MONTRÃ%AL and LONDON, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- International
private equity firm, Cinven, together with global investment group, La
Caisse (formerly CDPQ), today announce that they have reached an
agreement to acquire Optio Group ('Optio' or 'the Company'), a leading
specialty insurance Managing General Agent ('MGA') platform
headquartered in the UK. Financial details of the transaction are not
disclosed.
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in London, Optio originates,
underwrites and manages specialty risk on behalf of more than 60
third-party capacity providers. The business underwrites a highly
diversified portfolio of specialty risks across six business lines --
Profession & Specialty, Transportation, Property & Energy, Healthcare,
Transactional Liability, and Surety & Credit -- spanning more than 30
products. The company has an established European core with an
international footprint, comprising 18 offices across 15 countries
spanning the UK, Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia. A key point
of differentiation for Optio is its strong track record of attracting
and retaining high-calibre underwriting talent, which in turn drives its
leading underwriting performance.
Cinven and La Caisse each have deep experience in the Specialty
underwriting sub-sector and have both been tracking Optio for a long
time. The Cinven team has known the company's management team for more
than two years and, together with La Caisse, has built a strong
relationship with management. Cinven and La Caisse believe Optio
represents a compelling investment opportunity based on several
attractive characteristics:
-- Exposure to a structurally growing end-market: Specialty MGAs are
expected to continue to outgrow the broader Property & Casualty insurance
sector, supported by structural tailwinds including carriers' growing
appetite for specialty risks and the continued migration of underwriting
talent to MGA platforms like Optio;
-- A high-quality, capital-light business model: Optio's portfolio of niche
specialty risks is diversified by both product and geography and
underpinned by a strong long-term track record of disciplined,
low-loss-ratio underwriting;
-- A proven track record of attracting and retaining leading underwriting
talent: Optio's underwriting capabilities combine deep sector expertise
with a strong track record of high-quality execution, underpinning its
position as an emerging leader in the sector as well as its long-tenured
relationships across brokers and capacity provider networks;
-- Significant opportunity for continued organic and inorganic growth: The
business is well-positioned to accelerate its long-term growth trajectory
through a combination of organic growth and by executing a pipeline of
value accretive M&A opportunities in a highly fragmented market; and
-- An exceptional management and leadership team led by CEO, Deepak Soni.
This transaction builds on the Cinven Funds' extensive expertise and
long track record of investing in the specialty underwriting and broader
financial services sector, including investments in Compre, Miller and
Policy Expert. For La Caisse, the investment reflects a longstanding
global focus on insurance and insurance-related platforms, with
experience across Europe, North America and Australia.
Luigi Sbrozzi, Partner and Co-Head of the Strategic Funds at Cinven
said: "Optio is a marquee opportunity in the MGA space, a financial
services sub-sector where Cinven has deep expertise and a strong track
record. Deepak and the wider management team have built a leading and
differentiated home for specialty underwriting talent, and we are
excited to partner with them as they continue to scale the business both
organically and through further M&A. We are also delighted to be
partnering with La Caisse on this transaction and look forward to
working together to support Optio's next phase of growth."
Martin Longchamps, Executive Vice-President and Head of Private Equity
and Private Credit at La Caisse, added: "Specialty insurance is a market
where technical underwriting expertise, disciplined risk selection and
scale increasingly matter. Optio is well positioned in that environment,
with a differentiated platform serving complex insurance markets, a
strong European base and clear international growth potential. Our
investment reflects La Caisse's conviction in the long-term fundamentals
of the sector, our experience across the insurance value chain, and our
focus on backing high-quality businesses alongside sophisticated,
like-minded partners."
Deepak Soni, CEO of Optio, commented: "We are delighted to welcome
Cinven and La Caisse as our partners as we embark on the next chapter of
the Optio story. Over the past few years, with the support of
Preservation Capital Partners, we have successfully built a diversified
global platform through investment in our teams and the acquisition of
high-quality specialist MGAs. Throughout this period, we have remained
focused on delivering strong underwriting results for our insurer
partners and outstanding service to our brokers. We are confident that,
together with our new shareholder group, we will continue to build on
these foundations, pursuing our growth strategy and expanding our
capabilities while preserving the entrepreneurial culture and specialist
expertise that define our business."
The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and other
customary closing conditions.
ABOUT CINVEN
Cinven is a leading international private equity firm focused on
building world-class global and European companies. Its funds invest in
six key sectors: Business Services, Consumer, Financial Services,
Healthcare, Industrials and Technology, Media and Telecommunications
(TMT). Cinven has offices in London, New York, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan,
Madrid and Luxembourg.
Cinven takes a responsible approach towards its portfolio companies,
their employees, suppliers, local communities, the environment and
society.
In this press release 'Cinven' means, depending on the context, any of
or collectively, Cinven Holdings Guernsey Limited, Cinven Partnership
LLP, and their respective Associates (as defined in the Companies Act
2006) and/or funds managed or advised by any of the foregoing.
For additional information on Cinven please visit www.cinven.com and
www.linkedin.com/company/cinven/.
ABOUT LA CAISSE
For more than 60 years, La Caisse has invested with a dual mandate:
generate optimal long-term returns for its 48 depositors, who represent
over six million Quebecers, while contributing to Québec's economic
development.
As a global investment group, La Caisse is active in major financial
markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private credit.
As at December 31, 2025, its net assets totalled CAD 517 billion. Learn
more at LaCaisse.com, LinkedIn and Instagram.
La Caisse is a registered trademark of Caisse de dépôt et
placement du Québec that is protected in Canada and other
jurisdictions and licensed for use by its subsidiaries.
For more information
Cinven
Clare Bradshaw
+44 (0)7881 918 967
clare.bradshaw@cinven.com
Alison Raymond
+44 (0)7826 856198
alison.raymond@cinven.com
Brunswick Group (Advisers to Cinven)
bgcinven@Brunswickgroup.com
Joanna Donne
+44 (0)7834 307 881
jdonne@brunswickgroup.com
Max McGahan
+44 (0) 7834 502369
mmcgahan@brunswickgroup.com
La Caisse
Conrad Harrington
Senior Director -- International Media Relations
+ 1 514 847-5493
charrington@lacaisse.com
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SOURCE La Caisse
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 27, 2026 08:28 ET