Superyacht Equanimity fetches a nine-figure bid

There has been a nine-figure bid on the superyacht Equanimity, for billions of ringgit.

This was revealed in a press statement by the 1MDB and the Federal government legal team after they met Admiralty Court judicial commissioner Khadijah Idris.

"With the mandatory phase of the judicial sale process duly completed, with the widest outreach and publicity possible in the superyacht market, the Sheriff will be seeking the necessary orders from the court to commence the second phase of this judicial sale by private treaty for closing of the sale no later than March 31, 2019.

The High Court deputy registrar is functioning as the sheriff.

"The nine-digit asking price will be available on application, once approval of the court is obtained and will commensurate with a four-and-half-year-old Oceanco-built luxury yacht, with the specifications of the Equanimity as she lies," the statement read.

Present in court were lawyers S Sitpah and Jeremy Joseph and senior federal counsel Alice Loke.

Sitpah (photo) told Malaysiakini that there are actual bids but they are not at liberty to reveal the number of bids or the country of origin of the bidders.

"There are actual bidders," she said to a question on the perception by some that there had been no bids that were made.

It was previously reported that the bids for the vessel owned by Jho Low using 1MDB funds had ended on Nov 28, with the sealed documents being opened the next day. Expressions of interest hailed from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States of America.

The vessel measuring 91.5 meters built by Oceanco is said to have cost US$250 million (RM1 billion) and had a crew of 17.

The luxury yacht was first seized by the Indonesian authorities on Feb 28. The vessel which is presently in Langkawi, is equipped with a helicopter pad and other luxury facilities. Former premier Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, were said to have been guests onboard the Equanimity.

The Admiralty Court had ordered the sale of the vessel on Aug 24 this year and on Oct 19, it ruled that 1MDB Energy Holdings Ltd and 1MDB Global Investment Ltd are the rightful owners, after no one challenged the ownership of the luxury vessel which was allegedly purchased by Jho Low. -Mkini