Odyssey (NASDAQ: OMEX) merger filing clears SEC ahead of reverse split

What happened

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMEX) said the SEC declared its merger registration statement effective on October 15, 2026. The filing ties that step to the proposed merger with American Ocean Minerals Corporation (AOMC).

Odyssey also said it will do a 1-for-25 reverse stock split on October 28, 2026, with adjusted trading starting October 29. Odyssey said the reverse split was previously approved by stockholders at the annual meeting on June 1, 2026.

The company plans a special meeting on December 2, 2026, to vote on merger proposals, and its board unanimously recommends votes in favor of all proposals. The combined company is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the symbol AOMC.

Key numbers

Metric	Latest	Change	Source
Registration statement effective date	October 15, 2026		Press release
Reverse stock split ratio	1-for-25		Press release
Reverse stock split effective date	October 28, 2026		Press release
Stockholder meeting date	December 2, 2026		Press release
Expected outstanding common stock after split	approximately 2.3 million shares	from approximately 58.6 million shares, -56.3 million shares	Press release
Authorized common shares after increase	82 million shares	from 75 million shares, +7 million shares	Press release

Read more: Odyssey Marine Exploration (OMEX) stock analysis and investment case

Why it matters

OptimistFi's case is that OMEX is a speculative option on converting seafloor-mineral expertise and project rights into financed resource projects before liquidity and liabilities consume common equity. This filing is mixed because it moves the merger process ahead, but closing still depends on stockholder approval and other closing conditions.

The reverse split is also a condition to the obligation of certain investors to provide financing to AOMC and Odyssey for the combined company after merger completion. Odyssey said the split would reduce outstanding common stock from approximately 58.6 million shares to approximately 2.3 million shares, while authorized common shares rise from 75 million to 82 million shares. At about 4% of the pre-split count, the new share base is much smaller.

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What's next

Stockholders are scheduled to vote on December 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Odyssey said the definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed beginning on or about October 19, 2026.

The reverse split is set for October 28, 2026, and reverse split-adjusted trading starts on October 29, 2026. A completed merger would mark progress toward the combined company Odyssey expects to rename American Ocean Minerals Corporation, while a failed vote or missed closing condition would weaken that path.

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