UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): February 11, 2009
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
New Jersey (State or other
jurisdiction |
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000-51371 (Commission File Number) |
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57-1150621 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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200 Executive Drive, Suite 340 West Orange, New Jersey 07052 (Address of principal executive offices) |
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07052 (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (973) 736-9340
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 8.01 |
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Other Events |
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On February 11, 2009, Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (the Company) entered into a purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) among the Company, certain selling stockholders named therein (for Selling Stockholders), and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the Underwriters), relating to the issuance and sale by the Company and sale by the Selling Stockholders to the Underwriters of 5,500,000 shares in the aggregate of the Companys common stock at a purchase price of $13.23 per share (the public offering price of $14.00 per share minus the Underwriters discount). The Company and certain of the Selling Stockholders also granted the Underwriters an option to acquire an additional 825,000 shares at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. |
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The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to a copy of the Purchase Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 |
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Item 9.01 |
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Financial Statements and Exhibits |
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(d) |
Exhibits |
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99.1 |
Purchase Agreement, dated February 11, 2009, among the Company, certain selling stockholders of the Company named therein, and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein. |
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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.
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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION |
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Date: February 18, 2009 |
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By: |
/s/ Cesar Ribeiro |
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Name: |
Cesar Ribeiro |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
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Description of Document |
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99.1 |
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Purchase Agreement, dated February 11, 2009, among the Company, certain selling stockholders of the Company named therein, and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein. |
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Exhibit 99.1
EXECUTION COPY
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
(a New Jersey corporation)
5,500,000 Shares of Common Stock
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated: February 11, 2009
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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
(a New Jersey corporation)
5,500,000 Shares of Common Stock
(No Par Value Per Share)
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
February 11, 2009
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
11 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company), and the persons listed in Schedule B hereto (the Selling Shareholders), confirm their respective agreements with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Credit Suisse) and Barclays Capital Inc. (Barclays Capital) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the Underwriters, which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Credit Suisse and Barclays Capital are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the Representatives), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the Selling Shareholders, acting severally and not jointly, and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of common stock, no par value per share, of the Company (the Common Stock) set forth in Schedules A and B hereto and (ii) the grant by the Company, Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and Five Mile River Capital Partners LLC to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 825,000 additional shares of Common Stock to cover overallotments, if any. The aforesaid 5,500,000 shares of Common Stock (the Initial Securities) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the 825,000 shares of Common Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the Option Securities) are hereinafter called, collectively, the Securities. Of the Initial Securities, the Company is selling 1,000,000 shares and the Selling Shareholders are selling in the aggregate 4,500,000 shares.
The Company and the Selling Shareholders understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-152854), including a prospectus, covering the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act). Such registration
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statement, in the form in which it became effective, as amended through the Applicable Time (as defined below), including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein through the Applicable Time, and including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the 1933 Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (Rule 430 Information), is herein referred to as the Registration Statement. Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein referred to as the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, and after such filing the term Registration Statement shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a preliminary prospectus supplement dated February 3, 2009 relating to the Securities. The term Preliminary Prospectus means such preliminary prospectus supplement together with the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective, and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) (Rule 424(b)) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the 1933 Act Regulations). Such final prospectus supplement in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, together with the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, is herein referred to as the Prospectus. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR).
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is contained, included or stated in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing after the date hereof and prior to the completion of the offering of the Securities of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be.
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At the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto became effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), neither (x) the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below), if any, issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the Preliminary Prospectus and the information included on Schedule G hereto, all considered together (collectively, the General Disclosure Package), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), if any, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:
Applicable Time means 5:00 pm (Eastern time) on February 11, 2009 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus means any issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (Rule 433), relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a road show that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Companys records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule E hereto.
Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
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The Company has made available a bona fide electronic road show, as defined in Rule 433, in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) (the Bona Fide Electronic Road Show) which is not required to be filed with the Commission in connection with the offering of the Securities.
Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in Section 3(e), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package or Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein and the Preliminary Prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.
The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
The Preliminary Prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an ineligible issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations.
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In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives, the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company, the Custodian and the Selling Shareholders.
Payment shall be made to the Company and each Selling Shareholder by wire transfer of immediately available funds to bank account(s) designated by the Company and the Custodian pursuant to each Selling Shareholders Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement, against satisfactory delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by
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them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives, individually and not as representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
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(p) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Shareholders contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company, any subsidiary of the Company and the Selling
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Shareholders hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:
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provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430 Information or any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
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The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.
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The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Selling Shareholders or by the Underwriters and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Selling Shareholder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the aggregate gross proceeds, net of underwriting discounts, received by such Selling Shareholder from the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriters Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company or such Selling Shareholder, s the case may be. The Underwriters respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement among the Company and the Selling Shareholders with respect to contribution.
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(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company and the Selling Shareholders to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section 10 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
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In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company and the Selling Shareholders to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either (i) the Representatives or (ii) the Company and any Selling Shareholder shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term Underwriter includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
In the event of a default by any Selling Shareholder as referred to in this Section 11, each of the Representatives, the Company and the non-defaulting Selling Shareholders shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or any Date of Delivery for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required change in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.
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Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
11 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Attention: Adam Nordin
and
Barclays Capital Inc.
1271 Avenue of the Americas
42nd Floor
New York, New York 10020
Attention: Syndicate Registration
Fax: 646-834-8133
with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to Section 6 to:
Director of Litigation
Office of the General Counsel
Barclays Capital Inc.
1271 Avenue of the Americas
44th Floor
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New York, New York 10020
Fax: 212-520-0421
Notices to the Company, David F. Carney and Scott M. Shaw shall be directed to:
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation
200 Executive Drive
Suite 340
West Orange, New Jersey 07052
Attention: Cesar Ribeiro
Notices to Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. shall be directed to:
Stonington Partners, Inc.
540 Madison Avenue - - 25th Floor
New York, NY 10022
Attn: James J. Burke, Jr.
Fax: 212 339-8585
Notices to Five Mile River Capital Partners LLC shall be directed to:
Steven W. Hart
Hart Capital LLC
137 Rowayton Avenue, 3rd Floor
Rowayton, CT 06853
Facsimile: 203-857-6051
With a copy to:
Charles J. Spiess, Esq.
Diserio Martin OConnor & Castiglioni LLP
One Atlantic Street Stamford, Connecticut 06830
Facsimile: 203-348-2321
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company and the Selling Shareholders a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Shareholders in accordance with its terms.
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Very truly yours, |
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LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION |
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By: |
/s/ David F. Carney |
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Name: David F. Carney |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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BACK TO SCHOOL ACQUISITION, L.L.C. |
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By: |
/s/ James J. Burke, Jr. |
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Name: James J. Burke, Jr. |
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Title: President |
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FIVE MILE RIVER CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC |
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By: |
HART CAPITAL LLC, its managing member |
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By: |
/s/ Steven W. Hart |
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Name: Steven W. Hart |
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Title: President |
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DAVID F. CARNEY |
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/s/ David F. Carney |
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SCOTT M. SHAW |
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/s/ Scott M. Shaw |
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
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By: |
/s/ Jason Williams |
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Authorized Signatory |
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BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Joseph Coleman |
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Authorized Signatory |
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For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.
SCHEDULE A
Name of Underwriter |
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Principal |
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Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
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1,787,500 |
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Barclays Capital Inc. |
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1,787,500 |
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Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated |
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605,000 |
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BMO Capital Markets Corp. |
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605,000 |
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J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. |
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605,000 |
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Barrington Research Associates, Inc. |
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110,000 |
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Total |
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5,500,000 |
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A-1
SCHEDULE B
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Number of Initial |
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Maximum Number of Option |
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Lincoln Educational Services Corporation |
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1,000,000 |
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150,000 |
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Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. |
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4,050,000 |
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607,500 |
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Five Mile River Capital Partners LLC |
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400,000 |
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67,500 |
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David F. Carney |
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35,000 |
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0 |
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Scott M. Shaw |
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15,000 |
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0 |
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Total |
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5,500,000 |
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825,000 |
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B-1
SCHEDULE C
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Shares of Common Stock
(No Par Value Per Share)
1. The public offering price per share for the Securities, determined in said Section 2, shall be $14.00.
2. The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $13.23, being an amount equal to the public offering price set forth above less $0.77 per share; provided that the purchase price per share for any Option Securities purchased upon the exercise of the overallotment option described in Section 2(b) shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.
C-1
SCHEDULE D
Persons Subject to Lock-Up
Five Mile River Capital Partners LLC
Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C.
David F. Carney
Shaun E. McAlmont
Scott M. Shaw
Cesar Ribeiro
Alexis P. Michas
James J. Burke, Jr.
Jerry G. Ruberstein
Paul E. Glaske
Peter S. Burgess
J. Barry Morrow
Celia Currin
Charles F. Kalmbach
D-1
SCHEDULE E
Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus
None
E-1
SCHEDULE F
Subsidiaries
The following is a list of Lincoln Educational Services Corporations subsidiaries:
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Jurisdiction |
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Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. (wholly owned) |
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New Jersey |
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New England Acquisition LLC (wholly owned) |
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Delaware |
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Southwestern Acquisition LLC (wholly owned) |
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Delaware |
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Nashville Acquisition, LLC (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) |
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Delaware |
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Euphoria Acquisition, LLC (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) |
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Delaware |
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New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc. (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) |
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Florida |
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Florida Acquisition, LLC (wholly owned) |
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Delaware |
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ComTech Services Group Inc. (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) |
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New Jersey |
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LCT Acquisition, LLC (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) |
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Delaware |
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NN Acquisition, LLC (wholly owned through Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.) |
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Delaware |
F-1
SCHEDULE G
Offering Price and Number of Initial Securities To Be Sold
1. The public offering price per share for the Securities, determined in said Section 2, shall be $14.00.
2. The number of Initial Securities to be sold is 5,500,000.
3. The number of Initial Securities to be sold in the primary offering is 1,000,000.
4. The number of Initial Securities to be sold in the secondary offering is 4,500,000.
G-1
Exhibit A
FORM OF OPINION OF THE COMPANYS SENIOR CORPORATE COUNSEL
to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(b)
February 18, 2009
To the Persons listed in Schedule A
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation
Public Offering of 5,500,000 shares of common stock
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am the senior corporate counsel of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company). This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the purchase and sale of 5,500,000 shares (the Shares) of the Companys common stock, no par value, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2009 (the Purchase Agreement), among the Company, the selling shareholders named therein (the Selling Shareholders) and each of you. This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 5(b) of the Purchase Agreement.
In that connection, I have reviewed the following:
(a) The Purchase Agreement.
(b) The registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-152854) filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on August 7, 2008 (such registration statement, at the time it became effective, including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, being hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement).
(c) The prospectus dated September 12, 2008 relating to the offering from time to time of the Companys common stock, which is included as part of the Registration Statement (the Base Prospectus).
(d) The preliminary prospectus supplement dated February 3, 2009 relating to the Shares (including the Base Prospectus and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, the Preliminary Prospectus).
A-1
(e) The final prospectus supplement dated February 11, 2009, relating to the Shares, in the form in which it was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (including the Base Prospectus and the documents incorporated therein by reference, the Final Prospectus).
(f) The amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, as amended through the June 7, 2005.
(g) The originals or copies of agreements and documents listed in Schedule C.
(h) Originals or copies of such other corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company and agreements and other documents as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
In my review of the Purchase Agreement and other documents, I have assumed:
(a) The genuineness of all signatures (other than signatures on behalf of the Company).
(b) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to me.
(c) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to me as copies.
(d) As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the representations made in the Purchase Agreement and in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company.
(e) That the Purchase Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, other than the Company, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms.
I have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.
As used herein, Applicable Time shall mean 5:00p.m. Eastern Standard Time, on February 11, 2009, being the time identified to us by you as the time of first sale of the Shares to the public, and the General Disclosure Package means the Preliminary Prospectus, when considered together with the information included in Schedule B hereto.
For purposes of the opinions expressed below, Generally Applicable Law means the federal law of the United States of America, and the law of the State of New Jersey (including the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto), that a New Jersey lawyer exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably be expected to recognize as being applicable to the Company, the Purchase Agreement or the transactions governed by the Purchase Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing definition of Generally Applicable Law, the term Generally Applicable Law does not include any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to the Company, the Purchase Agreement or such transactions (including any law, rule or regulation applicable to individuals, companies or businesses because such entities provide educational services) solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any party to the Purchase Agreement or any of its affiliates due to the specific assets or business of such party or such affiliate. To the extent that all or any part of the opinions expressed below will be governed by or relate to the laws of any jurisdiction other than Generally Applicable Law, I have assumed for all purposes that the laws of such other jurisdictions are identical to
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the laws of the State of New Jersey with respect to all the transactions, Purchase Agreement and other matters upon which I express any opinion.
To my knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for such purpose have been initiated or, to my knowledge, threatened by the Commission, and any required filing of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424. Based upon the foregoing and upon such other investigation as I have deemed necessary, I am of the opinion that:
1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the law of the State of New Jersey with corporate power and authority under such law to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
2. The Company (a) has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform the Purchase Agreement and (b) has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement.
3. In each jurisdiction in which the Company is required to be duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a Material Adverse Effect), based solely on the certificates of public officials, the Company is so qualified and in good standing.
4. The execution and delivery by the Company of the Purchase Agreement, and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption Use of Proceeds) does not and will not, (a) result in a violation of the Companys certificate of incorporation or by-laws, (b) result in a violation of Generally Applicable Law or a violation of any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award known to me, of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary or any of their respective properties, assets or operations, or (c) result in a breach of, a default under or the acceleration of (or entitle any party to accelerate) the maturity of any obligation of the Company or any subsidiary under, or result in or require the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon or security interest in any property of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to the terms of, any agreement or document, known to me, to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject, except for such breaches, defaults or liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
5. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any United States federal or New Jersey governmental authority or regulatory body, or any third party that is a party to any of the documents, known to me, to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party, is required for the due authorization, execution, delivery or performance by the Company
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of the Purchase Agreement or for the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Shares, except as have been obtained and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act or as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of New Jersey in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, and except for the authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings specified in the Purchase Agreement, each of which has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and, to my knowledge, has not been withdrawn.
6. The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
7. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus in the column entitled Actual under the caption Capitalization (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus); the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company, including the Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Selling Shareholders, are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any security holder of the Company.
8. The Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered as provided in the Purchase Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to preemptive or other similar rights of any security holder of the Company. No holder of the Shares will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.
9. Each subsidiary (excluding ComTech Services Group Inc. and Florida Acquisition LLC, which have no assets or operations) has been duly incorporated or formed and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, has corporate or other power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. In each jurisdiction in which each subsidiary is required to be duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business, as set forth opposite its name on Schedule D of this opinion, based solely on the certificates of public officials, each subsidiary is so qualified and in good standing. Except as otherwise disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each significant subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, and is, to the best of my knowledge, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any subsidiary was issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such subsidiary.
10. To the best of my knowledge, there is not pending or threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party, or to which the property of the Company or any subsidiary is subject, before or brought by any federal or state court or governmental agency or body which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the
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transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder.
11. The form of certificate used to evidence the Shares complies in all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements, with any applicable requirements of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company and the requirements of The Nasdaq Global Market.
12. All descriptions in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus of contracts and other documents to which the Company or its subsidiaries are a party are accurate in all material respects. To the best of my knowledge, there are no franchises, contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases or other instruments required to be described or referred to in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement other than those described or referred to therein or filed as exhibits thereto.
13. To the best of my knowledge, there are no persons (other than the Selling Shareholders as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus) with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Securities Act, which have not been waived.
I have reviewed and participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus with other officers or employees of the Company, with its counsel and its auditors, and with your representatives, and I advise you that, on the basis of the information I gained in the course of performing the services referred to above, no facts came to my attention which caused me to believe that (i) the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which I have not been requested to comment), at the time it became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the General Disclosure Package (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which I have not been requested to comment), at the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which I have not been requested to comment), as of its date or the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
With respect to any matters indicated herein to be limited to my knowledge and information (or words to like effect), the opinions set forth herein with respect to such matters are specifically limited to the actual knowledge that I have obtained solely in connection with the performance of my duties as senior corporate counsel of the Company.
This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose without my prior written consent.
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This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. I expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact, that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
Very truly yours,
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SCHEDULE A
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
11 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Barrington Research Associates, Inc.
161 North Clark Street, Suite 2950
Chicago, IL 60601
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
3 Times Square, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10036
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
227 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10172
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
First Wisconsin Center
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SCHEDULE B
Public offering price: $14.00 per share
Shares offered: 5,500,000 shares, of which 1,000,000 shares are offered by the Company and 4,500,000 shares are offered by the Selling Shareholders named in the Preliminary Prospectus.
SCHEDULE C
1. Stockholders Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1999, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and Five Mile River Capital Partners LLC.*
2. Letter agreement, dated August 9, 2000, by Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C., amending the Stockholders Agreement.*
3 Letter agreement, dated August 9, 2000, by Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., amending the Stockholders Agreement.*
4. Management Stockholders Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2002, by and among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and the Stockholders and other holders of options under the Management Stock Option Plan listed therein.*
5 Assumption Agreement and First Amendment to Management Stockholders Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2007, by and among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and the Management Investors parties therein.*
6. Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C..*
7. Credit Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors from time to time parties thereto, the Lenders from time to time parties thereto and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Administrative Agent.*
8. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and David F. Carney.*
9. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and David F. Carney.**
10. Separation and Release Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, between the Company and Lawrence E. Brown.*
11. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Scott M. Shaw.*
12. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and Scott M. Shaw.**
13. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Cesar Ribeiro.*
14. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and Cesar Ribeiro.**
15. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Shaun E. McAlmont.*
16. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and Shaun E. McAlmont.**
17. Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.*
18. Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Non Employee Directors Restricted Stock Plan.*
19. Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan.*
20. Lincoln Technical Institute Management Stock Option Plan, effective January 1, 2002.*
21. Form of Stock Option Agreement, dated January 1, 2002, between Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and certain participants.*
22. Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Companys 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.*
23. Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under the Companys 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.*
24. Management Stock Subscription Agreement, dated January 1, 2002, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and certain management investors.*
25. Stockholders Agreement among the Company, Back to School Acquisition L.L.C., Steven W. Hart and Steven W. Hart 2003 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust.*
26. Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2006, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., and Richard I. Gouse, Andrew T. Gouse, individually and as Trustee of the Carolyn Beth Gouse Irrevocable Trust, Seth A. Kurn and Steven L. Meltzer.*
27. Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., NN Acquisition, LLC, Brad Baran, Barbara Baran, UGP Education Partners, LLC, UGPE Partners Inc. and Merion Investment Partners, L.P..**
28. Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., NN Acquisition, LLC, Brad Baran, UGP Education Partners, LLC, Merion Investment Partners, L.P, and, for certain limited purposes only, UGPE Partners Inc..**
* Listed as an exhibit to the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The documents marked with one asterisk (*) in the aggregate constitute all documents listed as an
exhibit to such Form 10-K pursuant to Items 601(b)(4) or 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
** Expected to be filed as an exhibit to the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
SCHEDULE D
Foreign Qualification of Certain Subsidiaries
Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc.
Alabama
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Nevada
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Texas
New England Acquisition, LLC
Connecticut
Southwestern Acquisition, LLC
Ohio
Kentucky
Indiana
Nashville Acquisition, LLC
Tennessee
Euphoria Acquisition, LLC
Nevada
New England Institute of Technology at Palm Beach, Inc.
Not applicable
LCT Acquisition, LLC
Connecticut
NN Acquisition, LLC
Connecticut
New Jersey
Exhibit B-1
FORM OF OPINION OF THE COMPANYS OUTSIDE COUNSEL
To be delivered pursuant to Section 5(c)
February 18, 2009
To the Persons listed in Schedule A
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation
Public Offering
of 5,500,000 shares of common stock
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company), in connection with the purchase and sale of 5,500,000 shares (the Shares) of the Companys common stock, no par value, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2009 (the Purchase Agreement), among the Company, the selling shareholders named therein and each of you. This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement.
In that connection, we have reviewed the following:
(a) The Purchase Agreement.
(b) A specimen copy of the certificates used to evidence the Shares.
The documents described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (b) are collectively referred to herein as the Opinion Documents.
We have also reviewed the following:
(a) The registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-152854) filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on August 7, 2008 (such registration statement, at the time it became effective, including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, being hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement).
(b) The prospectus, dated September 12, 2008, forming a part of the Registration Statement, with respect to the offering from time to time of shares of the Companys common stock (the Base Prospectus).
(c) The preliminary prospectus supplement, dated February 3, 2009, relating to the Shares (the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) (the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the Preliminary Prospectus).
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(d) The final prospectus supplement, dated February 11, 2009, relating to the Shares (the Final Prospectus Supplement) (the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Final Prospectus Supplement, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the Final Prospectus).
(e) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(f) The originals or copies of the agreements and documents listed in Schedule C.
(g) Originals or copies of such other corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
As used herein, the term General Disclosure Package means the Preliminary Prospectus, when considered together with the information attached hereto as Schedule B.
In our review of the Opinion Documents and other documents, we have assumed:
(a) The genuineness of all signatures.
(b) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.
(c) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.
(d) As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the representations made in the Purchase Agreement and in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company.
(e) That the Purchase Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms.
(f) That:
(i) The Company is an entity duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
(ii) The Company has power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform, and has duly authorized, executed and delivered (except to the extent Generally Applicable Law is applicable to such execution and delivery), the Purchase Agreement.
(iii) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action (corporate or otherwise) and do not:
(A) contravene its certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents;
(B) except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it; or
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(C) result in any conflict with or breach of any agreement or document binding on it (other than the documents and agreements listed on Schedule C hereto) of which any addressee hereof has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know.
(iv) Except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or (to the extent the same is required under any agreement or document binding on it of which an addressee has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know) any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company of the Purchase Agreement or, if any such authorization, approval, consent, action, notice or filing is required, it has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and is in full force and effect.
We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.
Generally Applicable Law means the federal law of the United States of America, and the law of the State of New York (including the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto), that a New York lawyer exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably be expected to recognize as being applicable to the Company, the Purchase Agreement or the transactions governed by the Purchase Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing definition of Generally Applicable Law, the term Generally Applicable Law does not include any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to the Company, the Purchase Agreement or such transactions (including any law, rule or regulation applicable to individuals, companies or businesses because such entities provide educational services) solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any party to the Purchase Agreement or any of its affiliates due to the specific assets or business of such party or such affiliate.
To our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act, and no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or are pending or threatened by the Commission.
Based upon the foregoing and upon such other investigation as we have deemed necessary and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. Insofar as New York law governs the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the Purchase Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company.
2. The execution and delivery by the Company of the Purchase Agreement do not, and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will not, (a) result in a violation of Generally Applicable Law or (b) result in a breach of, a default under or the acceleration of (or entitle any party to accelerate) the maturity of any obligation of the Company under, or result in or require the creation of any lien upon or security interest in any property of the Company pursuant to the terms of, any agreement or document listed on Schedule C hereto.
3. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any United States federal or New York governmental authority or regulatory body, or any third party that is a party to any of the documents listed in Schedule C hereto, is
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required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company of the Purchase Agreement, except as have been obtained and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act or as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in the United States in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares by the Company.
4. The Company is not, and after giving pro forma effect to the use of the proceeds as contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the caption Use of Proceeds would not be, required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
5. The statements in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption Material United States Federal Tax Considerations for Non-United States Holders, insofar as such statements constitute summaries of legal matters referred to therein, fairly summarize in all material respects the legal matters referred to therein.
Our opinions expressed above are limited to (i) Generally Applicable Law and (ii) in the case of our opinion in paragraph 4 above, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.
This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact, that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
Very truly yours,
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SCHEDULE A
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
11 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Barrington Research Associates, Inc.
161 North Clark Street, Suite 2950
Chicago, IL 60601
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
3 Times Square, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10036
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
227 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10172
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
First Wisconsin Center
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SCHEDULE B
Public offering price: $14.00 per share
Shares offered: 5,500,000 shares, of which 1,000,000 shares are offered by the Company and 4,500,000 shares are offered by the Selling Shareholders named in the Preliminary Prospectus.
SCHEDULE C
1. Stockholders Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1999, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and Five Mile River Capital Partners LLC.*
2. Letter agreement, dated August 9, 2000, by Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C., amending the Stockholders Agreement.*
3 Letter agreement, dated August 9, 2000, by Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., amending the Stockholders Agreement.*
4. Management Stockholders Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2002, by and among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and the Stockholders and other holders of options under the Management Stock Option Plan listed therein.*
5 Assumption Agreement and First Amendment to Management Stockholders Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2007, by and among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and the Management Investors parties therein.*
6. Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C..*
7. Credit Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2005, among the Company, the Guarantors from time to time parties thereto, the Lenders from time to time parties thereto and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Administrative Agent.*
8. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and David F. Carney.*
9. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and David F. Carney.**
10. Separation and Release Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, between the Company and Lawrence E. Brown.*
11. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Scott M. Shaw.*
12. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and Scott M. Shaw.**
13. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Cesar Ribeiro.*
14. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and Cesar Ribeiro.**
15. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Shaun E. McAlmont.*
16. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and Shaun E. McAlmont.**
17. Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.*
18. Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Non Employee Directors Restricted Stock Plan.*
19. Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan.*
20. Lincoln Technical Institute Management Stock Option Plan, effective January 1, 2002.*
21. Form of Stock Option Agreement, dated January 1, 2002, between Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and certain participants.*
22. Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Companys 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.*
23. Form of Restricted Stock Agreement under the Companys 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.*
24. Management Stock Subscription Agreement, dated January 1, 2002, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and certain management investors.*
25. Stockholders Agreement among the Company, Back to School Acquisition L.L.C., Steven W. Hart and Steven W. Hart 2003 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust.*
26. Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2006, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., and Richard I. Gouse, Andrew T. Gouse, individually and as Trustee of the Carolyn Beth Gouse Irrevocable Trust, Seth A. Kurn and Steven L. Meltzer.*
27. Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., NN Acquisition, LLC, Brad Baran, Barbara Baran, UGP Education Partners, LLC, UGPE Partners Inc. and Merion Investment Partners, L.P..**
28. Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2009, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., NN Acquisition, LLC, Brad Baran, UGP Education Partners, LLC, Merion Investment Partners, L.P, and, for certain limited purposes only, UGPE Partners Inc..**
* Listed as an exhibit to the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The documents marked with one asterisk (*) in the aggregate constitute all documents listed as an
exhibit to such Form 10-K pursuant to Items 601(b)(4) or 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
** Expected to be filed as an exhibit to the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
Exhibit B-2
FORM OF OPINION OF THE COMPANYS OUTSIDE COUNSEL
to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(c)
February 18, 2009
To the Persons listed in Schedule A
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation
Public Offering
of 5,500,000 shares of common stock
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company), in connection with the purchase and sale of 5,500,000 shares (the Shares) of the Companys common stock, no par value, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2009 (the Purchase Agreement), among the Company, the selling shareholders named therein and each of you. This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Purchase Agreement.
In that connection, we have reviewed the following:
(a) The Purchase Agreement.
(b) The registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-152854) filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on August 7, 2008 (such registration statement, at the time it became effective, including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, being hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement).
(c) The prospectus, dated September 12, 2008, forming a part of the Registration Statement, with respect to the offering from time to time of shares of the Companys common stock (the Base Prospectus).
(d) The preliminary prospectus supplement, dated February 3, 2009, relating to the Shares (the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) (the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the Preliminary Prospectus).
(e) The final prospectus supplement, dated February 11, 2009, relating to the Shares (the Final Prospectus Supplement) (the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Final Prospectus Supplement, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the Final Prospectus).
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(f) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
As used herein, Applicable Time shall mean 5:00p.m. Eastern Standard Time, on February 11, 2009, being the time identified to us by you as the time of first sale of the Shares to the public, and the General Disclosure Package means the Preliminary Prospectus, when considered together with the information included in Schedule B hereto.
We also reviewed and participated in discussions concerning the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus with certain officers or employees of the Company and its auditors, and with your representatives and your counsel. The limitations inherent in the independent verification of factual matters and in the role of outside counsel are such, however, that we cannot and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of any of the statements made in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, except as set forth in paragraph 5 of our opinion as counsel to the Company addressed to you, dated the date hereof.
Subject to the limitations set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, we advise you that, on the basis of the information we gained in the course of performing the services referred to above, in our opinion, (a) each of the documents incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no opinion), at the time it was filed with the Commission, appears on its face to have been appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and (b) each of the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no opinion), appears on its face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
We further advise you that, subject to the limitations set forth in the second preceding paragraph, on the basis of the information we gained in the course of performing the services referred to above, no facts came to our attention that caused us to believe that (i) the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we have not been requested to comment), at the time it became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the General Disclosure Package (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we have not been requested to comment), at the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we have not been requested to comment), as of its date or the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
This letter is being furnished to you solely for your benefit in connection with your role as underwriters of the offering of the Shares, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose.
Very truly yours,
[·]
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SCHEDULE A
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
11 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Barrington Research Associates, Inc.
161 North Clark Street, Suite 2950
Chicago, IL 60601
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
3 Times Square, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10036
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
227 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10172
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
First Wisconsin Center
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SCHEDULE B
Public offering price: $14.00 per share
Shares offered: 5,500,000 shares, of which 1,000,000 shares are offered by the Company and 4,500,000 shares are offered by the Selling Shareholders named in the Preliminary Prospectus
Exhibit C
FORM OF OPINION OF THE COMPANYS NEW JERSEY COUNSEL
to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(d)
February 18, 2009
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Barclays Capital, Inc.
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We serve as special New Jersey counsel to Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company). This opinion is furnished to you in connection with (i) the filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the Registration Statement) which became effective on September 12, 2008 (File No. 333-152854), (ii) the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the Prospectus), relating to the offering and sale from time to time by the Company of up to 1,500,000 shares of the Companys common stock, no par value (the Common Stock), and by the selling stockholders named in the Prospectus of up to 22,024,003 shares of the Common Stock, and (iii) (A) the preliminary prospectus supplement (the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) dated February 3, 2009 and (B) the prospectus supplement (the Prospectus Supplement) dated February 11, 2009, each relating to the offering and sale by the Company of up to 1,150,000 shares of the Common Stock (the Company Shares) and by the selling stockholders named therein (the Selling Stockholders) of up to 5,175,000 shares of the Common Stock (the Selling Stockholders Shares), in each case in the manner set forth therein.
In that connection, we have reviewed originals or copies of the following documents (the Documents):
(a) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement;
(b) The amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company, as amended through the date hereof;
(c) The Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) dated February 11, 2009 by and among the Company, the selling stockholders named therein and the underwriters named therein;;
(d) Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on [ ], 2009 authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Company Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; and
(e) Originals or copies of such other corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials and officers of the Company and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
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In our review of the Documents, we have assumed:
(a) The genuineness of all signatures;
(b) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us;
(c) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies; and
(d) As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the statements made in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company.
We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.
Members of our firm are admitted to practice law in the State of New Jersey, and we do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
Subject to the foregoing assumptions and the limitations and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that as of the date hereof
1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey and has the corporate power and other power and authority under such laws, to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus Supplement and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
2. The Company (a) has the corporate power to execute, deliver and perform the Purchase Agreement and (b) has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement.
3. The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
4. The number of authorized, issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption Capitalization (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus Supplement or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus Supplement); the shares of issued and outstanding common stock of the Company, including the Selling Stockholders Shares, have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable; the Company Shares have been duly authorized and, when delivered to and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; none of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, including the Selling Stockholders Shares, were issued in violation of the statutory preemptive rights of any securityholder of the Company; and the issuance of the Company Shares in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement is not subject to any statutory preemptive rights of any securityholder of the Company.
This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose without our prior written consent. This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim
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any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact, that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading Legal Matters in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
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Very truly yours, |
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McCarter & English, LLP |
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Exhibit D
FORM OF OPINION OF THE COMPANYS OUTSIDE REGULATORY COUNSEL
to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(e)
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Re: |
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation |
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Shares of Common Stock |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special educational regulatory counsel to Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company), in connection with the sale of shares of its common stock (the Shares) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement dated February , 2008 (the Purchase Agreement), among the Company, the selling shareholders named in Schedule B thereto and the several underwriters named in Schedule A thereto. This opinion letter is furnished to you pursuant to Section 5(e) of the Purchase Agreement.
For purposes of the opinions set forth herein, we have assumed without investigation that the documents examined by us are genuine and precisely match the final execution copies of the documents; the signatures on all such documents are genuine; all individuals executing such documents had all requisite legal capacity and competency; the documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete; the documents submitted to us as certified or reproduction copies conform to the originals; and the documents reviewed by us constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto.
We have examined such certificates of public officials, certificates of officers of the Company, originals (or copies thereof certified to our satisfaction) of corporate documents and records of the Company, and other documents, records and papers as we have deemed relevant and necessary in order to give the opinions hereinafter set forth. We also have assumed that any certificate, electronic message, or other document on which we have relied that was given or dated earlier than this opinion letter was accurate when given and has remained accurate as far as relevant to the opinions contained herein from such earlier date through and including the date of this letter. With respect to certain of the opinions set forth herein, and the accuracy of certain factual matters upon which certain of the opinions set forth herein are based, we have relied, without investigation, solely upon certifications of officers of the Company. We have relied upon the aforesaid certifications for the accuracy of certain material factual matters which were not independently established by us. Capitalized terms utilized herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meaning as in the Purchase Agreement. Where in this opinion letter a statement is made to our knowledge, it means that none of the attorneys in our who have given substantive attention to legal representation of the Company in matters relating directly to the Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby has current actual knowledge of the inaccuracy of such statement.
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and exceptions contained herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The statements under the captions (i) Prospectus Supplement Summary - Regulation and Risk Factors Risks Related to the Offering Future sales of a substantial amount of our common stock could result in a change of control of our schools, which could require any affected schools to reaffirm their DOE approvals, state authorizations and accreditations and their ability to participate in Title IV Programs in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and under the captions Business Regulatory
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Environment, Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Industry, Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Business Failure on our part to establish and operate additional schools or campuses or effectively identify suitable expansion opportunities could reduce our ability to implement our growth strategy and (ii) Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations General in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (the 2007 Form 10-K) as supplemented by the statements under the caption Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Recent Regulatory Developments in the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2008 (the September 30, 2008 Form 10-Q), insofar as such statements constitute a summary of applicable federal and state laws and regulations or a summary of judicial and administrative proceedings with respect to the operation of postsecondary educational institutions (collectively, Regulatory Matters), are as of the date of this opinion letter accurate in all material respects and present fairly the information conveyed therein.
2. We have no knowledge that leads us to believe that, as of the Applicable Time or the date of this opinion letter, the information contained in the statements under the captions (i) Prospectus Supplement Summary - Regulation and Risk Factors Risks Related to the Offering Future sales of a substantial amount of our common stock could result in a change of control of our schools, which could require any affected schools to reaffirm their DOE approvals, state authorizations and accreditations and their ability to participate in Title IV Programs in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and under the captions Business Regulatory Environment, Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Industry, Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Business Failure on our part to establish and operate additional schools or campuses or effectively identify suitable expansion opportunities could reduce our ability to implement our growth strategy and (ii) Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations General in the 2007 Form 10-K as supplemented by the statements under the caption Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Recent Regulatory Developments in the September 30, 2008 Form 10-Q, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of Regulatory Matters, contained or contain, as the case may be, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omit, as the case may be, to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
3. Based on the assumption that the offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement will not result in a person acquiring ownership and control of the Company such that the Company is required to file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission as a result of such acquisition the offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement will not constitute a change in ownership resulting in a change in control under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (the HEA).
4. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of, or filing with, the U.S. Department of Education under Title IV of the HEA is required for the offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
5. To our knowledge, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Purchase Agreement and the offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, do not and will not conflict with or result in a violation of (i) Title IV of the HEA or (ii) any rule, regulation or requirement of the U.S. Department of Education promulgated under Title IV of the HEA, except for such conflicts or violations which would not be reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
6. To our knowledge, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the
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Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have all necessary licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations required for each of the Companys schools to participate in Title IV Programs under the HEA and pursuant to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries must be authorized by applicable states to engage in rendering educational services as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to so have any such licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations would not be reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Except as specifically set forth above, the foregoing opinions relate only to matters of federal law. We do not purport to express any opinion of the law of any other jurisdiction.
This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no additional or other opinion is implied or may be inferred to extend this opinion letter beyond the matters expressly stated herein. We express no opinion as to any matters beyond the scope of the regulatory issues discussed above.
The opinions expressed in this letter have been prepared solely for your use and reliance in connection with the closing of the offering as described in the Prospectus, and may not be relied on by any other entity or person or for any other purpose. The opinions expressed in this letter are made only as of the date hereof and cannot be relied upon with respect to events which occur subsequent to the issuance of this letter. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the delivery of this letter.
This opinion is not to be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise referred to, nor is it to be filed with any governmental agency. Other than the addressee hereof, no one is entitled to rely on this opinion.
Yours truly,
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Exhibit E
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO FIVE MILE RIVER CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC
to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(f)
February 18, 2009
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Barclays Capital Inc.
Re: Lincoln Educational Services Corporation
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as corporate counsel to Five Mile River Capital Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Selling Stockholder), in connection with the execution and delivery of the documents identified on Exhibit A attached hereto (collectively, the Opinion Documents) pertaining to the sale of common stock, no par value per share, of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company), pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2009 (the Purchase Agreement), among the Company, the selling stockholders named therein and the underwriters named therein. This opinion letter is being delivered at the request of the Selling Stockholder pursuant to Section 5(f) of the Purchase Agreement. Please note that we are not counsel to Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C., David F. Carney, Scott M. Shaw or any party to the Opinion Documents (other than the Selling Stockholder). Capitalized terms not defined in this opinion letter shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement.
As such counsel and for purposes of our opinions set forth below, we have examined copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth in this opinion letter, including, without limitation, (i) the Opinion Documents, (ii) the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of the Selling Stockholder dated as of October 31, 2000, and (iii) the Certificate of Formation of the Selling Stockholder, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 17, 1999 (items (ii) and (iii) are collectively referred to herein as the Selling Stockholders Organizational Documents). In addition, we have examined either original, certified copies or copies otherwise authenticated to our satisfaction of such other documents as we deemed necessary or advisable to examine in order to enable us to render the opinions expressed herein.
As to various questions of fact material to the opinions expressed herein, we have also relied upon the representations and warranties of the parties (other than the Selling Stockholder) set forth in the Opinion Documents. In addition, we have made such other examination as to matters of fact and law as we deemed necessary in order to enable us to render this opinion letter.
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The opinions expressed herein are qualified in their entirety as follows:
(a) No opinion is expressed with respect to laws other than the laws of the State of New York, except that, in addition, the applicable portions of the opinions in numbered paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 hereof are limited to the statutory provisions of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act. We express no opinion with respect to the law of any other jurisdiction, and no opinion with respect to the statutes, administrative decisions, rules, regulations or requirements of any county, municipality, subdivision or local authority of any jurisdiction. We have assumed for the purposes of this opinion letter that the parties choice of law will be respected, and accordingly we express no opinion as to the choice of law rules or other laws that any tribunal may apply to the transactions referred to in this opinion letter.
(b) To the extent that matters concerning the laws of the State of New York are involved in the opinions expressed below our opinions are based solely on official compilations of such laws.
(c) To the extent that the opinions relate to the enforceability of any of the Opinion Documents, the opinions are subject to the effect of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, rearrangement, reorganization, liquidation, conservatorship, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally.
(d) No opinion is expressed as to (i) the availability of equitable remedies (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and (ii) the enforceability of any equitable remedies insofar as such remedies may be subject to overriding considerations of public policy.
(e) We have assumed that the transactions contemplated by the Opinion Documents comply with any good faith, commercial reasonableness or fairness test required by applicable law.
(f) We have assumed the organization, existence, good standing and capacity of the parties to the Opinion Documents (other than the Selling Stockholder), and that such parties (other than the Selling Stockholder) have the right, power and authority to execute and deliver the Opinion Documents to which they are a party.
(g) We have assumed that all documents purporting to be executed by the parties thereto (other than the Selling Stockholder) have, in fact, been executed and delivered. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the original documents in final form of any copies thereof submitted to us for our examination.
(h) Whenever our opinion is specifically qualified as to our knowledge with respect to the existence or absence of facts given herein, it is intended to signify that during our course of representation of the Selling Stockholder as described herein, no information has come to our attention after a review of our office files relating to the Selling Stockholder which would give us actual knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts. However, except to the extent expressly set forth herein, we have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the existence or absence of such facts, and thus material information as to such matters may not have come to our attention during the course of our representation of the Selling Stockholder, and accordingly, no inference as to our knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts should be drawn from our representation of the Selling Stockholder.
(i) We have assumed that there are no documents or agreements, other than the Opinion Documents which would expand, modify or otherwise affect the obligations of the respective
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parties under the Opinion Documents and which could have an adverse effect on the opinions rendered herein.
(j) We have assumed that the execution and delivery of the Opinion Documents are free of mutual mistake of fact, fraud, misrepresentation, concealment, undue influence, duress or criminal activity and we are not aware of the existence of any of the foregoing.
(k) We have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons executing the Opinion Documents.
(l) We have assumed that the factual statements contained in the Certificate of the Selling Stockholder set forth on Exhibit B attached to this opinion letter are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.
(m) We express no opinion with respect to the federal securities laws or the blue sky or securities laws of any other jurisdiction.
We are not opining upon and do not assume any responsibility for, and have not independently checked or verified the accuracy, completeness, or fairness of the information contained in any registration statements, prospectuses or other filings, including, but not limited to, registration statements, prospectuses or other filings relating to the Shares and/or the transactions contemplated by the Opinion Documents.
In rendering the opinion expressed in numbered paragraph 4 below, please note that our opinion is limited solely to statutory laws and regulations which are applicable to transactions in the nature of those contemplated by the Opinion Documents.
In rendering the opinion expressed in numbered paragraph 6 below, please note that we have not conducted a UCC search in any jurisdiction with respect to any liens and/or claims against the Shares or a docket search in any jurisdiction with respect to litigation, nor have we undertaken any further inquiry whatsoever.
Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the following opinion:
1. The Opinion Documents have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder and constitute the valid, binding and enforceable agreement of the Selling Stockholder.
2. The execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of the Opinion Documents do not, and the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations thereunder, will not contravene any provision of the Selling Stockholders Organizational Documents.
3. To our knowledge, the execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of the Opinion Documents do not, and the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations thereunder, will not breach, or result in a default under, any existing obligation of the Selling Stockholder under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, security agreement, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which its properties are bound, or the terms of any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder.
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4. The execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of, and performance by it of its obligations under, the Opinion Documents do not violate applicable provisions of statutory law or regulation.
5. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any United States federal or state governmental authority or regulatory body, or any third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Selling Stockholder of any Opinion Documents, except as have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
6. Assuming the Underwriters purchase the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder for value without notice of any adverse claim within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the NYUCC, the Underwriters will acquire their respective interests in such Shares (including, without limitation, all rights that the Selling Shareholder had or has the power to transfer in such Shares) free and clear of any adverse claim within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the NYUCC.
This opinion letter deals only with the specified legal issues expressly addressed herein, and the Underwriters should not infer any opinion that is not explicitly addressed herein from any matter stated in this opinion letter.
This opinion is rendered solely to the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Opinion Documents. This opinion may not be relied upon by the Underwriters for any other purpose or relied upon by any other person without our prior written consent. In addition, reliance upon this opinion in connection with the matters set forth herein is subject to the understanding that (a) the opinion rendered herein does not address any matter or issue arising out of or related to any transaction subsequent to the date hereof, and (b) the opinion rendered herein is rendered as of the date hereof and is not to be deemed to have been reissued or updated by any subsequent delivery of a copy hereof. Further, we do not undertake to advise the Underwriters or any other person with regard to any change after the date hereof in the circumstances or law that may bear on the matters set forth herein and which may bear on the conclusions or other matters expressed in this opinion. Without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be used or relied upon by any person, or in any other context or for any other purpose, and may not be quoted, in whole or in part, or otherwise referred to, nor filed with or furnished to any governmental agency or other person.
Yours Truly,
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EXHIBIT A
OPINION DOCUMENTS
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1. |
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Purchase Agreement, dated as of February , 2009, among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, the selling stockholders listed therein and the underwriters named therein. |
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2. |
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Custody Agreement, dated as of February , 2009, among the selling stockholders named therein and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. |
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3. |
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Irrevocable Power of Attorney of Selling Stockholder, dated as of February , 2009. |
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4. |
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Lock-up Letter dated as of February , 2009 issued by the Selling Stockholder to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Barclays Capital Inc. |
Exhibit F-1
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO BACK TO SCHOOL ACQUISITION, L.L.C., DAVID F. CARNEY AND SCOTT M. SHAW
to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(g)
February 18, 2009
To the Persons listed in Schedule A
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation
Public Offering
of 4,100,000 shares of common stock
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Back to School Acquisition L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (BSA), David F. Carney and Scott M. Shaw (such persons, the Individual Selling Shareholders, and together with BSA, the Selling Shareholders), in connection with the sale by the Selling Shareholders of 4,100,000 shares (the Shares), in the aggregate, of the common stock, no par value, of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company), pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2009 (the Purchase Agreement), among the Company, the selling shareholders named therein and each of you. This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 5(g) of the Purchase Agreement.
In that connection, we have reviewed originals or copies of the following documents:
(a) The Purchase Agreement.
(b) The Custody Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2009 (the Custody Agreement) between the selling shareholders named therein and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as custodian.
The documents described in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) are collectively referred to herein as the Opinion Documents.
We have also reviewed the following:
(a) The registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-152854) filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on August 7, 2008 (such registration statement, at the time it became effective, including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, being hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement).
(b) The prospectus, dated September 12, 2008, forming a part of the Registration Statement, with respect to the offering from time to time of shares of the Companys common stock (the Base Prospectus).
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(c) The preliminary prospectus supplement, dated February 3, 2009, relating to the Shares (the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement) (the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the Preliminary Prospectus).
(d) The final prospectus supplement, dated February 11, 2009, relating to the Shares (the Final Prospectus Supplement) (the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Final Prospectus Supplement, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the Final Prospectus).
(e) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(f) The certificate of formation and the limited liability company agreement of BSA (collectively, the Organizational Documents).
(g) The originals or copies of the agreements and documents listed in Schedule B.
(h) Originals or copies of such other corporate records of the Company and BSA, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company and BSA and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
In our review of the Opinion Documents and other documents, we have assumed:
(a) The genuineness of all signatures.
(b) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.
(c) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.
(d) As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the representations made in the Opinion Documents and in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company and BSA.
(e) That each of the Opinion Documents is the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, other than the Selling Shareholders, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms.
(f) That:
(i) BSA is an entity duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
(ii) BSA has power and authority (limited liability company or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform, and has duly authorized, executed, and delivered (except to the extent Generally Applicable Law is applicable to such execution and delivery), the Opinion Documents.
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(iii) Each Individual Selling Shareholder has capacity to execute, deliver and perform, and has duly executed and delivered (except to the extent Generally Applicable Law is applicable to such execution and delivery), the Opinion Documents.
(iv) The execution, delivery and performance by BSA of the Opinion Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action (limited liability company or otherwise) and do not contravene its Organizational Documents.
(v) The execution, delivery and performance by each Selling Shareholder of the Opinion Documents does not:
(A) except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it; or
(B) result in any conflict with or breach of any agreement or document binding on it (other than the documents and agreements listed on Schedule C hereto) of which any addressee hereof has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know.
(vi) Except with respect to Generally Applicable Law, no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or (to the extent the same is required under any agreement or document binding on it of which an addressee has knowledge, has received notice or has reason to know) any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Selling Shareholders of any Opinion Document or, if any such authorization, approval, consent, action, notice or filing is required, it has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and is in full force and effect.
(g) Each Underwriter listed on Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement (each, an Underwriter) is a Depository Trust Company (DTC) participant. As such, each Underwriter maintains a customer account with DTC in the name of such Underwriter, and such customer account is the subject of an agreement between DTC and such Underwriter providing, among other things, that: (i) financial assets (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(9) of the Uniform Commercial Code as currently in effect in the state of New York (NYUCC)) (including financial assets consisting of security entitlements with respect to the Securities sold to such Underwriter) may be credited to such customer account; (ii) DTC undertakes to treat such Underwriter as entitled to exercise the rights that comprise the financial assets so credited from time to time to such customer account in accordance with Article 8, Part 5 of NYUCC ; and (iii) such agreement is governed by the law of the State of New York (such that DTCs securities intermediarys jurisdiction (as defined in Section 8-110(e)) of NYUCC is New York).
We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.
Generally Applicable Law means the federal law of the United States of America, and the law of the State of New York (including the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto), that a New York lawyer exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably be expected to recognize as being applicable to the Company and the Selling Shareholders, the Opinion Documents or the transactions governed by the Opinion Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing definition of Generally Applicable Law, the term Generally Applicable Law does not include any law,
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rule or regulation that is applicable to the Company, the Selling Shareholder, the Opinion Documents or such transactions (including any law, rule or regulation applicable to individuals, companies or businesses because such entities provide educational services) solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any party to any of the Opinion Documents or any of its affiliates due to the specific assets or business of such party or such affiliate.
Based upon the foregoing and upon such other investigation as we have deemed necessary and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. Insofar as New York law governs the execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the Purchase Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Selling Shareholders.
2. Insofar as New York law governs the execution and delivery of the Custody Agreement, the Custody Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Selling Shareholders, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Selling Shareholder, enforceable against each Selling Shareholder in accordance with its terms.
3. The execution and delivery by each Selling Shareholder of each Opinion Document does not, and the performance by each Selling Shareholder of its obligations thereunder, will not (a) result in a violation of Generally Applicable Law or (b) result in a breach of, a default under or the acceleration of (or entitle any party to accelerate) the maturity of any obligation of any Selling Shareholder under, or result in or require the creation of any lien upon or security interest in any property of any Selling Shareholder pursuant to the terms of, any agreement or document listed in the Schedule C.
4. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any United States federal or New York governmental authority or regulatory body, or an third party that is a party to any of the documents listed in Schedule B is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by any Selling Shareholders of any Opinion Document, except as have been obtained and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act or as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in the United States in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
5. Assuming (i) the Underwriters purchase of the Shares from the Selling Shareholders is for value, (ii) the Underwriters securities intermediary has indicated by book entry that the Shares have been credited to the Underwriters securities accounts (such security entitlements, the Shares Security Entitlements) and (iii) the Underwriters have no notice of any adverse claim to any of the Shares or their respective Shares Security Entitlements, no action based on an adverse claim to the Shares or the Shares Security Entitlements may be asserted against the Underwriters.
Our opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:
(a) Our opinion in paragraph 2 above is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers).
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(b) Our opinion in paragraph 2 above is also subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(c) Our opinion in paragraph 5 is limited to Article 8 of the NYUCC and therefore such opinion does not address laws other than Article 8 of the NYUCC. Terms defined in Articles 1 and 8 of the NYUCC are used in paragraph 5 as therein defined.
(d) Our opinions are limited to Generally Applicable Law, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.
This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Opinion Documents. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact, that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
Very truly yours,
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SCHEDULE A
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
11 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Barrington Research Associates, Inc.
161 North Clark Street, Suite 2950
Chicago, IL 60601
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
3 Times Square, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10036
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
227 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10172
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
First Wisconsin Center
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SCHEDULE B
1. Stockholders Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1999, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and Five Mile River Capital Partners LLC.
2. Letter agreement, dated August 9, 2000, by Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C., amending the Stockholders Agreement.
3. Letter agreement, dated August 9, 2000, by Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., amending the Stockholders Agreement.
4. Management Stockholders Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2002, by and among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and the Stockholders and other holders of options under the Management Stock Option Plan listed therein.
5. Assumption Agreement and First Amendment to Management Stockholders Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2007, by and among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc., Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. and the Management Investors parties therein.
6. Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C..
7. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and David F. Carney.
8. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and David F. Carney.
9. Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2007, between the Company and Scott M. Shaw.
10. Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2009, between the Company and Scott M. Shaw.
11. Management Stock Subscription Agreement, dated January 1, 2002, among Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. and certain management investors.
12. Stockholders Agreement among the Company, Back to School Acquisition L.L.C., Steven W. Hart and Steven W. Hart 2003 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust.
Exhibit F-2
February 18, 2009
To Each of the Parties
Listed on Schedule A Hereto
|
Re: |
Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C. |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), in connection with the sale by the Company of shares (the Shares), of the common stock, no par value, of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (Lincoln), pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2009 (the Purchase Agreement), among Lincoln, the Company, the selling shareholders named therein and each of you. This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 5(g) of the Purchase Agreement.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the examination of executed or conformed counterparts of the following:
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We understand that you will rely as to matters of Delaware law upon this opinion in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. In connection with the foregoing, we
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hereby consent to your relying as to matters of Delaware law upon this opinion in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, subject to the understanding that the opinions rendered herein are given on the date hereof and such opinions are rendered only with respect to facts existing on the date hereof and laws, rules and regulations currently in effect. Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other person or entity for any purpose.
Very truly yours,
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SCHEDULE A
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
11 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Barrington Research Associates, Inc.
161 North Clark Street, Suite 2950
Chicago, IL 60601
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
3 Times Square, 29th Floor
New York, NY 10036
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
227 Park Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10172
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
First Wisconsin Center
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
SCHEDULE B
1. Purchase Agreement, dated as of February , 2009, among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, the selling stockholders listed therein and the underwriters named therein.
2 Custody Agreement, dated as of February , 2009, among the selling stockholders named therein and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
3. Irrevocable Power of Attorney of Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C., dated as of February , 2009.
4. Lock-up Letter of Back to School Acquisition, L.L.C., dated as of February , 2009.
Exhibit G
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
CERTIFICATE OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Reference is hereby made to that certain Purchase Agreement, dated February 11, 2009 (the Purchase Agreement) by and among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company), and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the Underwriters). Pursuant to Section 5(i) of the Purchase Agreement, and in connection with the sale of shares of the Companys common stock, no par value, pursuant to the Companys Registration Statement filed on August 7, 2008 (File No. 333-152854), the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, I, Cesar Ribeiro, the duly appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that:
1. I have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus including certain statements under the heading Recent Developments in the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, which items are specified in paragraph 4 below (the Specified Items).
2. No completed consolidated financial statements of the Company as of any date or for any period subsequent to November 30, 2008 are available. The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of any date or for any period subsequent to November 30, 2008 are incomplete in that they omit the necessary adjustments for the fair presentation of the information set forth therein.
3. For the purposes of this certificate, I have compared the Specified Items (as indicated by tickmarks below) to:
TICKMARK [A] The Companys financial statements, books or audit records and found them to be in agreement.
TICKMARK [B] The Companys estimates, schedules or analyses and found them to be in agreement.
4. The Specified Items and the related tickmarks identified in paragraph 3 above are as follows:
A. Page S-3 - On January 20, 2009, we completed the acquisition of four of the five schools comprising Baran Institute of Technology for approximately $25.3 million in cash. Tickmark [B]
B. Page S-3 - In connection with these acquisitions, we expect to record a charge of approximately $0.02 per share in the fourth quarter of 2008 and for the year ended December 31, 2008 and $0.01 per share in the first quarter of 2009 Tickmark [B]
C. Page S-4 On December 1, 2008, we completed the acquisition of Briarwood College for approximately $11.4 million in cash. Tickmark [A]
D. Page S-4 - Student starts in the fourth quarter of 2008 increased 17.1% over the comparable period in the prior year. Tickmark [B]
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E. Page S-4 We expect 2008 year-end student enrollment, on a same school basis, to exceed 2007 year-end enrollment by approximately 17%... Tickmark [B]
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined have the meaning assigned to them in the Purchase Agreement.
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Exhibit H
Form of lock-up from directors, officers or other stockholders pursuant to Section 5(n)
February 3, 2009
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
11 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters to be named in the
within mentioned Purchase Agreement
|
Re: |
Proposed Public Offering by Lincoln Educational Services Corporation |
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, a shareholder, an officer and/or a director of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the Company), understands that Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Credit Suisse) and Barclays Capital Inc. (Barclays), as representatives of the underwriters, propose to enter into a Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with the Company and the Selling Shareholders named in the Purchase Agreement providing for the public offering (the Public Offering) of shares (the Securities) of the Companys common stock, no par value per share (the Common Stock). In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a shareholder, officer and/or director of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the Purchase Agreement that, during a period of 90 days from the date of the Purchase Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse and Barclays, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Companys Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, or file, or cause to be filed, any registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to any of the foregoing (collectively, the Lock-Up Securities) or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.
The foregoing shall not apply to any Lock-Up Securities transferred:
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(iii) by operation of law, such as rules of intestate succession or statutes governing the effects of a merger; or
(iv) pursuant to the exercise of any stock option granted as a direct or indirect result of any Company program, including but not limited to, any form of cashless exercise generally available for such grants, provided that the net resulting shares from such stock option exercise are not sold during the lock-up period; or
(v) pursuant to the use of any Common Stock or stock options as collateral for a loan provided that the holder of such collateral executes this agreement or an agreement in substantially similar form; or
(vi) as a distribution to limited partners, members or stockholders of the undersigned; or
provided that, in each case, unless required by applicable law, the undersigned does not voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers; provided further that, in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to (i), (ii) or (vii) above, prior to any such distribution, transfer or donation: (1) Credit Suisse and Barclays shall receive a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the lock-up period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (2) any such distribution, transfer or donation shall not involve a disposition for value.
The first paragraph of this letter shall not prohibit the entering into 10b5-1 trading plans by officers and directors of the Company and the filing of a resale registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with such 10b5-1 trading plans provided that, no sales are effected under such registration statement until the expiration of the lock-up period pursuant to this letter.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, if:
(1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day lock-up period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or
(2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day lock-up period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day lock-up period,
the restrictions imposed by this letter shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless Credit Suisse and Barclays waive, in writing, such extension.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that written notice of any extension of the 90-day lock-up period pursuant to the previous paragraph will be delivered by Credit Suisse and Barclays to the Company (in accordance with the Purchase Agreement) and that any such notice properly delivered
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will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned. The undersigned further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement during the period from the date of this lock-up agreement to and including the 34th day following the expiration of the initial 90-day lock-up period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the 90-day lock-up period (as may have been extended pursuant to the previous paragraph) has expired.
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