Bermuda financial services company Athora is interested in buying Dutch life insurance company Vivat, which owns the Reaal and Zwitzersleven brands, the Financieele Dagblad said on Monday.

Vivat’s Chinese owner Anbang said last month that Vivat may be put up for sale as part of a ‘strategic reorientation’. Reuters values Vivat at around €1.5bn.

Vivat was taken over by Chinese insurance group Anbang in 2015 following the nationalisation of SNS Reaal at the beginning of 2013. The group and divided into a banking arm (SNS Bank) and an insurance company (Reaal, now named Vivat).

Sources told the FD that Athora is interested in taking over the company either by itself or with a partner.

However, the FD points out, the Dutch Central Bank may not be keen on an ‘exotic newcomer’ taking over the company and would prefer that ‘traditional, Dutch insurers’ take the lead in consolidation within the Dutch life insurance sector.

Dutch insurance companies Aegon and ASR have already indicated they are interested in Vivat if the sale goes ahead, the FD says. Private equity group CVC and German insurer Allianze are also interested in parts of the company.