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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

NOTE H – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

On April 16, 2012, the Kingdom of Spain filed a motion with the district court for an award of attorney’s fees and costs related to the “Black Swan” case claiming in excess of $3,000,000. On November 15, 2012, the Magistrate Judge entered a Report and Recommendation recommending Spain recover fees and costs, but only those incurred after dismissal of the case from February 10, 2012 to March 20, 2012, related to the transfer of artifacts held in Gibraltar. This amounted to approximately $130,000 of which the full amount was reserved in 2012. Failing to adopt the Report and Recommendation, on September 26, 2013 the District Court Judge entered an Order assessing $1,072,979 related to attorney’s fees. Payment was made on October 11, 2013, and a Satisfaction of Judgment was executed and filed on October 21, 2013. The difference between the $1,072,979 and $130,000 of $942,979 was expensed in entirety in the Marketing, general and administrative line of our Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Company may be subject to a variety of other claims and suits that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Management is currently not aware of any claims or suits that will have a material adverse impact on its financial position or its results of operations.

Trends and Uncertainties

Our current 2013 business plan estimates positive cash flow from the sum of operating and financing activities. The plan contains assumptions which include that several of our planned projects are funded through project recoveries (Gairsoppa) and other financings, syndications or other partnership opportunities. The 2013 business plan expenses included a 90-day charter agreement which we executed with a company that provided a ship and equipment to conduct recovery operations on the Gairsoppa and Mantola projects similar to the work performed in 2012 when we monetized over $37 million of silver. In 2013 we estimate to monetize at least $30 million from the 2013 Gairsoppa project. Based upon our current expectations, we believe our cash position will be sufficient to fund operating cash flows throughout the rest of 2013 and 2014 taking into account our beginning cash balance, current cash flow expectations and revenues from multiple sources, including projected sales from recoveries, syndicated projects and other potential financing opportunities. We renewed our term and mortgage loans with Fifth Third Bank in July 2013. We also borrowed $10 million in July 2013 from Fifth Third Bank which was secured by Gairsoppa project proceeds based upon the recent recovery. Mako Resources, LLC has an outstanding option to purchase 7 million of our Oceanica Resources shares held by our wholly owned subsidiary for $17.5 million. This option expires December 31, 2013. We have experienced several years of net losses resulting in a stockholders’ deficit. Our capacity to generate net income in future periods is dependent upon our success in recovering and monetizing shipwrecks, realizing capital gains from sale of interest in mineral exploration entities, generating income from shipwreck or mineral exploration charters or generating income from other projects. If cash flow is not sufficient to meet our projected business plan requirements, we will be required to raise additional capital or curtail expenses. While we have been successful in raising the necessary funds in the past, there can be no assurance that we can continue to do so.

 

During the three-month period ended September 30, 2013, we entered into two fixed price swap hedge contracts to mitigate the exposure risk related to silver price volatility. We entered into these contracts specifically related to the silver recovered from the Gairsoppa project that was to be (and is being) sold into the London bullion market. The price per silver troy ounce was reaching a period high when we entered into the contracts as compared to when the silver was recovered in mid-July. The first contract is for 250,000 troy ounces of silver and covers the period from October 1 to October 31, 2013. The fixed price is $24.40 per troy ounce. The second contract is for 250,000 troy ounces of silver and covers the period from November 1 to November 30, 2013. The fixed price on the second contract is $23.10 per troy ounce. If the average silver price is less than the fixed price, we receive the difference multiplied by the 250,000 troy ounces. If the average silver price is greater than the fixed price, we owe the difference multiplied by the 250,000 troy ounces.