Optio Group has launched Pinnacle Specialty Insurance, a new managing general agent (MGA) for transactional risk, headquartered in Amsterdam and serving the European Economic Area.
Pinnacle offers warranty and indemnity (W&I), tax liability and contingent risk insurance. It provides limits of up to €20 million for W&I and tax liability cover, and up to €10 million for contingent risk, backed by capacity rated A- (Excellent) by AM Best.
The business is led by Paul Schouten, Andreas Jevtic and Arthur Molijn. Between them they have more than 30 years’ experience in transactional insurance, tax, litigation and M&A, gained at insurers, global brokers, a Big Four firm and international law firms.
Pinnacle extends Optio’s existing W&I and tax insurance business in Europe, with a dedicated team based closer to the brokers, deal teams and advisers it serves.
“The launch of Pinnacle represents an exciting expansion of our existing capabilities in the transactional risk market, and a natural extension of Optio’s strategy to support market-leading specialist underwriting businesses in attractive niche markets,” said Gary Head (pictured), chief underwriting officer of Optio Group.
Head said the founding team brought an exceptional mix of insurance, legal, tax and transaction experience.
The launch comes shortly after Optio agreed a change of ownership. In July, private equity firm Cinven and Canadian investment group La Caisse agreed to acquire a majority stake from Preservation Capital Partners, with management staying significantly invested. Optio said the investment would support its expansion into new specialist lines and international markets.
Optio has grown through a mix of acquisitions and new launches. Earlier this year it completed the purchase of marine MGA Gardian Marine and bought Construction Guarantee Underwriters. It now writes business for more than 60 third-party capacity providers.
As MarshBerry noted in its latest UK M&A data, Optio’s refinancing in July was one of several large specialty deals driving record deal values in 2026.
For brokers and advisers working on European deals, Pinnacle adds another locally based transactional risk underwriter. That matters in a class where speed and familiarity with local law and tax regimes can decide who wins a deal. Its Amsterdam base, and a team with legal and Big Four backgrounds, will appeal to mid-market deal teams in the Benelux and wider EEA.
At €20 million, Pinnacle’s W&I limit is suited to mid-market transactions rather than the largest deals, which typically need towers built from several insurers. For brokers placing those larger programmes, Pinnacle is more likely to be a participant in an excess layer than a lead.
The launch also shows how specialty MGA platforms are using fresh private equity backing. Rather than relying on acquisitions alone, they are seeding new start-up MGAs in niches where an experienced team can build a book quickly.
