Laureate Education (NASDAQ:LAUR) shareholders approved all proposals presented at the company’s 2026 annual meeting, including the election of nine directors, an advisory vote on executive compensation, the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers as independent auditor and the approval of the company’s 2026 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Andrew Cohen, chairman of Laureate’s board of directors, presided over the virtual meeting. Cohen said the virtual format was intended to enable increased stockholder participation. Leslie Brush, senior vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, reported that a quorum was present based on shares represented in person or by proxy as of the March 24, 2026 record date.
Shareholders Approve Board-Backed Proposals
Laureate asked shareholders to vote on four proposals during the meeting:
- Election of nine director nominees to the board;
- A non-binding advisory vote approving compensation paid to named executive officers;
- Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2026;
- Approval of the Laureate Education, Inc. 2026 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Cohen said the board recommended voting in favor of each proposal. Brush said there were no stockholder questions related to the proposals before voting closed.
After the polls closed, Cohen said the inspector of elections had informed the company that, based on preliminary results, the director nominees were duly elected and proposals two, three and four were approved. No final vote totals were provided during the meeting.
CEO Highlights 2025 Performance and Capital Returns
Following the formal business portion of the meeting, President and Chief Executive Officer Eilif Serck-Hanssen delivered remarks on the company’s performance and outlook.
“2025 was another strong year for Laureate,” Serck-Hanssen said. He said the company delivered on commitments to stakeholders and achieved “robust operating results,” driving its margin profile to what he described as a new historic high.
Serck-Hanssen also emphasized Laureate’s capital return activity. He said the company returned $217 million of capital to shareholders during 2025. Since 2019, he said total capital returned to shareholders has exceeded $3 billion through share repurchases, cash distributions and cash dividends.
“We remain well-positioned to execute on our growth plans while continuing to prioritize the return of excess capital to shareholders,” Serck-Hanssen said.
Investments in Mexico and Peru
Serck-Hanssen said Laureate continued to strengthen its academic offerings in 2025 and invested further in its campus network. He noted the opening of two new campuses for the company’s value brands, one in Monterrey, Mexico, and one in Lima, Peru’s eastern district of Ate.
The company also expanded its health sciences portfolio, including the opening of a new medical school and a new veterinary school, according to Serck-Hanssen.
Serck-Hanssen said Laureate’s institutions continue to be recognized among the best private universities in their respective countries and “consistently lead the way in academic excellence.”
2026 Enrollment and Growth Outlook
Discussing the current year, Serck-Hanssen said 2026 is “off to a good start,” with first-quarter enrollment intake cycles completed in line with the company’s expectations.
He said Laureate sees sustained growth opportunities in both Mexico and Peru, including the potential to build additional campuses for its university brands in new cities and site locations over the next five years and beyond.
“Despite current geopolitical uncertainty, we remain confident that the demand for quality higher education in both Mexico and Peru will continue to increase for years to come,” Serck-Hanssen said.
He attributed that expected demand to rising participation rates, strong wage premiums for graduates and the affordability of Laureate’s programs. He also pointed to Laureate’s brands, culture of innovation, student focus and ability to deliver education at scale as key areas of differentiation.
No shareholder questions were submitted during the Q&A portion of the meeting, according to Brush.
About Laureate Education (NASDAQ:LAUR)
Laureate Education, Inc (NASDAQ: LAUR) is a leading global network of higher education institutions dedicated to providing undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs to a diverse student body. The company designs and delivers academic offerings through a combination of campus-based and online platforms, focusing on fields such as business, health sciences, engineering, education and hospitality management. By aligning its curriculum with regional workforce needs, Laureate aims to equip students with practical skills and industry insights that support career advancement and lifelong learning.
Through its network, Laureate operates a broad portfolio of universities and colleges, including both longstanding campus institutions and digitally native programs.
