Fish processing company Samherji is attempting to avoid taking over Icelandic container line Eimskip due to the coronavirus chaos.

The company boosted its stake in the liner operator to 30.1% earlier this month, triggering a mandatory offer to other shareholders within four weeks.

But Samherji has now said it has submitted a notice to the Central Bank of Iceland's Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), requesting an exemption from this requirement.