Odyssey Marine Exploration Remains Focused on Addressing Global Critical Mineral Supply Challenges Through Ocean Exploration

Rhea-AI Summary

Odyssey Marine Exploration (NASDAQ: OMEX), an ocean exploration pioneer focused on critical minerals, provides a company update. CEO Mark Gordon highlights recent favorable rulings and increased stock trading interest, emphasizing the company's role in addressing global mineral resource challenges. Odyssey's ExO Phosphate Project aims to support Mexico's food security goals through domestic phosphate production.

The company utilizes its Global Prospectivity process to identify promising regions for seafloor mineral exploration. Odyssey is involved with two of three companies holding exploration licenses in the Cook Islands, which is setting standards for responsible seafloor exploration. The company's experienced management team and board continue to guide Odyssey through growth phases, leveraging its 30-year history in the industry.

Positive

• Favorable arbitration ruling and 2018 TFJA ruling validate Odyssey's approach to responsible ocean mineral exploration
• Increased stock trading volume indicates growing interest in the company and industry
• Involvement in two of three companies holding exploration licenses in the Cook Islands
• Experienced management team and board with 30-year industry history

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

The recent arbitration ruling in Odyssey Marine Exploration's favor is a positive development for the company's long-term prospects. While the news doesn't provide specific financial figures, it strengthens OMEX's position in the critical minerals exploration sector. The unprecedented trading volume suggests increased investor interest, potentially leading to improved liquidity and market valuation. However, the lack of concrete financial data or project timelines makes it challenging to assess immediate impact on revenue or profitability. The company's focus on ocean minerals aligns with growing global demand for critical resources, particularly in renewable energy and agriculture sectors. This positions OMEX well for future growth, but investors should be aware that deep-sea exploration projects often have long development cycles and regulatory hurdles.

Environmental Policy Expert

The arbitration ruling favoring Odyssey Marine Exploration sets a significant precedent for the ocean exploration industry. It validates the company's approach to responsible mineral exploration, potentially easing future regulatory challenges. The mention of Norway opening its continental shelf and Japan's successful polymetallic nodule recovery indicates a growing global acceptance of deep-sea mineral exploration. However, this industry remains environmentally sensitive. Investors should monitor how OMEX balances economic opportunities with ecological concerns, as stricter environmental regulations could impact project viability. The company's involvement in the Cook Islands, known for stringent regulatory practices, is a positive sign of its commitment to responsible exploration. This approach may mitigate long-term risks but could also lead to higher operational costs in the near term.

Geopolitical Analyst

Odyssey's ExO Phosphate Project in Mexico highlights the geopolitical implications of critical mineral exploration. The project's potential to enhance Mexico's domestic fertilizer production aligns with global trends towards resource nationalism and supply chain security. This could position OMEX favorably in light of increasing concerns over food security and agricultural sustainability. The company's Global Prospectivity process, focusing on regions with stable governments, demonstrates a strategic approach to mitigating political risks. However, investors should be aware that even in stable jurisdictions, resource projects can face political headwinds. The mention of U.S. legislative initiatives gaining momentum suggests a shifting regulatory landscape, which could create both opportunities and challenges for OMEX. The company's ability to navigate these complex geopolitical waters will be important for its long-term success.

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMEX), an ocean exploration pioneer engaged in the discovery, development, and extraction of critical minerals that provide solutions to global challenges, provides a company update.

"The recent arbitration ruling and the 2018 Tribunal Federal de Justicia Administrativa (TFJA) ruling in our favor validate that our approach to responsible ocean mineral exploration is viable. We remain committed to the long-term success of our business, supported by a strong portfolio of current projects and a pipeline of new projects that offer further opportunities to expand access to critical minerals in high demand. We were encouraged to see the unprecedented volume of trading in our stock, which we believe indicates an increased interest in our company and our industry’s crucial role in addressing critical global mineral resources issues,” said Mark Gordon, Odyssey’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Our focus on ocean minerals supports efforts to reduce carbon emissions through renewable energy and enhance fertilizer availability for a growing global population. We continue to believe the ExO Phosphate Project could play a vital role in helping Mexico achieve its long-standing goal of addressing food security by allowing the country to have a stable supply of domestically sourced phosphate that could enhance the country’s fertilizer production.”

“The industry has been monitoring the Odyssey NAFTA case. I am pleased to see that the international panel of arbitrators supports and encourages governments to treat permit applications in a fair and equitable manner. Our industry is working tirelessly to ensure excellent environmental analysis and stewardship, just as Odyssey did in this instance, and that science underpins permitting decisions,” said Hans Smit, CEO of Ocean Minerals Limited (OML). “We look forward to continuing to work with Odyssey as they support our work program in the Cook Islands.”

Odyssey's research and scientific team actively uses its proprietary Global Prospectivity process to identify promising regions with stable governments interested in understanding their seafloor mineral resources. This approach aims to capitalize on the growing global interest in the industry, including in the United States, where legislative initiatives are gaining momentum. In addition, Norway has opened its continental shelf for deep-sea mineral exploration, and Japan recently announced the successful recovery of over 200 million tonnes of polymetallic nodules from its waters. Odyssey is involved with two of the three companies that hold exploration licenses in the Cook Islands, a country that is setting the standard for responsible regulatory practices governing seafloor exploration.

Odyssey is supported by a highly experienced executive management team, board of directors, and dedicated staff. All are grounded in strong governance and a firm belief that integrity, transparency, and accountability are essential in our partnerships with business and governmental entities. The leadership team has expertly guided the company through growth phases, identifying opportunities to leverage Odyssey's strengths while ensuring the resources and support needed for sustained success during the company’s 30-year history.

About Odyssey Marine Exploration

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMEX) is a global leader in ocean exploration with over 30 years of experience. The company is committed to the sustainable and responsible discovery, validation, and advancement of seafloor critical mineral projects, including polymetallic nodules for battery metals and subsea phosphate deposits for fertilizers. Offering comprehensive research, marine operations, and regulatory compliance support, Odyssey works with governments and seafloor rights holders worldwide. Odyssey develops its projects in collaboration with a global network of partners, academics, and industry professionals who share its commitment to environmentally sound solutions to obtain minerals that will address present and future global challenges. Learn more at 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, 2023, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2024. 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240918021276/en/

Liz Shows

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.

(813) 876-1776

lshows@odysseymarine.com

Source: Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.

FAQ

What is Odyssey Marine Exploration's focus in the critical minerals sector?

Odyssey Marine Exploration (OMEX) focuses on the discovery, development, and extraction of critical minerals from the ocean floor to address global challenges, particularly in renewable energy and fertilizer production.

How does Odyssey's ExO Phosphate Project aim to benefit Mexico?

The ExO Phosphate Project aims to help Mexico achieve food security by providing a stable supply of domestically sourced phosphate, potentially enhancing the country's fertilizer production capabilities.

What is Odyssey's Global Prospectivity process?

Odyssey's Global Prospectivity process is a proprietary method used to identify promising regions with stable governments interested in understanding their seafloor mineral resources, aiming to capitalize on growing global interest in the industry.

What recent developments have occurred in Odyssey Marine Exploration's (OMEX) legal proceedings?

Odyssey Marine Exploration (OMEX) received favorable rulings in a recent arbitration and a 2018 Tribunal Federal de Justicia Administrativa (TFJA) decision, which validate their approach to responsible ocean mineral exploration.