The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec Invests $10 Million in Québec-Based Optimum Group

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec announced today an investment of $10 million, in the form of a term loan, in Optimum Group, a diversified Québec financial group with a Montréal-based head office.

Operating in Québec, several other Canadian provinces and internationally, Optimum Group is particularly known for its customized and specialized financial products and services and for the close relationships it maintains with its partners.

“The investment is rooted in a long-standing relationship with Optimum Group. We made our initial investment with this firm back in 1979,” said Normand Provost, Executive Vice-President, Private Equity at the Caisse. “This financing gives us the possibility to continue to support a well-established Québec company that has a prudent management style. Optimum Group has on board rigourous portfolio managers who have performed particularly well in spite of the world economic crisis.”

“Optimum Group is proud to be able to count on the support of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The financing will help us to pursue our strategic and prudent growth strategy, consistently focused on the firm’s profitability and sustainability and on the security of our clients’ assets,” explained Jean-Claude Pagé, President and Chief Operating Officer of Optimum Group.

ABOUT OPTIMUM GROUP

Founded in 1969 by actuaries, Optimum Group is a private international financial group active in life insurance, property and casualty insurance, life reinsurance, actuarial consulting and asset management. Optimum Group operates mainly in Canada, the U.S. and France, and counts close to 500 employees, including many high-level professionals and technicians worldwide, 60% of whom are based in Québec. For more information: www.groupe-optimum.com.

ABOUT THE CAISSE DE DÉPÔT ET PLACEMENT DU QUÉBEC

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is a financial institution that manages funds primarily for public and private pension and insurance plans. As at December 31, 2011, it held $159 billion in net assets. As one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers, the Caisse invests in major financial markets, private equity and real estate. For more information: www.cdpq.com.