Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) is weighing options for Dutch merchant bank NIBC Holding N.V., including a possible sale, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The fund manager has been informally sounding out other banks and potential financial buyers to gauge their appetite, said the people, who declined to be named discussing private matters. Deliberations are preliminary and may not lead to any transaction, the people cautioned.

Blackstone has also been considering potential acquisitions in the absence of a sale, one person added. Blackstone declined to comment. NIBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.