest at the rate of 5% compounded quarterly. Upon the date that the Executive Chairman ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay the Executive Chairman in one lump sum cash payment each of the 2021 Grandfathered Payment, the Grandfathered Earnings Account and the Employment Contributions Account subject to the six-month delay provided in the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. As the Executive Chairman’s retirement payment will no longer be settled with a fixed number of shares of GEO’s common stock (as was provided for under the prior retirement agreement), $3,600,000 has been reclassified from equity to other non-current liabilities in 2021. The balance of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement was approximately $16.3 million at December 31, 2025 which is fully funded. Refer to Note 13 - Benefit Plans in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information. The following table presents the balance due to the Executive Chairman at the end of each of the next four years under the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement provided that the Executive Chairman is still providing services to GEO under his Employment Agreement, as amended which is effective through April 1, 2029:
| Period End | Retirement Obligation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | |||
| 12/31/2026 | $ | 20,856 | |
| 12/31/2027 | $ | 26,351 | |
| 12/31/2028 | $ | 33,029 | |
| 12/31/2029 | $ | 36,415 |
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We have established several trusts for the purpose of paying the retirement benefit pursuant to the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. The trusts were revocable “rabbi trusts” and the assets of the trusts are subject to the claims of our creditors in the event of our insolvency.
Guarantor Financial Information
GEO’s Secured Notes and Unsecured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis (except on a senior secured basis in the case of the Secured Notes) by certain of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
Summarized financial information is provided for The GEO Group, Inc. (“Parent”) and the Subsidiary Guarantors on a combined basis in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rules 3-10 and 13-01. The accounting policies used in the preparation of this summarized financial information are consistent with those elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements of the Company, except that intercompany transactions and balances of the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantor entities with non-guarantor entities have not been eliminated. Intercompany transactions between the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantors have been eliminated and equity in earnings from and investments in non-guarantor subsidiaries have not been presented.
Summarized statement of operations (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating revenues | $ | 2,421,724 | $ | 2,202,285 | |||
| Income from operations | 225,298 | 274,752 | |||||
| Net income | 221,230 | 1,673 | |||||
| Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. operations | 221,230 | 1,673 |
Summarized balance sheets (in thousands):
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current assets | $ | 645,982 | $ | 438,433 | |||
| Noncurrent assets (a) | 2,971,002 | 2,999,305 | |||||
| Current liabilities | 257,936 | 255,851 | |||||
| Noncurrent liabilities (b) | 2,021,019 | 2,002,284 |
(a)
Includes amounts due from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $52.8 million and $55.9 million as of December 31, 2025and 2024, respectively.
(b)
Includes amounts due to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $42.1 million and $46.8 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Except as discussed above, and in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 16 – Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Derivatives
We have entered into two interest rate swap agreements in the aggregate notional amount of $44.3 million to fix the interest rate on certain of our variable rate debt to 4.22%. We have designated these interest rate swaps as hedges against changes in the cash flows of two identical promissory notes (the "Notes") which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. We have determined that the swaps have payment, expiration dates, and provisions that coincide with the terms of the Notes and are therefore considered to be effective cash flow hedges. Accordingly, we record the change in fair value of the interest rate swaps as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes. There was no material ineffectiveness for the period presented. We do not expect to enter into any transactions during the next twelve months which would result in reclassification into earnings or losses
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associated with these swaps currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Refer to Note 11 - Debt and Note 6 - Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Cash Flow
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2025 was $123.6 million, compared to $125.9 million as of December 31, 2024 and was impacted by the following:
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2025 and 2024 was $72.6 million and $242.2 million, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2025 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision, amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, loss on extinguishment of debt and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates and net gain on asset divestitures negatively impacted cash along with realized/unrealized gain on investments. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets increased in total by a net of $233.0 million, representing a negative impact on cash. The increase was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections along with delays in payment due to the government shut down during the fourth quarter of 2025. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased by $97.3 million which positively impacted cash. The increase was primarily due to the timing of payments.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2024 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision, amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, net loss on asset divestiture/impairment, loss on extinguishment of debt and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash along with realized/unrealized gain on investments. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets increased in total by a net of $7.6 million, representing a negative impact on cash. The increase was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased by $21.9 million which negatively impacted cash. The decrease was primarily due to the timing of payments.
Net cash provided by investing activities of $105.7 million in 2025 was primarily the result of proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets of $321.1 million and proceeds from sale of marketable securities of $4.6 million offset by capital expenditures of $197.5 million and purchases of marketable securities of $22.5 million. Net cash used in investing activities of $101.7 million in 2024 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $78.7 million and purchases of marketable securities of $33.1 million offset by proceeds from sale of marketable securities of $10.1 million.
Net cash used in financing activities in 2025 was $185.7 million compared to net cash used in financing activities of $168.9 million in 2024. Net cash used in financing activities during 2025 was primarily the result of proceeds from borrowings on revolver of $541.0 million, payments on long-term debt of $322.2 million, payments on revolver of $292.4 million, payments for call premiums of $1.3 million, proceeds from stock option exercises of $4.6 million, payments for repurchases of common stock of $91.0 million and taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards of $24.4 million. Net cash used in financing activities in 2024 was primarily the result of proceeds from long-term debt of $1,720.5 million, proceeds from borrowings on revolver of $110.0 million, payments on long-term debt of $1,926.8 million, payments for call premiums of $35.6 million, debt issuance costs of $35.7 million, proceeds from stock option exercises of $8.2 million and taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards of $9.7 million.
Inflation
We believe that inflation, in general, did have a negative impact but did not have a material effect on our results of operations during 2025 and 2024. 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 recurring/fixed expense, increase at a faster rate than the per diem or fixed rates received by us for our management services.
Non-GAAP Measures
EBITDA is defined as net income adjusted by adding provisions for income tax, interest expense, net of interest income and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted for net loss (gain) on asset divestitures, pre-tax, net loss attributable to non-controlling interests, stock-based compensation expenses, pre-tax, non-cash contingent liability and litigation and settlement costs, pre-tax, employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax, ATM equity program expenses, pre-tax, close-out expenses, pre-tax, start-up expenses, pre-tax, transaction related expenses, pre-tax, other non-cash revenue and expenses, pre-tax, and certain other adjustments as defined from time to time.
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Given the nature of our business as a real estate owner and operator, we believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are helpful to investors as measures of our operational performance because they provide an indication of our ability to incur and service debt, to satisfy general operating expenses, to make capital expenditures, and to fund other cash needs or reinvest cash into our business.
We believe that by removing the impact of our asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) and excluding certain non-cash charges, amounts spent on interest and taxes, and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide our investors with performance measures that reflect the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, per diem rates and operating costs, providing a perspective not immediately apparent from net income.
The adjustments we make to derive the non-GAAP measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude items which may cause short-term fluctuations in income from continuing operations and which we do not consider to be the fundamental attributes or primary drivers of our business plan and they do not affect our overall long-term operating performance.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide disclosure on the same basis as that used by our management and provide consistency in our financial reporting, facilitate internal and external comparisons of our historical operating performance and our business units and provide continuity to investors for comparability purposes.
Our reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 is as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net income | $ | 254,306 | $ | 31,896 | ||||
| Add: | ||||||||
| Income tax provision * | 86,587 | 10,203 | ||||||
| Interest expense, net of interest income ** | 159,891 | 268,474 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 132,039 | 126,220 | ||||||
| EBITDA | 632,823 | 436,793 | ||||||
| Add (Subtract): | ||||||||
| (Gain) loss on asset divestitures, pre-tax | (232,381 | ) | 2,907 | |||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | 66 | 70 | ||||||
| Stock based compensation, pre-tax | 23,593 | 18,107 | ||||||
| Non-cash contingent liability and litigation and settlement costs, pre-tax | 38,224 | — | ||||||
| Employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax | 2,003 | 2,060 | ||||||
| Start-up expenses, pre-tax | 1,423 | 507 | ||||||
| ATM equity program expenses, pre-tax | — | 264 | ||||||
| Close-out expenses, pre-tax | 2,816 | 2,345 | ||||||
| Transaction related expenses, pre-tax | 76 | 3,632 | ||||||
| Other non-cash revenue & expenses, pre-tax | (4,225 | ) | (3,196 | ) | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 464,418 | $ | 463,489 |
* Includes income tax provision on equity in earnings of affiliates
** Includes loss on extinguishment of debt
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.
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We continue to be encouraged by the current landscape of growth opportunities. We are preparing for what we believe is an unprecedented opportunity to help the federal government meet its expanded immigration enforcement priorities. We are taking several important steps to meet this opportunity, including making a previously announced significant investment in capital expenditures to strengthen our capabilities to deliver expanded detention capacity, secure transportation, and electronic monitoring and related services to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the federal government. Additionally, in the first weeks of the new Administration, President Trump issued an Executive Order reversing the prior Administration's Executive Order that had directed the U.S. Attorney General to not renew U.S. Department of Justice contracts with privately-operated criminal detention facilities.
Any positive trends in the industry may be offset by several factors, including the impact of the federal government shutdown and any future federal government shutdown, budgetary constraints, contract modifications, contract terminations, contract non-renewals, contract re-bids and/or the decision to not re-bid a contract after expiration of the contract term and the impact of any other potential changes to the willingness or ability to maintain or grow public-private partnerships on the part of other government agencies.
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 costs represented approximately 70% and 69% of our operating expenses in 2025 and 2024, respectively. Additional significant operating expenses include food, utilities and inmate medical costs. In 2025 and 2024, operating expenses totaled approximately 75% and 73% of our consolidated revenues, respectively. Our operating expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2026 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 2026, we will incur carrying costs for facilities that were vacant in 2025.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. For each of the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately 9% of our consolidated revenues. We expect general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2026 to remain consistent or decrease as a result of cost savings initiatives.
Idle Facilities
In our Secure Services segment, we are currently marketing 5,896 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $180.9 million at six of our idle facilities to potential customers. In our Reentry Services segment, we are currently marketing 750 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $11.6 million at two of our idle facilities to potential customers. The combined annual carrying cost of these idle facilities in 2026 is estimated to be $23.4 million, including depreciation expense of $12.0 million. With the exception of a contract yet to be activated for one of our secure facilities, we currently do not have any firm commitments or agreements in place to activate these facilities but have ongoing contact with several potential customers. Historically, some facilities have been idle for multiple years before they received a new contract award. The per diem rates that we charge our clients often vary by contract across our portfolio. However, if the eight idle facilities in our Secure Services and Reentry Services segments were to be activated using our Secure Services and Reentry Services average per diem rate in 2025 (calculated as revenue divided by the number of mandays) and based on the average occupancy rate in our facilities for 2025, we would expect to receive annual incremental revenue of approximately $240 million and an increase in annual earnings per share of approximately $0.20 to $0.25 per share based on our average 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:
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•
any adverse impact on our financial results caused by the most recent and any future federal government shutdown;
•
our ability to timely build and/or open facilities as planned, successfully manage such facilities and successfully integrate such facilities into our operations without substantial additional costs;
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our ability to estimate the government’s level of utilization of public-private partnerships for secure services and the impact of any modifications or reductions by our government customers of their utilization of public-private partnerships;
•
our ability to accurately project the size and growth of public-private partnerships for secure services in the U.S. and internationally and our ability to capitalize on opportunities for public-private partnerships;
•
our ability to successfully respond to any challenges or concerns that our government customers may raise regarding their use of public-private partnerships for secure services, including finding other government customers or alternative uses for facilities where a government customer has discontinued or announced that a contract with us will be discontinued;
•
the impact of adopted or proposed executive action or legislation aimed at limiting public-private partnerships for secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers or limiting or restricting the business and operations of financial institutions or others who do business with us;
•
our ability to successfully respond to delays encountered by states pursuing public-private partnerships for secure services and cost savings initiatives implemented by a number of states;
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our ability to activate the inactive beds at our idle facilities;
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our ability to maintain or increase occupancy rates at our facilities and the impact of fluctuations in occupancy levels or participants in ISAP on our revenues and profitability;
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our ability to expand, diversify and grow our secure services, reentry, community-based services, monitoring services, evidence-based supervision and treatment programs and secure transportation services businesses;
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our ability to win management contracts for which we have submitted proposals, retain existing management contracts, prevail in any challenge or protest involving the award of a management contract and meet any performance standards required by such management contracts;
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our ability to raise new project development capital given the often short-term nature of the customers’ commitment to use newly developed facilities;
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our ability to develop long-term earnings visibility;
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our ability to successfully conduct our operations in the United Kingdom and South Africa through joint ventures;
•
the instability of foreign exchange rates, exposing us to currency risks in Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, or other countries in which we may choose to conduct our business;
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an increase in unreimbursed labor rates;
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our exposure to rising medical costs;
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our ability to manage costs and expenses relating to ongoing litigation arising from our operations;
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the risks associated with the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to hear our appeal in the Nwauzor case and our ability to prevail on the merits, our company being required to record an additional accrual for the judgments in the future, and our ability to defend similar other pending litigation and the effect such litigation may have on our company;
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our ability to accurately estimate on an annual basis, loss reserves related to general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims;
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our ability to fulfill our debt service obligations and its impact on our liquidity;
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our ability to deleverage and repay, refinance or otherwise address our debt maturities in an amount or on the timeline we expect, or at all;
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despite current indebtedness levels, we may still incur more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks relating to our indebtedness;
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the covenants in the indentures governing the Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes and the Credit Agreement impose significant operating and financial restrictions which may adversely affect our ability to operate our business;
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servicing our indebtedness will require a significant amount of cash and 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;
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because portions of our senior indebtedness have floating interest rates, an increase in interest rates would adversely affect cash flows;
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we depend on distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments on our indebtedness and these distributions may not be made;
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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;
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the Unsecured Notes and the guarantees on the Unsecured Notes will be effectively subordinated to our and the guarantors' senior secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Unsecured Notes;
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the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations under the Secured Notes;
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our ability to identify and successfully complete any potential acquisitions of assets and businesses or sales of additional Company-owned assets and businesses on commercially advantageous terms on a timely basis, or at all;
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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;
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negative conditions in the capital markets could prevent us from obtaining future financing on desirable terms, which could materially harm our business;
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we are subject to the loss of our facility management contracts, due to executive orders, 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;
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our growth depends on our ability to secure contracts to develop and manage new secure facilities, processing centers and community-based facilities and to secure contracts to provide electronic monitoring services, community-based reentry services and monitoring and supervision services, the demand for which is outside our control;
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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;
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we partner with a limited number of governmental customers who account for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of, or a significant decrease in revenues from, these customers could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations;
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efforts to reduce the U.S. federal deficit could adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
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State budgetary constraints may have a material adverse impact on us;
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competition for contracts may adversely affect the profitability of our business;
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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, local and foreign government levels;
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public and political resistance to the use of public-private partnerships for secure facilities, electronic monitoring and supervision as alternatives to detention, processing centers and community reentry centers could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, impact our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing or enter into commercial arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our securities;
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adverse publicity may negatively impact our ability to retain existing contracts and obtain new contracts;
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we may incur significant start-up and operating costs on new contracts before receiving related revenues, which may impact our cash flows and may not be recouped;
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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;
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we may face community opposition to facility locations, which may adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts;
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our business operations expose us to various liabilities for which we may not have adequate insurance, including legal claims and proceedings, and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations;
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we may not be able to obtain or maintain the insurance levels required by our government contracts;
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our exposure to rising general insurance costs;
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natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, global political events and other serious catastrophic events could disrupt operations and otherwise materially adversely affect our business and financial condition;
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our international operations expose us to risks that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations;
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we conduct certain of our operations through joint ventures or consortiums, which may lead to disagreements with our joint venture partners or business partners and adversely affect our interest in the joint ventures or consortiums;
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we are dependent upon our senior management and our ability to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel;
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our profitability may be materially adversely affected by inflation;
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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;
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risks related to facility construction and development activities may increase our costs related to such activities;
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the rising cost and increasing difficulty of obtaining adequate levels of surety credit on favorable terms could adversely affect our operating results;
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adverse developments in our relationship with our employees could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations;
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the interruption, delay or failure of the provision of our services or information systems could adversely affect our business;
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the failure to comply with data privacy, security and exchange legal requirements could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations, cash flows and reputation;
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technological changes could cause our electronic monitoring products and technology, including our BI VeriWatch™ wrist-worn device, to become obsolete or require the redesign of our electronic monitoring products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business;
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any negative changes in the level of acceptance of or resistance to the use of electronic monitoring products, including our BI VeriWatch™ wrist-worn device, and services by governmental customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;
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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 and at such cost as we expect, our ability to market and sell our electronic monitoring products and services could be harmed;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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our ability to identify suitable acquisitions or dispositions, and to successfully complete such acquisitions or dispositions;
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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;
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federal, state and local tax rules can adversely affect our results of operations and financial position;
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we are subject to risks related to corporate social responsibility;
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the market price of our common stock may vary substantially;
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expectations about growth in the utilization of detention beds by the federal government may not be realized, which could negatively impact our stock price;
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future sales of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and may be dilutive to current shareholders;
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our ability to execute on the Share Repurchase Program on the anticipated timeline;
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various anti-takeover protections applicable to us may make an acquisition of us more difficult and reduce the market value of our common stock;
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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;
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we may issue additional debt securities that could limit our operating flexibility and negatively affect the value of our common stock;
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a “short squeeze” due to a sudden increase in demand for shares of our common stock that largely exceeds supply has led to, and may continue to lead to, extreme price volatility in shares of our common stock;
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failure to comply with anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences; and
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other factors contained in our filings with 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.
We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 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.
MD&A history
Prior-year 10-K MD&A spans are extracted from SEC filings with the same bounded parser used for the latest filing. The latest 10-K appears above; prior years are below.
FY 2024 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000950170-25-029972.
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.
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses 2024 and 2023 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023. Discussions of 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and are incorporated herein by reference.
We specialize in the ownership, leasing and management of secure, reentry facilities and processing centers and the provision of community-based services in the United States, Australia and South Africa. We own, lease and operate a broad range of secure facilities including maximum, medium and minimum-security facilities, processing centers, and community-based reentry facilities. We offer counseling, education and/or treatment for 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 a 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, 2024, our worldwide operations included the management and/or ownership of approximately 79,000 beds at 99 correctional, detention and reentry facilities, including idle facilities, and also included the provision of servicing individuals in a community-based environment on behalf of federal, state and local correctional agencies located throughout the country.
For each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had consolidated revenues of $2.4 billion and we maintained an average company-wide facility occupancy rate of 87.2% including 67,604 active beds and excluding 11,675 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2024, and 85.8% including 69,834 active beds and excluding 11,421 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The consolidated financial statements in this report are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. A summary of our significant accounting policies is described in Note 1 – Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The significant accounting policies and estimates which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:
Asset Impairments
The following table summarizes our idled facilities as of December 31, 2024 and their respective carrying values, excluding equipment and other assets that can be easily transferred to other facilities.
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| Secure Services | Reentry Services | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Services | Reentry Services | Net Carrying Value | Net Carrying Value | Net Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||||
| Facility | Year Idled | Design Capacity (beds) | Design Capacity (beds) | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| D. Ray James Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,900 | - | 48,079 | - | 48,079 | |||||||||||||||
| Northlake Correctional Facility | 2022 | 1,800 | - | 71,883 | - | 71,883 | |||||||||||||||
| Rivers Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,450 | - | 34,608 | - | 34,608 | |||||||||||||||
| Big Spring Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,732 | - | 27,471 | - | 27,471 | |||||||||||||||
| Flightline Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,800 | - | 31,915 | - | 31,915 | |||||||||||||||
| McFarland Female Community Reentry Facility | 2020 | - | 300 | - | 9,848 | 9,848 | |||||||||||||||
| Cheyenne Mountain Recovery Center [1] | 2020 | 750 | - | 16,772 | - | 16,772 | |||||||||||||||
| Hector Garza Center | 2020 | - | 139 | - | 4,188 | 4,188 | |||||||||||||||
| Delaney Hall [3] | 2023 | 1,054 | - | 29,890 | - | 29,890 | |||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia Residential [2] | 2024 | - | 400 | - | 6,716 | 6,716 | |||||||||||||||
| Coleman Hall [2] | 2017 | - | 350 | - | 6,080 | 6,080 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 10,486 | 1,189 | $ | 260,618 | $ | 26,832 | $ | 287,450 |
[1] This facility is under a contract that is yet to be activated.
[2] We had entered into a purchase and sale agreement in the second quarter of 2024 for these facilities that was less than the net carrying values. As such, we recorded a total impairment loss for both facilities of approximately $2.3 million during the second quarter of 2024 which is included in (loss) gain on asset divestitures/impairment in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The purchase and sale agreement was later rescinded. There was no indication of impairment related to our idle facilities during the years ended December 31, 2023 or 2022.
[3] On February 27, 2025, we announced that we have been awarded a 15-year ICE contract for this facility.
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 prolonged decrease in 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 achieved in the past at that facility or at similar facilities and probability weighted cash flows. Our probability weighted cash flows 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 perform the impairment analysis on an annual basis for each of the idle facilities, or more frequently if needed, and take into consideration updates each quarter for market developments affecting the potential utilization of each of the facilities in order to identify events that may cause the Company 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 the terms 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 individuals at such facility. Further, a substantial increase in the number of available beds at other facilities 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 have determined that no current impairment exists. We also received valuations from a third party on certain facilities. However, we can provide no assurance that we will be able to secure management contracts to utilize our idle facilities, or that
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we will not incur impairment charges in the future. In all cases, the undiscounted cash flows in our analysis as of December 31, 2024, exceeded the carrying amounts of each facility, therefore no impairment charges were recorded.
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 individuals within our care, 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 individuals within our care, including damages arising from the escape of an individual in our care 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.
On October 1, 2021, GEO formed a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary, Florina Insurance Company, Inc. (“Florina”), to enhance our risk financing strategies. Florina is incorporated in the state of Vermont and is licensed and regulated by the state of Vermont, including with respect to its insurance programs, levels of liquidity and other requirements. GEO began procuring insurance policies to cover deductibles for workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, medical professional liability and directors' and officers’ liability as well as the option of procuring insurance policies for its excess liability and excess medical professional liability through Florina effective October 1, 2021. Florina holds cash and investments in order to meet solvency requirements and meet financial obligations as presented, including an investment portfolio of marketable fixed income and equity securities.
We currently maintain a general liability policy and excess liability policies with total limits of $75.0 million per occurrence and $95.0 million total general liability annual aggregate limits covering the operations of U.S. Secure Services, Reentry Services and Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services through commercial and captive policies. We have a professional liability insurance program with a specific loss limit of $45.0 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, cybersecurity liability and automobile liability.
For most casualty insurance policies, we carry substantial deductibles or self-insured retentions of $4.0 million per occurrence for general liability and $5.0 million per occurrence for medical professional liability, $2.0 million per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $2.3 million per occurrence for directors' and officers’ liability 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 us from insuring some of our facilities to full replacement value.
With respect to operations in South Africa and Australia, we utilize locally-procured insurance to meet contractual insurance requirements and protect us.
Of the insurance policies discussed above, our most significant insurance reserves relate to workers’ compensation, general liability and auto claims. These reserves, which include Florina’s reserves and GEO’s legacy reserves and administrative costs for the plans, are undiscounted and were $56.9 million and $65.6 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and are included in Accrued Expenses in the accompanying Consolidated 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
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related to insurance claims significantly differ from our estimates, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely impacted.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net
Goodwill
We have recorded goodwill as a result of our business combinations. Goodwill is recorded as the difference, if any, between the aggregate consideration paid for an acquisition and the fair value of the net tangible assets and other intangible assets acquired. Our goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment annually on the first day of the fourth quarter, and whenever events or circumstances arise that indicate impairment may have occurred. Impairment testing is performed for all reporting units that contain goodwill that is significant. The reporting units are the same as the reportable segments for U.S. Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services.
On the annual measurement date of October 1, 2024, management elected to qualitatively assess our goodwill for impairment for our Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services reporting unit. Under provisions of the qualitative analysis, when testing goodwill for impairment, we first assess 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 a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we perform a quantitative impairment test to identify goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized, if any. We will also perform a quantitative test if it has been several years since the last one. The qualitative factors used by management to determine the likelihood that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount include, among other things, a review of overall economic conditions and their current and future impact on the Company’s existing business, the Company’s financial performance and stock price, industry outlook and market competition. With respect to the qualitative assessment, management determined that, as of October 1, 2024, it was more likely than not that the fair value of the Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services reporting unit exceeded its carrying values. We performed quantitative analyses for our U.S. Secure Services and Reentry Services reporting units using a third-party valuation firm to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit using a discounted cash flow model. For U.S. Secure Services and Reentry Services reporting units, a discount rate of 13.5% and 12.0%, respectively, was utilized to adjust the cash flow forecasts based on our estimate of a market participant’s weighted-average cost of capital. Growth rates for sales and profits were determined using inputs from our long-term planning process. We also made estimates for discount rates and other factors based on market conditions, historical experience and other economic factors. Changes in these factors could significantly impact the fair value of the reporting unit. With respect to the U.S. Secure Services and Reentry Services reporting units that were assessed quantitatively, management determined that the fair values exceeded their carrying values by a significant amount. A significant change in one or combination of the assumptions discussed above could have impacted the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. If our expectations of future results and cash flows decrease significantly or other economic conditions deteriorate, goodwill may be further impaired. Goodwill recorded at our International Services reporting unit is not significant. No impairment charges were recorded for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022.
Other Intangible Assets, Net
We have also recorded other finite and indefinite lived intangible assets as a result of previously completed business combinations. Other acquired finite and indefinite lived intangible assets are recognized separately if the benefit of the intangible asset is obtained through contractual or other legal rights, or if the intangible asset can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged, regardless of our intent to do so. Our intangible assets include facility management contracts, trade names and technology. The facility management contracts represent customer relationships in the form of management contracts acquired at the time of each business combination; the value of BI’s and Protocol Criminal Justice, Inc.'s ("Protocol") trade names represent, among other intangible benefits, name recognition to its customers and intellectual property rights; and the acquired technology represented BI’s innovation with respect to its GPS tracking, monitoring, radio frequency monitoring, voice verification monitoring and alcohol compliance systems which became fully amortized as of December 31, 2023. When establishing useful lives, we consider the period and the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed or otherwise used up; or, if that pattern cannot be reliably determined, using a straight-line amortization method over a period that may be shorter than the ultimate life of such intangible asset. We also consider the impact of renewal terms when establishing useful lives. We currently amortize our acquired facility management contracts over periods ranging from three to twenty-one years and its acquired technology over seven years to eight years. There is no residual value associated with our finite-lived intangible assets. We review our trade name assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable. We do not amortize its indefinite lived intangible assets. We review our indefinite lived intangible assets annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The qualitative factors used by GEO’s management to determine the likelihood that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount include, among other things, a review of overall economic conditions and their current and future impact on our existing business, our financial performance and stock price, industry outlook and market competition. These reviews resulted in no significant impairment to the carrying value of the indefinite lived intangible assets for all periods
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presented. We record the costs associated with renewal and extension of facility management contracts as expenses in the period they are incurred.
Fair Value Measurements
We define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (“exit price”). We carry certain of our assets and liabilities at fair value, measured on a recurring basis, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. We also have certain assets and liabilities which are not carried at fair value in our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and disclose the fair value measurements compared to the carrying values as of each balance sheet date. We establish the fair value of our assets and liabilities using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels which distinguish between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s assumptions (unobservable inputs). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the respective fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety. Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are other than quotable market prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities that reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. We recognize transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as of the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that cause the transfer.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The following accounting standard was adopted in the current period:
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires a public entity to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis and provide in interim periods all disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually. Additionally, it requires a public entity to disclose the title and position of the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). The ASU does not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates them, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. We adopted the new standard effective December 31, 2024. As a result, we have enhanced our segment disclosures to include the presentation of significant expenses by segment and the disclosure of our CODM. The adoption of this ASU affects only our disclosures, with no impacts to our financial condition and results of operations. Refer to Note 14 - Business Segments and Geographic Information of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements contained Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The following accounting standards will be adopted in future periods:
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. This ASU requires an entity to disclose the amounts of purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization included in each relevant expense caption. It also requires an entity to include certain amounts that are already required to be disclosed under current GAAP in the same disclosure. Additionally, it requires an entity to disclose a qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively, and to disclose the total amount of selling expenses and, in annual reporting periods, an entity’s definition of selling expenses. The amendments in the ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments prospectively for reporting periods after the effective date or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. While this ASU will impact only our disclosures and not our financial condition and results of operations, we are currently evaluating when we will adopt the ASU.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which focuses on the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU No. 2023-09 requires a public business entity (PBE) to disclose, on an annual basis, a tabular rate reconciliation using both percentages and currency amounts, broken out into specified categories with certain reconciling items further broken out by nature and jurisdiction to the extent those items exceed a specified threshold. In addition, all entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign and by jurisdiction if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax payments, net of refunds received. For PBEs, the new standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. An entity may apply the amendments in this ASU prospectively by providing the revised disclosures for the period ending December 31, 2025 and continuing to provide the pre-ASU disclosures for the prior periods, or may apply the amendments retrospectively by providing the revised disclosures for all periods presented. We will adopt this ASU prospectively for the period ending December 31, 2025, and it will impact only our disclosures with no impacts to our financial condition and results of operations.
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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 our 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.
2024 versus 2023
Revenues
| 2024 | % of Revenue | 2023 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,604,386 | 66.2 | % | $ | 1,518,292 | 62.9 | % | $ | 86,094 | 5.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 332,826 | 13.7 | % | 425,879 | 17.6 | % | (93,053 | ) | (21.8 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 277,566 | 11.5 | % | 275,102 | 11.4 | % | 2,464 | 0.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
| International Services | 208,924 | 8.6 | % | 193,894 | 8.0 | % | 15,030 | 7.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,423,702 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,413,167 | 100.0 | % | $ | 10,535 | 0.4 | % |
U.S. Secure Services
Revenues for U.S. Secure Services increased by $86.1 million in 2024 compared to 2023 due to aggregate increases of $15.8 million primarily due to the activation of new transportation contracts as well as our lease with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for our company-owned Great Plains Correctional Facility which commenced on May 1, 2023. In addition, we experienced aggregate net increases in rates and/or per diem amounts in connection with contract modifications, transportation services and increased occupancies of $82.0 million. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of approximately $11.7 million related to the transition of operations at the state-owned 1,536-bed Lawrenceville Correctional Center in Virginia to the Virginia Department of Corrections.
The number of compensated mandays in U.S. Secure Services facilities was approximately 16.6 million in 2024 and 16.8 million in 2023. We experienced an aggregate net decrease of approximately 200,000 mandays as a result of contract terminations, partially offset by contract activations and increases in occupancies discussed above. 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. Secure Services facilities was 86.6% and 86.2% of capacity in 2024 and 2023, respectively, excluding idle facilities.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Revenues for Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services decreased by $93.1 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to decreases in average participant counts under the Intensive Supervision and Appearance Program ("ISAP").
Reentry Services
Revenues for Reentry Services increased by $2.5 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to increases of $4.5 million due to new day reporting center contracts. We also experienced a net aggregate increase of $12.1 million primarily related to increased census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to increased programming needs and referrals. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of $14.1 million due to contract terminations.
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International Services
Revenues for International Services increased by $15.0 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to a net increase of $27.0 million due to increased populations at our Australian subsidiary and our new health care contract in Australia. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $12.0 million.
Operating Expenses
| 2024 | % of Segment Revenues | 2023 | % of Segment Revenues | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,215,784 | 75.8 | % | $ | 1,169,386 | 77.0 | % | $ | 46,398 | 4.0 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 160,948 | 48.4 | % | 184,923 | 43.4 | % | (23,975 | ) | (13.0 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 205,650 | 74.1 | % | 209,779 | 76.3 | % | (4,129 | ) | (2.0 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 192,097 | 91.9 | % | 180,140 | 92.9 | % | 11,957 | 6.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,774,479 | $ | 1,744,228 | $ | 30,251 | 1.7 | % |
Operating expenses consist of those expenses incurred in the operation and management of our U.S. Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services segments.
U.S. Secure Services
Operating expenses for U.S. Secure Services increased by $46.4 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to aggregate net increases in connection with labor and medical costs, transportation services, increased occupancies and the variable costs associated with those services of $56.2 million. We also experienced an increase of $7.8 million primarily related to new transportation contracts. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of approximately $11.3 million related to the transition of operations at the state-owned 1,536-bed Lawrenceville Correctional Center in Virginia to the Virginia Department of Corrections. We also experienced a favorable adjustment for penalties and interest upon entering into a managed audit program with the state of New Mexico taxing authorities of approximately $6.3 million. Refer to Note 16 - Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Operating expenses for Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services decreased by $24.0 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to decreases in variable costs related to decreases in average participant counts under ISAP.
Reentry Services
Operating expenses for Reentry Services decreased by $4.1 million during 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to decreases of $9.8 million due to contract terminations. This decrease was partially offset by an aggregate net increase of $2.5 million related to increased census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to increased programming needs and referrals and the associated variable costs as well as an increase of $3.2 million due to the new day reporting center contracts.
International Services
Operating expenses for International Services increased by $12.0 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to a net increase of approximately $9.9 million primarily due to expenses associated with increased populations and our new health care contract in Australia. We also experienced an increase related to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $2.1 million.
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Depreciation and Amortization
| 2024 | % of Segment Revenue | 2023 | % of Segment Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 85,685 | 5.3 | % | $ | 78,917 | 5.2 | % | $ | 6,768 | 8.6 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 24,523 | 7.4 | % | 28,053 | 6.6 | % | (3,530 | ) | (12.6 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 13,619 | 4.9 | % | 16,588 | 6.0 | % | (2,969 | ) | (17.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 2,393 | 1.1 | % | 2,226 | 1.1 | % | 167 | 7.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 126,220 | 5.2 | % | $ | 125,784 | 5.2 | % | $ | 436 | 0.3 | % |
U.S. Secure Services
U.S. Secure Services depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to renovations at certain of our company-owned and leased facilities.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to certain assets becoming fully depreciated and/or amortized as well as the closing of certain ISAP locations.
Reentry Services
Reentry Services depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to certain assets becoming
fully depreciated and/or amortized as well as certain asset dispositions at our company-owned centers.
International Services
Depreciation and amortization expense increased slightly in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
Other Unallocated Operating Expenses
| 2024 | % of Revenue | 2023 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | $ | 213,028 | 8.8 | % | $ | 190,766 | 7.9 | % | $ | 22,262 | 11.7 | % |
General and administrative expenses comprise substantially all of our other unallocated operating expenses which primarily includes, corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $22.3 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to increases in certain transaction fees related to our private exchange transactions involving our convertible notes of $3.6 million, employee restructuring expenses of $2.1 million, stock-based compensation of $3.0 million and certain compensation adjustment decreases during 2023 of $4.1 million, with the remaining increase due to increases in employee benefits and related insurance, professional fees, consulting and other administrative expenses.
Non-Operating Income and Expense
Interest Income and Interest Expense
| 2024 | % of Revenue | 2023 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | $ | 8,787 | 0.4 | % | $ | 7,792 | 0.3 | % | $ | 995 | 12.8 | % | ||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | $ | 190,624 | 7.9 | % | $ | 218,292 | 9.0 | % | $ | (27,668 | ) | (12.7 | )% |
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Interest income increased in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations and higher cash
balances at our international subsidiaries.
Interest expense decreased by $27.7 million in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to our Senior Notes Offering and new Term Loan
under our new credit agreement that closed on April 18, 2024 which resulted in overall lower interest rates. We also retired the majority of our 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 during 2024. Refer to Note 11 - Debt of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
| 2024 | % of Revenue | 2023 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on Extinguishment of Debt | $ | 86,637 | 3.6 | % | $ | 8,532 | 0.4 | % | $ | 78,105 | 915.4 | % |
During 2024, we completed a Senior Note Offering and also made mandatory prepayments on our Term Loan which resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $86.6 million which consisted of the write-off of existing deferred financing costs and net discount/premiums and the payment of call premiums.
On December 14, 2023, we entered into and closed on the Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments Amendment to our credit agreement dated as of August 19, 2022. The amendment refinanced all of our outstanding revolving credit facility commitments under the credit agreement and under GEO’s Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2017, as subsequently amended. We wrote-off approximately $4.2 million in existing deferred loan costs to loss on extinguishment of debt as a result of the transaction. We also made a mandatory quarterly prepayments in 2023 on our Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 loans under our exchange credit agreement. In connection with the prepayments, we wrote off a proportionate amount of related deferred loan costs and discount/premium of approximately $4.3 million.
Refer to Note 11- Debt of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net (Loss) Gain on Disposition of Assets
| 2024 | % of Revenue | 2023 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) Gain on Asset Divestitures/Impairment | $ | (2,907 | ) | (0.1 | )% | $ | 4,691 | 0.2 | % | $ | (7,598 | ) | (162.0 | )% |
During 2024, we experienced an impairment loss of approximately $2.3 million related to two of our Company-owned facilities. We also donated a parcel of undeveloped land in Kern County, California which resulted in a loss on asset divestiture of approximately $0.6 million.
We experienced a net gain on disposition of assets in 2023 primarily due to the sale of vacant land located in South Dallas County, Texas, vacant land located in Colorado and the sale of our company-owned 900-bed Albert Bo Robinson Assessment and Treatment Center.
Provision for Income Taxes
| 2024 | Effective Rate | 2023 | Effective Rate | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | $ | 9,401 | 24.4 | % | $ | 35,399 | 25.6 | % | $ | (25,998 | ) | (73.4 | )% |
The provision for income taxes in 2024 decreased compared to 2023 along with the effective tax rate. In 2024 and 2023, there was a $4.8 million and $3.8 million net discrete tax benefit, respectively. Included in the provision for income taxes in 2024 and 2023 was a $1.1 million discrete tax benefit and a $1.0 million discrete tax expense related to stock compensation that vested during the respective periods. Also included in the provision for income taxes in 2024 was a $3.5 million discrete tax benefit from the interest deduction related to GEO shares issued to the holders of our 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 that participated in private exchange transactions. We estimate our 2025 annual effective tax rate to be in the range of approximately 28% to 30%, exclusive of any discrete items.
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Equity in Earnings of Affiliates
| 2024 | % of Revenue | 2023 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Earnings of Affiliates | $ | 2,703 | 0.1 | % | $ | 4,534 | 0.2 | % | $ | (1,831 | ) | (40.4 | )% |
Equity in earnings of affiliates, presented net of income taxes, represents the earnings of SACS and GEOAmey in the aggregate. Equity in earnings of affiliates in 2024 compared to 2023 decreased primarily due to unfavorable performance at SACS.
Financial Condition
Capital Requirements
Our current cash requirements consist of amounts needed for working capital, debt service, supply purchases, investments in joint ventures, and capital expenditures related to either the development of new secure, processing and reentry 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.
As of December 31, 2024, we were developing a number of contractually committed projects that we estimate will cost approximately $76.3 million, of which $51.8 million was spent through December 31, 2024. We estimate our remaining contractually committed capital requirements to be approximately $24.5 million. These projects are expected to be completed through 2025.
We plan to fund all of our capital needs, including capital expenditures, from cash on hand, cash from operations, borrowings under our
Credit Agreement 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 our Credit Agreement. We completed our annual budgeting process, and for 2025, we will continue to strategically manage our capital expenditures to maintain both short and long term financial objectives. Additionally, we may from time to time pursue transactions for the potential sale of additional assets and businesses and/or other strategic transactions. Our management believes that cash on hand, cash flows from operations and availability under our Credit Agreement will be adequate to support our capital requirements for 2025 as disclosed under “Capital Requirements” above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Senior Notes Offering and Credit Agreement
On April 18, 2024, we announced the closing of our previously announced private offering of $1.275 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes, comprised of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.625% senior secured notes due 2029 and $625.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.250% senior notes due 2031.
We also entered into a credit agreement, dated April 18, 2024 (the "Credit Agreement") to, among other things, evidence and govern a first-lien senior secured revolving credit facility and the commitments thereunder, and a first-lien senior secured term loan facility. The aggregate principal amount of revolving credit commitments under the senior revolving credit facility is $310 million (including a $175 million letter of credit subfacility) and the aggregate principal amount of the senior secured term loan facility is $450.0 million.
We used the net proceeds of the senior notes offering, borrowings under the new term loan, and cash on hand to refinance approximately $1.5 billion of existing indebtedness, including to fund the repurchase, redemption or other discharge of our existing Tranche 1 Term Loan and Tranche 2 Term Loan under our prior senior credit facility, the 9.50% senior second lien secured notes due 2028, the 10.50% senior second lien secured notes due 2028, and the 6.00% senior notes due 2026, to pay related premiums, transaction fees and expenses, and for general corporate purposes of the Company.
With these transactions, as well as the private exchange transactions involving our 6.50% Exchangeable Notes due 2026 discussed below, we have been able to push out substantially all of our debt maturities out to 2029 and 2031.
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
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On February 24, 2021, our wholly owned subsidiary, GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. ("GEOCH"), completed a private offering of $230 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes were scheduled to mature on February 23, 2026, unless earlier repurchased or exchanged. The Convertible Notes bore interest at the rate of 6.50% per year plus an additional amount based on the dividends paid by the Company on its common stock, $0.01 par value per share. Interest on the Convertible Notes was payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2021.
Subject to certain restrictions on share ownership and transfer, holders were able to exchange the Convertible Notes at their option prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding November 25, 2025, but only under the following circumstances: (1) during the five consecutive business day period after any five consecutive trading day period, or the measurement period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes for each trading day of such measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the exchange rate for the Convertible Notes on each such trading day; or (2) upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate events. On or after November 25, 2025, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the Convertible Notes, holders were able to exchange their Convertible Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon exchange of a Convertible Note, we would pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock.
Upon conversion, we would pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock. The initial conversion rate was 108.4011 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $9.225 per share of common stock). The conversion rate was subject to adjustment in certain events. If we had undergone a fundamental change, holders could have required GEOCH to purchase the Convertible Notes in whole or in part for cash at a fundamental change purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date.
During 2024, we retired $229.9 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes as a result of private exchange transactions with an exchange value of approximately $415 million. The consideration consisted of cash of $229.9 million, using a combination of the net proceeds from the Senior Notes Offering and cash on hand, and approximately 12.4 million shares of GEO common stock. Of the total amount of shares issued, we issued 4,209,847 shares that were in treasury. During the first quarter of 2025, we entered into the last repurchase transaction that resulted in the retirement of the remaining principal balance.
We consider opportunities for future business and/or asset acquisitions or dispositions as we deem appropriate when market conditions
present opportunities. If we are successful in our pursuit of any new projects, our cash on hand, cash flows from operations and borrowings under the new Credit Agreement may not provide sufficient liquidity to meet our capital needs 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 indenture governing the Secured Notes, the indenture governing the Unsecured Notes and our Credit Agreement. A substantial decline in our financial performance could limit our access to capital pursuant to these covenants and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources and, 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 were in compliance with our debt covenants as of December 31, 2024, and we expect to continue 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.
GEO’s Secured Notes and Unsecured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis (except on a senior secured basis in the case of the Secured Notes) by certain of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
Automatic Shelf Registration on Form S-3
On October 30, 2023, the Company filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that enables the Company to offer for sale, from time to time and as the capital markets permit, an unspecified amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, guarantees of debt securities, warrants and units. The shelf registration statement became automatically effective upon filing and is valid for three years.
Prospectus Supplement
On December 28, 2023, in connection with the shelf registration, 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 $300 million through sales agents. Sales of shares of our
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common stock under the prospectus supplement and equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, will 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 shares of common stock sold under this prospectus supplement during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Other
We have entered into two identical Notes (as defined below) in the aggregate amount of $44.3 million which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. The terms of the Notes are through September 1, 2034 and bear interest at SOFR plus 205 basis points and are payable in monthly installments plus interest. We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest rate to 4.22%. Included in the balance at December 31, 2024 is $0.5 million of deferred loan costs incurred in the transaction. Refer to Note 6 – Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Guarantees
The Company has entered into certain guarantees in connection with the design, financing and construction of certain facilities as well as loan, working capital and other obligation guarantees for our subsidiaries in Australia, South Africa and our joint ventures. Refer to Note 11 - Debt in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Executive Retirement Agreement
We have a non-qualified deferred compensation agreement with our Executive Chairmen and former Chief Executive Officer (“former CEO”). The agreement provides for a lump sum payment upon retirement, no sooner than age 55. As of December 31, 2024, our Executive Chairman had reached age 55 and was eligible to receive the payment upon retirement.
GEO and our Executive Chairman and former CEO, entered into on May 27, 2021, and effective July 1, 2021, an Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement which replaced the prior February 26, 2020 agreement discussed below. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement, upon the date that the Executive Chairman ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay to the Executive Chairman an amount equal to $3,600,000 (the "2021 Grandfathered Payment") which shall be paid in cash. The Grandfathered Payment shall be credited with interest at a rate of 5% compounded quarterly (the “Grandfathered Earnings Account”). Additionally, at the end of each calendar year provided that our Executive Chairman is still providing services to GEO pursuant to the Executive Chairman Employment Agreement, we will credit an amount equal to $1,000,000 at the end of each calendar year (the “Employment Contributions Account”). The Employment Contributions Account will be credited with interest at the rate of 5% compounded quarterly. Upon the date that the Executive Chairman ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay the Executive Chairman in one lump sum cash payment each of the 2021 Grandfathered Payment, the Grandfathered Earnings Account and the Employment Contributions Account subject to the six-month delay provided in the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. As the Executive Chairman’s retirement payment will no longer be settled with a fixed number of shares of GEO’s common stock (as discussed below under the prior agreement), $3,600,000 has been reclassified from equity to other non-current liabilities in 2021. The balance of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement was approximately $12.6 million at December 31, 2024 which is fully funded. Refer to Note 13 - Benefit Plans in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information. The following table presents the balance due to the Executive Chairman at the end of each of the next five years under the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement provided that the Executive Chairman is still providing services to GEO under his Executive Chairman Employment Agreement:
| Period End | Retirement Obligation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | |||
| 12/31/2025 | $ | 16,336 | |
| 12/31/2026 | $ | 20,856 | |
| 12/31/2027 | $ | 26,351 | |
| 12/31/2028 | $ | 33,029 | |
| 12/31/2029 | $ | 41,147 |
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We have established several trusts for the purpose of paying the retirement benefit pursuant to the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. The trusts were revocable “rabbi trusts” and the assets of the trusts are subject to the claims of our creditors in the event of our insolvency.
Guarantor Financial Information
GEO’s Secured Notes and Unsecured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis (except on a senior secured basis in the case of the Secured Notes) by certain of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
Summarized financial information is provided for The GEO Group, Inc. (“Parent”) and the Subsidiary Guarantors on a combined basis in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rules 3-10 and 13-01. The accounting policies used in the preparation of this summarized financial information are consistent with those elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements of the Company, except that intercompany transactions and balances of the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantor entities with non-guarantor entities have not been eliminated. Intercompany transactions between the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantors have been eliminated and equity in earnings from and investments in non-guarantor subsidiaries have not been presented.
Summarized statement of operations (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, 2024 | Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating revenues | $ | 2,202,285 | $ | 2,207,117 | |||
| Income from operations | 274,752 | 330,684 | |||||
| Net income | 1,673 | 81,646 | |||||
| Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. | 1,673 | 81,646 |
Summarized balance sheets (in thousands):
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current assets | $ | 438,433 | $ | 455,746 | |||
| Noncurrent assets (a) | 2,999,305 | 3,028,140 | |||||
| Current liabilities | 255,851 | 354,503 | |||||
| Noncurrent liabilities (b) | 2,002,284 | 1,997,130 |
(a)
Includes amounts due from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $55.9 million and $50.0 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(b)
Includes amounts due to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $46.8 million and $31.5 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Except as discussed above, and in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 16 – Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Derivatives
We have entered into two interest rate swap agreements in the aggregate notional amount of $44.3 million to fix the interest rate on certain of our variable rate debt to 4.22%. We have designated these interest rate swaps as hedges against changes in the cash flows of two identical promissory notes (the "Notes") which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. We have determined that the swaps have payment, expiration dates, and provisions that coincide with the terms of the Notes and are therefore considered to be effective cash flow hedges. Accordingly, we record the change in fair value of the interest rate swaps as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes. There was no material ineffectiveness for the period presented. We do not expect to enter into any transactions during the next twelve months which would result in reclassification into earnings or losses
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associated with these swaps currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Refer to Note 11 - Debt and Note 6 - Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Cash Flow
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024 was $125.9 million, compared to $159.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and was impacted by the following:
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2024 and 2023 was $242.2 million and $277.8 million, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2024 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision (benefit), amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, net loss on asset divestiture/impairment, loss on extinguishment of debt and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash along with realized/unrealized gain on investments. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets increased in total by a net of $7.6 million, representing a negative impact on cash. The increase was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased by $21.8 million which negatively impacted cash. The decrease was primarily due to the timing of payments.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2023 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision (benefit), amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment, loss on extinguishment of debt and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash along with a net gain on disposition of assets. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets decreased in total by a net of $11.7 million, representing a positive impact on cash. The decrease was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased by $8.1 million which positively impacted cash. The increase was primarily due to the timing of payments.
Net cash used in investing activities of $101.7 million in 2024 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $78.7 million and purchases of marketable securities of $33.1 million offset by proceeds from sale of marketable securities of $10.1 million. Net cash used in investing activities of $53.4 million in 2023 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $73.0 million offset by proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets of $19.6 million.
Net cash used in financing activities in 2024 was $163.8 million compared to net cash used in financing activities of $208.1 million in 2023. Net cash used in financing activities during 2024 was primarily the result of proceeds from long-term debt of $1,720.5 million, proceeds from borrowings on revolver of $110.0 million, payments on long-term debt of $1,926.8 million, payments for call premiums of $35.6 million, debt issuance costs of $35.7 million and taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards of $9.7 million. Net cash used in financing activities in 2023 reflects payments of $208.4 million on long term debt offset by $5.8 million of proceeds from the sale of treasury shares. We also paid $2.4 million of debt issuance costs and paid $3.4 million for taxes related to net share settlements of equity awards.
Inflation
We believe that inflation, in general, did have a negative impact but did not have a material effect on our results of operations during 2024 and 2023. 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 recurring/fixed expense, increase at a faster rate than the per diem or fixed rates received by us for our management services.
Non-GAAP Measures
EBITDA is defined as net income adjusted by adding provisions for income tax, interest expense, net of interest income and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted for net loss (gain) on asset divestitures, pre-tax, net loss attributable to non-controlling interests, stock-based compensation expenses, pre-tax, litigation costs and settlements, pre-tax, employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax, close-out expenses, pre-tax, litigation and cost settlements, pre-tax, start-up expenses, pre-tax, transaction related expenses, pre-tax, other non-cash revenue and expenses, pre-tax, and certain other adjustments as defined from time to time.
Given the nature of our business as a real estate owner and operator, we believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are helpful to investors as measures of our operational performance because they provide an indication of our ability to incur and service debt, to satisfy general operating expenses, to make capital expenditures, and to fund other cash needs or reinvest cash into our business.
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We believe that by removing the impact of our asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) and excluding certain non-cash charges, amounts spent on interest and taxes, and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide our investors with performance measures that reflect the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, per diem rates and operating costs, providing a perspective not immediately apparent from net income.
The adjustments we make to derive the non-GAAP measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude items which may cause short-term fluctuations in income from continuing operations and which we do not consider to be the fundamental attributes or primary drivers of our business plan and they do not affect our overall long-term operating performance.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide disclosure on the same basis as that used by our management and provide consistency in our financial reporting, facilitate internal and external comparisons of our historical operating performance and our business units and provide continuity to investors for comparability purposes.
Our reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net income | $ | 31,896 | $ | 107,183 | ||||
| Add: | ||||||||
| Income tax provision * | 10,203 | 36,267 | ||||||
| Interest expense, net of interest income ** | 268,474 | 219,032 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 126,220 | 125,784 | ||||||
| EBITDA | 436,793 | 488,266 | ||||||
| Add (Subtract): | ||||||||
| Loss (gain) on asset divestitures, pre-tax | 2,907 | (4,691 | ) | |||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | 70 | 142 | ||||||
| Stock based compensation, pre-tax | 18,107 | 15,065 | ||||||
| Litigation costs and settlements, pre-tax | — | 8,900 | ||||||
| Employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax | 2,060 | 814 | ||||||
| Start-up expenses, pre-tax | 507 | — | ||||||
| ATM equity program expenses, pre-tax | 264 | — | ||||||
| Close-out expenses, pre-tax | 2,345 | — | ||||||
| Transaction related expenses, pre-tax | 3,632 | — | ||||||
| Other non-cash revenue & expenses, pre-tax | (3,196 | ) | (1,319 | ) | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 463,489 | $ | 507,177 |
* Includes income tax provision on equity in earnings of affiliates
** Includes loss on extinguishment of debt
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.
We continue to be encouraged by the current landscape of growth opportunities. We are preparing for what we believe is an unprecedented opportunity to help the federal government meet its expanded immigration enforcement priorities. We are taking several important steps to meet this opportunity, including making a previously announced $70 million investment in capital expenditures to strengthen our capabilities to deliver expanded detention capacity, secure transportation, and electronic monitoring and related services to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the federal government. Additionally, in the first weeks of the new Administration, President
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Trump issued an Executive Order reversing the prior Administration's Executive Order that had directed the U.S. Attorney General to not renew U.S. Department of Justice contracts with privately-operated criminal detention facilities.
Any positive trends in the industry may be offset by several factors, including budgetary constraints, contract modifications, contract terminations, contract non-renewals, contract re-bids and/or the decision to not re-bid a contract after expiration of the contract term and the impact of any other potential changes to the willingness or ability to maintain or grow public-private partnerships on the part of other government agencies.
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 costs represented approximately 69% and 66% of our operating expenses in 2024 and 2023, respectively. Additional significant operating expenses include food, utilities and inmate medical costs. In 2024 and 2023, operating expenses totaled approximately 73% and 72% of our consolidated revenues, respectively. Our operating expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2025 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 2025, we will incur carrying costs for facilities that were vacant in 2024.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately 9% and 8% of our consolidated revenues, respectively. We expect general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2025 to remain consistent or decrease as a result of cost savings initiatives.
Idle Facilities
In our Secure Services segment, we are currently marketing 10,486 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $260.6 million at seven of our idle facilities to potential customers. In our Reentry Services segment, we are currently marketing 1,189 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $26.8 million at four of our idle facilities to potential customers. The combined annual carrying cost of these idle facilities in 2024 is estimated to be $33.0 million, including depreciation expense of $16.8 million. With the exception of a contract yet to be activated for one of our secure facilities, we currently do not have any firm commitments or agreements in place to activate these facilities but have ongoing contact with several potential customers. Historically, some facilities have been idle for multiple years before they received a new contract award. The per diem rates that we charge our clients often vary by contract across our portfolio. However, if the eleven idle facilities in our Secure Services and Reentry Services segments were to be activated using our Secure Services and Reentry Services average per diem rate in 2024 (calculated as revenue divided by the number of mandays) and based on the average occupancy rate in our facilities for 2024, we would expect to receive annual incremental revenue of approximately $377 million and an increase in annual earnings per share of approximately $0.36 to $0.40 per share based on our average 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:
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our ability to timely build and/or open facilities as planned, successfully manage such facilities and successfully integrate such facilities into our operations without substantial additional costs;
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•
our ability to estimate the government’s level of utilization of public-private partnerships for secure services and the impact of any modifications or reductions by our government customers of their utilization of public-private partnerships;
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our ability to accurately project the size and growth of public-private partnerships for secure services in the U.S. and internationally and our ability to capitalize on opportunities for public-private partnerships;
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our ability to successfully respond to any challenges or concerns that our government customers may raise regarding their use of public-private partnerships for secure services, including finding other government customers or alternative uses for facilities where a government customer has discontinued or announced that a contract with us will be discontinued;
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the impact of adopted or proposed executive action or legislation aimed at limiting public-private partnerships for secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers or limiting or restricting the business and operations of financial institutions or others who do business with us;
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our ability to successfully respond to delays encountered by states pursuing public-private partnerships for secure services and cost savings initiatives implemented by a number of states;
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our ability to activate the inactive beds at our idle facilities;
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our ability to maintain or increase occupancy rates at our facilities and the impact of fluctuations in occupancy levels or participants in ISAP on our revenues and profitability;
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our ability to expand, diversify and grow our secure services, reentry, community-based services, monitoring services, evidence-based supervision and treatment programs and secure transportation services businesses;
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our ability to win management contracts for which we have submitted proposals, retain existing management contracts, prevail in any challenge or protest involving the award of a management contract and meet any performance standards required by such management contracts;
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our ability to raise new project development capital given the often short-term nature of the customers’ commitment to use newly developed facilities;
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our ability to develop long-term earnings visibility;
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our ability to successfully conduct our operations in the United Kingdom and South Africa through joint ventures;
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the instability of foreign exchange rates, exposing us to currency risks in Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, or other countries in which we may choose to conduct our business;
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an increase in unreimbursed labor rates;
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our exposure to rising medical costs;
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our ability to manage costs and expenses relating to ongoing litigation arising from our operations;
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our ability to successfully pursue an appeal to reverse the recent unfavorable verdict and judgments in the retrial of the lawsuits in the State of Washington, our company being required to record an accrual for the judgments in the future, and our ability to defend similar other pending litigation and the effect such litigation may have on our company;
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our ability to accurately estimate on an annual basis, loss reserves related to general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims;
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our ability to fulfill our debt service obligations and its impact on our liquidity;
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our ability to deleverage and repay, refinance or otherwise address our debt maturities in an amount or on the timeline we expect, or at all;
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despite current indebtedness levels, we may still incur more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks relating to our indebtedness;
•
the covenants in the indentures governing the Secured Notes and the Unsecured Notes and the Credit Agreement impose significant operating and financial restrictions which may adversely affect our ability to operate our business;
•
servicing our indebtedness will require a significant amount of cash and 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;
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•
because portions of our senior indebtedness have floating interest rates, an increase in interest rates would adversely affect cash flows;
•
we depend on distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments on our indebtedness and these distributions may not be made;
•
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;
•
the Unsecured Notes and the guarantees on the Unsecured Notes will be effectively subordinated to our and the guarantors' senior secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Unsecured Notes;
•
the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations under the Secured Notes;
•
our ability to identify and successfully complete any potential sales of additional Company-owned assets and businesses on commercially advantageous terms on a timely basis, or at all;
•
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;
•
negative conditions in the capital markets could prevent us from obtaining future financing on desirable terms, which could materially harm our business;
•
we are subject to the loss of our facility management contracts, due to executive orders, 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;
•
our growth depends on our ability to secure contracts to develop and manage new secure facilities, processing centers and community-based facilities and to secure contracts to provide electronic monitoring services, community-based reentry services and monitoring and supervision services, the demand for which is outside our control;
•
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;
•
we partner with a limited number of governmental customers who account for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of, or a significant decrease in revenues from, these customers could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations;
•
efforts to reduce the U.S. federal deficit could adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition;
•
State budgetary constraints may have a material adverse impact on us;
•
competition for contracts may adversely affect the profitability of our business;
•
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, local and foreign government levels;
•
public and political resistance to the use of public-private partnerships for secure facilities, electronic monitoring and supervision as alternatives to detention, processing centers and community reentry centers could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, impact our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing or enter into commercial arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our securities;
•
adverse publicity may negatively impact our ability to retain existing contracts and obtain new contracts;
•
we may incur significant start-up and operating costs on new contracts before receiving related revenues, which may impact our cash flows and may not be recouped;
•
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;
•
we may face community opposition to facility locations, which may adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts;
•
our business operations expose us to various liabilities for which we may not have adequate insurance, including legal claims and proceedings, and may 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;
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•
our exposure to rising general insurance costs;
•
natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, global political events and other serious catastrophic events could disrupt operations and otherwise materially adversely affect our business and financial condition;
•
our international operations expose us to risks that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations;
•
we conduct certain of our operations through joint ventures or consortiums, which may lead to disagreements with our joint venture partners or business partners and adversely affect our interest in the joint ventures or consortiums;
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we are dependent upon our senior management and our ability to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel;
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our profitability may be materially adversely affected by inflation;
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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;
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risks related to facility construction and development activities may increase our costs related to such activities;
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the rising cost and increasing difficulty of obtaining adequate levels of surety credit on favorable terms could adversely affect our operating results;
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adverse developments in our relationship with our employees could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations;
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the interruption, delay or failure of the provision of our services or information systems could adversely affect our business;
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the failure to comply with data privacy, security and exchange legal requirements could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial position, results of operations, cash flows and reputation;
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technological changes could cause our electronic monitoring products and technology, including our recently launched BI VeriWatch™ wrist-worn device, to become obsolete or require the redesign of our electronic monitoring products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business;
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any negative changes in the level of acceptance of or resistance to the use of electronic monitoring products, including our recently launched BI VeriWatch™ wrist-worn device, and services by governmental customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;
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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 in a timely manner and/or with such quality as we expect, our ability to market and sell our electronic monitoring products and services could be harmed;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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our ability to identify suitable acquisitions or dispositions, and to successfully complete such acquisitions or dispositions;
•
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;
•
federal, state and local tax rules can adversely affect our results of operations and financial position;
•
we are subject to risks related to corporate social responsibility;
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•
the market price of our common stock may vary substantially;
•
expectations about growth in the utilization of detention beds by the federal government may not be realized, which could negatively impact our stock price;
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future sales of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and may be dilutive to current shareholders;
•
various anti-takeover protections applicable to us may make an acquisition of us more difficult and reduce 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;
•
we may issue additional debt securities that could limit our operating flexibility and negatively affect the value of our common stock;
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failure to comply with anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences; and
•
other factors contained in our filings with 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.
We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 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.
FY 2023 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000950170-24-023181.
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.
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses 2023 and 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022. Discussions of 2021 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and are incorporated herein by reference.
We specialize in the ownership, leasing and management of secure, reentry facilities and processing centers and the provision of community-based services in the United States, Australia and South Africa. We own, lease and operate a broad range of secure facilities including maximum, medium and minimum-security facilities, processing centers, and community-based reentry facilities. We offer counseling, education and/or treatment for 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 a 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, 2023, our worldwide operations included the management and/or ownership of approximately 81,000 beds at 100 correctional, detention and reentry facilities, including idle facilities, and also included the provision of servicing individuals in a community-based environment on behalf of federal, state and local correctional agencies located throughout the country.
For each of the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had consolidated revenues of $2.4 billion and we maintained an average company-wide facility occupancy rate of 85.5% including 69,834 active beds and excluding 11,421 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2023, and 84.6% including 69,418 active beds and excluding 13,061 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2022.
REIT Election
On December 2, 2021, we announced that our Board unanimously approved a plan to terminate our REIT election and become a taxable C Corporation, effective for the year ended December 31, 2021. As a result, we are no longer required to operate under REIT rules, including the requirement to distribute at least 90% of REIT taxable income to our stockholders, which provides us with greater flexibility to use our free cash flow. Effective January 1, 2021, we are subject to federal and state income taxes on our taxable income at applicable tax rates, and are no longer entitled to a tax deduction for dividends paid. We operated as a REIT for the 2020 tax year, and existing REIT requirements and limitations remained in place until December 31, 2020. The Board also voted unanimously to discontinue our quarterly dividend payment and prioritize allocating our free cash flow to reduce debt.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The consolidated financial statements in this report are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. A summary of our significant accounting policies is described in Note 1 – Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements contained Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The significant accounting policies and estimates which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:
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Asset Impairments
The following table summarizes the Company’s idled facilities as of December 31, 2023 and their respective carrying values, excluding equipment and other assets that can be easily transferred to other facilities.
| Secure Services | Reentry Services | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Services | Reentry Services | Net Carrying Value | Net Carrying Value | Net Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||||
| Facility | Year Idled | Design Capacity | Design Capacity | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| D. Ray James Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,900 | - | 49,743 | - | 49,743 | |||||||||||||||
| Northlake Correctional Facility | 2022 | 1,800 | - | 73,937 | - | 73,937 | |||||||||||||||
| Rivers Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,450 | - | 36,234 | - | 36,234 | |||||||||||||||
| Big Spring Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,732 | - | 30,186 | - | 30,186 | |||||||||||||||
| Flightline Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,800 | - | 33,203 | - | 33,203 | |||||||||||||||
| McFarland Female Community Reentry Facility | 2020 | 300 | - | 10,360 | - | 10,360 | |||||||||||||||
| Cheyenne Mountain Recovery Center [1] | 2020 | 750 | - | 17,566 | - | 17,566 | |||||||||||||||
| Hector Garza Center | 2020 | - | 139 | - | 4,469 | 4,469 | |||||||||||||||
| Delaney Hall | 2023 | - | 1,200 | - | 25,368 | 25,368 | |||||||||||||||
| Coleman Hall | 2017 | - | 350 | - | 7,368 | 7,368 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 9,732 | 1,689 | $ | 251,229 | $ | 37,205 | $ | 288,434 |
[1] This facility is under a contract that is yet to be activated.
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 prolonged decrease in 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 achieved in the past at that facility or at similar facilities and probability weighted cash flows. Our probability weighted cash flows 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 perform the impairment analysis on an annual basis for each of the idle facilities, or more frequently if needed, and take into consideration updates each quarter for market developments affecting the potential utilization of each of the facilities in order to identify events that may cause the Company 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 the terms 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 individuals at such facility. Further, a substantial increase in the number of available beds at other facilities 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 have determined that no current impairment exists. We also received valuations from a third party on certain facilities. 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 undiscounted cash flows in our analysis as of December 31, 2023, exceeded the carrying amounts of each facility, therefore no impairment charges were recorded.
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 individuals within our care, medical malpractice
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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 individuals within our care, including damages arising from the escape of an individual in our care 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.
On October 1, 2021, GEO formed a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary, Florina Insurance Company, Inc. (“Florina”), to enhance our risk financing strategies. Florina is incorporated in the state of Vermont and is licensed and regulated by the state of Vermont, including with respect to its insurance programs, levels of liquidity and other requirements. GEO began procuring insurance policies to cover deductibles for workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, medical professional liability and directors' and officers’ liability as well as procuring insurance policies for its excess liability and excess medical professional liability through Florina effective October 1, 2021. Florina holds cash and investments in order to meet solvency requirements and meet financial obligations as presented, including an investment portfolio of marketable fixed income and equity securities.
We currently maintain a general liability policy and excess liability policies with total limits of $75.0 million per occurrence and $95.0 million total general liability annual aggregate limits covering the operations of U.S. Secure Services, Reentry Services and Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services. We have an occurrence based liability insurance program with a specific loss limit of $40.0 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, cybersecurity liability and automobile liability.
For most casualty insurance policies, we carry substantial deductibles or self-insured retentions of $4.0 million per occurrence for general liability and $5.0 million per occurrence for medical professional liability, $2.0 million per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $2.5 million per occurrence for directors' and officers’ liability 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 us from insuring some of our facilities to full replacement value.
With respect to operations in South Africa and Australia, we utilize a combination of locally-procured insurance and global policies to meet contractual insurance requirements and protect us.
Of the insurance policies discussed above, our most significant insurance reserves relate to workers’ compensation, general liability and auto claims. These reserves, which include Florina’s reserves and GEO’s legacy reserves and administrative costs for the plans, are undiscounted and were $65.6 million and $79.0 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are included in Accrued Expenses in the accompanying Consolidated 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.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net
Goodwill
We have recorded goodwill as a result of our business combinations. Goodwill is recorded as the difference, if any, between the aggregate consideration paid for an acquisition and the fair value of the net tangible assets and other intangible assets acquired. Our goodwill is
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not amortized and is tested for impairment annually on the first day of the fourth quarter, and whenever events or circumstances arise that indicate impairment may have occurred. Impairment testing is performed for all reporting units that contain goodwill. The reporting units are the same as the reportable segments for U.S. Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services.
Under provisions of the qualitative analysis, when testing goodwill for impairment, we first assess 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 a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we perform a quantitative impairment test to identify goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized, if any. We will also perform a quantitative test if it has been several years since the last one. The qualitative factors used by GEO’s management to determine the likelihood that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount include, among other things, a review of overall economic conditions and their current and future impact on our existing business, our financial performance and stock price, industry outlook and market competition. With respect to the qualitative assessments, management determined that, as of October 1, 2023, it was more likely than not that the fair values of the reporting units exceeded their carrying values. We performed a quantitative analysis for our Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services reporting unit using a third-party valuation firm to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit using a discounted cash flow model. A discount rate of 11.5% was utilized to adjust the cash flow forecasts based on management’s estimate of a market participant’s weighted-average cost of capital. Growth rates for sales and profits were determined using inputs from our long-term planning process. We also made estimates for discount rates and other factors based on market conditions, historical experience and other economic factors. Changes in these factors could significantly impact the fair value of the reporting unit. With respect to the Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services reporting unit that was assessed quantitatively, management determined that the fair value exceeded its carrying amount by a significant amount. A change in one or combination of the assumptions discussed above could have impacted the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. If our expectations of future results and cash flows decrease significantly or other economic conditions deteriorate, goodwill may be further impaired. No impairment charges were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.
Other Intangible Assets, Net
We have also recorded other finite and indefinite lived intangible assets as a result of previously completed business combinations. Other acquired finite and indefinite lived intangible assets are recognized separately if the benefit of the intangible asset is obtained through contractual or other legal rights, or if the intangible asset can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged, regardless of our intent to do so. Our intangible assets include facility management contracts, trade names and technology. The facility management contracts represent customer relationships in the form of management contracts acquired at the time of each business combination; the value of BI’s and Protocol Criminal Justice, Inc.'s ("Protocol") trade names represent, among other intangible benefits, name recognition to its customers and intellectual property rights; and the acquired technology represented BI’s innovation with respect to its GPS tracking, monitoring, radio frequency monitoring, voice verification monitoring and alcohol compliance systems which became fully amortized as of December 31, 2023. When establishing useful lives, we consider the period and the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed or otherwise used up; or, if that pattern cannot be reliably determined, using a straight-line amortization method over a period that may be shorter than the ultimate life of such intangible asset. We also consider the impact of renewal terms when establishing useful lives. We currently amortize our acquired facility management contracts over periods ranging from three to twenty-one years and its acquired technology over seven years to eight years. There is no residual value associated with our finite-lived intangible assets. We review our trade name assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable. We do not amortize its indefinite lived intangible assets. We review our indefinite lived intangible assets annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The qualitative factors used by GEO’s management to determine the likelihood that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount include, among other things, a review of overall economic conditions and their current and future impact on our existing business, our financial performance and stock price, industry outlook and market competition. These reviews resulted in no significant impairment to the carrying value of the indefinite lived intangible assets for all periods presented. We record the costs associated with renewal and extension of facility management contracts as expenses in the period they are incurred.
Fair Value Measurements
We define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (“exit price”). We carry certain of our assets and liabilities at fair value, measured on a recurring basis, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. We also have certain assets and liabilities which are not carried at fair value in our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and disclose the fair value measurements compared to the carrying values as of each balance sheet date. We establish the fair value of our assets and liabilities using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels which distinguish between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s assumptions (unobservable inputs). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the respective fair value measurement falls is
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determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety. Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are other than quotable market prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities that reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. We recognize transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as of the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that cause the transfer. We utilized a third-party valuation firm to assist with the estimation of the fair values on the date of issuance for our new debt instruments issued in 2022. The fair value of each new debt instrument on the date of issuance was estimated using a Black-Derman-Toy ("BDT") lattice model which used Level 3 inputs. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the value was based on observable Level 2 inputs. Refer to Note 9 - Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities and Note 11 - Debt of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements contained Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The following accounting standards will be adopted in future periods:
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (Topic 280). This ASU updates reportable segment disclosure requirements by requiring disclosures of significant reportable segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") and included within each reported measure of a segment's profit or loss. This ASU also requires disclosure of the title and position of the individual identified as the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Adoption of the ASU should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted. This ASU will likely result in us including the additional required disclosures when adopted. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this ASU and expect to adopt them for the year ending December 31, 2024.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (Topic 740). The ASU requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as additional information on income taxes paid. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is also permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. This ASU will result in the required additional disclosures being included in our consolidated financial statements, once adopted. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this ASU and expect to adopt them for the year ending December 31, 2025.
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 our 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.
2023 versus 2022
Revenues
| 2023 | % of Revenue | 2022 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,518,292 | 62.9 | % | $ | 1,437,831 | 60.5 | % | $ | 80,461 | 5.6 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 425,879 | 17.6 | % | 496,268 | 20.9 | % | (70,389 | ) | (14.2 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 275,102 | 11.4 | % | 255,428 | 10.7 | % | 19,674 | 7.7 | % | |||||||||||||||
| International Services | 193,894 | 8.1 | % | 187,200 | 7.9 | % | 6,694 | 3.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,413,167 | 100.1 | % | $ | 2,376,727 | 100.0 | % | $ | 36,440 | 1.5 | % |
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U.S. Secure Services
Revenues for U.S. Secure Services increased by $80.5 million in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to aggregate increases of $23.1 million due to the activation of new transportation contracts as well as our lease with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for our previously idled company-owned Great Plains Correctional Facility which commenced May 1, 2023. In addition, we experienced aggregate net increases in rates and/or per diem amounts in connection with contract modifications, transportation services and increased occupancies of $96.7 million. These increases were partially offset by aggregate decreases of $39.3 million primarily due to the ramp-down/deactivation of our company-owned North Lake Correctional Facility and our managed-only George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
The number of compensated mandays in U.S. Secure Services facilities was approximately 16.7 million in 2023 and 17.5 million in 2022. We experienced an aggregate net decrease of approximately 800,000 mandays as a result of contract terminations, partially offset by contract activations and increases in occupancies discussed above. 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. Secure Services facilities was 85.9% and 87.8% of capacity in 2023 and 2022, respectively, excluding idle facilities.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Revenues for Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services decreased by $70.4 million in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to decreases in average participant counts under the Intensive Supervision and Appearance Program ("ISAP").
Reentry Services
Revenues for Reentry Services increased by $19.7 million in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to increases of $8.2 million due to new day reporting center contracts. We also experienced a net aggregate increase of $17.8 million primarily related to increased census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to increased programming needs and referrals. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of $6.3 million due to contract terminations.
International Services
Revenues for International Services increased by $6.7 million in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to a net increase of $16.8 million due to increased populations at our Australian subsidiary and our new health care contract in Australia. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $10.1 million.
Operating Expenses
| 2023 | % of Segment Revenues | 2022 | % of Segment Revenues | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,169,386 | 77.0 | % | $ | 1,076,413 | 74.9 | % | $ | 92,973 | 8.6 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 184,923 | 43.4 | % | 226,236 | 45.6 | % | (41,313 | ) | (18.3 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 209,779 | 76.3 | % | 194,089 | 76.0 | % | 15,690 | 8.1 | % | |||||||||||||||
| International Services | 180,140 | 92.9 | % | 166,147 | 88.8 | % | 13,993 | 8.4 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,744,228 | $ | 1,662,885 | $ | 81,343 | 4.9 | % |
Operating expenses consist of those expenses incurred in the operation and management of our U.S. Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services segments.
U.S. Secure Services
Operating expenses for U.S. Secure Services increased by $93.0 million in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to aggregate net increases in connection with labor and medical costs, transportation services, impact of certain operating tax assessments, increased occupancies and the variable costs associated with those services of $105.5 million. We also experienced an increase of $13.5 million related to new transportation contracts. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases of $26.0 million related to the ramp-down/deactivations of our company-owned North Lake Correctional Facility and our managed-only George W. Hill Correctional Facility. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue
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have increased due to increased labor and medical costs and increased variable costs associated with population increases for several of our minimum guarantee contracts.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Operating expenses for Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services decreased by $41.3 million in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to decreases in variable costs related to decreases in average participant counts under ISAP. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenues decreased due to favorable cost trends.
Reentry Services
Operating expenses for Reentry Services increased by $15.7 million during 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to an aggregate net increase of $13.4 million related to increased census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to increased programming needs and referrals and the associated variable costs. We also experienced an increase of $9.1 million due to the new day reporting center contracts. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease of $6.8 million due to contract terminations.
International Services
Operating expenses for International Services increased by $14.0 million in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to a net increase of approximately $23.6 million primarily due to increases in populations at our Australian subsidiary and expenses associated with our new health care contract in Australia. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease related to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $9.6 million.
Depreciation and Amortization
| 2023 | % of Segment Revenue | 2022 | % of Segment Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 78,917 | 5.2 | % | $ | 80,600 | 5.6 | % | $ | (1,683 | ) | (2.1 | )% | |||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 28,053 | 6.6 | % | 31,838 | 6.4 | % | (3,785 | ) | (11.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 16,588 | 6.0 | % | 18,416 | 7.2 | % | (1,828 | ) | (9.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 2,226 | 1.1 | % | 2,071 | 1.1 | % | 155 | 7.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 125,784 | 5.2 | % | $ | 132,925 | 5.6 | % | $ | (7,141 | ) | (5.4 | )% |
U.S. Secure Services
U.S. Secure Services depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to decreases related to certain assets becoming fully depreciated and/or amortized as well as certain asset dispositions at our company-owned facilities.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to certain assets becoming fully depreciated and/or amortized as well as the closing of certain ISAP locations.
Reentry Services
Reentry Services depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to certain asset dispositions at our company-owned centers.
International Services
Depreciation and amortization expense increased slightly in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
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Other Unallocated Operating Expenses
| 2023 | % of Revenue | 2022 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | $ | 190,766 | 7.9 | % | $ | 196,972 | 8.3 | % | $ | (6,206 | ) | (3.2 | )% |
General and administrative expenses comprise substantially all of our other unallocated operating expenses which primarily includes corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 by $6.2 million primarily due to decreases in professional fees, insurance and other administrative expenses.
Non-Operating Income and Expense
Interest Income and Interest Expense
| 2023 | % of Revenue | 2022 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | $ | 7,792 | 0.3 | % | $ | 15,988 | 0.7 | % | $ | (8,196 | ) | (51.3 | )% | |||||||||||
| Interest Expense | $ | 218,292 | 9.0 | % | $ | 164,550 | 6.9 | % | $ | 53,742 | 32.7 | % |
Interest income decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations as well as the sale
of our contract receivable related to our Ravenhall facility in Australia in September 2022. Refer to Note 16 Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
On August 19, 2022, we completed an exchange offer to exchange certain of our outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023, 5.875%
Senior Notes due 2024, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 and certain revolving credit loans and term loans under our senior secured credit facility into newly issued Senior Second Lien Secured Notes and a new Exchange Credit Agreement. Interest expense increased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to higher interest rates on the new debt instruments as well as the net amortization of deferred issuance costs and discounts/premiums related to the transaction. Additionally, SOFR/LIBOR rates have increased in 2023 compared to 2022. Refer to Note 11 - Debt of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
| 2023 | % of Revenue | 2022 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on Extinguishment of Debt | $ | 8,532 | 0.4 | % | $ | 37,895 | 1.6 | % | $ | (29,363 | ) | (77.5 | )% |
On December 14, 2023, we entered into and closed on the Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments Amendment to its Credit Agreement dated as of August 19, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”). The amendment refinanced all of our outstanding revolving credit facility commitments under the Credit Agreement and under GEO’s Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2017, as subsequently amended. We wrote-off approximately $4.2 million in existing deferred loan costs to loss on extinguishment of debt as a result of the transaction. We also made a mandatory quarterly prepayments in 2023 on our Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 loans under our exchange credit agreement. In connection with the prepayments, we wrote off a proportionate amount of related deferred loan costs and discount/premium of approximately $4.3 million.
During 2022, we completed an exchange offer to exchange certain of our outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023, 5.875% Senior
Notes due 2024, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 and certain revolving credit loans and term loans under our senior secured credit facility into newly issued Senior Second Lien Secured Notes and a new credit facility. As a result of the transactions, we recorded a net loss on extinguishment of debt of $37.9 million, net of the write-off of associated unamortized deferred loan costs.
Refer to Note 11- Debt of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Net Gain on Disposition of Assets
| 2023 | % of Revenue | 2022 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Gain on Disposition of Assets | $ | 4,691 | 0.2 | % | $ | 32,332 | 1.4 | % | $ | (27,641 | ) | (85.5 | )% |
We experienced a net gain on disposition of assets in 2023 primarily due to the sale of vacant land located in South Dallas County, Texas, vacant land located in Colorado and the sale of our company-owned 900-bed Albert Bo Robinson Assessment and Treatment Center.
During 2022, we sold our equity investment interest in the government-owned Ravenhall Correctional Centre project in Australia for
approximately $84 million in gross proceeds, pre-tax to an unrelated third party. As a result of the transaction, we recorded a gain of approximately $29.3 million. Refer to Note 16 - Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The net gain in 2022 also includes the sale of our Perry County Correctional Facility located in Alabama.
Provision for Income Taxes
| 2023 | Effective Rate | 2022 | Effective Rate | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | $ | 35,399 | 25.6 | % | $ | 62,899 | 27.4 | % | $ | (27,500 | ) | (43.7 | )% |
The provision for income taxes in 2023 decreased compared to 2022 along with the effective tax rate. In 2023 and 2022, there was a $3.8 million and $1.4 million net discrete tax benefit, respectively. Included in the provision for income taxes in 2023 and 2022 were a $1.0 million and $2.1 million discrete tax expense related to stock compensation that vested during the respective periods. We estimate our 2024 annual effective tax rate to be in the range of approximately 28% to 30%, exclusive of any discrete items.
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates
| 2023 | % of Revenue | 2022 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Earnings of Affiliates | $ | 4,534 | 0.2 | % | $ | 4,771 | 0.2 | % | $ | (237 | ) | (5.0 | )% |
Equity in earnings of affiliates, presented net of income taxes, represents the earnings of SACS and GEOAmey in the aggregate. Equity in earnings of affiliates in 2023 compared to 2022 decreased primarily due to unfavorable performance at SACS.
Financial Condition
Capital Requirements
Our current cash requirements consist of amounts needed for working capital, debt service, supply purchases, investments in joint ventures, and capital expenditures related to either the development of new secure, processing and reentry 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.
As of December 31, 2023, we were developing a number of contractually committed projects that we estimate will cost approximately $61.3 million, of which $49.0 million was spent through December 31, 2023. We estimate our remaining contractually committed capital requirements to be approximately $12.3 million. These projects are expected to be completed through 2024.
We plan to fund all of our capital needs, including capital expenditures, from cash on hand, cash from operations, borrowings under our
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Exchange Credit Agreement 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 our Exchange Credit Agreement. We completed our annual budgeting process, and for 2024, we will continue to strategically manage our capital expenditures to maintain both short and long term financial objectives. Additionally, we may from time to time pursue transactions for the potential sale of additional assets and businesses and/or other strategic transactions. Our management believes that cash on hand, cash flows from operations and availability under our Exchange Credit Agreement will be adequate to support our capital requirements for 2024 as disclosed under “Capital Requirements” above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Redemption of Senior Notes due 2024
On February 9, 2024, we delivered a notice of redemption for all of the remaining $23.8 million in outstanding aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024. The redemption will occur on March 11, 2024 (the "Redemption Date"). The redemption price will be equal to $1,000 per $1,000 original principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding the Redemption Date. In February 2024 we deposited with the trustee the redemption price, using available cash on hand, and the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 has been satisfied and discharged.
Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments Amendment
On December 14, 2023, we entered into and closed on the Refinancing Revolving Credit Commitments Amendment (the “Amendment”) by and among each of GEO and GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc., as the Borrowers, the other loan parties named therein, the lender parties thereto and Alter Domus Products Corp., as administrative agent, to its Credit Agreement dated as of August 19, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”). The Amendment refinanced all of GEO’s outstanding revolving credit facility commitments under the Credit Agreement and under GEO’s Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2017, as subsequently amended (the “Prior Credit Agreement”).
The Amendment provides for approximately $265 million in refinancing revolving credit commitments maturing on March 23, 2027. Prior to the Amendment, a portion of our revolving credit commitments matured on May 17, 2024, and the balance of our revolving credit commitments matured on March 23, 2027. The Amendment further provides that interest will accrue on outstanding revolving credit loans at a rate with a reference to GEO’s total leverage ratio. Currently, revolving credit loans accruing interest at a SOFR based rate would accrue interest at the term SOFR rate for the applicable period plus 3.00% per annum. All other terms governing the refinancing revolving credit commitments remain substantially consistent with those governing the revolving credit commitments being refinanced.
Exchange Offer
On August 19, 2022, we completed an exchange offer to exchange certain of our outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023, 5.875%
Senior Notes due 2024, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 and certain revolving credit loans and term loans under our senior secured credit facility into newly issued Senior Second Lien Secured Notes and a new Exchange Credit Agreement. As a result of the transactions, we recorded a net loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $37.9 million and incurred a total of approximately $52.8 million of debt issuance fees which will be amortized over the terms of the respective agreements using the effective interest method. Refer to Note 11 - Debt of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Following the completed exchange offer in August 2022, S&P Global Ratings upgraded our issuer rating to B with a stable outlook. In
September 2022, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded our corporate family rating to B3 with a stable outlook. In October 2023 Moody’s affirmed our B3 rating with a stable outlook. In January 2024 S&P affirmed our B rating with a stable outlook.
As of December 31, 2023, we had no borrowings under our revolver, and approximately $75.8 million in letters of credit which left approximately $189.2 million in additional borrowing capacity under the revolver. The weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2023 was 12.35%.
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
On February 24, 2021, our wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. (“GEOCH”), completed a private offering of $230 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% exchangeable senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the “Convertible Notes”), which included the full exercise of the initial purchasers’ over-allotment option to purchase an additional $30 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes will mature on February 23, 2026, unless earlier repurchased or exchanged. The Convertible Notes bear interest at the
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rate of 6.50% per year plus an additional amount based on the dividends paid by GEO on its common stock. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2021.
Subject to certain restrictions on share ownership and transfer, holders may exchange the notes at their option prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding November 25, 2025, but only under the following circumstances: (1) during the five consecutive business day period after any five consecutive trading day period, or the measurement period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of such measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the exchange rate for the notes on each such trading day; or (2) upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate events. On or after November 25, 2025, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the notes, holders may exchange their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon exchange of a note, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2023, conditions had not been met to exchange the notes.
Upon conversion, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock. The initial conversion rate is 108.4011 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $9.225 per share of common stock). The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events. If GEO or GEOCH undergoes a fundamental change, holders may require GEOCH to purchase the notes in whole or in part for cash at a fundamental change purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date.
We consider opportunities for future business and/or asset acquisitions or dispositions as we deem appropriate when market conditions
present opportunities. If we are successful in our pursuit of any new projects, our cash on hand, cash flows from operations and borrowings under the new Exchange Credit Agreement may not provide sufficient liquidity to meet our capital needs 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 second lien notes, the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024, the indenture governing the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026, the indenture governing our Convertible Notes and our Exchange Credit Agreement. A substantial decline in our financial performance could limit our access to capital pursuant to these covenants and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources and, 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 were in compliance with our debt covenants as of December 31, 2023, and we expect to continue 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.
We may from time to time seek to purchase or retire our outstanding senior notes through repurchases, redemptions and/or exchanges for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases, redemptions or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
Quarterly Dividends
As previously discussed above, on December 2, 2021, GEO’s Board unanimously approved a plan to terminate our REIT status and become a taxable C Corporation, effective for the year ended December 31, 2021. In connection with terminating the GEO’s REIT status, the Board also voted unanimously to discontinue our quarterly dividend payments and prioritize allocating GEO’s free cash flow to reduce debt.
Automatic Shelf Registration on Form S-3
On October 30, 2023, the Company filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that enables the Company to offer for sale, from time to time and as the capital markets permit, an unspecified amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, guarantees of debt securities, warrants and units. The shelf registration statement became automatically effective upon filing and is valid for three years.
Prospectus Supplement
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On December 28, 2023, in connection with the shelf registration, 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 $300 million through sales agents. Sales of shares of our common stock under the prospectus supplement and equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, will 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 shares of common stock sold under this prospectus supplement during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Australia - Ravenhall
In connection with a design and build project agreement with the State of Victoria, in September 2014, we entered into a syndicated
facility agreement (the "Construction Facility") to provide debt financing for construction of the project. The Construction Facility provided for non-recourse funding for the project. In September 2022, we sold our equity investment interest in the project to an unrelated third party. In connection with the sale, the non-recourse debt was transferred to the buyer and is no longer an outstanding obligation of GEO. Refer to Note 16 - Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Other
We have entered into two identical Notes (as defined below) in the aggregate amount of $44.3 million which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. The terms of the Notes are through September 1, 2034 and bear interest at SOFR plus 205 basis points and are payable in monthly installments plus interest. We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest rate to 4.22%. Included in the balance at December 31, 2023 is $0.5 million of deferred loan costs incurred in the transaction. Refer to Note 6 – Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Guarantees
The Company has entered into certain guarantees in connection with the design, financing and construction of certain facilities as well as loan, working capital and other obligation guarantees for our subsidiaries in Australia, South Africa and our joint ventures. Refer to Note 11 - Debt in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Executive Retirement Agreement
We have a non-qualified deferred compensation agreement with our Executive Chairmen and former Chief Executive Officer (“former CEO”). The agreement provides for a lump sum payment upon retirement, no sooner than age 55. As of December 31, 2023, our Executive Chairman had reached age 55 and was eligible to receive the payment upon retirement.
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GEO and our Executive Chairman and former CEO, entered into on May 27, 2021, and effective July 1, 2021, an Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement which replaced the prior February 26, 2020 agreement discussed below. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement, upon the date that the Executive Chairman ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay to the Executive Chairman an amount equal to $3,600,000 (the "2021 Grandfathered Payment") which shall be paid in cash. The Grandfathered Payment shall be credited with interest at a rate of 5% compounded quarterly (the “Grandfathered Earnings Account”). Additionally, at the end of each calendar year provided that our Executive Chairman is still providing services to GEO pursuant to the Executive Chairman Employment Agreement, we will credit an amount equal to $1,000,000 at the end of each calendar year (the “Employment Contributions Account”). The Employment Contributions Account will be credited with interest at the rate of 5% compounded quarterly. Upon the date that the Executive Chairman ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay the Executive Chairman in one lump sum cash payment each of the 2021 Grandfathered Payment, the Grandfathered Earnings Account and the Employment Contributions Account subject to the six-month delay provided in the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. As the Executive Chairman’s retirement payment will no longer be settled with a fixed number of shares of GEO’s common stock (as discussed below under the prior agreement), $3,600,000 has been reclassified from equity to other non-current liabilities in 2021. The balance of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement was approximately $9.6 million at December 31, 2023 which is fully funded. On November 29, 2023, we confirmed that our Founder and Executive Chairman, will step down as Executive Chairman on June 30, 2026, at the end of his current employment term under his Executive Chairman Employment Agreement. Refer to Note 16 - Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information. The following table presents the balance due to the Executive Chairman at the end of each of the next two and a half years under the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement provided that the Executive Chairman is still providing services to GEO under his Executive Chairman Employment Agreement:
| Period End | Retirement Obligation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | |||
| 12/31/2024 | $ | 12,617 | |
| 12/31/2025 | $ | 16,336 | |
| 6/30/2026 | $ | 18,010 |
We have established several trusts for the purpose of paying the retirement benefit pursuant to the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. The trusts were revocable “rabbi trusts” and the assets of the trusts are subject to the claims of our creditors in the event of our insolvency.
Guarantor Financial Information
GEO’s 10.500% Public Second Lien Notes, 9.500% Private Second Lien Notes, Convertible Notes, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026, and
the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by certain of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
Summarized financial information is provided for The GEO Group, Inc. (“Parent”) and the Subsidiary Guarantors on a combined basis in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rules 3-10 and 13-01. The accounting policies used in the preparation of this summarized financial information are consistent with those elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements of the Company, except that intercompany transactions and balances of the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantor entities with non-guarantor entities have not been eliminated. Intercompany transactions between the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantors have been eliminated and equity in earnings from and investments in non-guarantor subsidiaries have not been presented.
Summarized statement of operations (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | Year Ended December 31, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating revenues | $ | 2,207,117 | $ | 2,176,556 | |||
| Income from operations | 330,684 | 378,691 | |||||
| Net income | 81,646 | 139,570 | |||||
| Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. | 81,646 | 139,570 |
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Summarized balance sheets (in thousands):
| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current assets | $ | 455,746 | $ | 492,080 | |||
| Noncurrent assets (a) | 3,028,140 | 3,059,195 | |||||
| Current liabilities | 354,503 | 370,177 | |||||
| Noncurrent liabilities (b) | 1,997,130 | 2,163,004 |
(a)
Includes amounts due from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $50.0 million and $32.6 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(b)
Includes amounts due to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $31.5 million and $8.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Except as discussed above, and in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 16 – Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Derivatives
We have entered into two interest rate swap agreements in the aggregate notional amount of $44.3 million to fix the interest rate on certain of our variable rate debt to 4.22%. We have designated these interest rate swaps as hedges against changes in the cash flows of two identical promissory notes (the "Notes") which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. We have determined that the swaps have payment, expiration dates, and provisions that coincide with the terms of the Notes and are therefore considered to be effective cash flow hedges. Accordingly, we record the change in fair value of the interest rate swaps as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes. There was no material ineffectiveness for the period presented. We do not expect to enter into any transactions during the next twelve months which would result in reclassification into earnings or losses associated with these swaps currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Refer to Note 11 - Debt and Note 6 - Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Cash Flow
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 was $159.9 million, compared to $143.8 million as of December 31, 2022 and was impacted by the following:
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2023 and 2022 was $284.9 million and $296.4 million, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2023 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision (benefit), amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment, loss on extinguishment of debt and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash along with a net gain on disposition of assets. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets decreased in total by a net of $11.7 million, representing a positive impact on cash. The decrease was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased by $8.1 million which positively impacted cash. The increase was primarily due to the timing of payments.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2022 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, loss on extinguishment of debt and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash along with a net gain on disposition of assets and deferred tax benefit. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets increased in total by a net of $53.0 million, representing a negative impact on cash. The increase was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased by $21.8 million which positively impacted cash. The increase was primarily due to the timing of payments.
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Additionally, cash provided by operating activities in 2022 was positively impacted by a decrease in contract receivable of $5.3 million. The decrease relates to the timing of payments received and interest accrued, along with the effect of foreign exchange rates, related to the Ravenhall Project. Refer to Note 16 - Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net cash used in investing activities of $60.6 million in 2023 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $73.0 million and changes in restricted investments of $7.2 million, offset by proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets of $19.6 million. Net cash provided by investing activities of $3.0 million in 2022 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $90.0 million and changes in restricted investments of $8.4 million, offset by proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets of $101.4 million.
Net cash used in financing activities in 2023 reflects payments of $208.4 million on long term debt offset by $5.8 million of proceeds from the sale of treasury shares. We also paid $2.4 million of debt issuance costs in connection with our revolver refinancing and paid $3.4 million for taxes related to net share settlements of equity awards. Refer to Note 11 - Debt included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net cash used in financing activities in 2022 reflects payments of $680.9 million on long term debt offset by $30.0 million of proceeds from long term debt and payments on non-recourse debt of $5.7 million. We also paid $41.5 million of debt issuance costs in connection with our exchange offering. Refer to Note 11 - Debt included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Inflation
We believe that inflation, in general, did have a negative impact but did not have a material effect on our results of operations during 2023 and 2022. 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 recurring/fixed expense, increase at a faster rate than the per diem or fixed rates received by us for our management services.
Non-GAAP Measures
EBITDA is defined as net income adjusted by adding provisions for income tax, interest expense, net of interest income and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted for gain on asset divestitures, pre-tax, net loss attributable to non-controlling interests, stock-based compensation expenses, pre-tax, litigation costs and settlements, pre-tax, one-time employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax, transaction related expenses, pre-tax, other non-cash revenue and expenses, pre-tax, and certain other adjustments as defined from time to time.
Given the nature of our business as a real estate owner and operator, we believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are helpful to investors as measures of our operational performance because they provide an indication of our ability to incur and service debt, to satisfy general operating expenses, to make capital expenditures, and to fund other cash needs or reinvest cash into our business.
We believe that by removing the impact of our asset base (primarily depreciation and amortization) and excluding certain non-cash charges, amounts spent on interest and taxes, and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide our investors with performance measures that reflect the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, per diem rates and operating costs, providing a perspective not immediately apparent from net income.
The adjustments we make to derive the non-GAAP measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude items which may cause short-term fluctuations in income from continuing operations and which we do not consider to be the fundamental attributes or primary drivers of our business plan and they do not affect our overall long-term operating performance.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide disclosure on the same basis as that used by our management and provide consistency in our financial reporting, facilitate internal and external comparisons of our historical operating performance and our business units and provide continuity to investors for comparability purposes.
Our reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is as follows (in thousands):
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| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net income | $ | 107,183 | $ | 171,692 | ||||
| Add: | ||||||||
| Income tax provision * | 36,267 | 63,639 | ||||||
| Interest expense, net of interest income ** | 219,032 | 186,457 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 125,784 | 132,925 | ||||||
| EBITDA | 488,266 | 554,713 | ||||||
| Add (Subtract): | ||||||||
| Gain on asset divestitures, pre-tax | (4,691 | ) | (32,332 | ) | ||||
| Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests | 142 | 121 | ||||||
| Stock based compensation, pre-tax | 15,065 | 16,204 | ||||||
| Litigation costs and settlements, pre-tax | 8,900 | — | ||||||
| One-time employee expenses, pre-tax | 814 | — | ||||||
| Transaction related expenses, pre-tax | — | 1,322 | ||||||
| Other non-cash revenue & expenses, pre-tax | (1,319 | ) | — | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 507,177 | $ | 540,028 |
* Includes income tax provision on equity in earnings of affiliates
** Includes loss on extinguishment of debt
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.
The public health emergency declaration related to the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. Despite this fact, there continues to be lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the regions in which we operate. At this time, it is not possible for us to predict the duration or magnitude of the adverse results stemming from the outbreak and its lingering effects on our business or results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity. We will continue to coordinate closely with our government agency partners and local health agencies to ensure the health and safety of all those in our care and our employees.
We continue to be encouraged by the current landscape of growth opportunities; however, any positive trends may, to some extent, be adversely impacted by government budgetary constraints or any changes to a government's willingness to maintain or grow public-private partnerships in the future. While state finances overall are stable, future budgetary pressures may cause state agencies to 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 or the decision to not re-bid a contract after expiration of the contract term. 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, develop, 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. Any positive trends in the industry may be offset by several factors, including budgetary constraints, contract modifications, contract terminations, contract non-renewals, contract re-bids and/or the decision to not re-bid a contract after expiration of the contract term and the impact of any other potential changes to the willingness or ability to maintain or grow public-private partnerships on the part of other government agencies. We believe we have a strong relationship with our government agency partners and we believe that we operate facilities that maximize security, safety and efficiency while offering our suite of GEO Continuum of Care programs, services and resources.
On January 26, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order directing the United States Attorney General not to renew DOJ contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities, as consistent with applicable law. Two agencies of the DOJ, the BOP and the USMS, utilized GEO’s support services at the time the executive order was signed. The BOP houses inmates who have been convicted of federal crimes, and the USMS is generally responsible for detainees who are awaiting trial or sentencing in U.S. federal courts. As of December 31,
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2023, GEO has three company-owned/company-leased facilities under direct contracts with USMS, which have current contract option periods that expire between September 2025 and September 2028. These facilities combined represented approximately 6% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, we no longer have any contracts with the BOP for secure correctional facilities.
President Biden’s administration or a future administration may implement additional executive orders or directives relating to federal criminal justice policies and/or immigration policies, which may impact the federal government’s use of public-private partnerships with respect to secure correctional and detention facilities and immigration processing centers, including with respect to our contracts, and/or may impact the budget and spending priorities of federal agencies, including the BOP, USMS, and ICE, which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to the executive order, we have historically had a relatively high contract renewal rate, however, 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 opportunities in our current markets and will continue to actively bid on any opportunities that fit our target profile for profitability and operational risk. We are pleased to have been awarded a ten-year contract renewal for the continued delivery of secure transportation under our GEOAmey joint venture in the United Kingdom. In January 2023, our Australian subsidiary, GEO Australia, entered into a contract with the Department of Justice and Community Safety in the State of Victoria for the delivery of primary health services across thirteen public prisons. The contract commenced on July 1, 2023 and is expected to generate approximately AUD47.5 million, or $31.6 million based on average exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2023, in incremental annualized revenue for GEO.
With respect to our reentry services, electronic monitoring services, and community-based services business, we are currently pursuing a number of business development opportunities. Related to opportunities for community-based reentry services, we are working with our existing federal, state, and local clients to leverage new opportunities for both residential reentry facilities as well as non-residential day reporting centers. With respect to the Department of Homeland Security's ISAP, the number of participants steadily increased throughout 2022, however, since the beginning of 2023, there has been a decline in ISAP participants as a result of recent changes in immigration and budgetary pressures. There are no assurances that there will not be a further decline in ISAP participants in 2024 and beyond. Title 42, which provided for restrictions at the Southwest border under the COVID public health emergency declaration, ended on May 11, 2023. We are focused on delivering high quality services and developing new and innovative technology solutions. To this end, we recently launched VeriWatch, a new wrist-worn GPS tracking device that allows for real-time and discrete monitoring of individuals under community supervision. We continue to expend resources on informing federal, state and local governments about the benefits of public-private partnerships, and we anticipate that there will be new opportunities in the future as those efforts continue 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 costs represented approximately 66% and 63% of our operating expenses in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Additional significant operating expenses include food, utilities and inmate medical costs. In 2023 and 2022, operating expenses totaled approximately 72% and 70% of our consolidated revenues, respectively. Our operating expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2024 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 2024, we will incur carrying costs for facilities that were vacant in 2023.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. In both 2023 and 2022, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately 8% of our consolidated revenues. We expect general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2024 to remain consistent or decrease as a result of cost savings initiatives.
Idle Facilities
In our Secure Services segment, we are currently marketing 9,732 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $251.2 million at seven of our idle facilities to potential customers. In our Reentry Services segment, we are currently marketing 1,689 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $37.2 million at three of our idle facilities to potential customers. The combined annual carrying cost of these idle facilities in 2024 is estimated to be $26.2 million, including depreciation expense of $17.9 million. With the exception of a contract yet to be activated for one of our secure facilities, we currently do not have any firm commitments or agreements in place to activate these facilities but have ongoing contact with several potential customers. Historically, some facilities have been idle for multiple years before they received a
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new contract award. The per diem rates that we charge our clients often vary by contract across our portfolio. However, if the ten idle facilities in our Secure Services and Reentry Services segments were to be activated using our Secure Services and Reentry Services average per diem rate in 2023 (calculated as revenue divided by the number of mandays) and based on the average occupancy rate in our facilities for 2023, we would expect to receive annual incremental revenue of approximately $350 million and an increase in annual earnings per share of approximately $.28 to $.33 per share based on our average operating margin. Refer to discussion in Item I, Part I – Business under Executive Order and Contract Developments above for discussion of recent developments.
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:
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our ability to timely build and/or open facilities as planned, successfully manage such facilities and successfully integrate such facilities into our operations without substantial additional costs;
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our ability to estimate the government’s level of utilization of public-private partnerships for secure services and the impact of any modifications or reductions by our government customers of their utilization of public-private partnerships;
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our ability to accurately project the size and growth of public-private partnerships for secure services in the U.S. and internationally and our ability to capitalize on opportunities for public-private partnerships;
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our ability to successfully respond to any challenges or concerns that our government customers may raise regarding their use of public-private partnerships for secure services, including finding other government customers or alternative uses for facilities where a government customer has discontinued or announced that a contract with us will be discontinued;
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the impact of adopted or proposed executive action or legislation aimed at limiting public-private partnerships for secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers or limiting or restricting the business and operations of financial institutions or others who do business with us;
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our ability to successfully respond to delays encountered by states pursuing public-private partnerships for secure services and cost savings initiatives implemented by a number of states;
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our ability to activate the inactive beds at our idle facilities;
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our ability to maintain or increase occupancy rates at our facilities and the impact of fluctuations in occupancy levels on our revenues and profitability;
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the impact of our termination of our REIT election and the discontinuation of quarterly dividend payments and our ability to maximize the use of cash flows to repay debt, deleverage and internally fund growth;
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we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of terminating our REIT election or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected, if at all, or may not offset the costs of terminating our REIT election and becoming a taxable C Corporation;
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if we failed to remain qualified as a REIT for those years we elected REIT status, we would be subject to additional corporate income taxes and would not be able to deduct distributions to shareholders when computing our taxable income for those years;
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our ability to expand, diversify and grow our secure services, reentry, community-based services, monitoring services, evidence-based supervision and treatment programs and secure transportation services businesses;
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our ability to win management contracts for which we have submitted proposals, retain existing management contracts, prevail in any challenge or protest involving the award of a management contract and meet any performance standards required by such management contracts;
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•
our ability to raise new project development capital given the often short-term nature of the customers’ commitment to use newly developed facilities;
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our ability to develop long-term earnings visibility;
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our ability to successfully conduct our operations in the United Kingdom and South Africa through joint ventures;
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the impact of the LIBOR transition;
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the instability of foreign exchange rates, exposing us to currency risks in Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, or other countries in which we may choose to conduct our business;
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an increase in unreimbursed labor rates;
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our exposure to rising medical costs;
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our ability to manage costs and expenses relating to ongoing litigation arising from our operations;
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our ability to successfully pursue an appeal to reverse the recent unfavorable verdict and judgments in the retrial of the lawsuits in the State of Washington, our company being required to record an accrual for the judgments in the future, and our ability to defend similar other pending litigation and the effect such litigation may have on our company;
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our ability to accurately estimate on an annual basis, loss reserves related to general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims;
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our ability to fulfill our debt service obligations and its impact on our liquidity;
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our ability to deleverage and repay, refinance or otherwise address our debt maturities in an amount or on the timeline we expect, or at all;
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despite current indebtedness levels, we may still incur more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks relating to our indebtedness;
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the covenants in the indentures governing the Convertible Notes, the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 and the covenants in the indentures governing the 2028 Registered Notes, the 2028 Private Exchange Notes and the Exchange Credit Agreement impose significant operating and financial restrictions which may adversely affect our ability to operate our business;
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servicing our indebtedness will require a significant amount of cash and 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;
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because portions of our senior indebtedness have floating interest rates, an increase in interest rates would adversely affect cash flows;
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we depend on distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments on our indebtedness and these distributions may not be made;
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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;
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the conditional exchange feature of the 6.5% Exchangeable Senior Notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition;
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the second lien notes and the related guarantees are effectively subordinated to our and our subsidiary guarantors' current senior secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the second lien notes;
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it may be difficult to realize the value of the collateral securing the second lien notes and related guarantees;
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our ability to identify and successfully complete any potential sales of additional Company-owned assets and businesses on commercially advantageous terms on a timely basis, or at all;
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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;
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negative conditions in the capital markets could prevent us from obtaining future financing on desirable terms, which could materially harm our business;
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•
we are subject to the loss of our facility management contracts, due to executive orders, 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;
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our growth depends on our ability to secure contracts to develop and manage new secure facilities, processing centers and community-based facilities and to secure contracts to provide electronic monitoring services, community-based reentry services and monitoring and supervision services, the demand for which is outside our control;
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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;
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we partner with a limited number of governmental customers who account for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of, or a significant decrease in revenues from, these customers could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations;
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State budgetary constraints may have a material adverse impact on us;
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competition for contracts may adversely affect the profitability of our business;
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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, local and foreign government levels;
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public and political resistance to the use of public-private partnerships for secure facilities, electronic monitoring and supervision as alternatives to detention, processing centers and community reentry centers could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, impact our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing or enter into commercial arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our securities;
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adverse publicity may negatively impact our ability to retain existing contracts and obtain new contracts;
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we may incur significant start-up and operating costs on new contracts before receiving related revenues, which may impact our cash flows and may not be recouped;
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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;
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we may face community opposition to facility locations, which may adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts;
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our business operations expose us to various liabilities for which we may not have adequate insurance, including legal claims and proceedings, and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations;
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we may not be able to obtain or maintain the insurance levels required by our government contracts;
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our exposure to rising general insurance costs;
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natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, global political events and other serious catastrophic events could disrupt operations and otherwise materially adversely affect our business and financial condition;
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our international operations expose us to risks that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations;
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we conduct certain of our operations through joint ventures or consortiums, which may lead to disagreements with our joint venture partners or business partners and adversely affect our interest in the joint ventures or consortiums;
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we are dependent upon our senior management and our ability to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel;
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our profitability may be materially adversely affected by inflation;
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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;
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risks related to facility construction and development activities may increase our costs related to such activities;
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the rising cost and increasing difficulty of obtaining adequate levels of surety credit on favorable terms could adversely affect our operating results;
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adverse developments in our relationship with our employees could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations;
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•
technological changes could cause our electronic monitoring products and technology, including our recently launched BI VeriWatch™ wrist-worn device, to become obsolete or require the redesign of our electronic monitoring products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business;
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any negative changes in the level of acceptance of or resistance to the use of electronic monitoring products, including our recently launched BI VeriWatch™ wrist-worn device, and services by governmental customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations;
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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 in a timely manner and/or with such quality as we expect, our ability to market and sell our electronic monitoring products and services could be harmed;
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the interruption, delay or failure of the provision of our services or information systems could adversely affect our business;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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our ability to identify suitable acquisitions or dispositions, and to successfully complete such acquisitions or dispositions;
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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;
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we are subject to risks related to corporate social responsibility;
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the market price of our common stock may vary substantially. If the market price of our common stock were to decline further in the future at a specific measurement time period that impacts our public float calculation, we could potentially lose our status as a well-known seasoned issuer and/or large accelerated filer;
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future sales of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and may be dilutive to current shareholders;
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various anti-takeover protections applicable to us may make an acquisition of us more difficult and reduce the market value of our common stock;
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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;
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we may issue additional debt securities that could limit our operating flexibility and negatively affect the value of our common stock;
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failure to comply with anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences; and
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other factors contained in our filings with 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.
We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 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.
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FY 2022 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0000950170-23-004713.
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.
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses 2022 and 2021 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021. Discussions of 2020 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2021 and 2020 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and are incorporated herein by reference.
We specialize in the ownership, leasing and management of secure, reentry facilities and processing centers and the provision of community-based services in the United States, Australia and South Africa. We own, lease and operate a broad range of secure facilities including maximum, medium and minimum-security facilities, processing centers, and community-based reentry facilities. We offer counseling, education and/or treatment for 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 a 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, 2022, our worldwide operations included the management and/or ownership of approximately 82,000 beds at 102 correctional, detention and reentry facilities, including idle facilities, and also included the provision of servicing individuals in a community-based environment on behalf of federal, state and local correctional agencies located throughout the country.
For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had consolidated revenues of $2.4 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively, and we maintained an average company-wide facility occupancy rate of 86.3% including 69,418 active beds and excluding 13,061 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2022, and 85.4% including 74,834 active beds and excluding 11,200 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2021.
REIT Election
On December 2, 2021, we announced that our Board unanimously approved a plan to terminate our REIT election and become a taxable C Corporation, effective for the year ended December 31, 2021. As a result, we are no longer required to operate under REIT rules, including the requirement to distribute at least 90% of REIT taxable income to our stockholders, which provides us with greater flexibility to use our free cash flow. Effective January 1, 2021, we are subject to federal and state income taxes on our taxable income at applicable tax rates, and are no longer entitled to a tax deduction for dividends paid. We operated as a REIT for the 2020 tax year, and existing REIT requirements and limitations, including those established by our organizational documents, remained in place until December 31, 2020. The Board also voted unanimously to discontinue our quarterly dividend payment and prioritize allocating our free cash flow to reduce debt.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The consolidated financial statements in this report are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. A summary of our significant accounting policies is described in Note 1 – Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements contained Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The significant accounting policies and estimates which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:
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Asset Impairments
The following table summarizes the Company’s idled facilities as of December 31, 2022 and their respective carrying values, excluding equipment and other assets that can be easily transferred to other facilities.
| Secure Services | Reentry Services | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Services | Reentry Services | Net Carrying Value | Net Carrying Value | Net Carrying Value | |||||||||||||||||
| Facility | Year Idled | Design Capacity | Design Capacity | December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Great Plains Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,940 | — | $ | 69,367 | $ | — | $ | 69,367 | ||||||||||||
| D. Ray James Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,900 | — | 50,829 | — | 50,829 | |||||||||||||||
| Northlake Correctional Facility | 2022 | 1,800 | — | 68,524 | — | 68,524 | |||||||||||||||
| Rivers Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,450 | — | 37,911 | — | 37,911 | |||||||||||||||
| Big Spring Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,732 | — | 32,959 | — | 32,959 | |||||||||||||||
| Flightline Correctional Facility | 2021 | 1,800 | — | 35,094 | — | 35,094 | |||||||||||||||
| McFarland Female Community Reentry Facility | 2020 | 300 | — | 10,900 | — | 10,900 | |||||||||||||||
| Cheyenne Mountain Recovery Center | 2020 | — | 750 | — | 16,659 | 16,659 | |||||||||||||||
| Albert Bo Robinson Assessment & Treatment Center | 2022 | — | 900 | — | 14,011 | 14,011 | |||||||||||||||
| Coleman Hall | 2017 | — | 350 | — | 7,759 | 7,759 | |||||||||||||||
| Hector Garza Center | 2020 | — | 139 | — | 4,794 | 4,794 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 10,922 | 2,139 | $ | 305,584 | $ | 43,223 | $ | 348,807 |
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 prolonged decrease in 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 achieved in the past at that facility or at similar facilities and probability weighted cash flows. Our probability weighted cash flows 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 the time and costs required to ramp up facility population once a contract is obtained. We perform the impairment analysis on an annual basis for each of the idle facilities, or more frequently if needed, and take into consideration updates each quarter for market developments affecting the potential utilization of each of the facilities in order to identify events that may cause the Company 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 the terms 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 individuals at such facility. Further, a substantial increase in the number of available beds at other facilities 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 have determined that no current impairment exists. We also received valuations from a third party on certain facilities. 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 value in our analysis as of December 31, 2022, exceeded the carrying amounts of each facility, therefore no impairment charges were recorded. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded an
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impairment charge of approximately $5.7 million related to one leased facility where the projected undiscounted cash flows of the facility did not exceed the carrying amount.
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 individuals within our care, 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 individuals within our care, including damages arising from the escape of an individual in our care 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.
On October 1, 2021, GEO formed a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary, Florina Insurance Company, Inc. (“Florina”), to enhance our risk financing strategies. Florina is incorporated in the state of Vermont and is licensed and regulated by the state of Vermont, including with respect to its insurance programs, levels of liquidity and other requirements. GEO began procuring insurance policies to cover deductibles for workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, medical professional liability and directors' and officers’ liability as well as procuring insurance policies for its excess liability, directors’ and officers’ excess liability and excess medical professional liability through Florina effective October 1, 2021. Florina holds cash and investments in order to meet solvency requirements and meet financial obligations as presented, including an investment portfolio of marketable fixed income and equity securities.
We currently maintain a general liability policy and excess liability policies with total limits of $75.0 million per occurrence and $95.0 million total general liability annual aggregate limits covering the operations of U.S. Secure Services, Reentry Services and Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services. We have an occurrence based liability insurance program with a specific loss limit of $40.0 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, cybersecurity liability and automobile liability.
For most casualty insurance policies, we carry substantial deductibles or self-insured retentions of $4.0 million per occurrence for general liability and $5.0 million per occurrence for medical professional liability, $2.0 million per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $2.5 million per occurrence for directors' and officers’ liability 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 us from insuring some of our facilities to full replacement value.
With respect to operations in South Africa 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 insurance policies discussed above, our most significant insurance reserves relate to workers’ compensation, general liability and auto claims. These reserves, which include Florina’s reserves and GEO’s legacy reserves and administrative costs for the plans, are undiscounted and were $79.0 million and $74.2 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and are included in Accrued Expenses in the accompanying Consolidated 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
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related to insurance claims significantly differ from our estimates, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely impacted.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net
Goodwill
We have recorded goodwill as a result of our business combinations. Goodwill is recorded as the difference, if any, between the aggregate consideration paid for an acquisition and the fair value of the net tangible assets and other intangible assets acquired. Our goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment annually on the first day of the fourth quarter, and whenever events or circumstances arise that indicate impairment may have occurred. Impairment testing is performed for all reporting units that contain goodwill. The reporting units are the same as the reportable segments for U.S. Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services.
Under provisions of the qualitative analysis, when testing goodwill for impairment, we first assess 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 a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we perform a quantitative impairment test to identify goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized, if any. The qualitative factors used by GEO’s management to determine the likelihood that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount include, among other things, a review of overall economic conditions and their current and future impact on our existing business, our financial performance and stock price, industry outlook and market competition. With respect to the qualitative assessments, management determined that, as of October 1, 2022, it was more likely than not that the fair values of the reporting units exceeded their carrying values. During the year ended December 31, 2020, in connection with our annual impairment test, we performed a quantitative analysis for our Reentry Services reporting unit using a third-party valuation firm to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit using a discounted cash flow model. A discount rate of 10% was utilized to adjust the cash flow forecasts based on management’s estimate of a market participant’s weighted-average cost of capital. Growth rates for sales and profits were determined using inputs from our long-term planning process. We also made estimates for discount rates and other factors based on market conditions, historical experience and other economic factors. Changes in these factors could significantly impact the fair value of the reporting unit. With respect to the Reentry Services reporting unit that was assessed quantitatively, management determined that the carrying value exceeded its fair value due to future declines in cash flow projections primarily due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our reentry facilities. As such, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $21.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. A change in one or combination of the assumptions discussed above could have impacted the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. If our expectations of future results and cash flows decrease significantly or other economic conditions deteriorate, goodwill may be further impaired. No impairment charges were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2022 or 2021.
Other Intangible Assets, Net
We have also recorded other finite and indefinite lived intangible assets as a result of previously completed business combinations. Other acquired finite and indefinite lived intangible assets are recognized separately if the benefit of the intangible asset is obtained through contractual or other legal rights, or if the intangible asset can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged, regardless of our intent to do so. Our intangible assets include facility management contracts, trade names and technology. The facility management contracts represent customer relationships in the form of management contracts acquired at the time of each business combination; the value of BI’s and Protocol Criminal Justice, Inc.'s ("Protocol") trade names represent, among other intangible benefits, name recognition to its customers and intellectual property rights; and the acquired technology represents BI’s innovation with respect to its GPS tracking, monitoring, radio frequency monitoring, voice verification monitoring and alcohol compliance systems, Protocol's innovation with respect to its customer relationship management software and Soberlink, Inc.'s innovation with respect to its alcohol monitoring devices. When establishing useful lives, we consider the period and the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed or otherwise used up; or, if that pattern cannot be reliably determined, using a straight-line amortization method over a period that may be shorter than the ultimate life of such intangible asset. We also consider the impact of renewal terms when establishing useful lives. We currently amortize our acquired facility management contracts over periods ranging from three to twenty-one years and its acquired technology over seven years to eight years. There is no residual value associated with our finite-lived intangible assets. We review our trade name assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable. We do not amortize its indefinite lived intangible assets. We review our indefinite lived intangible assets annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. These reviews resulted in no significant impairment to the carrying value of the indefinite lived intangible assets for all periods presented. We record the costs associated with renewal and extension of facility management contracts as expenses in the period they are incurred.
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Fair Value Measurements
We define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (“exit price”). We carry certain of our assets and liabilities at fair value, measured on a recurring basis, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. We also have certain assets and liabilities which are not carried at fair value in our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and disclose the fair value measurements compared to the carrying values as of each balance sheet date. We establish the fair value of our assets and liabilities using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels which distinguish between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s assumptions (unobservable inputs). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the respective fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety. Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are other than quotable market prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities that reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. We recognize transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 as of the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that cause the transfer. We utilized a third-party valuation firm to assist with the estimation of the fair values on the date of issuance for our new debt instruments. The fair value of each new debt instrument on the date of issuance was estimated using a Black-Derman-Toy ("BDT") lattice model which used Level 3 inputs. Refer to Note 10 - Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities and Note 12 - Debt of the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements contained Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The following accounting standards will be adopted in future periods:
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2020-04, “Reference Reform Rate (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting,” to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the contract modifications, hedge relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. This ASU, which was effective upon issuance and may be applied through December 31, 2024, is applicable to all contracts and hedging relationships that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate or any other reference rate expected to be discontinued. We do not expect any significant impacts of reference rate reform and the application of this guidance.
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
We have determined that our previously reportable business segment, Facility Construction and Design, no longer qualifies as a reportable segment as it no longer meets certain quantitative thresholds and has been aggregated with our International Services reportable business segment below. In addition, we appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, the chief operating decision maker, during fiscal 2021. Based on changes to the way our chief operating decision maker views the business and financial results used to allocate resources to our electronic monitoring and supervision services operations, along with the growth of the business, we will report the electronic monitoring and supervision services operation as a separate reportable segment. This new segment is presented as Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services. Previously, the electronic monitoring and supervision services operations were included in our GEO Care reportable segment. In addition, our GEO Care reportable segment was renamed Reentry Services and includes services provided to adults for residential and non-residential treatment, educational and community-based programs, pre-release and half-way house programs. Refer to Note 15 – Business Segments and Geographic Information of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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.
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2022 versus 2021
Revenues
| 2022 | % of Revenue | 2021 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,437,831 | 60.5 | % | $ | 1,488,936 | 66.0 | % | $ | (51,105 | ) | (3.4 | )% | |||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 496,268 | 20.9 | % | 278,934 | 12.4 | % | 217,334 | 77.9 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 255,428 | 10.7 | % | 274,893 | 12.2 | % | (19,465 | ) | (7.1 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 187,200 | 7.9 | % | 213,849 | 9.5 | % | (26,649 | ) | (12.5 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,376,727 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,256,612 | 100.0 | % | $ | 120,115 | 5.3 | % |
U.S. Secure Services
Revenues decreased by $51.1 million in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to aggregate decreases of $164.8 million due to the ramp-
down/deactivations of our company-owned D. Ray James, Rivers, Big Springs, Flightline, Reeves County Detention I & II and Great Plains Correctional Facilities, our Queens Detention Facility, our North Lake Correctional Facility, our managed-only Bay and Graceville Correctional Rehabilitation Facilities, as well as our managed-only George W. Hill Correctional Facility. Also included in this decrease is the transition of the operation of our company-owned Guadalupe County Correctional Facility to the New Mexico Corrections Department in November 2021. These decreases were partially offset by aggregate net increases of $47.7 million resulting from the contract activation and ramp up at our company-owned Moshannon Valley Processing Center, Desert View Annex, our company-owned Eagle Pass Detention Center and new transportation contracts. In addition, we experienced aggregate net increases in rates and/or per diem amounts in connection with contract modifications, transportation services and increased occupancies of $66.0 million.
The number of compensated mandays in U.S. Secure Services facilities was approximately 17.9 million in 2022 and 18.7 million in 2021. We experienced an aggregate net decrease of approximately 800,000 mandays as a result of net decreases in population as a result of contract terminations, partially offset by contract activations discussed above. 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. Secure Services facilities was 89.9% and 88.2% of capacity in 2022 and 2021, respectively, excluding idle facilities.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Revenues increased by $217.3 million in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to increased client and participant counts.
Reentry Services
Revenues decreased by $19.5 million in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to a decrease of $34.7 million
as a result of the sale of our youth business which was effective July 1, 2021. This decrease was partially offset by increases of $10.5 million due to new/reactivated contracts, day reporting centers and programs including the activation of our company-owned Tampa Residential Reentry Center in Tampa, Florida in September 2021. Also partially offsetting the decrease was a net aggregate increase of $4.7 million related to increased census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to increased programming needs and referrals.
International Services
Revenues for International Services decreased by $26.6 million in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $15.6 million. We also experienced a net decrease of $11.0 million primarily driven by the transition of our management contract for the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre in the United Kingdom to the government effective September 30, 2021.
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Operating Expenses
| 2022 | % of Segment Revenues | 2021 | % of Segment Revenues | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,077,256 | 74.9 | % | $ | 1,112,290 | 74.7 | % | $ | (35,034 | ) | (3.1 | )% | |||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 226,236 | 45.6 | % | 121,442 | 43.5 | % | 104,794 | 86.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 194,089 | 76.0 | % | 205,992 | 74.9 | % | (11,903 | ) | (5.8 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 166,147 | 88.8 | % | 189,322 | 88.5 | % | (23,175 | ) | (12.2 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,663,728 | $ | 1,629,046 | $ | 34,682 | 2.1 | % |
Operating expenses consist of those expenses incurred in the operation and management of our U.S. Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services segments.
U.S. Secure Services
Operating expenses for U.S. Secure Services decreased by $35.0 million in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to decreases of $130.6
million related to the ramp-down/deactivations of our company-owned D. Ray James, Rivers, Big Springs, Flightline, Reeves County Detention I & II and Great Plains Correctional Facilities, our Queens Detention Facility, our North Lake Correctional Facility, our managed-only Bay and Graceville Correctional Rehabilitation Facilities, as well as our managed-only George W. Hill Correctional Facility. Also included in this decrease is the transition of the operation of our company-owned Guadalupe County Correctional Facility to the New Mexico Corrections Department in November 2021. These decreases were partially offset by aggregate net increases of $30.7 million resulting from the contract activation and ramp up at our company-owned Moshannon Valley Processing Center, Desert View Annex as well as our company-owned Eagle Pass Detention Center. In addition, we experienced aggregate net increases in connection with transportation services, increased occupancies and the variable costs associated with those services of $64.9 million.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Operating expenses increased by $104.8 million in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to increased client and participant counts.
Reentry Services
Operating expenses for Reentry Services decreased by $11.9 million during 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to a decrease of $30.8
million as a result of the sale of our youth business which was effective July 1, 2021. We also experienced a decrease of $4.2 million due to contract terminations. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $6.8 million due to new/reactivated contracts, day reporting centers and programs including the activation of our company-owned Tampa Residential Reentry Center in Tampa, Florida in September 2021. Also partially offsetting the decreases was a net aggregate increase of $16.3 million related to increased census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to increased programming needs and referrals.
International Services
Operating expenses for International Services decreased by $23.2 million in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to foreign exchange
rate fluctuations of $14.1 million. We also experienced a net decrease of $9.1 million primarily driven by the transition of our management contract for the Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre in the United Kingdom to the government effective September 30, 2021.
Depreciation and Amortization
| 2022 | % of Segment Revenue | 2021 | % of Segment Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 80,600 | 5.6 | % | $ | 83,721 | 5.6 | % | $ | (3,121 | ) | (3.7 | )% | |||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 31,838 | 6.4 | % | 30,422 | 10.9 | % | 1,416 | 4.7 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 18,416 | 7.2 | % | 18,773 | 6.8 | % | (357 | ) | (1.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 2,071 | 1.1 | % | 2,261 | 1.1 | % | (190 | ) | (8.4 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 132,925 | 5.6 | % | $ | 135,177 | 6.0 | % | $ | (2,252 | ) | (1.7 | )% |
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U.S. Secure Services
U.S. Secure Services depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to decreases related to certain assets becoming fully depreciated and/or amortized as well as certain asset dispositions at our company-owned facilities. Partially offsetting this decrease was a write-off of approximately $3.4 million of intangible assets related to facility management contracts when Delaware County, Pennsylvania took over management of the managed-only George W. Hill Correctional Facility in April 2022.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to certain equipment additions.
Reentry Services
Reentry Services depreciation and amortization expense decreased slightly in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to certain asset dispositions
at our company-owned centers.
International Services
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
Other Unallocated Operating Expenses
| 2022 | % of Revenue | 2021 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | $ | 196,972 | 8.3 | % | $ | 204,306 | 9.1 | % | $ | (7,334 | ) | (3.6 | )% |
General and administrative expenses comprise substantially all of our other unallocated operating expenses which primarily includes corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 by $7.3 million primarily due to one-time employee restructuring expenses of $7.5 million incurred in 2021. Partially offsetting this decrease were increased professional fees for financial and legal advisors assisting us in reviewing potential asset sales as well as normal professional, consulting and other administrative expenses.
Non-Operating Income and Expense
Interest Income and Interest Expense
| 2022 | % of Revenue | 2021 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | $ | 16,831 | 0.7 | % | $ | 24,007 | 1.1 | % | $ | (7,176 | ) | (29.9 | )% | |||||||||||
| Interest Expense | $ | 164,550 | 6.9 | % | $ | 129,460 | 5.7 | % | $ | 35,090 | 27.1 | % |
Interest income decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations as well as the sale
of our contract receivable related to our Ravenhall facility in Australia in September 2022. Refer to Note 17 Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
On August 19, 2022, we completed an exchange offer to exchange certain of our outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023, 5.875%
Senior Notes due 2024, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 and certain revolving credit loans and term loans under our senior secured credit facility into newly issued Senior Second Lien Secured Notes and a new Exchange Credit Agreement. Interest expense increased in 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to higher interest rates on the new debt instruments as well as the net amortization of deferred issuance costs and discounts/premiums related to the transaction. Additionally, SOFR/LIBOR rates have increased in 2022 compared to 2021. Refer to Note 12 -
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Debt of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
(Loss) Gain on Extinguishment of Debt
| 2022 | % of Revenue | 2021 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Loss) Gain on Extinguishment of Debt | $ | (37,895 | ) | -1.6 | % | $ | 4,693 | 0.2 | % | $ | (42,588 | ) | (907.5 | )% |
During 2022, we completed an exchange offer to exchange certain of our outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023, 5.875% Senior
Notes due 2024, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 and certain revolving credit loans and term loans under our senior secured credit facility into newly issued Senior Second Lien Secured Notes and a new credit facility. As a result of the transactions, we recorded a net loss on extinguishment of debt of $37.9 million, net of the write-off of associated unamortized deferred loan costs.
During 2021, we repurchased $22.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 at a weighted average price of 90.68% for a total cost of $20.4 million. Additionally, we repurchased $17.2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 at a weighted average price of 79.51% for a total cost of $13.7 million. As a result of these repurchases, we recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $4.7 million, net of the write-off of associated unamortized deferred loan costs.
Refer to Note 12- Debt of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets
| 2022 | % of Revenue | 2021 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets | $ | 32,332 | 1.4 | % | $ | 5,499 | 0.2 | % | $ | 26,833 | 488.0 | % |
During 2022, we sold our equity investment interest in the government-owned Ravenhall Correctional Centre project in Australia for
approximately $84 million in gross proceeds, pre-tax to an unrelated third party. As a result of the transaction, we recorded a gain of approximately $29.3 million. Refer to Note 17 - Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The net gain in 2022 also includes the sale of our Perry County Correctional Facility located in Alabama.
The net gain on disposition of assets in 2021 was primarily due to the sale of our interest in Talbot Hall, located in New Jersey, and the sale of our company-owned McCabe Center, located in Texas. The gain was partially offset by a loss on the divestiture of our youth division on July 1, 2021. Refer to Note 17- Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Provision for Income Taxes
| 2022 | Effective Rate | 2021 | Effective Rate | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | $ | 62,899 | 27.4 | % | $ | 122,730 | 63.6 | % | $ | (59,831 | ) | (48.8 | )% |
The provision for income taxes in 2022 decreased compared to 2021 along with the effective tax rate. In 2022, there was a $1.4 million discrete tax benefit compared to a net $74.6 million discrete tax expense in 2021. Included in the provision for income taxes in 2022 and 2021 were, respectively, a $2.1 million and $3.6 million discrete tax expense related to stock compensation that vested during the respective periods. In 2021, the Company elected to terminate its REIT status and became a taxable C corporation which resulted in a one-time, non-cash deferred tax charge of $70.8 million related to the termination. We estimate our 2023 annual effective tax rate to be in the range of approximately 27% to 29% exclusive of any discrete items.
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Equity in Earnings of Affiliates
| 2022 | % of Revenue | 2021 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Earnings of Affiliates | $ | 4,771 | 0.2 | % | $ | 7,141 | 0.3 | % | $ | (2,370 | ) | (33.2 | )% |
Equity in earnings of affiliates, presented net of income taxes, represents the earnings of SACS and GEOAmey in the aggregate. Equity in earnings of affiliates in 2022 compared to 2021 decreased primarily due to unfavorable performance at GEOAmey.
Financial Condition
Capital Requirements
Our current cash requirements consist of amounts needed for working capital, debt service, supply purchases, investments in joint ventures, and capital expenditures related to either the development of new secure, processing and reentry 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.
As of December 31, 2022, we were developing a number of contractually committed projects that we estimate will cost approximately $42.2 million, of which $19.5 million was spent through December 31, 2022. We estimate our remaining contractually committed capital requirements to be approximately $22.7 million. These projects are expected to be completed through 2023.
We plan to fund all of our capital needs, including capital expenditures, from cash on hand, cash from operations, borrowings under our
Exchange Credit Agreement 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 our Exchange Credit Agreement. Our management believes that our financial resources and sources of liquidity will allow us to manage the continued impact of COVID-19 on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We completed our annual budgeting process, and for 2023, we will continue to strategically manage our capital expenditures to maintain both short and long term financial objectives. Additionally, we may from time to time pursue transactions for the potential sale of additional assets and businesses and/or other strategic transactions. Our management believes that cash on hand, cash flows from operations and availability under our Exchange Credit Agreement will be adequate to support our capital requirements for 2023 as disclosed under “Capital Requirements” above. The challenges posed by COVID-19, as well as the current political environment, generally and on our business are continuing to evolve. Consequently, we will continue to evaluate our financial position in light of future developments, the Executive Order and COVID-19.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Exchange Offer
On August 19, 2022, we completed an exchange offer to exchange certain of our outstanding 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023, 5.875%
Senior Notes due 2024, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026 and certain revolving credit loans and term loans under our senior secured credit facility into newly issued Senior Second Lien Secured Notes and a new Exchange Credit Agreement. As a result of the transactions, we recorded a net loss on extinguishment of debt of approximately $37.9 million and incurred a total of approximately $52.8 million of debt issuance fees which will be amortized over the terms of the respective agreements using the effective interest method. Refer to Note 12 - Debt of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Following the completed exchange offer in August 2022, S&P Global Ratings upgraded our issuer rating to B with a stable outlook. In
September 2022, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded our corporate family rating to B3 with a stable outlook.
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $30.0 million in borrowings under our revolver, and approximately $77.6
million in letters of credit which left approximately $226.4 million in additional borrowing capacity under the revolver. The weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2022 was 9.85%.
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6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
On February 24, 2021, our wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. (“GEOCH”), completed a private offering of $230 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% exchangeable senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the “Convertible Notes”), which included the full exercise of the initial purchasers’ over-allotment option to purchase an additional $30 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes will mature on February 23, 2026, unless earlier repurchased or exchanged. The Convertible Notes bear interest at the rate of 6.50% per year plus an additional amount based on the dividends paid by GEO on its common stock. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2021.
Subject to certain restrictions on share ownership and transfer, holders may exchange the notes at their option prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding November 25, 2025, but only under the following circumstances: (1) during the five consecutive business day period after any five consecutive trading day period, or the measurement period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of such measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the exchange rate for the notes on each such trading day; or (2) upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate events. On or after November 25, 2025, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the notes, holders may exchange their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon exchange of a note, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2022, conditions had not been met to exchange the notes.
Upon conversion, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock. The initial conversion rate is 108.4011 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $9.225 per share of common stock). The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events. If GEO or GEOCH undergoes a fundamental change, holders may require GEOCH to purchase the notes in whole or in part for cash at a fundamental change purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date.
Debt Repurchases
On August 16, 2019, our Board authorized us to repurchase and/or retire a portion of the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026, the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024, the 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023, the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (collectively the "GEO Senior Notes") and our term loan under our Amended Credit Agreement through cash purchases, in open market, privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, up to an aggregate maximum of $100.0 million, subject to certain limitations through December 31, 2020. On February 11, 2021, our Board authorized a new repurchase program for repurchases/retirements of the above referenced GEO Senior Notes and term loan, subject to certain limitations up to an aggregate maximum of $100.0 million through December 31, 2022.
During 2021, we repurchased $22.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 at a weighted average price of 90.68% for a total cost of $20.4 million. Additionally, we repurchased $17.2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 at a weighted average price of 79.51% for a total cost of $13.7 million. As a result of these repurchases, we recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $4.7 million, net of the write-off of associated unamortized deferred loan costs. There were no debt repurchases during the year ended 2022 except as part of the exchange offer discussed further above.
We consider opportunities for future business and/or asset acquisitions or dispositions as we deem appropriate when market conditions
present opportunities. If we are successful in our pursuit of any new projects, our cash on hand, cash flows from operations and borrowings under the new Exchange Credit Agreement may not provide sufficient liquidity to meet our capital needs 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. Additionally, the magnitude, severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact the availability of opportunities for future business and/or asset acquisitions or asset dispositions and market conditions generally. 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 second lien notes, the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024, the indenture governing the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026, the indenture governing our Convertible Notes and our Exchange Credit Agreement. A substantial decline in our financial performance could limit our access to capital pursuant to these covenants and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources and, 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 were in compliance with our debt covenants as of December 31, 2022, and we expect to continue 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.
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We may from time to time seek to purchase or retire our outstanding senior notes through repurchases, redemptions and/or exchanges for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases, redemptions or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
Quarterly Dividends
As previously discussed above, on December 2, 2021, GEO’s Board unanimously approved a plan to terminate our REIT status and become a taxable C Corporation, effective for the year ended December 31, 2021. In connection with terminating the GEO’s REIT status, the Board also voted unanimously to discontinue our quarterly dividend payments and prioritize allocating GEO’s free cash flow to reduce debt.
Stock Buyback Program
On February 14, 2018, we announced that our Board authorized a stock buyback program authorizing us to repurchase up to a maximum of $200 million of our shares of common stock. The stock buyback program was funded primarily with cash on hand, free cash flow and borrowings under our $900 million revolving credit facility. The program expired on October 20, 2020. The stock buyback program was intended to be implemented through purchases made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC requirements. The stock buyback program did not obligate us to purchase any specific amount of our common stock and could have been suspended or extended at any time at the discretion of our Board. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we purchased 553,665 shares of our common stock at a cost of $9.0 million primarily purchased with proceeds from our revolver. There were no purchases of our common stock during the years ended December 31, 2022 or 2021.
Automatic Shelf Registration on Form S-3
On October 30, 2020, we filed an automatic shelf registration on Form S-3 with the SEC that enables us to offer for sale, from time to time and as the capital markets permit, an unspecified amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, guarantees of debt securities, warrants and units. The shelf registration statement was automatically effective upon filing.
Prospectus Supplement
On June 28, 2021, in connection with the shelf registration, 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 $300 million through sales agents. Sales of shares of our common stock under the prospectus supplement and equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, will 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 shares of common stock sold under this prospectus supplement during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Australia - Ravenhall
In connection with a design and build project agreement with the State of Victoria, in September 2014, we entered into a syndicated
facility agreement (the "Construction Facility") to provide debt financing for construction of the project. The Construction Facility provided for non-recourse funding for the project. In September 2022, we sold our equity investment interest in the project to an unrelated third party. In connection with the sale, the non-recourse debt was transferred to the buyer and is no longer an outstanding obligation of GEO. Refer to Note 17 - Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Other
In August 2019, we entered into two identical Notes (as defined below) in the aggregate amount of $44.3 million which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. The terms of the Notes are through September 1, 2034 and bear interest at LIBOR plus 200 basis points and are payable in monthly installments plus interest. We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest rate to 4.22%. Included in the balance at December 31, 2022 is $0.6 million of deferred loan costs incurred in the transaction. Refer to Note 7 – Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Guarantees
The Company has entered into certain guarantees in connection with the design, financing and construction of certain facilities as well as loan, working capital and other obligation guarantees for our subsidiaries in Australia, South Africa and our joint ventures. Refer to Note 12 - Debt in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Executive Retirement Agreement
We have a non-qualified deferred compensation agreement with our Executive Chairmen and former Chief Executive Officer (“former CEO”). The agreement provides for a lump sum payment upon retirement, no sooner than age 55. As of December 31, 2022, our Executive Chairman had reached age 55 and was eligible to receive the payment upon retirement.
GEO and our Executive Chairman and former CEO, entered into on May 27, 2021, and effective July 1, 2021, an Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement which replaced the prior February 26, 2020 agreement discussed below. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement, upon the date that the Executive Chairman ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay to the Executive Chairman an amount equal to $3,600,000 (the "2021 Grandfathered Payment") which shall be paid in cash. The Grandfathered Payment shall be credited with interest at a rate of 5% compounded quarterly (the “Grandfathered Earnings Account”). Additionally, at the end of each calendar year provided that our Executive Chairman is still providing services to GEO pursuant to the Executive Chairman Employment Agreement, we will credit an amount equal to $1,000,000 at the end of each calendar year (the “Employment Contributions Account”). The Employment Contributions Account will be credited with interest at the rate of 5% compounded quarterly. Upon the date that the Executive Chairman ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay the Executive Chairman in one lump sum cash payment each of the 2021 Grandfathered Payment, the Grandfathered Earnings Account and the Employment Contributions Account subject to the six-month delay provided in the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. As the Executive Chairman’s retirement payment will no longer be settled with a fixed number of shares of GEO’s common stock (as discussed below under the prior agreement), $3,600,000 has been reclassified from equity to other non-current liabilities in 2021. The balance of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement was approximately $7 million at December 31, 2022 which is fully funded. The following table presents the balance due to the Executive Chairman at the end of each the next five years under the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement provided that the Executive Chairman is still providing services to GEO under his Executive Chairman Employment Agreement:
| Fiscal Year | Retirement Obligation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (In thousands) | |||
| 12/31/2023 | $ | 9,557 | |
| 12/31/2024 | $ | 12,617 | |
| 12/31/2025 | $ | 16,336 | |
| 12/31/2026 | $ | 20,856 | |
| 12/31/2027 | $ | 26,351 |
The prior executive retirement agreement entered into on February 26, 2020 provided that upon the former CEO’s retirement from GEO, we would have had to pay a lump sum amount equal to $8,925,065 (determined as of February 26, 2020) (the “Grandfathered Payment”) which would have been paid in the form of a fixed number of shares of our common stock. The Grandfathered Payment would have been delayed for six months and a day following the effective date of our former CEO’s termination of employment in compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
On February 26, 2020, an amount equal to the Grandfathered Payment was invested in our common stock (“GEO Shares”). The number of our shares of common stock as of this date was equal to the Grandfathered Payment divided by the closing price of our common stock on this date (rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares), which equaled 553,665 shares of our common stock. Additional shares of our common stock were credited with a value equal to any dividends declared and paid on our shares of common stock, calculated by reference to the closing price of our common stock on the payment date for such dividends (rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares).
We have established several trusts for the purpose of paying the retirement benefit pursuant to the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. The trusts were revocable “rabbi trusts” and the assets of the trusts are subject to the claims of our creditors in the event of our insolvency.
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Guarantor Financial Information
GEO’s New Registered Notes, New Private Notes, Convertible Notes, 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026, and the 5.875% Senior Notes due
2024 are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by certain of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
Summarized financial information is provided for The GEO Group, Inc. (“Parent”) and the Subsidiary Guarantors on a combined basis in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rules 3-10 and 13-01. The accounting policies used in the preparation of this summarized financial information are consistent with those elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements of the Company, except that intercompany transactions and balances of the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantor entities with non-guarantor entities have not been eliminated. Intercompany transactions between the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantors have been eliminated and equity in earnings from and investments in non-guarantor subsidiaries have not been presented.
Summarized statement of operations (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, 2022 | Year Ended December 31, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating revenues | $ | 2,176,556 | $ | 2,032,884 | |||
| Income from operations | 378,691 | 267,413 | |||||
| Net income | 139,570 | 45,312 | |||||
| Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. | 139,570 | 45,312 |
Summarized balance sheets (in thousands):
| December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current assets | $ | 492,080 | $ | 707,457 | |||
| Noncurrent assets (a) | 3,059,195 | 3,115,622 | |||||
| Current liabilities | 370,177 | 314,233 | |||||
| Noncurrent liabilities (b) | 2,163,004 | 2,820,252 |
(a)
Includes amounts due from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $32.6 million and $22.5 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(b)
Includes amounts due to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $8.9 million and $14.8 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Except as discussed above, and in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 17 – Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Derivatives
In August 2019, we entered into two interest rate swap agreements in the aggregate notional amount of $44.3 million to fix the interest rate on certain of our variable rate debt to 4.22%. We have designated these interest rate swaps as hedges against changes in the cash flows of two identical promissory notes (the "Notes") which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. We have determined that the swaps have payment, expiration dates, and provisions that coincide with the terms of the Notes and are therefore considered to be effective cash flow hedges. Accordingly, we record the change in fair value of the interest rate swaps as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes. There was no material ineffectiveness for the period presented. We do not expect to enter into any transactions during the next twelve months which would result in reclassification into earnings or losses associated with these swaps currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Refer to Note 12 - Debt and Note 7 - Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
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Cash Flow
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 was $143.8 million, compared to $548.3 million as of December 31, 2021 and was impacted by the following:
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2022 and 2021 was $296.4 million and $282.6 million, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2022 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision (benefit), amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, gain on sale/disposal of property and equipment, loss on extinguishment of debt and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash along with a net gain on disposition of assets. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets increased in total by a net of $53.0 million, representing a negative impact on cash. The increase was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased by $21.8 million which positively impacted cash. The decrease was primarily due to the timing of payments.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2021 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision, amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash along with gain on extinguishment of debt and net gain on disposition of assets. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets decreased in total by a net of $9.5 million, representing a positive impact on cash. The decrease was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased by $58.1 million which negatively impacted cash. The decrease was primarily due to the timing of payments.
Additionally, cash provided by operating activities in 2021 was positively impacted by a decrease in contract receivable of $6.2 million. The decrease relates to the timing of payments received and interest accrued, along with the effect of foreign exchange rates, related to the Ravenhall Project. Refer to Note 6 - Contract Receivable included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net provided by investing activities of $3.0 million in 2022 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $90.0 million and changes in restricted investments of $8.4 million, offset by proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets of $101.4 million. Net cash used in investing activities of $53.7 million in 2021 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $69.4 million and changes in restricted investments of $18.7 million, offset by proceeds from sale of real estate and other assets of $21.2 million, proceeds from the sale of property and equipment of $4.1 million and payments received on note receivable of $8.0 million.
Net cash used in financing activities in 2022 reflects payments of $680.9 million on long term debt offset by $30.0 million of proceeds from long term debt and payments on non-recourse debt of $5.7 million. We also paid $41.5 million of debt issuance costs in connection with our exchange offering. Refer to Note 12 - Debt included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2021 reflects payments of $360.3 million on long term debt offset by $435.0 million of proceeds from long term debt and payments on non-recourse debt of $21.6 million. We also paid cash dividends of $30.5 million and paid $9.6 million of debt issuance costs in connection with the issuance of our 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes. Refer to Note 12 - Debt included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Inflation
We believe that inflation, in general, did have a negative impact but did not have a material effect on our results of operations during 2022 and 2021. 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 recurring/fixed expense, increase at a faster rate than the per diem or fixed rates received by us for our management services.
Non-GAAP Measures
Adjusted Funds from Operations ("AFFO") is defined as net income attributable to GEO adjusted by adding depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, the amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, and by subtracting gain on asset divestitures, net, and facility maintenance capital expenditures and other non-cash revenue and expenses. From time to time, AFFO is also adjusted for certain items which by their nature are not comparable from period to period or that tend to obscure GEO’s actual operating performance, including for the periods presented gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, pre-tax, transaction related expenses,
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pre-tax, one-time employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax, close-out expenses, pre-tax, start up expenses, pre-tax, change in tax structure to C Corp and tax effect of adjustments to net income attributable to GEO.
Because of the unique design, structure and use of our secure facilities, processing centers and reentry centers, we believe that assessing the performance of our secure facilities, processing centers and reentry centers without the impact of depreciation or amortization is useful and meaningful to investors.
Our assessment of our operations is focused on long-term sustainability. The adjustments we make to derive the non-GAAP measures of AFFO exclude items which may cause short-term fluctuations in net income attributable to GEO but have no impact on our cash flows, or we do not consider them to be fundamental attributes, or the primary drivers of our business plan and they do not affect our overall long-term operating performance. We may make adjustments to AFFO from time to time for certain other income and expenses that do not reflect a necessary component of our operational performance on the basis discussed above, even though such items may require cash settlement. Because AFFO excludes depreciation and amortization unique to real estate as well as non-operational items and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year, they provide our investors with performance measures that reflect the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, per diem rates, operating costs and interest costs, providing a perspective not immediately apparent from net income attributable to GEO.
We believe the presentation of AFFO provides useful information to investors as they provide an indication of our ability to fund capital expenditures and expand our business. AFFO provides disclosure on the same basis as that used by our management and provide consistency in our financial reporting, facilitate internal and external comparisons of our historical operating performance and our business units and provide continuity to investors for comparability purposes.
Our reconciliation of net income attributable to GEO to AFFO for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, is as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net income attributable to GEO | $ | 171,813 | $ | 77,418 | ||||
| Add (Subtract): | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 132,925 | 135,177 | ||||||
| Facility maintenance capital expenditures | (21,817 | ) | (11,313 | ) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 16,204 | 19,199 | ||||||
| Other non-cash revenue & expenses | — | (4,408 | ) | |||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest | 9,004 | 7,498 | ||||||
| Gain on asset divestitures, net | (32,332 | ) | (3,722 | ) | ||||
| Other Adjustments | ||||||||
| Add (Subtract): | ||||||||
| Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, pre-tax | 37,895 | (4,693 | ) | |||||
| Start-up expenses, pre-tax | — | 1,723 | ||||||
| Transaction related expenses, pre-tax | 1,322 | 8,118 | ||||||
| One-time employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax | — | 7,459 | ||||||
| Change in tax structure to C Corp | — | 70,813 | ||||||
| Close-out expenses, pre-tax | — | 1,475 | ||||||
| Tax effect of adjustments to net income attributable to GEO * | (7,032 | ) | (26 | ) | ||||
| Adjusted Funds from Operations | $ | 307,982 | $ | 304,718 |
* Tax adjustments relate to gain asset divestitures, loss (gain) on debt extinguishment, start-up expenses, transaction related expenses, one-time employee restructuring expenses, close-out expenses and change in tax structure to C Corp.
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
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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.
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic
We will continue to coordinate closely with our government agency partners and local health agencies to ensure the health and safety of all those in our care and our employees. We are grateful for our frontline employees who are making sacrifices daily to provide care for all those in our facilities during this unprecedented global pandemic. Information on the steps we have taken to address and mitigate the risks of COVID-19 can be found at www.geogroup.com/COVID19. The information on or accessible through our website is not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Revenue
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to determine the future landscape of growth opportunities in the near term; however, any positive trends may, to some extent, be adversely impacted by government budgetary constraints in light of the pandemic or any changes to a government's willingness to maintain or grow public-private partnerships in the future. While state finances overall were stable prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, future budgetary pressures may cause state agencies to 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 or the decision to not re-bid a contract after expiration of the contract term. 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, develop, 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. Any positive trends in the industry may be offset by several factors, including budgetary constraints, contract modifications, contract terminations, contract non-renewals, contract re-bids and/or the decision to not re-bid a contract after expiration of the contract term and the impact of any other potential changes to the willingness or ability to maintain or grow public-private partnerships on the part of other government agencies. We believe we have a strong relationship with our government agency partners and we believe that we operate facilities that maximize security, safety and efficiency while offering our suite of GEO Continuum of Care programs, services and resources.
On January 26, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order directing the United States Attorney General not to renew DOJ contracts
with privately operated criminal detention facilities, as consistent with applicable law. Two agencies of the DOJ, the BOP and the USMS, utilize GEO’s support services. The BOP houses inmates who have been convicted of federal crimes, and the USMS is generally responsible for detainees who are awaiting trial or sentencing in U.S. federal courts. As of December 31, 2022, GEO has three company-owned/company-leased facilities under direct contracts with USMS, which have current contract option periods that expire between February 28, 2023 and September 30, 2023. These facilities combined represented approximately 6% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we no longer have any contracts with the BOP for secure correctional facilities.
President Biden’s administration may implement additional executive orders or directives relating to federal criminal justice policies
and/or immigration policies, which may impact the federal government’s use of public-private partnerships with respect to secure correctional and detention facilities and immigration processing centers, including with respect to our contracts, and/or may impact the budget and spending priorities of federal agencies, including the BOP, USMS, and ICE, which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to the Executive Order, we have historically had a relatively high contract renewal rate, however, 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.
California enacted legislation that became effective on January 1, 2020 aimed at phasing out public-private partnership contracts for the
operation of secure correctional facilities and detention facilities within California and facilities outside of the State of California housing State of California inmates. Currently, we have four public-private partnership contracts in place with ICE relating to secure services facilities located in California. These facilities/annexes generated approximately $173 million in combined annual revenues during the year ended December 31, 2022, and their contracts do not expire until December of 2034. GEO and the DOJ have filed separate legal actions challenging the constitutionality of the attempted ban on new federal contracts entered into after the effective date of the California law. On October 5, 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a prior U.S. District Court decision dismissing the requests by GEO and the United States for declaratory and injunctive relief and ruled that AB32 conflicts with federal law in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and discriminates against the federal government in violation of the intergovernmental immunity doctrine. On April 26, 2022, the Ninth Circuit granted California’s petition for an en banc hearing and vacated the previous panel’s opinion. En banc arguments took place the week of June 21, 2022, in Pasadena, California. On September 26, 2022, in an 8-3 decision, the En Banc court vacated the prior decision
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denying the requests by GEO and the United States for declaratory and injunctive relief barring application of the California law to federal immigration processing centers. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, En Banc, ruled that AB-32 would give California a virtual power of review over detention decisions made by ICE in violation of the Supremacy Clause. The court held that whether analyzed under intergovernmental immunity or preemption, California cannot exert such control over the federal government’s detention operations. The case is remanded to the U.S. District Court for further proceedings, consistent with the court’s ruling. Refer to Note 17- Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recently the State of Washington approved a similar measure, EHB 1090, banning the use of public-private partnership contracts for the
operation of detention facilities in the state, that GEO is also challenging in federal court. GEO’s contract for the company-owned 1,575-bed Northwest ICE Processing Center in Washington has a renewal option period that expires in 2025. The facility generated approximately $66 million in annualized revenues for GEO during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Effective April 6, 2022, Delaware County, Pennsylvania took over management of the managed-only George W. Hill Correctional
Facility. The George W. Hill Correctional Facility generated approximately $47 million in annualized revenue for GEO during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Internationally, we are exploring opportunities in our current markets and will continue to actively bid on any opportunities that fit our
target profile for profitability and operational risk. We are pleased to have been awarded a ten-year contract renewal for the continued delivery of secure transportation under our GEOAmey joint venture in the United Kingdom. With respect to our Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre in the United Kingdom, we were unfortunately unsuccessful in the competitive rebid process and transitioned the management contract in October 2021. In January 2023, our Australian subsidiary, GEO Australia, had entered into a contract with the Department of Justice and Community Safety in the State of Victoria for the delivery of primary health services across thirteen public prisons. The contract will commence on July 1, 2023 and is expected to generate approximately $33 million in incremental annualized revenue for GEO.
With respect to our reentry services, electronic monitoring services, and community-based services business, we are currently pursuing a
number of business development opportunities. Related to opportunities for community-based reentry services, we are working with our existing federal, state, and local clients to leverage new opportunities for both residential reentry facilities as well as non-residential day reporting centers. However, in light of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we may not be successful. With respect to the Department of Homeland's Intensive Supervision and Appearance Program ("ISAP"), the number of participants steadily increased throughout 2022, however, since the beginning of 2023, there has been a decline in ISAP participants as a result of recent changes in immigration and budgetary pressures. There are no assurances that there will not be a further decline in ISAP participants in 2023 and beyond. We continue to expend resources on informing federal, state and local governments about the benefits of public-private partnerships, and we anticipate that there will be new opportunities in the future as those efforts continue 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 costs represented approximately 63% and 65% of our operating expenses in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Additional significant operating expenses include food, utilities and inmate medical costs. In 2022 and 2021, operating expenses totaled approximately 70% and 72% of our consolidated revenues, respectively. Our operating expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2023 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 2023, we will incur carrying costs for facilities that were vacant in 2022.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. In 2022 and 2021, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately 8% and 9%, respectively, of our consolidated revenues. We expect general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2023 to remain consistent or decrease as a result of cost savings initiatives.
Idle Facilities
In our Secure Services segment, we are currently marketing 10,922 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $306 million at seven of our idle facilities to potential customers. In our Reentry Services segment, we are currently marketing 2,139 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $43 million at four of our idle facilities to potential customers. The combined annual carrying cost of these idle
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facilities in 2022 is estimated to be $32.8 million, including depreciation expense of $16.5 million. With the exception of a contract pending due diligence for one of our reentry facilities, we currently do not have any firm commitments or agreements in place to activate these facilities but have ongoing contact with several potential customers. Historically, some facilities have been idle for multiple years before they received a new contract award. The per diem rates that we charge our clients often vary by contract across our portfolio. However, if the eleven idle facilities in our Secure Services and Reentry Services segments were to be activated using our Secure Services and Reentry Services average per diem rate in 2022 (calculated as revenue divided by the number of mandays) and based on the average occupancy rate in our facilities for 2022, we would expect to receive annual incremental revenue of approximately $360 million and an increase in annual earnings per share of approximately $.35 to $.40 per share based on our average operating margin. Refer to discussion in Item I, Part I – Business under Executive Order and Contract Developments above for discussion of recent developments.
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:
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our ability to mitigate the transmission of the current pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, at our secure facilities, processing centers and reentry centers;
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the magnitude, severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows;
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our ability to timely build and/or open facilities as planned, successfully manage such facilities and successfully integrate such facilities into our operations without substantial additional costs;
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our ability to estimate the government’s level of utilization of public-private partnerships for secure services and the impact of any modifications or reductions by our government customers of their utilization of public-private partnerships;
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our ability to accurately project the size and growth of public-private partnerships for secure services in the U.S. and internationally and our ability to capitalize on opportunities for public-private partnerships;
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our ability to successfully respond to any challenges or concerns that our government customers may raise regarding their use of public-private partnerships for secure services, including finding other government customers or alternative uses for facilities where a government customer has discontinued or announced that a contract with us will be discontinued;
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the impact of adopted or proposed executive action or legislation aimed at limiting public-private partnerships for secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers or limiting or restricting the business and operations of financial institutions or others who do business with us;
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our ability to successfully respond to delays encountered by states pursuing public-private partnerships for secure services and cost savings initiatives implemented by a number of states;
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our ability to activate the inactive beds at our idle facilities;
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our ability to maintain or increase occupancy rates at our facilities and the impact of fluctuations in occupancy levels on our revenues and profitability;
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the impact of our termination of our REIT election and the discontinuation of quarterly dividend payments and our ability to maximize the use of cash flows to repay debt, deleverage and internally fund growth;
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we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of terminating our REIT election or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected, if at all, or may not offset the costs of terminating our REIT election and becoming a taxable C Corporation;
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if we failed to remain qualified as a REIT for those years we elected REIT status, we would be subject to additional corporate income taxes and would not be able to deduct distributions to shareholders when computing our taxable income for those years;
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our ability to expand, diversify and grow our secure services, reentry, community-based services, monitoring services, evidence-based supervision and treatment programs and secure transportation services businesses;
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our ability to win management contracts for which we have submitted proposals, retain existing management contracts, prevail in any challenge or protest involving the award of a management contract and meet any performance standards required by such management contracts;
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our ability to raise new project development capital given the often short-term nature of the customers’ commitment to use newly developed facilities;
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our ability to develop long-term earnings visibility;
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our ability to successfully conduct our operations in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia through joint ventures or a consortium;
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the impact of the LIBOR transition;
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the instability of foreign exchange rates, exposing us to currency risks in Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, or other countries in which we may choose to conduct our business;
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an increase in unreimbursed labor rates;
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our exposure to rising medical costs;
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our ability to manage costs and expenses relating to ongoing litigation arising from our operations;
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our ability to successfully pursue an appeal to reverse the recent unfavorable verdict and judgments in the retrial of the lawsuits in the State of Washington, our company being required to record an accrual for the judgments in the future, and our ability to defend similar other pending litigation and the effect such litigation may have on our company;
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our ability to prevail in our challenge to EHB 1090 legislation that is pending in the State of Washington;
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our ability to accurately estimate on an annual basis, loss reserves related to general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims;
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our ability to fulfill our debt service obligations and its impact on our liquidity;
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our ability to deleverage and repay, refinance or otherwise address our debt maturities in an amount or on the timeline we expect, or at all;
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despite current indebtedness levels, we may still incur more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks relating to our indebtedness;
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the covenants in the indentures governing the Convertible Notes, the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026, the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 and the covenants in the indentures governing the 2028 Registered Notes, the 2028 Private Exchange Notes and the Exchange Credit Agreement impose significant operating and financial restrictions which may adversely affect our ability to operate our business;
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servicing our indebtedness will require a significant amount of cash and 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;
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because portions of our senior indebtedness have floating interest rates, an increase in interest rates would adversely affect cash flows;
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we depend on distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments on our indebtedness and these distributions may not be made;
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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;
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the conditional exchange feature of the 6.5% Exchangeable Senior Notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition;
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the second lien notes and the related guarantees are effectively subordinated to our and our subsidiary guarantors' current senior secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the second lien notes;
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it may be difficult to realize the value of the collateral securing the second lien notes and related guarantees;
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•
our ability to identify and successfully complete any potential sales of additional Company-owned assets and businesses in commercially advantageous terms on a timely basis, or at all;
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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;
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negative conditions in the capital markets could prevent us from obtaining financing on desirable terms, which could materially harm our business;
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we are subject to the loss of our facility management contracts, due to executive orders, 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;
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our growth depends on our ability to secure contracts to develop and manage new secure facilities, processing centers and community-based facilities and to secure contracts to provide electronic monitoring services, community-based reentry services and monitoring and supervision services, the demand for which is outside our control;
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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;
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we partner with a limited number of governmental customers who account for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of, or a significant decrease in revenues from, these customers could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations;
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State budgetary constraints may have a material adverse impact on us;
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competition for contracts may adversely affect the profitability of our business;
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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, local and foreign government levels;
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public and political resistance to the use of public-private partnerships for secure facilities, electronic monitoring and supervision as alternatives to detention, processing centers and community reentry centers could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, impact our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing or enter into commercial arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our securities;
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adverse publicity may negatively impact our ability to retain existing contracts and obtain new contracts;
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we may incur significant start-up and operating costs on new contracts before receiving related revenues, which may impact our cash flows and may not be recouped;
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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;
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we may face community opposition to facility locations, which may adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts;
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our business operations expose us to various liabilities for which we may not have adequate insurance and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations;
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we may not be able to obtain or maintain the insurance levels required by our government contracts;
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our exposure to rising general insurance costs;
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natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, global political events and other serious catastrophic events could disrupt operations and otherwise materially adversely affect our business and financial condition;
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our international operations expose us to risks that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations;
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we conduct certain of our operations through joint ventures or consortiums, which may lead to disagreements with our joint venture partners or business partners and adversely affect our interest in the joint ventures or consortiums;
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we are dependent upon our senior management and our ability to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel;
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our profitability may be materially adversely affected by inflation;
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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;
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risks related to facility construction and development activities may increase our costs related to such activities;
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the rising cost and increasing difficulty of obtaining adequate levels of surety credit on favorable terms could adversely affect our operating results;
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adverse developments in our relationship with our employees could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations;
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technological changes 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;
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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;
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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 in a timely manner and/or with such quality as we expect, our ability to market and sell our electronic monitoring products and services could be harmed;
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the interruption, delay or failure of the provision of our services or information systems could adversely affect our business;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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our ability to identify suitable acquisitions or dispositions, and to successfully complete such acquistitons or dispositions;
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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;
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we are subject to risks related to corporate social responsibility;
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the market price of our common stock may vary substantially;
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future sales of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and may be dilutive to current shareholders;
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various anti-takeover protections applicable to us may make an acquisition of us more difficult and reduce the market value of our common stock;
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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;
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we may issue additional debt securities that could limit our operating flexibility and negatively affect the value of our common stock;
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failure to comply with anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws could subject us to penalties and other adverse consequences; and
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other factors contained in our filings with 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, except as required by law. 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.
FY 2021 10-K MD&A
SEC filing source: 0001564590-22-007652.
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 specialize in the ownership, leasing and management of secure, reentry facilities and processing centers and the provision of community-based services in the United States, Australia and South Africa. We own, lease and operate a broad range of secure facilities including maximum, medium and minimum-security facilities, processing centers, and community-based reentry facilities. We offer counseling, education and/or treatment for 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 a 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, 2021, our worldwide operations included the management and/or ownership of approximately 86,000 beds at 106 correctional, detention and reentry facilities, including idle facilities, and also included the provision of servicing more than 210,000 individuals in a community-based environment on behalf of federal, state and local correctional agencies located in all 50 states.
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had consolidated revenues of $2.3 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively, and we maintained an average company-wide facility occupancy rate of 85.4% including 74,834 active beds and excluding 11,200 idle beds for the year ended December 31, 2021, and 86.1% including 89,499 active beds and excluding 3,334 idle beds and beds under development for the year ended December 31, 2020.
REIT Election
On December 2, 2021, we announced that our Board unanimously approved a plan to terminate our REIT election and become a taxable C Corporation, effective for the year ended December 31, 2021. As a result, we are no longer required to operate under REIT rules, including the requirement to distribute at least 90% of REIT taxable income to our stockholders, which provides us with greater flexibility to use our free cash flow. Effective January 1, 2021, we are subject to federal and state income taxes on our taxable income at applicable tax rates, and are no longer entitled to a tax deduction for dividends paid. We operated as a REIT for the 2020 tax year, and existing REIT requirements and limitations, including those established by our organizational documents, remained in place until December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 16 – Income Taxes of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Board also voted unanimously to discontinue our quarterly dividend payment and prioritize allocating our free cash flow to reduce debt.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The consolidated financial statements in this report are prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. A summary of our significant accounting policies is described in Note 1 – Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies of the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report. The significant accounting policies and estimates which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:
Asset Impairments
The following table summarizes the Company’s idled facilities as of December 31, 2021 and their respective carrying values, excluding equipment and other assets that can be easily transferred to other facilities.
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| Design | Net Carrying Value | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facility | Segment | Capacity | Year Idled | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
| Great Plains Correctional Facility | Secure Services | 1,940 | 2021 | $ | 68,479 | ||||||
| D. Ray James Correctional Facility | Secure Services | 1,900 | 2021 | 52,724 | |||||||
| Rivers Correctional Facility | Secure Services | 1,450 | 2021 | 39,644 | |||||||
| Big Spring Correctional Facility | Secure Services | 1,732 | 2021 | 35,828 | |||||||
| Flightline Correctional Facility | Secure Services | 1,800 | 2021 | 37,090 | |||||||
| McFarland Female Community Reentry Facility | Secure Services | 300 | 2020 | 11,498 | |||||||
| Perry County Correctional Facility | Secure Services | 690 | 2015 | 11,186 | |||||||
| Cheyenne Mountain Recovery Center | Reentry Services | 750 | 2020 | 17,145 | |||||||
| Coleman Hall | Reentry Services | 350 | 2017 | 8,139 | |||||||
| Total | 10,912 | $ | 281,733 |
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 prolonged decrease in 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 the time and costs required to ramp up facility population once a contract is obtained. We perform the impairment analysis on an annual basis for each of the idle facilities and take into consideration updates each quarter for market developments affecting the potential utilization of each of the facilities in order to identify events that may cause the Company 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 the terms 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 individuals at such facility. Further, a substantial increase in the number of available beds at other facilities 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 have determined that no current impairment exists. 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.
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 individuals within our care, 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 individuals within our care, including damages arising from the escape of an individual in our care 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.
On October 1, 2021, GEO formed a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary, Florina Insurance Company, Inc. (“Florina”), to enhance our risk financing strategies. Florina is incorporated in the state of Vermont and is licensed and regulated by the state of Vermont, including
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with respect to its insurance programs, levels of liquidity and other requirements. GEO began procuring insurance policies to cover deductibles for workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, medical professional liability and directors and officers’ liability as well as procuring insurance policies for its directors’ and officers’ excess liability and excess medical professional liability through Florina effective October 1, 2021. Florina holds cash and investments in order to meet solvency requirements and meet financial obligations as presented, including an investment portfolio of marketable fixed income and equity securities.
We currently maintain a general liability policy and excess liability policies with total limits of $70.0 million per occurrence and $90.0 million total general liability annual aggregate limits covering the operations of U.S. Secure Services, Reentry services and Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services. We have a claims-made liability insurance program with a specific loss limit of $40.0 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, cybersecurity liability and automobile liability.
For most casualty insurance policies, we carry substantial deductibles or self-insured retentions of $4.0 million per occurrence for general liability and $5 million per occurrence for medical professional liability, $2.0 million per occurrence for workers’ compensation, $2.5 million per occurrence for directors and officers’ liability 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 us from insuring some of its facilities to full replacement value.
With respect to operations in South Africa 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 insurance policies discussed above, our most significant insurance reserves relate to workers’ compensation, general liability and auto claims. These reserves, which include Florina’s reserves and GEO’s legacy reserves, are undiscounted and were $74.2 million and $78.9 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and are included in Accrued Expenses in the accompanying Consolidated 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.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net
Goodwill
We have recorded goodwill as a result of our business combinations. Goodwill is recorded as the difference, if any, between the aggregate consideration paid for an acquisition and the fair value of the net tangible assets and other intangible assets acquired. Our goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment annually on the first day of the fourth quarter, and whenever events or circumstances arise that indicate impairment may have occurred. Impairment testing is performed for all reporting units that contain goodwill. The reporting units are the same as the reportable segments for U.S. Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services.
Under provisions of the qualitative analysis, when testing goodwill for impairment, we first assess 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 a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we perform a quantitative impairment test to identify goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized, if any. The qualitative factors used by GEO’s management to determine the likelihood that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying amount include, among other things, a review of overall economic conditions and their current and future impact on our existing business, our financial performance and stock price, industry outlook and market competition. With respect to the qualitative assessments, management determined that, as of October 1, 2021, it was more likely than not that the fair values of the reporting units exceeded their carrying values. During the year ended December 31, 2020, in connection with our annual impairment test, we performed a quantitative analysis for our Reentry Services Segment using a third-party valuation firm to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit using a discounted cash flow model. A discount rate of 10% was utilized to adjust the cash flow forecasts based on management’s estimate of a market participant’s weighted-average cost of capital. Growth rates for sales and profits were
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determined using inputs from our long-term planning process. We also made estimates for discount rates and other factors based on market conditions, historical experience and other economic factors. Changes in these factors could significantly impact the fair value of the reporting unit. With respect to the Reentry Services reporting unit that was assessed quantitatively, management determined that the carrying value exceeded its fair value due to future declines in cash flow projections primarily due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our reentry facilities. As such, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $21.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. A change in one or combination of the assumptions discussed above could have impacted the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. If our expectations of future results and cash flows decrease significantly or other economic conditions deteriorate, goodwill may be further impaired.
Other Intangible Assets, Net
We have also recorded other finite and indefinite lived intangible assets as a result of previously completed business combinations. Other acquired finite and indefinite lived intangible assets are recognized separately if the benefit of the intangible asset is obtained through contractual or other legal rights, or if the intangible asset can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged, regardless of our intent to do so. Our intangible assets include facility management contracts, trade names and technology. The facility management contracts represent customer relationships in the form of management contracts acquired at the time of each business combination; the value of BI’s and Protocol Criminal Justice, Inc.'s ("Protocol") trade names represent, among other intangible benefits, name recognition to its customers and intellectual property rights; and the acquired technology represents BI’s innovation with respect to its GPS tracking, monitoring, radio frequency monitoring, voice verification monitoring and alcohol compliance systems, Protocol's innovation with respect to its customer relationship management software and Soberlink, Inc.'s innovation with respect to its alcohol monitoring devices. When establishing useful lives, we consider the period and the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed or otherwise used up; or, if that pattern cannot be reliably determined, using a straight-line amortization method over a period that may be shorter than the ultimate life of such intangible asset. We also consider the impact of renewal terms when establishing useful lives. We currently amortize our acquired facility management contracts over periods ranging from three to twenty-one years and its acquired technology over seven years to eight years. There is no residual value associated with our finite-lived intangible assets. We review our trade name assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be fully recoverable. We do not amortize its indefinite lived intangible assets. We review our indefinite lived intangible assets annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. These reviews resulted in no significant impairment to the carrying value of the indefinite lived intangible assets for all periods presented. We record the costs associated with renewal and extension of facility management contracts as expenses in the period they are incurred.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company implemented the following accounting standards during the year ended December 31, 2021:
In November 2020, the SEC issued a final rule, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, Selected Financial Data, and Supplementary Financial Information, that amended certain SEC disclosure requirements to primarily modernize, enhance and simplify financial statement disclosures required by Regulation S-K. We have adopted provisions in the rule in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, which primarily resulted in the removal of the selected financial data previously required by Item 301 and the removal of the quarterly financial data previously required by Item 302.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, “Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options”. The guidance in this update simplifies the accounting for convertible debt and convertible preferred stock by removing the requirements to separately present certain conversion features in equity. In addition, the amendments in the ASU also simplify the guidance in ASC 815-40, “Derivatives and Hedging: Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity” by removing certain criteria that must be satisfied in order to classify a contract as equity, which is expected to decrease the number of freestanding instruments and embedded derivatives accounted for as assets or liabilities. Finally, the amendments revise the guidance on calculating earnings per share, requiring use of the if-converted method for all convertible instruments and rescinding an entity’s ability to rebut the presumption of share settlement for instruments that may be settled in cash or shares. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We elected to early adopt this standard effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, "Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Topic 715.20)" as a part of its disclosure framework project. The amendments in this update remove, modify and add certain disclosures primarily related to amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year, explanations for reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period, and projected and accumulated benefit obligations. The new standard was effective for us beginning January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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The following accounting standards will be adopted in future periods:
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Reform Rate (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting,” to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the contract modifications, hedge relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. This ASU, which was effective upon issuance and may be applied through December 31, 2022, is applicable to all contracts and hedging relationships that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate or any other reference rate expected to be discontinued. We are currently evaluating the impact of reference rate reform and the potential application of this guidance.
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
We have determined that our previously reportable business segment, Facility Construction and Design, no longer qualifies as a reportable segment as it no longer meets certain quantitative thresholds and has been aggregated with our International Services reportable business segment below. In addition, we appointed a new Chief Executive Officer, the chief operating decision maker, during fiscal 2021. Based on changes to the way our chief operating decision maker views the business and financial results used to allocate resources to our electronic monitoring and supervision services operations, along with the growth of the business, we will report the electronic monitoring and supervision services operation as a separate reportable segment. This new segment will be presented as Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services. Previously, the electronic monitoring and supervision services operations were included in our GEO Care reportable segment. In addition, our GEO Care reportable segment was renamed to Reentry Services and will include services provided to adults for residential and non-residential treatment, educational and community-based programs, pre-release and half-way house programs We have retroactively restated our segment presentation for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 to reflect this change. Refer to Note 15 – Business Segments and Geographic Information of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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.
2021 versus 2020
Revenues
| 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,488,936 | 66.0 | % | $ | 1,571,216 | 66.9 | % | $ | (82,280 | ) | (5.2 | )% | |||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 278,934 | 12.4 | % | 241,944 | 10.3 | % | 36,990 | 15.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 274,893 | 12.2 | % | 309,398 | 13.2 | % | (34,505 | ) | (11.2 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 213,849 | 9.5 | % | 227,540 | 9.7 | % | (13,691 | ) | (6.0 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,256,612 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,350,098 | 100.0 | % | $ | (93,486 | ) | (4.0 | )% |
U.S. Secure Services
Revenues decreased by $82.3 million in 2021 compared to 2020 due to aggregate net decreases of $194.7 million primarily due to the ramp-down/deactivations of our company-owned D. Ray James, Rivers, Moshannon Valley, Flightline, Big Springs, Reeves I & II and Great Plains Correctional Facilities as well as our Queens Detention Facility and McFarland Female Community Reentry Facility. We also experienced the ramp-down/deactivations of our managed-only Bay and Graceville Correctional Facilities. These decreases were partially offset by aggregate net increases of $72.5 million resulting from the activations in late 2020 and early 2021 of our company-owned Golden State, Desert View and Central Valley Annexes and our company-owned Eagle Pass Detention Center and our managed-only contract for the El Centro Detention Center in California which was effective in December 2020. In addition, we experienced aggregate net increases in populations, transportation services and/or rates of $39.9 million primarily due to increased occupancy at our USMS facilities.
The number of compensated mandays in U.S. Secure Services facilities was approximately 18.7 million in 2021 and 21.4 million in 2020. We experienced an aggregate net decrease of approximately 2,700,000 mandays as a result of net decreases in population as a result of
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the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as contract terminations, partially offset by contract activations discussed above. 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. Secure Services facilities was 88.2% and 88.3% of capacity in 2021 and 2020, respectively, excluding idle facilities.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Revenues increased by $37.0 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to increased client and participant counts.
Reentry Services
Revenues decreased by $34.5 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily related to decreases of $10.9 million due to contract terminations/closures of underutilized facilities which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic factors. Additionally, we experienced a decrease of $38.3 million as a result of the sale of our youth business which was effective July 1, 2021. We also experienced net decreases of $1.6 million due to decreases in census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to declines in programs as a result of lower levels of referrals by federal, state and local agencies primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $16.3 million due to new/reactivated contracts and programs.
International Services
Revenues for International Services decreased by $13.7 million in 2021 compared to 2020. We experienced a net decrease in revenues of $27.6 million which was primarily due to the transition of the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to government operation in State of Queensland, Australia at the end of June 2020. Partially offsetting this decrease was an increase due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $14.0 million.
Operating Expenses
| 2021 | % of Segment Revenues | 2020 | % of Segment Revenues | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,112,290 | 74.7 | % | $ | 1,191,562 | 75.8 | % | $ | (79,272 | ) | (6.7 | )% | |||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 121,442 | 43.5 | % | 112,844 | 46.6 | % | 8,598 | 7.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 205,992 | 74.9 | % | 261,359 | 84.5 | % | (55,367 | ) | (21.2 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 189,322 | 88.5 | % | 205,730 | 90.4 | % | (16,408 | ) | (8.0 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,629,046 | $ | 1,771,495 | $ | (142,449 | ) | (8.0 | )% |
Operating expenses consist of those expenses incurred in the operation and management of our Secure Services, Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, Reentry Services and International Services segments.
U.S. Secure Services
Operating expenses for U.S. Secure Services decreased by $79.3 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to decreases of $130.0 million related to the ramp-down/deactivations of our company-owned D. Ray James, Rivers, Moshannon Valley, Big Springs, Flightline, Reeves I & II and Great Plains Correctional Facilities as well as our Queens Detention Facility and McFarland Female Community Reenty Facility. We also experienced the ramp-down/deactivations of our managed-only Bay and Graceville Correctional Facilities. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $45.1 million resulting from the activations in late 2020 and early 2021 of our company-owned Golden State, Desert View and Central Valley Annexes, our company-owned Eagle Pass Detention Center and our managed-only contract for the El Centro Detention Center in California which was effective in December 2020. Additionally, we experienced aggregate net increases of $5.6 million primarily due to increased occupancy at our USMS facilities mainly due to the large increase in the number of crossings at the Southern border during 2021 partially offset by decreased occupancy at our ICE facilities and the associated decrease in related variable costs.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Operating expenses increased by $8.6 million in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to increased client and participant counts.
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Reentry Services
Operating expenses decreased by $55.4 million during 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to aggregate decreases of $28.0 million related to contract terminations/closures of underutilized facilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic factors. We also experienced a decrease of $36.3 million as a result of the sale of our youth business which was effective July 1, 2021. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $4.2 million due to new/reactivated contracts and programs and day reporting center openings and increases of $4.7 million in census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to the closure of underperforming/underutilized facilities as discussed above.
International Services
Operating expenses for International Services decreased by $16.4 million in 2021 compared to 2020. We experienced a net decrease in operating expenses of $31.4 million which was primarily due to the transition of the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to government operation in State of Queensland, Australia at the end of June 2020. This decrease was partially offset by an increase due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations of $15.0 million.
Depreciation and Amortization
| 2021 | % of Segment Revenue | 2020 | % of Segment Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 83,721 | 5.6 | % | $ | 80,702 | 5.1 | % | $ | 3,019 | 3.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 30,422 | 10.9 | % | 31,678 | 13.1 | % | (1,256 | ) | (4.0 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 18,773 | 6.8 | % | 20,154 | 6.5 | % | (1,381 | ) | (6.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 2,261 | 1.1 | % | 2,146 | 0.9 | % | 115 | 5.4 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 135,177 | 6.0 | % | $ | 134,680 | 5.7 | % | $ | 497 | 0.4 | % |
U.S. Secure Services
U.S. Secure Services depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to renovations in connection with our contract activations at certain of our company-owned facilities as previously discussed.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2021 compared to 2020 due to certain assets becoming fully depreciated and/or amortized.
Reentry Services
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to certain asset dispositions as discussed under Net Gain (Loss) on Asset Dispositions further below.
International Services
Depreciation and amortization expense increased slightly in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
Other Unallocated Operating Expenses
| 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | $ | 204,306 | 9.1 | % | $ | 193,372 | 8.2 | % | $ | 10,934 | 5.7 | % |
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General and administrative expenses comprise substantially all of our other unallocated operating expenses which primarily includes corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased in 2021 compared to 2020 by $10.9 million primarily due to one-time employee restructuring expenses of $9.0 million. We also experienced an increase of $6.6 million in professional fees for financial and legal advisors assisting us in reviewing capital structure alternatives. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease in stock-based compensation of $4.7 million along with less travel, marketing, business development and other corporate administrative expenses primarily due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goodwill Impairment Charges
| 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment Charges | $ | — | 0.0 | % | $ | 21,146 | 0.9 | % | $ | (21,146 | ) | 100.0 | % |
In connection with our annual goodwill testing, in 2020 we determined that the carrying value of our reentry services reporting unit exceeded its fair value as a result of projections of future declines in cash flow primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $21.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2020. Refer to Note 1 – Summary of Business Organization, Operations and Significant Accounting Policies – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets of the Notes to the 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
| 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | $ | 24,007 | 1.1 | % | $ | 23,072 | 1.0 | % | $ | 935 | 4.1 | % | ||||||||||||
| Interest Expense | $ | 129,460 | 5.7 | % | $ | 126,837 | 5.4 | % | $ | 2,623 | 2.1 | % |
Interest income increased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to higher cash balances at our international subsidiaries along with the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations related to our contract receivable balance for our facility in Ravenhall, Australia.
Interest expense increased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily due to higher balances on the revolver component of our credit facility. During 2021, we drew down significant amounts on our revolver as a conservative precautionary step to preserve liquidity, maintain financial flexibility, and obtain additional funds for general corporate purposes. Partially offsetting the increase was the effect of decreases in the LIBOR rate. Refer to Note 12- Debt of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Gain on Extinguishment of Debt
| 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on Extinguishment of Debt | $ | 4,693 | 0.2 | % | $ | 5,319 | 0.2 | % | $ | (626 | ) | (11.8 | )% |
During 2021, we repurchased $22.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Senior Notes at a weighted average price of 90.68% for a total cost of $20.4 million. Additionally, we repurchased $17.2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes at a weighted average price of 79.51% for a total cost of $13.7 million. As a result of these repurchases, we recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $4.7 million, net of the write-off of associated unamortized deferred loan costs.
During 2020, we repurchased approximately $7.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes at a weighted average price of 77.28% for a total cost of $5.8 million. Additionally, during 2020, we repurchased approximately $18.2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Senior Notes at a weighted average price of 78.99% for a total cost of $14.3 million. As a result of these repurchases, we recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $5.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Refer to Note 12- Debt of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets
| 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets | $ | 5,499 | 0.2 | % | $ | (6,831 | ) | (0.3 | )% | $ | 12,330 | (180.5 | )% |
The net gain on disposition of assets in 2021 was primarily due to the sale of our interest in Talbot Hall, located in New Jersey, and the sale of our company-owned McCabe Center, located in Texas. The gain was partially offset by a loss on the divestiture of our youth division on July 1, 2021. Refer to Note 17- Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the Notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The net loss on disposition of assets in 2020 was primarily due to the impairment of our leased Logan and Toler Hall facilities, located in New Jersey.
Provision for Income Taxes
| 2021 | Effective Rate | 2020 | Effective Rate | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | $ | 122,730 | 63.6 | % | $ | 20,463 | 16.5 | % | $ | 102,267 | 500 | % |
The provision for income taxes in 2021 increased compared to 2020 along with the effective tax rate principally due to the Company electing to terminate its REIT status and become a taxable C corporation. In 2021, there was a $74.6 million discrete tax expense, inclusive of a one-time, non-cash deferred tax charge of $70.8 million related to the termination of the REIT status and a $3.6 million discrete tax expense related to stock compensation that vested during the period which is similar to the related amount incurred in 2020. In contrast, in 2020, there was a $4.2 million discrete tax expense, inclusive of a $3.6 million discrete tax expense related to stock compensation that vested during the period. Furthermore, the effective tax rate increased as a result of the goodwill impairment, which is not deductible for tax purposes. For years prior to 2021, we were a REIT and as such were required to distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income to shareholders and in turn were allowed a deduction for the distribution at the REIT level. Our wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiaries were fully subject to federal, state and foreign income taxes, as applicable. We estimate our 2022 annual effective tax rate to be in the range of approximately 27% to 29% exclusive of any discrete items.
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates
| 2021 | % of Revenue | 2020 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Earnings of Affiliates | $ | 7,141 | 0.3 | % | $ | 9,166 | 0.4 | % | $ | (2,025 | ) | (22.1 | )% |
Equity in earnings of affiliates, presented net of income taxes, represents the earnings of SACS and GEOAmey in the aggregate. Equity in earnings of affiliates in 2021 compared to 2020 decreased primarily due to unfavorable performance at GEOAmey.
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2020 versus 2019
Revenues
| 2020 | % of Revenue | 2019 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,571,216 | 66.9 | % | $ | 1,601,679 | 64.6 | % | $ | (30,463 | ) | (1.9 | )% | |||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 241,944 | 10.3 | % | 256,954 | 10.4 | % | (15,010 | ) | (5.8 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 309,398 | 13.2 | % | 357,295 | 14.4 | % | (47,897 | ) | (13.4 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 227,540 | 9.7 | % | 261,994 | 10.6 | % | (34,454 | ) | (13.2 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,350,098 | 100.0 | % | $ | 2,477,922 | 100.0 | % | $ | (127,824 | ) | (5.2 | )% |
U.S. Secure Services
Revenues decreased in 2020 by $30.5 million compared to 2019 primarily due to net decreases in populations of $36.5 million at our ICE processing centers and USMS facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in declines in crossings and apprehensions along the Southwest border, as well as decreases in court sentencing at the federal levels. Additionally, revenues decreased by $66.1 million due to the discontinuation of our California Modified Community Correctional Facility contracts along with other contract discontinuations. Various governmental agencies have also taken steps to decrease the number of those in custody to adhere to social distancing protocols. We also experienced net decreases in population, transportation services and/or rates of $3.7 million at our BOP and state facilities. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $75.8 million resulting from the activation of our contracts at our company-owned and previously idled South Louisiana Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana during the third quarter of 2019, our company-owned and previously idled North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan which was activated on October 1, 2019, our managed-only contract for the El Centro Detention Center in California which was effective in December 2019, the activation of our company-owned Golden State Annex facility in California which was effective in September 2020 as well as the activation of the county-owned Reeves County Detention Center I & II in the third quarter of 2019.
The number of compensated mandays in U.S. Secure Services facilities was approximately 21.7 million in 2020 and 23.5 million in 2019. We experienced an aggregate net decrease of approximately 1,800,000 mandays as a result of net decreases in population as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as contract terminations, partially offset by contract activations discussed above. 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. Secure Services facilities was 89.3% and 94.9% of capacity in 2020 and 2019, respectively, excluding idle facilities.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Revenues decreased in 2020 by $15.0 million compared to 2019 primarily due to decreases in blended rates and average client and participant counts.
Reentry Services
Revenues decreased in 2020 by $47.9 million compared to 2019 primarily due to aggregate decreases of $42.4 million related to contract discontinuations/closures of underutilized facilities which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. In addition, we experienced decreases of $11.4 million related to net decreases in census levels at certain of our community-based and reentry centers due to declines in programs as a result of lower levels of referrals by federal, state and local agencies primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $5.9 million due to new/reactivated contracts and programs.
International Services
Revenues for International Services decreased by $34.5 million in 2020 compared to 2019 which was primarily due to the transition of the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to government operation in State of Queensland, Australia at the end of June 2020 along with the effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
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Operating Expenses
| 2020 | % of Segment Revenues | 2019 | % of Segment Revenues | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 1,191,562 | 75.8 | % | $ | 1,199,314 | 74.9 | % | $ | (7,752 | ) | (0.6 | )% | |||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 112,844 | 46.6 | % | 122,588 | 47.7 | % | (9,744 | ) | (7.9 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 261,359 | 84.5 | % | 293,036 | 82.0 | % | (31,677 | ) | (10.8 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| International Services | 205,730 | 90.4 | % | 243,127 | 92.8 | % | (37,397 | ) | (15.4 | )% | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,771,495 | $ | 1,858,065 | $ | (86,570 | ) | (4.7 | )% |
U.S. Secure Services
Operating expenses for U.S. Secure Services decreased by $7.8 million in 2020 compared to 2019. We experienced decreases of $31.5 million at certain of our facilities primarily due to contract discontinuations. Additionally, we experienced aggregate net decreases of $26.8 million related to decreases in population, transportation services and the variable costs associated with those services primarily as a result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as described above. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $50.5 million from the activation of our contracts at our company-owned and previously idled South Louisiana Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana during the third quarter of 2019, our company-owned and previously idled North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan which was activated on October 1, 2019, our managed-only contract for the El Centro Detention Center in California which was effective in December 2019 as well as activation of our company-owned Golden State Annex facility in California which was effective in September 2020.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Operating expenses decreased by $9.7 million in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to decreases in average client and participant counts.
Reentry Services
Operating expenses for Reentry Services decreased by $31.7 million during 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to net decreases of $30.2 million from contract discontinuations/closures of underutilized facilities. Additionally, we experienced $7.3 million of net decreases related to census levels at certain of our community-based reentry centers and day reporting centers due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These decreases were partially offset by increases of $5.8 million due to new/reactivated contracts and programs and day reporting center openings.
International Services
Operating expenses for International Services decreased by $37.4 million in 2020 compared to 2019 which was primarily due to the transition of the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to government operation in State of Queensland, Australia at the end of June 2020 along with the effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
Depreciation and Amortization
| 2020 | % of Segment Revenue | 2019 | % of Segment Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Secure Services | $ | 80,702 | 5.1 | % | $ | 78,974 | 4.9 | % | $ | 1,728 | 2.2 | % | ||||||||||||
| Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services | 31,678 | 13.1 | % | 29,828 | 11.6 | % | 1,850 | 6.2 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Reentry Services | 20,154 | 6.5 | % | 19,953 | 5.6 | % | 201 | 1.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| International Services | 2,146 | 0.9 | % | 2,070 | 0.8 | % | 76 | 3.7 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 134,680 | 6.0 | % | $ | 130,825 | 5.6 | % | $ | 3,855 | 2.9 | % |
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U.S. Secure Services
U.S. Secure Services depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to renovations in connection with our contract activations at certain of our company-owned facilities as previously discussed.
Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services
Electronic Monitoring and Supervisions Services depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2020 compared to 2019 due to certain leasehold improvement and equipment additions.
Reentry Services
Reentry Services depreciation and amortization expense increased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to renovations at certain of our centers.
International Services
Depreciation and amortization expense increased slightly in 2020 compared to 2019 as a result of renovations during 2019 and 2020 at several of our international facilities.
Other Unallocated Operating Expenses
General and Administrative Expenses
| 2020 | % of Revenue | 2019 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General and Administrative Expenses | $ | 193,372 | 8.2 | % | $ | 185,926 | 7.5 | % | $ | 7,446 | 4.0 | % |
General and administrative expenses comprise substantially all of our other unallocated operating expenses which primarily includes corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to higher stock-based compensation expense of $1.6 million, $2.5 million in insurance expense associated with policy renewals as well as normal personnel and compensation adjustments, professional, consulting, business development and other administrative expenses including COVID-19 related expenses. These increases were partially offset by less travel, marketing and other corporate administrative expenses primarily due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goodwill Impairment Charges
| 2020 | % of Revenue | 2019 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goodwill Impairment Charges | $ | 21,146 | 0.9 | % | $ | — | 0.0 | % | $ | 21,146 | 100.0 | % |
In connection with our annual goodwill testing, we determined that the carrying value of our reentry services reporting unit exceeded its fair value as a result of projections of future declines in cash flow primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $21.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
Non-Operating Income and Expense
Interest Income and Interest Expense
| 2020 | % of Revenue | 2019 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Income | $ | 23,072 | 1.0 | % | $ | 28,934 | 1.2 | % | $ | (5,862 | ) | (20.3 | )% | |||||||||||
| Interest Expense | $ | 126,837 | 5.4 | % | $ | 151,024 | 6.1 | % | $ | (24,187 | ) | (16.0 | )% |
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Interest income decreased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to the effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations related to our contract receivable balance for our facility in Ravenhall, Australia.
Interest expense decreased in 2020 compared to 2019 primarily due to lower interest rates on our variable rate debt. Also contributing to the decrease was a reduction in higher interest rate debt balances. During 2019, we repurchased approximately $56.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022. During 2020, we repurchased approximately $7.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024. Additionally, during 2020, we repurchased approximately $18.2 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023.
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt
| 2020 | % of Revenue | 2019 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt | $ | 5,319 | 0.2 | % | $ | (4,795 | ) | -0.2 | % | $ | 10,114 | (210.9 | )% |
During 2020, we repurchased approximately $7.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 at a weighted average price of $78.99 for a total cost of $5.8 million. Additionally, during 2020, we repurchased approximately $18.2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 at a weighted average price of $77.28 for a total cost of $14.4 million. As a result of these repurchase, we incurred a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $5.3 million.
On May 22, 2019, we completed an offering of non-recourse notes related to our Ravenhall facility in Australia. The net proceeds from this offering were used to refinance our outstanding construction facility. As a result of the transaction, we incurred a $4.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt related to swap termination fees and unamortized deferred loan costs associated with the construction facility. Additionally, on June 12, 2019, GEO entered into Amendment No. 2 to our credit agreement. Under the amendment, the maturity date of our revolver has been extended to May 17, 2024. As a result of the amendment, we incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.2 million related to certain unamortized deferred loan costs.
Additionally, during 2019, we repurchased approximately $56 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 at a weighted average price of 97.55% for a total cost of $54.7 million. As the result of the repurchases, we recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $0.9 million which partially offset the loss discussed above.
Net Loss on Disposition of Assets
| 2020 | % of Revenue | 2019 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on Disposition of Assets | $ | 6,831 | 0.3 | % | $ | 2,693 | 0.1 | % | $ | 4,138 | 153.7 | % |
The net loss on disposition of assets in 2020 was primarily due to the impairment of our leased Logan and Toler Hall facilities, located in New Jersey. The net loss on disposition of assets in 2019 was primarily due to the impairment of our Penn Pavillion regional office in New Jersey and our JB Evans Correctional Center in Louisiana.
Provision for Income Taxes
| 2020 | Effective Rate | 2019 | Effective Rate | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | $ | 20,463 | 16.5 | % | $ | 16,648 | 9.6 | % | $ | 3,815 | 23 | % |
The provision for income taxes in 2020 increased compared to 2019 along with the effective tax rate which is due to a change in the composition of our income between our REIT and TRS subsidiaries and certain non-recurring items. In 2020, there was a $4.2 million discrete tax expense, inclusive of a $3.6 million discrete tax expense related to stock compensation that vested during the period. In contrast, in 2019, there was a $0.5 million discrete tax benefit, net of a $0.2 million discrete tax expense related to stock compensation that vested during the period. Furthermore, the effective tax rate increased as a result of the impairment, which is not deductible for tax purposes. As a REIT, we were 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. Our wholly owned taxable REIT subsidiaries continued to be fully subject to federal, state and foreign income taxes, as applicable.
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Equity in Earnings of Affiliates
| 2020 | % of Revenue | 2019 | % of Revenue | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in Earnings of Affiliates | $ | 9,166 | 0.4 | % | $ | 9,532 | 0.4 | % | $ | (366 | ) | (3.8 | )% |
Equity in earnings of affiliates, presented net of income taxes, represents the earnings of SACS and GEOAmey in the aggregate. Equity in earnings of affiliates in 2020 compared to 2019 decreased slightly primarily due to the effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations.
Financial Condition
Capital Requirements
Our current cash requirements consist of amounts needed for working capital, debt service, supply purchases, investments in joint ventures, and capital expenditures related to either the development of new secure, processing and reentry 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.
As of December 31, 2021, we were developing a number of contractually committed projects that we estimate will cost approximately $20.9 million, of which $8.3 million was spent through December 31, 2021. We estimate our remaining contractually committed capital requirements to be approximately $12.6 million. These projects are expected to be completed through 2022.
We plan to fund all of our capital needs, including capital expenditures, from cash on hand, cash from operations, borrowings under our Senior Credit Facility and any other financings which our management and Board of Directors, in their discretion, may consummate. Currently, our primary source of liquidity to meet these requirements is cash flow from operations and borrowings under the $900.0 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 2022 as disclosed under “Capital Requirements” above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026
On February 24, 2021, our wholly-owned subsidiary, GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. (“GEOCH”), completed a private offering of $230 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% exchangeable senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the “Convertible Notes”), which included the full exercise of the initial purchasers’ over-allotment option to purchase an additional $30 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes will mature on February 23, 2026, unless earlier repurchased or exchanged. The Convertible Notes bear interest at the rate of 6.50% per year plus an additional amount based on the dividends paid by GEO on its common stock. Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on September 1, 2021.
Subject to certain restrictions on share ownership and transfer, holders may exchange the notes at their option prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding November 25, 2025, but only under the following circumstances: (1) during the five consecutive business day period after any five consecutive trading day period, or the measurement period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of such measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the exchange rate for the notes on each such trading day; or (2) upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate events. On or after November 25, 2025, until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date of the notes, holders may exchange their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon exchange of a note, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2021, conditions had not been met to exchange the notes.
Upon conversion, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock. The initial conversion rate is 108.4011 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $9.225 per share of common stock). The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events. If GEO or GEOCH undergoes a fundamental change, holders may require GEOCH to purchase the notes in whole or in part for cash at a fundamental change purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date.
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We used the net proceeds from this offering, including the exercise in full of the initial purchasers' over-allotment option, to fund the redemption of the then outstanding amount of approximately $194.0 million of our existing 5.875% senior notes due 2022, to re-purchase additional senior notes and we used the remaining net proceeds to pay related transaction fees and expenses, and for general corporate purposes of the Company. As a result of the redemption, deferred loan costs in the amount of approximately $0.7 million were written off to loss on extinguishment of debt during the year ended December 31, 2021.
The notes were offered in the United States only to persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside of the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. Neither the notes nor any of the shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exchange of the notes, if any, have been, or will be, registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.
Credit Agreement
On June 12, 2019, we entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") by and among the refinancing lenders party thereto, the other lenders party thereto, GEO and GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc. and the administrative agent. Under the amendment, the maturity date of the revolver component of the Credit Agreement has been extended to May 17, 2024. The borrowing capacity under the amended revolver will remain at $900 million, and its pricing will remain unchanged, currently bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.25%. As a result of the transaction, we incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.2 million related to certain unamortized deferred loan costs. Additionally, loan costs of $4.7 million were incurred and capitalized in connection with the transaction.
A syndicate of approximately 65 lenders participate in our Credit Agreement, six of which have indicated that they do not intend to provide new financing to GEO but will honor their existing obligations. Refer to Item 1A - Risk Factors included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion. The banks that have withdrawn participation remain contractually committed for approximately three years. Additionally, these six banks represent 54% of the lending commitments under the revolver component of our senior credit facility. We are in frequent communication with potential new lenders as well as the credit rating agencies. In March 2021, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded GEO’s issuer rating to B2 and in May 2021, Standard & Poor’s S&P Global downgraded GEO’s issuer rating to CCC+.
As of December 31, 2021, we had $762.0 million in aggregate borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan, $784.9 million in borrowings under the revolver, and approximately $95.8 million in letters of credit which left $19.3 million in additional borrowing capacity under the revolver. In addition, we have the ability to increase the Senior Credit Facility by an additional $450.0 million, subject to lender demand and prevailing market conditions and satisfying the relevant borrowing conditions thereunder. Refer to Note 12 - Debt in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Debt Repurchases
On August 16, 2019, our Board authorized us to repurchase and/or retire a portion of the 6.00% Senior Notes due 2026, the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024, the 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023, the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2022 (collectively the "GEO Senior Notes") and our term loan under our Amended Credit Agreement through cash purchases, in open market, privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, up to an aggregate maximum of $100.0 million, subject to certain limitations through December 31, 2020. On February 11, 2021, our Board authorized a new repurchase program for repurchases/retirements of the above referenced GEO Senior Notes and term loan, subject to certain limitations up to an aggregate maximum of $100.0 million through December 31, 2022.
During 2021, we repurchased $22.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 at a weighted average price of 90.68% for a total cost of $20.4 million. Additionally, we repurchased $17.2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 at a weighted average price of 79.51% for a total cost of $13.7 million. As a result of these repurchases, we recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $4.7 million, net of the write-off of associated unamortized deferred loan costs.
During 2020, we repurchased approximately $7.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024 at a weighted average price of 77.28% for a total cost of $5.8 million. Additionally, during 2020, we repurchased approximately $18.2 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 at a weighted average price of 78.99% for a total cost of $14.3 million. As a result of these repurchases, we recognized a net gain on extinguishment of debt of $5.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2020.
We consider opportunities for future business and/or asset acquisitions as we deem appropriate when market conditions present opportunities. If we are successful in our pursuit of any new projects, our cash on hand, cash flows from operations and borrowings under the existing Credit Facility may not provide sufficient liquidity to meet our capital needs 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. Additionally, the magnitude, severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic
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may negatively impact the availability of opportunities for future business and/or asset acquisitions and market conditions generally. 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 indenture governing the 5.125% Senior Notes, the indenture governing the 5.875% Senior Notes due 2024, the indenture governing the 6.00% Senior Notes, the indenture governing our Convertible Notes and our Credit Agreement. A substantial decline in our financial performance could limit our access to capital pursuant to these covenants and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources and, 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 were in compliance with our debt covenants as of December 31, 2021 and we expect to continue 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.
We may from time to time seek to purchase or retire our outstanding senior notes through repurchases, redemptions and/or exchanges for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases, redemptions or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
Senior Credit Facility
In 2021, we elected to draw down significant amounts in borrowings under the revolver component of our credit facility as a conservative precautionary step to preserve liquidity, maintain financial flexibility and obtain funds for general business purposes.
Quarterly Dividends
As previously discussed above, on December 2, 2021, GEO’s Board unanimously approved a plan to terminate our REIT status and become a taxable C Corporation, effective for the year ended December 31, 2021. In connection with terminating the GEO’s REIT status, the Board also voted unanimously to discontinue our quarterly dividend payments and prioritize allocating GEO’s free cash flow to reduce debt.
Stock Buyback Program
On February 14, 2018, we announced that our Board authorized a stock buyback program authorizing us to repurchase up to a maximum of $200 million of our shares of common stock. The stock buyback program was funded primarily with cash on hand, free cash flow and borrowings under our $900 million revolving credit facility. The program expired on October 20, 2020. The stock buyback program was intended to be implemented through purchases made from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC requirements. The stock buyback program did not obligate us to purchase any specific amount of our common stock and could have been suspended or extended at any time at the discretion of our Board. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we purchased 553,665 shares of our common stock at a cost of $9.0 million primarily purchased with proceeds from our Revolver. There were no purchases of our common stock during the years ended December 31, 2021 or 2019.
Automatic Shelf Registration on Form S-3
On October 30, 2020, we filed an automatic shelf registration on Form S-3 with the SEC that enables us to offer for sale, from time to time and as the capital markets permit, an unspecified amount of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, guarantees of debt securities, warrants and units. The shelf registration statement is automatically effective and is valid for three years.
Prospectus Supplement
On June 28, 2021, in connection with the shelf registration, 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 $300 million through sales agents. Sales of shares of our common stock under the prospectus supplement and equity distribution agreements entered into with the sales agents, if any, will 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 shares of common stock sold under this prospectus supplement during the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Non-Recourse Debt
Northwest ICE Processing Center
On December 9, 2011, the Washington Economic Development Finance Authority issued $54.4 million of its Washington Economic Development Finance Authority Taxable Economic Development Revenue Bonds, series 2011 (“2011 Revenue Bonds”). The 2011 Revenue Bonds were issued to provide funds to make a loan to Correctional Services Corporation (“CSC”) for purposes of reimbursing GEO for costs incurred by GEO for the 2009 expansion of the Northwest ICE Processing Center and paying the costs of issuing the 2011 Revenue Bonds. The payment of principal and interest on the bonds was non-recourse to GEO. None of the bonds nor CSC’s obligations under the loan were obligations of GEO nor were they guaranteed by GEO. The 2011 Revenue Bonds matured in October 2021 and were satisfied in full.
Australia - Ravenhall
In connection with a design and build facility project agreement with the State of Victoria, in September 2014 we entered into a syndicated facility agreement (the "Construction Facility") to provide debt financing for construction of the project. Refer to Note 6 - Contract Receivable in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Construction Facility provided for non-recourse funding up to AUD 791 million, or $609.8 million, based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2021. Construction draws were funded throughout the project according to a fixed utilization schedule as defined in the syndicated facility agreement. The term of the Construction Facility was through September 2019 and bore interest at a variable rate quoted by certain Australian banks plus 200 basis points. On May 22, 2019, we completed an offering of AUD 461.6 million, or $355.2 million, based on exchange rates as of December 31, 2021, aggregate principal amount of non-recourse senior secured notes due 2042 (the "Non-Recourse Notes"). The amortizing Non-Recourse Notes were issued by Ravenhall Finance Co Pty Limited in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Non-Recourse Notes were issued with a coupon and yield to maturity of 4.23% with a maturity date of March 31, 2042. The net proceeds from this offering were used to refinance the outstanding Construction Facility and to pay all related fees, costs and expenses associated with the transaction. As a result of the transaction, we incurred a $4.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt related to swap termination fees and unamortized deferred loan costs associated with the Construction Facility. Additionally, loan costs of approximately $7.5 million were incurred and capitalized in connection with the offering.
Other
In August 2019, we entered into two identical Notes (as defined below) in the aggregate amount of $44.3 million which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. The terms of the Notes are through September 1, 2034 and bear interest at LIBOR plus 200 basis points and are payable in monthly installments plus interest. We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest rate to 4.22%. Included in the balance at December 31, 2021 is $0.6 million of deferred loan costs incurred in the transaction. Refer to Note 7 – Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Guarantees
The Company has entered into certain guarantees in connection with the design, financing and construction of certain facilities as well as loan, working capital and other obligation guarantees for our subsidiaries in Australia, South Africa and our joint ventures. Refer to Note 12 - Debt in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Executive Retirement Agreement
We have a non-qualified deferred compensation agreement with our former Chief Executive Officer (“former CEO”). The agreement provides for a lump sum payment upon retirement, no sooner than age 55. As of December 31, 2021, the former CEO had reached age 55 and was eligible to receive the payment upon retirement. If the Company’s former CEO had retired as of December 31, 2021, we would have had to pay him a lump sum of approximately $5.0 million in cash.
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GEO and our former CEO, entered into on May 27, 2021, and effective July 1, 2021, an Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement which replaced the prior February 26, 2020 agreement discussed below. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement, upon the date that the former CEO ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay to the former CEO an amount equal to $3,600,000 (the "2021 Grandfathered Payment") which shall be paid in cash. The Grandfathered Payment shall be credited with interest at a rate of 5% compounded quarterly (the “Grandfathered Earnings Account”). Additionally, at the end of each calendar year provided that Mr. Zoley is still providing services to GEO pursuant to the Executive Chairman Agreement, we will credit an amount equal to $1,000,000 at the end of each calendar year (the “Employment Contributions Account”). The Employment Contributions Account will be credited with interest at the rate of 5% compounded quarterly. Upon the date that Mr. Zoley ceases to provide services to GEO, we will pay Mr. Zoley in one lump sum cash payment each of the 2021 Grandfathered Payment, the Grandfathered Earnings Account and the Employment Contributions Account subject to the six-month delay provided in the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. As the former CEO’s retirement payment will no longer be settled with a fixed number of shares of GEO’s common stock, $3,600,000 has been reclassified from equity to other non-current liabilities in 2021. Refer to Note 17 – Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
The prior executive retirement agreement entered into on February 26, 2020 provided that upon the former CEO’s retirement from GEO, we would have had to pay a lump sum amount equal to $8,925,065 (determined as of February 26, 2020) (the “Grandfathered Payment”) which would have been paid in the form of a fixed number of shares of our common stock. The Grandfathered Payment would have been delayed for six months and a day following the effective date of our former CEO’s termination of employment in compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
On February 26, 2020, an amount equal to the Grandfathered Payment was invested in our common stock (“GEO Shares”). The number of our shares of common stock as of this date was equal to the Grandfathered Payment divided by the closing price of our common stock on this date (rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares), which equaled 553,665 shares of our common stock. Additional shares of our common stock were credited with a value equal to any dividends declared and paid on our shares of common stock, calculated by reference to the closing price of our common stock on the payment date for such dividends (rounded up to the nearest whole number of shares).
We had established several trusts for the purpose of paying the retirement benefit pursuant to the amended and restated executive retirement agreement. The trusts were revocable “rabbi trusts” and the assets of the trusts are subject to the claims of our creditors in the event of our insolvency.
Guarantor Financial Information
GEO’s 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes, 6.00% Senior Notes, 5.125% Senior Notes and the 5.875% Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by certain of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”).
Summarized financial information is provided for The GEO Group, Inc. (“Parent”) and the Subsidiary Guarantors on a combined basis in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rules 3-10 and 13-01. The accounting policies used in the preparation of this summarized financial information are consistent with those elsewhere in the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company, except that intercompany transactions and balances of the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantor entities with non-guarantor entities have not been eliminated. Intercompany transactions between the Parent and Subsidiary Guarantors have been eliminated and equity in earnings from and investments in non-guarantor subsidiaries have not been presented.
Summarized statement of operations (in thousands):
| Year Ended December 31, 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating revenues | $ | 2,032,884 | |
| Income from operations | 267,413 | ||
| Net income | 45,312 | ||
| Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. | 45,312 |
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Summarized balance sheets (in thousands):
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current assets | $ | 707,457 | $ | 607,044 | |||
| Noncurrent assets (a) | 3,115,622 | 3,268,260 | |||||
| Current liabilities | 314,233 | 350,041 | |||||
| Noncurrent liabilities (b) | 2,820,252 | 2,737,673 |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Includes amounts due from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $22.5 million and $26.7 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | Includes amounts due to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $14.8 million and $17.4 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Except as discussed above, and in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 17 – Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Derivatives
In August 2019, we entered into two interest rate swap agreements in the aggregate notional amount of $44.3 million to fix the interest rate on certain of our variable rate debt to 4.22%. We have designated these interest rate swaps as hedges against changes in the cash flows of two identical promissory notes (the "Notes") which are secured by loan agreements and mortgage and security agreements on certain real property and improvements. We have determined that the swaps have payment, expiration dates, and provisions that coincide with the terms of the Notes and are therefore considered to be effective cash flow hedges. Accordingly, we record the change in fair value of the interest rate swaps as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes. Total unrealized gains recorded in total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, related to these cash flow hedges was $2.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2021. The total fair value of the swap liabilities as of December 31, 2021 was $3.2 million and is recorded as a component of Other Non-Current liabilities within the accompanying balance sheet. There was no material ineffectiveness for the period presented. We do not expect to enter into any transactions during the next twelve months which would result in reclassification into earnings or losses associated with these swaps currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Refer to Note 12 - Debt and Note 7 - Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Our Australian subsidiary entered into interest rate swap agreements to fix the interest rate on our variable rate non-recourse debt related to a project in Ravenhall, a locality near Melbourne, Australia to 4.2%. We determined that the swaps had payment, expiration dates, and provisions that coincided with the terms of the non-recourse debt and were therefore considered to be effective cash flow hedges. Accordingly, we recorded the change in the fair value of the interest rate swaps in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable income taxes. On May 22, 2019, we refinanced the associated debt and terminated the swap agreements which resulted in the reclassification of $3.9 million into losses that were previously reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Refer to Note 12 - Debt and Note 7 - Derivative Financial Instruments in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Cash Flow
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021 was $548.3 million, compared to $311.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and was impacted by the following:
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2021 and 2020 was $282.6 million and $441.7 million, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2021 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision, amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, loss on sale/disposal of property and equipment and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash along with gain on extinguishment of debt and net gain on disposition of assets. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets decreased in total by a net of $9.5 million, representing a positive impact on cash. The decrease was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased by $58.1 million which positively impacted cash. The increase was primarily due to the timing of payments.
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Additionally, cash provided by operating activities in 2021 was positively impacted by a decrease in contract receivable of $6.2 million. The decrease relates to the timing of payments received and interest accrued, along with the effect of foreign exchange rates, related to the Ravenhall Project. Refer to Note 6 - Contract Receivable included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2020 was positively impacted by non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization, deferred tax provision, amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, stock-based compensation expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, goodwill impairment charges and dividends received from our unconsolidated joint venture. Equity in earnings of affiliates negatively impacted cash. Changes in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets decreased in total by a net of $68.2 million, representing a positive impact on cash. The decrease was primarily driven by the timing of billings and collections. Changes in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased by $57.3 million which positively impacted cash. The increase was primarily due to the timing of payments and also due to accruals for the deferral of the employer’s share of Social Security taxes of $42 million under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). Refer to Note 17 – Commitments, Contingencies and Other Matters included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Additionally, cash provided by operating activities in 2020 was positively impacted by a decrease in contract receivable of $5.2 million. The decrease relates to the timing of payments received and interest accrued, along with the effect of foreign exchange rates, related to the Ravenhall Project. Refer to Note 6 - Contract Receivable included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net cash used in investing activities of $53.7 million in 2021 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $69.4 million and changes in restricted investments of $18.7 million, offset by proceeds from sale of real estate assets of $21.2 million, proceeds from the sale of property and equipment of $4.1 million and payments received on note receivable of $8.0 million. Net cash used in investing activities of $104.2 million in 2020 was primarily the result of capital expenditures of $108.8 million and changes in restricted investments of $7.4 million, offset by insurance proceeds from damaged property primarily related to hurricanes of $9.5 million and proceeds from sale of real estate of $2.4 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2021 reflects payments of $360.3 million on long term debt offset by $435.0 million of proceeds from long term debt and payments on non-recourse debt of $21.6 million. We also paid cash dividends of $30.5 million and paid $9.6 million of debt issuance costs in connection with the issuance of our 6.50% Exchangeable Senior Notes. Refer to Note 12 - Debt included in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Net cash used in financing activities in 2020 reflects payments of $816.2 million on long term debt offset by $960.6 million of proceeds from long term debt and payments on non-recourse debt of $13.8 million. We also paid cash dividends of $216.1 million and purchased $9.0 million of shares of our common stock.
Inflation
We believe that inflation, in general, did have a negative impact but did not have a material effect on our results of operations during 2021 and 2020. 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 recurring/fixed expense, increase at a faster rate than the per diem or fixed rates received by us for our management services.
Funds from Operations
Funds from Operations ("FFO") is a widely accepted supplemental non-GAAP measure utilized to evaluate the operating performance of real estate companies. It is defined in accordance with the standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, or NAREIT, which defines FFO as net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders (computed in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), excluding real estate related depreciation and amortization, excluding gains and losses from the cumulative effects of accounting changes, extraordinary items and sales of properties, and including adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.
We also present Normalized Funds From Operations, or Normalized FFO, and Adjusted Funds from Operations, or AFFO, as supplemental non-GAAP financial measures of real estate companies’ operating performances.
Normalized FFO is defined as FFO adjusted for certain items which by their nature are not comparable from period to period or that tend to obscure the Company’s actual operating performance, including for the periods presented net goodwill impairment charges, pre-tax, gain on extinguishment of debt, pre-tax, start-up expenses, pre-tax, one-time employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax, loss and settlement on asset divestiture, pre-tax, M&A related expenses, pre-tax, changes in tax structure to C corporation, close-out expenses, pre-tax, COVID-19 expenses, pre-tax and the tax effect of adjustments to funds from operations.
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AFFO is defined as Normalized FFO adjusted by adding non-cash expenses such as non-real estate related depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, the amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest, and by subtracting recurring consolidated maintenance capital expenditures and other non-cash revenue and expenses, pre-tax.
Because of the unique design, structure and use of our secure facilities, processing centers and reentry centers we believe that assessing the performance of our secure facilities, processing centers and reentry centers without the impact of depreciation or amortization is useful and meaningful to investors. Although NAREIT has published its definition of FFO, companies often modify this definition as they seek to provide financial measures that meaningfully reflect their distinctive operations. We have modified FFO to derive Normalized FFO and AFFO that meaningfully reflect our operations.
Our assessment of our operations is focused on long-term sustainability. The adjustments we make to derive the non-GAAP measures of Normalized FFO and AFFO exclude items which may cause short-term fluctuations in net income attributable to GEO but have no impact on our cash flows, or we do not consider them to be fundamental attributes or the primary drivers of our business plan and they do not affect our overall long-term operating performance. We may make adjustments to FFO from time to time for certain other income and expenses that do not reflect a necessary component of our operational performance on the basis discussed above, even though such items may require cash settlement. Because FFO, Normalized FFO and AFFO exclude depreciation and amortization unique to real estate as well as non-operational items and certain other charges that are highly variable from year to year, they provide our investors with performance measures that reflect the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, per diem rates, operating costs and interest costs, providing a perspective not immediately apparent from net income attributable to GEO.
We believe the presentation of FFO, Normalized FFO and AFFO provide useful information to investors as they provide an indication of our ability to fund capital expenditures and expand our business. FFO, Normalized FFO and AFFO provide disclosure on the same basis as that used by our management and provide consistency in our financial reporting, facilitate internal and external comparisons of our historical operating performance and our business units and provide continuity to investors for comparability purposes.
Our reconciliation of net income attributable to GEO to FFO, Normalized FFO and AFFO for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, is as follows (in thousands):
| December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds From Operations | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to The GEO Group, Inc. | $ | 77,418 | $ | 113,032 | ||||
| Real estate related depreciation and amortization | 75,622 | 73,659 | ||||||
| (Gain) loss real estate assets, net of tax | (10,056 | ) | 6,831 | |||||
| NAREIT Defined FFO | $ | 142,984 | $ | 193,522 | ||||
| Goodwill impairment charge, pre-tax | — | 21,146 | ||||||
| Start-up expenses, pre-tax | 1,723 | 4,401 | ||||||
| M&A related expenses, pre-tax | 8,118 | — | ||||||
| One-time employee restructuring expenses, pre-tax | 7,459 | — | ||||||
| Loss & settlement on asset divestiture, pre-tax | 6,333 | — | ||||||
| Gain on extinguishment of debt | (4,693 | ) | (5,319 | ) | ||||
| COVID-19 expenses, pre-tax | — | 9,883 | ||||||
| Close-out expenses, pre-tax | 1,475 | 5,935 | ||||||
| Change in tax structure to C Corp | 70,813 | — | ||||||
| Tax effect of adjustments to funds from operations * | (26 | ) | (300 | ) | ||||
| Normalized Funds from Operations | $ | 234,186 | $ | 229,268 | ||||
| Non-real estate related depreciation and amortization | 59,555 | 61,021 | ||||||
| Consolidated maintenance capital expenditures | (16,769 | ) | (19,729 | ) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expenses | 19,199 | 23,896 | ||||||
| Other non-cash revenue & expense, pre-tax | (4,408 | ) | (735 | ) | ||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs, discount and/or premium and other non-cash interest | 7,498 | 6,892 | ||||||
| Adjusted Funds from Operations | $ | 299,261 | $ | 300,613 |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| * | Tax adjustments relate to (gain) loss on real estate assets, goodwill impairment charges, gain on debt extinguishment, start-up expenses, M&A related expenses, one-time employee restructuring expenses, loss & settlement on asset divestiture, COVID-19 expenses and close-out expenses. |
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.
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus, now known as COVID-19 (“COVID-19”), was reported in Wuhan, China and has since extensively impacted the global health and economic environment. In January 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On February 28, 2020, the WHO raised its assessment of the COVID-19 threat from high to very high at a global level due to the continued increase in the number of cases and affected countries, and on March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.
Health and Safety
From the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, our corporate, regional, and field staff have taken steps to mitigate the risks of the novel coronavirus and have worked with our government agency partners to implement best practices consistent with the guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ensuring the health and safety of all those entrusted to our care and of our employees has always been our number one priority.
GEO’s COVID-19 mitigation initiatives have included:
Guidance
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We issued guidance to all our facilities, consistent with the guidance issued for correctional and detention facilities by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). |
Testing
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We increased testing capabilities at our secure services facilities and entered into contracts with multiple commercial labs to provide adequate testing supplies and services. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We invested approximately $2 million to acquire 45 Abbott Rapid COVID-19 ID NOW devices and testing kits capable of diagnosing not only COVID-19, but Influenza and Strep Throat. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | As of the end of November 2021, we had administered approximately 192,000 COVID-19 tests to those in our care at our U.S. Secure Services facilities. |
Bi-Polar Ionization
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We invested $3.7 million to install Bi-Polar Ionization Air Purification Systems at select secure services facilities to reduce the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses. |
Facemasks and Personal Hygiene Products
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We have provided continuing access to facemasks to all inmates and detainees, with a minimum of three facemasks per week or more often upon request. |
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| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We increased the frequency of distribution of personal hygiene products, including soap, shampoo and body wash, and tissue paper, and we are ensuring the daily availability of bars of soap or soap dispensers at each sink for hand washing in all of our facilities. |
Social Distancing
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We have implemented social distancing pursuant to directives from our government agency partners and communicated these obligations and requirements via meetings, memos, and postings. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We deployed floor markers throughout our facilities to inform and encourage social distancing and modified facility movements to accommodate social distancing. |
Engineering Controls
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We temporarily suspended onsite social visitation. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We established requirements for staff to complete a medical questionnaire and pass a daily temperature check. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We modified intake procedures to screen new inmates/detainees and established isolation and quarantine procedures for COVID-19 positive and symptomatic cases, consistent with CDC guidelines. |
Administrative/Work Practice Controls
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We posted reminders regarding coughing and sneezing etiquette, the importance of frequent handwashing, and the use of facemasks. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We increased cleaning and disinfection of facilities, including high-touch areas (e.g., doorknobs/handles, light switches, handheld radios), housing unit dayrooms, dining areas, and other areas where individuals assemble. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We advised our employees to remain home if they exhibit flu-like symptoms, and we have exercised flexible paid leave and Paid Time Off policies to allow for employees to remain home if they exhibit flu-like symptoms or to care for a family member. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We enacted quarantine and testing policies for any employees who may have come into contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. |
Vaccination
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | We are working closely with our government partners and State and Local Health Departments to coordinate vaccination efforts for staff, inmates, detainees, and residents at our secure facilities and reentry centers and programs across the country; these measures align with recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), as well as criteria established through the FDA's approval process. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | The timing of vaccine distribution to staff, inmates, detainees, and residents is presently being directed by the Local and State Health Departments in the jurisdictions in which we operate through the guidance and prioritization recommendations offered by the CDC and ACIP. |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | As of the end of November 2021, GEO has worked with our government agency partners and State and Local Health Departments to administer vaccinations to more than 42,000 individuals in our Secure Services facilities. |
We will continue to coordinate closely with our government agency partners and local health agencies to ensure the health and safety of all those in our care and our employees. We are grateful for our frontline employees who are making sacrifices daily to provide care for all those in our facilities during this unprecedented global pandemic. Information on the steps we have taken to address and mitigate the risks of COVID-19 can be found at www.geogroup.com/COVID19. The information on or accessible through our website is not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Economic Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic and related government-imposed mandatory closures, shelter in-place restrictions and social distancing protocols and increased expenditures on engineering controls, personal protective equipment, diagnostic testing, medical expenses, temperature scanners, protective plexiglass barriers and increased sanitation have had, and will continue to have, a severe impact on global economic conditions and the environment in which we operate. In early 2020, we began to observe negative impacts from the pandemic on our
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performance in our secure services business as a result of declines in crossings and apprehensions along the Southwest border, a decrease in court sentencing at the federal level and reduced operational capacity to promote social distancing protocols. In addition to court mandates related to COVID-19 that limit capacity utilization at certain facilities, a driver of low utilization across ICE facilities have been the Title 42 COVID-19 related restrictions that have been in place at the Southwest border since March 2020. Additionally, our reentry services business conducted through our Reentry Services business segment has also been negatively impacted, specifically our residential reentry centers were impacted due to lower levels of referrals by federal, state and local agencies. Throughout the pandemic, new intake at residential reentry centers have significantly slowed down as governmental agencies across the country have opted for non-residential alternatives, including furloughs, home confinement and day reporting. We expect that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have an impact on our populations for at least part of 2022, depending on various factors. While we experienced a significant increase in COVID-19 cases at the end of the fourth quarter of 2021 and in the early part of 2022, consistent with the spread of the Omicron variant across the country, we are currently seeing a significant decline in cases among our staff and the individuals in our care. If we are unable to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 at our facilities, we could experience a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Although we are unable to predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic or estimate the extent of the overall future negative financial impact to our operating results, an extended period of depressed economic activity necessitated to combating the disease, and the severity and duration of the related global economic crisis may adversely impact our future financial performance.
Revenue
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to determine the future landscape of growth opportunities in the near term; however, any positive trends may, to some extent, be adversely impacted by government budgetary constraints in light of the pandemic or any changes to a government's willingness to maintain or grow public-private partnerships in the future. While state finances overall were stable prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, future budgetary pressures may cause state agencies to 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 or the decision to not re-bid a contract after expiration of the contract term. 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. Any positive trends in the industry may be offset by several factors, including budgetary constraints, contract modifications, contract terminations, contract non-renewals, contract re-bids and/or the decision to not re-bid a contract after expiration of the contract term and the impact of any other potential changes to the willingness or ability to maintain or grow public-private partnerships on the part of other government agencies. We believe we have a strong relationship with our government agency partners and we believe that we operate facilities that maximize security, safety and efficiency while offering our suite of GEO Continuum of Care services and resources.
On January 26, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order directing the United States Attorney General not to renew DOJ contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities, as consistent with applicable law. Two agencies of the DOJ, the BOP and the USMS, utilize GEO’s support services. The BOP houses inmates who have been convicted of federal crimes, and the USMS is generally responsible for detainees who are awaiting trial or sentencing in U.S. federal courts. As of December 31, 2021, GEO has one company-owned facility under direct contract with the BOP, which has a current contract option period that expires on September 30, 2022, and three company-owned/company-leased facilities under direct contracts with USMS, which have current contract option periods that expire between March 31, 2022 and September 30, 2023. These facilities combined represented approximately 8% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021.
President Biden’s administration may implement additional executive orders or directives relating to federal criminal justice policies and/or immigration policies, which may impact the federal government’s use of public-private partnerships with respect to secure correctional and detention facilities and immigration processing centers, including with respect to our contracts, and/or may impact the budget and spending priorities of federal agencies, including the BOP, USMS, and ICE, which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to the Executive Order, we have historically had a relatively high contract renewal rate, however, 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.
California enacted legislation that became effective on January 1, 2020 aimed at phasing out public-private partnership contracts for the operation of secure correctional facilities and detention facilities within California and facilities outside of the State of California housing State of California inmates. Currently, we have public-private partnership contracts in place with ICE and the USMS relating to secure services facilities located in California. GEO and the DOJ have filed separate legal actions challenging the constitutionality of the attempted ban on new federal contracts entered into after the effective date of the California law. On October 5, 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a prior U.S. District Court decision dismissing the requests by GEO and the United States for declaratory and injunctive relief and ruled that AB32 conflicts with federal law in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and discriminates against the federal government in violation of the intergovernmental immunity doctrine.
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Recently the State of Washington approved a similar measure banning the use of public-private partnership contracts for the operation of detention facilities in the state, that GEO is also challenging in federal court. GEO’s contract for the company-owned 1,575-bed Northwest ICE Processing Center in Washington has a renewal option period that expires in 2025. The facility generates approximately $64 million in annualized revenues for GEO.
In Delaware County, Pennsylvania, we received notice that the County intends to take over management of the managed-only George W. Hill Correctional Facility effective April 2022. The George W. Hill Correctional Facility generates approximately $46 million in annualized revenue for GEO.
Internationally, we are exploring opportunities in our current markets and will continue to actively bid on any opportunities that fit our target profile for profitability and operational risk. We are pleased to have been awarded a ten-year contract renewal for the continued delivery of secure transportation under our GEOAmey joint venture in the United Kingdom. Total revenue over the ten-year period is expected to be approximately $760 million. In New South Wales, Australia, we have developed a 489-bed expansion at the Junee Correctional Centre which was substantially completed during the third quarter of 2020. We have also constructed a 137-bed expansion at the Fulham Correctional Centre in Victoria, Australia. With respect to our Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre in the United Kingdom, we were unfortunately unsuccessful in the current competitive rebid process and transitioned the management contract in October 2021. In addition, we transitioned the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to government operation in the State of Queensland, Australia at the end of June 2020.
With respect to our reentry services, electronic monitoring services, and community-based services business, we are currently pursuing a number of business development opportunities. Related to opportunities for community-based reentry services, we are working with our existing federal, state, and local clients to leverage new opportunities for both residential reentry facilities as well as non-residential day reporting centers. However, in light of the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we may not be successful. We continue to expend resources on informing federal, state and local governments about the benefits of public-private partnerships, and we anticipate that there will be new opportunities in the future as those efforts continue 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 costs represented approximately 65% of our operating expenses in both 2021 and 2020. Additional significant operating expenses include food, utilities and inmate medical costs. In 2021 and 2020, operating expenses totaled approximately 72% and 75% of our consolidated revenues, respectively. Our operating expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2022 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 2022, we will incur carrying costs for facilities that were vacant in 2021. As of December 31, 2021, our worldwide operations include the management and/or ownership of approximately 86,000 beds at 106 secure, processing and community services facilities, including idle facilities, and also included the provision of monitoring of more than 210,000 individuals in a community-based environment on behalf of federal, state and local correctional agencies located in all 50 states.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of corporate management salaries and benefits, professional fees and other administrative expenses. In 2021 and 2020, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately 9% and 8%, respectively, of our consolidated revenues. We expect general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2022 to remain consistent or decrease as a result of cost savings initiatives as well as less travel, marketing and other corporate administrative expenses primarily due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
Idle Facilities
In our Secure Services segment, we are currently marketing 9,812 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $256 million at seven of our idle facilities to potential customers. In our Reentry Services segment, we are currently marketing 1,100 vacant beds with a net book value of approximately $25.3 million at two of our idle facilities to potential customers. The combined annual carrying cost of these idle facilities in 2022 is estimated to be $22.0 million, including depreciation expense of $12.7 million. We currently do not have any firm commitments or agreements in place to activate these facilities but have ongoing contact with several potential customers. Historically, some facilities have been idle for multiple years before they received a new contract award. The per diem rates that we charge our clients often vary by contract across our portfolio. However, if the nine idle facilities in our Secure Services and Reentry Services segments were to be activated using our Secure Services and Reentry Services average per diem rate in 2021, (calculated as revenue divided by the number of mandays) and based on the average occupancy rate in our facilities for 2021, we would expect to receive annual incremental revenue of approximately $290 million and an increase in annual earnings per share of approximately $.30 to $.35 per share based on our average operating margin. Refer to discussion in Item I, Part I – Business under Executive Order and Contract Developments above for discussion of recent developments.
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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:
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our ability to mitigate the transmission of the current pandemic of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, at our secure facilities, processing centers and reentry centers; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | the magnitude, severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our ability to timely build and/or open facilities as planned, successfully manage such facilities and successfully integrate such facilities into our operations without substantial additional costs; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our ability to estimate the government’s level of utilization of public-private partnerships for secure services and the impact of any modifications or reductions by our government customers of their utilization of public-private partnerships; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our ability to accurately project the size and growth of public-private partnerships for secure services in the U.S. and internationally and our ability to capitalize on opportunities for public-private partnerships; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our ability to successfully respond to any challenges or concerns that our government customers may raise regarding their use of public-private partnerships for secure services, including finding other government customers or alternative uses for facilities where a government customer has discontinued or announced that a contract with us will be discontinued; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | the impact of adopted or proposed executive action or legislation aimed at limiting public-private partnerships for secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers or limiting or restricting the business and operations of financial institutions or others who do business with us; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our ability to successfully respond to delays encountered by states pursuing public-private partnerships for secure services and cost savings initiatives implemented by a number of states; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our ability to activate the inactive beds at our idle facilities; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our ability to maintain or increase occupancy rates at our facilities and the impact of fluctuations in occupancy levels on our revenues and profitability; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | the impact of our termination of our REIT election and the discontinuation of quarterly dividend payments and our ability to maximize the use of cash flows to repay debt, deleverage and internally fund growth; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • | our obligations to pay income taxes will increase beginning with our income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2021, which will result in a reduction to our earnings and could have negative consequences to us; |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
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| • | we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of terminating our REIT election or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected, if at all, or may not offset the costs of terminating our REIT election and becoming a taxable C Corporation; |
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| • | if we failed to remain qualified as a REIT for those years we elected REIT status, we would be subject to corporate income taxes and would not be able to deduct distributions to stockholders when computing our taxable income for those years; |
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| • | our ability to expand, diversify and grow our secure services, reentry, community-based services, monitoring services, evidence-based supervision and treatment programs and secure transportation services businesses; |
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| • | our ability to win management contracts for which we have submitted proposals, retain existing management contracts, prevail in any challenge or protest involving the award of a management contract and meet any performance standards required by such management contracts; |
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| • | our ability to raise new project development capital given the often short-term nature of the customers’ commitment to use newly developed facilities; |
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| • | our ability to develop long-term earnings visibility; |
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| • | our ability to successfully conduct our operations in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia through joint ventures or a consortium; |
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| • | the impact of the anticipated LIBOR transition; |
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| • | the instability of foreign exchange rates, exposing us to currency risks in Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, or other countries in which we may choose to conduct our business; |
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| • | an increase in unreimbursed labor rates; |
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| • | our exposure to rising medical costs; |
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| • | our ability to manage costs and expenses relating to ongoing litigation arising from our operations; |
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| • | our ability to successfully pursue an appeal to reverse the recent unfavorable verdict and judgments in the retrial of the lawsuits in the State of Washington, our company being required to record an accrual for the judgments in the future, and our ability to defend similar other pending litigation and the effect such litigation may have on our company; |
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| • | our ability to accurately estimate on an annual basis, loss reserves related to general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability claims; |
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| • | our ability to fulfill our debt service obligations and its impact on our liquidity; |
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| • | our ability to deleverage and repay, refinance or otherwise address our debt maturities in an amount or on the timeline we expect, or at all; |
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| • | we are incurring significant indebtedness in connection with substantial ongoing capital expenditures. Capital expenditures for existing and future projects may materially strain our liquidity; |
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| • | despite current indebtedness levels, we may still incur more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks relating to our indebtedness; |
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| • | the covenants in the indentures governing the 6.50% Convertible Notes, the 6.00% Senior Notes, the 5.125% Senior Notes and the 5.875% Senior Notes and the covenants in our senior credit facility impose significant operating and financial restrictions which may adversely affect our ability to operate our business; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | because portions of our senior indebtedness have floating interest rates, a general increase in interest rates would adversely affect cash flows; |
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| • | we depend on distributions from our subsidiaries to make payments on our indebtedness. These distributions may not be made; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | our ability to identify and successfully complete any potential sales of additional Company-owned assets and businesses in commercially advantageous terms on a timely basis, or at all; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | negative conditions in the capital markets could prevent us from obtaining financing on desirable terms, which could materially harm our business; |
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| • | we are subject to the loss of our facility management contracts, due to executive orders, 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; |
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| • | our growth depends on our ability to secure contracts to develop and manage new secure facilities, processing centers and community-based facilities and to secure contracts to provide electronic monitoring services, community-based reentry services and monitoring and supervision services, the demand for which is outside our control; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | we partner with a limited number of governmental customers who account for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of, or a significant decrease in revenues from, these customers could seriously harm our financial condition and results of operations; |
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| • | State budgetary constraints may have a material adverse impact on us; |
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| • | competition for contracts may adversely affect the profitability of our business; |
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| • | 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, local and foreign government levels; |
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| • | public and political resistance to the use of public-private partnerships for secure facilities, processing centers and community reentry centers could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, impact our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing or enter into commercial arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our securities; |
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| • | adverse publicity may negatively impact our ability to retain existing contracts and obtain new contracts; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | we may face community opposition to facility locations, which may adversely affect our ability to obtain new contracts; |
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| • | our business operations expose us to various liabilities for which we may not have adequate insurance and may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations; |
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| • | we may not be able to obtain or maintain the insurance levels required by our government contracts; |
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| • | our exposure to rising general insurance costs; |
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| • | natural disasters, pandemic outbreaks, global political events and other serious catastrophic events could disrupt operations and otherwise materially adversely affect our business and financial condition; |
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| • | our international operations expose us to risks that could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations; |
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| • | we conduct certain of our operations through joint ventures or consortiums, which may lead to disagreements with our joint venture partners or business partners and adversely affect our interest in the joint ventures or consortiums; |
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| • | we are dependent upon our senior management and our ability to attract and retain sufficient qualified personnel; |
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| • | our profitability may be materially adversely affected by inflation; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | risks related to facility construction and development activities may increase our costs related to such activities; |
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| • | the rising cost and increasing difficulty of obtaining adequate levels of surety credit on favorable terms could adversely affect our operating results; |
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| • | adverse developments in our relationship with our employees could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations; |
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| • | technological changes 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; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | the interruption, delay or failure of the provision of our services or information systems could adversely affect our business; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | our ability to identify suitable acquisitions, and to successfully complete and integrate such acquisitions on satisfactory terms, to enhance occupancy levels and the financial performance of assets acquired and estimate the synergies to be achieved as a result of such acquisitions; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | we are subject to risks related to corporate social responsibility; |
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| • | the market price of our common stock may vary substantially; |
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| • | future sales of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and may be dilutive to current shareholders; |
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| • | various anti-takeover protections applicable to us may make an acquisition of us more difficult and reduce the market value of our common stock; |
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| • | 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; |
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| • | we may issue additional debt securities that could limit our operating flexibility and negatively affect the value of our common stock; and |
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| • | other factors contained in our filings with 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. |
We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 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.
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