BROKERS for the sale of the super yacht Equanimity are in negotiations with up to 20 interested buyers worldwide, reports Bloomberg.

Rupert Nelson, the lead broker for yacht specialist Burgess, said the interested buyers are from the Middle East, Russia and other parts of Asia.

Burgess is the sole broker for the sale of the 91m boat, which boasts a gym, pool, gallery, beauty salon and helipad.

The Equanimity, believed to have cost US$250 million (RM1 billion), was put up for sale at the end of last year, but Putrajaya failed to secure a buyer.

The government then said the vessel’s price will be revised by almost half its estimated cost, with a guide price of US$130 million.

“Some bidders were opportunistic in their pricing,” said Sitpah Selvaratnam, a consultant with law firm Tommy Thomas and an adviser on the transaction.

“As it stands now, the mandate is, we are not really negotiating for anything below US$100 million,” Selvaratnam was quoted as saying.

“It’s clearly not a fire sale. You’re going to get what she’s worth.”

The yacht’s former owner, wanted Penang-born businessman Low Taek Jho, is believed to be a central figure in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

The sale of the boat, which is costing Putrajaya as much as US$500,000 a month to maintain, is among efforts to recoup money believed to have been siphoned off from 1MDB by Low and other high-ranking accomplices.

The US Department of Justice has filed forfeiture suits against US$1.7 billion worth of assets that were allegedly acquired with the embezzled funds. – February 5, 2019.