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Investment In Unconsolidated Entities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

NOTE 7 – INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED ENTITIES


	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022 (Restated)
CIC Limited	$	4,514,618	$	3,901,617
Chatham Rock Phosphate, Limited		—		—
Neptune Minerals, Inc.		—		—
Ocean Minerals, LLC		4,487,028		—

Investment in unconsolidated entities	$	9,001,646	$	3,901,617

CIC Limited

We had approximately a 14.99% and 14.60% ownership in CIC Limited (“CIC”) at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Due to the structure of CIC, we determined this venture to be a variable interest entity (“VIE”) consistent with ASC 810. We have determined we are not the primary beneficiary of the VIE and, therefore, we have not consolidated this entity. We record our investment under the cost method as this company is incorporated and we have determined we do not exercise significant influence over the entity. We provide services to CIC (see NOTE 8. Related Party Transactions). This company is pursuing deep water exploration permits in foreign waters. We assess our investment for impairment annually and, if a loss in value is deemed other than temporary, an impairment charge will be recorded. We reviewed the following items to assist in determining CIC’s composition:

•

We account for the investments we make in certain legal entities in which equity investors do not have (1) sufficient equity at risk for the legal entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (2) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk do not have either the power, through voting or similar rights, to direct the activities of the legal entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, or (3) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the legal entity or the right to receive expected residual returns of the legal entity. This type of legal entity is referred to as a VIE.

•

We would consolidate the results of any such entity in which we determined we had a controlling financial interest. We would have a “controlling financial interest” in such an entity if we had both the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb the losses of, or right to receive benefits from, the VIE that could be potentially significant to the VIE. On a quarterly basis, we reassess whether we have a controlling financial interest in our investments in these legal entities.

•

We determine whether any of the entities in which we have made investments is a VIE at the start of each new venture and if a reconsideration event has occurred. At such times, we also consider whether we must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about our involvement in a VIE. A reporting entity must consolidate a VIE if that reporting entity has a variable interest (or combination of variable interests) that will absorb a majority of the VIE’s expected losses, receive a majority of the VIE’s expected residual returns, or both. A reporting entity must consider the rights and obligations conveyed by its variable interests and the relationship of its variable interests with variable interests held by other parties to determine whether its variable interests will absorb a majority of a VIE’s expected losses, receive a majority of the VIE’s expected residual returns, or both. The reporting entity that consolidates a VIE is called the primary beneficiary of that VIE.

Chatham Rock Phosphate, Limited

We have approximately a 1% ownership in Chatham Rock Phosphate, Limited (“CRPL”). We record our investment under the cost method. During 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 ordinary shares to us. During March 2017, Antipodes Gold Limited completed the acquisition of CRP. The surviving entity is now CRPL. In exchange for our 9,320,348 shares of CRP, we received 141,884 shares of CPRL, which represents equity ownership of, at most, approximately 1% of the surviving entity with zero value. We continue to carry the value of our investment in CPRL at zero in our consolidated financial statements.

Neptune Minerals, Inc.

We have an ownership interest of approximately 14% in Neptune Minerals, Inc. (“NMI”). We currently apply the cost method of accounting for this investment. Previously, when we accounted for this investment using the equity method of accounting, we accumulated and did not recognize $21.3 million in our income statement because these losses exceeded our investment in 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.

Ocean Minerals, LLC

On June 4, 2023, Odyssey, Odyssey Minerals Cayman Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Odyssey (the “Purchaser”), and OML entered into a Unit Purchase Agreement (as amended on July 1, 2023, October 3, 2023 and October 17, 2023, the “OML Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which the Purchaser agreed to purchase, and OML agreed to issue and sell to the Purchaser, an aggregate of 733,497 membership interest units of OML (the “Purchased Units”) for a total purchase price of $15.0 million. After giving effect to the issuance and sale of all the Purchased Units, the Purchased Units will represent approximately 15.0% of the issued and outstanding membership interest units of OML (based upon the number of membership interest units outstanding on June 1, 2023).

At December 31, 2023, Odyssey owned approximately 6.28% of the issued and outstanding membership interest units of Ocean Minerals, LLC (“OML”). The Company determined that OML is a VIE as it does not have sufficient equity

at-risk

to permit OML to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support. However, as Odyssey’s lack of power to direct the activities that most significantly impact OML’s economic performance, it is not the primary beneficiary of OML and therefore is not required to consolidate OML. We record our investment under the equity method.

The initial closing with respect to the Purchased Units occurred on July 3, 2023, on which date OML issued 293,399 of the Purchased Units to the Purchaser in exchange for (a) a payment of $1.0 million in cash by the Purchaser to OML and (b) Odyssey’s transfer to OML of all the outstanding shares of Odyssey Retriever, Inc. (“ORI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Odyssey, with an estimated fair value of $3.3 million. Pursuant to the OML Purchase Agreement, in one or more closings to be held no later than June 28, 2024, OML will issue an additional 195,599 of the Purchased Units to the Purchaser for an aggregate purchase price of $4.0 million cash paid to OML. The OML Purchase Agreement provides that a final closing with respect to the Purchased Units will occur on the earlier of (x) the date that is 30 days after OML notifies that it has received (and provided a copy to Odyssey of) a specified resource report providing an indicated resource estimate for the area covered by OML’s exploration license or (y) the first anniversary of the initial closing. At the final closing, OML will issue an additional 244,499 of the Purchased Units to the Purchaser for an aggregate purchase price of $5.0 million cash paid to OML.

The OML Purchase Agreement also provides the Purchaser the right, but not the obligation, at any time and from time to time prior to the

18-month

anniversary of the initial closing, to purchase up to an additional 1,466,993 membership interest units of OML (the “Optional Units”) at a purchase price equal to $20.45 per membership interest unit. The OML Purchase Agreement sets forth customary representations, warranties, and covenants of the parties and customary conditions to closing and termination provisions. The Optional Units are within the scope of ASC 321 and would therefore be initially recognized at cost as part of the initial consideration transferred, and thereafter will be accounted for under the measurement alternative at cost with subsequent adjustments related to impairment and observable market conditions.

Equity Exchange Agreement

In connection with the transactions contemplated by the OML Purchase Agreement, Odyssey and the existing members of OML entered into an Equity Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which such members of OML have the right, but not the obligation, to exchange membership interest units of OML held by them for shares of Odyssey’s common stock, exercisable at any time and from time to time during the period beginning on the

six-month

anniversary of the date of the Exchange Agreement and ending on the date that is the earliest of (a) the date on which a dissolution event occurs with respect to OML, (b) the date on which a material adverse effect occurs with respect to OML, and (c) the date that is 18 months after the date of the Exchange Agreement. If a member of OML elects to exchange membership interest units of OML for shares of Odyssey’s common stock, the number of shares of Odyssey’s common stock such member will receive will equal the product of (x) the number of membership interest units such member desires to exchange, multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the per unit value of the membership interest units and the denominator of which is the per share value of the shares of Odyssey’s common stock, in each case determined pursuant to the Exchange Agreement. Under the terms of the Exchange Agreement, the per unit value of the membership interest units means the greater of $20.45 and the purchase price per membership interest unit paid in the most recent sale of membership interest units by OML, and the per share value of the shares of Odyssey’s common stock means the greater of the “Minimum Price,” as defined in Nasdaq Rule 5635(d), and the

five-day

volume-weighted average price per share of the common stock.

Notwithstanding anything in the Exchange Agreement to the contrary, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Odyssey’s common stock that may be issued under the Exchange Agreement will not (a) exceed 19.9% of the number of outstanding shares of Odyssey’s common stock immediately prior to the date of the Exchange Agreement, (b) exceed 19.9% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of Odyssey immediately prior to the date of the Exchange Agreement, or (c) otherwise exceed such number of shares of Odyssey’s common stock that would violate applicable listing rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market.

The Equity Exchange Agreement is a liability within the scope of ASC 480 that is initially measured at fair value and will be included within the initial consideration transferred. Subsequently, changes in the fair value of the liability will be recognized in earnings.

Contribution Agreement

In connection with the transactions contemplated by the OML Purchase Agreement, Odyssey, the Purchaser, and OML also entered into a Contribution Agreement pursuant to which additional membership interest units of OML may be issued to the Purchaser in consideration of the contribution to OML by Odyssey from time to time of certain property or other assets and services with an aggregate value of up to $10.0 million. We concluded that the Contribution Agreement is within the scope of ASC 606, as the services provided are within Odyssey’s ordinary activities, and OML is therefore considered a customer of Odyssey.

Equity Method of Accounting

The Company has determined that OML operates more like a partnership, and as the Company holds more than 3% - 5% and has greater than virtually no influence over OML, the investment is within the scope of ASC 323, Investments – Equity and Joint Ventures. Odyssey applied the equity method investment accounting for its interest in OML, starting on July 3, 2023. As a result, OML is considered a related party. The Company further concluded that the initial closing consideration transferred is $10.3 million, and includes the cash amount paid, the fair value of the contribution of ORI, the fair value of the second and third closings and Equity Exchange Agreement, and acquisition costs. Furthermore, the total consideration transferred is allocated to the different components identified in the OML Purchase Agreement based on their closing date fair value, including, (1) the Initial OML Units, (2) the Second OML Units option, (3) the Third OML Units option and (4) the Optional Units, each as defined below, as well as the Equity Exchange Agreement as previously defined above.

Through a series of transactions pursuant to the OML Unit Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to pay a total purchase price of $15 million, or $20.45 per unit, for 733,497 units, as follows:

(1)

The Initial Closing – The Company purchased 293,399 of the Purchased Units (the “Initial OML Units”), representing approximately 6.28% of the OML Units, in return for the initial purchase price of $1.0 million cash and Odyssey’s shares of ORI. The initial closing of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Units was amended to July 3, 2023.

(2)

The Second Closing – The Company agreed to purchase 195,599 of the Purchase Units (the “Second OML Units”) in return for the second purchase price of $4 million, payable in cash at that time (“Second Closing”). The parties entered into the third amendment to the OML Purchase Agreement to amend the closing date of the Second Closing to be February 16, 2024 and the fourth amendment to amend the closing date of the Second Closing to June 28, 2024.

(3)

The Third Closing – The Company agreed to purchase 244,499 of the Purchased Units (the “Third OML Units”) in return for the purchase price of $5 million, payable in cash at that time. The third closing will occur on the earlier of (a) the date that is thirty (30) days after OML notifies the Company that it has received and provides a copy to the Company of, the Independent Resource Report, and (b) the date that is the first anniversary of the initial closing date (“Third Closing”).

(4)

Optional Units – The Company has the option to purchase up to additional 1,466,993 of OML Interest Units (“the Units”), at the Company’s discretion (“Optional Units”), at the agreed upon price of $20.45 per unit within the eighteen-month anniversary of the Initial Closing Date, July 3, 2023. The recorded asset value of this option is $5.7 million

on December 31, 2023. Optional Units are within the scope of ASC 321, and would therefore be initially recognized at cost as part of the initial consideration transferred, and thereafter will be accounted for under the measurement alternative at cost with adjustments related to impairment and observable market conditions. If the Company does not purchase all the Optional Units prior to the eighteen-month anniversary, the Company may purchase any of such unpurchased Optional Units at the higher price of (i) a discount

of 10% to the price paid for which OML sold the Units in the most recent transaction for the Units immediately preceding such discounted purchase of Optional Units or (ii) $20.45. On October 17, 2023, the parties entered into the third amendment to the OML Purchase Agreement to remove the second part of the Optional Units provision. Therefore, as of the amendment date, the Company may only purchase the Optional Units through January 2, 2025 (eighteen months from the Initial Closing Date) (“Optional Units Amendment”).

The Company concluded that the Second OML Units option, the Third OML Units option and the Optional Units are within the scope of ASC 321 Investments – Equity and Joint Ventures and would therefore be initially recognized at cost as part of the initial consideration transferred, and thereafter will be accounted for under the measurement alternative at cost with adjustments related to impairment and observable market adjustments.

The Company concluded that the Contribution Agreement is within the scope of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as the services provided are within the Company’s ordinary activities, and OML is therefore considered a customer of Odyssey. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we invoiced OML $166,581 and $14,891 recorded in Marine services and Operating and other revenues, respectively, in our consolidated statements of operations.

The Company concluded that the Equity Exchange Agreement is a liability within the scope of ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, that is initially measured at fair value and will be included within the initial consideration transferred. Subsequently, changes in the fair value of the liability was recognized in earnings and not as an adjustment to the cost basis of Odyssey’s investment in OML.

As part of the Initial Closing, Odyssey transferred its equity interest of ORI, free of debt of the finance liability owed on the sale-leaseback arrangement. This portion was determined to be part of the Initial Consideration Transferred, as of July 3, 2023, as it meets the definition of a subsidiary of the acquirer.

ASC 805, Business Combination, further provides that the consideration transferred in a business combination is measured at fair value, determined in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, except for (i) assets and liabilities transferred that remain under the control of the acquiree after the business combination, and (ii) any portion of the acquirer’s shared-based replacement awards exchanged for awards held by the acquiree’s grantees included in the consideration transferred.

Therefore, the Company determined that although the OML Purchase Agreement provides that the contractual amount of ORI is $5 million, the Company is required to determine whether the contractual amount represents the fair value of the transferred asset. It is further noted that ORI primarily consists of one asset (the “Retriever asset”) that was previously acquired and refurbished by Odyssey.

Given the uniqueness of the asset, a

6,000-meter

rated remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”), and its relatively recent acquisition and refurbishment, the Company determined to apply the cost method in order to evaluate the estimated fair value of the asset of $3.3 million. The Company transferred ORI but retained the obligation to pay the lease payments for the Retriever asset as the Company retained the obligation to continue making payments. The net book value of ORI, as of July 3, 2023, was $3.1 million. Therefore, at the Closing Date, Odyssey recognized a Gain of the sale of an entity in the consolidated statement of operations in the amount of $174,107 related to the disposal of ORI.

The Company determined that the initial Closing Consideration is as follows:


Cash consideration	$	1,000,000
Fair value of Odyssey Retriever, Inc.		3,280,261
Fair value of the Second Closing		676,921
Fair value of the Third Closing		769,875
Fair value of the Equity Exchange Agreement		4,516,007
Transaction costs		49,988

Initial closing consideration	$	10,293,052

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, our accumulated investment in OML was $4,487,028 and $0, respectively, which is classified as an investment in unconsolidated entities in our consolidated balance sheets. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the company recognized

change in put option liability of $1.1 million in the consolidated statement of operations to record the fair value adjustment of the equity exchange agreement.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, based on estimated financial information for our equity-method investee, we recognized $278,910 of Loss on Equity Method Investment in the consolidated statement of operations for our proportionate share of the net loss of our equity method investee, which decreased our net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 in our consolidated statement of operations. Our proportionate share of the net loss of our equity method investee can have a significant impact on the amount of Loss on Equity Method Investment in our consolidated statement of operations and our carrying value of those investments. We eliminated from our financial results all significant intercompany transaction to the extent of our ownership interest.