8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 6, 2019

ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada	001-31895	84-1018684
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

5215 West Laurel Street

Tampa, Florida 33607

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (813) 876-1776

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	OMEX	NASDAQ Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging Growth Company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The disclosure set forth below under Item 2.03 (Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant) is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

On December 6, 2019, Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (“Odyssey”) entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with 37North Capital SPV 11, LLC (the “Investor”) pursuant to which the Investor agreed to lend, in one or more transactions (each, “a Loan”), up to an aggregate of $2.0 million to Odyssey, subject to the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement. On December 10, 2019, the Investor made a loan to Odyssey in the amount of $539,000 pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Each Loan made under the Purchase Agreement will be evidenced by a separate convertible promissory note (each, a “Note”). Unless otherwise converted as described below, the entire outstanding amount of all Loans will be due and payable on June 6, 2019 (the “Maturity Date”). The issuance and sale of any additional Notes is subject to the mutual agreement of Odyssey and the Investor and may occur in one or more subsequent closings to occur on or before January 5, 2019.

At any time and from time to time until the three-month anniversary of the Maturity Date, all or any portion of the outstanding amount of each Note may, at the Investor’s election, be converted into shares of Odyssey’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Conversion Shares”). The number of Conversion Shares to be issued upon any conversion shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Applicable Conversion Amount (as defined below) by the Applicable Conversion Rate (as defined below). As defined in the Purchase Agreement, the “Applicable Conversion Amount” means, on the date of determination and with respect to each Note, (a) for the period beginning on the date of issuance and ending on the day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, an amount equal to 100.0% of the amount of the Loan evidenced by such Note then outstanding; (b) on the Maturity Date, 136.0% of the amount of the Loan evidenced by such Note then outstanding (such amount, the “Enhanced Conversion Amount”); (c) for the period beginning on the day immediately following the Maturity Date and for a period of three months thereafter (such three-month period, the “Accrual Period”), an amount equal to (i) the Enhanced Conversion Amount then outstanding plus (ii) an additional amount equal to 3.0% per month (prorated for any period of less than a full month) accrued on the amount described in clause (i); and (d) on any date after the Accrual Period, the amount then outstanding after giving effect to the accrual described in clause (c) during the Accrual Period (it being understood that no additional amount shall accrue after the expiration of the Accrual Period); and “Applicable Conversion Rate” means (x) with respect to any conversion on or prior to the Maturity Date, $5.00, and (y) with respect to any conversion after the Maturity Date, the lower of (i) $5.00 and (ii) 80.0% of the ten-day volume-weighted average price of Odyssey’s common stock. Notwithstanding anything in the Purchase Agreement to the contrary, Odyssey is prohibited from issuing any Conversion Shares, to the extent such shares, after giving effect to such issuance after conversion and when added to the number of Conversion Shares previously issued upon conversion of any of the Notes sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, would represent in excess of 19.9% of (A) the number of shares of Odyssey’s common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such issuances or (B) the total voting power of Odyssey’s securities outstanding immediately after giving effect to such issuances that are entitled to vote on a matter being voted on by holders of Odyssey’s common stock.

If, at any time prior to the Maturity Date, (a) Odyssey receives cash proceeds (the “Shipwreck Proceeds”) arising out of Odyssey’s salvage agreement relating to cargo recovered from a specified shipwreck, and (ii) the amount of the Shipwreck Proceeds equals at least 155.0% of the then-unpaid amount of all Loans, then Odyssey must repay in full the indebtedness outstanding under all the Notes by delivery of an amount equal to 155.0% of the then-unpaid amount of all Loans. In addition, at any time prior to the Maturity Date, Odyssey may repay all (but not less than all) of the then-unpaid amount of all Loans by delivery of an amount equal to 155.0% of the then-unpaid amount of all Loans; provided, that Odyssey must provide the Investor at least ten days’ notice of its intention to repay the indebtedness.

The Purchase Agreement and the Note issued by Odyssey on December 10, 2019, include representations and warranties and other covenants, conditions, and other provisions customary for comparable transactions.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On December 12, 2019, Odyssey issued a press release announcing the matters described in Item 2.03 above and other information. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

The information in this Item 8.01 of this report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.

Not applicable.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

Not applicable.

(c) Shell Company Transactions.

Not applicable.

(d) Exhibits.

99.1 Press Release issued on December 12, 2019.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	ODYSSEY MARINE EXPLORATION, INC.
Dated: December 12, 2019	By:	/s/ Jay A. Nudi
		Jay A. Nudi
		Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE   CONTACT: Laura Barton Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.             laura@odysseymarine.com

Odyssey Marine Exploration Obtains up to $4.2M in Funding

in Two Separate Transactions

TAMPA, Fla., December 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMEX), a pioneer in the field of deep-ocean exploration, has obtained commitments for up to $4.2 million in funding under two separate arrangements.

On December 6, 2019, Odyssey executed an agreement with a group representing existing shareholders to provide up to $2 million in funding as an advance against a portion of multi-million-dollar payment Odyssey expects to receive within the next six months. This payment is related to a previously completed shipwreck project. The group provided $539,000 in funding to Odyssey on December 10, 2019.

In addition, a term sheet has been executed and definitive agreements are being drafted with the group that has already committed up to $6.5 million in non-recourse legal funding for the NAFTA action for up to an additional $2.2 million. Given the significant management time and internal resources devoted to the NAFTA case, the funder has agreed that this additional tranche of funding may be used for Odyssey’s internal expenses directly related to support of the arbitration.

“A group of existing shareholders presented us an opportunity to factor a portion of an expected payment to Odyssey,” said Mark Gordon, Odyssey Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. “At about the same time, the group responsible for the legal funding of our NAFTA action has agreed to provide up to an additional $2.2 million pursuant to terms similar to the current NAFTA legal funding.

“We appreciate the support of these groups who are intimately familiar with the Odyssey team, business plan and mid- to long-term outlook for the company. These two deals provide the capital needed to advance our overall business plan and to execute the initial phases of onsite operations on our Lihir Offshore Gold project in the first half or 2020. Geological and environmental surveys will be conducted to aid in the production of a 43-101/JORC compliant resource estimate and environmental impact assessment.”

The first agreement is a non-interest-bearing six-month loan of up to $2.0 million. When the expected factored payment is received by Odyssey, Odyssey is obligated to repay the lender the amount outstanding plus a 55% factoring fee. The loans will be convertible at the lender’s option at an initial conversion rate of $5 per share of Odyssey common stock, subject to adjustment and otherwise in accordance with the purchase agreement.

The other funding arrangement for up to $2.2 million will follow substantially the same terms as the current NAFTA legal funding, except there will be an option to convert this additional amount into Odyssey stock at current market prices. A deposit of $500,000 has been received toward this amount.

About Odyssey Marine Exploration

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMEX) is engaged in deep-ocean exploration using innovative methods and state-of-the-art technology to provide access to critical resources worldwide. Our core focus is the discovery, development and extraction of deep-ocean minerals. Odyssey also provides marine services for private clients and governments. For additional details, please visit www.odysseymarine.com.

Forward Looking Information

Odyssey Marine Exploration believes the information set forth in this Press Release may include “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. Certain factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are set forth in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2019. The financial and operating projections as well as estimates of mining assets are based solely on the assumptions developed by Odyssey that it believes are reasonable based upon information available to Odyssey as of the date of this release. All projections and estimates are subject to material uncertainties and should not be viewed as a prediction or an assurance of actual future performance. The validity and accuracy of Odyssey’s projections will depend upon unpredictable future events, many of which are beyond Odyssey’s control and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that Odyssey’s assumptions will prove true or that its projected results will be achieved.

Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this press release, such as “measured”, “indicated,” “inferred” and “resources,” which the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in our filings with the SEC. “Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of the inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable, and are urged to consider closely the disclosures in our Form 10-K which may be secured from us or from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.