Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Subsequent Events

v3.23.1
Subsequent Events
9 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2023
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
Subsequent Events Subsequent Events
Aspen Group, Inc.
15% Senior Secured Note and Warrants
On May 12, 2023, Aspen Group, Inc. completed a private offering of $12.4 million aggregate principal amount of 15% Senior Secured Debentures ("Debentures") due 2026. Of the $12.4 million of principal, $11.0 million was funded with the remainder recorded as debt discount. A portion of the proceeds from the Debentures ($5 million plus accrued interest) were used to fully repay the outstanding borrowings under the 2018 Revolving Credit Facility in addition to paying expenses associated with this offering; the remaining proceeds will be used for working capital needs. The Company also reimbursed the investors for expenses incurred in relation to any legal expenses, due diligence and investment documentation of $90,000 in advance of entering into the Debentures. After the discount, fees, expenses and the repayment of the 2018 Revolving Credit Facility, $3.4 million was made available to the Company as unrestricted cash, and $2.0 million was deposited into a restricted cash account (see covenants discussion below).
The Debentures bear cash interest from May 12, 2023 at an annual rate of 15% payable monthly, beginning on May 1, 2023. The interest rate is subject to increase to 20% upon the occurrence of an event of default. The Debentures will mature on May 12, 2026 unless earlier redeemed. The Debentures are subject to monthly redemptions beginning in November 2023.
The Company may prepay after one year, or any time after May 12, 2024 at 105%.
The investors also received warrants to purchase 2.2 million shares of common stock, representing 8% of the outstanding common stock at closing, at an exercise provide of $0.01 per share. These warrants have a three-year term and contain anti-dilution protection.
The Debentures contain covenants, including covenants that require the Company to maintain $2 million of restricted cash, maintain at least $20 million of accounts receivable at all times, and maintain enumerated quarterly revenue and quarterly Adjusted EBITDA amounts.
Junior Secured Convertible Promissory Notes
On May 10, 2023, Aspen Group, Inc. agreed to increase the coupon of the two outstanding $5 million convertible promissory notes from an annual rate of 12% to 14% payable monthly, beginning on May 12, 2023, as consideration to the holders of the 2022 Notes who have agreed to subordinate their security interests therein to the security interests granted to the holders of the Debentures.

Voluntarily delist common stock from The Nasdaq Global Market
On March 13, 2023, Aspen Group, Inc. notified Nasdaq of the Company’s decision to voluntarily delist its common stock from The Nasdaq Global Market. On March 23, 2023, the Company filed a Form 25 with the SEC on or about March 23, 2023, thereby terminating trading of its common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market. The Company intends to file a Form 15 with the SEC to suspend the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 12(g) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The reasons for this decision consist of the anticipated financial savings and lower operating costs, reduced management time commitment for compliance and reporting activities, and a simplified corporate governance structure.

As a result of the foregoing developments, the Company's common stock is now quoted on the OTC Pink Market ("OTC Pink") operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. (the “OTC”). The Company expects that its common stock will be traded on the OTCQB. The Company intends to continue to provide information to its stockholders and to take such actions within its control to enable its common stock to be quoted in the OTCQB or on another OTC market so that a trading market may continue to exist for its common stock. There is no guarantee, however, that a broker will continue to make a market in the common stock and that trading of the common stock will continue on an OTC market or otherwise.
2022 Revolving Credit Facility
On March 14, 2023, the one-year, $20 million secured Revolving Promissory Note and Security Agreements with the same two unaffiliated Lenders of the 2022 Convertible Notes expired and were not renewed.
Aspen University Regulatory Matters
On February 1, 2023, AGI received notification that Aspen University had been issued a Show Cause Directive by DEAC requiring Aspen University to prove why its current accreditation should not be withdrawn and to require Aspen University to undergo a special visit by a team of DEAC evaluators. Show Cause is an enforcement action focused on specific areas of perceived non-compliance to which Aspen must respond through narrative, documentation, and other evidence within the specific remediation timeframe.
DEAC informed Aspen University that certain areas of concern raise serious questions as to Aspen University’s ongoing compliance with DEAC Accreditation Standards III.D., V.A., X.B., XI.E., and DEAC Procedures under Part Two, Section XVII.E, including curricula and instructional materials; student achievement; reputation; operations; and notifications. These call into question Aspen University’s organizational integrity, administrative capacity, and ability to serve students in a manner that complies with DEAC standards. The letter also required the University to submit certain information to DEAC prior to February 16, 2023, and to constituents within seven business days, and permits continuance of DEAC’s monitoring of monthly financial reports. Aspen has complied with the request for monthly reporting timely each month.
To date, Aspen University has provided multiple regulatory bodies with requested records and data and Aspen University will willingly comply with the DEAC's continued oversight through the show cause period. The maximum length of the show cause
remediation period is up to two years or 150% of the length of the Institution’s longest program. DEAC expects to schedule its review of Aspen University's response to the show cause directive and the associated record within the next six to nine months. During the show cause remediation period, Aspen University remains fully accredited. DEAC has provided Aspen with a due date for submission of its response to the Show Cause Directive, May 19, 2023, and scheduled a site visit for June 13, 2023.

On February 8, 2023, Aspen University received notification from the DOE that effective February 7, 2023 the DOE had placed Aspen University on Heightened Cash Management 2 (“HCM2”). Under the HCM2 method of payment, Aspen University may continue to obligate funds under the federal student financial assistance programs authorized by Title IV of HEA.
HCM2 is a step that the DOE can take with institutions to provide additional oversight for a number of financial or federal compliance issues. A school placed on HCM2 no longer receives funds under the Advance Payment Method. After a school on HCM2 makes disbursements to students from its own institutional funds, a Reimbursement Payment Request must be submitted for those funds to the DOE. Subsequent to the receipt of the first financial aid payment under HCM2, Aspen University will be able to submit for financial aid reimbursement once every 30 days. Reimbursement payments could be delayed if the DOE has findings upon review of each of our reimbursement files.
The letter from the DOE stated that the DOE acted in response to the Show Cause Directive from DEAC.
On February 20, 2023, Aspen University entered into a 3rd revised Stipulated Agreement with the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education which requested transcripts from 1985-2019 and an institutional teach-out plan as well as increased monthly financial reporting requirements. Other requirements from the October 2022 Stipulated Agreement were carried forward to this revised agreement. The revised agreement was in response to the Show Cause Directive from DEAC.
United States University Regulatory Matter
On March 27, 2023, United States University received a request for information from its institutional accreditor, WSCUC, regarding information on the current financial and operational status of the university in light of both AGI’s delisting from The Nasdaq Global Market and Aspen University’s Show Cause Directive from DEAC. USU provided the required information timely on April 4, 2023.