Directors and Officers Liability Insurance

(D&O Insurance)

  • Covrzy helps your key personnel from legal liabilities and financial losses resulting from their decisions and actions.
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What is Directors and Officers Liability Insurance?

Directors and Officers Liability
                                        Insurance

Directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance is a type of insurance policy that protects the directors and officers from financial harm in the event that they are sued by their own company or other organizations. Additionally, D&O policy also covers for any “additional” expenses involved in legal proceedings that the company might accrue when a lawsuit is filed against them.

Who is Directors and Officers Liability Insurance for?

who is Directors and Officers Liability
                                        Insurance for?
  • Financial Institutions: Banks, credit unions, and investment firms face strict regulatory oversight and a higher risk of lawsuits related to financial mismanagement or fraud. D&O insurance can help mitigate these risks.

  • SaaS Companies : Tech companies especially SaaS Companies often operate within a dynamic industrial landscape and can face lawsuits related to intellectual property disputes, data breaches, or cybersecurity failures. D&O insurance can provide vital protection in these setbacks.

  • Any Company with a Board of Directors : Regardless of industry or size, any company with a Board of Directors should consider D&O insurance to guard the key decision-makers from any personal liability.

  • Startups: Startups with limited resources are particularly vulnerable to lawsuits, as they may not have established risk management practices. D&O Insurance can help them attract investors and board members by demonstrating a commitment to protecting their leadership.

  • Healthcare Organizations: Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers can be sued for medical malpractice, misdiagnosis, or other claims. D&O insurance can protect administrators and executives from personal liability.

Why do you need a Directors and Officers Liability Insurance?

why do you need a Directors and Officers Liability
                                        Insurance?

The D&O insurance is needed to protect a company for the following reasons:

  • Protection against lawsuit: For any legal risks comprising allegations of negligence, D&O insurance can cover the defending costs against a legal action.

  • Securing personal assets of directors and officers: For any lawsuit or allegation that demands compensation, the D&O insurance policy helps to shield the personal assets of directors and officers, which includes their home, savings, and investments.

  • Attraction and retention of top talent: Some highly talented professionals with specific industry expertise would refrain from joining a company with low accountability due to their fear of personal liability. Insurance for directors' liability provides reassurance to potential directors and officers that they will not bear any financial burden and have security in their tenure.

  • Regulatory compliance: Some industries or regulatory bodies may have a prerequisite for companies to be secure with D&O insurance before initiating business partnerships.

  • Reputation maintenance : When a lawsuit is filed against the directors and officers, it can invoke severe reputational damage to the company. The directors and officers liability insurance helps reduce the risks induced in such situations.

  • Investor confidence : There is a higher chance for investors to work with companies that adhere to robust risk management practices, including D&O policy.


What’s Covered in D&O Insurance?

what's covered in Directors and Officers Liability
                                        Insurance
  • Derivative Claims: The D&O insurance policy protects against claims brought by shareholders on behalf of the company.

  • Fiduciary Liability: For any claims against mismanagement of employee benefit plans, the directors and liability insurance can help cover legal fees and settlement costs.

  • Regulatory and Criminal Investigations: The policy provides the expenses involved in investigation proceedings by government agencies.

  • Corporate Governance Issues: For any claims arising from alleged failures in corporate governance or oversight, directors and officers liability insurance serves as a critical safeguard.

  • Personal Asset Protection: Ensures the personal assets of directors and officers are protected in the event of a lawsuit.

  • Entity Coverage : The D&O insurance policy provides financial stability when any claims are initiated against the company.

What’s not Covered in D&O Insurance?

What's not covered in D&O Insurance?
  • Illegal or fraudulent acts : The D&O insurance will exclude coverage for illegal acts, such as fraud or embezzlement, that are committed by directors or officers of the company. This implies if the director or officer is found guilty of misconduct, they cannot claim defense costs under the policy.

  • Prior acts: D&O insurance generally does not cover legal actions that arise from events or actions that were charged before the inception of the policy.

  • Pending Litigations : The D&O insurance policy will not cover legal costs or settlement for any pending lawsuits that were initiated before purchasing the policy.

  • Insured vs. Insured Exclusion: This exclusion prevents coverage for claims made by one insured party against another within the same company. For instance, if one director sues another for alleged wrongdoing, the D&O insurance policy will not cover any legal expenses.

  • Personal profit: D&O insurance does not cover legal action taken against directors or officers for personal profit or gain.

  • War and terrorism : Many D&O insurance policies exclude coverage for war or terrorism-related events.

  • Property damage or bodily injury : D&O insurance does not provide any coverage for any physical damage to property or bodily injury to people.

What does a Directors and Officers Liability Insurance cost?

what does it cost?

The cost of a Directors & Officers liability insurance policy premium can be estimated considering various parameters. This consists of the number of employees in the organization, the specific niche /industry base of the company, the amount of coverage desired, and the number of directs and officers to be covered. Typically, companies based in highly risk-prone industries have a higher premium amount for D&O policy.

Benefits of Choosing Covrzy for D&O Insurance Policy

Benefits of choosing Covrzy for Directors and Officers Liability
                                        Insurance

We've simplified the process to implement the Directors and Officers liability insurance to ensure you have a smooth, hassle-free experience. By eliminating strenuous paperwork and unnecessary delays, we curate your D&O insurance policy aligning with your business requirements. Our customer-focused approach offers a streamlined claims process and full support every step of the way, empowering your business to grow with security. Get a quote and get coverage online, hassle-free, without any complex documentation. Get a quote and coverage online and explore the ease of insurance!

  • Simple & Seamless

  • Affordable & Transparent

  • Customizable Coverage

  • Expert Support

  • Complete Protection

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Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions

Do Startups Need D&O Insurance?

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Yes, startups definitely require Directors and Officers Liability Insurance to shield the personal assets of the directors and officers of the company. This D&O insurance acts as a protection against any claims that question the decisions they made during their official tenure. The insurance will provide cover for costs incurred in legal fees, verdict settlement, and any other expenses to resolve the ongoing lawsuits or trials. Further, the D&O insurance is often mandated for overseas contracts and required for several investors.

How Does Covrzy Handle Claims?

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With the objective of simplifying business insurance, Covrzy ensures to streamline the complete claims process for you. From guiding you with the process, managing the documentation, and helping in verification, Covrzy ensures that clients can smoothly navigate the claims process with expert professionals supporting you at each step.

Can Coverage Be Expanded Over Time?

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Typically, the limit for the insurance coverage can be expanded with the amplifying growth of the business and the evolving needs of the company. The insurance companies give permit to modify the insurance policy to expand the coverage with an additional premium amount or increase the coverage with add-on risks aligning the changes and business growth in the company.

Can D&O Insurance Policy be customised?

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The requirements of different startups and organizations vary according to the number of board members, size of the company, specific niche/industry in which the company works, etc., requiring customized policies. The D&O insurance can be tailored according to the niche requirements of the company. This includes considering different factors like modifying the coverage limits, including coverage for add-on risks or customizing exclusions according to the industry type and the business operations.
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