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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252"?> |
<ownershipDocument> |
| <schemaVersion> X0303 </schemaVersion> |
| <documentType> 4 </documentType> |
| <periodOfReport> 2010-08-12 </periodOfReport> |
| <notSubjectToSection16> 1 </notSubjectToSection16> |
| <issuer> |
| | <issuerCik> 0001016152 </issuerCik> |
| | <issuerName> CORNELL COMPANIES INC </issuerName> |
| | <issuerTradingSymbol> CRN </issuerTradingSymbol> |
| | </issuer> |
| <reportingOwner> |
| | <reportingOwnerId> |
| | | <rptOwnerCik> 0001015974 </rptOwnerCik> |
| | | <rptOwnerName> GOODWIN TODD </rptOwnerName> |
| | | </reportingOwnerId> |
| | <reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet1> 1700 WEST LOOP SOUTH </rptOwnerStreet1> |
| | | <rptOwnerStreet2> SUITE 1500 </rptOwnerStreet2> |
| | | <rptOwnerCity> HOUSTON </rptOwnerCity> |
| | | <rptOwnerState> TX </rptOwnerState> |
| | | <rptOwnerZipCode> 77027 </rptOwnerZipCode> |
| | | <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription> |
| | | </reportingOwnerAddress> |
| | <reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | | <isDirector> 1 </isDirector> |
| | | <isOfficer> 0 </isOfficer> |
| | | <isTenPercentOwner> 0 </isTenPercentOwner> |
| | | <isOther> 0 </isOther> |
| | | <officerTitle></officerTitle> |
| | | <otherText></otherText> |
| | | </reportingOwnerRelationship> |
| | </reportingOwner> |
| <nonDerivativeTable> |
| | <nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Common stock </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2010-08-12 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> D </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 39960 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <footnoteId id="F1"/> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </nonDerivativeTransaction> |
| | </nonDerivativeTable> |
| <derivativeTable> |
| | <derivativeTransaction> |
| | | <securityTitle> |
| <value> Stock option (right to buy) </value> |
| </securityTitle> |
| | | <conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| <value> 23.08 </value> |
| </conversionOrExercisePrice> |
| | | <transactionDate> |
| <value> 2010-08-12 </value> |
| </transactionDate> |
| | | <transactionCoding> |
| <transactionFormType> 4 </transactionFormType> |
| <transactionCode> D </transactionCode> |
| <equitySwapInvolved> 0 </equitySwapInvolved> |
| </transactionCoding> |
| | | <transactionAmounts> |
| <transactionShares> |
| <value> 1250 </value> |
| </transactionShares> |
| <transactionPricePerShare> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </transactionPricePerShare> |
| <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode> |
| </transactionAmounts> |
| | | <exerciseDate> |
| <footnoteId id="F2"/> |
| </exerciseDate> |
| | | <expirationDate> |
| <value> 2020-01-04 </value> |
| </expirationDate> |
| | | <underlyingSecurity> |
| <underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <value> Common stock </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityTitle> |
| <underlyingSecurityShares> |
| <value> 1250 </value> |
| </underlyingSecurityShares> |
| </underlyingSecurity> |
| | | <postTransactionAmounts> |
| <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| <value> 0 </value> |
| </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction> |
| </postTransactionAmounts> |
| | | <ownershipNature> |
| <directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| <value> D </value> |
| </directOrIndirectOwnership> |
| </ownershipNature> |
| | | </derivativeTransaction> |
| | </derivativeTable> |
| <footnotes> |
| | <footnote id="F1"> Disposed of pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 18, 2010, as amended, by and among The GEO Group, Inc. ("GEO"), GEO Acquisition III, Inc., and Cornell Companies, Inc. (the "Merger Agreement"), in exchange for the right to receive at each stockholder's election and subject to certain limitations, either: (i) 1.3 shares of common stock of GEO, (ii) the right to receive cash consideration equal to $28.054, or (iii) a combination of cash and stock. If a Cornell stockholder failed to make an election or was not entitled to make an election, the holder received the stock consideration. </footnote> |
| | <footnote id="F2"> This option, which was fully vested, was assumed by GEO in the Merger and replaced with an option to purchase 1,625 shares of GEO common stock for $17.76 per share. </footnote> |
| | </footnotes> |
| <ownerSignature> |
| | <signatureName> /s/ Todd Goodwin </signatureName> |
| | <signatureDate> 2010-08-13 </signatureDate> |
| | </ownerSignature> |
| </ownershipDocument> |