LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORP
For the period ended May 2, 2024. Filed Apr 3, 2024.
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What shareholders are asked to vote on at a company's meeting. It is where to find what directors and top executives are paid, and who owns the most shares.
May 2, 2024 · Filed Apr 3, 2024
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DEF 14A 1 ny20025733x1_def14a.htm DEF 14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
| Filed by the Registrant ☒ | |
|---|---|
| Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ | |
| Check the appropriate box: | |
| ☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| ☒ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
| Lincoln Educational Services Corporation | |
|---|---|
| (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) | |
| (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) | |
| Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply): | |
| ☒ | No fee required. |
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25 per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
14 Sylvan Way, Suite A Parsippany, NJ 07054
April 3, 2024
Dear Shareholder:
We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (the “Company”) to be held on May 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) (the “Annual Meeting”) as a virtual-only meeting. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting virtually and to vote and submit questions during the Annual Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/lincolntech/2024 and entering the control number provided in these proxy materials.
At this year’s Annual Meeting, shareholders will be asked to elect eight directors; to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the Company’s compensation of named executive officers (a “say-on-pay” vote); and to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. The accompanying Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement describe these matters. We urge you to read this information carefully.
We sincerely hope that you will be able to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted. You may vote your shares by completing the accompanying proxy card or by giving your proxy authorization via the Internet. Please read the instructions accompanying the proxy card for details on giving your proxy authorization via the Internet.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
PROXY MATERIALS FOR OUR ANNUAL MEETING
Our Proxy Statement and our 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders are available
athttps://investors.lincolneducationalservices.com/AP.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
BY COMPLETING AND RETURNING THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD OR BY GIVING YOUR PROXY AUTHORIZATION VIA THE INTERNET, YOU AUTHORIZE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY TO REPRESENT YOU AND VOTE YOUR SHARES ACCORDING TO YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. SUBMITTING YOUR PROXY NOW WILL NOT PREVENT YOU FROM VOTING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, BUT WILL ASSURE THAT YOUR VOTE IS COUNTED IF YOUR PLANS CHANGE AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND. TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE BEFORE 11:59 P.M. (EASTERN TIME) ON MAY 1, 2024.
We thank you for your continuing support and look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
Sincerely,
Scott M. Shaw
Chief Executive Officer
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14 Sylvan Way, Suite A
Parsippany, NJ 07054
NOTICE OF
2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 2, 2024
To the Shareholders of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVENthat the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the “Company”), will be held virtually via the Internet on May 2, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) (the “Annual Meeting”). You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting virtually and to vote and submit questions during the Annual Meeting by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/lincolntech/2024 and entering the control number provided in these proxy materials. There will not be an option to attend the Annual Meeting at a physical location.
At the Annual Meeting, holders of shares of common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company will be asked:
| 1. | to elect eight directors identified in this proxy statement to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders following their election and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualify; |
| 2. | to approve, on a non-binding advisory basis, the Company’s compensation of its named executive officers (a “say-on-pay” vote); |
| 3. | to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; and |
| 4. | to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof and may properly be voted upon. |
The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on March 14, 2024 as the record date for the determination of shareholders of Common Stock entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. As of the record date, there were outstanding 31,446,059 shares of Common Stock. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 14, 2024 will be able to attend the Annual Meeting, vote, and submit questions (both before, and for a portion of, the meeting) from any location via the Internet. To participate in the Annual Meeting, including submitting questions and/or voting, you will need the control number provided on your proxy card or in your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to Be Held on May 2, 2024.
The Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 are available electronically athttps://investors.lincolneducationalservices.com/AP.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY (BY COMPLETING AND RETURNING THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD OR BY GIVING PROXY AUTHORIZATION VIA THE INTERNET USING THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED ON YOUR PROXY CARD) AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. EVEN IF YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR PROXY, YOU MAY STILL VOTE IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE BEFORE 11:59 P.M. (EASTERN TIME) ON MAY 1, 2024.
| By Order of the Board of Directors | |
| Parsippany, New Jersey | Alexandra M. Luster |
|---|---|
| April 3, 2024 | Corporate Secretary |
Table of Contents
| GENERAL | 1 |
|---|---|
| PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 4 |
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 4 |
| Information Concerning the Board of Directors | 6 |
| Committees of the Board of Directors | 8 |
| Director Independence | 10 |
| Board Leadership Structure | 10 |
| Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight | 10 |
| SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 12 |
| EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | 14 |
| COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 14 |
| Compensation Committee Report | 19 |
| Executive Compensation | 20 |
| Director Compensation | 25 |
| Pay versus Performance | 26 |
| Audit Committee Report | 28 |
| PROPOSAL 2: NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPANY’S COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 30 |
| PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 31 |
| Fees Billed by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 31 |
| Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy | 31 |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES AND CODE OF ETHICS | 32 |
| TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS | 32 |
| DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS | 33 |
| COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 33 |
| HOUSEHOLDING OF ANNUAL MEETING MATERIALS | 33 |
| OTHER INFORMATION | 33 |
14 Sylvan Way, Suite A
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR
2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 2, 2024
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.