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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

Noncontrolling Interest Holder Put Arrangements and Company Call Arrangements

The following section provides a summary table and description of the various noncontrolling interest holder put arrangements that Laureate had outstanding as of June 30, 2017. Laureate has elected to accrete changes in the arrangements’ redemption values over the period from the date of issuance to the earliest redemption date. The redeemable noncontrolling interests are recorded at the greater of the accreted redemption value or the traditional noncontrolling interest. Until the first exercise date, the put instruments’ reported values may be lower than the final amounts that will be required to settle the minority put arrangements. As of June 30, 2017, the carrying value of all noncontrolling interest holder put arrangements was $23,215, which includes accreted incremental value of $22,715 in excess of traditional noncontrolling interests.

If the minority put arrangements were all exercisable at June 30, 2017, Laureate would be obligated to pay the noncontrolling interest holders an estimated amount of $23,215, as summarized in the following table:
 
Nominal Currency
First Exercisable Date
Estimated Value as of June 30, 2017 redeemable within
12-months:
 
Reported
Value
Noncontrolling interest holder put arrangements
 
 
 
 
 
INTI Education Holdings Sdn Bhd (INTI) - 10%
MYR
Current
$
9,828

 
$
9,828

Pearl Retail Solutions Private Limited and Creative Arts Education Society (Pearl) - 45%
INR
Current
13,329

 
13,329

Stamford International University (STIU) - Puttable preferred stock of TEDCO
THB
Current
58

 
58

Total noncontrolling interest holder put arrangements
 
 
23,215

 
23,215

Puttable common stock - currently redeemable
USD
Current
4

 
4

Puttable common stock - not currently redeemable
USD
*

 
2,303

Total redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity
 
 
$
23,219

 
$
25,522

* Contingently redeemable

MYR: Malaysian Ringgit
INR: Indian Rupee
THB: Thai Baht

Laureate’s noncontrolling interest put arrangements are specified in agreements with each noncontrolling interest holder. The terms of these agreements determine the measurement of the redemption value of the put options based on a non-GAAP measure of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA, or recurring EBITDA), the definition of which varies for each particular contract.

Commitments and contingencies are generally denominated in foreign currencies.

Pearl

As part of the acquisition of Pearl, the minority owners have a put option to require Laureate to purchase the remaining 45% noncontrolling interest, and Laureate has a call option to require the minority owners to sell to Laureate up to 35% of the total equity of Pearl that is still owned by the noncontrolling interest holders (i.e. approximately 78% of the remaining 45% noncontrolling interest).

On June 19, 2017, Laureate and the noncontrolling interest holders of Pearl amended the put and call option agreements in order to clarify certain aspects of the formula for determining the purchase price of the noncontrolling interests. The modifications to the agreement resulted in the exclusion of certain campus costs and liabilities in the purchase price calculation. As of June 30, 2017, we have recorded the put option at its total estimated redemption value of $13,329.

As described in Note 18, Subsequent Events, on July 11, 2017, the noncontrolling interest holders of Pearl notified Laureate of their election to exercise their put option for a portion of their total noncontrolling interest, which will require Laureate to purchase an additional 35% equity interest in Pearl. The purchase price for the 35% equity interest is approximately $11,500, and has been agreed to by the parties.

Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock Offering

As disclosed in our 2016 Form 10-K, on December 4, 2016, we signed a subscription agreement with six investors, including Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts Co. L.P. and Snow Phipps Group LLC, both of which are affiliates of ours, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to those investors an aggregate of 400 shares of a new series of our convertible redeemable preferred stock (the Series A Preferred Stock), consisting of 23 shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock and 377 shares of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, in a private offering for total net proceeds of approximately $383,000. The closing of this transaction, for 343 shares, occurred on December 20, 2016 and we received net proceeds, after issuance costs, of approximately $328,000. One investor funded a portion of its purchase price for 57 shares, equal to $57,000 (approximately $55,000 net of issuance costs), in January 2017. The issuance costs are being accreted to the carrying value of the Series A Preferred Stock over the five-year redemption period.

The Series A Preferred Stock includes a Beneficial Conversion Feature (BCF) that was contingent on a qualified IPO (as defined in the Certificate of Designations governing the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock), which was consummated on February 6, 2017. Accordingly, during the first quarter of 2017, the Company recorded the BCF at its estimated fair value of $261,794 as a reduction of the carrying value of the Series A Preferred Stock and an increase to Additional Paid-In Capital. Beginning in the first quarter of 2017, the accretion of this BCF reduces net income available to common stockholders in the calculation of earnings per share, as shown in Note 14, Earnings (Loss) Per Share. The BCF will be accreted using a constant yield approach over a one-year period. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we have recorded total accretion on the Series A Preferred Stock of $101,194, and as of June 30, 2017 the Series A Preferred Stock had a carrying value of $232,030. As of December 31, 2016, prior to the January 2017 funding of purchase price for the additional 57 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and prior to the IPO and the recording of the IPO-contingent BCF, the Series A Preferred Stock had a carrying value of $332,957.

Other Loss Contingencies

Laureate is subject to legal actions arising in the ordinary course of its business. In management's opinion, we have adequate legal defenses, insurance coverage and/or accrued liabilities with respect to the eventuality of such actions. We do not believe that any settlement would have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Contingent Liabilities for Taxes

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, Laureate has recorded cumulative liabilities totaling $61,290 and $67,192, respectively, for taxes other-than-income tax, principally payroll-tax-related uncertainties due to acquisitions of companies primarily in LatAm. The changes in this recorded liability are related to acquisitions, interest and penalty accruals, changes in tax laws, expirations of statutes of limitations, settlements and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The terms of the statutes of limitations on these contingencies vary but can be up to 10 years. This liability is included in Other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We have also recorded current liabilities for taxes other-than-income tax of $1,205 and $1,896, respectively, as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, in Other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The recorded value of contingent liabilities is reduced when they are extinguished or the related statutes of limitations expire.

In addition, as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, Laureate has recorded cumulative liabilities for income tax contingencies of $108,542 and $103,471, respectively. In addition, we have identified certain tax-related contingencies that we have assessed as being reasonably possible of loss, but not probable of loss, and could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations if the outcomes are unfavorable. In most cases, Laureate has received indemnifications from the former owners and/or noncontrolling interest holders of the acquired businesses for contingencies, and therefore, we do not believe we will sustain an economic loss even if we are required to pay these additional amounts. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, indemnification assets primarily related to acquisition contingencies were $93,203 and $97,607, respectively. These indemnification assets primarily covered contingencies for income taxes and taxes other-than-income taxes.

Other Loss Contingencies

Laureate has accrued liabilities for certain civil actions against our institutions, a portion of which existed prior to our acquisition of these entities. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, approximately $22,000 and $18,000, respectively, of loss contingencies were included in Other long-term liabilities and Other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Laureate intends to vigorously defend against these lawsuits.

Hunan International Economics University (HIEU), our institution in China, is named as one of five defendants in a civil case involving a loan transaction that was entered into by certain noncontrolling interest holders of HIEU as borrowers, and was allegedly guaranteed by HIEU. The amount of the loan is approximately $29,000, including interest and penalties. The noncontrolling interest holders are the primary defendants in this civil case, with HIEU added in its alleged role as guarantor. Due to developments in the case that occurred during the second quarter of 2017, we determined that the probability of incurring a loss in this legal matter became reasonably possible as of June 30, 2017, but not probable, and therefore a liability has not been recorded. HIEU intends to defend itself in this matter.

Material Guarantees – Student Financing

Chile

The accredited Chilean institutions in the Laureate network also participate in a government-sponsored student financing program known as Crédito con Aval del Estado (the CAE Program). The CAE Program was formally implemented by the Chilean government in 2006 to promote higher education in Chile for lower socio-economic level students in good academic standing. The CAE Program involves tuition financing and guarantees that are provided by our institutions and the government. As part of the CAE Program, these institutions provide guarantees which result in contingent liabilities to third-party financing institutions, beginning at 90% of the tuition loans made directly to qualified students enrolled through the CAE Program and declining to 60% over time. The guarantees by these institutions are in effect during the period in which the student is enrolled, and the guarantees are assumed entirely by the government upon the student’s graduation. When a student leaves one of Laureate's institutions and enrolls in another CAE-qualified institution, the Laureate institution will remain guarantor of the tuition loans that have been granted up to the date of transfer, and until the student's graduation from a CAE-qualified institution. The maximum potential amount of payments our institutions could be required to make under the CAE Program was approximately $496,000 and $479,000 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. This maximum potential amount assumes that all students in the CAE Program do not graduate, so that our guarantee would not be assigned to the government, and that all students default on the full amount of the CAE-qualified loan balances. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we recorded $27,854 and $20,636, respectively, as estimated long-term guarantee liabilities for these obligations.

Material Guarantees – Other

In conjunction with the purchase of UNP, Laureate pledged all of the acquired shares as a guarantee of our payments of rents as they become due. In the event that we default on any payment, the pledge agreement provides for a forfeiture of the relevant pledged shares. In the event of forfeiture, Laureate may be required to transfer the books and management of UNP to the former owners.

Laureate acquired the remaining 49% ownership interest in UAM Brazil in April 2013. As part of the agreement to purchase the 49% ownership interest, Laureate pledged 49% of its total shares in UAM Brazil as a guarantee of our payment obligations under the purchase agreement. In the event that we default on any payment, the agreement provides for a forfeiture of the pledged shares.

In connection with the purchase of FMU on September 12, 2014, Laureate pledged 75% of the acquired shares to third-party lenders as a guarantee of our payment obligations under the loans that financed a portion of the purchase price. Laureate pledged the remaining 25% of the acquired shares to the sellers as a guarantee of our payment obligations under the purchase agreement for the seller notes. In the event that we default on any payment of the loans or seller notes, the purchase agreement provides for a forfeiture of the relevant pledged shares. Upon maturity and payment of the seller notes in September 2017, the shares pledged to the sellers will be pledged to the third-party lenders until full payment of the loans, which mature in April 2021.

Standby Letters of Credit, Surety Bonds and Other Commitments

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, Laureate's outstanding letters of credit (LOCs) and surety bonds primarily consisted of the items discussed below.

As of both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had approximately $105,600 posted as LOCs in favor of the United States Department of Education (DOE). These LOCs were required to allow Walden, Kendall, NewSchool, and St. Augustine to continue participating in the DOE Title IV program. These LOCs are fully collateralized with cash equivalents and certificates of deposit, which are classified as Restricted cash and investments on our June 30, 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheet.

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $37,768 and $34,746, respectively, posted as cash-collateral for LOCs related to the Spain Tax Audits. The cash collateral for these LOCs was classified as Restricted cash and investments on our June 30, 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheet.

As part of our normal operations, our insurers issue surety bonds on our behalf, as required by various state education authorities in the United States. We are obligated to reimburse our insurers for any payments made by the insurers under the surety bonds. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the total face amount of these surety bonds was $11,544 and $12,162, respectively. These bonds are fully collateralized with cash, which is classified as Restricted cash and investments on our June 30, 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheet.

In November 2016, in order to continue participating in Prouni, a federal program that offers tax benefits designed to increase higher education participation rates in Brazil, UAM Brazil posted a guarantee in the amount of $15,300. In connection with the issuance of the guarantee, UAM Brazil obtained a non-collateralized surety bond from a third party in order to secure the guarantee. The cost of the surety bond was $1,400, of which half was reimbursed by the former owner of UAM Brazil, and is being amortized over the five-year term. The Company believes that this matter will not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.