Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Benefit Plans

13. BENEFIT PLANS

The following table summarizes key information related to the Company’s pension plans and retirement agreements (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024			Year Ended December 31, 2023
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period	$	27,790		$	26,207
Service cost		163			745
Interest cost		341			1,345
Actuarial gain		—			421
Benefits paid		(249	)		(928	)
Projected benefit obligation, end of period	$	28,045		$	27,790
Change in Plan Assets
Plan assets at fair value, beginning of period	$	—		$	—
Company contributions		249			928
Benefits paid		(249	)		(928	)
Plan assets at fair value, end of period	$	—		$	—
Unfunded Status of the Plan	$	28,045		$	27,790

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		March 31, 2023
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	163	$	186
Interest cost		341		336
Net loss		15		-
Net periodic benefit cost	$	519	$	522

The service cost and other components of net periodic benefit cost are included in General and Administrative Expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The long-term portion of the pension liability as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $27.2 million and $27.0 million, respectively, and is included in Other Non-Current Liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement

The Company also has a non-qualified deferred compensation agreement with its former CEO. The agreement provides for a lump sum cash payment upon retirement, no sooner than age 55. As of March 31, 2024, the former CEO had reached age 55 and was eligible to receive the payment upon retirement.

On May 27, 2021, the Company and its former CEO entered into an Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement which replaced the former CEO’s previous agreement, effective July 1, 2021. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement, upon the date that the former CEO ceases to provide services to the Company, the Company will pay to the former CEO an amount equal to $3.6 million which shall be paid in cash. The payment shall be credited with interest at a rate of 5% compounded quarterly. Additionally, at the end of each calendar year provided that the former CEO is still providing services to GEO pursuant to the Executive Chairman Agreement, GEO will credit an amount equal to $1.0 million 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. The balance of the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement was approximately $10 million at March 31, 2024 and is included in Other Non-Current Liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The Company has established several trusts for the purpose of paying the retirement benefit pursuant to the Amended and Restated Executive Retirement Agreement. The trusts are revocable “rabbi trusts” and the assets of the trusts are subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of the Company’s insolvency.