If you’ve caught a glimpse of any news, you already know that claims arising against directors and officers are more widespread now than ever before. Over the past five years, a whopping $23B was the cost of securities litigation—which is the most prevalent lawsuit nowadays. What this has created is an increase in risk exposure for directors and officers () insurance.
In a previous post, we looked in-depth at exclusions in D&O policies (here’s the post). Here, we’re driving on the other side of the road by examining some D&O insurance endorsem*nts that will benefit your company.
What’s an Insurance Endorsem*nt?
Naturally, before we start listing what endorsem*nts you need, let’s clarify what we mean by “insurance endorsem*nt.” Also known as a rider, add-on, or enhancements, endorsem*nts modify a commercial policy by adding, deleting, or excluding specific types of coverage.
Instead of having to purchase another separate policy, endorsem*nts let you tailor your current D&O policy to fit your particular needs better. Not only does it save you from having to shop around for more plans, but it also saves on the cost of insurance as a whole.
Endorsem*nts are vital because not every company follows the same business model. Therefore, the exposure your company faces is unique to you. A “missing piece” in a D&O policy might leave your business wide open for costly lawsuits. Endorsem*nts work to create more comprehensive coverage, customized to your professional needs and budget.
Why Do You Need Them?
D&O insurance can cover many claims against a company for the action of its directors and officers. With such litigation on the rise, however, a few D&O insurance trends have surfaced in the space, including Securities action lawsuits, Social issues, Cybersecurity risks, and . To protect your company from costly defense and settlement costs, purchasing adequate D&O insurance is essential.
To protect your company from costly defense and settlement costs, purchasing adequate D&O insurance is essential. As you might have imagined, a D&O claim isn’t cheap. On average, you can count on paying lawyers $35,000 to $100,000 to defend each incident—but that’s just the minimum. And if the legal fees aren’t jolting enough, indemnity payments average about $500,000, but can easily reach seven figures.
That said, D&O coverage only works in your favor if you have the right exclusions and endorsem*nts in the policy. While exclusions carve away at extensive coverage, endorsem*nts work to fill in the gaps and customize the overall plan. These add-ons can beef up your D&O policy so that you minimize your vulnerabilities to a manageable level.
What are Common Endorsem*nts in a D&O Insurance Policy?
Additional Side A limit
If an insured exhausts the rest of the policy, some insurers offer additional coverage for Side A claims only. Of course, this endorsem*nt only comes into play when there are still outstanding claims against individuals.
Dilution claims
Sometimes, shareholders believe that a significant round of funding unfairly diluted their stake in the company. The problem is that most D&O policies don’t cover this issue of “watering down”—but that doesn’t stop unhappy shareholders from suing. With this particular coverage enhancement, the insurer can offer a sublimit to use for defense costs related to these claims. Keep in mind that this endorsem*nt typically only applies to claims from former executives.
Bump-up claims
It’s not uncommon for shareholders to feel dissatisfied with an acquisition deal. Often, the shareholders and board of directors don’t agree on the sale price of the company. In these unfortunate situations, shareholders frequently sue for the difference. These suits are known as “bump-up” claims and are often excluded in D&O coverage. However, they are rather complicated and tend to show up in endorsem*nts—sublimited and usually on a defense cost-only basis.
Employed lawyers
In the realm of , in-house counsel may frequently find themselves embroiled in a D&O lawsuit due to their association with your company. Nevertheless, conventional D&O policies may not consistently extend coverage to them for their contributions to your insured company. The solution? By specifically including “in-house counsel” within the insured definition, this add-on precisely addresses this issue.
Class certification investigation
For a lawsuit to become a class-action lawsuit, a judge must certify plaintiffs as a “class.” But before that, the plaintiff must argue their case and undergo an investigation. Once the claim is deemed a class-action lawsuit, the cost of litigation skyrockets. Some insurers will include a sublimit to help pay for these specific class certification investigation costs.
Roadshow coverage
Before an initial public offering (IPO), founders form relationships with investors by using various presentations and pitch decks. Roadshow coverage chisels away at the IPO exclusion, allowing coverage for claims arising from alleged misinterpretation during the time frame leading up to an IPO. However, coverage doesn’t depend on whether or not the company ends up going public.
Broad change in control and M&A provisions
Companies undergo transitions continually. But when too much change occurs, some insurers will drop their coverage. For example, if a third party acquires a significant percentage of voting shares or assets, the policy might go into run-off or end coverage entirely. Or, if the company makes an acquisition, but in doing so, it exceeds particular thresholds, such as revenue, assets, employee count, etc. In this case, coverage may change—which is why higher limits benefit companies so much.
Duty to notify triggered upon written notice to CFO, CEO, or General Counsel
Only a few people per company should be allowed to report something to the insurer. Namely, the CFO, CEO, or General Counsel. Otherwise, things get messy; the more “gatekeepers” there are that hold such knowledge and responsibility.
Pre-arranged ERP (“Tail”) Pricing
An extended reporting period (ERP) is an endorsem*nt you can add that allows you to report claims ever after your policy expires. It’s frequently known as “tail” coverage, as well. A basic ERP is typically 30-60 days, but it’s possible to extend it for several years or even renew it with an additional fee.
Liberalization Clause
This policy provision offers a policyholder enhanced benefits when existing coverage changes to comply with new laws and regulations. Typically, coverage doesn’t experience a massive overhaul; it’s merely a new edition of identical insurance and comes without any additional cost.
Extradition Coverage
When someone requests the conviction of an insured person, this add-on provides the funds needed to oppose, challenge, and resist or defend (including appeals) the request for extradition.
What Do D&O Insurance Endorsem*nts Cost?
When you consider endorsem*nts the building blocks of your D&O insurance policy, it’s more natural to accept any additional costs they might accrue. Although endorsem*nts come in all shapes and sizes, their affordability might surprise you.
Remember, including an endorsem*nt isn’t the same as buying a whole new policy. Endorsem*nts create a fresh, customized policy—but without the new car sticker price, per se. Working with a knowledgeable insurance expert can help land you the best policy for your company.
Understanding the details of what coverage your company needs can be a confusing process. Founder Shield specializes in knowing the risks your industry faces to make sure you have adequate protection. Feel free to reach out to us, and we’ll walk you through the process of finding the right policy for you.
Want to know more about D&O insurance? Talk to us! You can contact us at info@foundershield.com or create an account here to get started on a quote.
