Optio Group has launched Pinnacle Specialty Insurance, a new managing general agent (MGA) headquartered in Amsterdam that gives brokers working on European deals another local source of transactional risk capacity across 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.
At €20 million, the W&I limit suits mid-market transactions rather than the largest deals, which typically need towers built from several insurers. Brokers placing those larger programmes are more likely to see Pinnacle as a participant in an excess layer than as a lead.
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. That mix of legal, tax and broking backgrounds is likely to resonate with mid-market deal teams in the Benelux and wider EEA.
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. In a class where speed and familiarity with local law and tax regimes can decide who wins a deal, a locally based underwriter gives European brokers a shorter route to a quote. Gary Head (pictured), chief underwriting officer of Optio Group, said Pinnacle builds on Optio’s existing transactional risk capabilities and fits its strategy of backing specialist underwriting businesses in niche markets, and praised the founding team’s 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. The deal was one of several large specialty transactions driving record UK M&A values in 2026, according to MarshBerry’s latest data.
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.
Pinnacle follows the second route, a start-up MGA built around an experienced team. Platforms with fresh private equity backing may keep using it in niches where such a team can build a book quickly, and brokers in those niches could see more locally based specialist capacity as a result.
