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Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies

Line of Credit

The Company maintains a line of credit with a bank, up to a maximum credit line of $250,000.  The line of credit bears interest equal to the prime rate plus 0.50% (overall interest rate of 3.75% at September 30, 2012).  The line of credit requires minimum monthly payments consisting of interest only.  The line of credit is secured by all business assets, inventory, equipment, accounts, general intangibles, chattel paper, documents, instruments and letter of credit rights of the Company.  The line of credit is for an unspecified time until the bank notifies the Company of the Final Availability Date, at which time payments on the line of credit become the sum of: (a) accrued interest and (b) 1/60th of the unpaid principal balance immediately following the Final Availability Date.  The balance due on the line of credit as of September 30, 2012 was $215,754.  Since the earliest the line of credit is due and payable is over a five year period and the Company believes that it could obtain a comparable replacement line of credit elsewhere, the entire line of credit is included in long-term liabilities.  The unused amount under the line of credit available to the Company at September 30, 2012 was $34,246.

Legal Matters

From time to time, we may be involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business. As of September 30, 2012, there were no pending or threatened lawsuits that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the results of our operations.

There are no proceedings in which any of our directors, officers or affiliates, or any registered or beneficial shareholder, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our interest.

Regulatory Matters

The University is subject to extensive regulation by Federal and State governmental agencies and accrediting bodies.  In particular, the HEA and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the DOE subject the University to significant regulatory scrutiny on the basis of numerous standards that schools must satisfy to participate in the various types of federal student financial assistance programs authorized under Title IV of the HEA.  The University has had provisional certification to participate in the Title IV programs.  That provisional certification imposes certain regulatory restrictions including, but not limited to, a limit of 500 student recipients for Title IV funding for the duration of the provisional certification.  During 2011, the University’s provisional certification was scheduled to expire, but the University timely filed its application for recertification with the DOE, which extended the term of the University’s certification pending DOE review.  The provisional certification restrictions continue with regard to the University’s participation in Title IV programs.

To participate in the Title IV programs, an institution must be authorized to offer its programs of instruction by the relevant agencies of the State in which it is located, and since July 2011, potentially in the States where an institution offers postsecondary education through distance education.  In addition, an institution must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the DOE and certified as eligible by the DOE.  The DOE will certify an institution to participate in the Title IV programs only after the institution has demonstrated compliance with the HEA and the DOE’s extensive academic, administrative, and financial regulations regarding institutional eligibility and certification.  An institution must also demonstrate its compliance with these requirements to the DOE on an ongoing basis.  The University performs periodic reviews of its compliance with the various applicable regulatory requirements.  If we were ineligible to receive Title IV funding, given Title IV cash receipts represented approximately 7% of total revenues in 2011, our operations and liquidity would be minimally impacted.

As a result of certain events in 2012, the Company has been requested by DOE to provide a letter of credit in the amount of $105,865, which is 10% of Aspen’s Title IV receipts in 2011, by March 28, 2012.  On March 27, 2012, the Company provided the DOE with the requested letter of credit expiring March 28, 2013.  On June 18, 2012, the DOE, having reviewed Aspen’s same-day balance sheet filing and application for approval of the change in ownership and control, notified Aspen of the DOE’s requirement that Aspen increase its letter of credit by August 31, 2012 from 10% to 25% of Aspen’s Title IV receipts in 2011.  Accordingly, on August 31, 2012, the Company provided the DOE with the increased letter for which the due date was extended to December 31, 2013.  The DOE may impose additional or different terms and conditions in any final provisional program participation agreement that it may issue.

The HEA requires accrediting agencies to review many aspects of an institution's operations in order to ensure that the education offered is of sufficiently high quality to achieve satisfactory outcomes and that the institution is complying with accrediting standards.  Failure to demonstrate compliance with accrediting standards may result in the imposition of probation, the requirements to provide periodic reports, the loss of accreditation or other penalties if deficiencies are not remediated.

Because the Company operates in a highly regulated industry, it may be subject from time to time to audits, investigations, claims of noncompliance or lawsuits by governmental agencies or third parties, which allege statutory violations, regulatory infractions or common law causes of action.

Delaware Approval to Confer Degrees

Aspen is a Delaware corporation.  Delaware law requires an institution to obtain approval from the Delaware Department of Education

(“Delaware DOE”) before it may incorporate with the power to confer degrees.  On July 3, 2012, Aspen received notice from the Delaware DOE that it is granted provisional approval status effective until June 30, 2015.  Aspen is authorized by the Colorado Commission on Education to operate in Colorado as a degree granting institution.

Guarantee to Purchase Common Shares

On April 4, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with: (i) an individual, (ii) Higher Education Group Management, Inc. (“HEMG”), a related party and principal stockholder of the Company whose president is Mr. Patrick Spada, the former Chairman of the Company and (iii) Mr. Patrick Spada (See Note 3).  As part of the agreement, the Company guaranteed it would purchase at least 600,000 common shares of the Company at $0.50 per share within 90 days of the agreement.  As of July 3, 2012, the guarantee resulted in a liability of the Company to purchase these shares.  As of September 30, 2012, third party investors purchased 336,000 common shares for $168,000, leaving the Company with a remaining liability to purchase 264,000 common shares for $132,000.  On October 1, 2012, the Company purchased the 264,000 common shares for $132,000 and the shares became treasury shares.