Benzinga | Oct 5, 2021 08:37AM EDT

Odyssey Marine Exploration Enters Deal With Monaco Financial To Reduce Co.'s Debt, Improve Capital Structure

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMEX), a global subsea mineral exploration and development company, announced today that it entered into an agreement with Monaco Financial, LLC and other parties (Parties) on October 4, 2021, that significantly reduces Odyssey's indebtedness and improves its overall capital structure.

Under the terms of the agreement, Odyssey will issue the Parties 984,848 shares of common stock at $6.60 per share and pay $500,000 in cash, in exchange for the cancellation of approximately US $14.5 million in principal and accrued interest outstanding under various notes, including the Parties' right to convert the indebtedness into Odyssey's Oceanica equity. As additional consideration, Odyssey relinquished its right to receive a percentage of the proceeds the Parties may receive from certain shipwreck projects and agreed to pay an additional $2.5 million to the Parties by December 1, 2021. The Parties have the option to convert this $2.5 million into shares of Odyssey's common stock. It is important to note that Odyssey expects to receive proceeds from a separate legacy shipwreck project within the next 60 days that we believe will be more than sufficient to cover the additional obligation.

"This is a watershed moment for Odyssey Marine Exploration as we close an important chapter in our history--the legacy shipwreck exploration business," stated Mark D. Gordon, Odyssey's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We have benefitted greatly from the vast knowledge and experience gained during our nearly 30 years of pioneering deep-ocean exploration work including shipwreck and mineral projects thousands of meters deep. This expertise provided the platform for us to become a world leader in subsea mineral exploration, validation and development."

"This agreement is a major step towards strengthening our balance sheet and improving liquidity," noted Christopher E. Jones, Odyssey's Chief Financial Officer. "This will be a continued focus as we evaluate strategic investments and industry partnerships intended to position Odyssey for financial success in our subsea mineral exploration business," Jones continued.

Odyssey's focus remains on increasing the value of its diversified mineral portfolio through the development of new projects, acquiring additional equity in current projects and by de-risking projects as they move through operational stages on the value curve.

Odyssey's current priorities include:

* Successfully pursuing its NAFTA claim for the ExO phosphate project. With legal efforts fully funded, Odyssey remains optimistic and resolute in its efforts to protect the interests of shareholders.

* Developing the Lihir Subsea Gold project in Papua New Guinea, where the exploration license was recently renewed. Odyssey holds a majority interest in the project and expects to begin preliminary offshore operations by the end of the year.

* Supporting its current investment in the CIC Project where it currently holds a 13% interest. The CIC Consortium, which includes Odyssey and Royal Boskalis Westminster NV, is seeking an exploration license in the EEZ of a Pacific Island nation.

* Expanding its mineral portfolio and utilizing the vast experience gained from the ExO project via new potential projects in the Caribbean, South America, and the Pacific Rim.

* Developing strategic partnerships that enhance capabilities to develop and monetize seafloor mineral projects.

* Strengthening the balance sheet and improving liquidity with strategic investments and industry partnerships.