Blackstone Group LP is currently in negotiations with Goldman Sachs Group Inc regarding purchasing a minor stake in UK's Rothesay Life. 

Earlier this month Goldman Sachs announced its plans to sell a majority claim in its European Insurance business. A  UK pension insurance company, Rothesay Life recently closed a GBP280 million annuity transaction with Cobham plc, a UK defense and aerospace company. 

Remarking on the transaction, Rothesay chief executive Addy Loudiadis said, "This is Rothesay Life's tenth transaction worth more than £250m, and we are continuing to benefit from strong pension fund demand."

According to sources that had declined to be named, Blackstone intends to use its USD 3 billion "tactical opportunities" fund for the venture.  Bankers estimated that Rothesay's value would come up around USD 1.17 to USD 1.14 billion, according to the Financial Times report.  

When contacted for confirmation on the report, representatives for both the Blackstone Group and the Goldman Sachs Group were unavailable for a statement.