Optima is owned by Commerce Title, Dallas, TX (you can tell by looking at Optimas web site and Commerce Title's website-format is the same). As a former employee of Commerce in TX, I was there when Commerce purchased Benefit Land Title in Southern, CA. Benefit was a Southern CA title agency who owned a it's own small underwriter (which was being co-underwritten by Old Republic). Benefit also owned a 50% interest in Optima. Optima was started by 2 former Fidelity National Title employees, Burt Campbell and Anne Norris. Unless their contracts have changed, they owned the other 50% interest. I have heard no news that First Am has purchased them, however, Commerce does underwrite alot of business with First Am and they use the First Am "FAST" system for title production.
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