SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): March 13, 2006

THE GEO GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Florida		1-14260		65-0043078
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
621 NW 53rd Street, Suite 700, Boca Raton, Florida				33487
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)				(Zip Code)

(561) 893-0101

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

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

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

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

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

 

 

Section 2 — Financial Information

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     On March 13, 2006, The GEO Group, Inc. (“GEO”) issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing its financial results for the quarter ended January 1, 2006, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. GEO also held a conference call to discuss its financial results for the quarter, a transcript of which is incorporated herein by reference and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

     In the Press Release, GEO provided certain pro forma financial information for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 1, 2006 that was not calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (the “Non-GAAP Information”). The Press Release presents the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP which is most directly comparable to the Non-GAAP Information with a prominence equal to or greater than its presentation of the Non-GAAP Information. The Press Release also contains a reconciliation of the Non-GAAP Information to the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP which is most directly comparable to the Non-GAAP Information.

     GEO’s management believes that the presentation of the Non-GAAP Information provides useful information to investors regarding GEO’s financial condition and results of operations for the relevant periods because the Non-GAAP Information excludes certain items which are expected to be non-recurring in nature. As a result, GEO’s management believes that the exclusion of these items presents a more accurate measure of GEO’s underlying operating performance for the relevant periods than the most directly comparable GAAP measure, therefore enabling investors to more usefully evaluate GEO’s financial results on a period-to-period basis. GEO’s management also internally used the Non-GAAP Information to evaluate GEO’s operating performance for the relevant periods.

     The information in this Form 8-K is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Form 8-K shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

     Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits

	99.1		Press Release, dated March 13, 2006, announcing the financial results of The GEO Group, Inc. for the quarter ended January 1, 2006
	99.2		Transcript of Conference Call discussing the financial results of The GEO Group, Inc. for the quarter ended March 13, 2006

SIGNATURES

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

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated March 13, 2006, announcing the financial results of The GEO Group, Inc. for the quarter ended January 1, 2006
99.2		Transcript of Conference Call discussing the financial results of The GEO Group, Inc. for the quarter ended January 1, 2006

N E W S    R E L E A S E

One Park Place, Suite 700 n 621 Northwest 53^rd Street n Boca Raton, Florida 33487 n www.thegeogroupinc.com

CR-06-09

THE GEO GROUP, INC. REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER 2005 RESULTS
AND INCREASES 2006 EARNINGS GUIDANCE BY $0.05 PER SHARE

	•		GAAP Quarterly EPS Loss of $0.08 with $20.9 Million Non-Cash Michigan Impairment Charge
	•		Achieved Pro-Forma Quarterly EPS of $0.36 — Pro-Forma Net Income of $3.6 Million
	•		Quarterly Revenue increased to $164.9 Million from $161.6 Million

Boca Raton, Fla. — March 13, 2006 — The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GGI) (“GEO”) today reported a fourth quarter 2005 GAAP loss of $0.8 million, or $0.08 per share, based on 10.0 million shares outstanding, compared with $5.2 million, or $0.53 per share, based on 9.8 million shares outstanding, in the fourth quarter of 2004. GAAP Net income for 2005 was $7.0 million, or $0.70 per share, based on 10.0 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding, compared with $16.8 million, or $1.73 per share, based on 9.7 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding, for 2004.

Fourth Quarter Pro-Forma Results
Fourth quarter 2005 pro forma earnings were $3.6 million, or $0.36 per share, compared with pro forma earnings of $5.2 million, or $0.52 per share for the fourth quarter of 2004.

Fourth quarter 2005 pro forma earnings results exclude an international tax benefit of $8.5 million, or $0.85 per share, related to certain tax law changes in Australia and South Africa, and an after-tax net gain of $0.5 million, or $0.05 per share, from discontinued operations which includes the gain on sale of GEO’s 72-bed Atlantic Shores Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 1, 2006. These gains were offset by an after-tax non-cash impairment charge of $12.6 million, or $1.26 per share, related to GEO’s 500-bed Michigan Correctional Facility which closed on October 14, 2005; an after-tax charge of $0.2 million, or $0.02 per share, related to one-time costs associated with the reclassification of certain job positions from exempt to non-exempt employees; and one-time start-up expenses of $0.6 million, or $0.06 per share, related to GEO’s most recent new contracts with the Indiana Department of Correction for the management of the 2,416-bed New Castle Correctional Facility in New Castle, Indiana, and with the New Mexico Department of Health for the management of the 230-bed Fort Bayard Medical Center in Fort Bayard, New Mexico.

Fourth quarter 2004 pro forma earnings of $5.2 million exclude a tax benefit of $3.4 million, or $0.34 per share, related to the July 2003 sale of GEO’s 50 percent interest in its former joint venture in the United Kingdom, Premier Custodial Group Limited, offset by an after-tax loss of $0.7 million, or $0.07 per share, from discontinued operations related to GEO’s former Immigration Contract in Australia, a one-time write-off of $1.8 million after-tax, or $0.18 per share, related to GEO’s deactivated Jena, Louisiana Facility, and a one-time write-down of approximately $0.8 million after-tax, or $0.08 per share, of deferred costs related to merger and acquisition activity.

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Contact:		Pablo E. Paez		(866) 301-4436
		Director, Corporate Relations

N E W S    R E L E A S E

Reconciliation of GAAP Basis Results to Non-GAAP (“Pro Forma”) Basis Information

(In thousands except per share data)

		13 Weeks				14 Weeks
		Ended				Ended
		1-Jan-06				2-Jan-05
Net Income (loss)		$	(807	)		$	5,229
Discontinued Operations			(516	)			697
2005
International Tax Benefit			(8,517	)
Michigan Impairment Charge			12,630
Start-Up Costs			592
Job Reclassification Expenses			242
2004
Jena, La. Write-off							1,809
Acquisition Deferred Costs							787
Foreign Tax Credit							(3,351	)
Pro Forma Net Income		$	3,624			$	5,171
Diluted Earnings (loss) per Share		$	(0.08	)		$	0.53
Discontinued Operations			(0.05	)			0.07
2005
International Tax Benefit			(0.85	)
Michigan Impairment Charge			1.26
Start-Up Costs			0.06
Job Reclassification Expenses			0.02
2004
Jena, La. Write-off							0.18
Acquisition Deferred Costs							0.08
Foreign Tax Credit							(0.34	)
Diluted Pro Forma Earnings Per Share		$	0.36			$	0.52

Revenue
GEO reported fourth quarter 2005 revenue of $164.9 million compared with $161.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. Revenue for 2005 was $612.9 million compared with $594.0 million in 2004.

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Contact:		Pablo E. Paez		(866) 301-4436
		Director, Corporate Relations

N E W S    R E L E A S E

Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDAR
GEO reported fourth quarter 2005 Adjusted EBITDA of $8.3 million compared with $12.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. GEO reported year-end 2005 Adjusted EBITDA of $40.9 million compared with $49.0 million for year-end 2004.

GEO’s reported EBITDAR for the fourth quarter of 2005 was $14.4 million compared with $18.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. GEO’s reported EBITDAR for year-end 2005 was $67.5 million compared with $74.7 million for year-end 2004.

Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDAR and Reconciliation

(In thousands

		4Q 2005				4Q 2004				2005				2004
Net Income (loss)		$	(807	)		$	5,229			$	7,006			$	16,815
Discontinued Operations			(516	)			697				(1,127	)			348
Interest Expense, Net			4,641				2,688				13,862				12,570
Income Tax Provision (benefit)			(13,707	)			(1,013	)			(11,826	)			8,231
Depreciation and Amortization			4,949				3,683				15,876				13,898
Adjusted for Extraordinary Items, Pre-tax
2004
Foreign Tax Credit							(3,351	)							(3,351	)
Jena, La. Write-off							3,000								3,000
Acquisition Deferred Costs							1,300								1,300
Acquisition Deferred Financing Fees							—								317
Insurance Adjustment							—								(4,150	)
2005
International Tax Benefit			(8,517	)							(8,517	)
Michigan Impairment Charge			20,859								20,859
Start-Up Costs			977								977
Job Relcassificaiton Expenses			400								400
U.S. Job Creation Act Tax Benefit			—								(1,704	)
Insurance Adjustment			—								(1,300	)
Jena, Louisiana Write-off			—								4,255
Acquisition Deferred Financing Fees			—								1,360
Queens Transition Costs			—								798
Adjusted EBITDA		$	8,279			$	12,233			$	40,919			$	48,978
Lease Rental Expense			6,123				5,888				26,611				25,678
EBITDAR		$	14,402			$	18,121			$	67,530			$	74,656

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Contact:		Pablo E. Paez		(866) 301-4436
		Director, Corporate Relations

N E W S    R E L E A S E

George C. Zoley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GEO, said: “We have taken corrective action to address several challenges which impacted our financial performance throughout the entire year. These challenges included a decline in the inmate population at our San Diego, California Facility, the closure of our Baldwin, Michigan Facility, and unanticipated employee healthcare costs. Despite these challenges and several one-time charges during the fourth quarter, which included a non-cash impairment charge related to our Michigan Facility, job reclassification expenses, and start-up costs related to our most recent contracts in Indiana and New Mexico, we achieved strong pro-forma quarterly results of $0.36 earnings per share.

“As result of our efforts, we have effectively overcome the challenges that impacted our performance in 2005, and we are now poised to have a strong financial year in 2006. We are therefore raising our financial guidance for 2006. We are particularly pleased with the signing of a new 10-year, fixed-payment contract for our San Diego, California Facility, which eliminates any future financial risks associated with inmate occupancy fluctuations. We also remain optimistic of our new business development prospects and the additional upside that they present in 2006 and beyond,” Zoley added.

Financial Guidance
GEO is raising its previously issued earnings guidance for 2006 by $0.05 per share to a range of $1.75 to $1.85 per share. GEO is raising its previously-issued revenue guidance for 2006 by $2.0 million to a range of $729 million to $745 million.

GEO is revising its financial guidance for the first quarter of 2006. GEO is increasing its first quarter 2006 revenue guidance by $2.0 million to a range of $182 million to $186 million and its first quarter 2006 earnings guidance by $0.05 per share to a range of $0.29 to $0.31 per share.

GEO is maintaining its previously issued guidance for the remaining quarters of 2006. GEO estimates second quarter 2006 revenues to be in the range of $181 million to $185 million and second quarter 2006 earnings per share to be in the range of $0.43 to $0.45. GEO estimates third quarter 2006 revenues to be in the range of $181 million to $185 million and third quarter 2006 earnings per share to be in the range of $0.53 to $0.55. GEO estimates fourth quarter 2006 revenues to be in the range of $185 million to $189 million and fourth quarter 2006 earnings per share to be in the range of $0.50 to $0.54.

In addition, GEO is providing the following EBITDA and EBITDAR guidance for 2006. GEO estimates year-end 2006 EBITDA to be in the range of $72 million to $76 million and year-end 2006 EBITDAR to be in the range of $98 million to $102 million.

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Contact:		Pablo E. Paez		(866) 301-4436
		Director, Corporate Relations

N E W S    R E L E A S E

Conference Call Information
GEO has scheduled a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 11:00 AM (Eastern Time) on Monday, March 13, 2006 to discuss GEO’s 2005 fourth quarter financial results as well as its progress and outlook. The call-in number for the U.S. is 1-866-510-0711 and the international call-in number is 1-617-597-5379. The participant pass-code for the conference call is 98952552. In addition, a live audio webcast of the conference call may be accessed on the Conference Calls/Webcasts section of GEO’s investor relations home page at www.thegeogroupinc.com. A replay of the audio webcast will be available on the website for one year. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until April 13, 2006 at 1-888-286-8010 (U.S.) and 1-617-801-6888 (International). The pass-code for the telephonic replay is 72023358. GEO will discuss Non-GAAP (“Pro Forma”) basis information on the conference call. A reconciliation from GAAP basis results to Non-GAAP (“Pro Forma”) basis information may be found on the Conference Calls/Webcasts section of GEO’s investor relations home page at www.thegeogroupinc.com.

About The GEO Group, Inc.
The GEO Group, Inc. (“GEO”) is a world leader in the delivery of correctional, detention, and residential treatment services to federal, state, and local government agencies around the globe. GEO offers a turnkey approach that includes design, construction, financing, and operations. GEO represents government clients in the United States, Australia, South Africa, Canada, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s worldwide operations include 61 correctional and residential treatment facilities with a total design capacity of approximately 49,000 beds.

Safe-Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and future performance of GEO that involve risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results, including statements regarding estimated earnings, revenues and costs and our ability to maintain growth and strengthen contract relationships. Factors that could cause actual results to vary from current expectations and forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: (1) GEO’s ability to meet its financial guidance for 2006 given the various risks to which its business is exposed; (2) GEO’s ability to successfully pursue further growth and continue to enhance shareholder value; (3) GEO’s ability to access the capital markets in the future on satisfactory terms or at all; (4) risks associated with GEO’s ability to control operating costs associated with contract start-ups; (5) GEO’s ability to timely open facilities as planned, profitably manage such facilities and successfully integrate such facilities into GEO’s operations without substantial costs; (6) GEO’s ability to win management contracts for which it has submitted proposals and to retain existing management contracts; (7) GEO’s ability to obtain future financing on acceptable terms; (8) GEO’s ability to sustain company-wide occupancy rates at its facilities; and (9) other factors contained in GEO’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports.

Contact:		Pablo E. Paez		(866) 301-4436
		Director, Corporate Relations

N E W S    R E L E A S E

Fourth quarter and year-end financial tables to follow:

The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the thirteen weeks and fifty-two weeks ended January 1, 2006
and the fourteen weeks and fifty-three weeks ended January 2, 2005
(In thousands except per share data)

		13 Weeks				14 Weeks				52 Weeks				53 Weeks
		Ended				Ended				Ended				Ended
		January 1, 2006				January 2, 2005				January 1, 2006				January 2, 2005
Revenues		$	164,874			$	161,594			$	612,900			$	593,994
Operating Expenses			159,227				136,793				540,128				495,226
Depreciation and Amortization			4,949				3,683				15,876				13,898
General and Administrative Expenses			13,165				13,277				48,958				45,879
Operating Income (loss)			(12,467	)			7,841				7,938				38,991
Interest Income			2,281				2,471				9,154				9,568
Interest Expense			(6,922	)			(5,159	)			(23,016	)			(22,138	)
Write off of deferred financing fees			—				(317	)			(1,360	)			(317	)
Income (loss) before income taxes, minority interest, equity in income (loss) of affiliate, and discontinued operations			(17,108	)			4,836				(7,284	)			26,104
Provision (benefit) for Income Taxes			(13,707	)			(1,013	)			(11,826	)			8,231
Minority interest			(202	)			(162	)			(742	)			(710	)
Equity in income (loss) of affiliate, net of income tax			2,280				239				2,079				—
Income (loss) from Continuing Operations			(1,323	)			5,926				5,879				17,163
Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax			516				(697	)			1,127				(348	)
Net Income (loss)		$	(807	)		$	5,229			$	7,006			$	16,815
Basic EPS
Income (loss) from Continuing Operations		$	(0.13	)		$	0.62			$	0.61			$	1.83
Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations			0.05				(0.07	)			0.12				(0.04	)
Earnings (loss) per share — Basic		$	(0.08	)		$	0.55			$	0.73			$	1.79
Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding			9,662				9,480				9,580				9,384
Diluted EPS
Income (loss) from Continuing Operations		$	(0.13	)		$	0.60			$	0.59			$	1.77
Income (loss) from Discontinued Operations			0.05				(0.07	)			0.11				(0.04	)
Earnings (loss) per share — Diluted		$	(0.08	)		$	0.53			$	0.70			$	1.73
Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding			9,985				9,809				10,010				9,738

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Contact:		Pablo E. Paez		(866) 301-4436
		Director, Corporate Relations

N E W S    R E L E A S E

The GEO Group, Inc.
Operating Data

		13 Weeks				14 Weeks				52 Weeks				53 Weeks
		Ended				Ended				Ended				Ended
		January 1, 2006				January 2, 2005				January 1, 2006				January 2, 2005
*Revenue-producing beds			48,370				34,813				48,370				34,813
*Compensated man-days			3,161,501				3,338,787				12,607,525				12,458,102
*Average occupancy			99.0	%			98.9	%			97.5	%			99.3	%

*Includes South Africa

The GEO Group, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
January 1, 2006 and January 2, 2005
(In thousands)

		January 1, 2006				January 2, 2005
		(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	57,094			$	92,005
Short-term investments			—				10,000
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $224 and $907			127,612				90,386
Deferred income tax asset			19,029				12,891
Other current assets			15,826				12,083
Current assets of discontinued operations			123				5,401
Total current assets			219,684				222,766
Restricted cash			26,366				3,908
Property and equipment, net			282,236				190,865
Assets held for sale			5,000				—
Direct finance lease receivable			38,492				42,953
Goodwill			35,896				615
Intangible assets			16,231				—
Other non current assets			14,880				13,282
Other assets of discontinued operations			—				5,937
		$	638,785			$	480,326
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	28,445			$	21,039
Accrued payroll and related taxes			26,985				24,595
Accrued expenses			70,177				53,104
Current portion of deferred revenue			1,894				1,844
Current portion of long-term debt and non-recourse debt			7,758				13,736
Current liabilities of discontinued operations			1,260				3,160
Total current liabilities			136,519				117,478
Deferred revenue			3,267				4,320
Deferred tax liability			1,359				8,466
Minority interest			1,840				1,194
Other non current liabilities			19,601				19,978
Capital Leases			17,072				—
Long-term debt			219,254				186,198
Non-recourse debt			131,279				42,953
Total shareholders’ equity			108,594				99,739
		$	638,785			$	480,326

- End -

Contact:		Pablo E. Paez		(866) 301-4436
		Director, Corporate Relations

Exhibit 99.2

CORPORATE PARTICIPANTS

Pablo Paez
The GEO Group — Dir of IR

George Zoley
The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Gerry O’Rourke
The GEO Group — CFO

Wayne Calabrese
The GEO Group — Vice Chairman and Pres

CONFERENCE CALL PARTICIPANTS

Todd Van Fleet
First Analysts — Analyst

Patrick Swindle
Avondale Partners — Analyst

Anton Hie
Jeffries & Co — Analyst

Scott Schneeberger
Lehman Brothers — Analyst

PRESENTATION

Operator

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Q4 2005 The GEO Group Earnings Conference Call. My name is Candace, and I’ll be your coordinator for today. [OPERATOR INSTRUCTIONS] I would now like to turn the presentation over to your host for today’s conference. Mr. Pablo Paez, Director of Investor Relations. Please proceed, sir.

Pablo Paez - The GEO Group — Dir of IR

Thank you, operator. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us for today’s discussion of The GEO Group’s fourth quarter 2005 earnings results. With us today is George Zoley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, accompanied by Wayne Calabrese, Vice Chairman and President; Gerry O’Rourke, Chief Financial Officer; David Watson, Treasurer and Vice President of Finance; and Brian Evans, Vice President of Accounting and Chief Accounting Officer. This morning we will discuss our fourth quarter performance, current business development activities, and conclude the call with a question and answer session. This conference is also being webcast live on our website at www.thegeogroupinc.com. A replay of the audio webcast will be available on the website for one year. A telephone replay will be available through April 13 at 1-888-286-8010. The pass code for the telephone replay is 72023358. During the call, we will discuss non-GAAP basis information, and a reconciliation from GAAP basis results to non-GAAP basis information may be found on the conference call section of our Investor Relations web page.

Before I turn the call over to George, please let me remind you that much of the information we will discuss today, including the answers we give in response to your questions, may include forward-looking statements regarding our beliefs and current expectations with respects to various matters. These forward-looking statements are intended to fall within the Safe Harbor provisions of the Securities Laws. Our actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various other factors contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings including the forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports. With that, please allow me to turn this call over to George Zoley. George?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Thank you, Pablo, and good morning to everyone. And thank you for joining us today as I provide an overview of GEO’s financial results for the fourth quarter of 2005 and our revised guidance for 2006. When I conclude my prepared remarks, I’ll open the call up to a question and answer session. As announced in the press release we issued earlier today, we reported a fourth quarter GAAP loss of $800,000, or $0.08 per share, based on 10 million shares outstanding, compared with a gain of 5.2 million shares, or $0.53 per share, based on 9.8 million shares outstanding in the fourth quarter of 2004. For the full year, we reported GAAP earnings of $7 million, or $0.70 per share, based on 10 million shares outstanding, compared with $16.8 million, or $1.73 per share, based on $9.7 million outstanding for the full year of 2004. On a pro forma basis, our fourth quarter earnings were $3.6 million, or $0.36 per share, compared with pro forma earnings of $5.2 million, or $0.52 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2004.

Our fourth quarter pro forma earnings exclude the following items. An international tax benefit of $8.5 million, or $0.85 per share, related to certain tax law changes in Australia and South Africa. Also an after-tax net gain of $500,000, or $0.05 per share, from discontinued operations which includes the gain on sale of our 72-bed Atlantic Shores Hospital in Florida. These gains were offset by an after-tax non-cash impairment charge of $12.6 million, or $1.26 per share, related to our 500-bed Michigan Correctional Facility. After-tax startup expenses of $600,000, or $0.06 per share, related to our most recent new contracts in Indiana and New Mexico, and an after-tax charge of $200,000, or $0.02 per share, related to one-time costs associated with the reclassification of certain job positions from exempt to non-exempt employees. By comparison, fourth quarter 2004 pro forma earnings of 5.2 million excluded a tax benefit of $3.4 million, or $0.34 per share, related to the sale of our former UK joint venture interest; an after-tax loss of $700,000, or $0.07 per share, from discontinued operations related to our former immigration contract in Australia; a one-time after-tax write-off of $1.8 million, or $0.18 per share, related to our deactivated Jena, Louisiana facility; and a one-time after-tax write-down of approximately $800,000, or $0.08 per share, deferred costs related to merger and acquisition activity.

Fourth quarter 2005 revenue increased to $164.9 million from $161.6 million for the same period in 2004. Revenue in 2005 increased to $612.9 million from $594 million in 2004. This revenue increase reflects several factors, including the following. The strengthening of the Australian Dollar and South African rand for the previous year, the acquisition of Correctional Services Corporation on November 4, 2005, and increased population at our South Bay, Florida facility resulting from the completion of a 544-bed expansion of the facility at the end of the second quarter of 2005. These factors offset a decline in revenues due to a continued lower census at our U.S. Marshals facility in San Diego, California throughout the fourth quarter of 2005, which we have since resolved with the signing, on January 3, of a new 10-year fixed payment contract with the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee. This new contract eliminates any future financial risks associated with inmate occupancy fluctuations. Operating expenses for the fourth quarter of 2005 increased to $159.2 million from $136.8 million for the same period in 2004. Operating expenses for 2005 increased to $540.1 million from $495.2 million in 2004.

Fourth quarter 2005 operating expenses reflect the following items. An after-tax non-cash impairment charge of $12.6 million related to our 500-bed Michigan Correctional Facility; an after-tax charge of $200,000 related to one-time costs associated with the reclassification of certain job positions from exempt to non-exempt employees; and after-tax startup expenses of $600,000 related to our most recent new contracts in Indiana and New Mexico. Our fourth quarter 2005 general and administrative expenses remain stable at $13.2 million compared with the same period a year ago. G&A expenses for 2005 increased to $49 million from $45.9 million in 2004. These increases reflect increased staff and business development activities by our mental health subsidiary GEO Care and our continuous correctional marketing efforts. Our fourth quarter 2005 tax provision reflects a benefit from the impairment charge related to our Michigan facility, which I previously discussed, and a one-time benefit of $6.5 million due to a change in tax law in Australia. Additionally, our equity income affiliates in 2005 reflects a one-time tax benefit of $2 million as a result of a change in South African tax laws.

Our average correctional per diem rate for the fourth quarter of 2005 was $53.60 compared to $50.85 for the fourth quarter of 2004. Our fourth quarter 2005 adjusted EBITDA was $8.3 million compared with $12.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. Our year-end 2005 adjusted EBITDA was $40.9 million compared with $49 million for 2004. This decline in our adjusted EBITDA is primarily attributable to the lower population census we experienced at our San Diego facility throughout the year. As I stated earlier, this situation has now been remedied with the signing of a new 10-year fixed payment contract for 2006, which eliminates any future financial risks due to occupancy fluctuations. Our EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2005 was $14.4 million compared with $18.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. Our EBITDA for the year-end 2005 was $67.5 million compared with $74.7 million for 2004. Turning to our balance sheet, cash at the end of the year was approximately $83 million, including approximately $26 million of restricted cash. At year-end 2005, our balance sheet reflected approximately $220 million in total debt, not including non-recourse debt of approximately $138 million. This concludes my overview of our financial performance during 2005.

Now turning to our guidance for 2006. In looking at our financial performance thus far into the first quarter, I can see that we are on track and will finish particularly strong. Therefore, we are raising our previously issued earnings guidance for 2006 by $0.05 per share to a range of $1.75 to $1.85 per share. We are raising our previously issued revenue guidance for 2006 by $2 million to a range of $729 million to $745 million. We are raising our first quarter of 2006 earnings guidance by $0.05 per share to a range of $0.29 to $0.31 earnings per share, and our first

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Operator

[OPERATOR INSTRUCTIONS] Our first question comes from the line of Todd Van Fleet of First Analysts. Please proceed.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Good morning, guys. If I could just ask you a couple of quick questions on the Q4 performance. The top line revenue, I think it was about 164, 165 — I’m sorry, the revenue performance during Q4 I think was a bit lighter than what you had guided to during the quarter. I am wondering how much of that, really, was due to San Diego and if you could kind of quantify what that amount was — the impact was during the quarter.

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

Yes, Todd, this is Gerry. The — We were anticipating in the fourth quarter, in the guidance that we had previously given out, that San Diego would be remedied sometime in that quarter and we were anticipating a little bit more top line activity there. It did not materialize until the end of the quarter.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

So was that to the tune of several million dollars? Or can you quantify that, Gerry?

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

I would say it would be a minimum of 2.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Minimum of 2. Okay. And then I think you mentioned brief what the impact was on the G&A line during the quarter of some of the M&A activity. How much might we consider in terms of G&A expense to be attributed to that?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Well, we have said previously that GEO Care was stepped up by 2 million annually, so just GEO Care alone is 0.5 million. We also made the decision last year to open our UK office, which has cost us in excess of $1 million per year. So on a quarterly basis that’s 0.25 million, and that’s before you consider any other development activity that we had during the quarter.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

I guess in particular, George, I’m thinking expenses related to the Correctional Services deal, which sounds like they might be amortized to a certain degree, but I’m wondering what proportion of that expense might we not see reoccurring, I guess, moving ahead.

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Everybody here is shaking their heads. They don’t think there was any CSC related expenses.

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

It was minimal. Most of the G&A work force was released after— Right after the acquisition there was some that lingered on, and all of those have since been released as of year-end.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. On the — On the 2006 guidance then. I guess I’m a bit perplexed to see increasing Q1 revenue and EPS guidance without really increasing future quarters, given the fact that you have the UK contract coming on in Q2 at some point. What is it that’s driving the increase in expectations for revenue and EPS in Q1? Why isn’t that impacting future quarters? And why aren’t we seeing, I guess, explicit upward guidance revisions, I guess, related to the UK deal?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

I thought that was going to be the key question for today. And the answer is we know what the results are so far this year. They are strong because we have a lot of beds filled, and the improvement that’s occurred as a result of San Diego. But I also mentioned that we have some rebids coming up, so there’s some uncertainty there. And we just feel it’s a little bit early to, you know, straight-line that improved financial performance to the end of the year. You know, we’ll take another look at it, obviously, during the next conference call.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. So, George, it is fair to say then that the benefit that you are going to be seeing from the UK deal, you are holding off on that in terms of maybe offsetting that with some degree of risk that you see with some of these other facilities as they renew in the latter part of the year?

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

Yes, I think we’ll have a much better feel in the next conference call in May.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. Thanks.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Patrick Swindle of Avondale Partners. Please proceed.

Patrick Swindle - Avondale Partners — Analyst

Good morning. First question. In looking at the contracts that you identified as being potentially at risk this year. Are there any of those that, as you look at here today, you would say is more at risk? Or would you say that the circumstances around each of those are more normal and you would expect your normal historical retention rates on those?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Well our normal historical retention rates are in excess of 90%. I wouldn’t go so far to say that. Not when you have four rebids. If you lose one of them you are down to, you know, 75%.

Patrick Swindle - Avondale Partners — Analyst

Oh, sure. But I guess, more to the point, are there any that you look at today that you would say are particularly at risk more so than would normally be the case?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

No.

Patrick Swindle - Avondale Partners — Analyst

All right. And then my next question. On the restructuring of the agreement with — with CPV. Obviously you all have looked at and thought through the process of potentially adding beds. Obviously that would require a pretty significant capital outlay on your part. Would the opportunity be there, potentially, to buy those facilities back in as well?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

No, you missed the whole point. You know, if there are new replacement facilities that — the beds would be provided through government-sponsored bonds or third-party financing which would not be subject to repurchase by CPT.

Patrick Swindle - Avondale Partners — Analyst

Okay. I see. Perfect. Thank you.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Anton Hie of Jefferies & Company. Please proceed.

Anton Hie - Jeffries & Co — Analyst

Thank you. I guess piggybacking off the very first question on the call, that obviously will be one of the big topics. I guess — I guess, we would like to figure out a little bit more what has changed kind of fundamentally in the last 6 weeks that has altered your impression of the first quarter. Your initial guidance was obviously pretty conservative and I was just wondering what has changed in the past 6 weeks.

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Well, we have seen the benefits of the new contract in San Diego, and we’re — And we’ve acquired the CSC facilities, which we’ve seen the populations increasing at these facilities. But you know, we’re being prudent and not wanting to straight-line those financial results through the balance of the year. We’re just saying that we’re going expect a strong first quarter, and we’ll look at it at the end of the quarter as to whether we want to revise guidance further for the balance of the year. You know, we would rather be in a position of revising the guidance upward than downward as we were, you know, last year, unfortunately.

Anton Hie - Jeffries & Co — Analyst

So then it’s fair to say that you have been a little more successful in filling some of those CSC beds than maybe they were as predecessors, and than you had expected to fill them.

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Well I think the conditions are more favorable for us maybe than they were for them.

Anton Hie - Jeffries & Co — Analyst

Okay. Well put. In the ‘06 guidance. I think initially when you gave that out, you said that there was some stock option expensing in that. Can you remind us how much EPS impact that is?

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

I think it was — 600,000 is my recollection on an annualized basis. $0.015 per quarter.

Anton Hie - Jeffries & Co — Analyst

$0.01 — okay. And obviously you feel pretty strongly about alternative sources of cash to fund future development. Can you give us any picture on where you expect cash flow from operations or even free cash flow to be by the end of the year?

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

No, we don’t have an estimate for year-end at this point in time.

Anton Hie - Jeffries & Co — Analyst

Okay. What tax rate should we expect going forward?

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

39%.

Anton Hie - Jeffries & Co — Analyst

Okay. Thank you.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Jeffery Kessler of Lehman Brothers. Please proceed.

Scott Schneeberger - Lehman Brothers — Analyst

Hi. It’s actually Scott Schneeberger on for Jeff. Question about the timing of the announcement on your relationship with Correctional Properties. Is this something you have been mulling over for a while and just decided hey, we’re going to do this today. I guess just the thought process behind it, if we can get a little more color there that would be great.

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

I think it has been evolving for some time, and it has become more crystallized as we look at our new projects under development. The majority of them are being financed through government-sponsored bonds, and we just seem to find that avenue to be so easy for us at this time and it provides a much lower cost of capital. And we are now an independent company that has the ability to sell equity as well as pursue other financial avenues as government-sponsored bonds, and — The conditions have fundamentally changed for our company today from what they were back in 1998.

Scott Schneeberger - Lehman Brothers — Analyst

Okay. Good. Sounds good. Do you have a Michigan update, just where we stand there?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

The facility is still closed. We still have strong support in the legislature to reuse the facility, reopen it. In fact, there is either one or two pieces of legislation going through the legislature at this time specifically addressing the facility and its use, such as when the state has need for a new prison facility that that will be the first one to be opened. Things of that nature. And I fundamentally believe that that’s really the best use and outcome for that facility as a future facility for the State of Michigan, probably more so as an adult facility than what it was previously as a youth facility. But we are still pursuing it. We have active legislative support and I think, sooner or later, that facility will be reopened, I hope. And probably as an adult facility or a special purpose facility, a special needs facility of some sort.

Scott Schneeberger - Lehman Brothers — Analyst

All right all right. Thank. And a final question. Obviously it’s incorporated in your guidance, but I was just hoping you could elaborate on cost-line items such as employee cost, insurance cost, Sarbanes-Oxley. Do you see foresee anything deviating too far from the mean this year on any of those cost items? Or should they be fairly consistent with how they have been trending? Thanks. That’s all.

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

I’m glad you even asked the question, because I didn’t address it in my report. I am please to say that our corporate health insurance costs this year are right on budget and we’re doing fine, unlike last year where I think we racked up several millions of dollars in cost over-runs. That put us off budget. So we are right own track this year under a new health insurance program. And we do not see any out of line, out of budget, Sarbanes-Oxley related expenses.

Scott Schneeberger - Lehman Brothers — Analyst

Great. Thanks very much.

Operator

[OPERATOR INSTRUCTIONS] We have a follow-up question from the line of Todd Van Fleet of First Analysts. Please proceed.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

George, I’m hoping you can extrapolate, either you or Wayne, there on what is going on in Colorado. I know that they have significant bed needs there and you are still working through the process of getting that facility up and running in Pueblo. I guess if you could provide us any more detail on what is happening with that piece of land that you have there in Pueblo, if you have all the zoning that you need at this stage and how you feel you stack up competitively, I guess, with respect to, you know, what the state is look for.

Wayne Calabrese - The GEO Group — Vice Chairman and Pres

Hey, Todd. It’s Wayne. In terms of the Pueblo project, we do have all of the land issues resolved. We have been moving forward with negotiations of the contracts between the state and the local community in an Intergovernmental agreement format, as well as the agreement between the local community and ourselves to operate the facility. We’re making progress with that. There’s some design review that’s going on with the Department of Corrections, as well. But we’re continuing to make good progress.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. And then in California. If you could give us your thoughts there, maybe, you know, expand on your comments that you made during your remarks, George, on timing expectations on those 8,000 beds. What do you realistically expect to materialize for the private prison sector in general? Obviously you are well-positioned out there and have a presence in the state, but just to kind of expand on your thinking on the political environment and what do you think actually might transpire there?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Well, you know we have all heard about the possibility of up to 8,000 beds. We know the state is vastly overcrowded and legislation has been introduced to possibly start releasing people if it reaches a critical point, and — which nobody wants to do. I think there is a high probability that there will be some more privatization projects. They will be, we believe, on a similar scale to the previous ones. That is 500-bed facilities, and they may be special purpose or special needs facilities. Along the lines, they may be for females or community correctional type facilities or treatment facilities. And the first wave may occur, you know, totaling let’s say 3,000 beds.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

So 3,000 beds, total, you think might be the need for the state?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

In the first phase and broken up by 500-bed increments.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. And would you see their needs being accommodated through facility expansions more so than perhaps, you know, greenfield sites?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

I think it’s going to probably be greenfield sites. I mean you could — and which could be accomplished in very close proximity to existing facilities. But they’ll be self-sufficient 500-bed facilities.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. Thanks. So just to recap, I guess, real quick. The $70 million in revenue associated with, I think the four or five or maybe even six opportunities that the Company has in its near-term pipeline, I just wanted to recap what the timing was associated with some of these. The Lawton expansion in Oklahoma. That was 9 million in revenue you expect that — is it the end of this year? Q1 next year?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Todd, I believe for fourth quarter of this year.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. And then, the Moorehaven expansion you expect in Q1 of ‘07?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

Yes.

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

And Todd, on the Lawton one. We already have lawton programmed in in the fourth quarter in our guidance already.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. All right. And so I guess maybe just — Thanks for that, Gerry. I guess maybe that just begs the question. What is not included in your guidance for ‘07? I guess everything — that is for ‘06. Everything that would start in ‘07, which presumably is Florence, Moorehaven, Graceville, and I guess really Oklahoma is probably the only one that is an ‘06 event at this stage. Is that right?

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

The UK was not programmed in our guidance, and we haven’t made any guidance adjustments on that contract as yet because it has not been signed, and I’m not sure we have a complete understanding of the start-up cost impact on that contract. We will, we believe, very shortly and by the next conference call.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Okay. And could you tell us what your assumptions are built in in terms of Q1 for start-up costs?

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

‘07 he’s talking about.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

I’m sorry for ‘06, Gerry.

Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO

I think we broke out the start-up costs and the reconciliation for the first quarter of ‘05.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

I’m sorry built into the guidance for ‘06. What are your assumptions regarding start-up for ‘06?

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

The majority of our start-up costs to date have related to the Indiana prison.

Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst

Right.

George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO

I don’t — We will — If we sign a contract quickly in the UK, we could start incurring some start-up costs there, but it wouldn’t be very much given that we’re —

		Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst
		Okay. So the only start-up that would potentially be included in ‘06 would be related to the UK then. Is that correct?
		George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO
		Well, so far.
		Gerry O’Rourke - The GEO Group — CFO
		There could be some start-up, obviously, as we go through the expansions in Lawton and Moorehaven in the fourth quarter. But I think it will be [inaudible].
		George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO
		But if we win other contracts here —
		Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst
		Sure. Sure.
		George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO
		Then those could have an impact with regard to start-up expenses.
		Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst
		Okay. All right. Thanks, guys.
		George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO
		But as you were referring to the projects under development, the start-up — The openings are primarily in ‘07, and the start-up costs would be incurred primarily in ‘07.
		Todd Van Fleet - First Analysts — Analyst
		Great. Thank you.
		Operator
		Ladies and gentlemen, this concluded the question and answer portion of today’s conference. I will turn it back to the speakers for any closing remarks.
		George Zoley - The GEO Group — Chairman and CEO
		We thank everyone for joining us today and hope we can address you once again in your May conference call. Thank you.
		Operator
		Thank you for your participation in today’s conference. This does conclude the presentation. [OPERATOR INSTRUCTIONS] Have a great day.