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Dispositions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
Dispositions Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale
As discussed in Note 1, Description of Business, the Company's principal markets are Mexico and Peru. All other markets have been divested.

Summarized operating results and cash flows of the Discontinued Operations are presented in the following table:
For the years ended December 31,202220212020
Revenues$— $542,979 $1,674,602 
Depreciation and amortization expense— — (60,378)
Share-based compensation expense— (1,277)(3,050)
Other direct costs— (433,127)(1,313,258)
Loss on impairment of assets— (1,268)(438,258)
Other non-operating expense— (22,288)(68,553)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations before taxes, net7,752 636,172 25,048 
Pretax income (loss) of discontinued operations7,752 721,191 (183,847)
Income tax benefit (expense)508 (234,326)(114,257)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax$8,260 $486,865 $(298,104)
Operating cash flows of discontinued operations$— $39,544 $288,271 
Investing cash flows of discontinued operations$— $(11,161)$(48,428)
Financing cash flows of discontinued operations$— $(18,054)$(969)

2021 Loss Recognized on Held-For-Sale Disposal Group

Brazil

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $32,400 related to the Brazil disposal group, which was classified as a Discontinued Operation, in order to write down the carrying value of those assets to their estimated fair value less costs to sell as of March 31, 2021, in accordance with ASC 360-10, “Impairment and Disposal of Long-lived Assets” (ASC 360-10). The estimated fair value was based on the sale agreement for the disposal group that was announced on November 2, 2020, as previously disclosed. The sale of the Brazil disposal group closed on May 28, 2021. See Note 5, Dispositions, for more information.

2020 Impairments and Losses Recognized on Held-For-Sale Disposal Groups

Chile

As described in Note 1, Description of Business, in January 2020, Laureate's Board of Directors authorized the Company to explore strategic alternatives for each of its businesses to unlock shareholder value. As part of that process, the Company evaluated all potential options for its remaining businesses, including sales, spin-offs or business combinations. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company received and considered information regarding the market valuation for control of its Chilean operations, which was both a reporting unit and an asset group. In a divestiture scenario, this market feedback revealed the range of values that could be expected to be offered by potential investors, and this range of values was lower than carrying value. The reasons for this included uncertainties that market participants had around operating higher education institutions in Chile related to the challenging political and regulatory environment and the possibility that a new Chilean constitution could become effective. These uncertainties particularly affected the views of market participants (as well as the views of the Company) about operating a not-for-profit education institution in Chile.

After assessing these factors, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of its Chile reporting unit was less than its carrying value. Accordingly, the Company performed an impairment test of the long-lived assets that were part of the Chile reporting unit. Because Chile had not yet met the held-for-sale criteria as of June 30, 2020, the long-lived assets other than goodwill were evaluated for impairment under the held-and-used model, based on the probability-weighted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. Goodwill was also evaluated for impairment. The projections used in the impairment testing included key assumptions around the effect of regulatory uncertainties on the future cash flows expected to be generated, reducing the estimates of those cash flows. In addition, the projections incorporated assumptions around
growth rates, tax rates and discount rates. The inputs used were not observable to active markets and were therefore deemed “Level 3” inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

As a result of the impairment test, the Company determined that the carrying value of the Chile asset group exceeded its fair value by approximately $418,000 and recorded an impairment charge in that amount during the second quarter of 2020, as follows:
Goodwill and tradenames$238,400 
Land and buildings80,600 
Other long-lived assets36,500 
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net62,500 
Total Chile impairment$418,000 

In addition, the Company had recorded within stockholders’ equity, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income, approximately $293,000 of accumulated foreign currency translation losses associated with the Chilean operations. As discussed further in Note 5, Dispositions, the Company completed the divestiture of its Chilean operations during the third quarter of 2020 and, as a result, these accumulated foreign currency translation losses were recognized as part of the loss on sale.

Honduras

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $10,000 related to the Honduras disposal group, which was classified as a Discontinued Operation, in order to write down the carrying value of those assets to their estimated fair value at that time, in accordance with ASC 360-10. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company recorded an additional loss of approximately $10,000 related to the Honduras disposal group, in order to adjust the carrying value of those assets to their estimated fair value based on the sale agreement for the institution that was signed in October 2020.

Brazil

During the third quarter of 2020, the Company signed an agreement to sell its Brazil operations and, as a result, Brazil was classified as a Discontinued Operation for all periods presented. In connection with this decision to sell Brazil, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $190,000 in order to write down the carrying value of the Brazil disposal group to its estimated fair value less costs to sell, as required by ASC 360-10. The estimated fair value was based on an offer received from a market participant. Because the held-for-sale criteria were met during the third quarter, the carrying value used to evaluate the Brazil business included the accumulated foreign currency translation losses associated with Brazil, resulting in this loss. During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded an additional loss of approximately $15,000 in order to adjust the carrying value of the Brazil disposal group to its estimated fair value less costs to sell as of December 31, 2020.

During the second quarter of 2022, the Company completed the transfer of the remaining assets and liabilities of the Discontinued Operations that were classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2021, which resulted in a gain of approximately $4,300. The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities that were classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2021 are presented in the following table:
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Assets of Discontinued Operations
Operating lease assets$— $6,164 
Total assets held for sale$— $6,164 
Liabilities of Discontinued Operations
Operating leases, including current portion$— $10,849 
Total liabilities held for sale$— $10,849 
Dispositions
2022 Receipt of Escrow Receivable from Sale of Walden

On August 12, 2021, pursuant to the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the Walden Purchase Agreement) with Adtalem Global Education Inc. (the Walden Purchaser), the Company sold to the Walden Purchaser all of the issued and outstanding equity interest in Walden e-Learning, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Walden), and its subsidiary, Walden University, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (together with Walden, the Walden Group). At the closing date of August 12, 2021, the Walden Purchaser paid an additional $74,000 of the sale transaction value into an escrow account, which was to be released in full or in part to the Company one year following the closing of the transaction pursuant to the terms and conditions of the escrow agreement. On August 23, 2022, the Company received approximately $71,700 of the escrow amount.

2021 Dispositions

Honduras Divestiture

On March 8, 2021, the Company completed the divestiture of its operations in Honduras to Fundación Nasser, a not-for-profit foundation in Honduras. In connection with the transaction, the Company transferred control of Fundaempresa, which manages Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC), including Centro Universitario Tecnológico (CEUTEC). The proceeds received, net of cash sold, closing costs and a working capital adjustment that was completed during the second quarter of 2021, were approximately $24,000. As a result of the sale, the Company recognized a pre-tax loss of approximately $1,700, which is included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021. Under the transaction terms, additional consideration of $2,000 was paid into an escrow account at closing and, assuming certain conditions are met, will be released to the Company based on the following schedule: 50% after 18 months, 25% after 24 months and 25% after 36 months. During the third quarter of 2022, the Company received the first scheduled escrow payment of $1,000.

Receipt of Remaining Escrow Receivable from Sale of China Operations

On January 25, 2018, the Company completed the sale of LEI Lie Ying Limited in China. At the closing of the sale on January 25, 2018, a portion of the total transaction value was paid into an escrow account, to be distributed to the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions of the escrow agreement. In June 2020, the Company received approximately one-half of the escrow account, and the remainder was due in January 2021. In April 2021, the Company received 168,284 Hong Kong Dollars (approximately $21,650 at the date of receipt), which represented payment in full for the remainder of the escrow account. Accordingly, the Company recognized a gain of approximately $13,600, which is included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Brazil Divestiture

On May 28, 2021, the Company completed the sale of its operations in Brazil to Ânima Holding S.A. (Anima). The proceeds received at the date of sale, net of cash sold, transaction fees and settlement of foreign currency swaps, were approximately $625,000. The Company used a portion of the proceeds to repay the remaining balance outstanding under its Senior Notes due 2025. Additionally, the buyer assumed indebtedness, gross of cash sold, of approximately $121,000. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of approximately $33,000, which included: i) the derecognition of the carrying value of the disposal group; ii) working capital and purchase price adjustments that were completed during the third and fourth quarters of 2021; and iii) contingent consideration of approximately $6,500 that was recognized during the fourth quarter of 2021, in accordance with the terms of the sale agreement. This gain is included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Walden Divestiture

On August 12, 2021, the Company closed the transaction pursuant to the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the Walden Purchase Agreement), dated September 11, 2020, with Adtalem Global Education Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Walden Purchaser). Pursuant to the Walden Purchase Agreement, the Company sold to the Walden Purchaser all of the issued and outstanding equity interest in Walden e-Learning, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company (Walden), and its subsidiary, Walden University, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (together with Walden, the Walden Group).

The cash proceeds received, net of cash sold, transaction fees, and certain closing adjustments, were approximately $1,403,500. Also, at the closing date of August 12, 2021, the Walden Purchaser paid an additional $74,000 of the sale transaction value into an escrow account, which was to be released in full or in part to the Company one year following the closing of the transaction pursuant to the terms and conditions of the escrow agreement. As described above, on August 23, 2022, the Company received approximately $71,700 of the escrow amount. In addition, approximately $83,600 of restricted cash that related to collateralized regulatory obligations was released during the fourth quarter of 2021. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of approximately $619,400, as well as estimated tax expense of approximately $278,000. The gain included the derecognition of the carrying value of Walden as well as a working capital settlement that was completed during the fourth quarter of 2021 and is included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Collection of Note Receivable from Divestiture of Chilean Operations

On September 10, 2020, the Company completed the divestiture of its operations in Chile. Under the terms of the agreement, the purchase price included a note receivable of $21,500 that was payable one year from the date of divestiture. In September 2021, the Company collected this receivable.

2020 Dispositions

Sale of Costa Rica Operations

On January 10, 2020, Laureate International B.V., a Netherlands private limited liability company (Laureate International), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into, and consummated the transactions contemplated by, an Equity Purchase Agreement (the Costa Rica Agreement) with SP Costa Rica Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Costa Rica Buyer).

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Costa Rica Buyer purchased from Laureate International (i) all of the equity units of Education Holding Costa Rica, S.R.L., which owned, directly or indirectly, all of the equity units of Lusitania S.R.L., Universidad ULatina, S.R.L. (ULatina) and Universidad Americana UAM, S.R.L. (collectively, Laureate Costa Rica) and (ii) a note due from ULatina to Laureate International. Consideration for the transaction consisted of $15,000 paid at closing and up to $7,000 to be paid within the next two years if Laureate Costa Rica met certain performance metrics. The relevant performance metrics were not met, and accordingly the Company did not receive any additional proceeds. The proceeds received, net of cash sold, transaction fees and a working capital adjustment that was completed during the second quarter of 2020, were approximately $1,800. Additionally, Laureate Costa Rica retained obligations to pay approximately $30,000 in finance lease indebtedness for which the Costa Rica Buyer has no recourse to Laureate International. During 2019, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $25,000 on the held-for-sale Costa Rica disposal group, in order to write down the carrying value of those assets to their estimated fair value, per ASC 360-10. Upon completion of the sale in January 2020 and after including the working capital adjustment, the Company recognized additional pre-tax loss of approximately $18,600, which related to subsequent changes in net carrying values and is included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020.

The Costa Rica Buyer was controlled by certain affiliates of Sterling Capital Partners II, L.P. (Sterling II). Previously, Sterling II had the right to designate a director to the Laureate Board of Directors pursuant to a securityholders agreement, and Steven Taslitz served as the Sterling-designated director. Mr. Taslitz did not participate in the Laureate Board of Directors’ consideration of the transaction, which was approved by Laureate's Audit Committee as a related party transaction.

Sale of NewSchool of Architecture and Design, LLC (NSAD)

On March 6, 2020, the Company completed the sale of NSAD. Under the terms of the membership interests purchase agreement, Exeter Street Holdings, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, sold 100% of the outstanding membership interests of NSAD to Ambow NSAD, Inc. and Ambow Education Holding, Ltd. (the NSAD Buyers) for a purchase price of one dollar, subject to certain adjustments. NSAD is a higher education institution located in California that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and non-degree certificates in design and construction management. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company agreed to pay subsidies to the NSAD Buyers totaling approximately $7,300, of which all but $2,800 was settled at the closing date. The remaining subsidy of $2,800 was being paid to the NSAD Buyers ratably on a quarterly
basis over the next four years. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company and the NSAD Buyers reached an agreement to offset the subsidy amount that remained at that time with amounts that the NSAD Buyers owed to the Company, resulting in a net payment to the NSAD Buyers of approximately $625. During 2020, the Company recognized a pre-tax loss on the sale of approximately $5,900, which is included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Divestiture of Chilean Operations

On September 10, 2020, Laureate International and Laureate I, B.V., each a Netherlands private limited liability company (together, the LDES Sellers), and Servicios Regionales Universitarios LE, S.C., a Mexican company (sociedad civil) (together with the LDES Sellers, the Controlling Entities), all of which are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, entered into a Master Agreement (the Chile Agreement) with Fundación Educación y Cultura, a Chilean non-for-profit foundation (the Chile Buyer).

Pursuant to the Chile Agreement, as of September 11, 2020, Laureate completed the divestiture of its operations in Chile through the transfer of control of its not-for-profit institutions, Universidad Andrés Bello, Universidad de Las Américas and Universidad Viña del Mar, to the Chile Buyer, and the sale of its for-profit operations, which includes the sale of Instituto Profesional AIEP to Universidad Andrés Bello. The not-for-profit institutions were consolidated by Laureate under the variable interest entity model. The cash proceeds received at closing, prior to transaction fees, were approximately $195,300. In addition, the purchase price included a note receivable of $21,500 that was payable one year from the date of divestiture and was subsequently collected by the Company in September 2021, as noted above. At the closing date, the Chilean operations had a cash balance (cash sold) of approximately $288,000 that was transferred to the Chile Buyer as part of the transaction.

This divestiture resulted in a pre-tax loss of approximately $338,200, which related primarily to the accumulated foreign currency translation losses associated with the Chilean operations. The loss is recorded in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020. As discussed in Note 4, Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale, during the second quarter of 2020, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $418,000 related to the long-lived assets, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill of the Chilean operations, in order to write down the carrying value of the Chilean operations assets to its estimated fair value.

Inti Education Holdings Sdn. Bhd. (Inti Holdings)

On February 28, 2020, Exeter Street Holdings Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysia corporation (the Malaysia Seller), and LEI Holdings, LTD., a Hong Kong corporation (the Malaysia Seller Guarantor), each of which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Laureate, entered into a Share Sale & Purchase Agreement (the Malaysia Sale Agreement) with HOPE Education Group (Hong Kong) Company Limited (the Malaysia Purchaser) and HOPE Education Group Co. Ltd. (the Malaysia Purchaser Guarantor). Pursuant to the Malaysia Sale Agreement, the Malaysia Purchaser would purchase from the Malaysia Seller all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Inti Education Holdings Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysia corporation (Inti Holdings), the Malaysia Seller’s Guarantor would guarantee certain obligations of the Malaysia Seller and the Malaysia Purchaser’s Guarantor would guarantee certain obligations of the Malaysia Purchaser. Inti Holdings was the indirect owner of INTI University and Colleges, a higher education institution with five campuses in Malaysia. In connection with the Malaysia Sale Agreement, the Malaysia Seller entered into a separate agreement with the current minority owner of the equity of Inti Holdings relating to the purchase by the Malaysia Seller of the minority owner’s 10.10% interest in Inti Holdings, the closing of which was a precondition to the closing of the transaction under the Malaysia Sale Agreement.

The sale of Inti Holdings was completed on September 29, 2020. The total purchase price, including the payment to the minority owner, was $140,000. The closing of the transaction was subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by regulators in Malaysia. At the time of the signing of the Malaysia Sale Agreement in February 2020, the Malaysia Purchaser paid to the Malaysia Seller a cash deposit of $5,000, which the Company initially recorded as a liability pending the closing of the sale, and which was recognized as part of the gain on sale upon the closing of the transaction in September 2020. The cash proceeds received, prior to transaction fees and net of approximately $19,500 of cash sold, were approximately $116,300 and are included in Receipts from sales of discontinued operations, net of cash sold, property and equipment within investing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, the Malaysia Purchaser withheld $4,200 for taxes that the Company collected in February 2021. The payment to the minority owner for their 10.10% interest in Inti Holdings, which totaled approximately $13,700, was made in early October 2020. An additional $420, which represented the minority owner’s share of the taxes that were withheld as noted above, was paid to the minority owner following receipt by the Company. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of approximately $47,900, which is included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Divestiture of Turkey Operations: Receipt of Portion of Deferred Consideration

In August 2019, the Company completed the divestiture of its operations in Turkey. The total consideration included a deferred payment of $15,000 in the form of an instrument that was payable one year after closing. At the time of the divestiture, the Company determined that this deferred amount would be recognized if collected. Subsequently, the Company received a total of $11,436 in settlement of the deferred consideration and settlement of all future claims.

Australia and New Zealand Operations

On July 29, 2020, LEI AMEA Investments B.V., a Netherlands private limited liability company (the ANZ Seller), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and the Company, solely as guarantor of certain of the ANZ Seller’s obligations thereunder, entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement (the ANZ Purchase Agreement) with SEI Newco Inc., a Delaware corporation (the ANZ Purchaser), and Strategic Education, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the ANZ Purchaser’s Guarantor).

Pursuant to the ANZ Purchase Agreement, the ANZ Seller agreed to sell to the ANZ Purchaser all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of (i) LEI Higher Education Holdings Pty Ltd, an Australian private company and the direct owner of Torrens University Australia, (ii) LEI Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, an Australian private company and the indirect owner of Think Education, (iii) LESA Education Services Holdings Pty Ltd, an Australian private company, and (iv) LEI New Zealand, a New Zealand company and the indirect owner of Media Design School (collectively, the ANZ Target Companies). The ANZ Purchaser’s Guarantor will guarantee the obligations of the ANZ Purchaser.

The closing of the transaction occurred on November 3, 2020, following completion of the required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The proceeds received, net of cash sold and transaction fees, were approximately $624,200. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on sale of approximately $555,800, which is included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Campus Guadalajara Norte Sale

In November 2020, an agreement was signed between Universidad del Valle de Mexico, SC (UVM) and Grupo Dalton for the sale of the land and buildings of Campus Guadalajara Norte, after a decision was made to relocate all students from the Campus Guadalajara Norte to the nearby Campus Zapopan in Jalisco, Mexico. The total purchase price was approximately $13,900, prior to transaction fees. In 2020, the Company received approximately $7,000 of the total purchase price, and the remaining balance was collected in November 2021. The Company recognized a pre-tax operating gain on the sale of this property and equipment of approximately $5,800, which is included in Direct costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020.