Derivative Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

In the normal course of business, our operations are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency values and interest rate changes. We may seek to control a portion of these risks through a risk management program that includes the use of derivative instruments.

The interest and principal payments for Laureate’s senior long-term debt arrangements are to be paid primarily in USD. Our ability to make debt payments is subject to fluctuations in the value of the USD against foreign currencies, since a majority of our operating cash used to make these payments is generated by subsidiaries with functional currencies other than USD. As part of our overall risk management policies, Laureate has at times entered into foreign currency swap contracts and floating-to-fixed interest rate swap contracts. In addition, we occasionally enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce the impact of other non-functional currency-denominated receivables and payables. We do not enter into speculative or leveraged transactions, nor do we hold or issue derivatives for trading purposes. We generally intend to hold our derivatives until maturity.

Laureate reports all derivatives at fair value. These contracts are recognized as either assets or liabilities, depending upon the derivative’s fair value. Gains or losses associated with the change in the fair value of these swaps are recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Operations on a current basis over the term of the contracts, unless designated and effective as a hedge. For swaps that are designated and effective as cash flow hedges, gains or losses associated with the change in fair value of the swaps are recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of AOCI and amortized into earnings as a component of Interest expense over the term of the related hedged items. Upon early termination of an effective interest rate swap designated as a cash flow hedge, unrealized gains or losses are deferred in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of AOCI and are amortized as an adjustment to Interest expense over the period during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. For derivatives that are both designated and effective as net investment hedges, gains or losses associated with the change in fair value of the derivatives are recognized on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of AOCI.

The reported fair values of our derivatives, which are classified in Derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, were as follows:


	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020








Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Current assets:
Cross currency swaps	$	21,800	$	—


Current liabilities:

Cross currency swaps	—		17,680
Long-term liabilities:
Cross currency swaps	—		8,144

Total derivative instrument assets	$	21,800	$	—
Total derivative instrument liabilities	$	—	$	25,824

BRL to USD Foreign Currency Swaps

In November 2020, in connection with the signing of the sale agreement for its Brazilian operations, Laureate entered into six BRL-to-USD swap agreements. The purpose of these swaps is to mitigate the risk of foreign currency exposure on the expected proceeds from the sale. Four of the swaps are put/call options with a maturity date of May 13, 2021, where Laureate can put the combined notional amount of BRL 1,875,000 and call a combined USD amount of $343,783 at an exchange rate of 5.4540 BRL per 1 USD. The terms of these options include deferred premium payments from Laureate to the counterparties of $18,294, which were paid in full in January 2021. The remaining two swaps are deal contingent, with the settlement date occurring on the second business day following the completion of the aforementioned sale. On the settlement date, Laureate will deliver the combined notional amount of BRL 1,900,000 (BRL 950,000 for each swap) and receive an amount in USD equal to each swap's notional amount multiplied by each swap's contract rate of exchange at the settlement date. For one of the swaps, the contract rate of exchange has a possible range of 5.484143 - 5.678624 BRL per 1 USD, and the maturity date is December 31, 2021. For the other swap, the contract rate of exchange has a possible range of 5.44706 - 5.63255 BRL per 1 USD, and the maturity date is January 3, 2022. As of March 31, 2021, these swaps were in an asset position and had an aggregate fair value of $21,800, which was recorded in Derivative instruments as a current asset. As of December 31, 2020, these swaps were in a liability position and had an aggregate fair value of $25,824, of which $17,680 was recorded in Derivative instruments as a current liability and $8,144 was recorded in Derivative instruments as a long-term liability. These swaps are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes.

AUD to USD Foreign Currency Swap

In March 2020, Laureate entered into an AUD-to-USD swap agreement with a maturity date of April 15, 2020, in connection with an intercompany funding transaction. The terms of the swap stated that on the maturity date, Laureate would deliver the notional amount of AUD 21,000 and receive USD $13,713 at a rate of exchange of 0.6530 USD per 1 AUD. On April 8, 2020, Laureate entered into a net settlement agreement for this swap to deliver USD $12,999 and receive the notional amount of AUD 21,000 at a rate of exchange of 0.6190 USD per 1 AUD. This net settlement was executed on April 15, 2020, which resulted in a realized gain and proceeds received of $714. This swap was not designated as a hedge for accounting purposes.

Components of the reported Gain on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations were as follows:



For the three months ended March 31,	2021		2020
Cross currency swaps
Unrealized gain	$	47,624	$	802
Realized loss	(18,294)		—
Gain on derivatives, net	$	29,330	$	802

Credit Risk and Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features

Laureate’s derivatives expose us to credit risk to the extent that the counterparty may possibly fail to perform its contractual obligation. The amount of our credit risk exposure is equal to the fair value of the derivative when any of the derivatives are in

a net gain position. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the estimated fair values of derivatives in a gain position were $21,800 and $0, respectively.

Laureate has limited its credit risk by only entering into derivative transactions with highly rated major financial institutions. We have not entered into collateral agreements with our derivatives' counterparties. At March 31, 2021, two institutions which were rated A1 and one institution which was rated A2 by the global rating agency of Moody's Investors Service accounted for all of Laureate's derivative credit risk exposure.

Laureate’s agreements with its derivative counterparties contain a provision under which the Company could be declared in default on our derivative obligations if repayment of the underlying indebtedness is accelerated by the lender due to a default on the indebtedness. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had not breached any default provisions and had not posted any collateral related to these agreements. If the Company had breached any of these provisions, it could have been required to settle the obligations under the derivative agreements for an amount that, at a maximum, the Company believes would approximate their estimated fair values as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 of $0 and $25,824, respectively.