INTRODUCTION TO D&O
- Directors and officers of companies hold positions of trust and they have responsibility to their company, the shareholder, the employees, the public at large etc. They may become liable to pay damages for wrongful acts like failure of supervision of the affairs of the company etc.
- Apart from common law responsibilities, the duties of directors under the companies Act relate to prudent management of the copmpany.
Liability of Directors and Officers
Directors and Officers may be liable to
- Employees eg. Unfair dismissal
- Shareholders
- Creditors
- Government regulatory bodies
- Members of the public etc
Coverage
The Policy shall cover “Loss” which means legal liability of the Directors or officers to pay damages or costs awarded against them and costs and expenses incurred by the directors or officers with the written consent of underwriters in respect of investigation, defence or settlement of any claim.
Here a wrongful act shall mean any actual or alleged breach of duty, trust, neglect, error, misstatement etc attempted by any director or officer
The coverage is granted in two Parts
- A) To the Directors and Officers
- B) To the Company its self
Coverage A
The policy pays compensation on behalf of the directors or officers of the company for loss arising from any claim by reason of any wrongful act committed in the capacity of Director or Officer of the company.
Coverage B
If a company pays the loss of an insured person due to any wrongful act of the insured person, the insurer will reimburse the company for such loss.
This may be due to Common Law, or Memorandum and Articles of Association. This is known as Company Reimbursement Provision.
Exclusions
- Known Claims & Circumstances
- Bodily Injury / Property Damage
- these are generally insured under other insurance policies
- Pollution
- Improper Personal Gain or Profit
- exceptions for innocent Directors
- Nuclear / Radiation
- USA / Canada -Territory / Jurisdiction
- Insured versus Insured
- Employment practice related
- Shareholder Derivative Action
- Receivers & Liquidators
- Major Shareholders
- varies by involvement of the Major Shareholder
- Prospectus Liability
- Can be specifically underwritten
- Fines, Penalties, Punitive and Exemplary Damages
- Trustee Liability / Employee Benefits
- can be separately insured: Trustee Liability
- Intentional Wrongful Acts, Fraud, Criminal Acts
For any insurance solutions, please contact Beacon Insurance at https://www.beacon.co.in/
Insurance is a subject matter of solicitation
