UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


Form 10-Q
(Mark One)


☒☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the quarterly period ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021


or


☐☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the transition period from______ to______


Commission File Number 000-51371


LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


New Jersey
 
57-1150621
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)


14 Sylvan Way, Suite A
 
07054
Parsippany, NJ
 
(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
  


(973) 736-9340
(Registrant’sRegistrant’s telephone number, including area code)


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:


Title of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value per share
LINC
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒☒   No ☐☐


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes ☒☒   No ☐☐


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large“large accelerated filer”filer”, “accelerated filer”“accelerated filer”, “smaller“smaller reporting company”company” and “emerging“emerging growth company”company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


 
Large accelerated filer ☐��
Accelerated filer ☒☒
 
Non-accelerated filer ☐☐
Smaller reporting company ☒☒
 
Emerging growth company ☐☐
 


If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐☐


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ☐☐   No ☒☒


As of August 5,November 4, 2021, there were 26,972,16527,000,687 shares of the registrant’sregistrant’s common stock outstanding





LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


INDEX TO FORM 10-Q


FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNESEPTEMBER 30, 2021


PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements
1
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (Unaudited)
1
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)
3
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)
4
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’Stockholders’ Equity for the sixnine months ended Juneand (Unaudited)September 30, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)20212020
5
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 (Unaudited)
6
 
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
8
Item 2.
Management’sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
24
25
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
38
40
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
38
40
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
38
40
Item 5.
Other Information
41
Item 6.
Exhibits
39
41
 
SIGNATURES
42

40



Table of ContentsIndex

PART I –– FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.
Financial Statements


LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)



 
September 30,
2021
  
December 31,
2020
 
ASSETS      
CURRENT ASSETS:      
Cash and cash equivalents $47,150  $38,026 
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $26,303 and $25,174 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
  29,985   30,021 
Inventories  3,155   2,394 
Prepaid income taxes  238   0 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  2,973   3,723 
Assets held for sale
  27,452   0 
Total current assets  110,953   74,164 
         
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES - At cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $152,217 and $176,300 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
  23,251   48,388 
         
OTHER ASSETS:        
Noncurrent receivables, less allowance of $4,789 and $3,465 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
  18,805   16,463 
Deferred income taxes, net  32,082   35,718 
Operating lease right-of-use assets  53,033   55,187 
Goodwill  14,536   14,536 
Other assets, net  796   734 
Total other assets  119,252   122,638 
TOTAL ASSETS $253,456  $245,190 

 
June 30,
2021
  
December 31,
2020
 
ASSETS
      
CURRENT ASSETS:
      
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
33,007
  
$
38,026
 
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $24,073 and $25,174 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
  
31,718
   
30,021
 
Inventories
  
3,327
   
2,394
 
Prepaid income taxes
  
209
   
0
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
  
4,239
   
3,723
 
Total current assets
  
72,500
   
74,164
 
         
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES - At cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $178,391 and $176,300 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
  
51,446
   
48,388
 
         
OTHER ASSETS:
        
Noncurrent receivables, less allowance of $4,048 and $3,465 at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
  
17,536
   
16,463
 
Deferred income taxes, net
  
33,696
   
35,718
 
Operating lease right-of-use assets
  
54,081
   
55,187
 
Goodwill
  
14,536
   
14,536
 
Other assets, net
  
851
   
734
 
Total other assets
  
120,700
   
122,638
 
TOTAL ASSETS
 
$
244,646
  
$
245,190
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


1
Table of ContentsIndex
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
(Continued)



 
September 30,
2021
  
December 31,
2020
 
LIABILITIES, SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
CURRENT LIABILITIES:      
Current portion of credit agreement $2,000  $2,000 
Unearned tuition  24,691   23,453 
Accounts payable  16,036   15,676 
Accrued expenses  15,778   16,692 
Income taxes payable  0   491 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities  10,314   8,504 
Other short-term liabilities  56   26 
Total current liabilities  68,875   66,842 
         
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:        
Long-term credit agreement  13,848   15,212 
Pension plan liabilities  4,850   4,252 
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities  49,135   52,702 
Other long-term liabilities  2,803   3,133 
Total liabilities  139,511   142,141 
         
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES  0
   0
 
         
SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK        
Preferred stock, 0 par value - 10,000,000 shares authorized, Series A convertible preferred shares, 12,700 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020
  11,982   11,982 
         
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:        
Common stock, 0 par value - authorized: 100,000,000 shares at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020; issued and outstanding: 26,978,432 shares at September 30, 2021 and 26,476,329 shares at December 31, 2020
  141,377   141,377 
Additional paid-in capital  31,643   30,512 
Treasury stock at cost - 5,910,541 shares at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020
  (82,860)  (82,860)
Retained earnings  16,045   6,203 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (4,242)  (4,165)
Total stockholders’ equity  101,963   91,067 
TOTAL LIABILITIES, SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY $253,456  $245,190 

 
June 30,
2021
  
December 31,
2020
 
LIABILITIES, SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
      
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
      
Current portion of credit agreement
 
$
2,000
  
$
2,000
 
Unearned tuition
  
22,183
   
23,453
 
Accounts payable
  
13,385
   
15,676
 
Accrued expenses
  
14,836
   
16,692
 
Income taxes payable
  
0
   
491
 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
  
10,011
   
8,504
 
Other short-term liabilities
  
59
   
26
 
Total current liabilities
  
62,474
   
66,842
 
         
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
        
Long-term credit agreement
  
14,303
   
15,212
 
Pension plan liabilities
  
4,650
   
4,252
 
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities
  
50,628
   
52,702
 
Other long-term liabilities
  
2,868
   
3,133
 
Total liabilities
  
134,923
   
142,141
 
         
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
  
0
   
0
 
         
SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
        
Preferred stock, 0 par value - 10,000,000 shares authorized, Series A convertible preferred shares, 12,700 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020
  
11,982
   
11,982
 
         
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
        
Common stock, 0 par value - authorized: 100,000,000 shares at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020; issued and outstanding: 26,972,165 shares at June 30, 2021 and 26,476,329 shares at December 31, 2020
  
141,377
   
141,377
 
Additional paid-in capital
  
30,887
   
30,512
 
Treasury stock at cost - 5,910,541 shares at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020
  
(82,860
)
  
(82,860
)
Retained earnings
  
12,510
   
6,203
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  
(4,173
)
  
(4,165
)
Total stockholders’ equity
  
97,741
   
91,067
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES, SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
244,646
  
$
245,190
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


2
Table of ContentsIndex


LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)



 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2021  2020  2021  2020 
             
REVENUE $89,059  $78,792  $247,520  $211,303 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:                
Educational services and facilities  38,105   34,251   104,143   90,733 
Selling, general and administrative  45,209   40,700   128,159   117,011 
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets  0   1  1   (96)
Total costs & expenses  83,314   74,952   232,303   207,648 
OPERATING INCOME
  5,745   3,840   15,217   3,655
OTHER:                
Interest expense  (292)  (278)  (874)  (960)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES  5,453   3,562   14,343   2,695
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES  1,614   50   3,589   150 
NET INCOME
 $3,839  $3,512  $10,754  $2,545
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS  304   1,074   912   1,074 
INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS $3,535  $2,438  $9,842  $1,471
Basic and diluted                
Net income per common share $0.11  $0.08  $0.30  $0.05
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                
Basic and diluted  25,135   24,822   25,043   24,721 

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
  
2021
  
2020
 
             
REVENUE
 
$
80,464
  
$
62,470
  
$
158,461
  
$
132,511
 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
                
Educational services and facilities
  
33,694
   
26,245
   
66,037
   
56,482
 
Selling, general and administrative
  
43,318
   
35,162
   
82,951
   
76,310
 
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets
  
0
   
(97
)
  
1
   
(96
)
Total costs & expenses
  
77,012
   
61,310
   
148,989
   
132,696
 
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
  
3,452
   
1,160
   
9,472
   
(185
)
OTHER:
                
Interest expense
  
(297
)
  
(327
)
  
(582
)
  
(682
)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  
3,155
   
833
   
8,890
   
(867
)
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
  
729
   
50
   
1,975
   
100
 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
 
$
2,426
  
$
783
  
$
6,915
  
$
(967
)
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
  
304
   
0
   
608
   
0
 
INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
 
$
2,122
  
$
783
  
$
6,307
  
$
(967
)
Basic and diluted
                
Net income (loss) per common share
 
$
0.06
  
$
0.02
  
$
0.19
  
$
(0.06
)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
                
Basic and diluted
  
25,105
   
24,741
   
24,997
   
24,670
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


3
Table of ContentsIndex

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)



 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2021  2020  2021  2020 
Net income
 $3,839  $3,512  $10,754  $2,545
Other comprehensive income (loss)                
Derivative qualifying as a cash flow hedge, net of taxes (nil)
  65   57  326   (786)
Employee pension plan adjustments, net of taxes (nil)
  (134)  140   (403)  420 
Comprehensive income
 $3,770  $3,709  $10,677  $2,179

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
  
2021
  
2020
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
2,426
  
$
783
  
$
6,915
  
$
(967
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
                
Derivative qualifying as a cash flow hedge, net of taxes (nil)
  
49
   
(95
)
  
260
   
(843
)
Employee pension plan adjustments, net of taxes (nil)
  
(134
)
  
140
   
(268
)
  
280
 
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
2,341
  
$
828
  
$
6,907
  
$
(1,530
)

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


4
Table of ContentsIndex

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS'STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)



 Stockholders’ Equity    
  Common Stock  
Additional
Paid-in
  Treasury  Retained  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
     
Series A
Convertible
Preferred Stock
 
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Stock  Earnings  Loss  Total  Shares  Amount 
BALANCE - January 1, 2021  26,476,329  $141,377  $30,512  $(82,860) $6,203  $(4,165) $91,067   12,700  $11,982 
Net income  -   0   0   0   4,489   0   4,489   -   0 
Preferred stock dividend  -   0   0   0   (304)  0   (304)  -   0 
Employee pension plan adjustments  -   0   0   0   0   (134)  (134)  -   0 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge  -   0   0   0   0   211   211   -   0 
Stock-based compensation expense                                    
Restricted stock  574,614   0   493   0   0   0   493   0   0 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation  (154,973)  0   (962)  0   0   0   (962)  0   0 
BALANCE - March 31, 2021
  26,895,970   141,377   30,043   (82,860)  10,388   (4,088)  94,860   12,700   11,982 
Net income  -
   0   0   0   2,426   0   2,426   -   0 
Preferred stock dividend  -
   0   0   0   (304)  0   (304)  -   0 
Employee pension plan adjustments  -
   0   0   0   0   (134)  (134)  -   0 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge  -
   0   0   0   0   49   49   -   0 
Stock-based compensation expense                                    
Restricted stock  76,195   0   844   0   0   0   844   0   0 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0 
BALANCE - June 30, 2021  26,972,165  $
141,377  $
30,887  $
(82,860) $
12,510  $
(4,173) $
97,741   12,700  $
11,982 
Net income  -   0   0   0   3,839   0   3,839   -   0 
Preferred stock dividends  -   0   0   0   (304)  0   (304)  -   0 
Employee pension plan adjustments  -   0   0   0   0   (134)  (134)  -   0 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge  -   0   0   0   0   65   65   -   0 
Stock-based compensation expense                                    
Restricted stock  6,267   0   756   0   0   0   756   0   0 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0 
BALANCE - September 30, 2021
  26,978,432  $141,377  $31,643  $(82,860) $16,045  $(4,242) $
101,963   12,700  $11,982 

 Stockholders’ Equity    
    Common Stock  
Additional
Paid-in
  Treasury  Accumulated  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
     
Series A
Convertible
Preferred Stock
 
  Shares  Amount  Capital  Stock  Deficit  Loss  Total  Shares  Amount 
BALANCE - January 1, 2020  25,231,710  $141,377  $30,145  $(82,860) $(42,058) $(3,456) $43,148   12,700  $11,982 
Net loss  -   0   0   0   (1,750)  0   (1,750)  -   0 
Employee pension plan adjustments  -   0   0   0   0   140   140   -   0 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge  -   0   0   0   0   (748)  (748)  -   0 
Stock-based compensation expense                                    
Restricted stock  1,191,262   0   291   0   0   0   291   0   0 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation  (58,451)  0   (172)  0   0   0   (172)  0   0 
BALANCE - March 31, 2020
  26,364,521   141,377   30,264   (82,860)  (43,808)  (4,064)  40,909   12,700   11,982 
Net income  -
   0   0   0   783   0   783   -   0 
Employee pension plan adjustments  -
   0   0   0   0   140   140   -   0 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge  -
   0   0   0   0   (95)  (95)  -   0 
Stock-based compensation expense                                    
  Restricted stock  111,376   0   325   0   0   0   325   0   0 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0 
BALANCE - June 30, 2020  26,475,897  $
141,377  $
30,589  $
(82,860) $
(43,025) $
(4,019) $
42,062   12,700  $
11,982 
Net income  -   0   0   0   3,512   0   3,512   -   0
 
Preferred stock dividends
  -   0   (1,074)  0   0   0   (1,074)  -
   0
 
Employee pension plan adjustments  -   0   0   0   0   140��  140   -   0
 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge
  -
   0   0   0   0   57   57   -
   0
 
Stock-based compensation expense                                    
Restricted stock  17,096   0   670   0   0   0   670   0   0 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation  (16,664)  0   (72)  0   0   0   (72)  0   0 
BALANCE - September 30, 2020
  26,476,329  $141,377  $30,113  $(82,860) $(39,513) $(3,822) $45,295   12,700  $11,982 
 
 
Stockholders' Equity
    
  
Common Stock
  
Additional
Paid-in
  
Treasury
  
Retained
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
     
Series A
Convertible
Preferred Stock
 
  
Shares
  
Amount
  
Capital
  
Stock
  
Earnings
  
Loss
  
Total
  
Shares
  
Amount
 
BALANCE - January 1, 2021
  
26,476,329
  
$
141,377
  
$
30,512
  
$
(82,860
)
 
$
6,203
  
$
(4,165
)
 
$
91,067
   
12,700
  
$
11,982
 
Net income
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
4,489
   
0
   
4,489
   
-
   
0
 
Preferred stock dividend
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(304
)
  
0
   
(304
)
  
-
   
0
 
Employee pension plan adjustments
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(134
)
  
(134
)
  
-
   
0
 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
211
   
211
   
-
   
0
 
Stock-based compensation expense
                                    
Restricted stock
  
574,614
   
0
   
493
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
493
   
0
   
0
 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
  
(154,973
)
  
0
   
(962
)
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
(962
)
  
0
   
0
 
BALANCE - March 31, 2021
  
26,895,970
   
141,377
   
30,043
   
(82,860
)
  
10,388
   
(4,088
)
  
94,860
   
12,700
   
11,982
 
Net income
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
2,426
   
0
   
2,426
   
-
   
0
 
Preferred stock dividend
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(304
)
  
0
   
(304
)
  
-
   
0
 
Employee pension plan adjustments
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(134
)
  
(134
)
  
-
   
0
 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
49
   
49
   
-
   
0
 
Stock-based compensation expense
                                    
Restricted stock
  
76,195
   
0
   
844
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
844
   
0
   
0
 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
BALANCE - June 30, 2021
  
26,972,165
  
$
141,377
  
$
30,887
  
$
(82,860
)
 
$
12,510
  
$
(4,173
)
  
97,741
   
12,700
  
$
11,982
 

 
Stockholders' Equity
    
   
 
Common Stock
  
Additional
Paid-in
  
Treasury
  
Accumulated
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
     
Series A
Convertible
Preferred Stock
 
  
Shares
  
Amount
  
Capital
  
Stock
  
Deficit
  
Loss
  
Total
  
Shares
  
Amount
 
BALANCE - January 1, 2020
  
25,231,710
  
$
141,377
  
$
30,145
  
$
(82,860
)
 
$
(42,058
)
 
$
(3,456
)
 
$
43,148
   
12,700
  
$
11,982
 
Net loss
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(1,750
)
  
0
   
(1,750
)
  
-
   
0
 
Employee pension plan adjustments
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
140
   
140
   
-
   
0
 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(748
)
  
(748
)
  
-
   
0
 
Stock-based compensation expense
                                    
Restricted stock
  
1,191,262
   
0
   
291
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
291
   
0
   
0
 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
  
(58,451
)
  
0
   
(172
)
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
(172
)
  
0
   
0
 
BALANCE - March 31, 2020
  
26,364,521
   
141,377
   
30,264
   
(82,860
)
  
(43,808
)
  
(4,064
)
  
40,909
   
12,700
   
11,982
 
Net income
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
783
   
0
   
783
   
-
   
0
 
Employee pension plan adjustments
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
140
   
140
   
-
   
0
 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge
  
-
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
(95
)
  
(95
)
  
-
   
0
 
Stock-based compensation expense
                                    
Restricted stock
  
111,376
   
0
   
325
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
325
   
0
   
0
 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
BALANCE - June 30, 2020
  
26,475,897
  
$
141,377
  
$
30,589
  
$
(82,860
)
 
$
(43,025
)
 
$
(4,019
)
 
$
42,062
   
12,700
  
$
11,982
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


5
Table of ContentsIndex

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)



 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2021  2020 
       
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
Net income
 $10,754  $2,545 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  5,620   5,546 
Amortization of deferred finance charges  136   136 
Deferred income taxes  3,636   0 
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets  1   (96)
Fixed asset donations  (2,050)  (334)
Provision for doubtful accounts  19,816   21,692 
Stock-based compensation expense  2,093   1,286 
(Increase) decrease in assets:        
Accounts receivable  (22,122)  (35,946)
Inventories  (761)  (1,258)
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes payable  (729)  272 
Prepaid expenses and current assets  725   1,296 
Other assets, net  274   (77)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:        
Accounts payable  (186)  1,656 
Accrued expenses  (914)  4,663 
CARES Act student funds liability  0   1,073 
CARES Act institutional funds liability  0   10,387 
Unearned tuition  1,238   (4,057)
Other liabilities  219   1,438 
Total adjustments  6,996   7,677 
Net cash provided by operating activities  17,750   10,222 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
Capital expenditures  (5,252)  (3,554)
Proceeds from insurance  0   97 
Net cash used in investing activities  (5,252)  (3,457)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
Payments on borrowings  (1,500)  (27,501)
Proceeds from borrowings  0   11,000 
Dividend payment for preferred stock  (912)  (1,074)
Credit of deferred finance fees  0   3 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation  (962)  (244)
Net cash used in financing activities  (3,374)  (17,816)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH  9,124   (11,051)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH—Beginning of period  38,026   38,644 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH—End of period $47,150  $27,593 

 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
 
       
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
      
Net income (loss)
 
$
6,915
  
$
(967
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
        
Depreciation and amortization
  
3,693
   
3,763
 
Amortization of deferred finance charges
  
91
   
90
 
Deferred income taxes
  
2,022
   
0
 
Loss on disposition of assets
  
0
   
(96
)
Fixed asset donations
  
(2,050
)
  
(334
)
Provision for doubtful accounts
  
11,108
   
12,618
 
Stock-based compensation expense
  
1,337
   
616
 
(Increase) decrease in assets:
        
Accounts receivable
  
(13,878
)
  
(20,322
)
Inventories
  
(933
)
  
(1,499
)
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes payable
  
(700
)
  
106
 
Prepaid expenses and current assets
  
(529
)
  
346
 
Other assets, net
  
384
   
(122
)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
        
Accounts payable
  
(3,425
)
  
(615
)
Accrued expenses
  
(1,856
)
  
4,293
 
CARES Act student funds liability
  
0
   
2,626
 
CARES Act institutional funds liability
  
0
   
11,837
 
Unearned tuition
  
(1,270
)
  
(5,838
)
Other liabilities
  
158
   
(34
)
Total adjustments
  
(5,848
)
  
7,435
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  
1,067
   
6,468
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
        
Capital expenditures
  
(3,516
)
  
(3,072
)
Proceeds from insurance
  
0
   
97
 
Net cash used in investing activities
  
(3,516
)
  
(2,975
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
        
Payments on borrowings
  
(1,000
)
  
(27,000
)
Proceeds from borrowings
  
0
   
11,000
 
Dividend payment for preferred stock
  
(608
)
  
0
 
Credit of deferred finance fees
  
0
   
3
 
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
  
(962
)
  
(172
)
Net cash used in financing activities
  
(2,570
)
  
(16,169
)
NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
  
(5,019
)
  
(12,676
)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH—Beginning of period
  
38,026
   
38,644
 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH—End of period
 
$
33,007
  
$
25,968
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


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Table of ContentsIndex
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
(Continued)



 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2021  2020 
       
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:      
Cash paid for:      
Interest $795  $845 
Income taxes $681  $121 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
Liabilities accrued for or noncash purchases of fixed assets $2,684  $1,847 

 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
 
       
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
      
Cash paid for:
      
Interest
 
$
566
  
$
589
 
Income taxes
 
$
652
  
$
14
 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
        
Liabilities accrued for or noncash purchases of fixed assets
 
$
3,362
  
$
614
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


7
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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THREE AND SIXNINE MONTHS ENDED JUNESEPTEMBER 30, 2021 AND 2020
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts and unless otherwise stated)
(Unaudited)


1.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION


Business Activities—— Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”“Company”, “we”“we”, “our”“our” and “us”“us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults.   The Company, which currently operates 22 schools in 14 states, offers programs in automotive technology, skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding and computerized numerical control and electronic systems technology, among other programs), healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant and medical administrative assistant, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology and aesthetics) and information technology.  The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Culinary Institute, and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences and associated brand names.  Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study.   NaN of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’sCompany’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.   All of the campuses are nationally or regionally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education (the “DOE”“DOE” or the “Department”“Department”) and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.


The Company’sCompany’s business is organized into 2 reportable business segments: (a) Transportation and Skilled Trades, and (b) Healthcare and Other Professions (“HOPS”(“HOPS”).


Liquidity——As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $33.0$47.2 million and a net cash balance of $16.7$31.3 million calculated as cash and cash equivalents, less both the short-term and long-term portions of the Company’sCompany’s Credit Facility (defined below) and can borrow an additional $21.0 million under its Credit Facility.  As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a net cash balance of $20.8 million.  The Company believes that its likely sources of cash will be sufficient to fund operations for the next twelve months and thereafter for the foreseeable future. However, the circumstances relating to COVID-19 and its evolution are unpredictable and, if circumstances surrounding COVID-19 should evolve in a significantly adverse manner, it is possible our liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.


Basis of Presentation – – The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”(“SEC”) and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”(“GAAP”) for interim financial statements.   Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such regulations.   These financial statements, which should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2020 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and related disclosures of the Company included in the Company’sCompany’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (“Form 10-K”), reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods.  The results of operations for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.


The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.


Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements – – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period.  On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates the estimates and assumptions, including those used to determine the incremental borrowing rate to calculate lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”(“ROU”) assets, lease term to calculate lease cost, revenue recognition, bad debts, impairments, useful lives of fixed assets, income taxes, benefit plans and certain accruals.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.


8
Table of ContentsIndex
New Accounting Pronouncements –– In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”(“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”(“ASU”) No. 2020-04, ““Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.”” These amendments provide temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued. It is intended to help stakeholders during the global market-wide reference rate transition period. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, ““Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope”” which clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. The guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is implementing a transition plan to identify and modify its loans and other financial instruments with attributes that are either directly or indirectly influenced by LIBOR. The Company is continuing to assess ASU 2020-04 and its impact on the Company’sCompany’s transition away from LIBOR for its loan and other financial instruments.


In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-10, ““Codification Improvements””, which makes minor technical corrections and clarifications to the ASU. The amendments in Sections B and C of the ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, for public business entities. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. This update did not have an impact on the Company’sCompany’s condensed consolidated financial statements.


In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, ““Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’sEntity’s Own Equity””. This ASU simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’sentity’s own equity. The ASU removes separation models for (1) convertible debt with a cash conversion feature and (2) convertible instruments with a beneficial conversion feature and hence most of the instruments will be accounted for as a single model (either debt or equity). The ASU also states that entities must apply the if-converted method to all convertible instruments for calculation of diluted EPS and the treasury stock method is no longer available. An entity can use either a full or modified retrospective approach to adopt the ASU’sASU’s guidance. ASU No. 2020-06 is effective for the Company as a smaller reporting company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For convertible instruments that include a down-round feature, entities may early adopt the amendments that apply to the down-round features if they have not yet adopted the amendments in ASU 2017-11. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this ASU will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-03, “Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2020-03”). ASU 2020-03 improves and clarifies various financial instruments topics. ASU 2020-03 includes seven different issues that describe the areas of improvement and the related amendments to GAAP. The Company adopted ASU 2020-03 upon issuance, which did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, ““Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes””, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC 740, “Income Taxes”“Income Taxes”. ASU 2019-12 also clarifies and amends GAAP for other areas of Topic 740. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and early adoption is permitted. Depending on the amendment, adoption may be applied on a retrospective, modified retrospective or prospective basis. ThisThe Company adopted ASU 2019-12 on January 1, 2021, which did not have a material impact on the Company’sCompany’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU  2018-14, “
Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans”. This ASU adds, modifies and clarifies several disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. This guidance is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2018-14 on January 1, 2020, which did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, ““Financial Instruments—Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”” and subsequently issued additional guidance that modified ASU 2016-13. The ASU and the subsequent modifications are identified as Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”(“ASC”) Topic 326. The standard requires an entity to change its accounting approach in determining impairment of certain financial instruments, including trade receivables, from an “incurred loss”“incurred loss” to a “current“current expected credit loss”loss” model. Further, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, ASU No. 2019-05 and ASU 2019-11 to provide additional guidance on the credit losses standard. In November 2019, FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, ““Financial Instruments –– Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842)””.   This ASU defers the effective date of ASU 2016-13 for public companies that are considered smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Additionally, in February and March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-02, “F“Financial Instruments—Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) and Leases (Topic 842): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119 and Update to SEC Section on Effective Date Related to Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842)”” ASU 2020-02 adds a SEC paragraph pursuant to the issuance of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 119 on loan losses to FASB Codification Topic 326 and also updates the SEC section of the Codification for the change in the effective date of Topic 842. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact that these ASUs will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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Table of Contents

Income Taxes –– The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, ““Income Taxes””. This statement requires an asset and a liability approach for measuring deferred taxes based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates for years in which taxes are expected to be paid or recovered.


In accordance with ASC 740, the Company assesses our deferred tax asset to determine whether all or any portion of the asset is more likely than not unrealizable.   A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when, based on currently available information, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, our assessment considers whether there has been sufficient income in recent years and whether sufficient income is expected in future years in order to utilize the deferred tax asset. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the Company considers, among other things, historical levels of income, expected future income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences, and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Significant judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements and/or tax returns.  Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on the Company’sCompany’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.   Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates, or future income levels could materially impact the Company’sCompany’s valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause our income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods.


9
Index
During the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company did 0t recognize any interest and penalties expense associated with uncertain tax positions.


Derivative Instruments——The Company records the fair value of derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. The accounting for gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value is dependent on the use of the derivative and whether it is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting.


All qualifying hedging activities are documented at the inception of the hedge and must meet the definition of highly effective in offsetting changes to future cash. The Company utilizes the change in variable cash flows method to evaluate hedge effectiveness quarterly. We record the fair value of the qualifying hedges in other long-term liabilities (for derivative liabilities) and other assets (for derivative assets). All unrealized gains and losses on derivatives that are designated and qualify for hedge accounting are reported in other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized when the underlying hedged transaction affects earnings. Changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).  The Company classifies the cash flows from a cash flow hedge within the same category as the cash flows from the items being hedged.


2.
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE


The Company presents basic and diluted income (loss) per common share using the two-class method which requires all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock and unvested restricted common stock that include rights to non-forfeitable dividends (and, therefore, participate in undistributed income with common shareholders) to be included in computing income (loss) per common share. Under the two-class method, net income is reduced by the amount of dividends declared in the period for each class of common stock and participating security. The remaining undistributed income is then allocated to common stock and participating securities, based on their respective rights to receive dividends. Series A Preferred Stock and unvested restricted common stock contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends on an if-converted basis and on the same basis as common shares, respectively, and are considered participating securities. The Series A Preferred Stock and unvested restricted common stock are not included in the computation of basic income (loss) per common share in periods in which we have a net loss, as the Series A Preferred Stock and unvested restricted common stock are not contractually obligated to share in our net losses. However, the cumulative dividends on preferred stock for the period decreases the income or increases the net loss allocated to common shareholders unless the dividend is paid in the period. Basic income (loss) per common share has been computed by dividing net income (loss) allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. The basic and diluted net income amounts are the same for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and three months ended June 30, 2020 as a result of the anti-dilutive impact of the potentially dilutive securities.  The basic and diluted net loss amounts are the same for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as a result of the net loss and anti-dilutive impact of the potentially dilutive securities.

10

Table of Contents
The Company uses the more dilutive method of calculating the diluted income per share by applying the more dilutive of either (a) the treasury stock method, if-converted method, or (b) the two-class method in its diluted income (loss) per common share calculation. Potentially dilutive shares are determined by applying the treasury stock method to the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options and the assumed vesting of restricted stock. Potentially dilutive shares issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock are calculated using the if-converted method.


10
The following is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the diluted net income (loss) per share computations for the periods presented below:



 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(in thousands, except share data) 2021  2020  2021  2020 
Numerator:            
Net income $3,839  $3,512  $10,754  $2,545 
Less: preferred stock dividend  (304)  (1,074)  (912)  (1,074)
Less: allocation to preferred stockholders  (582)  (433)  (1,629)  (259)
Less: allocation to restricted stockholders  (232)  (120)  (635)  (65)
Net income allocated to common stockholders $2,721  $1,885  $7,579  $1,147 
                 
Basic income per share:                
Denominator:                
Weighted average common shares outstanding  25,135,381   24,821,665   25,043,357   24,720,817 
Basic income per share $0.11  $0.08  $0.30  $0.05 
                 
Diluted income per share:                
Denominator:                
Weighted average number of:                
Common shares outstanding  25,135,381   24,821,665   25,043,357   24,720,817 
Dilutive potential common shares outstanding:                
Series A Preferred Stock  0   0   0   0 
Unvested restricted stock  0   0   0   0 
Dilutive shares outstanding  25,135,381   24,821,665   25,043,357   24,720,817 
Diluted income per share $0.11  $0.08  $0.30  $0.05 

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands, except share data)
 
2021
  
2020
  
2021
  
2020
 
Numerator:
            
Net income (loss)
 
$
2,426
  
$
783
  
$
6,915
  
$
(967
)
Less: preferred stock dividend
  
(304
)
  
(305
)
  
(608
)
  
(610
)
Less: allocation to preferred stockholders
  
(349
)
  
(83
)
  
(1,046
)
  
0
 
Less: allocation to restricted stockholders
  
(143
)
  
(23
)
  
(403
)
  
0
 
Net income (loss) allocated to common stockholders
 
$
1,630
  
$
372
  
$
4,858
  
$
(1,577
)
                 
Basic income (loss) per share:
                
Denominator:
                
Weighted average common shares outstanding
  
25,105,238
   
24,741,331
   
24,996,583
   
24,669,838
 
Basic income (loss) per share
 
$
0.06
  
$
0.02
  
$
0.19
  
$
(0.06
)
                 
Diluted income (loss) per share:
                
Denominator:
                
Weighted average number of:
                
Common shares outstanding
  
25,105,238
   
24,741,331
   
24,996,583
   
24,669,838
 
Dilutive potential common shares outstanding:
                
Series A Preferred Stock
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Unvested restricted stock
  
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Dilutive shares outstanding
  
25,105,238
   
24,741,331
   
24,996,583
   
24,669,838
 
Diluted income (loss) per share
 
$
0.06
  
$
0.02
  
$
0.19
  
$
(0.06
)

The following table summarizes the potential weighted average shares of common stock that were excluded from the determination of our diluted shares outstanding as they were anti-dilutive:



 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(in thousands, except share data) 2021  2020  2021  2020 
Series A Preferred Stock  5,381,356   0   5,381,356   0 
Unvested restricted stock  815,383   767,056   823,662   566,370 
   6,196,739   767,056   6,205,018   566,370 

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands, except share data)
 
2021
  
2020
  
2021
  
2020
 
Series A Preferred Stock
  
5,381,356
   
5,577,955
   
5,381,356
   
5,513,379
 
Unvested restricted stock
  
960,877
   
319,461
   
828,564
   
466,581
 
   
6,342,233
   
5,897,416
   
6,209,920
   
5,979,960
 

3.
REVENUE RECOGNITION


Substantially all of our revenues are considered to be revenues from our contracts with students.  The related accounts receivable balances are recorded in our balance sheets as student accounts receivable.   We do not have significant revenue recognized from performance obligations that were satisfied in prior periods, and we do not have any transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations other than in our unearned tuition.  We record revenue for students who withdraw from our schools only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.   Unearned tuition represents contract liabilities primarily related to our tuition revenue. We have elected not to provide disclosure about transaction prices allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations if original contract durations are less than one-year, or if we have the right to consideration from a student in an amount that corresponds directly with the value provided to the student for performance obligations completed to date in accordance with ASU No. 2014-09, ““Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)””. We have assessed the costs incurred to obtain a contract with a student and determined them to be immaterial.


11
Unearned tuition in the amount of $22.2$24.7 million and $23.5 million is recorded in the current liabilities section of the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The change in this contract liability balance during the six-monthnine-month period ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 is the result of payments received in advance of satisfying performance obligations, offset by revenue recognized during that period. Revenue recognized for the six-monthnine-month period ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the year was $22.4$22.6 million.


11
The following table depicts the timing of revenue recognition:

  
Three months ended June 30, 2021
  
Six months ended June 30, 2021
 
  


 Three months ended September 30, 2021
Nine months ended September 30, 2021 
  
Transportation
and Skilled
Trades Segment
 
Healthcare
and Other
Professions
Segment
 Consolidated 
Transportation
and Skilled
Trades Segment
 
Healthcare
and Other
Professions
Segment
 Consolidated 
Timing of Revenue Recognition             
Services transferred at a point in time $

6,203 $

1,618 $

7,821 $

14,788 $

4,234 $

19,022 
Services transferred over time   58,747  
 22,491   81,238   162,798   65,700   228,498 
Total revenues $

64,950 $

24,109 $

89,059 $

177,586 $

69,934 $

247,520 


 Three months ended September 30, 2020 Nine months ended September 30, 2020 
  
Transportation
and Skilled
Trades Segment
 
Healthcare
and Other
Professions
Segment
 Consolidated 
Transportation
and Skilled
Trades Segment
 
Healthcare
and Other
Professions
Segment
 Consolidated 
Timing of Revenue Recognition             
Services transferred at a point in time $

5,520 $

1,466 $

6,986 $

10,056 $

3,479 $

13,535 
Services transferred over time   51,308   20,498   71,806   138,743   59,025   197,768 
Total revenues $

56,828 $

21,964 $

78,792 $

148,799 $

62,504 $

211,303 

a
 
Transportation
and Skilled
Trades Segment
  
Healthcare
and Other
Professions
Segment
  
Consolidated
  
Transportation
and Skilled
Trades Segment
  
Healthcare
and Other
Professions
Segment
  
Consolidated
 
Timing of Revenue Recognition
                   
Services transferred at a point in time
  
$
5,065
  
$
1,283
  
$
6,348
  
$
8,585
  
$
2,615
  
$
11,200
 
Services transferred over time
   
51,900
   
22,216
   
74,116
   
104,051
   
43,210
   
147,261
 
Total revenues
  
$
56,965
  
$
23,499
  
$
80,464
  
$
112,636
  
$
45,825
  
$
158,461
 

  
Three months ended June 30, 2020
  
Six months ended June 30, 2020
 
  
a
 
Transportation
and Skilled
Trades Segment
  
Healthcare
and Other
Professions
Segment
  
Consolidated
  
Transportation
and Skilled
Trades Segment
  
Healthcare
and Other
Professions
Segment
  
Consolidated
 
Timing of Revenue Recognition
                   
Services transferred at a point in time
  
$
2,038
  
$
939
  
$
2,977
  
$
4,536
  
$
2,013
  
$
6,549
 
Services transferred over time
   
40,877
   
18,616
   
59,493
   
87,435
   
38,527
   
125,962
 
Total revenues
  
$
42,915
  
$
19,555
  
$
62,470
  
$
91,971
  
$
40,540
  
$
132,511
 

4.
LEASES


The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. The Company considers any contract where there is an identified asset and the Company has the right to control the use of such asset as a lease. An operating lease ROU asset represents the Company’sCompany’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As all of the Company’sCompany’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available on the adoption date in determining the present value of lease payments. We estimate the incremental borrowing rate based on a yield curve analysis, utilizing the interest rate derived from the fair value analysis of our credit facility and adjusting it for factors that appropriately reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the lease. The operating lease ROU assets include any lease payments made prior to the rent commencement date and exclude lease incentives. Our leases have remaining lease terms of one year to 11 years. Lease terms may include options to extend the lease term used in determining the lease obligation when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term for operating leases.


OurSee Note operating13 which discusses the sale lease-back transaction relating to the Company’s Denver and Grand Prairie campuses which closed on October 29, 2021.

Operating lease costcosts for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 were $3.8 million and $3.9million, respectively. Operating costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was $3.811.4 million and $3.7 million, respectively.  Our operating lease cost for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 was $7.6 million and $7.411.4 million, respectively. Our variable lease costcosts for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 waswere less than $0.1 million.  The net change in the ROU asset and lease liability are included in other assets in the condensed consolidated cash flows for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020.


12
Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash activity related to our operating leases are as follows:



 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2021  2020  2021  2020 
Operating cash flow information:            
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities $3,972  $3,894  $11,009  $11,537 
Non-cash activity:                
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets $1,220  $6,311  $4,421  $15,092 

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
  
2021
  
2020
 
Operating cash flow information:
            
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities
 
$
3,829
  
$
3,802
  
$
7,037
  
$
7,643
 
Non-cash activity:
                
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets
 
$
3,152
  
$
8,731
  
$
3,202
  
$
8,781
 

Weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate for our operating leases is as follows:



 As of September 30, 
  2021  2020 
Weighted-average remaining lease term 5.49 years  6.29 years 
Weighted-average discount rate  10.77%  11.38%

 
As of June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
 
Weighted-average remaining lease term
 
5.71 years
  
6.39 years
 
Weighted-average discount rate
  
10.93
%
  
11.94
%

Maturities of lease liabilities by fiscal year for our operating leases as of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 are as follows:


Year ending December 31,   
2021 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2021) $3,938 
2022  15,926 
2023  14,981 
2024  13,413 
2025  11,399 
2026  3,241 
Thereafter  15,441 
Total lease payments  78,339 
Less: imputed interest  (18,890)
Present value of lease liabilities $59,449 

Year ending December 31,
   
2021 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2021)
 
$
7,909
 
2022
  
15,668
 
2023
  
14,531
 
2024
  
12,952
 
2025
  
11,205
 
2026
  
8,122
 
Thereafter
  
10,560
 
Total lease payments
  
80,947
 
Less: imputed interest
  
(20,308
)
Present value of lease liabilities
 
$
60,639
 

5.
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS


The Company reviews long-lived assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. There were 0 long-lived asset impairments during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020.


The Company reviews goodwill for impairment when indicators of impairment exist.  Annually, or more frequently if necessary, the Company evaluates goodwill for impairment, with any resulting impairment reflected as an operating expense. The Company has concluded that, as of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, there were no indicators of potential impairment and, accordingly, the Company did not test goodwill for impairment.
13


The carrying amount of goodwill at JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:



 
Gross
Goodwill
Balance
  
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
  
Net
Goodwill
Balance
 
Balance as of January 1, 2021 $117,176  $(102,640) $14,536 
Adjustments  0   -   0 
Balance as of September 30, 2021
 $117,176  $(102,640) $14,536 


 
Gross
Goodwill
Balance
  
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
  
Net
Goodwill
Balance
 
Balance as of January 1, 2020 $117,176  $(102,640) $14,536 
Adjustments  0   -   0 
Balance as of September 30, 2020
 $117,176  $(102,640) $14,536 

 
Gross
Goodwill
Balance
  
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
  
Net
Goodwill
Balance
 
Balance as of January 1, 2021
 
$
117,176
  
$
(102,640
)
 
$
14,536
 
Adjustments
  
0
   
-
   
0
 
Balance as of June 30, 2021
 
$
117,176
  
$
(102,640
)
 
$
14,536
 

 
Gross
Goodwill
Balance
  
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
  
Net
Goodwill
Balance
 
Balance as of January 1, 2020
 
$
117,176
  
$
(102,640
)
 
$
14,536
 
Adjustments
  
0
   
-
   
0
 
Balance as of June 30, 2020
 
$
117,176
  
$
(102,640
)
 
$
14,536
 

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, the goodwill balance is related to the Transportation and Skilled Trades segment.


6.
LONG-TERM DEBT


Long-term debt consists of the following:



 
September 30,
2021
  
December 31,
2020
 
Credit agreement $16,333  $17,833 
Deferred Financing Fees  (485)  (621)
   15,848   17,212 
Less current maturities  (2,000)  (2,000)
  $13,848  $15,212 

 
June 30,
2021
  
December 31,
2020
 
Credit agreement
 
$
16,833
  
$
17,833
 
Deferred Financing Fees
  
(530
)
  
(621
)
   
16,303
   
17,212
 
Less current maturities
  
(2,000
)
  
(2,000
)
  
$
14,303
  
$
15,212
 

Credit Facility with Sterling National Bank


On November 14, 2019, the Company entered into a new senior secured credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”“Credit Agreement”) with its lender, Sterling National Bank (the “Lender”“Lender”), providing for borrowing in the aggregate principal amount of up to $60 million (the “Credit Facility”“Credit Facility”).


The Credit Facility is comprised of 4 facilities: (1) a $20 million senior secured term loan maturing on December 1, 2024 (the “Term Loan”“Term Loan”), with monthly interest and principal payments based on 120-month amortization with the outstanding balance due on the maturity date; (2) a $10 million senior secured delayed draw term loan maturing on December 1, 2024 (the “Delayed“Delayed Draw Term Loan”Loan”), with monthly interest payments for the first 18 months and thereafter monthly payments of interest and principal based on 120-month amortization and all balances due on the maturity date; (3) a $15 million senior secured committed revolving line of credit providing a sublimit of up to $10 million for standby letters of credit maturing on November 13, 2022 (the “Revolving Loan”“Revolving Loan”), with monthly payments of interest only; and (4) a $15 million senior secured non-restoring line of credit maturing on January 31, 2021 (the “Line“Line of Credit Loan”Loan”). The Credit Agreement gives the Company the right to permanently terminate, in its entirety, the Revolving Loan or the Line of Credit Loan or permanently reduce the amount available for borrowing under the Revolving Loan or the Line of Credit Loan.  In April 2020, the Company terminated the Line of Credit Loan. On November 10, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to its Credit Agreement to extend the Delayed Draw Availability Period by one year to May 31, 2022 and to increase the amount of permitted cash dividends that the Company can pay on its Series A Preferred Stock during the first twenty-four months of the Credit Agreement from $1.7 million to $2.3 million.


The Credit Facility is secured by a first priority lien in favor of the Lender on substantially all of the personal property owned by the Company, as well as a pledge of the stock and other equity in the Company’sCompany’s subsidiaries and mortgages on parcels of real property owned by the Company in Colorado, Tennessee and Texas, at which 3 of the Company’sCompany’s schools are located, as well as a former school property owned by the Company located in Connecticut.

14

At the closing of the Credit Facility, the Lender advanced the Term Loan to the Company, the net proceeds of which were $19.7 million after deduction of the Lender’sLender’s origination fee in the amount of $0.3 million and other Lender fees and reimbursements to the Lender that are customary for facilities of this type.  The Company used the net proceeds of the Term Loan, together with cash on hand, to repay the existing credit facility and transaction expenses.


Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, letters of credit issued under the Revolving Loan reduce dollar for dollar the availability of borrowings under the Revolving Loan.


Accrued interest on each loan under the Credit Facility is payable monthly in arrears.   The Term Loan and the Delayed Draw Term Loan bear interest at a floating interest rate based on the then one month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”(“LIBOR”) plus 3.50%.   At the closing of the Credit Facility, the Company entered into a swap transaction with the Lender for 100% of the principal balance of the Term Loan, which matures on the same date as the Term Loan.   At the end of the borrowing availability period for the Delayed Draw Term Loan, the Company is required to enter into a swap transaction with the Lender for 100% of the principal balance of the Delayed Draw Term Loan, which will mature on the same date as the Delayed Draw Term Loan, pursuant to a swap agreement between the Company and the Lender or the Lender’sLender’s affiliate.   The Term Loan and Delayed Draw Term Loan are subject to a LIBOR interest rate floor of 0.25% if there is no swap agreement.


Revolving Loans bear interest at a floating interest rate based on the then LIBOR plus an indicative spread determined by the Company’sCompany’s leverage as defined in the Credit Agreement or, if the borrowing of a Revolving Loan is to be repaid within 30 days of such borrowing, the Revolving Loan will accrue interest at the Lender’sLender’s prime rate plus 0.50% with a floor of 4.0%. Revolving Loans are subject to a LIBOR interest rate floor of 0.00%.


Letters of credit are charged an annual fee equal to (i) an applicable margin determined by the leverage ratio of the Company less (ii) 0.25%, paid quarterly in arrears, in addition to the Lender’sLender’s customary fees for issuance, amendment and other standard fees.   Letters of credit totaling $4 million that were outstanding under the existing credit facility are treated as letters of credit under the Revolving Loan.


Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may prepay the Term Loan and/or the Delayed Draw Term Loan in full or in part without penalty except for any amount required to compensate the Lender for any swap breakage or other costs incurred in connection with such prepayment.  The Lender receives an unused facility fee of 0.50% per annum payable quarterly in arrears on the unused portions of the Revolving Loan.


In addition to the foregoing, the Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants (including financial covenants that (i) restrict capital expenditures, (ii) restrict leverage, (iii) require maintaining minimum tangible net worth, (iv) require maintaining a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and (v) require the maintenance of a minimum of $5 million in quarterly average aggregate balances on deposit with the Lender, which, if not maintained, will result in the assessment of a quarterly fee of $12,500), as well as events of default customary for facilities of this type. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.   The Credit Agreement also limited the payment of cash dividends during the first twenty-four months of the agreement to $1.7 million but an amendment to the Credit Agreement entered into on November 10, 2020 raised the cash dividend limit to $2.3 million in such twenty-four-month period.


On September 23, 2021, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a Consent and Waiver Letter Agreement (the “Consent Agreement”) to the Company’s existing Credit Agreement. The Consent Agreement consents to certain real estate transactions with respect to the Nashville, Denver and Grand Prairie campuses (collectively, the “Property Transactions”) and waives certain covenants in the Credit Agreement, subject to certain conditions specified therein. In addition, in connection with the consummation of the Property Transactions, the Lender has agreed to release its mortgages and other liens on the subject-properties. In connection therewith, at the closing of the Property Transactions, the Company is required to pay in full the outstanding principal and accrued interest of the Term Loan and any swap obligations arising from any swap transaction entered into in connection with the Term Loan. NaN further borrowings may be made under the Term Loan or the Delayed Draw Term Loan. One of the Property Transactions, the sale lease-back of the Denver and Grand Prairie campuses, was consummated on October 29, 2021.  In connection with the closing, the Company paid its Lender approximately $16.5 million in repayment of the term loan and the swap termination fee.

As of June September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $16.816.3 million and $17.8 million, respectively, outstanding under the Credit Facility offset by $0.5 million and $0.6 million of deferred finance fees, respectively. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, letters of credit in the aggregate outstanding principal amount of $4.0 million were outstanding under the Credit Facility.


15
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt at JuneSeptember 30, 2021 are as follows:


Year ending December 31,   
2021 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2021) $500 
2022  2,000 
2023  2,000 
2024  11,833 
  $16,333 

7.
Year ending December 31,STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
   

2021 (excluding the six months ended June 30, 2021)
 
$
1,000
 
2022
  
2,000
 
2023
  
2,000
 
2024
  
11,833
   
$
16,833
 

15



7.          STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock


Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our Board of Directors and have the right to 1 vote per share on all matters requiring shareholder approval. The Company has 0t declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock since the Company’sCompany’s Board of Directors discontinued our quarterly cash dividend program in February 2015.  The Company has no current intentions to resume the payment of cash dividends to holders of common stock in the foreseeable future.


Preferred Stock


On November 14, 2019, the Company raised gross proceeds of $12.7 million from the sale of 12,700 shares of its newly designated Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, 0 par value per share (the “Series“Series A Preferred Stock”Stock”).  The Series A Preferred Stock was designated by the Company’sCompany’s Board of Directors pursuant to a certificate of amendment to the Company’sCompany’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter Amendment”“Charter Amendment”). The liquidation preference associated with the Series A Preferred Stock was $1,000 per share at December 31, 2020.  Upon issuance each share of Series A Preferred Stock was convertible at $2.36 per share of common stock (as may be adjusted pursuant to the Charter Amendment, the “Conversion Price”“Conversion Price”) into 423,729 shares of common stock (the number of shares into which the Series A Preferred Stock is convertible at any time, the “Conversion Shares”“Conversion Shares”).  The Company incurred issuance costs of $0.7 million as part of this transaction.


The description below provides a summary of certain material terms of the Series A Preferred Stock:


Securities Purchase Agreement.


The Series A Preferred Stock was sold by the Company pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of November 14, 2019 (the “SPA”“SPA”) among the Company, Juniper Targeted Opportunity Fund, L.P. and Juniper Targeted Opportunities, L.P. (together, “Juniper Purchasers”“Juniper Purchasers”) and Talanta Investment, Inc. (“(“Talanta,”” together with Juniper Purchasers, the “Investors”“Investors”). Among other things, the SPA includes covenants relating to the appointment of a director to the Company’sCompany’s Board of Directors to be selected solely by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock.


Dividends. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock (“(“Series A Dividends”Dividends”), at the initial annual rate of 9.6% is to be paid, in arrears, from the date of issuance quarterly on each December 31, March 31, June 30 and September 30 with September 30, 2020 being the first dividend payment date.  The Company, at its option, may pay dividends either (a) in cash or (b) by increasing the number of Conversion Shares by the dollar amount of the dividend divided by the Conversion Price.   The dividend rate is subject to increase (a) 2.4% per annum on the fifth anniversary of the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock and (b) by 2% per annum but in no event above 14% per annum should the Company fail to perform certain obligations under the Charter Amendment.  The Series A Preferred Stock is not currently redeemable and may not become redeemable in the future. As a result, the Company is not required to re-measure the Series A Preferred Stock and does not accrete changes in the redemption value. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we paid a $0.6$0.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in cash dividenddividends on the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock rather than increasing the number of Conversion Shares. Dividends are included in the consolidated balance sheets within additional paid-in-capital when the Company maintains an accumulated deficit.


Holders of Series A Preferred Stock Right to Convert into Common Stock. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock, at any time, is convertible into a number of shares of common stock equal to (i) the sum of (A) $1,000 (subject to adjustment as provided in the Charter Amendment) plus (B) the dollar amount of any declared Series A Dividends not paid in cash divided by (ii) the Conversion Price ($2.36 per share subject to anti-dilution adjustments) as of the applicable Conversion Date (as defined in the Charter Amendment). At all times, however, the number of Conversion Shares that can be issued to any holder of Series A Preferred Stock may not result in such holder and its affiliates owning more than 19.99% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding after giving effect to the conversion (the “Hard Cap”“Hard Cap”), unless prior shareholder approval is obtained or no longer required by the rules of the principal stock exchange on which the Company’sCompany’s common stock trades.


16
Mandatory Conversion. If, at any time following November 14, 2022, the volume weighted average price of the Company’sCompany’s common stock equals or exceeds 2.25 times the Conversion Price (currently $5.31 per share) for a period of 20 consecutive trading days and on each such trading day at least 20,000 shares of common stock was traded, the Company may, at its option and subject to the Hard Cap, require that any or all of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock be automatically converted into Conversion Shares.


Redemption. Beginning November 14, 2024, the Company may redeem all or any of the Series A Preferred Stock for a cash price equal to the greater of (“(“Liquidation Preference”Preference”) (i) the sum of $1,000 (subject to adjustment as provided in the Charter Amendment) plus the dollar amount of any declared Series A Dividends not paid in cash and (ii) the value of the Conversion Shares were such Series A Preferred Stock converted (as determined in the Charter Amendment) without regard to the Hard Cap.


Change of Control.   In the event of certain changes of control, some of which are not in the Company’sCompany’s control, as defined in the Charter Amendment as a “Fundamental Change”“Fundamental Change” or a “Liquidation”“Liquidation” (as defined in the Charter Amendment), the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive the Liquidation Preference, unless such Fundamental Change is a stock merger in which certain value and volume requirements are met, in which case the Series A Preferred Stock will be converted into common stock in connection with such stock merger.  The Company has classified the Series A Preferred Stock as mezzanine equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheet based upon the terms of a change of control which could be outside the Company’sCompany’s control.


Voting. Holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to vote with the holders of shares of common stock and not as a separate class, at any annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Company, on an as-converted basis, in all cases subject to the Hard Cap.   In addition, a majority of the voting power of the Series A Preferred Stock must approve certain significant actions of the Company, including (i) declaring a dividend or otherwise redeeming or repurchasing any shares of common stock and other junior securities, if any, subject to certain exceptions, (ii) incurring indebtedness, except for certain permitted indebtedness and (iii) creating a subsidiary other than a wholly-owned subsidiary.


Additional Provisions.   The Series A Preferred Stock is perpetual and, therefore, does not have a maturity date.   The conversion price of the Series A Preferred Stock is subject to anti-dilution protections if the Company affects a stock split, stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification or combination of its common stock and certain other economically dilutive events.


Registration Rights Agreement. The Company also is a party to a Registration Rights Agreement (“RRA”(“RRA”) with the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock.  The RRA provides for unlimited demand registration rights, of which there can be 2 underwritten offerings each for at least $5 million in gross proceeds, and piggyback registration rights, with respect to the Conversion Shares. In addition, the RRA obligated the Company to register “for“for the shelf”shelf” the resale of the Conversion Shares through the filing of a registration statement to such effect (the “Resale“Resale Shelf Registration Statement”Statement”) and have such Resale Shelf Registration Statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”“SEC”). The SEC declared the Resale Shelf Registration Statement effective on October 16, 2020.


Restricted Stock


The Company currently issues restricted stock awards under the Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”“2020 Plan”).  As more fully described below,  the Company continues to maintain the Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and amended and restated (the “Prior Plan”“Prior Plan”) only with respect to awards made thereunder, but, as no shares remain available under the Prior Plan, the Company no longer makes grants under such plan.


2020 Plan


On March 26, 2020, the Board adopted the 2020 Plan to provide an incentive to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to align their interests in the Company’sCompany’s success with those of its shareholders through the grant of equity-based awards. On June 16, 2020, the shareholders of the Company approved the 2020 Plan.  The 2020 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other qualified committee appointed by the Board, who will, among other duties, have full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for under the 2020 Plan. Pursuant to the 2020 Plan, the Company may grant options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options.  The 2020 Plan has a duration of 10 years.


Subject to adjustment as described in the 2020 Plan, the aggregate number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2020 Plan is 2,000,000 shares.


17
On August 5, 2021, 6,267 restricted shares of common stock were issued to a non-employee director which vest on May 6,2022.

On May 6, 2021, 76,195 restricted shares of common stock were issued to non-employee directors which vest on the first anniversary of the grant date.


On June 16, 2020, 111,376 restricted shares of common stock were issued to non-employee directors which are fully vested on June 16, 2021.


On August 7, 2020, 2 non-employee directors were appointed to the Company’sCompany’s Board of Directors and 17,096 restricted shares of common stock were granted to each of those individuals. These shares vested on June 16, 2021.

17


Also on August 7, 2020, a non-employee director retired from his position on the Company’sCompany’s Board of Directors and 12,762 restricted shares of common stock held by him which were unvested were accelerated to vest effective August 7, 2020.


On February 25, 2021, performance-based restricted shares were granted to certain employees of the Company. The shares vest ratably on the first, second and third anniversary dates of the grant based upon the attainment of a financial target during each of the fiscal years ending December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively, except in extraordinary circumstances.  There is no restriction on the right to vote or the right to receive dividends with respect to any of such restricted shares. For the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021, the Company recorded expense of $0.3 million and $0.40.7 million, respectively, as the expectation of attainment of the target is probable.


On February 20, 2020, performance-based restricted shares were granted to certain employees of the Company.  The shares vest 20%, 30% and 50% on the first, second and third anniversary dates of the grant, respectively, based upon the attainment of a financial target during each fiscal years ending December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, except in extraordinary circumstances. There is no restriction on the right to vote or the right to receive dividends with respect to any of such restricted shares. For the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded expense of $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively, as the expectation of attainment of the target is probable. For the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded expense of $0.40.6 million and $0.20.4 million, respectively, as the expectation of attainment of the target is probable.


Prior Plan


Under the Prior Plan, certain employees received awards of restricted shares of common stock based on service and performance.  The number of shares granted to each employee was based on the amount of the award and the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant. The 2020 Plan provides that there will be no new grants under the Prior Plan effective as of the date of shareholder approval, June 16, 2020, of the 2020 Plan. The 2020 Plan also states that the shares available under the 2020 Plan will be 2 million shares plus the number of shares remaining available under the Prior Plan.   As no shares remain available under the Prior Plan, there can be no additional grants thereunder. Outstanding grants under the Prior Plan remain in effect according to their terms.  Therefore, those grants are subject to the particular award agreement relating thereto and to the Prior Plan to the extent that the plan addresses those grants. The Prior Plan remains in effect only to that extent.


On February 28, 2019, restricted shares were granted to certain employees of the Company under the Prior Plan, which shares ratably vest over three years.  There is no restriction on the right to vote or the right to receive dividends with respect to any of such restricted shares. For each of the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded expense of $0.1 million in connection with that grant. For the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded expense of $0.20.4 million and $0.30.4 million, respectively, in connection with that grant.


For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and six months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, the Company completed a net share settlement for 0 and 16,664 shares and for the nine month ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, the the Company completed a net share settlement for 154,973 and 58,451 restricted75,115 shares respectively, on behalf of certain employees who participate in the Prior Plan upon the vesting of the restricted shares pursuant to the terms of the Prior Plan.  The net share settlement was in connection with income taxes incurred on restricted shares that vested and were transferred to the employees during 2021 and/or 2020, creating taxable income for the employees. At the employees’employees’ request, the Company will pay those taxes on behalf of the employees in exchange for the employees’employees’ returning an equivalent value of restricted shares to the Company. Those transactions resulted in a decrease of $1.0 million0 and $0.2$0.1 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and six months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 and a decrease of $1.0 million and $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, to equity on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, as the cash payment of the taxes effectively was a repurchase of the restricted shares granted in previous years.


18
The following is a summary of transactions pertaining to restricted stock:



 Shares  
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Share
 
Nonvested restricted stock outstanding at December 31, 2020  1,572,159  $2.77 
Granted  657,076   5.97 
Canceled  0   0 
Vested  (498,936)  3.04 
         
Nonvested restricted stock outstanding at September 30, 2021
  1,730,299   3.87 

 
Shares
  
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Share
 
Nonvested restricted stock outstanding at December 31, 2020
  
1,572,159
  
$
2.77
 
Granted
  
650,809
   
5.95
 
Canceled
  
0
   
0
 
Vested
  
(498,936
)
  
3.04
 
         
Nonvested restricted stock outstanding at June 30, 2021
  
1,724,032
   
3.86
 

The restricted stock expense for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 was $0.8 million and $0.30.7 million, respectively.  The restricted stock expense for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 was $1.32.1 million and $0.61.3 million, respectively. The unrecognized restricted stock expense as of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was $6.7 million and $3.2 million, respectively.  As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, outstanding restricted shares under the Prior Plan had aggregate intrinsic value of $13.411.6 million.


Stock Options


The fair value of the stock options used to compute stock-based compensation is the estimated present value at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following is a summary of transactions pertaining to stock options:



 Shares  
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2020
  81,000  $7.79 1.17 years $0 
Granted/Vested  0   0   
0 
Canceled  0   0    0 
              
Outstanding at September 30, 2021
  81,000   7.79 0.42 years  0 
              
Vested as of September 30, 2021
  81,000   7.79 0.42 years  0 
              
Exercisable as of September 30, 2021
  81,000   7.79 0.42 years  0 

 
Shares
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2020
 
81,000
 
$
7.79
 
1.17 years
 
$
0
 
Granted/Vested
 
0
  
0
    
0
 
Canceled
 
0
  
0
    
0
 
            
Outstanding at June 30, 2021
 
81,000
  
7.79
 
0.67 years
  
0
 
            
Vested as of June 30, 2021
 
81,000
  
7.79
 
0.67 years
  
0
 
            
Exercisable as of June 30, 2021
 
81,000
  
7.79
 
0.67 years
  
0
 

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, there was 0 unrecognized pre-tax compensation expense.


8.
INCOME TAXES


The provision for income taxes for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 was $0.71.6 million, or 23.1%29.6% of pretax income, and approximately $0.1 million, or 6.0%1.4% of pretax income, respectively.  The provision for income taxes for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020 was $2.03.6 million, or 22.2%25.0% of pretax income, and approximately $0.10.2 million, or 11.5%5.6% of pretax loss, respectively. The increase for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 compared to the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2020 was due to the reversal of a full valuation allowance at December 31, 2020, resulting in an effective tax rate of 22.2%25.0% for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021.


9.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES


In the ordinary conduct of its business, the Company is subject to certain lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving students or graduates and routine employment matters. Although the Company cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against it, the Company does not believe that any currently pending legal proceedings to which it is a party will have a material adverse effect on the Company’sCompany’s business, financial condition, and results of operations or cash flows.


19
Information regarding certain specific legal proceedings in which the Company is involved is contained in Part II, Item 1 hereof as well as in Part I, Item 3, and in Note 15 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report onCompany’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. 10-K. 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 JuneSeptember 30, 2021.


10.
SEGMENTS


We operate our business in 2 reportable segments: (a) the Transportation and Skilled Trades segment; and (b) the Healthcare and Other Professions segment.  Our reportable segments have been determined based on a method by which we now evaluate performance and allocate resources.   Each reportable segment represents a group of post-secondary education providers that offer a variety of degree and non-degree academic programs.   These segments are organized by key market segments to enhance operational alignment within each segment to more effectively execute our strategic plan.  Each of the Company’sCompany’s schools is a reporting unit and an operating segment.  Our operating segments are described below.

Transportation and Skilled Trades –– The Transportation and Skilled Trades segment offers academic programs mainly in the career-oriented disciplines of transportation and skilled trades (e.g. automotive, diesel, HVAC, welding and manufacturing).


Healthcare and Other Professions –– The Healthcare and Other Professions segment offers academic programs in the career-oriented disciplines of health sciences, hospitality and business and information technology (e.g. dental assistant, medical assistant, practical nursing, culinary arts and cosmetology).


The Company also utilizes the Transitional segment on a limited basis solely when and if it closes a school.


We evaluate segment performance based on operating results.   Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included under the caption “Corporate,”“Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.


Summary financial information by reporting segment is as follows:



 For the Three Months Ended September 30, 
  Revenue  Operating Income (Loss) 
  2021  
% of
Total
  2020  
% of
Total
  2021  2020 
Transportation and Skilled Trades $64,950   72.9% $56,828   72.1% $11,842  $9,138 
Healthcare and Other Professions  24,109   27.1%  21,964   27.9%  1,833   1,654 
Corporate  0       0       (7,930)  (6,952)
Total $89,059   100.0% $78,792   100.0% $5,745  $3,840 


 For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 
  Revenue  Operating Income (Loss) 
  2021  
% of
Total
  2020  
% of
Total
  2021  2020 
Transportation and Skilled Trades $177,586   71.7% $148,799   70.4% $35,423  $18,848 
Healthcare and Other Professions  69,934   28.3%  62,504   29.6%  7,743   6,388 
Corporate  0       0       (27,949)  (21,581)
Total $247,520   100.0% $211,303   100.0% $15,217  $3,655


 Total Assets 
  September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020 
Transportation and Skilled Trades $132,948  $133,078 
Healthcare and Other Professions  33,516   32,753 
Corporate  86,992   79,359 
Total $253,456  $245,190 

 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
  
Revenue
  
Operating Income (Loss)
 
  
2021
  
% of
Total
  
2020
  
% of
Total
  
2021
  
2020
 
Transportation and Skilled Trades
 
$
56,965
   
70.8
%
 
$
42,915
   
68.7
%
 
$
11,256
  
$
4,870
 
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
23,499
   
29.2
%
  
19,555
   
31.3
%
  
2,962
   
2,731
 
Corporate
  
0
       
0
       
(10,766
)
  
(6,441
)
Total
 
$
80,464
   
100.0
%
 
$
62,470
   
100.0
%
 
$
3,452
  
$
1,160
 

 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
  
Revenue
  
Operating Income (Loss)
 
  
2021
  
% of
Total
  
2020
  
% of
Total
  
2021
  
2020
 
Transportation and Skilled Trades
 
$
112,636
   
71.1
%
 
$
91,971
   
69.4
%
 
$
23,581
  
$
9,708
 
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
45,825
   
28.9
%
  
40,540
   
30.6
%
  
5,911
   
4,733
 
Corporate
  
0
       
0
       
(20,020
)
  
(14,626
)
Total
 
$
158,461
   
100.0
%
 
$
132,511
   
100.0
%
 
$
9,472
  
$
(185
)

 
Total Assets
 
  
June 30, 2021
  
December 31, 2020
 
Transportation and Skilled Trades
 
$
134,854
  
$
133,078
 
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
31,977
   
32,753
 
Corporate
  
77,815
   
79,359
 
Total
 
$
244,646
  
$
245,190
 




11.          FAIR VALUE

11.
FAIR VALUE

The carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’sCompany’s financial instrument assets and liabilities, which are not measured at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, are listed in the table below:



 September 30, 2021 
  
Carrying
Amount
  
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total 
Financial Assets:               
Cash and cash equivalents $47,150  $47,150  $0  $0  $47,150 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  2,973   0   2,973   0
   2,973 
                     
Financial Liabilities:                    
Accrued expenses $15,778  $0  $15,778  $0  $15,778 
Other short term liabilities  56   0
   56   0
   56 
Derivative qualifying cash flow hedge  552   0
   552   0
   552 
Credit facility  15,848   0
   14,488   0
   14,488 


 December 31, 2020 
  
Carrying
Amount
  
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  Total 
Financial Assets:               
Cash and cash equivalents $38,026  $38,026  $0  $0  $38,026 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  3,723   0   3,723   0   3,723 
                     
Financial Liabilities:                    
Accrued expenses $16,692  $0  $16,692  $0  $16,692 
Other short term liabilities  26   0   26   0   26 
Derivative qualifying cash flow hedge  877   0   877   0   877 
Credit facility  17,212   0   15,487   0   15,487 


 
June 30, 2021
 
  
Carrying
Amount
  
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  
Total
 
Financial Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
33,007
  
$
33,007
  
$
0
  
$
0
  
$
33,007
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
  
4,239
   
0
   
4,239
   
0
   
4,239
 
                     
Financial Liabilities:
                    
Accrued expenses
 
$
14,836
  
$
0
  
$
14,836
  
$
0
  
$
14,836
 
Other short term liabilities
  
59
   
0
   
59
   
0
   
59
 
Derivative qualifying cash flow hedge
  
617
   
0
   
617
   
0
   
617
 
Credit facility
  
16,303
   
0
   
15,107
   
0
   
15,107
 

 
December 31, 2020
 
  
Carrying
Amount
  
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
  
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
  
Total
 
Financial Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
38,026
  
$
38,026
  
$
0
  
$
0
  
$
38,026
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
  
3,723
   
0
   
3,723
   
0
   
3,723
 
                     
Financial Liabilities:
                    
Accrued expenses
 
$
16,692
  
$
0
  
$
16,692
  
$
0
  
$
16,692
 
Other short term liabilities
  
26
   
0
   
26
   
0
   
26
 
Derivative qualifying cash flow hedge
  
877
   
0
   
877
   
0
   
877
 
Credit facility
  
17,212
   
0
   
15,487
   
0
   
15,487
 

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we estimated the fair value of the Credit Facility based on a present value analysis utilizing aggregate market yields obtained from independent pricing sources for similar financial instruments.


The carrying amounts reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Cash and cash equivalents Restricted cash and Noncurrent restricted cash approximate fair value because they are highly liquid.


The carrying amounts reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Prepaid expenses and other current assets, Accrued expenses and Other short term liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.


Qualifying Hedge Derivative


On November 14, 2019, in connection with its Credit Facility, the Company entered into an interest rate swap for the Term Loan with a notional amount of $20 million which expires on December 1, 2024.  The loan has a 10-year straight line amortization.   A principal amount of $0.2 million is paid monthly.   This interest rate swap converts the floating interest rate Term Loan to a fixed rate, plus a borrowing spread.  The interest rate is variable based on LIBOR plus 3.50% and the Company’sCompany’s fixed rate is 5.36%. The Company designated this interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge.


The Company entered into this interest rate swap to hedge exposure resulting from the interest rate risk. The purpose of this hedge is to reduce the variability of the interest rate based on LIBOR.   The Company manages these exposures within specified guidelines through the use of derivatives. All of our derivative instruments are utilized for risk management purposes, and the Company does not use derivatives for speculative trading purposes.

21

The following summarizes the fair value of the outstanding derivative:



 September 30, 2021  December 31, 2020 
  
Liability(1)
  
Liability(1)
 
  Notional  Fair Value  Notional  Fair Value 
Derivative derived as a hedging instrument:            
Interest Rate Swap $16,333  $552  $17,833  $877 


 
June 30, 2021
  
December 31, 2020
 
  
Liability(1)
  
Liability(1)
 
  
Notional
  
Fair Value
  
Notional
  
Fair Value
 
Derivative derived as a hedging instrument:
            
Interest Rate Swap
 
$
16,833
  
$
617
  
$
17,833
  
$
877
 

(1)
The Company’sCompany’s derivative liability is measured at fair value using observable market inputs such as interest rates and our own credit risk as well as an evaluation of our counterparty’scounterparty’s credit risk.   Based on these inputs the derivative liability is classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. The liability is included in other long-term liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.


The following summarizes the financial statement classification and amount of interest expense recognized on hedging instruments:



 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2021  2020  2021  2020 
Interest Expense            
Interest Rate Swap $100  $100  $200  $100 

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
  
2021
  
2020
 
Interest Expense
            
Interest Rate Swap
 
$
100
  
$
100
  
$
200
  
$
100
 

The following summarizes the effect of derivative instruments designated as hedging instruments in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):



 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2021  2020  2021  2020 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge            
Interest rate swap income (loss) $65  $56 $326  $(786)


 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
  
2021
  
2020
 
Derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge
            
Interest rate swap income (loss)
 
$
49
  
$
(95
)
 
$
260
  
$
(843
)


12.
COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND CARES ACT


The Company began seeing the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on its business in early March 2020 and some effects of the pandemic have continued. The spread of COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on higher educational institutions across the country, including our schools, and has led to the closure of campuses and the transition of academic programs from in-person instruction to online, remote learning and back.  The impact for the Company was primarily related to transitioning classes from in-person, hands-on learning to online, remote learning which resulted in, among other things, additional expenses.   Further, related to this transition, some students were placed on leave of absence as they could not complete their externships and some students chose not to participate in online learning. As a result, certain programs were extended due to restricted access to externship sites and classroom labs which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.  In accordance with phased re-opening as applied on a state-by-state basis, all of our schools have now re-opened and the majority of the students who were on leave of absence or havehad deferred their programs returned to school to finish their programs.   The Company has considered the impact of COVID-19 on the assumptions and estimates used to prepare its consolidated financial statements and has determined that there were no material adverse impacts on the Company’sCompany’s results of operations and financial position at JuneSeptember 30, 2021. The Company expects to continue to be impacted by COVID-19 as the situation remains dynamic and evolving and subject to rapid and possibly material change. Additional impacts may arise of which the Company is not currently aware. The nature and extent of such impacts will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.


22
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”“CARES Act”) was signed into law which includes a $2 trillion federal economic relief package providing financial assistance and other relief to individuals and businesses impacted by the spread of COVID-19. The CARES Act includes provisions for financial assistance and other regulatory relief benefitting students and their postsecondary institutions.  Among other things, the CARES Act includes a $14 billion higher education emergency relief fund (“HEERF”(“HEERF”) for the DOE to distribute directly to institutions of higher education.   Institutions are required to use at least half of the HEERF funds for emergency grants to students for expenses related to disruptions in campus operations (e.g., food, housing, etc.).   Institutions are permitted to use the remainder of the funds for additional emergency grants to students or to cover institutional costs associated with significant changes to the delivery of instruction due to the COVID-19 emergency, provided that those costs do not include payment to contractors for the provision of pre-enrollment recruitment activities, endowments, or capital outlays associated with facilities related to athletics, sectarian instruction, or religious worship.  The law requires institutions receiving funds to continue to the greatest extent practicable to pay its employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to the COVID-19 emergency.  Other than as disclosed below, the CARES Act had no material impact on the Company’sCompany’s income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2020 or the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021.   The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the CARES Act on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.


The DOE has allocated funds to each institution of higher education based on a formula contained in the CARES Act. The formula is heavily weighted toward institutions with large numbers of Pell Grant recipients.  The DOE allocated $27.4 million to our schools distributed in 2 equal installments and required them to be utilized by April 30, 2021 and May 14, 2021, respectively. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, the Company had distributed the full $13.7 million of its first installment as emergency grants to students and has utilized the full $13.7 million of its second installment. Proceeds from the second installment for permitted expenses were primarily utilized to either offset original expenses incurred or to reduce student accounts receivable driving a decrease in bad debt expense, both uses resulted in a decrease in our selling, general and administrative expenses.


On March 19, 2021, the Department of Education released guidance clarifying previous guidance on permitted institutional uses of funds received from the HEERF. In accordance with this guidance, the Company was able to provide financial relief for students who dropped out of school due to COVID-19 related circumstances with unpaid accounts receivable balances covering the period from March 15, 2020 to March 31, 2021. This relief was provided using the Company’sCompany’s financial resources combined with HEERF funds resulting in a net benefit to bad debt expense of approximately $3.0 million.


The Company was also permitted to delay payment of FICA payroll taxes through January 1, 2021 and has done so. The Company will have to repay 50% of the deferred payments by January 3, 2022, and the remaining 50% by January 3, 2023. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, the Company had deferred payments of $4.5 million.


On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law.   This annual appropriations bill contained the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (“CRRSAA”(“CRRSAA”).   CRRSAA provided an additional $81.9 billion to the Education Stabilization Fund including $22.7 billion for the HEERF, which were originally created by the CARES Act in March 2020.   The higher education provisions of the CRRSAA are intended in part to provide additional financial assistance benefitting students and their postsecondary institutions in the wake of the spread of COVID-19 across the country and its impact on higher educational institutions.


Like the CARES Act, the CRRSAA directs the majority of HEERF funds to a general program providing direct grants to institutions.  Institutions generally must designate “at“at least the same amount”amount” of the funds for direct grants to students as was required under the CARES Act.   We may only use the new HEERF funds for grants to students. The student grants must prioritize students with exceptional need and may be used for any component of the student’sstudent’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or child care.   We may use the remaining HEERF funds to (1) defray expenses associated with coronavirus (including lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses already incurred, technology costs associated with a transition to distance education, faculty and staff trainings, and payroll); (2) carry out student support activities authorized by the Higher Education Act that address needs related to coronavirus; or (3) for additional financial aid grants to students.


Upon the passage of the CRRSAA, DOE began allocating the funds to each institution of higher education based on a formula contained in the law.  The DOE has allocated a total of $15.4 million to our schools and the funds became available in February 2021.   The DOE has begun releasing guidance relating to the use of these funds and is expected to provide additional information in the coming weeks.   Failure to comply with requirements for the usage and reporting of these funds could result in requirements to repay some or all of the allocated funds and in other sanctions. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, the Company has not drawn down any of these allocated funds.


23
13.Property Sale Agreements

Property Sale Agreement - Nashville, Tennessee Campus

On September 24, 2021, Nashville Acquisition, LLC, a subsidiary of Contentsthe Company (“Nashville Acquisition”), entered into a Contract for the Purchase of Real Estate (the “Nashville Contract”) to sell the property located at 524 Gallatin Road, Nashville, Tennessee, at which the Company operates its Nashville campus, to SLC Development, LLC, a subsidiary of Southern Land Company (“SLC”), for an aggregate sale price of $34.5 million, subject to customary adjustments at closing. The Company intends to relocate its Nashville campus to a more efficient and technologically advanced facility in the Nashville metropolitan area but has not yet determined a location. Under the terms of the Nashville Contract, the closing of the sale, which is subject to various conditions, is scheduled to take place after a 90-day due diligence period (with an optional 30-day extension thereof). During the due diligence period, SLC has the right to terminate the Nashville Contract for any reason at its discretion. Upon closing, Nashville Acquisition is permitted to occupy the property and continue to operate the Nashville campus on a rent-free basis for a lease-back period of 12 months, and, thereafter, has the option to extend the lease-back period for one 90-day term and 3 additional 30-day terms pursuant to a lease agreement to be negotiated by the parties during the due diligence period. The closing of the sale transaction is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2022 subject to various closing conditions which must be satisfied or waived; therefore, there can be no assurance that the sale will be consummated on a timely basis or at all.  The Nashville property is included in assets held for sale in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2021.

Sale-Leaseback Transaction - Denver, Colorado and Grand Prairie, Texas Campuses

On September 24, 2021, Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and LTI Holdings, LLC, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (collectively, “Lincoln”), entered into an Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Property (the “Colorado/Texas Sale Agreement”) for the sale of the properties located at 11194 E. 45th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80239 and 2915 Alouette Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75052, at which the Company operates its Denver and Grand Prairie campuses, respectively, to LNT Denver (Multi) LLC, a subsidiary of LCN Capital Partners (“LNT”), for an aggregate sale price of $46.5 million, subject to customary adjustments at closing. Simultaneously with the closing of the sale, which occurred on October 29, 2021, the parties entered into a triple-net lease agreement for each of the properties pursuant to which the properties are being leased back to Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. for a twenty-year term at an initial annual base rent, payable quarterly in advance of approximately $2.6 million for the first year with annual 2.00% increases thereafter and includes 4 subsequent five-year renewal options in which the base rent is reset at the commencement of each renewal term at then current fair market rent for the first year of each renewal term with annual 2.00% increases thereafter in each such renewal term. The lease, in each case, provides Lincoln with a right of first offer should LNT wish to sell the property. The Company has provided a guaranty of the financial and other obligations of Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. under each lease. The Denver and Grand Prairie properties are included in assets held for sale in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2021. On October 29, 2021 the sale lease-back transaction closed providing the Company with net proceeds of approximately $28.5 million after deduction of transaction-related expenses of approximately $1.2 million and repayment of the Company’s outstanding term loan and swap termination fee of approximately $16.8 million.

24
Item 2.
MANAGEMENT’SMANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

All references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “we,” “our,” “us”“we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company,”“Company,” refer to Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.


The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company, our business, prospects and our results of operations that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties posed by many factors and events that could cause our actual business, prospects and results of operations to differ materially from those that may be anticipated by such forward-looking statements.  Such statements may be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “assume,” “believe,” “anticipate,” "may," “will,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,”“expect,” “estimate,” “assume,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” or similar words, and include, without limitation, statements relating to future enrollment, revenues, revenues per student, earnings growth, operating expenses, capital expenditures and effect of pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its ultimate effect on the Company’sCompany’s business and results. These statements are based on the Company’sCompany’s current expectations and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Additional factors that could cause or contribute to differences between our actual results and those anticipated include, but are not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors”“Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC and in our other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  We undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may subsequently arise.   Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this Quarterly Report and in our other reports filed with the SEC that advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business.


The interim financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the discussions contained herein should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC, which includes audited consolidated financial statements for our two fiscal years ended December 31, 2020.


General


The Company provides diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults.   The Company offers programs in automotive technology, skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding and computerized numerical control and electrical and electronic systems technology, among other programs), healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant and medical administrative assistant, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology and aesthetics) and information technology programs.  The schools, currently consisting of 22 schools in 14 states, operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Culinary Institute, and Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences and associated brand names.  Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study.   Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’sCompany’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.   All of the campuses are nationally or regionally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the DOE and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions, which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.


Our business is organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Transportation and Skilled Trades, and (b) Healthcare and Other Professions or “HOPS”“HOPS”.


Impact of COVID-19 on the Company


During the first quarter of 2020, COVID-19 began to spread worldwide and has caused significant disruptions to the U.S. and world economies.   In early March 2020, the Company began seeing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. The circumstances related to COVID-19 are unprecedented, dynamic and evolving and currently, with variants of the virus arising, remain unpredictable.  As the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we could see significant changes to our operations.


To date, the impact of COVID-19 has primarily related to transitioning classes from in-person, hands-on instruction to online, remote learning and back.  As part of this transition, the Company has incurred additional expenses.   Related to this transition, 102 students were placed on leave of absence as they could not complete their externships and certain programs were extended due to restricted access to externship sites and classroom labs.     In response to COVID-19, we implemented initiatives to safeguard our students and our employees. Due to phased re-opening on a state-by-state basis, our schools have been reopening since May 2020. Currently, all of our schools are open and only 17 of our students on leave of absence due to COVID-19 remain on leave of absence and we expect the majority of them to complete their programsfollowing applicable guidelines.


2425
Student Population and Financial Results

As of June 30, 2021, the Company had 17 students on leave of absence due to COVID-19.  It is expected that a majority of these students will complete their externships. Further, the Company had extended the length and graduation dates of a few programs in which distance learning could only be utilized for a small percentage of these programs.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates


For a description of our critical accounting policies and estimates, refer to “Management’s“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –– Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates”Estimates” and Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021.


In addition, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reassessed those of our accounting policies whose application places the most significant demands on management’smanagement’s judgment, for instance, revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful account, goodwill, and long-lived assets, stock-based compensation, derivative instruments and hedging activity, borrowings, assumptions related to ROU assets, lease cost, income taxes and assets and obligations related to employee benefit plans. Such reassessments did not have a significant impact on our results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.


Effect of Inflation


Inflation has not had a material effect on our operations.operations except for some inflationary pressures on certain instructor salaries.


Results of Continuing Operations for the Three and SixNine Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021


The following table sets forth selected consolidated statements of operations data as a percentage of revenues for each of the periods indicated:


  
Three Months Ended
Sept 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
Sept 30,
 
  2021  2020  2021  2020 
Revenue  100.0%  100.0%  100.0%  100.0%
Costs and expenses:                
Educational services and facilities  42.8%  43.5%  42.1%  42.9%
Selling, general and administrative  50.8%  51.7%  51.8%  55.4%
Total costs and expenses  93.6%  95.2%  93.9%  98.3%
Operating income  6.4%  4.8%  6.1%  1.7%
Interest expense, net  -0.3%  -0.4%  -0.4%  -0.5%
Income before income taxes  6.1%  4.4%  5.8%  1.2%
Provision for income taxes  1.8%  0.1%  1.4%  0.1%
Net Income  4.3%  4.3%  4.3%  1.1%

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
  
2021
  
2020
 
Revenue
  
100.0
%
  
100.0
%
  
100.0
%
  
100.0
%
Costs and expenses:
                
Educational services and facilities
  
41.9
%
  
42.0
%
  
41.7
%
  
42.6
%
Selling, general and administrative
  
53.8
%
  
56.3
%
  
52.3
%
  
57.6
%
Gain on sale of assets
  
0.0
%
  
-0.2
%
  
0.0
%
  
-0.1
%
Total costs and expenses
  
95.7
%
  
98.1
%
  
94.0
%
  
100.1
%
Operating income (loss)
  
4.3
%
  
1.9
%
  
6.0
%
  
-0.1
%
Interest expense, net
  
-0.4
%
  
-0.5
%
  
-0.4
%
  
-0.5
%
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes
  
3.9
%
  
1.4
%
  
5.6
%
  
-0.6
%
Provision for income taxes
  
0.9
%
  
0.1
%
  
1.2
%
  
0.1
%
Net income (loss)
  
3.0
%
  
1.3
%
  
4.4
%
  
-0.7
%

Three Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 Compared to Three Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2020


Consolidated Results of Operations


Revenue.  Revenue increased $18.010.3 million, or 28.8%13.0% to $80.5$89.1 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $62.5$78.8 million in the prior year comparable period.   The increase in revenue was the result of a 16.3%an 8.3% increase in average population driven by continued studentthe nine month start growth which increased 8.0% for the quarter comparedof 8.8% in addition to the prior yeara 4.3% increase in combination with starting the year with approximately 1,000 more students thanaverage revenue per student in the prior year comparable period.  Further contributing to the increase was the normalization of our revenue stream driven by the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses.current quarter.


The prior year financial results reflect the unprecedented impact from the COVID-19 pandemic which started in March of 2020.  As a result, certain financial and operational comparisons quarter over quarter may be distorted due to the impact of COVID-19.  One area impacted by the pandemic was student starts.  Student start results during the second quarter of 2020 included approximately 300 students whom delayed their start date from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2020 due to the onset of the pandemic.  Excluding these student from the second quarter population, resulted in a 19.1% increase in student starts.  Additionally, Lincoln has experienced consistent start growth over the last three years.

For a general discussion of trends in our student enrollment, see “Seasonality“Seasonality and Outlook”Outlook” below.


Educational services and facilities expense.   Our educational services and facilities expense increased $7.5$3.9 million, or 28.4%11.3% to $33.7$38.1 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $26.2$34.2 million in the prior year comparable period.    The higherAdditional costs were mainly concentrated in instructional, books and tools and facilities expenses.  Instructionalinstruction expense, and books and tools expense increased as a result of a growing student populationand facilities expense.  Instructional increases were driven in part by inflationary pressures on instructor salaries due to widespread instructor shortages in addition to operating with a hybrid remotelarger student population, which also drove additional books and in-person instruction in the current year compared to remote learning in the prior year.  Similarly, facilitiestools expense.  Facilities expense increased when compared to prior year due to one-time rent reductions coupled with overall facilities savingsfrom the normalization of housing expenses for students during campus closures as a result of COVID-19.the quarter.


Educational services and facilities expense, as a percentage of revenue, decreased slightly to 41.9%42.8% from 42.0%43.5% for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.


26
Selling, general and administrative expense.   Our selling, general and administrative expense increased $8.1$4.5 million, or 23.2%11.1% to $43.3$45.2 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $35.2$40.7 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in expense quarter over quarter was driven primarily by several factors includingincentive and stock based compensation due to our improved financial performance in addition to increased marketing investments.

Marketing investments increased as we continue to test, evaluate and adjust spending to optimize our results in an increased student population; the normalization of operating expenses in the current year resulting from the returneffort to in-person instruction at allincrease both lead generation and brand awareness. The majority of our campuses; an improved business climatemarketing spend today is invested in digital channels driven primarily by search engine marketing which is focused on our core student demographics and the geographic areas surrounding our campuses. We have gradually, but steadily, expanded our presence in various paid social media channels as the country beginswell as both digital display and video advertising. While we continue to reopenmaintain a presence in traditional media such as television and radio, we are now utilizing a $1.5 million increase in incentive compensation tied directlymix of broadcast, cable and streaming media to improved financial performance.effectively reach prospective students.


Selling, general and administrative expense, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 53.8%50.8% from 56.3%51.7% for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.


Net interest expense.   Net interest expense remained essentially flat at $0.3 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.


Income taxes.   Our provision for income taxes was $0.7$1.6 million compared to approximately $0.1 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  The higher provision for the secondthird quarter of 2021 compared to prior year was due to the release of the valuation allowance as of December 31, 2020.  The effective tax rate for the three months ending JuneSeptember 30, 2021 was 23.1%29.6%.


SixNine Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 Compared to SixNine Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2020


Consolidated Results of Operations


Revenue.   Revenue increased $26.036.2 million, or 19.6%17.1% to $158.5$247.5 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $132.5$211.3 million in the prior year comparable period.   The increase in revenue was the result of a 13.0%an 11.3% increase in average population, driven by continued student start growth, up 18.0% year over year8.8% in combination with starting the year with approximately 1,000 more students than in the prior year comparable period.  Further contributing to the increase was average revenue per student, up 5.2% and the normalization of our revenue stream driven by the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses.


The prior year financial results reflect the unprecedented impact from the COVID-19 pandemic which started in March of 2020.  As a result, certain financial and operational comparisons quarteryear over quarteryear may be distorted as a result of the impact of COVID-19.


For a general discussion of trends in our student enrollment, see “Seasonality“Seasonality and Outlook”Outlook” below.


Educational services and facilities expense.   Our educational services and facilities expense increased $9.5$13.4 million, or 16.9%14.8% to $66.0$104.1 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $56.5$90.7 million in the prior year comparable period.   The higher costs were mainly concentrated in instructional, books and tools and facilities expenses.  Instructional expense andincreases were driven in part by inflationary pressures on instructor salaries due to widespread instructor shortages in addition to a larger student population, which also drove additional books and tools expense increased as a result of a growing student population in additionexpense.  Further contributing to the increase was operating with a hybrid remote and in-person instruction in the current year compared to remote learning in the prior year.  Similarly,Additional facilities expense increased when compared to prior year due tocosts were driven by one-time rent reductions in the prior year coupled with overall facilities savings during campus closures as a result of COVID-19.


Educational services and facilities expense, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 41.7%42.1% from 42.6%42.9% for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.


Selling, general and administrative expense.   Our selling, general and administrative expense increased $6.6$11.2 million, or 8.7%9.5% to $82.9$128.2 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $76.3$117.0 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in expense quarteryear over quarteryear was driven by several factors including an increaseda $3.1 million increase in incentive and stock based compensation tied in part to a larger student population;population and improved financial performance, the normalization of operating expenses in the current year resulting from the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses;campuses, an improved business climate as the country beginsreopens and lastly, increased marketing investments year over year.

Marketing investments increased as we continue to reopentest, evaluate and adjust spending to optimize our results in an effort to increase both lead generation and brand awareness. The majority of our marketing spend today is invested in digital channels driven primarily by search engine marketing which is focused on our core student demographics and the geographic areas surrounding our campuses. We have gradually, but steadily, expanded our presence in various paid social media channels as well as both digital display and video advertising. While we continue to maintain a $2.2 million increasepresence in incentive compensation tied directlytraditional media such as television and radio, we are now utilizing a mix of broadcast, cable and streaming media to improved financial performance. Partially offsetting the increased expenses was a reduction in bad debt expense.effectively reach prospective students


Bad debt expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was favorable compared to the prior year period by $1.5 million, as a result of an adjustment made during the first quarter to qualifying student accounts receivables following guidance published on March 19, 2021 by the Department of Education. This new guidance clarified previous guidance on permitted institutional uses of funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relieve Funds (“HEERF”).
27

In accordance with this guidance, we combined applicable HEERF funding with Company’s funds to provide financial relief to students who dropped from school due to COVID-19 related circumstances with unpaid accounts receivable balances during the period from March 15, 2020 to March 31, 2021.  The relief resulted in a net benefit to bad debt expense of approximately $3.0 million. Without this adjustment bad debt expense for the six months ended June 30,2021, as a percentage of total revenue, would have been comparable with prior year.

Selling, general and administrative expense, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 52.3%51.8% from 57.6%55.4% for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.


Net interest expense.  Net interest expense decreased by $0.1remained essentially flat at $0.9 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 to $0.6 million from $0.7 million in the prior year comparable period.and 2020, respectively.


Income taxes.   Our provision for income taxes was $2.0$3.6 million compared to $0.1$0.2 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  The higher provision for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 compared to prior year was due to the release of the valuation allowance as of December 31, 2020.  The effective tax rate for the sixnine months ending JuneSeptember 30, 2021 was 22.2%25.0%.

Segment Results of Operations

We operate our business in two reportable segments: (a) the Transportation and Skilled Trades segment; and (b) the Healthcare and Other Professions (“HOPS”(“HOPS”) segment.   Our reportable segments have been determined based on a method by which we now evaluate performance and allocate resources.  Each reportable segment represents a group of post-secondary education providers that offer a variety of degree and non-degree academic programs.   These segments are organized by key market segments to enhance operational alignment within each segment to more effectively execute our strategic plan.  Each of the Company’sCompany’s schools is a reporting unit and an operating segment.  Our operating segments are described below.


Transportation and Skilled Trades –– The Transportation and Skilled Trades segment offers academic programs mainly in the career-oriented disciplines of transportation and skilled trades (e.g. automotive, diesel, HVAC, welding and manufacturing).


Healthcare and Other Professions –– The Healthcare and Other Professions segment offers academic programs in the career-oriented disciplines of health sciences, hospitality and business and information technology (e.g. dental assistant, medical assistant, practical nursing, culinary arts and cosmetology).


The Company also utilizes the Transitional segment solely when and if it closes a school.


We evaluate segment performance based on operating results.   Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included under the caption “Corporate,”“Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.


28
The following table presents results for our two reportable segments for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020:


  Three Months Ended September 30, 
  2021  2020  % Change 
Revenue:         
Transportation and Skilled Trades $64,950  $56,828   14.3%
HOPS  24,109   21,964   9.8%
Total $89,059  $78,792   13.0%
             
Operating Income (Loss):            
Transportation and Skilled Trades $11,842  $9,138   29.6%
Healthcare and Other Professions  1,833   1,654   10.8%
Corporate  (7,930)  (6,952)  -14.1%
Total $5,745  $3,840   49.6%
             
Starts:            
Transportation and Skilled Trades  3,976   3,982   -0.2%
Healthcare and Other Professions  1,454   1,528   -4.8%
Total  5,430   5,510   -1.5%
             
Average Population:            
Transportation and Skilled Trades  8,863   8,349   6.2%
Leave of Absence - COVID-19  (9)  (333)  97.3%
Transportation and Skilled Trades Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  8,854   8,016   10.5%
             
Healthcare and Other Professions  4,326   4,286   0.9%
Leave of Absence - COVID-19  (2)  (137)  98.5%
Healthcare and Other Professions Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  4,324   4,149   4.2%
             
Total  13,189   12,635   4.4%
Total Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  13,178   12,165   8.3%
             
End of Period Population:            
Transportation and Skilled Trades  9,473   8,811   7.5%
Leave of Absence - COVID-19  -   (67)  100.0%
Transportation and Skilled Trades Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  9,473   8,744   8.3%
             
Healthcare and Other Professions  4,533   4,462   1.6%
Leave of Absence - COVID-19  -   (37)  100.0%
Healthcare and Other Professions Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  4,533   4,425   2.4%
             
Total  14,006   13,273   5.5%
Total Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  14,006   13,169   6.4%

 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
  
% Change
 
Revenue:
         
Transportation and Skilled Trades
 
$
56,965
  
$
42,915
   
32.7
%
HOPS
  
23,499
   
19,555
   
20.2
%
Total
 
$
80,464
  
$
62,470
   
28.8
%
             
Operating Income (Loss):
            
Transportation and Skilled Trades
 
$
11,256
  
$
4,870
   
131.1
%
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
2,962
   
2,731
   
8.5
%
Corporate
  
(10,766
)
  
(6,441
)
  
-67.1
%
Total
 
$
3,452
  
$
1,160
   
-197.6
%
             
Starts:
            
Transportation and Skilled Trades
  
2,509
   
2,302
   
9.0
%
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
1,194
   
1,127
   
5.9
%
Total
  
3,703
   
3,429
   
8.0
%
             
Average Population:
            
Transportation and Skilled Trades
  
8,039
   
7,298
   
10.2
%
Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
(25
)
  
(424
)
  
94.1
%
Transportation and Skilled Trades Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
8,014
   
6,874
   
16.6
%
             
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
4,508
   
4,254
   
6.0
%
Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
(40
)
  
(393
)
  
89.8
%
Healthcare and Other Professions Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
4,468
   
3,861
   
15.7
%
             
Total
  
12,547
   
11,552
   
8.6
%
Total Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
12,482
   
10,735
   
16.3
%
             
End of Period Population:
            
Transportation and Skilled Trades
  
8,467
   
7,826
   
8.2
%
Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
(7
)
  
(463
)
  
98.5
%
Transportation and Skilled Trades Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
8,460
   
7,363
   
14.9
%
             
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
4,410
   
4,456
   
-1.0
%
Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
(10
)
  
(233
)
  
95.7
%
Healthcare and Other Professions Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
4,400
   
4,223
   
4.2
%
             
Total
  
12,877
   
12,282
   
4.8
%
Total Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
12,860
   
11,586
   
11.0
%

Three Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2020

Transportation and Skilled Trades
Student starts increased 9.0%, toremained essentially flat at approximately 2,5004,000 for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from approximately 2,300 in the prior year comparable period.and 2020, respectively.


Operating income increased $6.4$2.7 million to $11.3$11.8 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $4.9$9.1 million in the prior year comparable period.   The increase quarter over quarter was mainly driven by the following factors.factors:


Revenue increased $8.1 million, or 14.3% to $64.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from $56.8 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in revenue was the result of average student population, up 10.5%, driven by a 10.2% increase in student starts for the nine months in addition to a 3.5% increase in average revenue per student in the current quarter.
Educational services and facilities expense increased $2.9 million, or 12.1% to $26.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from $23.9 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase was driven by additional instructional expense, books and tools expense and facilities expense.  Instructional increases were driven in part by inflationary pressures on instructor salaries due to widespread instructor shortages in addition to a larger student population, which also drove books and tools expense.  Facilities expense increased from the normalization of housing expenses for students during the quarter.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $2.5 million, or 10.6% to $26.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from $23.8 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in costs were the result of a larger student population in combination with additional investments in marketing initiatives during the quarter.

Healthcare and Other Professions
Student starts remained essentially flat at approximately 1,500 for the three month ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Operating income increased $0.1 million to $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from $1.7 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase quarter over quarter was mainly driven by the following factors:

Revenue increased $2.1 million, or 9.8% to $24.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from $22.0 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in revenue was the result of average student population, up 4.2%, driven by a 5.6% increase in student starts for the nine months in addition to a 5.3% increase in average revenue per student in the current quarter.
Educational services and facilities expense increased $0.9 million, or 9.2% to $11.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from $10.4 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase was primarily driven by additional instructional expense and books and tools expense   Instructional increases were driven in part by inflationary pressures on instructor salaries due to widespread instructor shortages, especially in the nursing field in addition to a larger student population, which also drove books and tools expense.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $1.0 million, or 10.2% to $10.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 from $9.9 million in the prior year comparable period.  Additional costs were the result of an increased student population in combination with a slight increase in bad debt.

Corporate and Other
This category includes unallocated expenses incurred on behalf of the entire Company.  Corporate and other expenses were $7.9 million and $6.9 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  The additional expense quarter over quarter was primarily due to incentive and stock based compensation tied in part to improved financial performance.

30
The following table present results for our two reportable segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:

  Nine Months Ended September 30, 
  2021  2020  % Change 
Revenue:         
Transportation and Skilled Trades $177,586  $148,799   19.3%
HOPS  69,934   62,504   11.9%
Total $247,520  $211,303   17.1%
             
Operating Income (Loss):            
Transportation and Skilled Trades $35,423  $18,848   87.9%
Healthcare and Other Professions  7,743   6,388   21.2%
Corporate  (27,949)  (21,581)  -29.5%
Total $15,217  $3,655   316.3%
             
Starts:            
Transportation and Skilled Trades  8,824   8,004   10.2%
Healthcare and Other Professions  3,857   3,651   5.6%
Total  12,681   11,655   8.8%
             
Average Population:            
Transportation and Skilled Trades  8,312   7,651   8.6%
Leave of Absence - COVID-19  (16)  (260)  93.8%
Transportation and Skilled Trades Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  8,296   7,391   12.2%
             
Healthcare and Other Professions  4,414   4,176   5.7%
Leave of Absence - COVID-19  (44)  (188)  76.6%
Healthcare and Other Professions Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  4,370   3,988   9.6%
             
Total  12,726   11,827   7.6%
Total Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  12,666   11,379   11.3%
             
End of Period Population:            
Transportation and Skilled Trades  9,473   8,811   7.5%
Leave of Absence - COVID-19  -   (67)  100.0%
Transportation and Skilled Trades Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  9,473   8,744   8.3%
             
Healthcare and Other Professions  4,533   4,462   1.6%
Leave of Absence - COVID-19  -   (37)  100.0%
Healthcare and Other Professions Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  4,533   4,425   2.4%
             
Total  14,006   13,273   5.5%
Total Excluding Leave of Absence - COVID-19  14,006   13,169   6.4%

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

Transportation and Skilled Trades
Student starts increased 10.2%, to approximately 8,800 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from approximately 8,000 in the prior year comparable period.

Operating income increased $16.6 million to $35.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $18.8 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase year over year was mainly driven by the following factors:

31

••
Revenue increased $14.1$28.8 million, or 32.7%19.3% to $57.0$177.6 million for the threenine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $42.9$148.8 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in revenue was primarily driven by several factors including average student population, up 16.6% resulting from continued start growth quarter over quarter12.2%, driven by a 10.2% increase in addition tostudent starts, a 6.3% increase in average revenue per student and the normalization of our revenue stream with the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses.
Educational services and facilities expense increased $9.4 million, or 15.1% to $71.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $62.0 million in the prior year comparable period.  The higher costs were mainly concentrated in instructional, books and tools and facilities expenses.  Instructional increases were driven in part by inflationary pressures on instructor salaries due to widespread instructor shortages in addition to a larger student population, which also drove books and tools expense.  Additional facilities costs were driven by one-time rent reductions in the prior year coupled with overall facilities savings during campus closures as a result of COVID-19.
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $2.7 million, or 4.0% to $70.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $68.0 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase in costs were the result of several factors including a larger student population, additional investments in marketing initiatives during the quarter and the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses. 

Healthcare and Other Professions
Student starts increased 5.6%, to approximately 3,900 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from approximately 3,700 in the prior year comparable period.

Operating income increased $1.4 million to $7.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $6.4 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase year over year was mainly driven by the following factors:


••
Educational services and facilities expenseRevenue increased $5.1$7.4 million, or 29.4%11.9% to $22.7$69.9 million for the threenine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 from $17.6$62.5 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase in expense was driven by additional instructional expense, books and tools expense and facilities expense resulting from an increased student population combined with the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses in the current quarter.
•
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $2.4 million, or 11.7% to $23.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 from $20.6 million in the prior year comparable period.  Additional costs were a result of an increased student population quarter over quarter; the normalization of operating expenses in the current year resulting from the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses and an improved business climate as the country begins to reopen.

Healthcare and Other Professions
Student starts increased 5.9%, to approximately 1,200 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 from approximately 1,100 in the prior year comparable period.

Operating income increased $0.2 million to $2.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 from $2.7 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase quarter over quarter was mainly driven by the following factors:

•
Revenue increased $3.9 million, or 20.2% to $23.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 from $19.5 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in revenue was primarily driven by several factors including average student population, up 15.7% resulting from continued start growth quarter over quarter9.6%, driven by a 5.6% increase in addition tostudent starts, a 2.1% increase in average revenue per student and the normalization of our revenue stream with the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses.
•
Educational services and facilities expense increased $4.0 million, or 14.0% to $32.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $28.7 million in the prior year comparable period.  The higher costs were mainly concentrated in instructional, books and tools and facilities expenses.  Instructional increases were driven in part by inflationary pressures on instructor salaries due to widespread instructor shortages, especially in the nursing field in addition to a larger student population, which also drove books and tools expense. Additional facilities costs were driven by one-time rent reductions in the prior year coupled with overall facilities savings during campus closures as a result of COVID-19.  
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $2.0 million, or 7.5% to $29.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 from $27.4 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase in costs was the result of several factors including a larger student population, additional investments in marketing initiatives during the quarter and the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses. 

Educational services and facilities expense increased $2.3 million, or 26.4% to $11.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 from $8.7 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in expense was driven by additional instructional expense, books and tools expense and facilities expense resulting from an increased student population combined with the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses in the current quarter.
•
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $1.4 million, or 17.5% to $9.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 from $8.1 million in the prior year comparable period.  Additional costs were a result of an increased student population quarter over quarter; the normalization of operating expenses in the current year resulting from the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses and an improved business climate as the country begins to reopen.

Corporate and Other
This category includes unallocated expenses incurred on behalf of the entire Company.  Corporate and other expenses were $10.8$27.9 million and $6.4$21.6 million for each of the threenine months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.  The additional expenses quarter over quarter were driven by several factors including the normalization of operating expenses in the current year; an improved business climate as the country begins to reopen and a $1.5 million increase in incentive compensation tied directly to improved financial performance.

The following table present results for our two reportable segments for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020:

 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
  
% Change
 
Revenue:
         
Transportation and Skilled Trades
 
$
112,636
  
$
91,971
   
22.5
%
HOPS
  
45,825
   
40,540
   
13.0
%
Total
 
$
158,461
  
$
132,511
   
19.6
%
             
Operating Income (Loss):
            
Transportation and Skilled Trades
 
$
23,581
  
$
9,708
   
142.9
%
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
5,911
   
4,733
   
24.9
%
Corporate
  
(20,020
)
  
(14,626
)
  
-36.9
%
Total
 
$
9,472
  
$
(185
)
  
5220.0
%
             
Starts:
            
Transportation and Skilled Trades
  
4,848
   
4,022
   
20.5
%
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
2,403
   
2,123
   
13.2
%
Total
  
7,251
   
6,145
   
18.0
%
             
Average Population:
            
Transportation and Skilled Trades
  
8,036
   
7,302
   
10.1
%
Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
(20
)
  
(223
)
  
91.0
%
Transportation and Skilled Trades Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
8,016
   
7,079
   
13.2
%
             
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
4,459
   
4,120
   
8.2
%
Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
(65
)
  
(213
)
  
69.5
%
Healthcare and Other Professions Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
4,394
   
3,907
   
12.5
%
             
Total
  
12,495
   
11,422
   
9.4
%
Total Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
12,410
   
10,986
   
13.0
%
             
End of Period Population:
            
Transportation and Skilled Trades
  
8,467
   
7,826
   
8.2
%
Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
(7
)
  
(463
)
  
98.5
%
Transportation and Skilled Trades Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
8,460
   
7,363
   
14.9
%
             
Healthcare and Other Professions
  
4,410
   
4,456
   
-1.0
%
Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
(10
)
  
(233
)
  
95.7
%
Healthcare and Other Professions Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
4,400
   
4,223
   
4.2
%
             
Total
  
12,877
   
12,282
   
4.8
%
Total Excluding Leave of Absense - COVID-19
  
12,860
   
11,586
   
11.0
%

Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2020

Transportation and Skilled Trades
Student starts increased 20.5%, to approximately 4,800 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from approximately 4,000 in the prior year comparable period.

Operating income increased $13.9 million to $23.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from $9.7 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase year over year was mainly driven by the following factors.



•
Revenue increased $20.6 million, or 22.5% to $112.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from $92.0 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in revenue was primarily driven by average student population, up 13.2% resulting from continued start growth quarter over quarter in addition to the normalization of our revenue stream with the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses.
•
Educational services and facilities expense increased $6.5 million, or 17.0% to $44.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from $38.1 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in expense was driven by additional instructional expense, books and tools expense and facilities expense resulting from an increased student population combined with the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses in the current year.
•
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $0.2 million to $44.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from $44.2 million in the prior year comparable period.

Healthcare and Other Professions
Student starts increased 13.2%, to approximately 2,400 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from approximately 2,100 in the prior year comparable period.

Operating income increased $1.2 million to $5.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from $4.7 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase year over year was mainly driven by the following factors:

•
Revenue increased $5.3 million, or 13.0% to $45.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from $40.5 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in revenue was primarily driven by average student population, up 12.5% resulting from continued start growth quarter over quarter in addition to the normalization of our revenue stream with the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses.
•
Educational services and facilities expense increased $3.0 million, or 16.7% to $21.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from $18.4 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in expense was driven by additional instructional expense, books and tools expense and facilities expense resulting from an increased student population combined with the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses in the current year.   
•
Selling, general and administrative expense increased $1.0 million, or 6.0% to $18.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 from $17.5 million in the prior year comparable period.  Additional costs were a result of an increased student population quarter over quarter; the normalization of operating expenses in the current year resulting from the return to in-person instruction at all of our campuses and an improved business climate as the country begins to reopen.

Corporate and Other
This category includes unallocated expenses incurred on behalf of the entire Company.  Corporate and other expenses were $20.0 million and $14.6 million for each of the six months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The additional expenses quarter over quarter were driven by several factors including the normalization of operating expenses in the current year; an improved business climate as the country begins to reopen and a $2.2$3.1 million increase in to incentive and stock based compensation tied directlyin part to improved financial performance.

32
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our primary capital requirements are for maintenance and expansion of our facilities and the development of new programs. Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under our Credit Facility.  The following chart summarizes the principal elements of our cash flow for each of the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively:


  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2021  2020 
Net cash provided by operating activities $17,750  $10,222 
Net cash used in investing activities  (5,252)  (3,457)
Net cash used in financing activities  (3,374)  (17,816)

 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
  
2021
  
2020
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
1,067
  
$
6,468
 
Net cash used in investing activities
  
(3,516
)
  
(2,975
)
Net cash used in financing activities
  
(2,570
)
  
(16,169
)

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, the Company had a net cash balance of $16.7$31.3 million compared to a net cash balance of $20.8 million at December 31, 2020.     The net cash balance is calculated as our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash less both short and long-term portion of the credit agreement.  The decreaseincrease in cash position from year end was the result of the seasonality of our business in addition to a decrease in accrued expenses driven by the payment of incentive compensation.  When comparing the current quarter end net cash balance of $16.7 million to a net cash balance of $7.8 million as of June 30, 2020, the increase in cash positionyear-end can mainly be attributed to net income generated by the company in addition to a decrease in net payments on borrowing induring the current year.


Our primary source of cash is tuition collected from our students. The majority of students enrolled at our schools rely on funds received under various government-sponsored student financial aid programs to pay a substantial portion of their tuition and other education-related expenses. The most significant source of student financing is Title IV Programs, which represented approximately 77% of our cash receipts relating to revenues in 2020. Pursuant to applicable regulations, students must apply for a new loan for each academic period. Federal regulations dictate the timing of disbursements of funds under Title IV Programs and loan funds are generally provided by lenders in two disbursements for each academic year. The first disbursement is usually received approximately 31 days after the start of a student’sstudent’s academic year and the second disbursement is typically received at the beginning of the sixteenth week from the start of the student'sstudent’s academic year. Certain types of grants and other funding are not subject to a 31-day delay.   In certain instances, if a student withdraws from a program prior to a specified date, any paid but unearned tuition or prorated Title IV Program financial aid is refunded according to federal, state and accrediting agency standards.


As a result of the significant amount of Title IV Program funds received by our students, we are highly dependent on these funds to operate our business. Any reduction in the level of Title IV Program funds that our students are eligible to receive or any restriction on our eligibility to receive Title IV Program funds would have a significant impact on our operations and our financial condition.  For more information, see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk“Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Industry”Industry” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.10-K.


Operating Activities


Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.1$17.8 million and $6.5$10.2 million for each of the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.   Included in cash provided by operating activities in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2020 was $14.5$11.5 million in federal funds received under the Cares Acts intended for reimbursement to students for expenses related to disruptions in campus operations as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Excluding these funds, we would have reported net cash used in operating activities of $8.0$1.2 million.   The increase of $9.0$19.0 million in cash provided by operating activities was primarily driven by net income generated for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021.


Investing Activities


Net cash used in investing activities was $3.5$5.3 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 compared to $3.0$3.5 million in the prior year comparable period.


One of our primary uses of cash in investing activities was capital expenditures associated with investments in training technology, classroom furniture, and new program buildouts.


We currently lease a majority of our campuses. We own our real property in Grand Prairie, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Denver, Colorado and our former school property located in Suffield, Connecticut.


Capital expenditures were 2% of revenues in 2020 and are expected to approximate 2% of revenues in 2021.   We expect to fund future capital expenditures with cash generated from operating activities and borrowings under our credit facility.


33
Financing Activities


Net cash used in financing activities was $2.6$3.4 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 compared to $16.2$17.8 million in the prior year comparable period.  The decrease of $13.6$14.4 million was primarily driven by several factors including a decrease in net payments on borrowingborrowings of $15.0 million year over year, partially offset by an increase of $0.8$0.7 million in equity based compensation in addition to dividends paid in the current year of $0.6 million.compensation.


Credit Facility with Sterling National Bank


On November 14, 2019, the Company entered into a new senior secured credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”“Credit Agreement”) with its lender, Sterling National Bank (the “Lender”“Lender”), providing for borrowing in the aggregate principal amount of up to $60 million (the “Credit Facility”“Credit Facility”).


The Credit Facility is comprised of four facilities: (1) a $20 million senior secured term loan maturing on December 1, 2024 (the “Term Loan”“Term Loan”), with monthly interest and principal payments based on 120-month amortization with the outstanding balance due on the maturity date; (2) a $10 million senior secured delayed draw term loan maturing on December 1, 2024 (the “Delayed“Delayed Draw Term Loan”Loan”), with monthly interest payments for the first 18 months and thereafter monthly payments of interest and principal based on 120-month amortization and all balances due on the maturity date; (3) a $15 million senior secured committed revolving line of credit providing a sublimit of up to $10 million for standby letters of credit maturing on November 13, 2022 (the “Revolving Loan”“Revolving Loan”), with monthly payments of interest only; and (4) a $15 million senior secured non-restoring line of credit maturing on January 31, 2021 (the “Line“Line of Credit Loan”Loan”).   The Credit Agreement gives the Company the right to permanently terminate, in its entirety, the Revolving Loan or the Line of Credit Loan or permanently reduce the amount available for borrowing under the Revolving Loan or the Line of Credit Loan.  In April 2020, the Company terminated the Line of Credit Loan.   On November 10, 2020, the Company entered into an amendment to its Credit Agreement to extend the Delayed Draw Availability Period by one year to May 31, 2022 and to increase the amount of permitted cash dividends that the Company can pay on its Series A Preferred Stock during the first twenty-four months of the Credit Agreement from $1.7 million to $2.3 million.


The Credit Facility is secured by a first priority lien in favor of the Lender on substantially all of the personal property owned by the Company, as well as a pledge of the stock and other equity in the Company’sCompany’s subsidiaries and mortgages on parcels of real property owned by the Company in Colorado, Tennessee and Texas, at which three of the Company’sCompany’s schools are located, as well as a former school property owned by the Company located in Connecticut.


At the closing of the Credit Facility, the Lender advanced the Term Loan to the Company, the net proceeds of which were $19.7 million after deduction of the Lender’sLender’s origination fee in the amount of $0.3 million and other Lender fees and reimbursements to the Lender that are customary for facilities of this type.  The Company used the net proceeds of the Term Loan, together with cash on hand, to repay the existing credit facility and transaction expenses.


Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, letters of credit issued under the Revolving Loan reduce dollar for dollar the availability of borrowings under the Revolving Loan.


Accrued interest on each loan under the Credit Facility is payable monthly in arrears.   The Term Loan and the Delayed Draw Term Loan bear interest at a floating interest rate based on the then one month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”(“LIBOR”) plus 3.50%.   At the closing of the Credit Facility, the Company entered into a swap transaction with the Lender for 100% of the principal balance of the Term Loan, which matures on the same date as the Term Loan.   At the end of the borrowing availability period for the Delayed Draw Term Loan, the Company is required to enter into a swap transaction with the Lender for 100% of the principal balance of the Delayed Draw Term Loan, which will mature on the same date as the Delayed Draw Term Loan, pursuant to a swap agreement between the Company and the Lender or the Lender’sLender’s affiliate.   The Term Loan and Delayed Draw Term Loan are subject to a LIBOR interest rate floor of .25% if there is no swap agreement.


Revolving Loans bear interest at a floating interest rate based on the then LIBOR plus an indicative spread determined by the Company’sCompany’s leverage as defined in the Credit Agreement or, if the borrowing of a Revolving Loan is to be repaid within 30 days of such borrowing, the Revolving Loan will accrue interest at the Lender’sLender’s prime rate plus .50% with a floor of 4.0%.   Revolving Loans are subject to a LIBOR interest rate floor of .00%.


Letters of credit are charged an annual fee equal to (i) an applicable margin determined by the leverage ratio of the Company less (ii) .25%, paid quarterly in arrears, in addition to the Lender’sLender’s customary fees for issuance, amendment and other standard fees.   Letters of credit totaling $4 million that were outstanding under the existing credit facility are treated as letters of credit under the Revolving Loan.


34
Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may prepay the Term Loan and/or the Delayed Draw Term Loan in full or in part without penalty except for any amount required to compensate the Lender for any swap breakage or other costs incurred in connection with such prepayment.  The Lender receives an unused facility fee of 0.50% per annum payable quarterly in arrears on the unused portions of the Revolving Loan.


In addition to the foregoing, the Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants (including financial covenants that (i) restrict capital expenditures, (ii) restrict leverage, (iii) require maintaining minimum tangible net worth, (iv) require maintaining a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and (v) require the maintenance of a minimum of $5 million in quarterly average aggregate balances on deposit with the Lender, which, if not maintained, will result in the assessment of a quarterly fee of $12,500), as well as events of default customary for facilities of this type. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.   The Credit Agreement also limited the payment of cash dividends during the first twenty-four months of the agreement to $1.7 million but an amendment to the Credit Agreement entered into on November 10, 2020 raised the cash dividend limit to $2.3 million in such twenty-four-month period.


On September 23, 2021, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a Consent and Waiver Letter Agreement (the “Consent Agreement”) to the Company’s existing Credit Agreement. The Consent Agreement consents to certain real estate transactions with respect to the Nashville, Denver and Grand Prairie campuses (collectively, the “Property Transactions”) and waives certain covenants in the Credit Agreement, subject to certain conditions specified therein. In addition, in connection with the consummation of the Property Transactions, the Lender has agreed to release its mortgages and other liens on the subject-properties. In connection with the Consent Agreement, at the closing of the Property Transactions, the Company is required to pay in full the outstanding principal and accrued interest of the Term Loan and any swap obligations arising from any swap transaction entered into in connection with the Term Loan and no further borrowings may be made under the Term Loan or the Delayed Draw Term Loan.  On October 29, 2021, the sale lease-back of the Denver and Grand Prairie campuses was consummated which provided the Company with net proceeds of approximately $28.5 million after deduction of transaction-related expenses of approximately $1.2 million and repayment of the Company’s outstanding term loan and swap termination fee of approximately $16.8 million.  The Company is exploring alternatives regarding a future credit facility.

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had $16.8$16.3 million and $17.8 million, respectively, outstanding under the Credit Facility offset by $0.5 million and $0.6 million of deferred finance fees, respectively.  As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, letters of credit in the aggregate outstanding principal amount of $4.0 million were outstanding under the Credit Facility.


The following table sets forth our long-term debt (in thousands):


  
September 30,
2021
  
December 31,
2020
 
Credit agreement $16,333  $17,833 
Deferred Financing Fees  (485)  (621)
   15,848   17,212 
Less current maturities  (2,000)  (2,000)
  $13,848  $15,212 

 
June 30,
2021
  
December 31,
2020
 
Credit agreement
 
$
16,833
  
$
17,833
 
Deferred Financing Fees
  
(530
)
  
(621
)
   
16,303
   
17,212
 
Less current maturities
  
(2,000
)
  
(2,000
)
  
$
14,303
  
$
15,212
 

Contractual Obligations


Current portion of Long-Term Debt, Long-Term Debt and Lease Commitments.      As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, our current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt consisted of borrowings under our Credit Facility.   We lease offices, educational facilities and various items of equipment for varying periods through the year 2031 at basic annual rentals (excluding taxes, insurance, and other expenses under certain leases).


As of JuneSeptember 30, 2021, we had outstanding loan principal commitments to our active students of $28.1$30.3 million.   These are institutional loans and no cash is advanced to students.   The full loan amount is not guaranteed unless the student completes the program. The institutional loans are considered commitments because the students are packaged to fund their education using these funds and they are not reported on our financials.


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Regulatory Updates


DOE and OIG Audit Findings.  Our schools are subject to audits, program reviews, site visits, and other reviews by various federal and state regulatory agencies, including, but not limited to, the DOE, the DOE’s Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), state education agencies and other state regulators, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies, and by our accrediting commissions. In addition, each of our institutions must retain an independent certified public accountant to conduct an annual audit of the institution’s administration of Title IV Program funds.  The institution must submit the resulting audit report to the DOE for review.  See our Form 10-K at “Business – Regulatory Environment – Compliance with Regulatory Standards and Effect of Regulatory Violations.”  Some of the findings in the annual Title IV Program compliance audits for some of our institutions resulted in the DOE placing those institutions on provisional certification.  See Form 10-K at “Business - Regulatory Environment – Regulation of Federal Student Financial Aid Programs.”

On October 5, 2021, our New Britain institution received a final audit determination letter from the DOE in connection with the Title IV compliance audit for the 2020 fiscal year.  The letter contained 8 findings of alleged noncompliance with certain Title IV requirements.  The letter noted that several of the findings were repeat findings that had appeared in prior audit reports.  The total amount of questioned funds in the report totaled approximately $16,000, all of which had been repaid prior to the issuance of the final audit determination. The letter requires that the institution correct all of the deficiencies noted in the audit report and requires the auditor to comment in the 2021 fiscal year audit on the actions taken by the institution in response to the findings and required actions.  The letter indicates that repeat findings in future audits or failure to satisfactorily resolve the findings of the audit could lead to an adverse action.  The letter also notes that, due to the seriousness of one or more of the findings, the letter has been referred to a separate office within the DOE for consideration of possible adverse action.  The letter states that an adverse action may include the imposition of a fine; the limitation, suspension, or termination of the institution’s Title IV eligibility; the revocation of the institution’s provisional program participation agreement; or the denial of a future application for renewal of the institution’s Title IV certification.  The letter indicates that the DOE will notify the institution if the DOE initiates an adverse action and will notify the institution of its appeal rights and procedures on how to contest the action if any is taken.  We are continuing to cooperate with the audit process and to respond to the DOE’s requests for information in connection with the audits.

Our other two institutions had findings of noncompliance in their respective Title IV compliance audits for the 2020 fiscal year.  The DOE requested that, in connection with some of the findings in the audit reports, the institutions conduct a file review of all student files from the 2020 fiscal year in order to determine the extent of alleged noncompliance related to those findings.  We are in the process of conducting those reviews, preparing our responses to the findings, and ultimately submitting them to the DOE.  Once we have submitted our responses, the DOE will issue a final audit determination letter to each institution after it completes its review and consideration of our responses.  We cannot predict whether some of the findings may be referred to a separate office within the DOE for consideration of a possible adverse action.  We cannot predict the outcome of these audits, any action the DOE might initiate in response to the audit findings, or the outcome of any appeal that might result in response to a DOE action related to the findings.  We are continuing to cooperate with the audit process and to respond to the DOE’s requests for information in connection with the audits.

On December 16, 2020, the OIG began an audit of our Indianapolis institution to ensure we used the funds provided under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (“HEERF”) for allowable and intended purposes and to perform limited work on the institution’s cash management practices and HEERF reporting.  We have been cooperating with the OIG during its audit of the institution.On September 24, 2021, the OIG issued a final audit report containing 3 findings of alleged non-compliance and 2 additional topics that were each classified as an “other matter.”  The final report is inclusive of our response to the findings and other matters.  The final audit report has been sent to the DOE for further consideration.  We cannot predict the outcome of the audit, any liabilities or other actions the DOE might initiate in response to the audit findings, or the outcome of any appeal that might result in response to a DOE action related to the findings.  We are continuing to cooperate with the ongoing audit process.

FTC and FSA Office of Enforcement.In recent years, Congress, the DOE, states, accrediting agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), state attorneys general and the media have scrutinized the for-profit postsecondary education sector.  Under the current leadership of the DOE, there is an increased likelihood of scrutiny of our institutions by federal agencies.  See our Form 10-K at “Business – Regulatory Environment – Scrutiny of the For-Profit Postsecondary Education Sector.”

On October 6, 2021, the FTC issued an announcement regarding its plan to target false claims by for-profit colleges on topics such as promises about graduates’ job and earnings prospects and other outcomes, its intent to impose “significant financial penalties” on violators, and its intent to monitor the market carefully with federal and state partners.  The FTC indicated in the announcement that it had put 70 for-profit higher education institutions on notice that the agency would be “cracking down” on any such false promises.  All of our institutions were among the 70 institutions who received this notice.  Although the FTC stated that a school’s presence on the list of 70 institutions does not reflect any assessment as to whether they have engaged in deceptive or unfair conduct, the FTC’s announcement and its issuance of notices to schools could lead to further scrutiny, investigations, and potential attempted enforcement actions by the FTC and other regulators against for-profit schools, including our schools.

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On October 8, 2021, the DOE announced the establishment of an Office of Enforcement within the Federal Student Aid office that oversees institutions participating in the Title IV programs.  The action restored an office that previously was established in 2016 but deprioritized during the prior presidential administration.  The office will comprise four existing divisions including the Administrative Actions and Appeals Services Group (which among other things initiates adverse actions against institutions), the Borrower Defense Group (which analyzes borrower defense to repayment claims), the Investigations Group (which evaluates and investigations potential institutional noncompliance and collaborates with other federal and state regulators), and the Resolution and Referral Management Group (which tracks and resolves referrals, allegations and complaints about institutions and other parties that participate in the Title IV programs).  The establishment of the Office of Enforcement could result in an increase in enforcement actions and other activities against for-profit schools and school companies, including us.

The ARPA and the “90/10 Rule.”In March 2021, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) was signed into law.  Among other things, the ARPA provides $40 billion in relief funds that will go directly to colleges and universities with $395.8 million going to for-profit institutions.  We have been allocated approximately $8 million in funds that must be used entirely for student financial aid grants.  As of September 30, 2021, none of these funds have been drawn down.  We expect to distribute a majority of the funds in the fourth quarter of 2021.

In addition, the ARPA also includes a provision that amends the 90/10 rule.  A proprietary institution that derives more than 90% of its total revenue from Title IV Programs for two consecutive fiscal years becomes immediately ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs and may not reapply for eligibility until the end of at least two fiscal years. An institution with revenues exceeding 90% for a single fiscal year will be placed on provisional certification and may be subject to other enforcement measures. See our Form 10-K at “Regulatory Environment – The ‘90/10 Rule’” and “Risk Factors – Our institutions would lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs if the percentage of their revenues derived from those programs exceeds 90%, which could reduce our student population and revenues.”   If Congress or the DOE were to amend the 90/10 Rule to treat other forms of federal financial aid as Title IV Program revenue for 90/10 Rule purposes, lower the 90% threshold, or otherwise change the calculation methodology, or make other changes to the 90/10 Rule, those changes could make it more difficult for our institutions to comply with the 90/10 Rule.

The ARPA amends the 90/10 rule by treating other “Federal funds that are disbursed or delivered to or on behalf of a student to be used to attend such institution” in the same way as Title IV funds are currently treated in the 90/10 rule calculation.  This means that our institutions will be required to limit the combined amount of Title IV funds and applicable “Federal funds” revenue in a fiscal year to no more than 90% in a fiscal year as calculated under the rule.  Consequently, the ARPA change to the 90/10 rule is expected to increase the 90/10 rule calculations at our institutions.  The ARPA does not identify the specific Federal funding programs that will be covered by this provision, but it is expected to include funding from federal student aid programs such as the veterans’ benefits programs, which include the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Veterans Readiness and Employment services and from which we derived approximately 8% of our revenues on a cash basis in 2020.  For the year ended December 31, 2020, approximately 77% (calculated based on cash receipts) of our revenues were derived from the Title IV Programs.

The ARPA states that the amendments to the 90/10 rule apply to institutional fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2023 and are subject to the HEA’s negotiated rulemaking process which may not commence earlier than October 1, 2021.  Accordingly, the ARPA change to the 90/10 rule is not expected to apply to our 90/10 rule calculations until our 2023 fiscal year.  Moreover, we cannot predict the additional changes to the 90/10 rule or other regulations that might occur as a result of negotiated rulemaking to be conducted during 2021 and 2022 as required by the ARPA.  On October 4, 2021, the DOE published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to prepare proposed regulations affecting institutional and programmatic eligibility, including the 90/10 rule and the changes made by the ARPA.  The DOE stated that it anticipated that the negotiations would begin no earlier than January 2022, that negotiations would occur during three sessions of five days each with approximately 4 weeks between sessions, and that the DOE would announce the topics and schedule of committee meetings in a subsequent Federal Register notice.  We cannot predict the number and scope of regulations that the DOE may propose, but future regulations on 90/10 or other topics could have a materially adverse effect on us and other schools like ours.

We expect to make changes to our operations in order to address the future provisions in the 90/10 rule and in order to maintain the 90/10 percentages at our institutions below the 90% threshold as calculated under DOE regulations.  However, we do not have significant control over the amount of Title IV funds that our students may receive and borrow.  Our institutions’ 90/10 percentages can be increased by increases in Title IV aid availability (including, for example, increases in Pell Grant funds) and be decreased by decreases in the availability of state grant program funding and other sources of student aid that do not count as Title IV funds in the 90/10 calculation.  Our institutions’ 90/10 percentages also will increase when the ARPA amendments to the 90/10 rule take effect to the extent that students eligible to receive military and veteran education assistance enroll and use their financial assistance at our institutions.  We cannot be certain that the changes we make in the future will succeed in maintaining our institutions’ 90/10 percentages below required levels or that the changes will not materially impact our business operations, revenues, and operating costs.

If any of our institutions lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, that loss would cause an event of default under our credit agreement, would also adversely affect our students’ access to various government-sponsored student financial aid programs, and would have a significant impact on the rate at which our students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.

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Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations.

As previously disclosed in Lincoln’s Annual Report onour Form 10-K, Lincolnthe Company is subject to an extensive regulatory scheme which includes, without limitation, the Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations.  On July 1, 2020, the DOE’sDOE’s published final Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations became effective. Among other things, these new regulations amend the processes for borrowers to receive from DOE a discharge of the obligation to repay certain Title IV Program loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2020 based on certain acts or omissions by the institution or a covered party. The new and existing DOE regulations establish detailed procedures and standards for the loan discharge processes for periods prior to July 1, 2017, between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2020, and on or after July 1, 2020, including the information required for borrowers to receive a loan discharge, and the authority of the DOE to seek recovery from the institution of the amount of discharged loans. The current and future rules could have a material adverse effect on our schools’schools’ business and results of operations, and the broad sweep of the rules may, in the future, require our schools to submit a letter of credit based on expanded standards of financial responsibility. See the Company’s disclosures in its Annual Report onour Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 under the captions “Regulatoryat “Regulatory Environment –– Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations”Regulations” and “Risk“Risk Factors –– We could be subject to liabilities, letter of credit requirements, and other sanctions under the DOE’sDOE’s Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations.””  The DOE is currently conducting a negotiated rulemaking process on a variety of topics, including borrower defense to repayment, that could result in regulations that would make it easier for borrowers to obtain discharges of their loans and for the DOE to recover liabilities from institutions.  See “Negotiated Rulemaking” section below.


 On April 29, 2021, Lincolnthe Company received communication from the DOE indicating that the DOE was in receipt of a number of borrower defense applications containing allegations concerning Lincolnus 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 Lincolnus each application allowing Lincolnthe Company 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’sDOE’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. We subsequently received from the DOE one group of 175 borrower application claims in May 2021 and another group of 140 borrower application claims in July 2021.  We are inhave completed the process of thoroughly reviewing and responding to each borrower application sent to us by the DOE.DOE as well as providing information in response to the DOE’s information requests in the April 29, 2021 communication.


Given the early stage of this matter, management is not able to predict the outcome of the DOE’sDOE’s review at this time. If the DOE disagrees with our legal and factual grounds for contesting the applications, the DOE may impose liabilities on the Company based on the discharge of the loans at issue in the pending applications which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.


It is possible that we may receive from the DOE in the future borrower defense applications submitted by or on behalf of prior, current, or future Lincoln students and that the DOE could seek to recover liabilities from Lincolnus for discharged loans.


If the DOE grants any pending or future borrower applications, the DOE regulations state that the DOE may initiate an appropriate proceeding to recover liabilities arising from the loans in the applications.  If the DOE initiates such a proceeding, Lincolnwe would request reconsideration of the liabilities. We cannot predict the timing or amount of all borrower defense applications that borrowers may submit to the DOE or that the DOE may grant in the future, or the timing or amount of any possible liabilities that the DOE may seek to recover from Lincoln,the Company, if any.


The DOE has announced, generally, that it intends to establish new regulations on a variety of topics including borrower defense to repayment, that could result in regulations that would make it easier for borrowers to obtain discharges of their loans and for the DOE to recover liabilities from institutions.  See “Negotiated Rulemaking.”

The ARPA and the “90/10 Rule.”

In March 2021, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “ARPA”) was signed into law. Among other things, the ARPA provides $40 billion in relief funds that will go directly to colleges and universities with $395.8 million going to for-profit institutions.  We have been allocated approximately $8 million in funds that must be used entirely for student financial aid grants.  As of June 30, 2021, none of these funds have been drawn down.

In addition, the ARPA also includes a provision that amends the 90/10 Rule. A for-profit institution that derives more than 90% of its total revenue from Title IV Programs for two consecutive fiscal years becomes immediately ineligible to participate in Title IV Programs and may not reapply for eligibility until the end of at least two fiscal years. An institution with revenues exceeding 90% for a single fiscal year will be placed on provisional certification and may be subject to other enforcement measures.  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 – The ‘90/10 Rule’” and “Risk Factors – Our institutions would lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs if the percentage of their revenues derived from those programs exceeds 90%, which could reduce our student population and revenues.”   If Congress or the DOE were to amend the 90/10 Rule to treat other forms of federal financial aid as Title IV Program revenue for 90/10 Rule purposes, lower the 90% threshold, or otherwise change the calculation methodology (each of which has been proposed by some Congressional members in proposed legislation), or make other changes to the 90/10 Rule, those changes could make it more difficult for our institutions to comply with the 90/10 Rule.

The ARPA amends the 90/10 rule by treating other “Federal funds that are disbursed or delivered to or on behalf of a student to be used to attend such institution” in the same way as Title IV funds are currently treated in the 90/10 rule calculation. This means that our institutions will be required to limit the combined amount of Title IV funds and applicable “Federal funds” revenue in a fiscal year to no more than 90% in a fiscal year as calculated under the rule. Consequently, the ARPA change to the 90/10 rule is expected to increase the 90/10 rule calculations at our institutions. The ARPA does not identify the specific Federal funding programs that will be covered by this provision, but it is expected to include funding from federal student aid programs such as the veterans’ benefits programs, which include the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Veterans Readiness and Employment services and from which we derived approximately 8% of our revenues on a cash basis in 2020.

The ARPA states that the amendments to the 90/10 Rule apply to institutional fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2023 and are subject to the HEA’s negotiated rulemaking process which may not commence earlier than October 1, 2021. Accordingly, the ARPA change to the 90/10 rule is not expected to apply to our 90/10 Rule calculations until our 2023 fiscal year. Moreover, we cannot predict the additional changes to the 90/10 Rule or other regulations that might occur as a result of negotiated rulemaking to be conducted during 2021 and 2022 as required by the ARPA.

We expect to make changes to certain of our operations in order to address the current and future provisions in the 90/10 Rule and in order to maintain the 90/10 percentages at our institutions below the 90% threshold as calculated under DOE regulations. However, we do not have significant control over the amount of Title IV funds that our students may receive and borrow. Our institutions’ 90/10 percentages can be increased by increases in Title IV aid availability (including, for example, increases in Pell Grant funds) and be decreased by decreases in the availability of state grant program funding and other sources of student aid that do not count as Title IV funds in the 90/10 calculation. Our institutions’ 90/10 percentages also will increase when the ARPA amendments to the 90/10 Rule take effect to the extent that students eligible to receive military and veteran education assistance enroll and use their financial assistance at our institutions. We cannot be certain that the changes we make in the future will succeed in maintaining our institutions’ 90/10 percentages below required levels or that the changes will not materially impact our business operations, revenues, and operating costs.

If any of our institutions lose eligibility to participate in Title IV Programs, that loss would cause an event of default under our credit agreement, would also adversely affect our students’ access to various government-sponsored student financial aid programs, and would have a significant impact on the rate at which our students enroll in our programs and on our business and results of operations.

Negotiated Rulemaking. The DOE periodically issues new regulations and guidance that can have an adverse effect on our institutions.  See the Company’s disclosures in its Annual Report onour Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 under the captions “Regulatoryat “Regulatory Environment –– Negotiated Rulemaking”Rulemaking” and “Risk“Risk Factors - The DOE has changed its regulations, and may make other changes in the future, in a manner which could require us to incur additional costs in connection with our administration of the Title IV Programs, affect our ability to remain eligible to participate in the Title IV Programs, impose restrictions on our participation in the Title IV Programs, affect the rate at which students enroll in our programs, or otherwise have a significant impact on our business and results of operations.” ”  We cannot predict the timing and content of any new regulations or guidance that the DOE may seek to impose or whether and to what extent the DOE under the new administration may issue new regulations and guidance that could adversely impact for-profit schools including our institutions.  For example, the ARPA will require the DOE to initiate a process to amend its regulations regarding the 90/10 Rule.  On October 4, 2021, the DOE published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intention to establish a negotiated rulemaking committee to prepare proposed regulations affecting institutional and programmatic eligibility, including the 90/10 rule and the changes made by the ARPA.  See “The“The ARPA and the ‘90/‘90/10 Rule.’”’”


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In addition, in May 2021, the DOE announced its intention to establish negotiated rulemaking committees to prepare proposed regulations on an extensive range of topics including without limitation changes of ownership and change in control of institutions of higher education, certification procedures for participation in the Title IV Programs, standards of administrative capability, ability to benefit standards, borrower defense to repayment, discharges for borrowers with a total and permanent disability, closed school loan discharges, discharges for false certification of student eligibility, loan repayment plans, the public service loan forgiveness program, mandatory pre-dispute arbitration and prohibition of class action lawsuits provisions in institutional enrollment agreements, financial responsibility standards including events that indicate heightened financial risk, gainful employment, and Pell Grant eligibility for prison education programs.  The DOE also could consider additional topics for proposed regulations during the negotiated rulemaking process.   The negotiated rulemaking process could lead to future DOE regulations that could adversely impact for-profit schools including our institutions.


The negotiated rulemaking sessions began on October 4, 2021.  The topics have included total and permanent disability discharges, closed school discharges, public student loan forgiveness, borrower defense to repayment, pre-dispute arbitration and class action waivers, income driven repayment, interest capitalization, false certification discharges, and prison exchange programs and could include other issues that the DOE might add to the agenda. The remaining sessions are scheduled to occur periodically through mid-December 2021.  The DOE is expected to publish proposed regulations in the Federal Register for public comment during the period after the conclusion of the negotiated rulemaking sessions.  If the final regulations are published by or before November 1, 2022, then the regulations typically would not take effect until July 1, 2023.  However, we cannot predict the ultimate timing and content of any final regulations following the conclusion of the rulemaking process.

We also cannot predict with certainty the ultimate combined impact of the regulatory changes which have occurred in recent years and that may occur as a result of the upcoming negotiated rulemaking, nor can we predict the effect of future legislative or regulatory action by federal, state or other agencies regulating our education programs or other aspects of our operations, how any resulting regulations will be interpreted or whether we and our institutions will be able to comply with these requirements in the future. Any such actions by legislative or regulatory bodies that affect our programs and operations could have a material adverse effect on our student population and our institutions, including the need to cease offering a number of programs.


Closed School Loan Discharges. The DOE may grant closed school loan discharges of Federal student loans based upon applications by qualified students. The DOE also may initiate discharges on its own for students who have not reenrolled in another Title IV Program eligible school within three years after the closure and who attended campuses that closed on or after November 1, 2013, as did some of our former campuses. If the DOE discharges some or all of these loans, the DOE may seek to recover the cost of the loan discharges from us.  The DOE also has announced that it intends to establish new regulationsis currently conducting a negotiated rulemaking process on a variety of topics, including closed school loan discharges, which could result in regulations that would make it easier for borrowers to obtain discharges of their loans and for the DOE to recover liabilities from institutions.  See “Negotiated Rulemaking.”“Negotiated Rulemaking” section above.


We have received five separate letters from the DOE since September 3, 2020, asserting liabilities for closed school loan discharges in connection with the closure of some of our campuses.  The total liability paid to the DOE since September 3, 2020, has been approximately $280,000.  The most recent correspondence from$345,000.  We previously operated four other campuses that closed in the DOE on this topic was dated February 11, 2021, which asserted a liability of approximately $74,000 for two previouslypast and that could be subject to closed campuses. school loan discharges in the future, including automatic closed school loan discharges that could be granted by the DOE.  We have appealed this amount on March 2, 2021, and the DOE subsequently notified us on July 26, 2021, that based on our appeal, the liability would be reduced to $61,000.  We cannot predict the timing or amount of the outcome of the DOE’s consideration of our response, nor can we predict any additional loan discharges that the DOE may approve or the liabilities that the DOE may seek from us for these campuses or other campuses that have closed in the past.


Financial Responsibility Standards.  As previously disclosed (see our Form 10-K at “Financial Responsibility Standards”), the DOE indicated in a January 13, 2020 letter its determination that our institutions were “in the zone” based on our composite score for the 2018 fiscal year and that we are required to operate under the Zone Alternative requirements, including the requirement to make disbursements under the Heightened Cash Monitoring 1 Payment Method (HCM1) payment method and to notify the DOE within 10 days of the occurrence of certain oversight and financial events. We also were required to submit to the DOE bi-weekly cash balance submissions outlining our available cash on hand, monthly actual and projected cash flow statements, and monthly student rosters.  Subsequently, on February 16, 2021, we received a letter from the DOE confirming our composite score of 1.5 for fiscal year 2019 as well as removing us from the Zone Alternative requirements but indicating that we would remain on HCM1 until we met certain requirements outlined by the DOE in its letter.  On August 26, 2021, the DOE sent us correspondence stating that our three institutions had performed all of the requirements of the February 16, 2021, letter and notifying us that the DOE had returned our institutions to advance pay on August 19, 2021.

Accreditation.  Accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the DOE is required for an institution to be certified to participate in the Title IV Programs.  All of our institutions are accredited by ACCSC, which is a DOE-recognized accrediting agency.  See our Form 10-K at “Regulation – Accreditation.”  Accrediting agencies are required to apply to the DOE on a periodic basis for continued recognition by the DOE.  ACCSC is in the process of applying for continued recognition by the DOE.

On October 28, 2021, the DOE announced that it had notified ACCSC that a decision on its recognition by the DOE was deferred pending the submission of additional information about ACCSC’s monitoring, evaluation, and actions related to high-risk institutions.  ACCSC reportedly will receive a period until January 10, 2022, to provide a written response to the DOE.  DOE staff reportedly will receive a period of up to 75 days after receipt of the written response to the DOE to provide a written response.  A designated senior DOE official is expected to make a decision regarding the continued recognition of ACCSC after the receipt and review of the responses.  The DOE regulations indicate that ACCSC may appeal an adverse decision to the DOE Secretary and potentially to federal court.

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If the DOE withdraws the recognition of an accrediting agency, the HEA indicates that the DOE may continue the eligibility of qualified institutions accredited by the accrediting agency for a period of up to 18 months from the date of the withdrawal of the DOE’s recognition of the accrediting agency.  If provided, this period would provide time for institutions to apply for accreditation from another DOE-recognized accrediting body.  The DOE could impose provisional certification and other conditions and restrictions on such institutions during this time period.  If the DOE declines to continue its recognition of ACCSC and if the subsequent period for obtaining accreditation from another DOE-recognized accrediting agency lapses before we obtain accreditation from another DOE-recognize accrediting agency (or if the DOE does not provide such a period for institutions to obtain other accreditation), our schools could lose our Title IV eligibility.

We cannot predict the timing and outcome of the DOE’s decision on the continuation of its recognition of ACCSC, the timing and outcome of any appeal that ACCSC might pursue in the event of an adverse decision, or the duration and conditions of any period the DOE may elect to provide to institutions to obtain accreditation from another DOE-recognized accrediting agency.

Seasonality


Our revenue and operating results normally fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business, principally due to changes in total student population. Student population varies as a result of new student enrollments, graduations and student attrition. Historically, our schools have had lower student populations in our first and second quarters and we have experienced larger class starts in the third quarter and higher student attrition in the first half of the year. Our second half growth is largely dependent on a successful high school recruiting season. We recruit our high school students several months ahead of their scheduled start dates and, thus, while we have visibility on the number of students who have expressed interest in attending our schools, we cannot predict with certainty the actual number of new student enrollments and the related impact on revenue. Our expenses, however, typically do not vary significantly over the course of the year with changes in our student population and revenue.


Item 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


(a)    Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.   Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the quarterly period covered by this report, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to reasonably ensure that material information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’sSEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.


(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.   There were no changes made during our most recently completed fiscal quarter in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, certain employees of the Company began working remotely in March 2020 but these changes to the working environment did not have a material effect on the Company’sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting. There was no other change in the Company’sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’sCompany’s internal control over financial reporting.


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

PART II.OTHER INFORMATION

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 onCompany’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. 10-K.  Unless otherwise indicated in this report, all proceedings discussed in the earlier report which are not indicated herein or therein as having been concluded, remain outstanding as of JuneSeptember 30, 2021.


40
Following a wave of hundreds of class action lawsuits being served upon colleges and universities across the country by students in connection with transitioning from in-person to online classes due to COVID-19, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Company in New Jersey Federal District Court and served on December 21, 2020.  Like most of the other lawsuits across the country, the suit alleges breach of contract, unjust enrichment and conversion.  In lieu of an Answer,answer, on January 25, 2021 the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’sPlaintiff’s Complaint for Failure to State a Claim. On July 9, 2021 the court granted the Company’sCompany’s Motion to dismiss the breach of contract, unjust enrichment claims for tuition and registration fees and conversion claims in their entireties.  The only claim remaining is for student and technology fees, where the judge stated it was premature to dismiss those claims.   On July 23, 2021, the Company submitted its Motion for Reconsideration as to the remaining claim and awaits a ruling in this regard.  On November 3, 2021, this the court granted the Company’s Motion to dismiss the lawsuit in its entirety.


Item 5.OTHER INFORMATION

Director Retirement
38

Also, as previously disclosed in Lincoln’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, on April 29, 2021, Lincoln received communicationthe long-standing members of the Company’s Board of Directors advised of her intention to step down from the DOE indicating thatBoard effective on November 4, 2021.  Concurrently, Ms. Currin will relinquish her positions as chair of the DOECompany’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “Governance Committee”) and member of the Company’s Audit Committee. Ms. Currin’s decision to retire and resign from the Board was in receiptnot the result of a number of borrower defense applications containing allegations concerning Lincoln and requiringany disagreement with 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,Company on any matter relating to the period between 2007its operations, policies or practices. The Board and 2013, in connection with the DOE’s preliminary reviewmanagement of the borrower defense applications. Based upon publicly available information, it appears thatCompany sincerely thank Ms. Currin for her dedicated service over the DOE has undertaken similar reviewspast twenty plus years.

Committee Changes

Following the acceptance of other educational institutions which have also been the subject of various borrower defense applications. We subsequently receivedMs. Currin’s resignation from the DOE one group of 175 borrower application claimsBoard and in May 2021 and another group of 140 borrower application claims in July 2021.  We are inresponse thereto, the process of thoroughly reviewing and respondingBoard made certain changes to each borrower application sent to uscommittee composition by the DOE.

Given the early stage of this matter, management is not able to predict the outcomeappointing John A. Bartholdson as chair of the DOE’s review at this time. If the DOE disagrees with our legal and factual grounds for contesting the applications, the DOE may impose liabilities on the Company based on the dischargeGovernance Committee, Felecia Pryor as member of the loans at issue in the pending applications which could have a material adverse effect on our businessGovernance Committee and results of operations.

It is possible that we may receive from the DOE in the future borrower defense applications submitted by or on behalf of prior, current, or future Lincoln studentsappointing both Michael Plater and that the DOE could seek to recover liabilities from Lincoln for discharged loans.

If the DOE grants any pending or future borrower applications, the DOE regulations state that the DOE may initiate an appropriate proceeding to recover liabilities arising from the loans in the applications.  If the DOE initiates such a proceeding, the Company would request reconsiderationCarlton Rose as members of the liabilities. We cannot predict the timing or amount of all borrower defense applications that borrowers may submit to the DOE or that the DOE may grant in the future, or the timing or amount of any possible liabilities that the DOE may seek to recover from the Company, if any. 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.”Audit Committee.


Item 6. 
EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number
 
Description
  
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’sCompany’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’sCompany’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’sCompany’s Form 8-K filed June 28 2005).
  
10.1
Contract for the Purchase of Real Estate, dated as of September 24, 2021, by and between Nashville Acquisition, LLC and SLC Development, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 28, 2021).
10.2
Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Property, dated as of September 24, 2021 by and between Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and LNT Denver (Multi) LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 28, 2021).
10.3
Consent and Waiver Letter Agreement dated as of September 23, 2021, by and among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries, and Sterling National Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 28, 2021).
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’sCorporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”(“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’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”“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.


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Table of ContentsIndex
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: August 9,November 8, 2021
By:
/s/ Brian Meyers
 
  
Brian Meyers
 
  
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer



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Table of ContentsIndex
Exhibit Index


3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’sCompany’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’sCompany’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’sCompany’s Form 8-K filed June 28 2005).
  
Contract for the Purchase of Real Estate, dated as of September 24, 2021, by and between Nashville Acquisition, LLC and SLC Development, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 28, 2021).
Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Property, dated as of September 24, 2021 by and between Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and LNT Denver (Multi) LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 28, 2021).
Consent and Waiver Letter Agreement dated as of September 23, 2021, by and among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries, and Sterling National Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed September 28, 2021).
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  
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’sCorporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2021, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”(“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’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”“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.




4143