Syntrus Achmea, backed by international and domestic capital, is the favourite to acquire a Dutch retail property portfolio.

The Dutch investment manager is understood to be close to finalising a deal to buy the portfolio of high street assets from Ronny Rosenbaum’s RJB Group.

The portfolio could change hands for as much as €1.5bn by year-end.

Syntrus Achmea is likely to be backed by a group of institutional investors, including domestic and international capital, according to a source close to the deal.

Asian, Middle Eastern and European investors are among those backing the purchase, which will take the form of a club deal.

The company declined to comment on the speculation.

Previous Dutch media reports earlier this year cited Syntrus Achmea as a joint favourite to buy the portfolio, in addition to a rival bid from a German fund manager.