LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORP 10-Q

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS In the ordinary conduct of our business, we are subject to periodic lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving students or graduates and routine employment matters. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, we do not believe that any currently pending legal proceeding to which we are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Information regarding certain specific legal proceedings in which the Company is involved is contained in Part I, Item 3, and in Note 15 to the notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Unless otherwise indicated in this report, all proceedings discussed in the earlier report which are not indicated therein as having been concluded, remain outstanding as of March 31, 2021. As previously disclosed in Lincoln’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Lincoln is subject to an extensive regulatory scheme which includes, without limitation, the Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations; see the Company’s disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 under the captions “Regulatory Environment – Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations” and “Risk Factors—We could be subject to liabilities, letter of credit requirements and other sanctions under the DOE’s Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations.” On April 29, 2021, Lincoln received communication from the DOE indicating that the DOE was in receipt of a number of borrower defense applications containing allegations concerning Lincoln and requiring the DOE to undertake a fact-finding process pursuant to DOE regulations. Among other things, the communication outlines a process by which the DOE will provide to Lincoln each application allowing Lincoln the opportunity to submit responses to the applications. Further, the communication outlines certain information requests, relating to the period between 2007 and 2013, in connection with the DOE’s preliminary review of the borrower defense applications. Based upon publicly available information, it appears that the DOE has undertaken similar reviews of other educational institutions which have also been the subject of various borrower defense applications. The DOE’s communication does not specify a precise number of applications that are the subject of the review nor the aggregate dollar amount of the loans that could be at issue and which the DOE could seek to recover from Lincoln. Given the very recent receipt of the communication, the limited information contained therein and the early stage of Lincoln’s internal review, management is not able to predict the outcome of the DOE’s review at this time. Lincoln is assessing the requests made in the DOE communication and expects to timely respond to the inquiries. Additionally, while the Company has not yet begun to receive any borrower defense applications from the DOE, it expects to thoroughly review and respond to each application. Item 6. EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description 3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (Registration No. 333-123644) filed June 7, 2005. 3.2 Certificate of Amendment, dated November 14, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed October 6, 2020). 3.3 Bylaws of the Company, as amended on March 8, 2019 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 28 2005). 31.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 31.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 35 Index 32* Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 101** The following financial statements from Lincoln Educational Services Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and in detail. 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). * Filed herewith. ** Furnished herewith. This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit shall not be deemed incorporated into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 36 Index SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION Date: May 10, 2021 By: /s/ Brian Meyers Brian Meyers Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 37 Index Exhibit Index 3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (Registration No. 333-123644) filed June 7, 2005. 3.2 Certificate of Amendment, dated November 14, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed October 6, 2020). 3.3 Bylaws of the Company, as amended on March 8, 2019 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 28 2005). 31.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 31.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 32* Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 101** The following financial statements from Lincoln Educational Services Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and in detail. 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101) * Filed herewith. ** Furnished herewith. This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit shall not be deemed incorporated into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 38