Navios, FSL Trust Takeover Deal Falls Apart

Navios Maritime Holdings and FSL Trust Management, a trustee-manager of Singapore-based First Ship Lease Trust, have failed to finalize their earlier sale and purchase agreement for a major share in the trust.

In April, Navios signed a term sheet to buy 154.4 million shares in FSL Trust, representing around 24.2% of the total number of issued units in FSL Trust, for a total of USD 20 million. As part of the agreement, FSL Trust was expected to secure a USD 20 million second priority mortgage convertible loan from Navios.

Definitive agreements for the proposed transaction were not agreed by September 30, 2017, and the term sheet has been automatically terminated, FSL Trust Management said in a statement.

“The termination of the term sheet is not expected to have any material financial impact on the group… (T)he trustee-manager will continue to be proactive in achieving refinancing to ensure the long-term stability of the trust amid the volatility and reduction in vessel values,” FSL Trust Management noted.

World Maritime News contacted Navios for a comment on the failed agreement with FSL Trust, however, the company is yet to reply.

Earlier this year, Navios Maritime Partners acquired the entire container fleet consisting of fourteen ships from another Singapore-based trust, Rickmers Maritime which completed the winding up process.