| Item 1. | |
| (a) | Name of issuer:
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORP |
| (b) | Address of issuer's principal executive offices:
14 SYLVAN WAY, SUITE A, PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY, 07054. |
| Item 2. | |
| (a) | Name of person filing:
(1) Heartland Advisors, Inc.
(2) Heartland Holdings, Inc.
(3) William R. Nasgovitz
Heartland Advisors, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Heartland Holdings, Inc., which is controlled by Mr. Nasgovitz. |
| (b) | Address or principal business office or, if none, residence:
All reporting persons may be contacted at:
790 North Water Street, Suite 1200
Milwaukee, WI 53202 |
| (c) | Citizenship:
Heartland Advisors, Inc. is a Wisconsin corporation. Heartland Holdings, Inc. is a Wisconsin corporation. William R. Nasgovitz is a United States citizen. |
| (d) | Title of class of securities:
Common Stock |
| (e) | CUSIP No.:
533535100 |
| Item 3. | If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: |
| (a) |  Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
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| (b) | Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
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| (c) | Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
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| (d) | Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8);
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| (e) |  An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
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| (f) | An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
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| (g) | A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
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| (h) | A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
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| (i) | A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
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| (j) | A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J),
please specify the type of institution:
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| (k) | Group, in accordance with Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
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| | |
| Item 4. | Ownership |
| (a) | Amount beneficially owned:
1,482,108 shares may be deemed beneficially owned within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Act by (1) Heartland Advisors, Inc. by virtue of its investment discretion and/or voting authority granted by certain clients; (2) Heartland Holdings, Inc.; and (3) William R. Nasgovitz by virtue of his control of Heartland Advisors, Inc. and Heartland Holdings, Inc.
Mr. Nasgovitz disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares reported on the Schedule. Heartland Holdings, Inc. files this Schedule solely as the parent company of Heartland Advisors, Inc. and indirect beneficial owner of the Common Stock held by Heartland Advisors, Inc. |
| (b) | Percent of class:
4.7 %
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| (c) | Number of shares as to which the person has:
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| | (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
For information on voting and dispositive power with respect to the above listed shares, see Items 5-9 on the Cover Pages.
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| | (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
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| | (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
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| | (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
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| Item 5. | Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class. |
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Ownership of 5 percent or less of a class
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| Item 6. | Ownership of more than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person. |
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If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than 5 percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required.
The clients of Heartland Advisors, Inc., a registered investment adviser, including an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends and proceeds from the sale of shares included on this Schedule. The shares disclosed in this filing are owned by various accounts managed by Heartland Advisors, Inc. on a discretionary basis. To the best of Heartland Advisors' knowledge, none of the accounts owns more than 5% of the outstanding stock. |
| Item 7. | Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person. |
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If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant subsidiary.
See Item 3 and Cover Pages. |
| Item 8. | Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. |
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Not Applicable
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| Item 9. | Notice of Dissolution of Group. |
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Not Applicable
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