CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA
8-K, 1998-04-22
FACILITIES SUPPORT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Previous: DREYFUS NEW LEADERS FUND INC, 485BPOS, 1998-04-22
Next: FLORIDA EAST COAST INDUSTRIES INC, DEF 14A, 1998-04-22



<PAGE>   1
                       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): April 17, 1998



                       CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


<TABLE>
<S>                                                        <C>                            <C>
                     Tennessee                                       1-13560                       62-1156308
- ----------------------------------------------------       --------------------------         ---------------------
   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)           (Commission File Number)            (I.R.S. Employer
                                                                                               Identification No.)


             10 Burton Hills Boulevard, Nashville, TN                                             37215
- ------------------------------------------------------------------                         --------------------
             (Address of principal executive offices)                                           (Zip Code)

</TABLE>


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (615) 263-3000



                                 Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



<PAGE>   2



Item 5.     Other Events
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Corrections Corporation of America, a Tennessee corporation (the
"Company"), has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April
18, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), with CCA Prison Realty Trust, a Maryland real
estate investment trust ("Prison Realty"). Pursuant to and subject to the terms
and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Company will be merged with and into
Prison Realty (the "Merger"). Each share of Company common stock will be
converted into the right to receive 0.875 Prison Realty common shares, $0.01 par
value per share.

         The Merger is subject to termination or expiration of the waiting
period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, approval
by Company shareholders, approval by Prison Realty shareholders and certain
other conditions.

         On April 20, 1998, the Company and Prison Realty issued a press release
(the "Press Release") concerning the Merger and the execution of the Merger
Agreement.

         The foregoing description of the Merger and related transactions does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Merger Agreement and the Press Release, which are attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference.

         In addition, on April 17, 1998, the Company acquired all of the
outstanding capital stock of eight subsidiaries of U.S. Corrections Corporation
("USCC") (the "USCC Acquisition"). By virtue of the USCC Acquisition, the
Company acquired contracts to manage four currently operating facilities in
Kentucky, each of which is owned by Prison Realty, as well as one each in
Florida and Texas, each of which is owned by governmental entities of Florida
and Texas, respectively. The Company, or one of its affiliates, currently leases
the four Kentucky facilities from Prison Realty, or one of its affiliates,
pursuant to the terms of that certain Master Agreement to Lease dated July 18,
1997, between the Company and Prison Realty (the "Master Lease"). The Company
also acquired by virtue of the USCC Acquisition the right to enter into
contracts to manage two facilities currently under construction that are located
in North Carolina and owned by Prison Realty. The Company expects to lease these
two facilities from Prison Realty pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Master Lease. The total number of beds currently operating or under construction
under all of such management contracts hereinbefore discussed equals 5,743.

Item 7.     Exhibits
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    (c)     Exhibits

   2.1      Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 18, 1998, between 
            Corrections Corporation of America and CCA Prison Realty Trust (as
            directed by Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, certain schedules and
            exhibits to this document are omitted from this filing, and the
            Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted
            schedule or exhibit to the Commission upon request)

  99.1      Press Release, dated April 20, 1998, issued by Corrections 
            Corporation of America and CCA Prison Realty Trust




                                        2

<PAGE>   3



                                   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.



                                      CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA

Date: April 22, 1998                  /s/ Darrell K. Massengale
                                      ----------------------------------
                                      Name:  Darrell K. Massengale
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer; 
                                             Vice President, Finance; 
                                             Secretary/Treasurer






                                        3

<PAGE>   4



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


   No.                                      Exhibit
- ---------          -------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>
   2.1             Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 18, 1998,
                   between Corrections Corporation of America and CCA Prison
                   Realty Trust (as directed by Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation
                   S-K, certain schedules and exhibits to this document are
                   omitted from this filing, and the Registrant agrees to
                   furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or
                   exhibit to the Commission upon request)

  99.1             Press Release, dated April 20, 1998, issued by Corrections 
                   Corporation of America and CCA Prison Realty Trust


</TABLE>







                                        4



















<PAGE>   1


                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                           dated as of April 18, 1998

                                     between

                       CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA

                                       and

                             CCA PRISON REALTY TRUST




<PAGE>   2



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                                                            <C>
ARTICLE I
         THE MERGER...............................................................................................1
         SECTION 1.01.  THE MERGER................................................................................1
         SECTION 1.02.  CLOSING...................................................................................1
         SECTION 1.03.  EFFECTIVE TIME............................................................................2
         SECTION 1.04.  EFFECTS OF THE MERGER.....................................................................2
         SECTION 1.05.  CONSTITUENT DOCUMENTS.....................................................................2
         SECTION 1.06.  TRUSTEES..................................................................................2
         SECTION 1.07.  OFFICERS..................................................................................2

ARTICLE II
         EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK
         OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES................................................3
         SECTION 2.01.  EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK...................................................................3
         SECTION 2.02.  EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES..................................................................3
         SECTION 2.03. SERIES B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK.......................................................4
         SECTION 2.04.  STOCK OPTIONS.............................................................................4
         SECTION 2.05.  EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN.............................................................5
         SECTION 2.06.  WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMPANY COMMON STOCK.................................................5
         SECTION 2.07.  NOTES CONVERTIBLE INTO COMPANY COMMON STOCK...............................................5
         SECTION 2.08.  ADJUSTMENTS...............................................................................6
         SECTION 2.09.  FRACTIONAL SHARES.........................................................................6
         SECTION 2.10.  LOST CERTIFICATES.........................................................................6

ARTICLE III
         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...........................................................................6
         SECTION 3.01.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.............................................6
         SECTION 3.02.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PRISON REALTY..........................................20

ARTICLE IV
         COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS...............................................................32
         SECTION 4.01.  COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.................................................................32
         SECTION 4.02.  COVENANTS OF PRISON REALTY...............................................................35
         SECTION 4.03.  NO SOLICITATION..........................................................................36

ARTICLE V
         ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS...................................................................................38
         SECTION 5.01.  PREPARATION OF THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS......................................38
         SECTION 5.02.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION....................................................................38
         SECTION 5.03.  SHAREHOLDERS MEETING.....................................................................39
</TABLE>

                                        i

<PAGE>   3



<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                              <C>
         SECTION 5.04.  REASONABLE BEST EFFORTS..................................................................39
         SECTION 5.05.  BENEFITS MATTERS.........................................................................39
         SECTION 5.06.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION.................................................................39
         SECTION 5.07.  FEES AND EXPENSES........................................................................40
         SECTION 5.08.  INDEMNIFICATION, EXCULPATION AND INSURANCE...............................................41
         SECTION 5.09.  TRANSFER TAXES...........................................................................42
         SECTION 5.10.  RESIGNATION OF DIRECTORS.................................................................42
         SECTION 5.11.  STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING...................................................................42
         SECTION 5.12.  TAX-FREE REORGANIZATION..................................................................42
         SECTION 5.13.  RULE 145 AFFILIATES......................................................................42

ARTICLE VI
         CONDITIONS PRECEDENT....................................................................................43
         SECTION 6.01.  CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER...............................43
         SECTION 6.02.  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF PRISON REALTY TO EFFECT THE MERGER...........................44
         SECTION 6.03.  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE MERGER.............................45
         SECTION 6.04.  FRUSTRATION OF CLOSING CONDITIONS........................................................46

ARTICLE VII
         TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT...............................................................................46
         SECTION 7.01.  TERMINATION..............................................................................46
         SECTION 7.02.  EFFECT OF TERMINATION....................................................................47
         SECTION 7.03.  AMENDMENT................................................................................48
         SECTION 7.04.  EXTENSION; WAIVER........................................................................48
         SECTION 7.05.  PROCEDURE FOR TERMINATION, AMENDMENT, EXTENSION OR WAIVER................................48

ARTICLE VIII
         GENERAL PROVISIONS......................................................................................48
         SECTION 8.01.  NONSURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES............................................48
         SECTION 8.02.  NOTICES..................................................................................48
         SECTION 8.03.  DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION..............................................................49
         SECTION 8.04.  COUNTERPARTS.............................................................................51
         SECTION 8.05.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES; RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP......................51
         SECTION 8.06.  GOVERNING LAW............................................................................51
         SECTION 8.07.  PUBLICITY................................................................................51
         SECTION 8.08.  ASSIGNMENT...............................................................................51
         SECTION 8.09.  ENFORCEMENT..............................................................................51
</TABLE>


                                       ii

<PAGE>   4



         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of April 18, 1998 (this
"Agreement"), between CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA, a Tennessee
corporation (the "Company"), and CCA PRISON REALTY TRUST, a Maryland real estate
investment trust ("Prison Realty").

         WHEREAS the Board of Directors of the Company and the Board of Trustees
of Prison Realty have approved the merger of the Company with and into Prison
Realty (the "Merger"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement, whereby each issued and outstanding share of common stock, $1.00
par value per share, of the Company (the "Company Common Stock") not owned by
Prison Realty or by the Company will be converted into the right to receive the
Merger Consideration (as hereinafter defined);

         WHEREAS the Merger requires the approval of this Agreement by the
affirmative vote (the "Company Shareholder Approval") of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined) (together, the "Company
Capital Stock") and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Prison Realty's common shares, $0.01 par value per share
(the "Prison Realty Common Shares") (the "Prison Realty Shareholder Approval");
and

         WHEREAS Prison Realty and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger; and

         WHEREAS for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger
shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and this Agreement
is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of reorganization.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   THE MERGER

         SECTION 1.01. THE MERGER. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Tennessee Business
Corporation Act (the "TBCA") and the Corporations and Associations Article of
the Annotated Code of Maryland (the "Maryland REIT Law" or "MRL"), the Company
shall be merged with and into Prison Realty at the Effective Time (as defined in
Section 1.03). Following the Merger, the separate corporate existence of the
Company shall cease and Prison Realty shall continue as the Surviving Entity
(the "Surviving Entity") and shall succeed to and assume all the rights and
obligations of the Company in accordance with the TBCA and the MRL.

         SECTION 1.02. CLOSING. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated
and the transactions contemplated herein abandoned pursuant to Section 7.01, and
subject to the satisfaction


<PAGE>   5



or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI, the closing of the Merger
(the "Closing") will take place at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be specified by the
parties, which shall be no later than the second business day following the
satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions set forth in Article VI which by
their terms are capable of being satisfied prior to the Closing (the "Closing
Date"), at the offices of Stokes & Bartholomew, P.A., unless another time, date
or place is agreed to by the parties hereto.

         SECTION 1.03. EFFECTIVE TIME. Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, as soon as practicable on the Closing Date, articles of merger and
all other appropriate documents (in any such case, the "Articles of Merger")
shall be duly prepared, executed, acknowledged and filed by the parties in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the TBCA and the MRL with the
Secretary of State of the State of Tennessee (the "Tennessee Secretary of
State") and the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (the
"Maryland Department"). The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the
Articles of Merger with the Tennessee Secretary of State and the Maryland
Department or at such time thereafter as is provided in the Articles of Merger
(the time the Merger becomes effective being hereinafter referred to as the
"Effective Time").

         SECTION 1.04. EFFECTS OF THE MERGER. The Merger shall have the effects
set forth in Section 48-21-108 of the TBCA and Section 8-501.1(n) of the MRL.

         SECTION 1.05. CONSTITUENT DOCUMENTS.

                  (a) The declaration of trust of Prison Realty as in effect
         immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the governing document
         of the Surviving Entity (with such amendments as may be set forth in
         the Articles of Merger or an amendment hereto) until thereafter changed
         or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

                  (b) The bylaws of Prison Realty as in effect immediately prior
         to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Entity until
         thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

         SECTION 1.06. TRUSTEES. The trustees of Prison Realty immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be the trustees of the Surviving Entity, until the
earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified, as the case may be, and Prison Realty agrees that,
if the Board of Directors of the Company shall so request, it will cause
Jean-Pierre Cuny to be elected to its Board of Trustees immediately after the
Effective Time.

         SECTION 1.07. OFFICERS. The officers of Prison Realty immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Entity, until the
earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified, as the case may be, except that Doctor R. Crants,
Jr. shall become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Prison Realty.



                                        2

<PAGE>   6



                                   ARTICLE II
                    EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK
            OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

         SECTION 2.01. EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK. As of the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company or Prison
Realty or the holders of Company Capital Stock or any Prison Realty Common
Shares:

                  (a) Cancellation of Certain Stock. Each share of Company
         Common Stock that is owned by Prison Realty or by the Company (other
         than those held in connection with the Company Stock Plans (as defined
         in Section 3.01(b)) shall automatically be canceled and retired and
         shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in
         exchange therefor.

                  (b) Conversion of Company Common Stock. Each issued and
         outstanding share of Company Common Stock (other than shares to be
         canceled in accordance with Section 2.01(a)) shall be converted into
         the right to receive from the Surviving Entity following the Merger
         0.875 Prison Realty Common Shares (the "Merger Consideration") and
         shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and
         retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate
         representing any such shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to
         have any rights with respect thereto except the right to receive the
         Merger Consideration, without interest thereon.

                  (c) Prison Realty Capital Shares. Each capital share of Prison
         Realty issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time
         shall remain outstanding.

         SECTION 2.02. EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES. (a) Paying Agent. Prior to the
Effective Time, Prison Realty shall appoint a bank or trust company that is
reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange
Agent") for the purpose of exchanging certificates representing Company Common
Stock (the "Certificates" and each a "Certificate") for the Merger
Consideration. Prison Realty will make available to the Exchange Agent, as
needed, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of shares of Company
Common Stock. Promptly after the Effective Time, Prison Realty will send, or
will cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each holder of shares of Company
Common Stock at the Effective Time (other than the Company or Prison Realty or
any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 8.03)) a letter of transmittal
for use in such exchange (which shall specify that the delivery shall be
effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of
the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and instructions for use in effecting
the surrender of the Certificates for payment therefor.

                  (a) Each holder of shares of Company Common Stock that have
         been converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration will
         be entitled to receive, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a
         Certificate, together with a properly completed letter of transmittal,
         the Merger Consideration in respect of each share of Company Common
         Stock represented by such Certificate. Until so surrendered, each such
         Certificate shall, after the

                                        3

<PAGE>   7



         Effective Time, represent for all purposes only the right to receive
         such Merger Consideration.

                  (b) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be paid
         to a person (as defined in Section 8.03) other than the person in whose
         name the Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to such
         payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed
         or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that the person
         requesting such payment shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or
         other taxes required as a result of such payment to a person other than
         the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the
         satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is
         not payable.

                  (c) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further
         registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock. If, after
         the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Entity,
         they shall be canceled and promptly exchanged for the consideration
         provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
         Article.

                  (d) Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to
         the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.03(a) that remains unclaimed
         by the holders of shares of Company Common Stock six months after the
         Effective Time shall be returned to Prison Realty upon demand, and any
         such holder who has not exchanged shares of Company Common Stock for
         the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section prior to that
         time shall thereafter look only to Prison Realty for payment of the
         Merger Consideration in respect of such shares of Company Common Stock.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing, Prison Realty shall not be liable to any
         holder of shares of Company Common Stock for any amount paid to a
         public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property laws.

                  (e) No dividends, interest or other distributions with respect
         to securities of Prison Realty constituting part of the Merger
         Consideration shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered
         Certificates until such Certificates are surrendered as provided in
         this Section. Upon such surrender, there shall be paid, without
         interest, to the person in whose name the securities of Prison Realty
         have been registered, all dividends, interest and other distributions
         payable in respect of such securities on a date subsequent to, and in
         respect of a record date after, the Effective Time.

         SECTION 2.03. SERIES B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK. Immediately prior
to the Effective Time, the Company shall cause all issued and outstanding shares
of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share (the
"Series B Convertible Preferred Stock") to be converted to shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant to Section 1.E.1. of the Articles of Amendment to the
Company's Charter dated October 2, 1997.

         SECTION 2.04. STOCK OPTIONS. At the Effective Time, each option to
purchase shares of Company Common Stock granted pursuant to the Company Stock
Plans (as hereinafter defined) (a "Company Option") shall become a Canceled
Option pursuant to Section 5.06 hereof.

                                        4

<PAGE>   8



         SECTION 2.05. EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN. As of the Effective Time,
benefits under the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP") shall
cease to accrue, but the ESOP shall not be terminated. As soon as practicable
after the Effective Time, the ESOP will be merged into one or more successor
plans sponsored by those companies that will acquire from Prison Realty the
governmental contracts presently held by the Company. The rights of participants
in the ESOP with respect to any offering period then underway under the ESOP
shall be determined by treating the last business day prior to the Effective
Time as the last day of such offering period and by making such other pro-rata
adjustments as may be necessary to reflect the reduced offering period but
otherwise treating such offering period as a fully effective and completed
offering period for all purposes of the ESOP. Prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall take all actions (including, if appropriate, amending the terms of
the Company's ESOP) that are necessary to give effect to the transactions
contemplated by this Section.

         SECTION 2.06. WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMPANY COMMON STOCK. At the
Effective Time, each warrant to purchase shares of Company Common Stock
outstanding (the "Company Warrants") whether or not exercisable, shall be deemed
to constitute a warrant to acquire, on substantially the same terms and
conditions as were applicable to the original warrant to which it relates (a
"Substitute Warrant"), the same number of shares of Prison Realty Common Shares
as the holder of such warrant would have been entitled to receive pursuant to
the Merger had such holder exercised such warrant in full immediately prior to
the Effective Time, at a price per share of Prison Realty Common Shares computed
in compliance with the terms of such Company Warrant; provided, however, that
the number of shares of Prison Realty Common Shares that may be purchased upon
exercise of such Substitute Warrant shall not include any fractional share.
Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain
such consents, if any, as may be necessary to give effect to the transactions
contemplated by this Section. In addition, prior to the Effective Time, the
Company will use its best efforts to make any amendments to the terms of the
Company Warrants that are necessary to give effect to the transactions
contemplated by this Section. Except as contemplated by this Section, the
Company will not, after the date hereof, without the written consent of Prison
Realty, amend any outstanding warrants to purchase shares of Company Common
Stock.

         SECTION 2.07. NOTES CONVERTIBLE INTO COMPANY COMMON STOCK. Except as
otherwise agreed by the Company and the holder of any outstanding note of the
Company convertible into shares of Company Common Stock (a "Company Note"), at
the Effective Time, each Company Note shall be deemed to constitute a note
convertible into, on substantially the same terms and conditions as were
applicable to the original note to which it relates (a "Substitute Convertible
Note"), the same number of Prison Realty Common Shares as the holder of such
note would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger had such holder
converted such note in full immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided,
however, that the number of Prison Realty Common Shares that may be purchased
upon conversion of such Substitute Convertible Note shall not include any
fractional share. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company will use its best
efforts to obtain such consents, if any, as may be necessary to give effect to
the transactions contemplated by this Section. In addition, prior to the
Effective Time, the Company will use its best efforts to make any amendments to
the 


                                        5

<PAGE>   9



terms of the Company Notes that are necessary to give effect to the transactions
contemplated by this Section. Except as contemplated by this Section, the
Company will not, after the date hereof, without the written consent of Prison
Realty, amend any outstanding Company Notes.

         SECTION 2.08. ADJUSTMENTS. If at any time during the period between the
date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding
capital shares of Prison Realty shall occur, including by reason of any
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or
readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend thereon with a record date during
such period, the Merger Consideration shall be adjusted appropriately.

         SECTION 2.09. FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Prison Realty
Common Shares shall be issued in the Merger, but in lieu thereof each holder of
shares of Company Common Stock otherwise entitled to receive as a result of the
Merger a fractional share of Prison Realty Common Shares will be entitled to
receive a cash payment representing such holder's proportionate interest in the
net proceeds resulting from the sale (after deduction of all expenses resulting
from such sale) on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") through one or more of
its member firms of the fractional shares of Prison Realty Common Shares all
holders of shares of Company Common Stock would otherwise be entitled to receive
as a result of the Merger.

         SECTION 2.10. LOST CERTIFICATES. If any Certificate shall have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the
person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if
required by the Surviving Entity, the posting by such person of a bond, in such
reasonable amount as the Surviving Entity may direct, as indemnity against any
claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange
Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the
Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock
represented by such Certificates as contemplated by this Article.


                                   ARTICLE III
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         SECTION 3.01. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. Except as
set forth in the Company SEC Documents (as defined in Section 3.01(d)) filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and publicly available
prior to the date hereof (the "Company Filed SEC Documents") or on the
Disclosure Schedule delivered by the Company to Prison Realty prior to the
execution of this Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Schedule"), which Company
Disclosure Schedule constitutes a part hereof and is true and correct in all
material respects, the Company represents and warrants to Prison Realty as
follows:

                  (a) Organization and Authority. The Company is a corporation
         duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the
         laws of the State of Tennessee with full corporate power and authority
         to own its properties and conduct its business as now 


                                        6

<PAGE>   10



         conducted and is duly qualified or authorized to do business and is in
         good standing in all jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify
         could have a material adverse effect (as defined in Section 8.03(a)).
         The Company does not have a direct or indirect ownership interest in
         any subsidiary corporation, joint venture, partnership or other entity,
         except for those entities listed on the Company Disclosure Schedule,
         each of which is duly formed and in good standing under the laws of its
         jurisdiction of formation, with full power and authority to own its
         properties and conduct its business as now conducted, and is duly
         qualified or authorized to do business and is in good standing in all
         jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify could have a material
         adverse effect upon the conduct of business or the ownership or leasing
         of property by it in such jurisdiction. Each Subsidiary holds all
         licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and authorizations from
         governmental authorities necessary for the conduct of its business.
         Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company
         owns all the outstanding capital stock or ownership interests of each
         Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens (as hereinafter defined) and
         there are no rights to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital
         stock or ownership interests of any Subsidiary. The Company has made
         available to Prison Realty complete and correct copies of its charter
         and bylaws and the charter and bylaws (or other organizational
         documents) of each of its Subsidiaries, in each case as amended to the
         date of this Agreement.

                  (b) Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of the
         Company consists of 150,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and
         1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the
         Company, of which 400,000 shares have been designated Series B
         Convertible Preferred Stock. At the close of business on April 17,
         1998, (A) 80,215,073 shares of Company Common Stock were outstanding,
         (B) 733,553 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock were
         outstanding, (C) options to acquire 3,468,097 shares of Company Common
         Stock from the Company pursuant to the Company's equity incentive plans
         listed on the Company Disclosure Schedule (the "Company Stock Plans")
         were outstanding, (D) Company Warrants to acquire 4,400,000 shares of
         Company Common Stock from the Company were outstanding, (E) the Company
         Notes convertible into 6,364,225 shares of Company Common Stock were
         outstanding; and (F) the Securities Purchase Agreement between the
         Company and Sodexho Alliance, S.A., a French corporation ("Sodexho")
         dated as of June 23, 1994, granting Sodexho the right to purchase notes
         convertible into shares of Company Common Stock were outstanding. Other
         than as set forth above, at the close of business on April 17, 1998,
         there were outstanding no shares of Company Capital Stock or options,
         warrants or other rights to acquire Company Capital Stock from the
         Company. Since April 17, 1998, (x) there have been no issuances by the
         Company of shares of Company Capital Stock other than issuances of
         shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Company
         Options outstanding as of April 17, 1998 and (y) there have been no
         issuances by the Company of options, warrants or other rights to
         acquire capital stock from the Company except as expressly permitted by
         this Agreement. No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness
         having the right to vote (or convertible into or exchangeable for
         securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which
         shareholders of the Company may vote are issued or outstanding, except
         the Company 


                                        7

<PAGE>   11



         Notes. All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are, and any
         shares of Company Common Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of
         Company Options or Company Warrants or conversion of the Company Notes
         when issued will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
         nonassessable, and will be delivered free and clear of all claims,
         liens, encumbrances, pledges or security interests (collectively,
         "Liens") and not subject to preemptive rights, except pursuant to that
         certain Stockholders Agreement dated as of June 23, 1994 by and among
         the Company, Sodexho, and certain shareholders of the Company (the
         "Sodexho Stockholders Agreement"). Other than as set forth above, and
         except for this Agreement, the Company Stock Plans, the Company
         Options, the Company Warrants and the Company Notes, there are no
         outstanding securities, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments,
         agreements or undertakings of any kind to which the Company or any of
         its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries is bound obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
         to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold,
         additional shares of capital stock or other equity or voting securities
         of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or obligating the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter
         into any such security, option, warrant, call, right, commitment,
         agreement or undertaking. There are no outstanding obligations of the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
         acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the
         Company, as of the date hereof, no irrevocable proxies have been
         granted with respect to shares of Company Common Stock or equity of
         Subsidiaries of the Company.

                  (c) Authorization. The Company has all requisite corporate
         power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to
         obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval with respect to the Merger,
         to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
         delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
         corporate action on the part of the Company, subject to obtaining the
         Company Shareholder Approval with respect to the Merger. This Agreement
         has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a
         valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
         Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
         insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance,
         fraudulent transfer and other similar laws from time to time in effect.
         The execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, conflict
         with, or result in any breach or violation of, or default (with or
         without notice or lapse of time or both) under, or result in the
         termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or give rise
         to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
         obligation under, or the creation of a Lien pursuant to, (i) any
         provision of the charter (or similar organizational documents) or
         bylaws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) subject to
         obtaining or making the consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
         registrations, declarations and filings referred to in the following
         sentence, any loan or credit agreement, note, mortgage, indenture,
         lease, Company Benefit Plan (as defined in Section 3.01(m)) or other
         agreement, obligation, instrument, 


                                        8

<PAGE>   12



         permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree,
         statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company
         or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, in
         any case under this clause (ii) which would, individually or in the
         aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company. No consent,
         approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or
         filing with, any court, administrative agency or commission or other
         governmental authority or instrumentality (a "Governmental Entity") is
         required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
         in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
         Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions
         contemplated hereby, the failure of which to be obtained or made would,
         individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
         Company or would prevent or materially delay the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby, except for (A) the filing with the
         SEC of (i) a proxy statement relating to the consideration of the
         Company Shareholder Approval at a meeting of the shareholders of the
         Company (the "Company Shareholders Meeting") duly called and convened
         to consider the approval of this Agreement (such proxy statement, which
         shall also relate to the consideration of the Prison Realty Shareholder
         Approval at a meeting of the shareholders of Prison Realty (the "Prison
         Realty Shareholders Meeting") duly called and convened to consider the
         approval of this Agreement and a prospectus with regard to the issuance
         of Prison Realty Common Shares in the Merger, as amended or
         supplemented from time to time, the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus")
         and (ii) such reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
         amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the
         "Exchange Act"), as may be required in connection with this Agreement
         and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, (B) the
         filing of the Articles of Merger with the Tennessee Secretary of State
         and the Maryland Department and appropriate documents with the relevant
         authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified to do
         business, (C) filings required pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino
         Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and
         regulations promulgated thereunder (the "HSR Act"), (D) filings
         necessary to satisfy the applicable requirements of state securities or
         "blue sky" laws, (E) those required under the rules and regulations of
         the NYSE and (F) those required pursuant to the Company's leases,
         management agreements and related agreements with Governmental
         Entities, which are set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule
         (collectively, the "Required Filings").

                  (d) SEC Documents; Financial Statements. The Company has filed
         and made available to Prison Realty a true and complete copy of each
         report, schedule, registration statement and definitive proxy statement
         required to be filed by the Company with the SEC since January 1, 1995
         (the "Company SEC Documents"). As of their respective dates, the
         Company SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the
         requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
         and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Securities Act") or the
         Exchange Act, as the case may be, applicable to such Company SEC
         Documents. None of the Company SEC Documents when filed contained any
         untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which


                                        9

<PAGE>   13



         they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company
         included in the Company SEC Documents comply as to form in all material
         respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published
         rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been
         prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
         applied on a consistent basis ("GAAP") during the periods involved
         (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of the
         unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC, or for
         normal year-end adjustments) and fairly present in all material
         respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
         consolidated Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the consolidated
         results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended.
         Except as set forth in the Company Filed SEC Documents (including any
         item accounted for in the financial statements contained in the Company
         Filed SEC Documents or set forth in the notes thereto), as of December
         31, 1997, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries had, and
         since such date neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
         incurred, any claims, liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether
         accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) which, individually or in
         the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the Company
         (other than claims, liabilities or obligations contemplated by this
         Agreement or expressly permitted to be incurred pursuant to this
         Agreement).

                  (e) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or
         to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by
         reference in (i) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the date
         it is first mailed to shareholders of the Company or Prison Realty or
         at the time of the Company Shareholders Meeting or the Prison Realty
         Shareholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that
         in each case no representation or warranty is made by the Company with
         respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based
         on information supplied by Prison Realty specifically for inclusion or
         incorporation by reference therein. The Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus will comply as to form in all material respects
         with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act,
         except that in each case no representation or warranty is made by the
         Company with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference
         therein based on information supplied by Prison Realty for inclusion or
         incorporation by reference therein.

                  (f) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Subsequent to
         December 31, 1997, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has sustained
         any material loss or interference with its business or properties from
         fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity, whether or not
         covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
         governmental action, order or decree, which is not disclosed; and
         subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in
         the Company Filed SEC Documents, (i) neither the Company nor any
         Subsidiary has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct
         or contingent, or entered into any transactions not in the ordinary
         course of business consistent with past practice, and 


                                       10

<PAGE>   14



         (ii) there has not been any issuance of options, warrants or rights to
         purchase interests in, or the capital shares of, the Company, or any
         adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse
         change, in the general affairs, management, business, prospects,
         financial position, net worth or results of operations of the Company
         or any Subsidiary.

                  (g) Compliance with Laws; Litigation. Except as described in
         the Company Disclosure Schedule or the Company Filed SEC Documents,
         there is not pending, or to the knowledge of the Company threatened,
         any legal or governmental action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or
         investigation, to which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their
         respective officers, directors or trustees is a party, or to which the
         property of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject, before or brought
         by any Governmental Entity, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or
         finding could prevent or materially hinder the consummation of this
         Agreement or result in a material adverse effect on the Company. Each
         of the Company and each Subsidiary has at all times operated and
         currently operates its business in conformity in all material respects
         with all applicable statutes, common laws, ordinances, decrees, orders,
         rules and regulations of Governmental Entities. Each of the Company and
         each Subsidiary has all licenses, approvals or consents to operate its
         businesses in all locations in which such businesses are currently
         being operated, and the Company is not aware of any existing or
         imminent matter which may materially adversely impact its operations or
         business prospects other than as specifically disclosed in the Company
         Filed SEC Documents or the Company Disclosure Schedule. None of the
         Company or any Subsidiary have failed to file with the applicable
         regulatory authorities any material statements, reports, information or
         forms required by all applicable laws, regulations or orders; all such
         filings or submissions were in material compliance with applicable laws
         when filed, and no material deficiencies have been asserted by any
         regulatory commission, agency or authority with respect to such filings
         or submissions. None of the Company or any Subsidiary have failed to
         maintain in full force and effect any material licenses, registrations
         or permits necessary or proper for the conduct of its business, or
         received any notification that any revocation or limitation thereof is
         threatened or pending, and there is not to the knowledge of the Company
         pending any change under any law, regulation, license or permit which
         would materially adversely affect the business, operations, property or
         business prospects of the Company. None of the Company or any
         Subsidiary have received any notice of violation of or been threatened
         with a charge of violating or are under investigation with respect to a
         possible violation of any provision of any law, regulation or order.

                  (h) Taxes.

                           (i) (A) The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed,
                  or have caused to be filed on their behalf, all tax returns
                  required to be filed by them (collectively, the "Company
                  Returns"), and as of the time of filing, all the Company
                  Returns were complete and accurate except to the extent that
                  any failure to file or any inaccuracies in any filed Company
                  Returns would not have a material adverse effect on the
                  Company, (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries have paid or the
                  Company has made


                                       11

<PAGE>   15



                  adequate reserves in its financial statements included in the
                  Company Filed SEC Documents (other than reserves for deferred
                  income taxes established to reflect differences between book
                  basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities) for all taxes
                  payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries except to the
                  extent that any failure to pay or reserve would not have a
                  material adverse effect on the Company, (C) the Company and
                  its Subsidiaries have made or the Company will make provision
                  in its financial statements for all taxes payable for any
                  periods that end before the Effective Time for which no
                  Company Returns have yet been filed and for any periods that
                  begin before the Effective Time and end after the Effective
                  Time to the extent such taxes are attributable to the portion
                  of any such period ending at the Effective Time except to the
                  extent that any failure to make such provision would not have
                  a material adverse effect on the Company, (D) neither the
                  Company nor any Subsidiary has requested any extension of time
                  within which to file or send any Company Return, which Company
                  Return has not since been filed or sent, except to the extent
                  that any such request for an extension would not have a
                  material adverse effect on the Company, (E) no deficiency for
                  any taxes has been proposed, asserted or assessed in writing
                  against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except to the
                  extent that any such deficiency would not have a material
                  adverse effect on the Company, (F) no claim for unpaid taxes
                  has become a Lien of any kind against the property of the
                  Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is being asserted
                  against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except to the
                  extent that any such Lien would not have, individually or in
                  the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the Company, (G)
                  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to
                  or is otherwise bound by (or has any assets bound by) any tax
                  sharing agreement, tax indemnity obligation or similar
                  agreement or arrangement, and (H) each of the Company and its
                  Subsidiaries has duly and timely withheld from employee
                  salaries, wages and other compensation and paid over to the
                  appropriate tax authorities all taxes required to be so
                  withheld and paid over for all periods for which the statutory
                  period of limitations for the assessment of tax has not yet
                  expired except to the extent that any failure to so withhold
                  and pay over would not have a material adverse effect on the
                  Company.

                           (ii) For the purpose of this Agreement, the term (A)
                  "tax" (including, with correlative meaning, the terms "taxes"
                  and "taxable") shall include, except where the context
                  otherwise requires, all Federal, state, local, provincial and
                  foreign income, profits, franchise, gross receipts, payroll,
                  sales, use, property, withholding, excise, occupancy and other
                  taxes of any nature whatsoever, together with all interest,
                  penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts
                  and (B) "tax return" shall mean all Federal, state, local,
                  provincial and foreign tax returns, declarations, statements,
                  reports, schedules, forms and information returns and any
                  amended tax return relating to taxes.

                  (i) Certain Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
         Subsidiaries is in default under any material agreement, commitment,
         lease or other instrument to which it or 


                                       12

<PAGE>   16



         any of its properties is subject, and there has not occurred any event
         that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would
         constitute such a default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or,
         to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, a default
         thereunder by any other party thereto, except in all cases where such
         defaults, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material
         adverse effect on the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its
         Subsidiaries is a party to any contract (other than leases) containing
         any covenant restricting its ability to conduct its business as
         currently conducted except for any such covenants that would not,
         individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
         Company. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach
         in any material respect under its charter, bylaws or other
         organizational documents.

                  (j) Properties.

                           (i)  Company Owned Real Property. The Company Filed
                  SEC Documents describe all material real property owned by the
                  Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company
                  Owned Real Property"). Except as disclosed therein, or in the
                  title insurance policies relating to the Company Owned Real
                  Property or in the Company Disclosure Schedule, each of the
                  Company and its Subsidiaries has good, valid and marketable
                  title to the Company Owned Real Property free of all Liens, in
                  each case except, individually or in the aggregate, as would
                  not have a material adverse effect on the Company. Except as
                  set forth in Section 3.01(j)(i) of the Company Disclosure
                  Schedule and as contemplated with respect to the properties
                  designated the "Option Facilities" in the Company Filed SEC
                  Documents, there are no outstanding contracts for the sale of
                  any of the Company Owned Real Property, except those contracts
                  relating to property the value in respect of which does not
                  exceed $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the
                  aggregate.

                           (ii) Company Leased Real Property. The Company Filed
                  SEC Documents describe all leases and subleases (the "Company
                  Real Property Leases") of the Company with respect to all
                  material real property which is leased or subleased by the
                  Company or its Subsidiaries (the "Company Leased Real
                  Property"; the Company Owned Real Property and the Company
                  Leased Real Property are collectively defined as the "Company
                  Real Property"). Except as disclosed in the Company Filed SEC
                  Documents or in the title insurance policies relating to the
                  Company Leased Real Property, pursuant to the Company Real
                  Property Leases, the Company and its Subsidiaries hold good
                  and valid leasehold title to the Company Leased Real Property,
                  in each case in accordance with the provisions of the
                  applicable Company Real Property Lease and free of all Liens,
                  in each case except, individually or in the aggregate, as
                  would not have a material adverse effect on the Company. Each
                  of the Company Real Property Leases is enforceable against the
                  Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, against the
                  other party thereto, in 


                                       13

<PAGE>   17



                  accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
                  fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar
                  laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
                  creditors' rights and to general equity principles and except
                  for such failures to be enforceable as would not, individually
                  or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
                  Company. Other than as disclosed in the title insurance
                  policies relating to the Company Leased Real Property or such
                  exceptions which would not have a material adverse effect on
                  the Company, all Company Real Property Leases are in full
                  force and effect and grant in all respects the leasehold
                  estates or rights of occupancy or use they purport to grant.

                           (iii) Improvements Under Construction. With respect
                  to those Improvements being constructed as set forth in the
                  Company Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of the Company,
                  (a) the budget for the construction of the Improvements fairly
                  and accurately reflects the Company's good faith estimate of
                  the costs and expenses shown thereon reasonably necessary to
                  develop and construct the Improvements in accordance with the
                  plans and specifications therefor, and the Company has
                  strictly adhered to said budget and has permitted no
                  deviations from said budget or the plans and specifications
                  for the Improvements; (b) the plans and specifications for the
                  Improvements have been approved by all applicable Governmental
                  Entities having jurisdiction over the Company Real Property,
                  the development and construction of the Improvements and the
                  use and occupancy thereof for its intended purposes, and/or
                  any utility services to the Company Real Property; (c) all
                  utility services necessary for the development and
                  construction of the Improvements and the use and occupancy
                  thereof for its intended purposes are available through public
                  or private easements or rights-of-way at the boundaries of the
                  Company Real Property, including, without limitation, sanitary
                  sewer, electricity, gas, water, telephone, and storm water
                  drainage; (d) all roads necessary for ingress and egress to
                  the Company Real Property, and for the full utilization of the
                  Company Real Property for its intended purposes, have either
                  been completed pursuant to public or private easements, or the
                  necessary rights-of-way therefore have been dedicated to
                  public use and accepted by the appropriate Governmental
                  Entity; (e) all building permits, curb cuts, sewer and water
                  taps, and other permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations
                  and consents required for the development and construction of
                  the Improvements have been obtained; (f) the plans and
                  specifications for the Improvements, the development and
                  construction of the Improvements pursuant thereto, and the use
                  and occupancy of the Improvements for its intended purposes
                  comply and will comply with all applicable zoning ordinances,
                  building regulations, restrictive covenants and governmental
                  laws, rules, regulations and ordinances, and comply and will
                  comply with all applicable requirements, standards and
                  regulations of appropriate supervising boards of fire
                  underwriters and similar agencies, authorities or boards; (g)
                  the Company has: (i) diligently pursued the development,
                  construction and installation of the Improvements; and (ii)
                  performed such duties as may be necessary to complete the
                  development, construction and installation of the


                                       14

<PAGE>   18



                  Improvements in accordance with the plans and specifications
                  and without liens, claims or assessments, actual or
                  contingent, asserted against the Company Real Property for any
                  material, labor or other items furnished in connection
                  therewith, and all in full compliance with all construction,
                  use, building, zoning and other similar laws, ordinances,
                  rules, regulations, codes and restrictions of any applicable
                  Governmental Entities or authorities or otherwise applicable
                  thereto; (h) the Company has complied with all laws,
                  ordinances, rules, regulations, judgments, orders,
                  injunctions, writs and decrees of any government or political
                  subdivision or agency thereof, or any court or similar entity
                  established by any of them, applicable to the construction of
                  the Improvements, and has paid when due all taxes and
                  assessments upon the Improvements or Company Real Property,
                  and all claims for labor or materials, rents, and other
                  obligations that, if unpaid, will or might become a Lien
                  against the Improvements or the Company Real Property; (i) the
                  Company has maintained, in sufficient amount, and in
                  satisfactory form and substance, and with satisfactory
                  insurers: (i) builder's risk insurance, all-risk nonreporting
                  completed value form, insuring the Improvements against fire,
                  theft, extended coverage, vandalism, and such other hazards in
                  full force and effect at all times until the completion of
                  construction of all of the Improvements; and (ii) such other
                  insurance, in such amounts and for such terms, as may from
                  time to time be reasonably required insuring against such
                  other casualties or losses which at the time are commonly
                  insured against in the case of premises similarly situated;
                  and (j) the Improvements have been constructed in accordance
                  with the plans and specifications therefor, and in compliance
                  with all laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable
                  thereto, and in a good and workmanlike manner. For the
                  purposes of this Agreement "Improvements" shall mean all
                  buildings, improvements, structures and fixtures now or on the
                  Closing Date located on the Company Real Property, including,
                  without limitation, landscaping, parking lots and structures,
                  roads, drainage and all above ground and underground utility
                  structures, equipment systems and other so-called
                  "infrastructure" improvements.

                           (k)   Environmental Matters.

                           (i)   To the knowledge of the Company, the Company
                  Real Property and the Improvements thereon (the "Company
                  Facilities") are presently operated in compliance in all
                  material respects with all Environmental Laws (as defined
                  below).

                           (ii)  There are no Environmental Laws requiring any
                  material remediation, clean up, repairs, constructions or
                  capital expenditures (other than normal maintenance) with
                  respect to the Company Facilities.

                           (iii) There are no (A) notices of any violation or
                  alleged violation of any Environmental Laws relating to the
                  Company Facilities or their uses that have been


                                       15

<PAGE>   19



                  received by the Company, or (B) writs, injunctions, decrees,
                  orders or judgments outstanding, or any actions, suits,
                  claims, proceedings or investigations pending, or to the
                  knowledge of the Company threatened, relating to the
                  ownership, use, maintenance or operation of the Company
                  Facilities.

                           (iv) All material permits and licenses required under
                  any Environmental Laws in respect of the operations of the
                  Company Facilities have been obtained, and the Company
                  Facilities and the Company are in compliance, in all material
                  respects, with the terms and conditions of such permits and
                  licenses.

                           (v)  "Environmental Laws" mean all applicable
                  statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, licenses,
                  permits, orders, demands, approvals, authorizations and
                  similar items of all governmental agencies, departments,
                  commissions, boards, bureaus or instrumentalities of the
                  United States, states and political subdivisions thereof and
                  all applicable judicial, administrative and regulatory
                  decrees, judgments and orders relating to the protection of
                  human health, the environment, or worker or public health and
                  safety as in effect as of the date hereof, including but not
                  limited to those pertaining to reporting, licensing,
                  permitting, investigation and remediation of emissions,
                  discharges, releases or threatened releases of "Hazardous
                  Materials," substances, pollutants, contaminants or hazardous
                  or toxic substances, materials or wastes whether solid, liquid
                  or gaseous in nature, into the air, surface water, ground
                  water or land, or relating to the manufacture, processing,
                  distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or
                  handling of substances, pollutants, contaminants or hazardous
                  or toxic substances, materials or wastes, whether solid,
                  liquid or gaseous in nature, including by way of illustration
                  and not by way of limitation, (x) the Comprehensive
                  Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42
                  U.S.C. ss.ss. 960111 et seq.), the Resource Conservation and
                  Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. ss.ss.69011 et seq.), the Clean Air
                  Act (42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 7401 et seq.), the Federal Water
                  Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. ss.ss. 1251), the Safe
                  Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. ss.ss. 300f et seq.), the Toxic
                  Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. ss.ss. 2601 et seq.), the
                  Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. ss.ss. 1531 et seq.), the
                  Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (42
                  U.S.C. ss.ss. 11001 et seq.) and (y) analogous state and local
                  provisions.

                           (vi) "Hazardous Material" means any chemical
                  substance:

                                    (A) the presence of which requires
                           investigation or remediation under any federal, state
                           or local statute, regulation, ordinance, order,
                           action or policy, administrative request or civil
                           complaint under any of the foregoing or under common
                           law; or


                                       16

<PAGE>   20



                                    (B) which is defined as a "hazardous waste"
                           or "hazardous substance" under any federal, state or
                           local statute, regulation or ordinance or amendments
                           thereto as in effect as of the date hereof, or as
                           hereafter amended, including, without limitation, the
                           Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
                           and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.)
                           and or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42
                           U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.); or

                                    (C) which is toxic, explosive, corrosive,
                           flammable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic,
                           mutagenic or otherwise hazardous and is regulated by
                           any governmental authority, agency, department,
                           commission, board, agency or instrumentality of the
                           United States, or any state or any political
                           subdivision thereof having or asserting jurisdiction
                           over any of the Company Facilities; or

                                    (D) the presence of which on any of the
                           Company Facilities causes a nuisance upon such
                           facilities or to adjacent properties or poses a
                           hazard to the health or safety of persons on or about
                           any of the Company Facilities; or

                                    (E) the presence of which on adjacent
                           properties constitutes a trespass by any owner or
                           operator of the Company Facilities; or

                                    (F) which contains gasoline, diesel fuel or
                           other petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated
                           biphenyls (PCBs) or asbestos or asbestos-containing
                           materials or urea formaldehyde foam insulation, or
                           lead-based paint, solder or other building materials;
                           or

                                    (G) radon gas.

                  (l) Labor Matters. As of the date hereof, (i) to the knowledge
         of the Company there are no representation or certification
         proceedings, or petitions seeking a representation proceeding pending
         or threatened to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations
         Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority and (ii) to
         the knowledge of the Company there are no organizing activities or
         strikes involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect
         to any group of employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in
         each case that would be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to
         have a material adverse effect on the Company.

                  (m) Benefit Plans.

                           (i) All "employee benefit plans" (as defined in
                  Section 3(3) of ERISA) and all other compensation, bonus,
                  pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock


                                       17

<PAGE>   21



                  ownership, stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock,
                  retirement, employment, change-in-control, welfare, collective
                  bargaining, severance, disability, death benefit,
                  hospitalization and medical plans, agreements, arrangements or
                  understandings that are maintained or contributed to (or
                  previously contributed to) for the benefit of any current or
                  former employee, officer or director of the Company or any of
                  its Subsidiaries and with respect to which the Company or any
                  of its Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to have
                  direct or contingent liability are defined as the "Company
                  Benefit Plans". The Company has heretofore delivered or made
                  available to Prison Realty true and complete copies of all
                  Company Benefit Plans and, with respect to each Company
                  Benefit Plan, true and complete copies of the following
                  documents: the most recent actuarial report, if any; the most
                  recent annual report, if any; any related trust agreement,
                  annuity contract or other funding instrument, if any; the most
                  recent determination letter, if any; and the most recent
                  summary plan description, if any.

                           (ii) Except as disclosed in Section 3.01(m) of the
                  Company Disclosure Schedule: (A) none of the Company Benefit
                  Plans is a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section
                  3(37) of ERISA or is otherwise subject to Title IV of ERISA;
                  (B) none of the Company Benefit Plans promises or provides
                  retiree medical or life insurance benefits to any person; (C)
                  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
                  obligation to adopt or has taken any corporate action to
                  adopt, any new Company Benefit Plan or, except as required by
                  law, to amend any existing Company Benefit Plan; (D) each
                  Company Benefit Plan has been administered in compliance with
                  its terms and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and
                  all other applicable laws, rules and regulations except for
                  any failures to so administer any Company Benefit Plan as
                  would not have a material adverse effect on the Company; (E)
                  each Company Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified
                  within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is, to the
                  Company's knowledge, so qualified; (F) neither the Company nor
                  any entity required to be treated as a single employer with
                  the Company under Section 414 of the Code has any unsatisfied
                  liability under Title IV of ERISA that would have a material
                  adverse effect on the Company, (G) other than funding
                  obligations and benefits claims payable in the ordinary
                  course, to the Company's knowledge, no event has occurred and
                  no circumstance exists with respect to any Company Benefit
                  Plan that could give rise to any liability that would have a
                  material adverse effect on the Company, whether directly or by
                  reason of its affiliation with any entity required to be
                  treated as a single employer with the Company under Section
                  414 of the Code; (H) as of the date hereof there are no
                  pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the
                  Company, threatened investigations, claims or lawsuits in
                  respect of any Company Benefit Plan that would have a material
                  adverse effect on the Company; (I) no amount payable pursuant
                  to a Company Benefit Plan or any other plan, contract or
                  arrangement of the Company would be considered an "excess
                  parachute payment" under Section 280G of the Code; and (J)
                  except as provided in Section 5.06(a) of this Agreement, no


                                       18

<PAGE>   22



                  Company Benefit Plan exists that could result in the payment
                  to any current or former employee, officer or director of the
                  Company of any money or other property or accelerate or
                  provide any other rights or benefits as a result of the
                  transactions contemplated by this Agreement which would
                  constitute an excess parachute payment within the meaning of
                  Section 280G of the Code.

                  (n) Material Contracts. There are no contracts or other
         documents required by the Securities Act to be described in or to be
         filed as exhibits to the Company Filed SEC Documents which have not
         been described or filed as required. All such contracts to which the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party have been duly
         authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company or
         such Subsidiary and are enforceable against the Company or such
         Subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof. Each of the Company
         and each Subsidiary has performed all material obligations required to
         be performed by it, and is neither in default in any material respect
         nor has it received notice of any default or dispute under, any such
         contract or other material instrument to which it is a party or by
         which its property is bound or affected. To the best knowledge of the
         Company, no other party under any such contract or other material
         instrument to which it is a party is in default in any material respect
         thereunder.

                  (o) Accounting. The Company's system of internal accounting
         controls is sufficient to meet the broad objectives of internal
         accounting controls insofar as those objectives pertain to the
         prevention or detection of errors or irregularities in amounts that
         would be material in relation to the Company's financial statements.

                  (p) Vote Required. The Company Shareholder Approval is the
         only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company's
         securities necessary to approve this Agreement and the transactions
         contemplated hereby (assuming for purposes of this representation the
         accuracy of the representations contained in Section 3.02(w)).

                  (q) Board Recommendation. On the date hereof, the Board of
         Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly called and held, by the
         unanimous vote of the directors present at such meeting and voting
         (with Doctor R. Crants and Jean-Pierre Cuny abstaining) , (i)
         determined that this Agreement and the Merger and the other
         transactions contemplated hereby are fair to and in the best interests
         of the shareholders of the Company, (ii) adopted this Agreement and
         approved the Merger and (iii) resolved to recommend that the holders of
         shares of Company Capital Stock approve this Agreement.

                  (r) Tennessee Business Combination Act. Assuming the accuracy
         of the representation and warranty of Prison Realty contained in
         Section 3.02(v), the approval of the Merger by the Board of Directors
         of the Company referred to in Section 3.01(q) constitutes approval of
         the Merger for purposes of the TBCA and represents all the actions


                                       19

<PAGE>   23



         necessary to ensure that Sections 48-103-201 et seq. of the TBCA do not
         apply to the Merger.

                  (s) Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor
         or other person, other than Stephens Inc., the fees and expenses of
         which will be paid by the Company, are entitled to any broker's,
         finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in
         connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based
         upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. The Company's
         arrangement with Stephens Inc. has been disclosed to Prison Realty
         prior to the date hereof.

                  (t) Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received the
         opinion of Stephens Inc., dated as of the date hereof, to the effect
         that the consideration to be received by holders of Company Common
         Stock in the Merger is fair to such holders from a financial point of
         view (the "Stephens Opinion").

                  (u) Share Ownership. The Company does not, directly or
         indirectly, own any Prison Realty Common Shares other than Common
         Shares, if any, held in Company Benefit Plans.

         SECTION 3.02. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PRISON REALTY. Except
as set forth in the Prison Realty SEC Documents (as defined in Section 3.02(d))
filed and publicly available prior to the date hereof (the "Prison Realty Filed
SEC Documents") or on the Disclosure Schedule delivered by Prison Realty to the
Company prior to the execution of this Agreement (the "Prison Realty Disclosure
Schedule"), which Prison Realty Disclosure Schedule constitutes a part hereof
and is true and correct in all material respects, Prison Realty represents and
warrants to the Company as follows:

                  (a) Organization and Authority. Prison Realty is duly formed
         and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
         of Maryland with full power and authority to own its properties and
         conduct its business as now conducted and is duly qualified or
         authorized to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions
         where the failure to so qualify could have a material adverse effect on
         Prison Realty (as defined in Section 8.03(a)). Prison Realty does not
         have a direct or indirect ownership interest in any subsidiary
         corporation, joint venture, partnership or other entity, except those
         entities set forth in the Prison Realty Disclosure Schedule, each of
         which is duly incorporated and in good standing under the laws of its
         jurisdiction of organization, with corporate power and authority to own
         its properties and conduct its business as now conducted, and is duly
         qualified or authorized to do business and is in good standing in all
         jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify could have a material
         adverse effect upon the conduct of business or the ownership or leasing
         of property by Prison Realty in such jurisdiction. Each Subsidiary of
         Prison Realty holds all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and
         authorizations from governmental authorities necessary for the conduct
         of its business. Except as set forth in the Prison Realty Disclosure
         Schedule, Prison Realty owns all the outstanding capital stock or


                                       20

<PAGE>   24



         ownership interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and
         there are no rights to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital
         stock or ownership interests of the Subsidiary. Prison Realty has made
         available to the Company complete and correct copies of its declaration
         of trust and bylaws and the charter and bylaws (or other organizational
         documents) of each Subsidiary, in each case as amended to the date of
         this Agreement.

                  (b) Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of Prison
         Realty consists of 90,000,000 Prison Realty Common Shares and
         10,000,000 preferred shares, $0.01 par value per share, of which
         4,600,000 are designated 8.0% Series A Cumulative Preferred Shares of
         Prison Realty ("Prison Realty Series A Preferred Shares", and together
         with the Prison Realty Common Shares, the "Prison Realty Capital
         Shares"). At the close of business on April 17, 1998, (A) 21,576,000
         Prison Realty Common Shares were outstanding, (B) 4,300,000 Prison
         Realty Series A Preferred Shares were outstanding, (C) options to
         acquire 1,113,000 Prison Realty Common Shares from the Company (the
         "Prison Realty Options") pursuant to the 1997 Employee Share Incentive
         Plan and, the Non-Employee Trustees' Share Option Plan (the "Prison
         Realty Equity Plans") were outstanding. Other than as set forth above,
         at the close of business on April 17, 1998, there were outstanding no
         Prison Realty Capital Shares or options, warrants or other rights to
         acquire Prison Realty Capital Shares from Prison Realty. Since April
         17, 1998, (x) there have been no issuances by Prison Realty of Prison
         Realty Capital Shares other than issuances of Prison Realty Common
         Shares pursuant to the exercise of Prison Realty Options outstanding as
         of April 17, 1998 and (y) there have been no issuances by Prison Realty
         of options, warrants or other rights to acquire capital shares from
         Prison Realty except as expressly permitted by this Agreement. No
         bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote
         (or convertible into or exchangeable for securities having the right to
         vote) on any matters on which shareholders of Prison Realty may vote
         are issued or outstanding. All outstanding Prison Realty Capital Shares
         are, and any Prison Realty Common Shares which may be issued upon the
         exercise of Prison Realty Options when issued will be, duly authorized,
         validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will be delivered
         free and clear of Liens and not subject to preemptive rights. Other
         than as set forth above, and except for this Agreement, the Prison
         Realty Equity Plans and the Prison Realty Options, and the Employee
         Savings and Stock Ownership Plan, there are no outstanding securities,
         options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments, agreements or
         undertakings of any kind to which Prison Realty or any Subsidiary of
         Prison Realty is a party or by which Prison Realty or any Subsidiary of
         Prison Realty is bound obligating Prison Realty or any Subsidiary of
         Prison Realty to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued,
         delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity
         or voting securities of Prison Realty or of any Subsidiary of Prison
         Realty or obligating Prison Realty or any Subsidiary of Prison Realty
         to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option,
         warrant, call, right, commitment, agreement or undertaking. There are
         no outstanding obligations of Prison Realty or any of its Subsidiaries
         to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any capital shares of Prison
         Realty or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the
         executive officers of Prison Realty, as of the date hereof, no
         irrevocable proxies have 



                                       21

<PAGE>   25


         been granted with respect to Prison Realty Capital Shares or equity of
         Subsidiaries of Prison Realty.

                  (c) Authorization. Prison Realty has all requisite power and
         authority to enter into this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the
         Prison Realty Shareholder Approval with respect to the Merger, to
         consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
         delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action
         on the part of Prison Realty, subject to obtaining Prison Realty
         Shareholder Approval with respect to the Merger. This Agreement has
         been duly executed and delivered by Prison Realty and constitutes a
         valid and binding obligation of Prison Realty, enforceable against
         Prison Realty in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
         conveyance, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws from time to
         time in effect. The execution and delivery of this Agreement does not,
         and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not,
         conflict with, or result in any breach or violation of, or default
         (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, or result in
         the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or give
         rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
         obligation under, or the creation of a Lien pursuant to, (i) any
         provision of the declaration of trust (or similar organizational
         documents) or bylaws of Prison Realty or any Subsidiary of Prison
         Realty or (ii) subject to obtaining or making the consents, approvals,
         orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings
         referred to in the following sentence, any loan or credit agreement,
         note, mortgage, indenture, lease, Prison Realty Benefit Plan (as
         defined in Section 3.02(n)) or other agreement, obligation, instrument,
         permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree,
         statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Prison Realty
         or any Subsidiary of Prison Realty or their respective properties or
         assets, in any case under this clause (ii) which would, individually or
         in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on Prison Realty. No
         consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
         declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required by or
         with respect to Prison Realty or any Subsidiary of Prison Realty in
         connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Prison
         Realty or the consummation by Prison Realty of the transactions
         contemplated hereby, the failure of which to be obtained or made would,
         individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
         Prison Realty or would prevent or materially delay the consummation of
         the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (A) the filing with
         the SEC of (i) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus; (ii) the
         Registration Statement (as hereinafter defined), and (iii) such reports
         under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this
         Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
         hereby, (B) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Maryland
         Department and the Tennessee Secretary of State and appropriate
         documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which Prison
         Realty is qualified to do business, (C) filings required pursuant to
         the HSR Act, (D) filings necessary to satisfy the applicable
         requirements of state securities or "blue sky" laws, (E) those required
         under the rules and regulations of the NYSE and those required pursuant
         to the Company's agreements with Governmental Entities relating to the



                                       22

<PAGE>   26



         Prison Realty Facilities (as hereinafter defined), each of which is
         listed on the Prison Realty Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the
         "Prison Realty Required Filings").

                  (d) SEC Documents; Financial Statements. Prison Realty has
         filed and made available to the Company a true and complete copy of
         each report, schedule, registration statement and definitive proxy
         statement required to be filed by Prison Realty with the SEC since
         April 24, 1997 (the "Prison Realty SEC Documents"). As of their
         respective dates, the Prison Realty SEC Documents complied in all
         material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the
         Exchange Act, as the case may be, applicable to such Prison Realty SEC
         Documents. None of the Prison Realty SEC Documents when filed contained
         any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
         fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made, not misleading. The financial statements of Prison Realty
         included in the Prison Realty SEC Documents comply as to form in all
         material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the
         published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have
         been prepared in accordance with GAAP during the periods involved
         (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of the
         unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC, or for
         normal year-end adjustments) and fairly present in all material
         respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
         consolidated Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the consolidated
         results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended.
         Except as set forth in the Prison Realty Filed SEC Documents (including
         any item accounted for in the financial statements contained in the
         Prison Realty Filed SEC Documents or set forth in the notes thereto),
         as of December 31, 1997, neither Prison Realty nor any of its
         Subsidiaries had, and since such date neither Prison Realty nor any of
         such Subsidiaries has incurred, any claims, liabilities or obligations
         of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise)
         which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse
         effect on Prison Realty (other than claims, liabilities or obligations
         contemplated by this Agreement or expressly permitted to be incurred
         pursuant to this Agreement).

                  (e) Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or
         to be supplied by Prison Realty for inclusion or incorporation by
         reference in (i) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the date
         it is first mailed to shareholders of Prison Realty or the Company or
         at the time of the Prison Realty Shareholders Meeting or the Company
         Shareholders meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that
         in each case no representation or warranty is made by Prison Realty
         with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein
         based on information supplied by the Company specifically for inclusion
         or incorporation by reference therein. The Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus will comply as to form in all material respects
         with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act,
         except that in each case no representation or warranty is made by
         Prison Realty with respect to statements made or incorporated by


                                       23

<PAGE>   27


         reference therein based on information supplied by the Company
         specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.

                  (f) Registration Statement. The registration statement of
         Prison Realty to be filed with the SEC with respect to the offering of
         Prison Realty Common Shares in connection with the Merger (the
         "Registration Statement") and any amendments or supplements thereto
         will, when filed, comply as to form in all material respects with the
         applicable requirements of the Securities Act. At the time the
         Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes
         effective and at the Effective Time, the Registration Statement, as
         amended or supplemented, if applicable, shall not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
         contained therein not misleading. The foregoing representations and
         warranties will not apply to statements or omissions included in the
         Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto based
         upon information furnished to Prison Realty by the Company for use
         therein.

                  (g) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Subsequent to
         December 31, 1997, neither Prison Realty nor any Subsidiary has
         sustained any material loss or interference with its business or
         properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity,
         whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court
         or governmental action, order or decree, which is not disclosed; and
         subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in
         the Prison Realty Filed SEC Documents, (i) neither Prison Realty nor
         any Subsidiary has incurred any material liabilities or obligations,
         direct or contingent, or entered into any transactions not in the
         ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and (ii)
         there has not been any issuance of options, warrants or rights to
         purchase interests in, or the capital shares of, Prison Realty, or any
         adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse
         change, in the general affairs, management, business, prospects,
         financial position, net worth or results of operations of Prison Realty
         or any Subsidiary.

                  (h) Compliance with Laws; Litigation. Except as described in
         the Prison Realty Disclosure Schedule or the Prison Realty Filed SEC
         Documents, there is not pending, or to the knowledge of Prison Realty
         threatened, any legal or governmental action, suit, proceeding, inquiry
         or investigation, to which Prison Realty or each Subsidiary or any of
         their respective officers, directors or trustees is a party, or to
         which the property of Prison Realty or each Subsidiary is subject,
         before or brought by any Governmental Entity, wherein an unfavorable
         decision, ruling or finding could prevent or materially hinder the
         consummation of this Agreement or result in a material adverse effect
         on Prison Realty. Each of Prison Realty and each Subsidiary has at all
         times operated and currently operates its business in conformity in all
         material respects with all applicable statutes, common laws,
         ordinances, decrees, orders, rules and regulations of Governmental
         Entities. Each of Prison Realty and each Subsidiary has all licenses,
         approvals or consents to operate its businesses in all locations in
         which such businesses are currently being operated, and Prison Realty
         is 


                                       24

<PAGE>   28



         not aware of any existing or imminent matter which may materially
         adversely impact its operations or business prospects other than as
         specifically disclosed in the Prison Realty Filed SEC Documents or the
         Prison Realty Disclosure Schedule. Prison Realty and each Subsidiary
         have not failed to file with the applicable regulatory authorities any
         material statements, reports, information or forms required by all
         applicable laws, regulations or orders; all such filings or submissions
         were in material compliance with applicable laws when filed, and no
         material deficiencies have been asserted by any regulatory commission,
         agency or authority with respect to such filings or submissions. Prison
         Realty and each Subsidiary have not failed to maintain in full force
         and effect any material licenses, registrations or permits necessary or
         proper for the conduct of its business, or received any notification
         that any revocation or limitation thereof is threatened or pending, and
         there is not to the knowledge of Prison Realty pending any change under
         any law, regulation, license or permit which would materially adversely
         affect the business, operations, property or business prospects of
         Prison Realty. Prison Realty and each Subsidiary have not received any
         notice of violation of or been threatened with a charge of violating
         and are not under investigation with respect to a possible violation of
         any provision of any law, regulation or order.

                  (i) Taxes. (A) Prison Realty is organized in conformity with
         the requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust
         ("REIT") under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, has duly elected
         to be taxed as a REIT commencing with the taxable year ending December
         31, 1997, and such election has not been terminated or revoked, (B)
         Prison Realty is operated in such a manner that it continues to qualify
         as a REIT and is taxed as a REIT, (C) each Subsidiary constitutes a
         "qualified REIT subsidiary" within the meaning of Section 856(i) of the
         Code, (D) Prison Realty has not received any net income from prohibited
         transactions within the meaning of Section 852(b)(6)(B) of the Code,
         (E) Prison Realty and each Subsidiary have filed, or have caused to be
         filed on their behalf, all tax returns required to be filed by them
         (collectively, "Prison Realty Returns"), and as of the time of filing,
         all the Prison Realty Returns were complete and accurate except to the
         extent that any failure to file or any inaccuracies in any filed Prison
         Realty Returns would not have a material adverse effect on Prison
         Realty, (F) Prison Realty and each Subsidiary have paid or Prison
         Realty has made adequate reserves in its financial statements included
         in the Prison Realty Filed SEC Documents (other than reserves for
         deferred income taxes established to reflect differences between book
         basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities) for all taxes payable by
         Prison Realty and each Subsidiary except to the extent that any failure
         to pay or reserve would not have a material adverse effect on Prison
         Realty, (G) Prison Realty and each Subsidiary have made or Prison
         Realty will make provision in its financial statements for all taxes
         payable for any periods that end before the Effective Time for which no
         Prison Realty Returns have yet been filed and for any periods that
         begin before the Effective Time and end after the Effective Time to the
         extent such taxes are attributable to the portion of any such period
         ending at the Effective Time except to the extent that any failure to
         make such provision would not have a material adverse effect on Prison
         Realty, (H) neither Prison Realty nor any Subsidiary has requested any
         extension of time within which to file or send 


                                       25

<PAGE>   29



         any Prison Realty Return, which Prison Realty Return has not since been
         filed or sent, except to the extent that any such request for an
         extension would not have a material adverse effect on Prison Realty,
         (I) no deficiency for any taxes has been proposed, asserted or assessed
         in writing against Prison Realty or any Subsidiary except to the extent
         that any such deficiency would not have a material adverse effect on
         Prison Realty, (J) no claim for unpaid taxes has become a Lien of any
         kind against the property of Prison Realty or any Subsidiary or is
         being asserted against Prison Realty or any Subsidiaries except to the
         extent that any such Lien would not have, individually or in the
         aggregate, a material adverse effect on Prison Realty, (K) neither
         Prison Realty nor any Subsidiary is a party to or is otherwise bound by
         (or has any assets bound by) any tax sharing agreement, tax indemnity
         obligation or similar agreement or arrangement, (L) each of Prison
         Realty and each Subsidiary has duly and timely withheld from employee
         salaries, wages and other compensation and paid over to the appropriate
         tax authorities all taxes required to be so withheld and paid over for
         all periods for which the statutory period of limitations for the
         assessment of tax has not yet expired except to the extent that any
         failure to so withhold and pay over would not have a material adverse
         effect on Prison Realty, and (M) after the Effective Time, Prison
         Realty will be operated in such a manner that it will continue to
         qualify as a REIT.

                  (j) Certain Agreements. Neither Prison Realty nor any
         Subsidiary is in default under any material agreement, commitment,
         lease or other instrument to which it or any of its properties is
         subject, and there has not occurred any event that, with the giving of
         notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default by
         Prison Realty or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the executive
         officers of Prison Realty, a default thereunder by any other party
         thereto, except in all cases where such defaults, individually or in
         the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on Prison
         Realty. Neither Prison Realty nor any Subsidiary is a party to any
         contract (other than leases) containing any covenant restricting its
         ability to conduct its business as currently conducted except for any
         such covenants that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
         material adverse effect on Prison Realty. Neither Prison Realty nor any
         Subsidiary is in breach in any material respect under its declaration
         of trust, charter, bylaws or other organizational documents.

                  (k) Properties.

                           (i) Prison Realty Owned Real Property. The Prison
                  Realty Filed SEC Documents describe all material real property
                  owned by Prison Realty or any Subsidiary (collectively, the
                  "Prison Realty Owned Real Property"). Except as disclosed
                  therein, in the title insurance policies relating to the
                  Prison Realty Owned Real Property or in the Prison Realty
                  Disclosure Schedule, each of Prison Realty and each Subsidiary
                  has good, valid and marketable title to the Prison Realty
                  Owned Real Property free of all Liens, in each case except,
                  individually or in the aggregate, as would not have a material
                  adverse effect on Prison Realty. Except as set forth in
                  Section 3.02(k)(i) of the Prison Realty Disclosure Schedule,
                  there are no outstanding 



                                       26

<PAGE>   30


                  contracts for the sale of any of the Prison Realty Owned Real
                  Property, except those contracts relating to property the
                  value in respect of which does not exceed $5,000,000
                  individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate.

                           (ii)  Prison Realty Leased Real Property. The Prison
                  Realty Filed SEC Documents describe all leases and subleases
                  (the "Prison Realty Real Property Leases") with respect to all
                  material real property which is leased or subleased by the
                  Company or its Subsidiaries (the "Prison Realty Leased Real
                  Property"; the Prison Realty Owned Real Property and the
                  Prison Realty Leased Real Property are collectively defined
                  as, the "Prison Realty Real Property"). Except as disclosed in
                  the Prison Realty Filed SEC Documents, or in the title
                  insurance policies relating to the Prison Realty Leased Real
                  Property, copies of which have been provided to the Company,
                  pursuant to the Prison Realty Real Property Leases, Prison
                  Realty and its Subsidiaries hold good and valid leasehold
                  title to the Prison Realty Leased Real Property, in each case
                  in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Prison
                  Realty Real Property Lease and free of all Liens, in each case
                  except, individually or in the aggregate, as would not have a
                  material adverse effect on Prison Realty. Each of the Prison
                  Realty Real Property Leases is enforceable against Prison
                  Realty and, to the knowledge of Prison Realty, against the
                  other party thereto, in accordance with its terms, subject to
                  bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
                  moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating
                  to or affecting creditor's rights and to general equity
                  principles and except for such failures to be enforceable as
                  would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material
                  adverse effect on Prison Realty. Other than as disclosed in
                  the title insurance policies relating to the Prison Realty
                  Leased Real Property or such exceptions which would not have a
                  material adverse effect on Prison Realty, all Prison Realty
                  Real Property Leases are in full force and effect and grant in
                  all respects the leasehold estates or rights of occupancy or
                  use they purport to grant.

                           (iii) Improvements Under Construction. With respect
                  to those Improvements being constructed as set forth in the
                  Prison Realty Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of Prison
                  Realty, (a) the budget for the construction of the
                  Improvements fairly and accurately reflects Prison Realty's
                  good faith estimate of the costs and expenses shown thereon
                  reasonably necessary to develop and construct the Improvements
                  in accordance with the plans and specifications therefor, and
                  Prison Realty has strictly adhered to said budget and has
                  permitted no deviations from said budget or the plans and
                  specifications for the Improvements; (b) the plans and
                  specifications for the Improvements have been approved by all
                  applicable Governmental Entities having jurisdiction over the
                  Prison Realty Real Property, the development and construction
                  of the Improvements and the use and occupancy thereof for its
                  intended purposes, and/or any utility services to the Prison
                  Realty Real Property; (c) all utility services necessary for
                  the development and construction of the Improvements and the
                  use and occupancy thereof for its intended purposes are


                                       27

<PAGE>   31



                  available through public or private easements or rights-of-way
                  at the boundaries of the Prison Realty Real Property,
                  including, without limitation, sanitary sewer, electricity,
                  gas, water, telephone, and storm water drainage; (d) all roads
                  necessary for ingress and egress to the Prison Realty Real
                  Property, and for the full utilization of the Prison Realty
                  Real Property for its intended purposes, have either been
                  completed pursuant to public or private easements, or the
                  necessary rights-of-way therefore have been dedicated to
                  public use and accepted by the appropriate Governmental
                  Entity; (e) all building permits, curb cuts, sewer and water
                  taps, and other permits, licenses, approvals, authorizations
                  and consents required for the development and construction of
                  the Improvements have been obtained; (f) the plans and
                  specifications for the Improvements, the development and
                  construction of the Improvements pursuant thereto, and the use
                  and occupancy of the Improvements for its intended purposes
                  comply and will comply with all applicable zoning ordinances,
                  building regulations, restrictive covenants and governmental
                  laws, rules, regulations and ordinances, and comply and will
                  comply with all applicable requirements, standards and
                  regulations of appropriate supervising boards of fire
                  underwriters and similar agencies, authorities or boards; (g)
                  Prison Realty has: (i) diligently pursued the development,
                  construction and installation of the Improvements; and (ii)
                  performed such duties as may be necessary to complete the
                  development, construction and installation of the Improvements
                  in accordance with the plans and specifications and without
                  liens, claims or assessments, actual or contingent, asserted
                  against the Prison Realty Real Property for any material,
                  labor or other items furnished in connection therewith, and
                  all in full compliance with all construction, use, building,
                  zoning and other similar laws, ordinances, rules, regulations,
                  codes and restrictions of any applicable Governmental Entities
                  or authorities or otherwise applicable thereto; (h) Prison
                  Realty has complied with all laws, ordinances, rules,
                  regulations, judgments, orders, injunctions, writs and decrees
                  of any government or political subdivision or agency thereof,
                  or any court or similar entity established by any of them,
                  applicable to the construction of the Improvements, and has
                  paid when due all taxes and assessments upon the Improvements
                  or Prison Realty Real Property, and all claims for labor or
                  materials, rents, and other obligations that, if unpaid, will
                  or might become a Lien against the Improvements or the Prison
                  Realty Real Property; (i) Prison Realty has maintained, in
                  sufficient amount, and in satisfactory form and substance, and
                  with satisfactory insurers: (i) builder's risk insurance,
                  all-risk nonreporting completed value form, insuring the
                  Improvements against fire, theft, extended coverage,
                  vandalism, and such other hazards in full force and effect at
                  all times until the completion of construction of all of the
                  Improvements; and (ii) such other insurance, in such amounts
                  and for such terms, as may from time to time be reasonably
                  required insuring against such other casualties or losses
                  which at the time are commonly insured against in the case of
                  premises similarly situated; and (j) the Improvements have
                  been constructed in accordance with the plans and
                  specifications therefor, and in compliance with all laws,
                  ordinances, rules and regulations applicable thereto, and in a
                  good and workmanlike manner. For the purposes of this


                                       28

<PAGE>   32



                  Agreement "Improvements" shall mean all buildings,
                  improvements, structures and fixtures now or on the Closing
                  Date located on Prison Realty Real Property, including,
                  without limitation, landscaping, parking lots and structures,
                  roads, drainage and all above ground and underground utility
                  structures, equipment systems and other so-called
                  "infrastructure" improvements.

                  (l) Environmental Matters.

                           (i)   To the knowledge of Prison Realty, the Prison
                  Realty Real Property and the Improvements thereon (the "Prison
                  Realty Facilities") are presently operated in compliance in
                  all material respects with all Environmental Laws.

                           (ii)  There are no Environmental Laws requiring any
                  material remediation, clean up, repairs, constructions or
                  capital expenditures (other than normal maintenance) with
                  respect to the Prison Realty Facilities.

                           (iii) There are no (A) notices of any violation or
                  alleged violation of any Environmental Laws relating to the
                  Prison Realty Facilities or their uses that have been received
                  by Prison Realty, or (B) writs, injunctions, decrees, orders
                  or judgments outstanding, or any actions, suits, claims,
                  proceedings or investigations pending, or to the knowledge of
                  Prison Realty threatened, relating to the ownership, use,
                  maintenance or operation of the Prison Realty Facilities.

                           (iv)  All material permits and licenses required
                  under any Environmental Laws in respect of the operations of
                  the Prison Realty Facilities have been obtained, and the
                  Prison Realty Facilities are in compliance, in all material
                  respects, with the terms and conditions of such permits and
                  licenses.

                  (m) Labor Matters. As of the date hereof, (i) to the knowledge
         of Prison Realty there are no representation or certification
         proceedings, or petitions seeking a representation proceeding pending
         or threatened to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations
         Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority and (ii) to
         the knowledge of Prison Realty there are no organizing activities or
         strikes involving Prison Realty or any of its Subsidiaries with respect
         to any group of employees of Prison Realty or its Subsidiaries, in each
         case that would be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have
         a material adverse effect on Prison Realty.

                  (n) Benefit Plans.

                           (i) All "employee benefit plans" (as defined in
                  Section 3(3) of ERISA) and all other compensation, bonus,
                  pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, stock
                  ownership, stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock,
                  retirement, employment, change-in-control, welfare, collective
                  bargaining, severance, disability, death benefit,


                                       29

<PAGE>   33



                  hospitalization and medical plans, agreements, arrangements or
                  understandings that are maintained or contributed to (or
                  previously contributed to) for the benefit of any current or
                  former employee, officer or director of Prison Realty or any
                  of its Subsidiaries and with respect to which the Company or
                  any of its Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to have
                  direct or contingent liability are defined herein as the
                  "Prison Realty Benefit Plans". Prison Realty has heretofore
                  delivered or made available to the Company true and complete
                  copies of all Prison Realty Benefit Plans and, with respect to
                  each Prison Realty Benefit Plan, true and complete copies of
                  the following documents: the most recent actuarial report, if
                  any; the most recent annual report, if any; any related trust
                  agreement, annuity contract or other funding instrument, if
                  any; the most recent determination letter, if any; and the
                  most recent summary plan description, if any.

                           (ii) Except as disclosed in Section 3.02(n) of the
                  Prison Realty Disclosure Schedule: (A) none of the Prison
                  Realty Benefit Plans is a "multiemployer plan" within the
                  meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or is otherwise subject to
                  Title IV of ERISA; (B) none of the Prison Realty Benefit Plans
                  promises or provides retiree medical or life insurance
                  benefits to any person; (C) neither Prison Realty nor any of
                  its Subsidiaries has any obligation to adopt or has taken any
                  corporate action to adopt, any new Prison Realty Benefit Plan
                  or, except as required by law, to amend any existing Prison
                  Realty Benefit Plan; (D) each Prison Realty Benefit Plan has
                  been administered in compliance with its terms and the
                  applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and all other
                  applicable laws, rules and regulations except for any failures
                  to so administer any Prison Realty Benefit Plan as would not
                  have a material adverse effect on Prison Realty; (E) each
                  Prison Realty Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified
                  within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so
                  qualified and has received a favorable determination letter as
                  to its qualification and, to Prison Realty's knowledge,
                  nothing has occurred that would be reasonably likely to cause
                  the loss of such qualification; (F) neither Prison Realty nor
                  any entity required to be treated as a single employer with
                  Prison Realty under Section 414 of the Code has any
                  unsatisfied liability under Title IV of ERISA that would have
                  a material adverse effect on Prison Realty, (G) other than
                  funding obligations and benefits claims payable in the
                  ordinary course, to the knowledge of Prison Realty, no event
                  has occurred and no circumstance exists with respect to any
                  Prison Realty Benefit Plan that could give rise to any
                  liability that would have a material adverse effect on Prison
                  Realty, whether directly or by reason of its affiliation with
                  any entity required to be treated as a single employer with
                  Prison Realty under Section 414 of the Code; (H) as of the
                  date hereof there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the
                  executive officers of Prison Realty, threatened
                  investigations, claims or lawsuits in respect of any Prison
                  Realty Benefit Plan that would have a material adverse effect
                  on Prison Realty; (I) no amount payable pursuant to a Prison
                  Realty Benefit Plan or any other plan, contract or arrangement
                  of Prison Realty would be considered an "excess parachute
                  payment" under Section 280G of the Code; (J) no Prison Realty
                  Benefit 


                                       30

<PAGE>   34



                  Plan exists that could result in the payment to any current or
                  former employee, officer or director of Prison Realty of any
                  money or other property or accelerate or provide any other
                  rights or benefits as a result of the transactions
                  contemplated by this Agreement whether or not such payment
                  would constitute an excess parachute payment within the
                  meaning of Section 280G of the Code; and (K) none of the
                  assets of Prison Realty or its Subsidiaries constitute "plan
                  assets" under ERISA.

                  (o) Material Contracts. There are no contracts or other
         documents required by the Securities Act to be described in or to be
         filed as exhibits to the Prison Realty Filed SEC Documents which have
         not been described or filed as required. All such contracts to which
         Prison Realty or any Subsidiary is a party have been duly authorized,
         executed and delivered by Prison Realty or any Subsidiary, constitute
         valid and binding agreements of Prison Realty or any Subsidiary and are
         enforceable against Prison Realty or any Subsidiary in accordance with
         the terms thereof. Each of Prison Realty and each Subsidiary has
         performed all material obligations required to be performed by it, and
         is neither in default in any material respect nor has it received
         notice of any default or dispute under, any such contract or other
         material instrument to which it is a party or by which its property is
         bound or affected. To the best knowledge of Prison Realty, no other
         party under any such contract or other material instrument to which it
         is a party is in default in any material respect thereunder.

                  (p) Accounting. Prison Realty's system of internal accounting
         controls is sufficient to meet the broad objectives of internal
         accounting controls insofar as those objectives pertain to the
         prevention or detection of errors or irregularities in amounts that
         would be material in relation to Prison Realty's financial statements.

                  (q) Vote Required. Assuming the accuracy of the representation
         and warranty of the Company contained in Section 3.01(u), the Prison
         Realty Shareholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of any
         class or series of Prison Realty's securities necessary to approve this
         Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (r) Board Recommendation. On the date hereof, the Board of
         Trustees of Prison Realty, at a meeting duly called and held, by the 
         unanimous vote of all Trustees except Doctor R. Crants, Jr. and Charles
         W. Thomas, each of whom abstained, which included the vote of all the
         Independent Trustees (as defined in Prison Realty's declaration of
         trust) present at such meeting, except Charles W. Thomas, who
         abstained, (i) determined that this Agreement and the Merger and the
         other transactions contemplated hereby are fair to and in the best
         interests of the shareholders of Prison Realty, (ii) adopted this
         Agreement and approved the Merger and (iii) resolved to recommend that
         the holders of Prison Realty Common Shares approve this Agreement.

                  (s) Maryland Law on Business Combinations. Assuming the
         accuracy of the representation and warranty of the Company contained in
         Section 3.01(u), the approval of the Merger by the Board of Trustees of
         Prison Realty referred to in Section 3.02(r) constitutes approval of
         the Merger for purposes of the MRL and represents all the actions
         necessary to ensure that Section 3-602 of the MRL does not apply to the
         Merger.


                                       31

<PAGE>   35



                  (t) Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor
         or other person, other than J.C. Bradford & Co., L.L.C. ("Bradford"),
         the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Prison Realty, is
         entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other
         similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on
         behalf of Prison Realty. Prison Realty's arrangement with Bradford has
         been disclosed to the Company prior to the date hereof.

                  (u) Opinion of Financial Advisor. Prison Realty has received
         the opinion of Bradford, dated as of the date hereof, to the effect
         that the Merger Consideration to be paid by Prison Realty is fair to
         Prison Realty and the holders of its Common Shares from a financial
         point of view (the "Bradford Opinion").

                  (v) Stock Ownership. Prison Realty does not, directly or
         indirectly, own any shares of Company Capital Stock other than shares,
         if any, held in Prison Realty Benefit Plans.


                                   ARTICLE IV
                    COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

         SECTION 4.01. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. During the period from the date
of this Agreement until the Effective Time, the Company agrees as to itself and
its Subsidiaries that (except as expressly contemplated, required or permitted
by this Agreement or as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule):

                  (a) Ordinary Course. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall
         carry on their respective businesses only in the usual, regular and
         ordinary course consistent with past practice in all material respects
         and use their reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their present
         business organizations, maintain their rights and franchises, keep
         available the services of their current officers and employees and
         preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and others
         having business dealings with them to the end that their goodwill and
         ongoing businesses shall not be impaired at the Effective Time. The
         Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
         enter into any new line of business, or incur or commit to any capital
         expenditures, or any obligations or liabilities in connection with any
         capital expenditures, other than capital expenditures and obligations
         or liabilities incurred or committed to in the ordinary course of
         business.

                  (b) Dividends; Changes in Stock. The Company shall not, nor
         shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, nor shall it propose to,
         (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make other
         distributions in respect of any capital stock, (ii) adjust, split,
         combine or reclassify any capital stock or issue or authorize or
         propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of
         or in substitution for capital stock or (iii) subject to Section 5.06
         hereof, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or permit any
         Subsidiary to purchase 


                                       32

<PAGE>   36


         or otherwise acquire, any shares of capital stock or any debt
         securities, warrants or options, in each case issued by the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries.

                  (c) Issuance of Securities. The Company shall not, nor shall
         it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue, deliver or sell, or
         authorize or propose the issuance, delivery or sale of, any shares of
         its or any of its Subsidiaries' capital stock of any class or any
         securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights,
         warrants or options to acquire, any of the foregoing, or any other
         securities or equity equivalents (including stock appreciation rights),
         or enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing, other
         than the issuance of Company Common Stock (i) upon the exercise of
         Company Options or Company Warrants that are outstanding on the date of
         this Agreement, (ii) consistent with past practice under the Company
         Benefit Plans, (iii) upon the conversion of the Series B Convertible
         Preferred Stock or the Company Notes, or (iv) pursuant to Sodexho's
         participation rights, if any, pursuant to Section 9 of the Sodexho
         Stockholders Agreement for participation in issuances permitted
         hereunder.

                  (d) Governing Documents. The Company shall not amend or
         propose to amend, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to amend,
         the charter (or similar constitutive documents) or bylaws of the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

                  (e) No Acquisitions. The Company shall not, nor shall it
         permit any of its Subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate with, or
         purchase an equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets
         of, any corporation, partnership, association or other business
         organization or any division or business thereof, except any
         transaction with U.S. Corrections Corporation or its affiliates or
         transactions pursuant to its International Joint Venture Agreement with
         Sodexho.

                  (f) No Dispositions. The Company shall not, nor shall it
         permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease, mortgage, encumber or
         otherwise dispose of, any material assets (including capital stock of
         any Subsidiaries), except the sale to Prison Realty of properties that
         are described as "Option Facilities" in the Prison Realty SEC
         Documents.

                  (g) Indebtedness. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit
         any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any indebtedness for borrowed money
         or guarantee any such indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities
         or warrants or rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities of others or
         enter into any "keepwell" or similar arrangement, other than revolving
         credit borrowings or borrowings to fund capital expenditures
         contemplated by Section 4.01(a), in each case under the Company's
         existing credit agreement.

                  (h) Other Actions. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit
         any of its Subsidiaries to, take any action that would result in any of
         the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this
         Agreement that are qualified as to materiality being untrue,


                                       33

<PAGE>   37


         any of such representations and warranties that are not so qualified
         being untrue in any material respect or any of the conditions to the
         Merger set forth in Article VI not being satisfied.

                  (i) Advice of Changes; Filings. The Company shall advise
         Prison Realty of any change or event which would cause or constitute a
         material breach of any of the representations or warranties of the
         Company contained herein. The Company shall file all reports required
         to be filed by it with the SEC or the NYSE between the date of this
         Agreement and the Effective Time and shall deliver to Prison Realty
         copies of all such reports promptly after the same are filed.

                  (j) Accounting Methods. The Company shall not change its
         fiscal year or its methods, principles or practices of accounting in
         effect at December 31, 1997, except as required by changes in GAAP, or
         alter or change in any material respect its practices and policies
         relating to the payment of accrued liabilities or accounts payable.

                  (k) Compensation; Benefit Plans. Neither the Company nor any
         of its Subsidiaries will (i) enter into, adopt, amend or terminate any
         Company Benefit Plan or any other employee benefit plan or any
         agreement, arrangement, plan or policy between such party and one or
         more of its directors, officers or employees, except for any such
         actions taken in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
         practice, (ii) increase in any manner the compensation or fringe
         benefits of any of its directors, officers or employees or provide any
         other benefit not required by any plan and arrangement as in effect as
         of the date hereof, except for normal salary compensation increases,
         benefit changes or cash bonus awards made in the ordinary course of
         business consistent with past practice or (iii) create or amend any
         Company Stock Plan or grant any equity based award pursuant to any
         Company Stock Plan or otherwise.

                  (l) Discharges or Waivers of Claims. The Company shall not,
         nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (i) except as set forth
         in clause (iii) below, pay, discharge or satisfy any claims (including
         claims of shareholders), liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued,
         asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), except for the
         payment, discharge or satisfaction of liabilities or obligations in the
         ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in
         accordance with their terms as in effect on the date hereof, (ii)
         waive, release, grant, or transfer any rights of material value or
         modify or change in any material respect any existing license, lease,
         contract or other document, other than in the ordinary course of
         business consistent with past practice, (iii) settle or compromise any
         litigation (whether or not commenced prior to the date of this
         Agreement) other than settlements or compromises of litigation where
         the amount paid (after giving effect to insurance proceeds actually
         received) in settlement or compromise does not exceed $1,000,000,
         provided that the aggregate amount paid in connection with the
         settlement or compromise of all such litigation matters shall not
         exceed $5,000,000.


                                       34

<PAGE>   38



                  (m) Leases and Lease Commitments. The Company shall not, nor
         shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or commit to
         enter into, or assume, any operating or capital lease, other than (i)
         any such lease contemplated by the Company Capital Budget or the
         Company's operating budget, a copy of which has been provided to Prison
         Realty prior to the date hereof or (ii) any such operating lease which
         is not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (n) Liquidation Plan, Etc. The Company shall not, nor shall it
         permit any of its Subsidiaries to, adopt a plan of complete or partial
         liquidation or resolutions providing for or authorizing such a
         liquidation or a dissolution, consolidation, recapitalization or
         bankruptcy reorganization.

                  (o) Affiliate Transactions. The Company shall not, nor shall
         it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any transaction with,
         or enter into any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with,
         directly or indirectly, any of the Company's affiliates, including,
         without limitation, any transactions, agreements, arrangements or
         understandings with any affiliate or other person covered under Item
         404 of SEC Regulation S-K that would be required to be disclosed under
         such Item 404 other than such transactions of the same general nature,
         scope and magnitude as are disclosed in the Company Filed SEC
         Documents.

                  (p) Tax Matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall not
         make any material income tax election, amend any material tax return or
         settle or compromise any material tax liability.

                  (q) No General Authorization, Etc. The Company shall not, nor
         shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, authorize any of, or commit
         or agree to take any of, the foregoing actions.

         SECTION 4.02. COVENANTS OF PRISON REALTY. During the period from the
date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, Prison Realty agrees that:

                  (a) Ordinary Course. Prison Realty and its Subsidiaries shall
         carry on their respective businesses only in the usual, regular and
         ordinary course consistent with past practice in all material respects
         and use their reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their present
         business organizations, maintain their rights and franchises, keep
         available the services of their current officers and employees and
         preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and others
         having business dealings with them to the end that their goodwill and
         ongoing businesses shall not be impaired at the Effective Time.

                  (b) Distributions. Prison Realty shall not make any
         distributions other than at its current rate, provided that the rate
         may be increased by the greater of ten percent or up to the minimum
         amounts as may be required to comply with Section 857(a) of the Code.



                                       35

<PAGE>   39


                  (c) Prison Realty shall conduct its operations in a manner so
         as to continue to qualify as a REIT under the Code.

                  (d) Other Actions. Prison Realty shall not take any action
         that would result in any of its representations and warranties set
         forth in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality being
         untrue, any of such representations and warranties that are not so
         qualified being untrue in any material respect or any of the conditions
         to the Merger set forth in Article VI not being satisfied.

                  (e) Structure of Transactions. Prison Realty shall advise the
         Company from time to time of the proposed structure of Prison Realty
         and its subsidiaries and affiliated entities at and after the Effective
         Time for purposes of the Company's evaluation of the Merger and
         description of the Merger and related transactions in the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus.

                  (f) Advice of Changes; Filings. Prison Realty shall advise the
         Company of any change or event which would cause or constitute a
         material breach of any of its representations or warranties contained
         herein. Prison Realty shall file all reports required to be filed by it
         with the SEC or the NYSE between the date of this Agreement and the
         Effective Time and shall deliver to the Company copies of all such
         reports promptly after the same are filed.

         SECTION 4.03. NO SOLICITATION.

                  (a) The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its
         Subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any officer, director
         or employee of, or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or
         representative of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, directly
         or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, encourage or knowingly facilitate
         the submission of any takeover proposal or (ii) enter into or
         participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to
         any person any information with respect to, any takeover proposal;
         provided, however, that prior to the receipt of the Company Shareholder
         Approval the Company may, in response to a bona fide takeover proposal
         that constitutes a superior proposal (as defined in Section 4.03(b))
         and that was made after the date hereof (and not solicited by the
         Company after the date hereof) by any person, and subject to compliance
         with Section 4.03(c), (A) furnish information with respect to the
         Company and its Subsidiaries to such person and its representatives
         pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement and discuss such
         information with such person and its representatives and (B)
         participate in negotiations regarding such takeover proposal. For
         purposes of this Agreement (except as set forth in Section 5.07(b)),
         the term "takeover proposal" means any inquiry, proposal or offer from
         any person relating to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase
         of 20% or more of the assets (based on the fair market value thereof)
         of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or of 20% or more of any
         class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
         any tender offer or exchange offer (including by the Company or any of
         its Subsidiaries) that if consummated 


                                       36

<PAGE>   40


         would result in any person beneficially owning 20% or more of any class
         of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any
         merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of substantially all
         assets, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar
         transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than
         the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (b) Except as set forth in this Section 4.03, the Board of
         Directors of the Company shall not (i) withdraw or modify, or publicly
         propose to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Prison Realty,
         the approval or recommendation by such Board of Directors of the Merger
         or this Agreement, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to
         approve or recommend, any takeover proposal or (iii) cause or agree to
         cause the Company to enter into any letter of intent, agreement in
         principle, acquisition agreement or similar agreement related to any
         takeover proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of
         Directors of the Company receives a superior proposal, such Board of
         Directors may, prior to the receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval
         and subject to compliance with Section 5.07(b), withdraw or modify its
         approval or recommendation of the Merger and this Agreement, approve or
         recommend a superior proposal or terminate this Agreement, but in each
         case only at a time that is at least five business days after receipt
         by Prison Realty of written notice advising it that the Board of
         Directors of the Company has resolved to accept a superior proposal if
         it continues to be a superior proposal at the end of such five business
         day period. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "superior
         proposal" means any bona fide takeover proposal (which, for purposes of
         Section 4.03(a) only, may be subject to a due diligence condition),
         which proposal was not solicited by the Company after the date hereof,
         made by a third party to acquire, directly or indirectly, for
         consideration consisting of cash and/or securities, more than 50% of
         the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding or all or
         substantially all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
         otherwise on terms which the Board of Directors of the Company
         determines in good faith (after consultation with a financial advisor
         of nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to the
         Company's shareholders than the Merger and for which financing, to the
         extent required, is then committed or which, in the good faith judgment
         of such Board of Directors, is reasonably capable of being financed by
         such third party.

                  (c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in
         paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the Company promptly shall advise Prison
         Realty orally and in writing of any request for information or of any
         takeover proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request or
         takeover proposal and the identity of the person making any such
         request or takeover proposal and any determination by the Board of
         Directors of the Company that a takeover proposal is or may be a
         superior proposal. The Company will keep Prison Realty informed as to
         the status and material details (including amendments or proposed
         amendments) of any such request or takeover proposal.

                  (d) Nothing contained in this Section 4.03 shall prohibit the
         Company from taking and disclosing to its shareholders a position
         contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a) 


                                       37

<PAGE>   41



         promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any disclosure to the
         Company's shareholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of
         Directors of the Company after consultation with outside counsel,
         failure to do so would be inconsistent with its obligations under
         applicable law.


                                    ARTICLE V
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         SECTION 5.01. PREPARATION OF THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. As
soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, Prison Realty and the
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the Joint Proxy Statement/
Prospectus. Each party hereto will cooperate with the other party in connection
with the preparation of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, including
furnishing all information as may be required to be disclosed therein. Each of
the Company and Prison Realty will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to its shareholders as promptly as
practicable after the date hereof. No filing of, or amendment or supplement to,
the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be made by the Company or Prison
Realty without providing the other party and its Board of Directors or Trustees
the opportunity to review and comment thereon and to approve the same, provided
that such approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld. Each of the Company and
Prison Realty will advise the other party, promptly after it receives notice
thereof, of any request by the SEC for amendment of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by
the SEC for additional information. If at any time prior to the Effective Time
any information relating to the Company or Prison Realty, or any of their
respective affiliates, officers, trustees or directors, should be discovered by
the Company or Prison Realty which should be set forth in an amendment or
supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, so that the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus would not include any misstatement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party
which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties hereto
and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be
promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by law, disseminated to
the shareholders of the Company and Prison Realty.

         SECTION 5.02. ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Each party shall, and shall cause
each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to the other party hereto and to its
officers, employees, accountants, counsel and other representatives (including
environmental consultants), reasonable access, during normal business hours
during the period prior to the Effective Time, to their respective properties,
books, records and personnel and, during such period, each party hereto shall,
and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to the other party
hereto (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other
document filed or received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements
of Federal or state securities laws and (b) such other information concerning
its business, properties and personnel as the other party may reasonably
request. With respect to 



                                       38

<PAGE>   42


matters disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule or the Prison Realty
Disclosure Schedule, respectively, each party agrees to supplement from time to
time the information set forth therein.

         SECTION 5.03. SHAREHOLDERS MEETING. Each party hereto shall, as
promptly as practicable after the date hereof, (a) duly call, give notice of,
convene and hold a Shareholders Meeting for the purpose of obtaining the Company
Shareholder Approval or the Prison Realty Shareholder Approval, as the case may
be, and (b) subject in the case of the Company to Section 4.03, through its
Board of Directors, recommend to its shareholders that they grant the Company
Shareholder Approval or the Prison Realty Shareholder Approval, as the case may
be.

         SECTION 5.04. REASONABLE BEST EFFORTS. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, each of the Company and Prison Realty shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use all reasonable best efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or
advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner
practicable, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including (i) the obtaining of any necessary consent, authorization,
order or approval of, or any exemption by, any Governmental Entity and/or any
other public or private third party which is required to be obtained by such
party or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (provided that the Company shall not
pay or agree to pay any material amount to obtain a consent without the prior
approval of Prison Realty, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), and the making or obtaining of all necessary filings and registrations
with respect thereto, (ii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal
proceedings challenging this Agreement, and (iii) the execution and delivery of
any additional instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated
by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this Agreement.

         SECTION 5.05. BENEFITS MATTERS. Except as otherwise provided herein,
following the Effective Time, the Surviving Entity shall honor, or cause to be
honored, all obligations under employment agreements, Company Benefit Plans and
all other employee benefit plans, programs, policies and arrangements of the
Company in accordance with the terms thereof. Nothing herein shall be construed
to prohibit Prison Realty or the Surviving Entity from amending or terminating
such agreements, programs, policies and arrangements in accordance with the
terms thereof and with applicable law.

         SECTION 5.06. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION.

                  (a) As soon as practicable following the date of this
         Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate,
         any committee administering the Company Stock Plans) shall adopt such
         resolutions or take other actions with respect to all outstanding
         options granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans so that unless
         otherwise required by the terms of the applicable Company Stock Plan
         (and then in such case, to the extent agreed by the applicable holder
         of a Company Option) (i) all options granted under the Company


                                       39

<PAGE>   43


         Stock Plans prior to January 1, 1996 shall vest in full immediately
         prior to the Effective Time of the Merger, but such accelerated vesting
         shall be conditioned upon the option holder's election to exercise such
         Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, so that shares
         of the Company's Common Stock acquired shall be converted into the
         Merger Consideration at the Effective Time; and (ii) all options
         granted under the Company's Stock Plans on or after January 1, 1996
         shall, at the election of the option holder, either (a) vest in full,
         conditioned upon exercise as in (i) above, or (b) be converted into an
         option to purchase shares of Prison Realty (a "Rollover Option") with
         the same conditions, including vesting and continued employment, as the
         Company Option to which it relates. The obligation of Prison Realty
         pursuant to this Section 5.06(a) to issue Prison Realty Common Shares
         or options to purchase such shares shall be subject to Prison Realty's
         determination that it will be in compliance with applicable REIT
         statutes and regulations. In the event that Prison Realty determines
         that the treatment of options in this Section 5.06 (a) will not so
         comply, Prison Realty may cause any or all Rollover Options to be
         cashed out in exchange for a cash payment equal to the following: the
         product of (x) the excess of the Merger Consideration per share (valued
         at the closing price of one Prison Realty Common Share on the NYSE on
         the date that is five days prior to the Closing Date) over the exercise
         price per share of the Company Common Stock subject to the Rollover
         Option and (y) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to
         such Rollover Option. All amounts payable pursuant to this paragraph
         shall be subject to any required withholding of taxes and shall be paid
         without interest.

                  (b) Immediately prior to the Effective Time, all shares of
         deferred stock under the Company's Amended and Restated 1989 Stock
         Bonus Plan shall vest in full.

                  (c) Prison Realty shall obtain the agreement of each holder of
         Prison Realty Options that the Merger and the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby do not constitute a change in control
         under the Prison Realty Equity Plans or otherwise affect the vesting or
         other terms of the Prison Realty Options.

         SECTION 5.07.  FEES AND EXPENSES.

                  (a) Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and
         expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
         transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring
         such costs or expenses, except as provided in Section 5.07.

                  (b) In the event that (i) this Agreement is terminated by
         Prison Realty pursuant to Section 7.01(c), (ii) this Agreement is
         terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 7.01(d) or (iii)(x) any
         person shall have made a bona fide takeover proposal with respect to
         the Company after the date hereof and thereafter this Agreement is
         terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 7.01(b)(iii) or by either
         party pursuant to Section 7.01(b)(iv) and (y) within 12 months after
         such termination a takeover agreement (as defined below) is executed by
         the Company or a takeover transaction (as defined below) is
         consummated, then 


                                       40

<PAGE>   44



         the Company shall reimburse Prison Realty for the documented
         out-of-pocket fees and expenses reasonably incurred thereby in
         connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
         (including those which may be incurred in connection with enforcing the
         terms of this Section 5.07) in an aggregate amount not in excess of
         $7,000,000 (the "Expenses"). The Company shall pay reimbursement
         amounts to Prison Realty promptly (and in any event within ten business
         days) following a termination referred to in clause (i) or (ii) or
         promptly (and in any event within ten business days) after the first to
         occur of the execution of a takeover agreement or the consummation of a
         takeover transaction referred to in clause (iii) above. For purposes of
         this Section 5.07(b), the term "takeover transaction" shall mean any
         transaction if a proposal to consummate such transaction would
         constitute a takeover proposal, the term "takeover agreement" shall
         mean any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition
         agreement or similar agreement to consummate a takeover transaction and
         the term "takeover proposal" shall have the meaning assigned to such
         term in Section 4.03 except that (1) references to "20%" in the
         definition of such term contained in Section 4.03 shall be deemed to be
         references to "50%" and (2) the term "takeover proposal" shall only be
         deemed to refer to a transaction involving the Company, or with respect
         to assets (including the shares of any Subsidiaries), the Company and
         its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Notwithstanding the immediately
         preceding sentence, if any bona fide takeover proposal (as defined in
         this Section 5.07(b) but without regard to clause (1) above) made by a
         person with respect to the Company is made after the date hereof and
         the Company accepts such proposal or any other takeover proposal (as
         defined in this Section 5.07(b) but without regard to clause (1) above)
         made by such person after the termination of this Agreement, then such
         accepted proposal shall constitute a "takeover proposal" for purposes
         of Section 5.07(b)(iii).

         SECTION 5.08. INDEMNIFICATION, EXCULPATION AND INSURANCE.

                  (a) Prison Realty and the Company agree that all rights to
         indemnification and exculpation from liability for acts or omissions
         occurring at or prior to the Effective Time and rights to advancement
         of expenses relating thereto now existing in favor of the current or
         former directors or officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries (such
         persons, "Indemnified Persons") as provided in their respective charter
         (or similar constitutive documents) or bylaws and any existing
         indemnification agreements or arrangements of the Company shall survive
         the Merger and shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in
         any manner that would in any manner adversely affect the rights
         thereunder of any such Indemnified Persons. The parties hereto agree
         that the Surviving Entity shall maintain, for a period of six years
         from the Effective Time, the Company's current directors' and officers'
         insurance and indemnification policy to the extent that it provides
         coverage for events occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (the
         "D&O Insurance") for all Indemnified Persons; provided, however, that
         the Surviving Entity may, in lieu of maintaining such existing D&O
         Insurance as provided above, cause comparable coverage to be provided
         under any policy issued by an insurer substantially comparable to the
         insurer with respect to the existing D&O Insurance, so long as the
         terms thereof are no less advantageous to the 


                                       41

<PAGE>   45


         Indemnified Parties than the existing D&O Insurance. If the existing
         D&O Insurance expires, is terminated or canceled during such six-year
         period, the Surviving Entity will use its reasonable best efforts to
         cause to be obtained as much D&O Insurance as can be obtained for the
         remainder of such period for an annualized premium not in excess of the
         Maximum Premium, on terms and conditions no less advantageous in any
         material respect than the existing D&O Insurance.

                  (b) The parties hereto agree that the provisions of this
         Section 5.08 are (i) intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be
         enforceable by, each Indemnified Person and each Indemnified Person's
         heirs and representatives and (ii) in addition to, and not in
         substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution
         that any such person may have by contract or otherwise.

                  (c) The parties hereto agree that in the event that the
         Surviving Entity or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates
         with or merges into any other person and is not the continuing or
         Surviving Entity or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii)
         transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and
         assets to any person, then, and in each such case, proper provision
         will be made by such person so that the successors and assigns of the
         Surviving Entity assume the obligations of the parties hereto and the
         Surviving Entity set forth in this Section 5.08.

         SECTION 5.09. TRANSFER TAXES. All state, local, foreign or provincial
sales, use, real property transfer, stock transfer or similar taxes (including
any interest or penalties with respect thereto, but not including any
shareholder-level taxes based upon net income) attributable to the Merger shall
be timely paid by the Company.

         SECTION 5.10. RESIGNATION OF DIRECTORS. Prior to the Effective Time,
the Company shall deliver to Prison Realty evidence satisfactory to Prison
Realty of the resignation of all directors of the Company, effective at the
Effective Time.

         SECTION 5.11. STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING. Prison Realty shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Prison Realty Common Shares to be issued in
connection with the Merger to be listed on the NYSE, subject to official notice
of issuance.

         SECTION 5.12. TAX-FREE REORGANIZATION. Prior to the Effective Time,
each party shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify
as a reorganization qualifying under the provisions of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of
the Code.

         SECTION 5.13. RULE 145 AFFILIATES. Within 45 days following the date of
this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to Prison Realty a letter identifying
all known persons who may be deemed affiliates of the Company under Rule 145 of
the Securities Act. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
prior to the Effective Time a written agreement from each person who may be so
deemed, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.



                                       42

<PAGE>   46



                                   ARTICLE VI
                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         SECTION 6.01. CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE
MERGER. The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be
subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of the
following conditions:

                  (a) Shareholder Approval. The Company Shareholder Approval and
         the Prison Realty Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained.

                  (b) HSR Act. Any waiting period applicable to the Merger under
         the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.

                  (c) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No temporary
         restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order
         or decree issued by any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction
         enjoining or otherwise preventing the consummation of the Merger shall
         be in effect; provided, however, that each of the parties shall use
         reasonable best efforts to prevent the entry of any such injunction or
         other order or decree and to cause any such injunction or other order
         or decree that may be entered to be vacated or otherwise rendered of no
         effect.

                  (d) Prison Realty shall have obtained the opinions of either
         Stokes & Bartholomew, P.A., or Arthur Andersen LLP that upon, and
         after, the Effective Time of the Merger and the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby, Prison Realty will be in compliance
         with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and
         the proposed method of operation of Prison Realty as described in the
         Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will enable Prison Realty to meet the
         requirements for taxation as a real estate investment trust under the
         Code beginning with the year ending December 31, 1998.

                  (e) The Prison Realty Common Shares to be issued in the Merger
         shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official
         notice of issuance, if applicable.

                  (f) The Registration Statement shall be satisfactory in all
         material respects to the Company and Prison Realty and shall have been
         declared effective, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
         the Registration Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for
         such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the SEC.

                  (g) Prison Realty shall have obtained financing sufficient to
         fund the operations of its business as described in the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus after the Effective Time of the Merger and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.


                                       43

<PAGE>   47



         SECTION 6.02. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF PRISON REALTY TO EFFECT THE
MERGER. The obligation of Prison Realty to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived by Prison Realty:

                  (a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
         warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement (i) to the extent
         qualified by material adverse effect shall be true and correct, and
         (ii) to the extent not qualified by material adverse effect shall be
         true and correct, except that this clause (ii) shall be deemed
         satisfied so long as any failures of such representations and
         warranties to be true and correct do not individually or in the
         aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Company, in each of
         cases (i) and (ii), as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
         Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except as
         otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, and Prison Realty shall have
         received a certificate to such effect signed on behalf of the Company
         by its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer.

                  (b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company
         shall have performed in all material respects all material obligations
         required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the
         Closing Date, and Prison Realty shall have received a certificate to
         such effect signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive
         Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

                  (c) Consents, etc. Prison Realty shall have received evidence,
         in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, that such
         consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of
         Governmental Entities and other third parties as are necessary in
         connection with the transactions contemplated hereby have been
         obtained, other than those the failure of which to be obtained,
         individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse
         effect on the Company.

                  (d) No Litigation. There shall not be pending any suit, action
         or proceeding brought by any Governmental Entity seeking to prohibit or
         limit in any material respect the ownership or operation by the
         Company, Prison Realty or any of (C)their respective affiliates of a
         substantial portion of the business or assets of the Company and its
         Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or to require any such person to
         dispose of or hold separate any material portion of the business or
         assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as a
         result of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by
         this Agreement or seeking to impose limitations on the ability of
         Prison Realty, or any of its affiliates to acquire or hold, or exercise
         full rights of ownership of, any shares of Company Common Stock,
         including, without limitation, the right to vote the Company Common
         Stock on all matters properly presented to the shareholders of the
         Company or seeking to prohibit Prison Realty, or any of its affiliates
         from effectively controlling in any material respect a substantial
         portion of the business or operations of the Company or its
         Subsidiaries, in each case after giving effect to any actions required
         to be taken pursuant to Section 5.04.


                                       44

<PAGE>   48



                  (e) Prison Realty shall have received a bring-down of the
         Bradford opinion on each of the date of mailing of the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus to the Shareholders of the Company and on the date
         of Closing (each, a "Bradford Bring-down Opinion").

         SECTION 6.03. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE
MERGER. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions unless waived by the Company:

                  (a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
         warranties of Prison Realty set forth in this Agreement (i) to the
         extent qualified by material adverse effect shall be true and correct,
         and (ii) to the extent not qualified by material adverse effect shall
         be true and correct, except that this clause (ii) shall be deemed
         satisfied so long as any failures of such representations and
         warranties to be true and correct do not individually or in the
         aggregate have a material adverse effect on Prison Realty, in each of
         cases (i) and (ii), as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
         Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, except as
         otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company shall have
         received a certificate to such effect signed on behalf of Prison Realty
         by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

                  (b) Performance of Obligations of Prison Realty. Prison Realty
         shall have performed in all material respects all material obligations
         required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the
         Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a certificate to such
         effect signed on behalf of Prison Realty by the Chief Executive Officer
         and Chief Financial Officer.

                  (c) Consents, etc. The Company shall have received evidence,
         in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, that such
         consents, approvals, authorizations, qualifications and orders of
         Governmental Entities and other third parties as are necessary in
         connection with the transactions contemplated hereby have been
         obtained, other than those the failure of which to be obtained,
         individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse
         effect on Prison Realty.

                  (d) Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received the opinion
         of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC or Arthur Anderson LLP with respect to the
         status of the Merger as a tax-free reorganization pursuant to Section
         368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.

                  (e) The Company shall have received a bring-down of the
         Stephens Opinion on each of the date of mailing of the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus to the shareholders of the Company and on the date
         of Closing (each, a "Stephens Bring-down Opinion").

                  (f) Prison Realty shall have entered into a definitive credit
         agreement and other financing arrangements sufficient, in the
         reasonable judgment of the Company's Board of Directors, to fund the
         operations of the Surviving Entity as described in the Joint Proxy

                                       45

<PAGE>   49



         Statement/Prospectus and shall have provided such agreements to the
         Company no later than ten days prior to the date the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus is mailed to the Company's shareholders.

                  (g) Prison Realty and each holder of Prison Realty Options
         shall have agreed that the Merger and the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby shall not constitute a change in
         control under the Prison Realty Equity Plans or otherwise affect the
         vesting or other terms of the Prison Realty Options.

         SECTION 6.04. FRUSTRATION OF CLOSING CONDITIONS. Neither Prison Realty
nor the Company may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section
6.01, 6.02 or 6.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was
caused by such party's failure to use all reasonable best efforts to consummate
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE VII
                            TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

         SECTION 7.01. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after the Prison Realty
Shareholder Approval and the Company Shareholder Approval are received:

                  (a) by mutual written consent of Prison Realty and the
         Company;

                  (b) by Prison Realty or the Company upon written notice to the
         other party:

                           (i)  if any Governmental Entity of competent
                  jurisdiction shall have issued a permanent injunction or other
                  order or decree enjoining or otherwise preventing the
                  consummation of the Merger and such injunction or other order
                  or decree shall have become final and nonappealable; provided
                  that the party seeking to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
                  this clause (i) shall have used its reasonable best efforts to
                  prevent or contest the imposition of, or seek the lifting or
                  stay of, such injunction, order or decree;

                           (ii) unless the party seeking to terminate this
                  Agreement is in material breach of its obligations hereunder,
                  if the Company or Prison Realty breaches or fails to perform
                  any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other
                  agreements hereunder, which breach or failure to perform (A)
                  would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in
                  Section 6.02(a) or 6.02(b) in the case of such a breach or
                  failure to perform on the part of the Company or 6.03(a) or
                  6.03(b) in the case of such a breach or failure to perform on
                  the part of Prison Realty and (B) is incapable of being cured
                  by the party so breaching or failing to perform or is not
                  cured within 30 days


                                       46

<PAGE>   50



                  after the terminating party gives written notice of such
                  breach to the other party and such a cure is not effected
                  during such period;

                           (iii) if the Merger shall not have been consummated
                  on or before March 31, 1999, unless the failure to consummate
                  the Merger is the result of a material breach of this
                  Agreement by the party seeking to terminate this Agreement;

                           (iv)  if, upon a vote at a duly held Company
                  Shareholders Meeting or any adjournment thereof, the Company
                  Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained; or

                           (v)   if, upon a vote at a duly held Prison Realty
                  Shareholders Meeting or any adjournment thereof, the Prison
                  Realty Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained;

                  (c) by Prison Realty upon written notice to the Company:

                           (i)   if the Board of Directors of the Company or any
                  committee thereof shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner
                  adverse to Prison Realty its approval or recommendation of the
                  Merger or this Agreement, approved or recommended any takeover
                  proposal or resolved to do any of the foregoing; or

                           (ii)  if the Company shall have entered into any
                  agreement (other than a confidentiality agreement in
                  accordance with Section 4.03(a)) with respect to a superior
                  proposal or shall have resolved to do so; or

                  (d) by the Company

                           (i)   pursuant to Section 4.03(b) prior to the
                  receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval; or

                           (ii)  upon written notice to Prison Realty if the
                  Board of Trustees of Prison Realty or any committee thereof
                  shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to the
                  company its approval or recommendation of the merger or this
                  Agreement or resolved to do so;

         SECTION 7.02. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of termination of
this Agreement by either the Company or Prison Realty as provided in Section
7.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, and, except
to the extent that such termination results from the wilful and material breach
by a party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements
set forth in this Agreement, there shall be no liability or obligation on the
part of Prison Realty or the Company, except with respect to Section 3.01(t),
Section 3.02(v), Section 5.07, this Section 7.02 and Article VIII, which
provisions shall survive such termination.

                                       47

<PAGE>   51



         SECTION 7.03. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto at any time before or after the Company Shareholder Approval or the
Prison Realty Shareholder Approval is received, provided that after receipt of
the Company Shareholder Approval or the Prison Realty Shareholder Approval , no
amendment shall be made which by law requires further approval by such
shareholders without such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended
except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties
hereto.

         SECTION 7.04. EXTENSION; WAIVER. At any time prior to the Effective
Time, the parties hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time
for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party
hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) subject to
the proviso of Section 7.03, waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any
such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written
instrument signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party to this
Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall
not constitute a waiver of those rights.

         SECTION 7.05. PROCEDURE FOR TERMINATION, AMENDMENT, EXTENSION OR
WAIVER. A termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01, an amendment
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.03 or an extension or waiver pursuant to
Section 7.04 shall, in order to be effective, require, in the case of the
Company or Prison Realty, action by its Board of Directors or Board of Trustees,
respectively, or the duly authorized committee of such Board to the extent
permitted by law.


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         SECTION 8.01. NONSURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. None of
the representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time. This
Section 8.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties which by
its terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time.

         SECTION 8.02. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,
telecopied (with confirmation) or sent by overnight or same-day courier
(providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses (or at
such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):


                                       48

<PAGE>   52



         (a) if to the Company, to:

                  Corrections Corporation of America
                  10 Burton Hills Boulevard
                  Nashville, Tennessee 37215
                  Attention: Doctor R. Crants, Chairman, President and Chief 
                  Executive Officer
                  Facsimile: (615) 263-3010

                  Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
                  2700 First American Center
                  Nashville, Tennessee 37238
                  Attention: F. Mitchell Walker, Jr., Esq.
                  Facsimile:  (615) 742-2775; and

         (b) if to Prison Realty, to:

                  CCA Prison Realty Trust
                  10 Burton Hills Boulevard
                  Suite 100
                  Nashville, Tennessee 37215
                  Attention: Michael W. Quinlan, Chief Executive Officer
                  Facsimile: (615) 263-0212

         with a copy to:

                  Stokes & Bartholomew, PA
                  424 Church Street
                  Suite 2800
                  Nashville, Tennessee 37219-2323
                  Attention: Elizabeth Enoch Moore
                  Facsimile: (615) 259-1470


SECTION 8.03. DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION.

         (a) As used in this Agreement:

                  (i) unless otherwise expressly provided herein, an "affiliate"
         of any person means another person that directly or indirectly, through
         one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under
         common control with, such first person, where "control" means the
         possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
         direction of the management policies of a person, whether through the
         ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;

                                       49

<PAGE>   53



                           (ii)  "business day" means any day on which banks are
                  not required or authorized to close in the City of New York;

                           (iii) "material adverse effect" means, when used in
                  connection with the Company, any change, effect, event,
                  occurrence or development that is, or is reasonably likely to
                  be, materially adverse to the business, results of operations
                  or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
                  taken as a whole, other than any change, effect, event or
                  occurrence relating to or arising out of (A) the economy or
                  securities markets in general, (B) this Agreement or the
                  transactions contemplated hereby or the announcement thereof
                  or (C) private corrections industry in general, and not
                  specifically relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries;
                  "material adverse effect" means, when used in connection with
                  Prison Realty, any change, effect, event, occurrence or
                  development that is, or is reasonably likely to be, materially
                  adverse to the business, results of operations or financial
                  condition of the Prison Realty and its Subsidiaries, taken as
                  a whole, other than any change, effect, event or occurrence
                  relating to or arising out of (A) the economy or securities
                  markets in general, (B) this Agreement or the transactions
                  contemplated hereby or the announcement thereof or (C) private
                  corrections industry in general, and not specifically relating
                  to Prison Realty or its Subsidiaries;

                           (iv)  "person" means an individual, corporation,
                  partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
                  association, trust, unincorporated organization or other
                  entity; and

                           (v)   a "Subsidiary" of any person means another
                  person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting
                  ownership or voting partnership interests of which is
                  sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of
                  Directors or other governing body (or, if there are not such
                  voting interests, more than 50% of the equity interests of
                  which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first person.

                  (b) When a reference is made in this Agreement to Articles,
         Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to an Article,
         Section of or Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise
         indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this
         Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any
         way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words
         "include", "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they
         shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation". The
         words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and words of similar import
         when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole
         and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The term "or"
         when used in this Agreement is not exclusive. All terms defined in this
         Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate
         or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise
         defined therein. The definitions contained in this Agreement are
         applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.
         Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to


                                       50

<PAGE>   54



         herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein
         means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time
         amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements
         or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) by
         succession of comparable successor statutes and references to all
         attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein. References to
         a person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.

         SECTION 8.04. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and delivered to the other party.

         SECTION 8.05. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES; RIGHTS OF
OWNERSHIP. This Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and (b) other than Section
5.08 of this Agreement, is not intended to confer upon any person other than the
parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

         SECTION 8.06. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard
to any principles of conflicts of law of such State.

         SECTION 8.07. PUBLICITY. Except as otherwise permitted by this
Agreement or required by law or the rules of the NYSE, so long as this Agreement
is in effect, neither the Company nor Prison Realty shall, or shall permit any
of its affiliates to, issue or cause the publication of any press release or
other public announcement or statement with respect to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby without first obtaining the consent of the
other parties hereto. The parties agree that the initial press release to be
issued with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be
in the form heretofore agreed to by the parties.

         SECTION 8.08. ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by
any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the
prior written consent of the other parties, and any such assignment that is not
so consented to shall be null and void; provided that, if necessary or advisable
under applicable provisions of corporate or tax law, Prison Realty may assign
its rights hereunder to any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates to cause the
Company to merge with a Subsidiary or affiliate of Prison Realty, but no such
assignment shall relieve Prison Realty of its obligations hereunder including
the obligations to deliver the Merger Consideration. Subject to the preceding
sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.

         SECTION 8.09. ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that irreparable damage
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their 



                                       51

<PAGE>   55



specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the
parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of
this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this
Agreement in any Federal court located in the State of Tennessee or in any
Tennessee state court, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they
are entitled at law or in equity. In addition, each of the parties hereto (a)
consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of any Federal court
located in the State of Tennessee or any Tennessee state court in the event any
dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such
personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court.

                    THE FOLLOWING PAGE IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE




                                       52

<PAGE>   56


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Prison Realty have caused this
Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,
all as of the date first above written.

                                    CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA

                                    By: /s/ Doctor R. Crants
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                    Name: Doctor R. Crants
                                    Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                    CCA PRISON REALTY TRUST

                                    By: /s/ D. Robert Crants, III
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                    Name: D. Robert Crants, III
                                    Title: President



                                       53


<PAGE>   1
Peggy Wilson Lawrence  (615) 263-3000





     CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA AND CCA PRISON REALTY TRUST TO MERGE
                           IN $4 BILLION TRANSACTION;
                 COMPANIES ACQUIRE U.S. CORRECTIONS CORPORATION

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 20, 1998 -- Corrections Corporation of America (NYSE:
CCA), a prison management company, and CCA Prison Realty Trust (NYSE: PZN), a
prison real estate investment trust (REIT), announced today that they have
signed a definitive agreement to merge. Under the terms of the agreement,
holders of CCA common stock will receive .875 share of PZN common stock for each
common share of CCA owned.

         When completed, the merged companies will operate as a REIT with
approximately $4 billion in total market capitalization, based on current market
prices. Doctor R. Crants, chairman of both CCA and PZN, will be chairman and
chief executive officer of the combined company. Once closed, the CCA/PZN
transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to the REIT's FFO per share.

         The merger has been approved unanimously by the board members of CCA
who participated in the decision and the independent board members of PZN.
Consummation is planned for January 1999, subject to customary conditions,
including approvals by regulatory and governmental agencies and the shareholders
of both companies.

         In addition, CCA and PZN also announced that they have acquired the
assets of U.S. Corrections Corporation (USCC), a privately-held prison
management company based in Louisville, Kentucky. CCA acquired USCC's management
contracts to operate correctional and detention facilities for approximately $10
million in cash. Immediately after the CCA purchase, USCC was merged into PZN
for approximately $147 million in cash plus the assumption of approximately $108
million of debt.

                                   -- more --


<PAGE>   2

         "Each of these transactions, the merger and the acquisition, is 
significant," said Crants. "They represent unprecedented historic and economic
value for our companies. They exemplify our innovation and flexibility while
demonstrating our commitment to enhancing the interest of our respective
shareholders.

         "The USCC acquisition reflects the relative strengths of CCA and PZN.
USCC had the largest collection of prison beds owned by a privately-held
company, all of which are a healthy addition to PZN's portfolio. With USCC, PZN
increased its owned beds by 43%, from 12,214 to 17,489. More importantly, with
this $255 million purchase PZN has met its full-year 1998 asset acquisition
objective and did so leaving its considerable CCA facility pipeline intact. The
USCC transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to PZN's FFO per share.


         "USCC's contracts and geographic diversity complement CCA's existing
book of management business by adding eight facilities and two new states to its
service area. We welcome their operations into our company," Crants continued.

         "The merger of CCA and PZN will allow the respective shareholders of
both companies to benefit from every type of private sector/public sector
partnership: facilities owned and managed by CCA, those owned by government and
managed by CCA, those owned by PZN and managed by CCA, and those owned by PZN
and managed by government. We are enthusiastic about the possibilities for
growth in all of these areas.

         "The resulting company structure will combine the tax and dividend
benefits of a REIT with the high growth prospects of a quality growth company to
produce an exceptional investment opportunity."

                                   -- more --


<PAGE>   3

USCC ACQUISITION

         The former USCC properties that PZN bought include four in Kentucky,
one in Ohio and two in North Carolina. The North Carolina prisons currently are
under construction, and two of the Kentucky facilities are being expanded and
upgraded to medium security. The Ohio facility is a jail managed by the local
sheriff, making it the first REIT owned, government operated facility in
history. Combined, the facilities PZN acquired house 5,275 beds.

         The management contracts purchased by CCA include the four PZN-acquired
operating facilities in Kentucky, as well as one each in Florida and Texas that
are owned by government. CCA also purchased the right to manage the two North
Carolina prisons that currently are under construction. Total beds operating or
being built under the management agreements equal 5,743.

CCA/PZN MERGER BENEFITS

         The merger of CCA and PZN combines their growth rates to create a REIT
with the ability to expand funds from operation, or FFO, at a high rate on a
sustained basis.

         The proposed structure gives shareholders of both companies the benefit
of dividends associated with PZN's status as a REIT. In addition to PZN's
regular dividend, during the fourth quarter of 1999, PZN will pay out CCA's
accumulated earnings and profits in a special, one-time dividend expected to
exceed $2.00 per share.

         The transaction will give the combined company a stronger balance
sheet. It is expected to reduce overall cost of capital, as well as enhance
liquidity and public float.

         Significant marketing synergies are expected in the development of new
business. Combining the resources of CCA and PZN will heighten their
effectiveness in presenting comprehensive proposals to government for all facets
of the business: designing, building, owning, leasing and managing secure
facilities.

                                   -- more --

<PAGE>   4

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF MERGED COMPANIES

         After the merger, management of the REIT's facilities and contracts
will be undertaken by three newly-formed private companies, all operating under
the name of Corrections Corporation of America.

         For existing contracts in facilities not owned by PZN or CCA, two
third-party service subsidiaries will be formed. One subsidiary will manage the
adult prison contracts and the other will manage jail and detention facility
contracts. PZN will have 95% of the economic interest in each subsidiary, and
the remaining 5% will be held by investors and the management and employees of
each subsidiary. 

         For contracts in facilities currently owned by PZN and CCA, as
well as for all future facilities, a separate management company will be formed.
PZN is expected to have 9.5% economic interest in it, with the balance held by
investors and the management and employees of that company. The 
investor/management group will agree to pay PZN in installments for the right to
manage its properties.

         "While the REIT rules are complex," Crants said, "in essence PZN will
move forward as the publicly-traded investment vehicle. `New' CCA will continue
to operate as its management company with the same name, same management team,
same reputation and same industry leadership position."

EXCHANGE TERMS

         Under the terms of the CCA/PZN merger agreement, CCA will merge with
and into PZN in a tax-free reorganization. The exchange ratio for CCA common
shares will be fixed at .875 PZN share for each CCA share, with no adjustment
mechanism for changes in stock price. It is expected that most outstanding CCA
stock options and all deferred stock awards will be fully vested and converted
into CCA stock just prior to closing, then converted at the exchange ratio into
PZN shares.

                                   -- more --

<PAGE>   5

         Shares in CCA's ESOP also will be converted into PZN stock at the
exchange ratio. It is anticipated that those shares then will be transferred
into a newly-formed 401-k Plan for employees.

         J.C. Bradford & Co. has acted as financial advisor for PZN in its 
consideration of the proposed merger, and Stephens Inc. has acted as financial
advisor for CCA.

         CCA manages prisons and other correctional institutions for
governmental agencies. The company is the industry leader in private sector
corrections with 62,487 beds in 77 facilities under contract in the U.S., Puerto
Rico, Australia and the United Kingdom. CCA's full range of services includes
finance, design, construction and management of new or existing facilities, as
well as long-distance inmate transportation.

         PZN acquires and owns correctional and detention facilities from both
private prison managers and governmental entities. The company has elected to be
treated as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code. PZN
currently owns 20 facilities in nine U.S. states.

         This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from
those contained in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors,
including business and economic conditions and availability of financing. These
and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in the company's reports filed
with the SEC.

                                    # # # # #




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission