BOCA RATON, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE:GEO), a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust specializing in the design, financing, development, and operation of correctional, detention, and community reentry facilities around the globe and a leading provider of evidence-based offender rehabilitation, announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Community Education Centers, a private provider of rehabilitative services for offenders in reentry and in-prison treatment facilities as well as management services for county, state, and federal correctional and detention facilities.
Pursuant to the terms of the definitive agreement, GEO will acquire CEC for $360 million in an all cash transaction, excluding transaction related expenses. GEO will not assume any debt as a result of the transaction. GEO plans to integrate CEC into GEO’s existing business units of GEO Corrections & Detention and GEO Care.
Community Education Centers (CEC) Operations
Founded in 1996, CEC is a leading national provider of rehabilitative services for offenders through reentry and in-custody treatment programs as well as comprehensive management services for county, state, and federal correctional and detention facilities. CEC provides evidence-based programming for residential and non-residential clients through reentry and correctional facilities, in-prison treatment services, and outpatient and day reporting programs.
CEC owns and/or manages over 12,000 beds nationwide. Through its Reentry Division, CEC owns or leases 3,800 community reentry beds and manages approximately 300 beds at three government-owned reentry centers. Additionally, CEC provides in-prison treatment services, including evidence-based rehabilitation programs, in more than 30 government-operated facilities. GEO plans to integrate CEC’s Reentry and In-Prison Treatment divisions into GEO Care.
Through its Corrections Division, CEC owns or leases approximately 4,500 correctional and detention beds and operates an additional 3,700 beds at government-owned correctional facilities under managed-only contracts. GEO plans to integrate CEC’s Corrections Division into GEO Corrections & Detention. More than 70 percent of CEC’s annualized revenue is generated from contracts with state governments and more than 20 percent from contracts with local jurisdictions. Following the acquisition, GEO will own and/or manage approximately 98,000 beds worldwide including approximately 7,000 community reentry beds.
George C. Zoley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GEO, said: “This important transaction represents a compelling strategic fit for our company as it further positions GEO to meet the demand for increasingly diversified correctional, detention, and community reentry facilities and services across the United States. GEO has an extensive track record of successfully integrating acquisitions, and we expect to achieve annualized net synergies of approximately $5 million as well as revenue growth opportunities, which we believe will continue to enhance long-term value for our shareholders.”
The transaction is expected to close the second quarter of 2017 subject to the fulfillment of customary conditions. The transaction will be supported by a term loan financing commitment from BNP Paribas and borrowings under GEO’s existing Revolving Credit Facility.
“This important transaction will allow us to expand the delivery of enhanced in-prison rehabilitation including evidence-based treatment, integrated with post-release support services through our industry-leading ‘GEO Continuum of Care.’ Our continued efforts to be the leading provider of rehabilitation and reentry services underscore our commitment to improve the lives of the men and women entrusted to us as well as our belief that as a company, we are most effective and at our best, by helping those in our care, re-enter society as productive and employable citizens,” Mr. Zoley added.
Financial Impact
The acquisition is expected to increase GEO’s total annualized revenues by approximately $250 million. In addition, GEO anticipates annual net synergies of $5 million to be realized over 9 to 12 months. Excluding one-time transaction-related expenses and transitional costs, GEO expects the acquisition to be modestly accretive in 2017 and to be 9-11% accretive to Adjusted EBITDA post-synergies on a fully annualized basis beginning in 2018.
Financial and Legal Advisors
Barclays and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as GEO’s financial advisors. Akerman LLP served as GEO’s legal advisor. Moelis & Company LLC acted as CEC’s financial advisor. Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP served as CEC’s legal advisor.
About The GEO Group, Inc.
The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) is the first fully integrated equity real estate investment trust specializing in the design, financing, development, and operation of correctional, detention, and community reentry facilities around the globe. GEO is the world’s leading provider of diversified correctional, detention, community reentry, and electronic monitoring services to government agencies worldwide with operations in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s worldwide operations include the ownership and/or management of 104 facilities totaling approximately 87,000 beds, including projects under development, with a growing workforce of approximately 20,500 professionals.
