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Canadian equity plan sponsors, when selecting technology to administer their equity plans, have historically had to choose between legacy platforms developed 20 years ago and domestic solutions that haven't kept pace with employees' and administrators' expectations today. That gap is closing. TMX Group, owner of the Toronto Stock Exchange, has entered a strategic technology collaboration with Optio to bring a modern equity plan administration platform to Canadian issuers.
Why this matters
TMX Investor Solutions has spent decades building trust with Canadian issuers: deep market knowledge, regulatory expertise, and relationships that took years to earn. What it needed was a platform built for where equity compensation is heading, not where it has been. That is what this collaboration is about. TMX brings the Canadian market know-how and expertise for operating equity plans. Optio brings the technology, built for the complexity of running plans across multiple jurisdictions, currencies, and regulatory requirements.
Why TMX chose Optio
TMX chose Optio for its globally proven track record of adapting its platform to meet local market needs and regulatory requirements across 15+ markets in the past 8 years. Optio serves more than 500 companies and partners, helping them administer equity plans for 1 million plan participants across 100+ countries. Together, we are bringing a modern, scalable platform to the Canadian market while keeping the trusted service and Canadian market knowledge issuers already rely on from TMX.
"Our collaboration with Optio further reinforces our commitment to delivering best-in-class corporate solutions to our clients. We are excited to combine Optio's leading technology with our deep Canadian market expertise to build a premier equity compensation program backed by trusted local support."
Lara Donaldson, President, TMX Investor Solutions
Equity compensation gets complicated fast: grants that vest on their own schedules, tax treatment that shifts by jurisdiction, reporting that has to hold up under audit. Optio's platform is built for exactly that complexity, giving plan administrators one clear source of truth and giving participants a real-time view of what their equity is actually worth.
As expectations for digital experience, automation, and reporting keep rising, this collaboration positions TMX to deliver a significantly enhanced platform and a best-in-class equity plan experience for issuers and their participants alike.
"What excites us about this collaboration is the opportunity to build something specifically for the needs of the Canadian market. TMX Investor Solutions brings unmatched market knowledge, trusted client relationships and a deep understanding of the regulatory environment. Together, we have the opportunity to modernize equity plan administration in Canada and create a better experience for plan sponsors and participants alike."
Christoffer Herheim, CEO and co-founder of Optio
About TMX
TMX owns the Toronto Stock Exchange, founded in 1861, along with the TSX Venture Exchange, the Montreal derivatives exchange, the Canadian securities depository, and TSX Trust. More than 3,600 companies are listed on its markets, worth around CAD 6.4 trillion between them, and they raised CAD 33.3 billion in fresh equity last year. TMX itself is worth about CAD 14.25 billion and employs 2,200 people. That is the scale of the partner now bringing Optio's platform to Canadian issuers.
Toronto follows Johannesburg
TMX is the second stock exchange group to bring Optio's platform to its clients. Since 2025, JSE Investor Services, the investor-services arm of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Africa's largest share plan administrator, has run share plans for around ninety South African companies on Optio's platform. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange, founded in 1887, is Africa's largest exchange by a wide margin. That track record opened the door to Toronto, and it's why other exchanges and global partners are now watching how the platform performs at scale.
Looking ahead
This collaboration is part of a broader shift already underway across the equity compensation industry: employee ownership is moving from something a handful of companies did well to a standard every company is expected to get right, wherever their people are. Canadian issuers now have a partner built for exactly that shift.
Read the full announcement. If your organization is exploring what modern equity plan administration should look like in Canada or globally, get in touch with our team.
TMX Group and Optio, at a glance
TMX Group (TSX: X)
- 3,600+ listed issuers; combined market value approximately CAD 6.4 trillion
- CAD 33.3 billion raised in 2025
- Own market cap approximately CAD 14.25 billion; 2025 revenue CAD 1.72 billion; approximately 2,200 employees
Optio Incentives
- Founded 2018 by Mats Gerø and Christoffer Herheim
- Approximately 130 employees
- More than 500 clients, listed on 15 stock exchanges
- Share plans in over 100 countries
