7.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net

The Company has recorded goodwill as a result of its various business combinations. Goodwill is recorded as the difference, if any, between the aggregate consideration paid for an acquisition and the fair value of the tangible assets and intangible assets acquired net of liabilities assumed, including noncontrolling interests. Changes in the Company’s goodwill balances recognized during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

January 1, 2025

 

 

Foreign
currency
translation

 

 

December 31, 2025

 

U.S. Secure Services

 

$

316,366

 

 

$

 

 

$

316,366

 

Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services

 

 

289,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

289,570

 

Reentry Services

 

 

148,873

 

 

 

 

 

 

148,873

 

International Services

 

 

1,192

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

1,219

 

Total Goodwill

 

$

756,001

 

 

$

27

 

 

$

756,028

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2024

 

 

Additions

 

 

Foreign
currency
translation

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

U.S. Secure Services

 

$

316,366

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

316,366

 

Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services

 

 

289,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

289,570

 

Reentry Services

 

 

148,873

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

148,873

 

International Services [1]

 

 

390

 

 

 

836

 

 

 

(34

)

 

 

1,192

 

Total Goodwill

 

$

755,199

 

 

$

836

 

 

$

(34

)

 

$

756,001

 

[1] On May 1, 2024, the Company completed an acquisition of all of the ownership shares of Correct Care Australasia Pty Ltd, an entity that performed health care services located in Australia. The purchase price was approximately AUD6.0 million, or approximately $3.9 million, based on exchange rates on the date of acquisition subject to certain adjustments. The purpose of the acquisition was to expand GEO's health care services in Australia. The net assets acquired and operations were not material to our results from operations during the year ended December 31, 2025 or 2024.

 

 

Intangible assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

December 31, 2025

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

 

 

Average
Useful Life
(years)

 

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

 

Net
Carrying
Amount

 

 

Gross
Carrying
Amount

 

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

 

Net
Carrying
Amount

 

Facility management contracts

 

 

17.3

 

 

$

223,798

 

 

$

(151,666

)

 

$

72,132

 

 

$

223,790

 

 

$

(142,414

)

 

$

81,376

 

Trade names

 

Indefinite

 

 

 

45,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

45,200

 

 

 

45,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

45,200

 

Total acquired intangible assets

 

 

 

 

$

268,998

 

 

$

(151,666

)

 

$

117,332

 

 

$

268,990

 

 

$

(142,414

)

 

$

126,576

 

 

The accounting for recognized intangible assets is based on the useful lives to the reporting entity. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their useful lives and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized. The Company estimates the useful lives of its intangible assets taking into consideration (i) the expected use of the asset by the Company, (ii) the expected useful lives of other related assets or groups of assets, (iii) legal or contractual limitations, (iv) the Company's historical experience in renewing or extending similar arrangements, (v) the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors and (vi) the level of maintenance expenditures required to obtain the expected cash flows from the asset.

Amortization expense was $9.3 million, $9.3 million and $11.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and primarily related to the U.S. Secure Services and Reentry Services segments’ amortization of intangible assets for acquired management contracts. The Company relies on its historical experience in determining the useful life of facility management contracts. The Company makes assumptions related to acquired facility management contracts based on the competitive environment for individual contracts, our historical success rates in retaining contracts, the supply of available beds in the market, changes in legislation, the projected profitability of the facilities and other market conditions. As of December 31, 2025, the weighted average period before the next contract renewal or extension

for the facility management contracts was approximately 1.3 years. Although the facility management contracts acquired have renewal and extension terms in the near term, the Company has historically maintained these relationships beyond the contractual periods.

Estimated amortization expense related to the Company’s finite-lived intangible assets for 2026 through 2030 and thereafter is as follows (in thousands):

 

Fiscal Year

 

Total
Amortization
Expense

 

2026

 

$

7,107

 

2027

 

 

6,931

 

2028

 

 

6,853

 

2029

 

 

6,853

 

2030

 

 

6,853

 

Thereafter

 

 

37,535

 

 

$

72,132

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 25, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 28, 2025
2023Feb 29, 2024
2022Feb 27, 2023
2021Feb 28, 2022
2020Feb 16, 2021
2019Feb 26, 2020
2018Feb 25, 2019
2017Feb 26, 2018
2016Feb 27, 2017
2015Feb 26, 2016

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.