COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER TAX MATTERS

Litigation, Claims and Assessments

In June 2004, the Company received notice of a third-party claim for property damage incurred during 2001 and 2002 at several detention facilities formerly operated by its Australian subsidiary. The claim relates to property damage caused by detainees at the detention facilities. The notice was given by the Australian government's insurance provider and did not specify the amount of damages being sought. In August 2007, a lawsuit (Commonwealth of Australia v. Australasian Correctional Services PTY, Limited No. SC 656) was filed against the Company in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory seeking damages of up to approximately AUD 18 million or $16.5 million based on exchange rates as of June 30, 2013, plus interest. The pre-judgment interest rate in Australia is currently 7.00%. The Company had established a reserve based on its estimate of the most probable loss based on the facts and circumstances known to date and the advice of legal counsel in connection with this matter. In May 2013, the case was settled. The settlement was within the Company's reserves and did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated balance sheet or results of operations as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.

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

Construction Commitments

The Company currently has contractual commitments for a number of projects using Company financing. The Company’s management estimates that the cost of these existing capital projects will range from $31.0 million to $35.0 million of which $24.0 million was spent through the second quarter of 2013. The Company estimates the remaining capital requirements related to these capital projects will range from $7.0 million to $11.0 million which will be spent through fiscal year 2013. Capital expenditures related to facility maintenance costs are expected to range between $30.0 million and $35.0 million for fiscal year 2013.

Facility Purchase

On May 7, 2013, the Company executed a definitive agreement for the purchase of the land, buildings and improvements, and tangible personal property and fixtures of the 1,287 bed Joe Corley Detention Center (the "Center") located in Montgomery County, Texas for a purchase price of approximately $65.0 million. The Center was previously managed by the Company under a managed-only contract with Montgomery County and will continue to house federal detainees for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service under an Intergovernmental Services Agreement. The transaction closed on June 7, 2013.

Employment Agreement

On April 29, 2013, GEO and Mr. George C. Zoley, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, entered into the First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement (the “Amendment”). The Amendment modifies Mr. Zoley’s employment agreement by eliminating the automatic cost of living increase applicable to his annual base salary and instead provides that his annual base salary may be increased in the sole discretion of the Board for cost of living increases to be determined by the Board. Additionally, the Amendment modifies the termination payment Mr. Zoley would receive in the event of a termination of employment other than a termination by GEO for cause (as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement) or a termination by Mr. Zoley without good reason (as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement) from three times the amount of Mr. Zoley’s base salary plus annual bonus to two times the amount of Mr. Zoley’s base salary plus annual bonus.

On May 29, 2013, the Company and the Chief Executive Officer entered into the Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement (the "Amendment"). The Amendment modifies the Chief Executive Officer's employment agreement by decreasing the maximum target annual performance award he may receive from 150% of his annual base salary to 100% of his annual base salary.

Idle Facilities

The Company is currently marketing approximately 6,000 vacant beds at seven of its idle facilities to potential customers. The carrying values of these idle facilities, which are included in Property and Equipment, Net and Assets Held for Sale in the consolidated balance sheets, totaled $237.3 million as of June 30, 2013, excluding equipment and other assets that can be easily transferred for use at other facilities.

Other Tax Matters

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As a result of the REIT conversion as more fully discussed in Note 1 - Basis of Presentation, the Company reorganized its operations and moved non-real estate components into TRS. The TRS structure requires the provisions of services between affiliated companies which are conducted at arm's length subject to applicable tax law and promulgated tax regulations. The Company has, with the assistance of its tax advisors, undertaken substantial analysis to determine and document the appropriateness of the arm's length compensation used in compliance with such tax rules which is reviewed on a periodic basis.

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During 2013 GEO had a tax benefit relating to its REIT conversion as well as a net release of tax reserves primarily due to the settlement of IRS audit years 2010 and 2011, partially offset by an initial reserve for uncertain tax positions relating to the REIT conversion. Together these items had a favorable impact to the effective tax rate and resulted in a tax benefit of $7.3 million and $6.4 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively.