Washington, D.C. 20549
John A. Bartholdson
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the
acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because § 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g)
check the following box ¨.
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies
of the schedule, including all exhibits. See § 240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject
to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 533535100 |
|
Page 2 of 14 Pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Juniper Targeted Opportunity Fund, L.P.
|
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)
(a) ¨
(b) ¨
|
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions)
WC |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2(e)
|
¨ |
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware |
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
2,363,311 |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
0 |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,363,311 |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,363,311 |
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) |
¨ |
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
7.5% |
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
PN |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 533535100 |
|
Page 3 of 14 Pages |
1 |
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Juniper HF Investors II, LLC
|
2 |
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)
(a) ¨
(b) ¨
|
3 |
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE
OF FUNDS (See Instructions)
WC |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
|
¨ |
6 |
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware |
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH |
7 |
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0 |
8 |
SHARED
VOTING POWER
2,363,311 |
9 |
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
10 |
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,363,311 |
11 |
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,363,311 |
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN
ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) |
¨ |
13 |
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
7.5% |
14 |
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
PN |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 533535100 |
|
Page 4 of 14 Pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Juniper Targeted Opportunities, L.P.
|
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)
(a) ¨
(b) ¨
|
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions)
WC |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2(e)
|
¨ |
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware |
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
1,606,223 |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
0 |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,606,223 |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,606,223 |
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) |
¨ |
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
5.1% |
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
PN |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 533535100 |
|
Page 5 of 14 Pages |
1 |
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Juniper Targeted Opportunity Investors, LLC
|
2 |
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)
(a) ¨
(b) ¨
|
3 |
SEC
USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE
OF FUNDS (See Instructions)
WC |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
|
¨ |
6 |
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware |
NUMBER
OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH |
7 |
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0 |
8 |
SHARED
VOTING POWER
1,606,223 |
9 |
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
10 |
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,606,223 |
11 |
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,606,223 |
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN
ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) |
¨ |
13 |
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
5.1% |
14 |
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
PN |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 533535100 |
|
Page 6 of 14 Pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Juniper Investment Company, LLC
|
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)
(a) ¨
(b) ¨
|
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions)
WC |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2(e)
|
¨ |
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware |
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
3,969,534 |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,969,534 |
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,969,534 |
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) |
¨ |
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
12.7% |
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
IA |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 533535100 |
|
Page 7 of 14 Pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Alexis P. Michas
|
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)
(a) ¨
(b) ¨
|
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions)
OO |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2(e)
|
¨ |
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States |
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
306,319 |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
3,969,534 |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
306,319 |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,969,534 |
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
4,275,853 |
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) |
¨ |
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
13.6% |
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
IN |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 533535100 |
|
Page 8 of 14 Pages |
1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
John A. Bartholdson
|
2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)
(a) ¨
(b) ¨
|
3 |
SEC USE ONLY
|
4 |
SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions)
OO |
5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or
2(e)
|
¨ |
6 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States |
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH |
7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
193,965 |
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
3,969,534 |
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
193,965 |
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,969,534 |
11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
4,163,499 |
12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) |
¨ |
13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
13.3% |
14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)
IN |
This Amendment No. 3 (the
“Amendment”) to the Statement on Schedule 13D is filed by the Reporting Persons as an amendment to the Schedule 13D Amendment
No. 2 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Reporting Persons on June 7, 2023 (the “Schedule 13D/A No. 2”),
with respect to the Common Stock, no par value per share of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (the “Issuer”). Capitalized
terms not defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Schedule 13D.
| Item 1. | Security and Issuer. |
This Amendment relates
to the Common Stock, no par value per share (the “Shares”), of the Issuer. The principal executive office of the Issuer
is located at 14 Sylvan Way, Suite A, Parsippany, NJ 07054. The Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker
symbol “LINC”. Information given in response to each item shall be deemed incorporated by reference in all other items, as
applicable.
This Amendment is being
filed to report a decrease in the Reporting Persons’ beneficial ownership percentage due to the sale of Shares by the Reporting
Persons and to report a distribution of certain of the Shares as further described in Item 4 herein.
The Reporting Persons
beneficially own an aggregate of 4,469,818 Shares the “Subject Shares”).
| Item 2. | Identity and Background. |
(a) This Schedule 13D
is being filed by:
(i) Juniper
Targeted Opportunity Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Juniper Fund”);
(ii) Juniper
HF Investors II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of Juniper Fund (“Juniper HF II”);
(iii) Juniper
Targeted Opportunities, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Juniper Targeted Opportunities”);
(v) Juniper
Targeted Opportunity Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of Juniper Targeted Opportunities (“Juniper
TO”);
(vi) Juniper
Investment Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the investment advisor to Juniper Fund and Juniper Targeted Opportunities
(“Juniper Investment Company”);
(vii) Alexis
P. Michas, as a managing member of each of Juniper HF II, Juniper TO, and Juniper Investment Company; and
(viii) John
A. Bartholdson, as a managing member of each of Juniper HF II, Juniper TO, and Juniper Investment Company.
Each of the foregoing is referred to herein as a “Reporting
Person” and together as the “Reporting Persons.”
(b) The principal business
address of each of the Reporting Persons is 555 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10022.
(c) The
principal business of each of Juniper Fund and Juniper Targeted Opportunities is to invest in the capital stock of various companies.
The principal business of Juniper HF II is to serve as the general partner of Juniper Fund. The principal business of Juniper TO is to
serve as the general partner of Juniper Targeted Opportunities. Juniper Investment Company provides investment advisory and management
services and acts as the investment manager of Juniper Fund and Juniper Targeted Opportunities. Each of Messrs. Michas and Bartholdson
serves as managing member of Juniper HF II, Juniper TO, and Juniper Investment Company.
(d) During the past
five years, none of the Reporting Persons has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
(e) During the last
five years, none of the Reporting Persons has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction
and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
(f) Each of Messrs.
Michas and Bartholdson is a United States citizen.
| Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. |
Item 3 is hereby amended and supplemented by
adding the following information:
As of the date hereof, the Reporting Persons
are deemed to beneficially own the Subject Shares as detailed in Items 1 and 5. The aggregate purchase price for the Subject Shares is
$12,396,850 (inclusive of brokerage commissions and other costs of execution).
| Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction. |
Item 4 is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the
following information to the end of Item 4.
On June 14, 2023, Juniper
Targeted Opportunities distributed, for no consideration, 470,647 shares of Common stock to its general partner, Juniper TO, in an amount
equal to Juniper TO’s pro rata interest in the shares held by Juniper Targeted Opportunities. On the same date, Juniper TO distributed,
for no consideration, the shares of Common Stock it received from the Juniper Targeted Opportunities distribution to its members in an
amount equal to each such member’s pro rata interest in such shares. Mr. Michas received 289,926 shares of Common Stock in such
distribution. Mr. Bartholdson received 144,963 shares of Common Stock in such distribution.
| Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer. |
The responses of the Reporting Persons to rows (7) through (13)
of the cover pages of this Schedule 13D are incorporated herein by reference.
(a) The
percentages of ownership indicated in this Schedule 13D are calculated based on 31,339,387 Shares reported as outstanding as of May 5,
2023 (the “Record Date”), in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March
31, 2023, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2023.
As of the date of this
Schedule 13D, the Reporting Persons collectively held an aggregate of 4,469,818 Shares, constituting approximately 14.3% of the Issuer’s
outstanding Shares as of the Record Date. As of the date of this Schedule 13D, each Reporting Person may be deemed to have direct beneficial
ownership of the Shares as follows:
(i) Juniper
Fund beneficially owned 2,363,311 Shares, constituting approximately 7.5% of the Issuer’s outstanding Shares as of the Record Date.
(ii) Juniper
Targeted Opportunities beneficially owned 1,606,223 Shares, constituting approximately 5.1% of the Issuer’s outstanding Shares
as of the Record Date.
(iii) Juniper
HF II, as the general partner of Juniper Fund, may be deemed to own beneficially (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) the 2,363,311 Shares held by Juniper Fund, constituting approximately 7.5% of the Issuer’s outstanding Shares
as of the Record Date. Juniper HF II disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares for all other purposes.
(iv) Juniper
TO, as the general partner of Juniper Targeted Opportunities, may be deemed to own beneficially (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) the 1,606,223 Shares held by Juniper Targeted Opportunities, constituting approximately 5.1%
of the Issuer’s outstanding Shares as of the Record Date. Juniper TO disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares for all other
purposes.
(v) Juniper
Investment Company, as the investment advisor of Juniper Fund and Juniper Targeted Opportunities, may be deemed to own beneficially (as
that term is defined in Rule 13-d under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) the 3,969,534 Shares collectively and directly held by each
of Juniper Fund and Juniper Targeted Opportunities, constituting approximately 12.7% of the Issuer’s outstanding Shares as of the
Record Date. Juniper Investment Company disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares for all other purposes.
(vi) Each
of Messrs. Michas and Bartholdson, as the managing member of Juniper HF II, Juniper TO, and Juniper Investment Company, may be deemed
to own beneficially (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) the 3,969,534 Shares held by Juniper
Fund, Juniper Targeted Opportunities, and Juniper Investment Company, constituting approximately 12.7% of the then outstanding Shares.
Each of Messrs. Michas and Bartholdson disclaims beneficial ownership of such Shares for all other purposes.
(b) Each
of Juniper Fund and Juniper Targeted Opportunities has the sole power to vote or direct their respective vote of 2,363,311 and 1,606,223
and the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of such Shares. Juniper HF II, Juniper TO, Juniper Investment Company and each
of Messrs. Michas and Bartholdson may be deemed to share with Juniper Fund amd Juniper Targeted Opportunities, as applicable, the power
to vote or to direct the vote and to dispose or to direct the disposition of such Shares.
(c) The
transactions in the Shares by the Reporting Persons during the past sixty days are set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and incorporated
by reference.
(d) To the knowledge of the
Reporting Persons, no person other than the Reporting Persons has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends
from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares that are the subject of this Schedule 13D.
(e) Not applicable.
| Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer. |
The response to Item 3 is incorporated herein by reference.
Except as described in this Schedule 13D or incorporated by
reference in this Schedule 13D, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) between any
of the Reporting Persons or between any of the Reporting Persons and any other person with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including,
but not limited to, transfer or voting of any securities, finder’s fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls,
guarantees of profits, division of profits or losses, or the giving or withholding of proxies.
| Item 7. | Materials to be Filed as Exhibits. |
Exhibit A: Indemnification Agreement
In connection with the appointment of Mr. Bartholdson to the
board of directors of the Issuer, Mr, Bartholdson entered into an Indemnification Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2019, with the
Issuer pursuant to which the Issuer provided indemnification and insurance coverage to Mr. Bartholdson as director of the board of director
of the Issuer.
References to and the description of the Indemnification
Agreement set forth above in this Item 6 do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text
of the Indemnification Agreement, which is incorporated by reference to Schedule 13D originally filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by the Reporting Persons on November 22, 2019.
Exhibit B: Joint Filing Agreement
A Joint Filing Agreement (incorporated by reference
herein to Exhibit B of the Schedule 13D Amendment No.1 filed by the Reporting Persons on December 1, 2022).
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: June 16, 2023
|
JUNIPER TARGETED OPPORTUNITY FUND, L.P. |
|
|
|
By: Juniper HF Investors II, LLC, its General Partner |
|
|
|
By : /s/ John A. Bartholdson |
|
Name: John A. Bartholdson |
|
Title: Managing Member |
|
|
|
JUNIPER HF INVESTORS II, LLC |
|
|
|
By : /s/ John A. Bartholdson |
|
Name: John A. Bartholdson |
|
Title: Managing Member |
|
|
|
JUNIPER TARGETED OPPORTUNITIES, L.P. |
|
|
|
By: Juniper Targeted Opportunity Investors, LLC, its General Partner |
|
|
|
By : /s/ John A. Bartholdson |
|
Name: John A. Bartholdson |
|
Title: Managing Member |
|
|
|
JUNIPER TARGETED OPPORTUNITY INVESTORS, LLC |
|
|
|
By : /s/ John A. Bartholdson |
|
Name: John A. Bartholdson |
|
Title: Managing Member |
|
|
|
JUNIPER INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC |
|
|
|
By : /s/ John A. Bartholdson |
|
Name: John A. Bartholdson |
|
Title: Managing Member |
|
By : /s/ Alexis P. Michas |
|
ALEXIS P. MICHAS |
|
|
|
By : /s/ John A. Bartholdson |
|
JOHN A. BARTHOLDSON |
SCHEDULE A
Transactions in Securities of the Issuer
During the Past Sixty Days
Reporting Person |
Date
of
Transaction |
Number of
Shares Sold |
Price
Per Share |
Low
Price |
High
Price |
Juniper
Targeted Opportunities, L.P. |
June
12, 2023* |
108,839 |
$6.50 |
$6.45 |
$6.615 |
Juniper
Targeted Opportunities, L.P. |
June
13, 2023* |
46,849 |
$6.47 |
$6.45 |
$6.63 |
Juniper
Targeted Opportunities, L.P. |
June
14, 2023* |
194,312 |
$6.41 |
$6.25 |
$6.53 |
*The Price Per Share reported above is a weighted
average price. The Shares were sold in multiple transactions at a range of prices as reflected in the table above. Upon request, the
Reporting Persons undertake to provide the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the SEC full information regarding the Shares
purchased at each separate price within the ranges set forth above.