Document:

Exhibit 10.54

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC.

EXECUTIVE RETENTION AGREEMENT

 

This Executive Retention Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between Ricardo Berckemeyer (the “Executive”) and Laureate Education, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), effective as of September 1, 2015 (the “Effective Date”).

 

RECITAL

 

WHEREAS, as of the Effective Date Executive serves as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Latin America Region, reporting to the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to provide the Executive with separation pay upon an involuntary termination of his employment by the Company during the term of this Agreement, to provide him enhanced financial security and an incentive to remain with the Company.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Term of Agreement.  This Agreement is effective as of the Effective Date and will terminate upon the earliest to occur of: (i) September 1, 2017; (ii) the termination of this Agreement upon mutual written agreement of the Executive and the Company; and (iii) the date that all of the obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.

 

2.                                      At-Will Employment.  The Company and the Executive acknowledge that the Executive’s employment is and will continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law.

 

3.                                      Severance Benefit.

 

(a)                                 If, during the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on September 1, 2017, the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause (as defined below) or the Executive terminates employment with Good Reason (as defined below), then, on the date that is sixty (60) days after the Executive’s termination of employment, subject to the Company’s receipt by that date of an executed and irrevocable release of claims for the benefit of the Company and its affiliates in the form provided by the Company, the Company will pay to the Executive a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the sum of (i) a full year of the Executive’s annual base salary at the rate in effect at the time of his termination of employment, and (ii) an amount in cash equal to his annual bonus target in effect at the time of such termination, minus applicable taxes and withholdings. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive’s annual base salary and annual bonus target as of the Effective Date is set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

(b)                                 For purposes of this Agreement: (i) “Cause” means (1) gross negligence or willful malfeasance by the Executive in connection with the performance of his duties with respect to the Company, (2) conviction of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to any felony, (3) theft, embezzlement, fraud or other similar conduct by the Executive in connection with the performance of his duties with the Company, or (4) a willful and material breach of any other applicable agreements with the Company including, without limitation, engaging in any action in breach of any applicable restrictive covenants; and (ii) “Good Reason” means, without the consent of the Executive, (1) a reduction in base salary (other than a general reduction in base salary that affects all similarly situated employees), (2) a substantial diminution

 

 

in the Executive’s title, duties and responsibilities as in effect on the Effective Date, or, if such title, duties or responsibilities are enhanced after such date, the level as enhanced, in any case other than any isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action by the Company that is not in bad faith, or (3) a transfer of the Executive’s primary workplace by more than fifty (50) miles from his or her current workplace; provided, however, that in any event, such conduct is not cured within ten (10) business days after the Executive gives the Company notice of such event.

 

(c)                                  The Executive agrees that as a condition to receipt and retention of the severance pay in Section 3(a), he will continue to comply with the Company’s Confidentiality, Non-Disclosure, and Covenant Not to Compete Agreement.  The Executive will forfeit all rights to the severance and will be required to repay the severance upon demand by the Company upon violation of any term of such restrictive covenants agreement.

 

(d)                                 If the Executive’s employment with the Company terminates (i) voluntarily by the Executive, (ii) for Cause by the Company (or any parent or subsidiary of the Company), or (iii) due to death or disability, then the Executive will not be entitled to receive the severance described in this Section 3.

 

(e)                                  The Executive will not be entitled to severance upon termination of employment under any plan, policy, or arrangement of the Company or any affiliate, other than as expressly set forth in this Section 3.

 

(f)                                   The severance pay pursuant to this Agreement is intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”) pursuant to the “short-term deferral” exemption.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability or obligation with respect to the tax treatment of any payment hereunder.

 

4.                                      Limitation on Payments.

 

(a)                                 In the event that the severance and other benefits provided for in this Agreement or otherwise payable to the Executive (i) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (“Section 280G Payments”) and (ii) but for this Section 4, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Executive’s severance benefits under this Agreement will be either: delivered in full, or delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such severance benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999, results in the receipt by the Executive on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of severance benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such severance benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.

 

(b)                                 If a reduction in severance and other benefits constituting “parachute payments” is necessary so that benefits are delivered to a lesser extent, the payments and benefits shall be reduced in the following order: (A) a pro rata reduction of (i) cash payments that are subject to Section 409A as deferred compensation and (ii) cash payments not subject to Section 409A; (B) a pro rata cancellation of (i) accelerated vesting of stock and other equity-based awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code as deferred compensation and (ii) stock and other equity-based awards not subject to Section 409A; and (C) a pro rata reduction of (i) employee benefits that are subject to Section 409A as deferred compensation and (ii) employee benefits not subject to Section 409A.  In the event that acceleration of vesting of equity award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of the Executive’s equity awards.

 

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(c)                                  Unless the Company and the Executive otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 4 will be made in writing by an independent firm, chosen by the Company (the “Firm”), whose determination will be conclusive and binding upon the Executive and the Company for all purposes.  For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 4, the Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code. The Company and the Executive will furnish to the Firm such information and documents as the Firm may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this Section. The Company will bear all costs the Firm may reasonably incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 4.

 

(d)                                 The Company may solicit the stockholders of the Company for approval of any Section 280G Payments pursuant to Section 280G(b)(5)(B) of the Code, so that such payments and benefits may not constitute Section 280G Payments, unless the Company determines in good faith that it would be adverse to the interests of the Company or its stockholders to do so.

 

5.                                      The Company’s Successors.  Any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets will assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.

 

6.                                      Executive’s Successors. The terms of this Agreement and all rights of the Executive hereunder will inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

 

7.                                      Notice.  Notices and all other communications contemplated by this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or when mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid. In the case of the Executive, mailed notices will be addressed to him at the home address which he most recently communicated to the Company in writing.  In the case of the Company, mailed notices will be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices will be directed to the attention of its General Counsel.

 

8.                                      Arbitration.  Any dispute or controversy arising out of, relating to, or in connection with this Agreement, or the interpretation, validity, construction, performance, breach, or termination thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration to be held in Baltimore, Maryland, in accordance with the employment arbitration rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association (the “Rules”).  The arbitrator may grant injunctions or other relief in such dispute or controversy. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s decision in any court having jurisdiction.  The arbitrator(s) shall apply Maryland law to the merits of any dispute or claim, without reference to conflicts of law rules. The arbitration proceedings shall be governed by federal arbitration law and by the Rules, without reference to state arbitration law.  The Executive hereby consents to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Maryland for any action or proceeding arising from or relating to this Agreement or relating to any arbitration in which the parties are participants.  The Executive understands that nothing in this Section modifies Executive’s at-will employment status.  Either the Executive or the Company can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without Cause.

 

9.                                      Waiver.  No provision of this Agreement will be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Executive).  No waiver by either party of any breach of,

 

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or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party will be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

 

10.                               Headings.  All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are for convenient reference only and do not form a part of this Agreement.

 

11.                               Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter described herein.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement encompasses all the rights of the Executive to any severance pay based on termination of employment, and the Executive hereby agrees that he has no such rights except as stated herein.

 

12.                               Choice of Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland (with the exception of its conflict of laws provisions).

 

13.                               Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which will remain in full force and effect.

 

14.                               Withholding. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to withholding of applicable taxes.

 

15.                               Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year set forth below.

 

	
 
    	
LAUREATE   EDUCATION, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
    /s/ Robert W. Zentz
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Its: Senior Vice President,   General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
and Secretary
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Date: February 25, 2016
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
    /s/ Ricardo Berckemeyer
    
	
 
    	
Ricardo   Berckemeyer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Date: February 25, 2016
    
	
 
    	
 
    

 

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Exhibit A

 

Ricardo Berckemeyer

Current Cash Compensation Detail

As of September 1, 2015

 

1.                                      Annual base salary: $682,906.25.

 

2.                                      Annual bonus targeted at 120% of annual base salary.Exhibit 10.55

 

LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC.

 

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS NOTICE
 UNDER THE
 LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC.
 2013 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

Name of Grantee:

 

This Notice evidences the award of Performance Share Units (each, a “PSU,” and collectively, the “PSUs”) of Laureate Education, Inc., a Delaware public benefit corporation (“Laureate”), that have been granted to you pursuant to the Laureate Education, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and conditioned upon your agreement to the terms of the attached Performance Share Units Agreement (the “Agreement”). This Notice constitutes part of and is subject to the terms and provisions of the Agreement and the Plan, which are incorporated by reference herein.  Each PSU is equivalent in value to one share of Laureate’s Common Stock and represents Laureate’s commitment to issue one share of Laureate’s Common Stock at a future date, subject to the terms of the Agreement and the Plan.

 

Grant Date:

 

Target Number of PSUs subject to the Award:

Maximum Number of PSUs subject to the Award:

 

Performance Period: January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018

 

Vesting Date: <<Vesting Date>>

 

Performance Goals:  The PSUs may be earned and are subject to vesting based on achievement of Adjusted EBITDA as set forth in the chart below.  If actual performance falls between levels in the chart below, linear interpolation will be used to determine the number of PSUs that are earned.  The number of PSUs determined by the Administrator to be earned based on achievement of the Adjusted EBITDA, and that are eligible to vest, are referred to herein as “Earned PSUs.”

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA will be measured after the end of the Performance Period.  The number of PSUs that may be earned for the Performance Period based on adjusted EBITDA is set forth in the chart below.

 

	
Adjusted EBITDA
    	
 
    	
Earned PSUs
    
	
Below Threshold:
    	
 
    	
Below Threshold: 0
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Threshold:
    	
 
    	
Threshold:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Target:
    	
 
    	
Target:
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Maximum:
    	
 
    	
Maximum:
    

 

The Administrator will determine the extent to which the Performance Goals are achieved and the number of your Earned PSUs in its sole discretion, and its determination will be final and binding on you and all other interested parties.

 

Vesting:  All of the PSUs are nonvested and forfeitable as of the Grant Date.  So long as you remain an Eligible Individual (as defined in the Agreement) continuously from the Grant Date through the Vesting Date, you will become vested in the Earned PSUs on the Vesting Date.

 

 

If, before the Vesting Date, you cease to be an Eligible Individual due to your death or Disability, you will remain eligible to vest on the Vesting Date in the number of PSUs determined by multiplying the Earned PSUs, determined based on actual performance, by the ratio of the number of full months of your service with the Company during the Performance Period to the number of full months in the Performance Period.

 

If, before the Vesting Date, but on or within the eighteen (18) months after a Change in Control, you cease to be an Eligible Individual either because the Company or its successor terminates your employment or other service relationship without Cause or you terminate due to Good Reason, you will become vested in the Target Number of PSUs Subject to the Award (as noted above) on your termination date.

 

Unless earlier forfeited in accordance with the Notice and Agreement, all unearned and unvested PSUs will be forfeited as of <<Forfeiture Date>>.

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
LAUREATE   EDUCATION, INC.
    	
 
    	
Date
    

 

I acknowledge that I have carefully read the Agreement and the Plan.  I agree to be bound by all of the provisions set forth in those documents.  I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Executive Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy under the Laureate Education, Inc. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as the same may be amended or modified from time to time, the “Recoupment Policy”) and acknowledge and agree that the terms of the Recoupment Policy shall be applicable to the PSUs, and any Shares issued as a result of the vesting of the PSUs, granted under this Agreement.  I also consent to electronic delivery of all notices or other information with respect to the PSUs or the Company.

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Signature of Grantee
    	
 
    	
Date
    

 

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LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC.

 

PERFORMANCE SHARE UNITS AGREEMENT
 UNDER THE
 LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC.
 2013 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                      Terminology.  Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Notice, capitalized terms used herein are defined in the Glossary at the end of this Agreement or in the Plan.

 

2.                                      Vesting.  All of the PSUs are nonvested and forfeitable as of the Grant Date.  So long as you remain an Eligible Individual continuously from the Grant Date through the applicable date upon which vesting is scheduled to occur, the PSUs will become vested and nonforfeitable in accordance with the vesting provisions set forth in the Notice.  None of the PSUs will become vested and nonforfeitable after you cease to be an Eligible Individual.

 

3.                                      Termination of Employment or Service.  Unless otherwise provided in the Notice, if you cease to be an Eligible Individual for any reason, all PSUs that are not then vested and nonforfeitable will be forfeited to the Company immediately and automatically upon such cessation without payment of any consideration therefor and you will have no further right, title or interest in or to such PSUs or the underlying shares of Common Stock.

 

4.                                      Restrictions on Transfer.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the PSUs may be assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or disposed of in any way, whether by operation of law or otherwise, and the PSUs shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process.  All rights with respect to this Agreement and the PSUs shall be exercisable during your lifetime only by you or your guardian or legal representative.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the PSUs may be transferred upon your death by last will and testament or under the laws of descent and distribution.

 

5.                                      Settlement of PSUs.

 

(a)                                 Manner of Settlement.  You are not required to make any monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding, if required) as a condition to settlement of the PSUs.  Laureate will issue to you, in settlement of your PSUs and subject to the provisions of Section 6 below, the number of whole shares of Common Stock that equals the number of whole PSUs that become vested, and such vested PSUs will terminate and cease to be outstanding upon such issuance of the shares.  Upon issuance of such shares, Laureate will determine the form of delivery (e.g., a stock certificate or electronic entry evidencing such shares) and may deliver such shares on your behalf electronically to Laureate’s designated stock plan administrator or such other broker-dealer as Laureate may choose at its sole discretion, within reason.

 

(b)                                 Timing of Settlement.  Your PSUs will be settled by Laureate, via the issuance of Common Stock as described herein, on or within thirty (30) days after the date that the PSUs become vested and nonforfeitable.  However, if a scheduled issuance date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, such issuance date shall instead fall on the next following day that the principal executive offices of the Company are open for business.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that (i) you are subject to Laureate’s policy permitting officers and directors to sell shares only during certain “window” periods, in effect from time to time or you are otherwise prohibited from selling shares of Laureate’s Common Stock in the public market and any shares covered by your PSUs are scheduled to be issued on a day (the “Original Distribution Date”) that does not occur during an open “window period” applicable to you, as determined by Laureate in accordance with such policy, or does not occur on a date when you are otherwise permitted to sell shares of Laureate’s Common Stock in the open market, and (ii) the Company elects not to satisfy its tax withholding obligations by withholding shares from your distribution, then such shares shall not be issued and delivered on such Original Distribution Date and shall instead be issued and delivered on the first business day of the next occurring open “window period” applicable to you pursuant to such policy (regardless of whether you are still providing continuous services at such

 

 

time) or the next business day when you are not prohibited from selling shares of Laureate’s Common Stock in the open market, but in no event later than the fifteenth day of the third calendar month of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Original Distribution Date occurs.  In all cases, the issuance and delivery of shares under this Agreement is intended to comply with Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(4) and shall be construed and administered in such a manner.

 

6.                                      Tax Withholding.  On or before the time you receive a distribution of the shares subject to your PSUs, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize any required withholding from the Common Stock issuable to you and/or otherwise agree to make adequate provision in cash for any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company which arise in connection with your PSUs (the “Withholding Taxes”).  Additionally, the Company may, in its sole discretion, satisfy all or any portion of the Withholding Taxes obligation relating to your PSUs by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (i) withholding from any compensation otherwise payable to you by the Company; (ii) causing you to tender a cash payment; (iii) permitting you to enter into a “same day sale” commitment with a broker-dealer that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (a “FINRA Dealer”) whereby you irrevocably elect to sell a portion of the shares to be delivered under the Agreement to satisfy the Withholding Taxes and whereby the FINRA Dealer irrevocably commits to forward the proceeds necessary to satisfy the Withholding Taxes directly to the Company; or (iv) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to you in connection with the PSUs with a Fair Market Value (measured as of the date shares of Common Stock are issued to you pursuant to Section 5) equal to the amount of such Withholding Taxes; provided, however, that the number of such shares of Common Stock so withheld shall not exceed, by more than the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock, the amount necessary to satisfy the Company’s required tax withholding obligations using the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to supplemental taxable income (except as otherwise permitted by the Administrator and would not create an adverse accounting consequence or cost).  Unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company are satisfied, Laureate shall have no obligation to deliver to you any Common Stock.  In the event Laureate’s obligation to withhold arises prior to the delivery to you of Common Stock or it is determined after the delivery of Common Stock to you that the amount of the Company’s withholding obligation was greater than the amount withheld by the Company, you agree to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any failure by the Company to withhold the proper amount.

 

7.                                      Adjustments for Corporate Transactions and Other Events.

 

(a)                                 Stock Dividend, Stock Split and Reverse Stock Split.  Upon a stock dividend of, or stock split or reverse stock split affecting, the Common Stock, the number of outstanding PSUs shall, without further action of the Administrator, be adjusted to reflect such event; provided, however, that any fractional PSUs resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated.  Adjustments under this paragraph will be made by the Administrator, whose determination as to what adjustments, if any, will be made and the extent thereof will be final, binding and conclusive.

 

(b)                                 Merger, Consolidation and Other Events.  If Laureate shall be the surviving or resulting corporation in any merger or consolidation and the Common Stock shall be converted into other securities, the PSUs shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the PSUs would have been entitled.  If the stockholders of Laureate receive by reason of any distribution in total or partial liquidation or pursuant to any merger of Laureate or acquisition of its assets, securities of another entity or other property (including cash), then the rights of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Laureate’s successor, and this Agreement shall apply to the securities or other property (including cash) to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the PSUs would have been entitled, in the same manner and to the same extent as the PSUs.

 

8.                                      Non-Guarantee of Employment or Service Relationship.  Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall alter your at-will or other employment status or other service relationship with the Company, nor be construed as a contract of employment or service relationship between the Company and you, or as a contractual right of you to continue in the employ of, or in a service relationship with, the 

 

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Company for any period of time, or as a limitation of the right of the Company to discharge you at any time with or without cause or notice and whether or not such discharge results in the forfeiture of any nonvested and forfeitable PSUs or any other adverse effect on your interests under the Plan.

 

9.                                      Rights as Stockholder.  You shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock that may be issued in settlement of the PSUs until such shares of Common Stock have been issued to you.  No adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions, or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such shares are issued, except as provided in Section 10 of the Plan.

 

10.                               The Company’s Rights.  The existence of the PSUs shall not affect in any way the right or power of Laureate or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s capital structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or other stocks with preference ahead of or convertible into, or otherwise affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of the Company’s assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

11.                               Restrictions on Issuance of Shares.  The issuance of shares of Common Stock upon settlement of the PSUs shall be subject to and in compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state, or foreign law with respect to such securities.  No shares of Common Stock may be issued hereunder if the issuance of such shares would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state, or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Common Stock may then be listed.  The inability of Laureate to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by Laureate’s legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any shares subject to the PSUs shall relieve Laureate of any liability in respect of the failure to issue such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  As a condition to the settlement of the PSUs, Laureate may require you to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation, and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

 

12.                               Notices.  All notices and other communications made or given pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in the case of notices delivered by Laureate to you, five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last address you provided to Laureate, or in the case of notices delivered to Laureate by you, addressed to the Administrator, care of Laureate for the attention of its Secretary at its principal executive office or, in either case, if the receiving party consents in advance, transmitted and received via telecopy or via such other electronic transmission mechanism as may be available to the parties.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Laureate may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan and this award of PSUs by electronic means or to request your consent to participate in the Plan or accept this award of PSUs by electronic means.  You hereby consent to receive such documents by electronic delivery and, if requested, to agree to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by Laureate or another third party designated by Laureate.

 

13.                               Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the relevant Notice and the Plan, contain the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the PSUs granted hereunder.  Any oral or written agreements, representations, warranties, written inducements, or other communications made prior to the execution of this Agreement with respect to the PSUs granted hereunder shall be void and ineffective for all purposes.

 

14.                               Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Administrator in its discretion; provided, however, that this Agreement may not be modified in a manner that would have a materially adverse effect on the PSUs as determined in the discretion of the Administrator, except as provided in the Plan or in a written document signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

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15.                               Section 409A.  This Agreement and the PSUs granted hereunder are intended to fit within the “short-term deferral” exemption from Section 409A of the Code as set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4).  In administering this Agreement, Laureate shall interpret this Agreement in a manner consistent with such exemption.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it is determined that the PSUs fail to satisfy the requirements of the short-term deferral rule and are otherwise deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, and if you are a “Specified Employee” (within the meaning set forth Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code) as of the date of your separation from service (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)), then the issuance of any shares that would otherwise be made upon the date of the separation from service or within the first six (6) months thereafter will not be made on the originally scheduled date(s) and will instead be issued in a lump sum on the date that is six (6) months and one day after the date of the separation from service, but if and only if such delay in the issuance of the shares is necessary to avoid the imposition of additional taxation on you in respect of the shares under Section 409A of the Code.

 

16.                               No Obligation to Minimize Taxes.  The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences to you of this award of PSUs and shall not be liable to you for any adverse tax consequences to you arising in connection with this award.  You are hereby advised to consult with your own personal tax, financial and/or legal advisors regarding the tax consequences of this award and by signing the Notice, you have agreed that you have done so or knowingly and voluntarily declined to do so.

 

17.                               Conformity with Plan.  This Agreement is intended to conform in all respects with, and is subject to all applicable provisions of, the Plan.  Inconsistencies between this Agreement and the Plan shall be resolved in accordance with the terms of the Plan.  In the event of any ambiguity in this Agreement or any matters as to which this Agreement is silent, the Plan shall govern.  A copy of the Plan is available upon request to the Administrator.

 

18.                               No Funding.  This Agreement constitutes an unfunded and unsecured promise by Laureate to issue shares of Common Stock in the future in accordance with its terms.  You have the status of a general unsecured creditor of Laureate as a result of receiving the grant of PSUs.

 

19.                               Effect on Other Employee Benefit Plans.  The value of the PSUs subject to this Agreement shall not be included as compensation, earnings, salaries, or other similar terms used when calculating your benefits under any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company, except as such plan otherwise expressly provides.  The Company expressly reserves its rights to amend, modify, or terminate any of the Company’s employee benefit plans.

 

20.                               Governing Law.  The validity, construction and effect of this Agreement, and of any determinations or decisions made by the Administrator relating to this Agreement, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any interest under this Agreement, shall be determined exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its provisions concerning the applicability of laws of other jurisdictions.  As a condition of this Agreement, you agree that you will not bring any action arising under, as a result of, pursuant to or relating to, this Agreement in any court other than a federal or state court in the districts which include Wilmington, Delaware, and you hereby agree and submit to the personal jurisdiction of any federal court located in the district which includes Wilmington, Delaware or any state court in the district which includes Wilmington, Delaware.  You further agree that you will not deny or attempt to defeat such personal jurisdiction or object to venue by motion or other request for leave from any such court.

 

21.                               Resolution of Disputes.  Any dispute or disagreement which shall arise under, or as a result of, or pursuant to or relating to, this Agreement shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith in its absolute and uncontrolled discretion, and any such determination or any other determination by the Administrator under or pursuant to this Agreement and any interpretation by the Administrator of the terms of this Agreement, will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons affected thereby.  You agree that before you may bring any legal action arising under, as a result of, pursuant to or relating to, this Agreement you will first exhaust your administrative remedies before the Administrator.  You further agree that in the event that the Administrator does not resolve any dispute or disagreement arising under, as a result of, pursuant to or relating to, this Agreement to your satisfaction, no legal action may be

 

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commenced or maintained relating to this Agreement more than twenty-four (24) months after the Administrator’s decision.

 

22.                               Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

23.                               Electronic Delivery of Documents.  By your signing the Notice, you (i) consent to the electronic delivery of this Agreement, all information with respect to the Plan and the PSUs, and any reports of the Company provided generally to Laureate’s stockholders; (ii) acknowledge that you may receive from Laureate a paper copy of any documents delivered electronically at no cost to you by contacting Laureate by telephone or in writing; (iii) further acknowledge that you may revoke your consent to the electronic delivery of documents at any time by notifying Laureate of such revoked consent by telephone, postal service or electronic mail; and (iv) further acknowledge that you understand that you are not required to consent to electronic delivery of documents.

 

24.                               No Future Entitlement.  By your signing the Notice, you acknowledge and agree that:  (i) the grant of a PSU award is a one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of PSUs, or compensation in lieu of PSUs, even if PSUs have been granted repeatedly in the past; (ii) all determinations with respect to any such future grants and the terms thereof will be at the sole discretion of the Administrator; (iii) the value of the PSUs is an extraordinary item of compensation which is outside the scope of your employment contract, if any; (iv) the value of the PSUs is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any termination, severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payments or similar payments, or bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits; (v) the vesting of the PSUs ceases when you cease to be an Eligible Individual, or other cessation of eligibility for any reason, except as may otherwise be explicitly provided in this Agreement; (vi) the Company does not guarantee any future value of the PSUs; and (vii) no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages arises if the PSUs decrease or do not increase in value and you irrevocably release the Company from any such claim that does arise.

 

25.                               Personal Data.  For purposes of the implementation, administration and management of the PSUs or the effectuation of any acquisition, equity or debt financing, joint venture, merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, business combination, liquidation, dissolution, share exchange, sale of stock, sale of material assets or other similar corporate transaction involving Laureate (a “Corporate Transaction”), you consent, by execution of the Notice, to the collection, receipt, use, retention and transfer, in electronic or other form, of your personal data by and among the Company and its third party vendors or any potential party to a potential Corporate Transaction.  You understand that personal data (including but not limited to, name, home address, telephone number, employee number, employment status, social security number, tax identification number, date of birth, nationality, job and payroll location, data for tax withholding purposes and shares awarded, cancelled, vested and unvested) may be transferred to third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the PSUs or the effectuation of a Corporate Transaction and you expressly authorize such transfer as well as the retention, use, and the subsequent transfer of the data by the recipient(s).  You understand that these recipients may be located in your country or elsewhere, and that the recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than your country.  You understand that data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage the PSUs or effect a Corporate Transaction.  You understand that you may, at any time, request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the personal data, view data, request additional information about the storage and processing of data, require any necessary amendments to data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing Laureate’s Secretary.  You understand, however, that refusing or withdrawing your consent may affect your ability to accept a PSU award.

 

{Glossary begins on next page}

 

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GLOSSARY

 

(a)                                 “Administrator” means the Board of Directors of Laureate Education, Inc. or such committee or committees appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

(b)                                 “Agreement” means this document, as amended from time to time, together with the Plan which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c)                                  “Cause” means “Cause” as such term may be defined in any employment agreement in effect at the time of termination of employment between you and Laureate or any of its Subsidiaries, or, if there is no such employment agreement or such term is not defined therein, “Cause” shall mean (i) your gross negligence or willful malfeasance in connection with the performance of your duties with respect to the Company, (ii) your conviction of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to any felony, (iii) theft, embezzlement, fraud or other similar conduct by you in connection with the performance of your duties with the Company, or (iv) your willful and material breach of any other applicable agreements with the Company including, without limitation, engaging in any action in breach of any applicable restrictive covenants.

 

(d)                                 “Change in Control” means the first of the following to occur: (i) a Change in Ownership of Laureate or Wengen, or (ii) a Change in the Ownership of Assets of Laureate, as described herein and construed in accordance with Code section 409A.

 

(i)                                     A “Change in Ownership of Laureate or Wengen” shall occur on the date that any one Person acquires, or Persons Acting as a Group acquire, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, ownership of:

 

(A)                               the capital stock of Laureate that, together with the stock held by such Person or Group, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the capital stock of Laureate.  However, if any one Person is, or Persons Acting as a Group are, considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the capital stock of Laureate, the acquisition of additional stock by the same Person or Persons Acting as a Group is not considered to cause a Change in Ownership of Laureate or to cause a Change in Effective Control of Laureate (as described below).  An increase in the percentage of capital stock owned by any one Person, or Persons Acting as a Group, as a result of a transaction in which Laureate acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock; or

 

(B)                               partnership interests of Wengen that, together with the partnership interests held by such Person or Group, constitutes more than 50% of the partnership interests of Wengen.  However, if any one Person is, or Persons Acting as a Group are, considered under the Wengen Limited Partnership Agreement, as the same is in effect from time to time, to own two percent (2%) or more of the partnership interests of Wengen on the effective date of this Plan, the acquisition of additional partnership interests by the same Person or Persons Acting as a Group is not considered to cause a Change in Ownership of Laureate or Wengen.

 

(ii)                                  A “Change in the Ownership of Assets of Laureate” shall occur on the date that any one Person acquires, or Persons Acting as a Group acquire (or has or have acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons), assets from Laureate that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 80% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of Laureate immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions.  For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of Laureate, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

 

 

The following rules of construction apply in interpreting the definition of Change in Control:

 

(A)                               A Person means any individual, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, other than (1) employee benefit plans sponsored or maintained by Laureate and by entities controlled by Laureate, (2) Wengen or entities controlled by Wengen, or (3) an underwriter of the capital stock of Laureate in a registered public offering.

 

(B)                               Persons will be considered to be Persons Acting as a Group (or Group) if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation.  If a Person owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a Group with other shareholders only with respect to the ownership in that corporation before the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation.  Persons will not be considered to be acting as a Group solely because they purchase assets of the same corporation at the same time or purchase or own stock of the same corporation at the same time, or as a result of the same public offering.

 

(C)                               A Change in Control shall not include a transfer of assets to a related person as described in Code section 409A or a public offering of capital stock of Laureate.

 

(D)                               For purposes of the definition of Change in Control, Section 318(a) of the Code applies to determine stock ownership.  Stock underlying a vested option is considered owned by the individual who holds the vested option (and the stock underlying an unvested option is not considered owned by the individual who holds the unvested option).  For purposes of the preceding sentence, however, if a vested option is exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested (as defined by Treasury Regulation §1.83-3(b) and (j)), the stock underlying the option is not treated as owned by the individual who holds the option.

 

(e)                                  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

(f)                                   “Common Stock” means the common stock, US$.001 par value per share, of Laureate Education, Inc.

 

(g)                                  “Company” means Laureate and its Subsidiaries.

 

(h)                                 “Disability” means “Disability” as such term may be defined in any employment agreement in effect at the time of termination of employment between you and Laureate or any of its Subsidiaries, or, if there is no such employment agreement or such term is not defined therein, “Disability” shall mean a total and permanent disability as defined in the long-term disability plan of Laureate or the Subsidiary, as applicable, with which you are employed on the date as of which the existence of a Disability is to be determined.

 

(i)                                     “Adjusted EBITDA” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto on Exhibit A.

 

(j)                                    “Eligible Individual” shall mean an officer or employee of, and other individual, including a non-employee director, who is a natural person providing bona fide services to or for, Laureate or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for Laureate’s securities.

 

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(l)                                     “Good Reason” means “Good Reason” as such term may be defined in any employment agreement in effect at the time of termination of employment between you and Laureate or any of its Subsidiaries, or, if there is no such employment agreement or such term is not defined therein, “Good Reason” shall mean, without your consent, (i) a material reduction in your base salary (other than a general reduction in base salary that affects all similarly situated employees), (ii) a substantial diminution in your title, duties and responsibilities, other than any isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure by the Company that is not in bad faith, or (iii) a transfer of your primary workplace by more than fifty (50) miles from your current workplace; provided, however, that in any event, such conduct is not cured within ten (10) business days after you give the Company notice of such event.

 

(k)                                 “Grant Date” means the effective date of a grant of PSUs made to you as set forth in the Notice.

 

(l)                                     “Notice” means the statement, letter or other written notification provided to you by the Company setting forth the terms of a grant of PSUs made to you.

 

(m)                             “You” or “Your” means the recipient of the PSUs as reflected on the applicable Notice.  Whenever the word “you” or “your” is used in any provision of this Agreement under circumstances where the provision should logically be construed, as determined by the Administrator, to apply to the estate, personal representative, or beneficiary to whom the PSUs may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, the words “you” and “your” shall be deemed to include such person.

 

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Exhibit A

 

“Adjusted EBITDA” for any fiscal year will mean the Operating Income (Loss), as stated on the audited Consolidated Statement of Income of Laureate Education, Inc. and Subsidiaries (collectively “Laureate” or “the Company”), PLUS/(MINUS) (to the extent included in Operating Income), all calculated on an Fx Neutral basis, all fairly and appropriately adjusted for Additional Adjustments:

 

1.     depreciation and amortization expenses; 

 

2.     share-based compensation expenses, as defined by ASC 718; 

 

3.     impairment costs as recognized on the Company’s financial statements for tangible or intangible assets to the extent described in the financial statements; 

 

4.     transaction expenses in connection with financings, including fees and costs related to the issuance or modification of any indebtedness; 

 

5.     (gains)/charges, net of insurance proceeds, resulting from a Force Majeure event in any of the Company’s operating regions; 

 

6.     charges, expenses and VAT relating to tax efficient repatriation strategies; 

 

7.     (gains)/losses on the disposition of the Company’s assets (excluding (gains)/losses on dispositions of furniture and equipment in the ordinary course of business), investments, operations that qualify as businesses under ASC 805, and/or entities as defined under ASC 810; 

 

8.     all expenses related to any public or private offering of the Company’s securities that are not netted with the offering proceeds and have not been capitalized; 

 

9.     costs related to the restructuring or reduction in force (as defined in ASC 420 or ASC 712), to the extent described in the financial statements; 

 

10.                               (gains)/expenses related to the establishment or changes in contingent liabilities and indemnification assets or contingent liabilities where there is an unrecorded indemnification asset booked in connection with the acquisition of business but only if attributable to a period prior to the acquisition of a business; 

 

11.                               (gains)/expenses for a litigation case, net of insurance proceeds or indemnification, if applicable, if the (gains)/expenses are in excess of $5 million; and 

 

12.                               expenses related to implementation of the Company’s EiP initiative, to the extent quantified in the footnotes to the financial statements. 

 

“Additional Adjustments” shall mean:

 

1.     Adjusted EBITDA (as defined above to the extent such items are disclosed in the financial statements of the affiliate) for any affiliate accounted for as an equity method investment; 

 

2.     implications from the expropriation or deconsolidation of Company assets or a Company business required by or resulting from the actions of any government or government agency; with the

 

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Adjusted EBITDA from any such business during the LTM prior to expropriation, multiplied by an earnings growth rate of 1.09 compounded annually from the date of expropriation or deconsolidation, added to that fiscal year’s Adjusted EBITDA; and 

 

3.     changes in US GAAP, or the application thereof, subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s 2015 audited financial statements, promulgated by accounting standard setters or changes in local laws and regulations. 

 

If the Company makes an acquisition or disposition of a business or a segment of a business in any year, the Adjusted EBITDA result for such year and subsequent years will be adjusted to exclude the financial results from any such acquisition or to include the prospective forecasted results for any such disposition consummated during the relevant period.

 

“Fx Neutral” shall mean the application of the Foreign Exchange Spot Rates, as defined below, to the audited financial statements of the Company for each fiscal year for which an Adjusted EBITDA target is calculated.

 

“Foreign Exchange Spot Rates” shall equal the foreign exchange spot rates used to translate the audited Balance Sheet of Laureate Education, Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries at December 31, 2015.

 

{End of Agreement}

 

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