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Investments in Unconsolidated Entities | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2014
Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract] |
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities | NOTE F – INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES Neptune Minerals, Inc. During the quarter ended December 31, 2009, we invested $500,000 for a 25% interest (five membership units) in SMM Project, LLC (“SMM”) to pursue opportunities in the exploration of deep-ocean gold and copper deposits. SMM purchased a majority interest in Bluewater Metals Pty, Ltd. (“Bluewater”), an Australian company with licenses for mineral exploration of approximately 150,000 square kilometers of ocean floor in territorial waters controlled by four different countries in the South Pacific. In April 2010, SMM was acquired by Dorado Ocean Resources, Ltd. (“DOR”) through a share exchange. At that time, DOR also acquired the remaining interest in Bluewater. We were issued 450 DOR shares in exchange for our surrendered units in SMM. We also acquired an additional 1,200 shares of DOR valued at $2,000,000 that resulted in a 41.25% ownership of DOR. Under the terms of the Share Subscription Agreement, we had the option to pay for this investment in cash, provide marine services to DOR over a three-year period commencing April 2010, or exercise our contractual right to offset against the $2,000,000 marine services accounts receivable owed to us. During 2011, we exercised our contractual right and offset these two amounts. The focus of DOR was on the exploration and monetization of gold- and copper-rich Seafloor Massive Sulfide (“SMS”) deposits. During 2011, we were engaged by Neptune Minerals, Inc. (“NMI”) and its affiliates to perform marine services relating to deep-sea mining. The agreements provided for payments in cash and shares of Class B non-voting common stock of NMI. In 2011, we earned 2,066,600 shares of the Class B non-voting common stock from these engagements. During this same period, NMI completed a share exchange with DOR shareholders whereby each one outstanding share of DOR was exchanged for 1,000 shares of NMI Class B non-voting common stock. We received 1,650,000 shares of NMI Class B non-voting common stock for our 1,650 DOR shares pursuant to the share exchange. In connection with this share exchange, NMI executed an assignment and assumption agreement, whereby NMI assumed $8,227,675 of the outstanding debt DOR owed to us. Additionally in 2011, we executed a debt conversion agreement with NMI, whereby we converted $2,500,000 of the debt owed to us for 2,500,000 shares of NMI Class B non-voting common stock. We have a net share position in NMI of 6,184,976 Class B non-voting shares, which currently represents an approximate 29.6% ownership interest. Regarding the debt conversion noted in the preceding paragraph, NMI’s shares were valued at $1.00 based on their most recent capital raise at the time when we executed the debt conversion agreement. Pursuant to that agreement, we converted $2,500,000 of the debt owed to us for 2,500,000 shares of NMI Class B non-voting common stock. All the $8,227,675 receivable was fully reserved for in 2010. Thus the $2,500,000 portion of the debt owed to us had a book basis of zero. When we received the 2,500,000 shares as settlement of this accounts receivable, we took the position that the shares received had a carryover basis of zero until we could convert the shares to cash. Accordingly, no gain or loss was recognized in our financial statements in connection with this transaction. At March 31, 2014, our share of unrecognized DOR (NMI) losses is $19.7 million. We have not recognized the accumulated $19.7 million in our income statement because these losses exceed our investment in DOR (NMI). Our investment has a carrying value of zero as a result of the recognition of our share of prior losses incurred by NMI under the equity method of accounting. Based on the NMI and DOR transactions described above, we believe it is appropriate to allocate this loss carryforward of $19.7 million to any incremental NMI investment that may be recognized on our balance sheet in excess of zero. The aforementioned loss carryforward is based on NMI’s last unaudited financial statements as of March 31, 2014. We do not have any guaranteed obligations to NMI, nor are we otherwise committed to provide financial support. Even though we were not obligated, during the three-months ended September 30, 2013, we, along with a second creditor, loaned funds to NMI of which our share is $500,000, and this indebtedness is evidenced by a convertible note. This funding was not for the purpose of funding NMI’s prior losses but for current requirements. Per ASC 323-10-35-29: Additional Investment After Suspension of Loss Recognition, we concluded this loan does not increase our ownership nor is it to be considered in-substance stock. Based on the financial position of NMI at December 31, 2013, we reserved for this note in its entirety. This note carried an interest rate of 6% per annum and matured on April 26, 2014. The note contained a mandatory conversion clause if the note remained unpaid at maturity. The note was convertible into NMI’s Class A voting shares at $12.00 per share upon maturity. During April 2014, we modified the conversion feature with NMI whereas, during April 2014, the note was converted into 55,225 shares of Class A Preferred non-voting stock. These shares are convertible into 522,500 shares of Class A voting shares. Chatham Rock Phosphate, Ltd. During the period ended June 30, 2012, we performed deep-sea mining exploratory services for Chatham Rock Phosphate, Ltd. (“CRP”) valued at $1,680,000. As payment for these services, CRP issued 9,320,348 of ordinary shares to us. The shares currently represent a 6.5% equity stake in CRP. With CRP being a thinly traded stock on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and guidance per ASC 320: Debt and Equity Securities regarding readily determinable fair value, we believe it was appropriate to not recognize this amount as an asset nor as revenue during that period.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for equity method investments and joint ventures. Equity method investments are investments that give the investor the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee. Joint ventures are entities owned and operated by a small group of businesses as a separate and specific business or project for the mutual benefit of the members of the group. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 35 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32847-111569 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658923&loc=d3e32787-111569 + Details
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