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Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

NOTE 14 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

CIC Limited

The Company holds an ownership interest in and provides services to CIC, a deep-sea mineral exploration company. The Company's lead director, Mark B. Justh, made an investment into CIC's parent company and indirectly owns approximately 11.94% of CIC. We believe Mr. Justh's indirect ownership in CIC does not impair his independence under applicable rules, and Odyssey’s board of directors has formed a special committee of disinterested directors to address any matters relating to CIC.

The Company is providing services to CIC in accordance with the terms of a Services Agreement pursuant to which Odyssey provides certain back-office services to CIC in exchange for a recurring monthly fee, as well as other deep-sea mineral related services on a cost-plus profit basis and is compensated for these services with a combination of cash and equity in CIC. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we invoiced CIC for technical services a total of $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively, recorded in Marine services in our consolidated statements of operations. In addition, for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we invoiced CIC a total of $42,282 and $9,327, respectively, for support services, which are recorded in Operating and other revenues in our consolidated statements of operations. The Company is paid in equity for its services. In addition, the Company has the option to accept equity for payment of cash expenditures due from CIC in lieu of cash. The Company has not opted to accept equity from CIC in lieu of cash for its cash expenditures.

In furtherance of the Master Services Agreement, we financed CIC's acquisition of certain equipment required for implementation of CIC's Marine Operations Plan, which is the comprehensive work plan for offshore operations, including exploration, survey and sampling of potential mineral deposits. As of December 31, 2024 we have paid $0.2 million toward the purchase of this equipment and CIC has reimbursed us for this equipment purchase.

On December 13, 2022, we entered into a Loan Agreement with CIC. Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, CIC issued to Odyssey a convertible promissory note in the amount of $1.4 million that bore interest at a rate of 18% per annum. On the closing date of the Loan Agreement, Odyssey advanced CIC $1.0 million (the "Advanced Amount") and recorded an original issue discount ("OID") of $0.4 million, which was accrued as interest income in our consolidated statements of operations. CIC repaid the Advanced Amount on April 6, 2023, prior to the fifth business day after March 31,2023 Maturity Date (the "Maturity Cure Date"), CIC repaid principal and interest in the aggregate amount of $1.1 million in full satisfaction of the convertible promissory note and the Loan Agreement. During the second quarter of the year ended December 31, 2023 interest income from the accretion of the OID of $0.3 million was written off.

On December 13, 2022, CIC issued a Services Agreement Note to the Company. Pursuant to the Services Agreement Note, as amended on June 30, 2023 and August 8, 2023, Odyssey agreed to extend the terms of its outstanding accounts receivables balance for past and future services performed under the Master Services Agreement for an amount not to exceed $0.6 million. The note bore interest at a rate of 1.5% per month and matured on August 15, 2023. Interest was due and payable on the first day of each month for the previous month. On August 15, 2023, CIC repaid principal and interest in the aggregate amount of $0.7 million in full satisfaction of the Services Agreement Note.

Pignatelli

On July 15, 2021, MINOSA assigned $0.4 million of its indebtedness with accumulated accrued interest of $0.2 million to James S. Pignatelli, a former director of the Company, under the same terms as the original agreement, and that indebtedness continued to be convertible at a conversion price of $4.35. This transaction was reviewed and approved by the independent members of the Company's board of directors. On March 6, 2023 this note was terminated and Odyssey issued a new note, see Note 7, Loans Payable – MINOSA 2 for detail.

Ocean Minerals, LLC

The Company holds an ownership interest in and provides services to OML, a deep-sea mineral exploration company (see Note 5, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities). The Company is providing these services to OML pursuant to the Contribution Agreement (defined above) that provides for deep-sea mineral related services on a cost-plus profit basis and will be compensated for these services with equity in OML. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we invoiced OML $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively, which are recorded in Marine services in our consolidated statements of operations, and $0 and $14,891, respectively, recorded in Operating and other revenues, in our consolidated statements of operations.

See Note 5, Investment in Unconsolidated Entities, for additional information in our transactions with OML.

Salvage Agreement

The Company held a 40% interest in proceeds under a salvage agreement from our legacy shipwreck business. A company controlled by Mr. Justh obtained the right to the remaining 60% of those proceeds from an unrelated third party in exchange for the obligation to finance legal expenses relating to the recovery of the proceeds, pursuant to a funding arrangement to which the Company is also a party. Odyssey and Mr. Justh’s controlled entity were responsible for any remaining legal costs on a pro rata basis.

In 2024, the Company received payments of approximately $9.8 million arising from its residual economic interest in one of the shipwrecks, which is recorded in Residual economic interest in shipwreck in our consolidated statements of operations. The entity controlled by Mr. Justh also received a payment arising from the shipwreck.

Oceanica and ExO

Odyssey and its subsidiary, Oceanica Marine Operations S.R.L. (“OMO”), hold three notes (the “Oceanica-ExO Notes”) issued and/or guaranteed by our majority-owned subsidiaries, ExO and Oceanica, in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $23.0 million, which was advanced to ExO and Oceanica to fund working capital, exploration and legal expenses. Approximately $11.4 million was advanced to ExO and Oceanica between 2012 and 2014, and approximately $7.6 million between 2015 and 2017; the balance has been advanced since 2017. In addition, Odyssey provides management and administrative services to ExO and funds ExO’s ongoing administrative expenses pursuant to a services agreement in exchange for a recurring monthly fee and reimbursement of funded amounts. The Oceanica-ExO Notes and outstanding receivables under the management and services agreement accrue interest at 18% per annum. Certain of Odyssey’s former and current directors and officers are also directors or officers of ExO and Oceanica.

As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the aggregate outstanding amount, including accrued interest, of the Oceanica-ExO Notes was approximately $124.9 million and $105.0 million, respectively, and the aggregate receivable pursuant to the management and services agreement was approximately $1.5 million and $0.7 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which are eliminated in consolidation.

Certain Stockholders

We have entered into financing transactions with certain stockholders that beneficially own or owned more than five percent of our Common Stock.

Funds managed by Two Seas Capital LP (“Two Seas”) own approximately 9.99% of our Common Stock after giving effect to the 8.1% beneficial ownership limitation applicable to warrants held by its funds.
Greywolf Opportunities Master Fund II LP and its affiliates (“Greywolf”) beneficially owned approximately 9.2% of our Common Stock through September 30, 2024, since which time its beneficial ownership is less than 5.0%.
FourWorld Capital Management LLC (“FourWorld”) beneficially owns approximately 5.1% of our Common Stock.

 

2022 Equity Transaction

On June 10, 2022, we completed the 2022 Equity Transaction, in which:

FourWorld funds purchased 291,628 shares of our Common Stock and 2022 Warrants (as defined below) to purchase 291,628 shares of our Common Stock.
Two Seas purchased 447,761 shares of our Common Stock and 2022 Warrants to purchase 447,761 shares of our Common Stock.
Greywolf purchased 940,298 shares of our Common Stock and 2022 Warrants to purchase 940,298 shares of our Common Stock.

As of December 31, 2024, FourWorld and Two Seas held 2022 Warrants to purchase 205,777 shares of our Common Stock and 447,761 shares of our Common Stock, respectively, at an exercise price of $3.35 per share.

 

March 2023 Note Purchase Agreement

On March 6, 2023, we entered into the March 2023 Note Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which we issued the March 2023 Note and the March 2023 Warrants. FourWorld, Two Seas and Greywolf each purchased portions of the March 2023 Note and March 2023 Warrants. Principal and interest payments during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are detailed below and there was no principal paid during the year ended December 31, 2023. Any accrued and unpaid interest is capitalized to the principal as paid-in-kind on a quarterly basis on the first day immediately following the close of the quarter.

FourWorld:
o
FourWorld purchased a portion of the March 2023 Note in the principal amount of $1.08 million and March 2023 Warrants to purchase 285,715 shares of our Common Stock on March 6, 2023, for an aggregate purchase price of $1.08 million.
o
Interest expense for the March 2023 Note held by FourWorld amounted to $0.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $96,159 and $69,320, respectively, of interest expense was capitalized to principal as paid-in-kind and $0.2 million and zero, respectively, was paid in cash. On September 6, 2024, the Company made a cash principal payment amounting to $0.2 million to FourWorld.
o
As of December 31, 2024, FourWorld held March 2023 Warrants to purchase 285,715 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.10 per share.
Two Seas:
o
Two Seas purchased a portion of the March 2023 Note in the principal amount of $2.3 million and March 2023 Warrants to purchase 608,636 shares of our Common Stock on March 6, 2023, for an aggregate purchase price of $2.3 million; and a portion of the March 2023 Note in the principal amount of $0.4 million and Warrants to purchase 118,878 shares of our Common Stock on September 22, 2023, for an aggregate purchase price of $0.4 million.
o
Interest expense for the March 2023 Note held by Two Seas amounted to $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of interest expense was capitalized to principal as paid-in-kind and $0.6 million and zero, respectively, was paid in cash. On September 6, 2024, the Company made a cash principal payment amounting to $0.6 million.
o
As of December 31, 2024, Two Seas held March 2023 Warrants to purchase 727,514 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.10 per share.
Greywolf:
Greywolf purchased a portion of the March 2023 Note in the principal amount of $7.0 million and March 2023 Warrants to purchase 1,851,852 shares of our Common Stock on March 6, 2023, for an aggregate purchase price of $7.0 million.
Interest expense for the March 2023 Note held by Greywolf amounted to $0.8 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $0.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of interest expense was capitalized to principal as paid-in-kind and $0.2 million and zero, respectively, was paid in cash. On September 6, 2024, the Company made a cash principal payment amounting to $1.5 million to Greywolf.
As of December 31, 2024, Greywolf held March 2023 Warrants to purchase 1,851,852 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.10 per share.

 

On September 5, 2024, the Company entered into amendments of the March 2023 Note with the holders thereof pursuant to which the maturity date of the March 2023 Note was extended from September 6, 2024 to December 6, 2024. In connection with the amendments, the Company repaid an aggregate amount of $3.0 million of the principal outstanding on September 6, 2024. These amendments were accounted for as a debt modification in accordance with ASC 470.

The March 2023 Note Purchase Agreement was amended in December 2024. Refer to Note 7, Loans Payable, for additional information on this amendment.

December 2023 Note Purchase Agreement

On December 1, 2023, we entered into the December 2023 Note Purchase Agreement, in which FourWorld, Two Seas and Greywolf participated. No principal was repaid and no cash interest was paid during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Any accrued and unpaid interest is capitalized to the principal as paid-in-kind on a quarterly basis on the first day immediately following the close of the quarter.

FourWorld:
o
FourWorld purchased a December 2023 Note in the principal amount of $0.5 million and December 2023 Warrants to purchase 135,278 shares of our Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $0.5 million.
o
Interest expense for the December 2023 Notes held by FourWorld amounted to $58,011 and $4,671 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $47,502 and $0, respectively, of interest expense was capitalized to principal as paid-in-kind and $0 and $0, respectively, was paid in cash.
o
As of December 31, 2024, FourWorld held December 2023 Warrants to purchase 117,647 shares and 17,630 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.23 per share and $2.05 per share, respectively.
Two Seas:
o
Two Seas funds purchased a December 2023 Note in the principal amount of $2.0 million and December 2023 Warrants to purchase 541,110 shares of our Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $2.0 million.
o
Interest expense for the December 2023 Notes held by Two Seas amounted to $0.2 million and $18,685 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $0.2 million and $18,685, respectively, of interest expense was capitalized to principal as paid-in-kind and $0 and $0, respectively, was paid in cash.
o
As of December 31, 2024, Two Seas held December 2023 Warrants to purchase 470,588 shares and 70,522 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.23 per share and $2.05 per share, respectively.
Greywolf:
o
Greywolf purchased a December 2023 Note in the principal amount of $1.0 million and December 2023 Warrants to purchase 270,556 shares of our Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1.0 million.
o
Interest expense for the December 2023 Notes held by Greywolf amounted to $0.1 million and $9,342 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $0.1 million and $0, respectively, of interest expense was capitalized to principal as paid-in-kind and $0 and $0, respectively, was paid in cash.

The December 2023 Note Purchase Agreement was amended in December 2024. Refer to Note 7, Loans Payable, for additional information on this amendment.