Compare Directors & Officers Insurance Providers UK
Compare Personal Liability, Company Reimbursement, Entity Cover, Wrongful Acts, Investigations, Defence Costs, Claims-Made Continuity, Run-Off, Pricing And Complete Policy Cost
Compare directors and officers insurance UK providers by insured persons, directors, officers, partners, managers, employees and outside directorships, personal non-indemnifiable liability, company reimbursement, entity cover, alleged wrongful acts, breach of duty, breach of trust, neglect, error, misleading statements, wrongful trading, regulatory investigations, disqualification proceedings, defence costs, settlements, judgments, employment-practices extensions, reputational costs, extradition, crisis support, claims-made wording, prior acts, retroactive dates, known-circumstance exclusions, severability, non-imputation, priority of payments, change of control, insolvency, run-off, excesses, insurer identity, FCA status, annual premium, Insurance Premium Tax, instalment charges, fees, renewal and cancellation. Give every provider the same legal entities, ownership, turnover, financial condition, directors, subsidiaries, territories, claims history, corporate events, required limit and payment assumptions before comparing proposals.
Protect Decision-Makers When Management Actions Are Challenged
Directors and officers insurance is designed for claims and investigations alleging wrongful acts committed by directors, officers and other insured people while managing an organisation.
- Define every insured person, entity and outside board appointment
- Protect personal assets where the company cannot indemnify
- Preserve claims-made continuity and notify circumstances promptly
- Plan change-of-control and run-off protection before a transaction
D&O insurance can respond to defence costs, settlements and judgments arising from alleged breach of duty, breach of trust, neglect, error, misleading statements, wrongful trading and other defined wrongful acts. Claims can come from shareholders, investors, employees, regulators, creditors, competitors, customers, liquidators and other parties.
The organisation may buy cover for the individual, reimbursement where it lawfully indemnifies that person, and selected claims against the company itself. These parts can share one aggregate limit, so entity cover can reduce the amount left to protect individual directors unless the wording includes suitable priority-of-payment provisions or separate capacity.
This page remains within management decisions and personal or corporate liability for wrongful acts. It does not compare negligent client services or ordinary claims for injury and property damage, which require separate policy analysis.
Choose The Right Directors & Officers Insurance Route
Match the route to organisation size, ownership, financial condition, governance, territories, transactions, regulatory scrutiny and the need for specialist advice.
| Buying Model | What It Usually Includes | Best-Fit Question |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Online Small-Business D&O | Digital quotation, lower selected limits, immediate documents and simplified underwriting for eligible private companies and lower-complexity organisations. | Can the online questions capture ownership, financial condition, subsidiaries, disputes, redundancies, transactions and known circumstances accurately? |
| Broker E-Traded SME Management Liability | Broker-arranged D&O with company reimbursement, entity or employment-practices modules selected through a digital insurer platform. | Which sections are included, which insurer carries them and how can the broker assist with a notification? |
| Standalone Private-Company D&O | Dedicated wording for directors and officers of privately owned businesses, often with optional entity and employment-practices protection. | Does the policy prioritise personal protection or allow company claims to consume the same limit? |
| Management Liability Package | D&O packaged with corporate legal liability, employment practices, crime, pension-trustee or related management modules. | Are the additional modules required, and do their claims share or erode the directors’ aggregate limit? |
| Mid-Market Or Large Private-Company D&O | Manually underwritten cover for larger turnover, complex subsidiaries, overseas activity, acquisitions, external investors and higher limits. | Can the insurer support complex investigations, insolvency allegations, transactions and multi-jurisdictional claims? |
| Public-Company Or Securities D&O | Specialist primary and excess layers addressing securities claims, public disclosures, shareholder litigation and capital-market transactions. | How do entity securities cover, allocation, excess layers, international programmes and local policies interact? |
| Charity, Club Or Trustee Management Liability | Protection adapted for trustees, committee members, governors, volunteers and decision-makers in not-for-profit organisations. | Does the policy use the organisation’s real constitution, governance roles, regulated activities and fundraising exposures? |
| Run-Off, Transaction Or Excess D&O | Extended reporting or dedicated capacity after sale, merger, listing, acquisition, insolvency event or change of control. | Which past acts remain covered, for how long, under whose control and with what ring-fenced limit? |
Eight Areas That Determine Directors & Officers Policy Fit
Use the same legal entities, insured people, financial data, ownership, claims history, transactions and limit assumptions for every provider.
Comparison Criterion
Insured Persons, Entities And Capacity
Compare directors, de facto and shadow directors, officers, partners, members, managers, employees, trustees, spouses, estates, retired people and representatives where included. Confirm subsidiaries, newly created or acquired entities, outside directorships and which claims against the company itself are insured.
Comparison Criterion
Personal Liability, Reimbursement And Entity Cover
Separate protection paid directly for individuals when the organisation cannot indemnify them from reimbursement where it lawfully pays their loss. Review entity cover carefully because corporate claims can share and exhaust the same limit. Check priority of payments, order of payment and whether extra personal capacity is available.
Comparison Criterion
Wrongful Acts, Investigations And Proceedings
Compare breach of duty, breach of trust, neglect, error, misleading statements, wrongful trading, regulatory investigations, disqualification, extradition, health-and-safety or corporate-manslaughter defence costs, dawn raids, interviews and circumstance-investigation costs. Establish when cover starts and whether a formal allegation is required.
Comparison Criterion
Limit, Defence Costs, Excess And Aggregation
Determine whether one aggregate limit covers all claims and costs for the policy period. Check defence costs inside or outside the limit, one wrongful act or related-claims aggregation, sublimits, excesses for reimbursement and entity claims, no excess for individual non-indemnifiable loss, and access to emergency defence costs.
Comparison Criterion
Claims-Made Continuity And Prior Acts
D&O is normally claims-made. Compare retroactive or prior-acts cover, pending-and-prior litigation dates, known-circumstance exclusions, continuity from earlier insurers, notification timing, innocent late notice, extended reporting periods and how cover changes when the business switches insurer or restructures.
Comparison Criterion
Conduct, Severability And Non-Imputation
Review fraud, dishonesty, deliberate criminal conduct and personal-profit exclusions. Strong wording applies exclusions only after an appropriate final determination and prevents one person’s knowledge or conduct being automatically attributed to innocent insureds. Confirm application severability and the treatment of admissions.
Comparison Criterion
Transactions, Insolvency And Outside Roles
Compare change-of-control triggers, automatic run-off, acquisitions, disposals, initial public offerings, insolvency allegations, liquidator claims, creditor claims and outside board appointments. Check notification and additional-premium requirements before signing a transaction or entering administration.
Comparison Criterion
Extensions, Provider Status, Claims And Cost
Review employment-practices, reputational costs, crisis communications, mitigation, court attendance, bail, asset-and-liberty costs, kidnap or extradition extensions where relevant. Compare insurer identity, financial strength, FCA status, claims expertise, annual premium, IPT, finance, fees, renewal and cancellation.
Measures To Define Before Selecting A Directors & Officers Provider
Translate management-liability claims into written insured-person, limit, continuity, conduct, transaction, claims and commercial evidence.
| Measure | What It Should Define | Evidence To Request | Common Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insured-person definition | Every individual whose management conduct should be protected | Wording, schedule, organisation chart, board records, partnership or trustee documents | Senior managers or shadow directors are assumed covered without confirmation |
| Corporate insureds | Parent, subsidiaries, acquired entities and the scope of entity liability | Group structure, ownership percentages, acquisition history and entity-cover wording | A subsidiary or prior trading entity is omitted |
| Indemnification position | When the company can and cannot lawfully indemnify an individual | Articles, indemnity deeds, legal advice, insolvency position and reimbursement wording | The buyer assumes the company can always protect a director |
| Wrongful-act scope | The management acts, errors and omissions that can trigger a claim | Wrongful-act definition, claim examples, exclusions and written insurer clarification | Operational or professional allegations are treated as D&O without checking capacity |
| Investigations | Which regulators, interviews, notices and formal proceedings attract costs | Investigation definition, trigger, sublimit, consent, lawyer appointment and notification route | Only court proceedings are considered during comparison |
| Aggregate limit | The amount available across individuals, reimbursement, entity claims and defence costs | Schedule, priority-of-payments wording, sublimits, excesses and exhaustion scenarios | Entity or employment claims can consume the limit protecting directors |
| Conduct exclusions | When fraud, dishonesty, personal profit or deliberate illegality removes cover | Final-adjudication wording, severability, non-imputation and advancement of defence costs | An allegation alone can stop funding under weak wording |
| Claims-made continuity | The prior acts, litigation dates, circumstances and reporting periods accepted | Prior schedules, declarations, retroactive date, continuity clause and run-off options | Known complaints or circumstances are not notified before renewal |
| Transactions and insolvency | How sale, merger, listing, acquisition, administration and liquidation alter cover | Transaction timetable, change-control wording, run-off quote and insolvency exclusions | The policy converts to run-off unexpectedly at completion |
| Provider verification and cost | The insurer, intermediary, claims handler and total annual commercial position | FCA Firm Checker, Register, policy documents, premium, IPT, finance and fees | A brand is compared without identifying the risk carrier or total payable |
Directors & Officers Insurance Providers UK Businesses Can Consider
Shortlist providers whose management-liability appetite, insured-person wording, limit structure, investigations, continuity, claims expertise, regulated role and complete cost fit the organisation. Confirm current written terms before purchase.
Provider Profile
Allianz Insurance
Allianz offers Complete Directors & Officers for established UK SMEs with turnover up to £100 million through digital broker trading, and Directors & Officers Select for larger or more complex risks. Published cover includes personal liability, company reimbursement and entity liability, with selected investigation and reputational extensions. Confirm the product, limit, entity share, excesses, run-off, claims route, broker role and complete cost.
Review official Allianz Complete Directors & Officers informationProvider Profile
AXA Commercial
AXA Commercial’s Management Liability Prevent & Protect proposition includes directors and officers liability, company legal liability and employment-practices liability for eligible businesses, with digital trading for many risks and underwriting referral where required. Include it where an SME wants management modules plus risk-prevention support. Confirm available limits, shared aggregates, advice services, conduct exclusions, claims handling, broker fees and renewal.
Review official AXA management liability proposition informationProvider Profile
Hiscox
Hiscox offers directors and officers insurance for leaders of private companies, including directors, officers, LLP partners and other insured people subject to the selected wording. Include it where a small or medium-sized organisation wants a direct or broker route and configurable management liability. Confirm wrongful-act scope, investigations, entity and employment modules, retroactive continuity, excesses, run-off, claims contacts and total cost.
Review official Hiscox directors and officers informationProvider Profile
Markel Direct
Markel Direct provides an online D&O route for eligible UK small businesses, contractors, charities and organisations and currently advertises selected cover from £5 per month based on £25,000 of D&O protection for a business consultant. Published wording includes individual liability, outside-board cover, disqualification and investigation costs and company reimbursement. Confirm the chosen limit, entities, exclusions, monthly total and claims process.
Review official Markel Direct D&O informationProvider Profile
Chubb
Chubb provides Elite Directors and Officers Liability and wider management-liability solutions for private, public and financial organisations. Published information highlights wrongful acts, breach of duty, negligence, wrongful trading, damages, judgments and legal costs. Include it where the organisation requires specialist financial-lines underwriting, international capability or higher-complexity claims support. Confirm programme structure, limits, retentions, entity cover and local policies.
Review official Chubb directors and officers informationProvider Profile
Zurich
Zurich offers corporate D&O and Executive Risk Solutions through brokers. Its published management-liability information covers personal and other liabilities faced by directors, officers, supervisors, managers and key employees, with executive-risk modules including corporate, employment, benefit-plan and crime sections. Include it where a business needs broader management liability, transaction provisions or extended reporting options. Confirm each section and limit.
Review official Zurich management liability informationProvider Profile
QBE
QBE offers Directors’ and Officers’ Liability for financial losses arising from actual or alleged wrongful acts, including defence, investigation and extradition costs. Include it where an organisation needs specialist broker-led financial-lines underwriting, larger capacity, international exposure or a tailored programme. Confirm insured persons, entity protection, investigations, allocation, territories, excess layers, conduct exclusions, claims service and the risk carrier.
Review official QBE directors and officers informationProvider Profile
Travelers
Travelers provides standalone D&O and an SME Management Liability Package combining directors and officers, commercial crime, employment practices and pension-trustee modules through brokers. Its claims centre includes a dedicated management-liability route. Include it where the buyer wants flexible private-company or packaged management cover and specialist claims support. Confirm selected modules, shared limits, retentions, notification, run-off, broker fees and renewal.
Review official Travelers directors and officers informationWhat Changes Directors & Officers Insurance Cost UK 2026
There is no reliable universal D&O price because limits, financial condition, ownership, sector, claims and corporate events differ. Compare the complete annual cost of equivalent protection.
| Cost Driver | Why It Changes Premium | What A Comparable Quote Should Show |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover, assets and organisation size | Larger organisations can face more stakeholders, decisions, scrutiny and potential loss | Current and forecast turnover, assets, employee count and group structure |
| Ownership and investor profile | External shareholders, private equity, fundraising and public securities can increase litigation exposure | Shareholders, investment rounds, debt, listing status and cap table |
| Financial condition and insolvency risk | Losses, cash pressure, covenant concerns and creditor exposure can increase claims and liquidator scrutiny | Accounts, forecasts, liquidity, debt, auditor comments and turnaround plans |
| Industry and regulatory scrutiny | Financial, healthcare, construction, technology and regulated sectors can attract complex investigations | Licences, regulators, compliance history, products and geographic exposure |
| Limit and entity-cover structure | Higher limits and broader entity protection increase insurer exposure and can alter personal protection | Personal, reimbursement and entity limits, aggregates, retentions and priority |
| Claims, investigations and circumstances | Prior allegations, disputes, redundancies or regulatory contact can indicate future notifications | Five-year or requested history, complaints, proceedings, investigations and known facts |
| Transactions and corporate events | Acquisitions, disposals, restructuring, fundraising and listing plans change control and disclosure risk | Transaction timetable, advisers, due diligence, warranties and run-off plan |
| Territory and jurisdiction | Overseas subsidiaries, US exposure and international claims can require local or specialist programmes | Countries, revenues, employees, listings, courts and local-policy requirements |
| Extensions and management modules | Employment practices, company liability, crime and pension-trustee modules add insured exposure | Selected modules, sublimits, shared limits, retentions and overlap analysis |
| Payment method and intermediary fees | Premium finance, broker fees and administration change total payable | Annual premium, IPT, deposit, instalment total, broker and change fees |
| Commercial Model | Typical Position | What Must Be Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Online SME Policy | Standard limits and digital underwriting for eligible private businesses | Limit, insured persons, entity cover, excess, annual total, IPT and cancellation |
| Broker E-Traded Management Liability | A broker selects D&O and related management modules on an insurer platform | Modules, shared limits, insurer, advice basis, fees, claims role and renewal |
| Manually Underwritten D&O | Specialist underwriters assess finances, governance, claims, transactions and territories | Primary limit, excess layers, retentions, warranties, local policies and service team |
| Run-Off Or Transaction Protection | Past management acts remain reportable after a change of control or cessation | Duration, limit, premium, prior acts, control of notifications and insurer consent |
Match The Provider To The Organisation, Governance And Claim Severity
The right shortlist depends on ownership, finances, management structure, regulation, investors, transactions, territories and the support required during an investigation.
Owner-Managed Private Company
Prioritise broad insured-person wording, personal non-indemnifiable protection, company reimbursement, affordable limits, no unnecessary entity dilution, legal advice, simple claims notification, automatic subsidiary cover, retired-director protection and transparent online or broker administration.
Growing SME With Employees And Investors
Prioritise fundraising and shareholder allegations, employment-practices options, company legal liability, regulatory investigations, outside directorships, severability, crisis support, acquisitions, accurate financial disclosure and limits that can withstand simultaneous individual and entity claims.
Charity, Club Or Not-For-Profit Organisation
Prioritise trustees, committee members, volunteers, governors, constitutional duties, fundraising, grants, safeguarding governance, regulator investigations, reputational costs, retired decision-makers, entity protection and wording designed for the organisation rather than a standard trading company.
Mid-Market, International Or Transaction-Active Company
Prioritise specialist financial-lines underwriting, excess layers, US or overseas exposure, local policies, securities and investor risk, insolvency, acquisitions, disposals, change-of-control run-off, priority of payments, independent directors, claims counsel and insurer financial strength.
How To Compare Directors & Officers Insurance Proposals
Issue one management-risk pack containing every legal entity and subsidiary, trading history, ownership, directors, officers, managers and trustees, turnover, assets, employees, audited and management accounts, debt, investors, regulatory status, territories, outside board appointments, claims and circumstances, employment disputes, planned redundancies, acquisitions, disposals, fundraising, listing or insolvency concerns, required limit, entity-cover preference, excess tolerance, run-off needs and payment method. Require the provider to return a completed coverage, continuity, conduct, transaction and commercial schedule rather than a premium-only indication.
- Every provider considers the same people, entities and financial information
- Personal protection, reimbursement and entity cover are separately stated
- Investigations, defence costs, exclusions and sublimits are demonstrated
- Prior acts, known circumstances, transactions and run-off are directly comparable
- Insurer, intermediary, claims handler and legal-panel arrangements are identified
- Annual and monthly totals include IPT, finance and fees
Compare The Same Management Claim End To End
Ask each provider how the policy would respond if shareholders allege misleading financial statements, a regulator begins an investigation, creditors pursue directors after insolvency and the company is unable to indemnify them.
A low premium is not a strong result when defence costs erode a small aggregate, entity claims consume the limit or the known circumstance should have been notified before renewal.
Six Questions To Put To Every Directors & Officers Provider
The answers expose missing insured people, limit dilution, weak investigation cover, conduct exclusions, continuity gaps and incomplete annual costs.
Who And Which Entities Are Insured?
Request directors, officers, partners, managers, employees, trustees, retired people, spouses, estates, subsidiaries, acquisitions, outside appointments and the exact scope of company entity cover.
How Are Personal, Reimbursement And Entity Claims Prioritised?
Confirm the aggregate, priority of payments, separate or additional personal limits, retentions, company reimbursement and how entity or employment claims can erode protection for individuals.
Which Investigations And Defence Costs Are Covered?
Ask about regulatory interviews, notices, disqualification, extradition, insolvency hearings, health-and-safety proceedings, crisis communications, appointed lawyers, consent and emergency cost advancement.
How Do Conduct Exclusions And Severability Work?
Request final-adjudication language, fraud and personal-profit treatment, non-imputation, application severability, innocent insured protection, admissions and reimbursement after an excluded finding.
What Happens At Renewal, Transaction Or Insolvency?
Confirm prior acts, litigation dates, known circumstances, change of control, acquisitions, automatic run-off, extended reporting, administration, liquidator claims and additional-premium requirements.
What Is The Complete Annual Cost And Claims Model?
Obtain premium, IPT, deposit, finance, broker and administration fees, excesses, legal panel, claims contacts, service standards, policy changes, cancellation, renewal and run-off cost.
A Seven-Stage Directors & Officers Provider Evaluation
Move from verified governance and financial information to tested claims-made wording and transaction protection rather than selecting a policy from price alone.
- Create a verified management-risk baseline covering entities, ownership, insured people, finances, investors, debt, regulators, territories, claims, employment matters and planned corporate events.
- Define the coverage architecture: personal non-indemnifiable protection, company reimbursement, entity liability, employment practices, crime or other management modules and required limits.
- Prepare a prioritised requirement catalogue covering wrongful acts, investigations, defence costs, conduct exclusions, severability, prior acts, transactions, insolvency, run-off and complete cost.
- Issue one quotation brief and scripted claim using the same financial data, insured people, entity scope, history, corporate events, inception date and payment assumptions.
- Shortlist providers by management-liability appetite, wording, limits, investigations, claims expertise, financial strength, regulated status, transaction support and complete cost.
- Complete due diligence and document review. Check FCA status, insurer identity, IPID, wording, schedule, proposal, known-circumstance declaration, endorsements, fees and claims instructions.
- Purchase only after correcting inaccuracies. Brief directors on notification, preserve board and financial records, report changes, review corporate events before completion and compare again before renewal.
Directors & Officers Insurance Comparison Checklist
Use this table before purchasing, changing, renewing or placing a D&O policy into run-off.
| No. | Requirement | Evidence To Obtain Before Purchase | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | D&O service boundary retained | The comparison remains focused on management wrongful acts and does not substitute other liability policies | |
| 02 | Every legal entity and subsidiary declared | Parent, subsidiaries, acquisitions, disposals, prior names and overseas entities | |
| 03 | Every insured-person category confirmed | Directors, officers, managers, employees, partners, trustees, retired people and representatives | |
| 04 | Outside directorships recorded | Appointments, requesting company, outside entity and other available insurance | |
| 05 | Personal and company cover separated | Non-indemnifiable loss, reimbursement, entity claims, retentions and priority of payments | |
| 06 | Limit and defence-cost basis approved | Aggregate, sublimits, legal costs, related claims, excesses and additional personal capacity | |
| 07 | Investigation triggers accepted | Regulators, interviews, notices, proceedings, disqualification and emergency costs | |
| 08 | Conduct wording protects innocent insureds | Final adjudication, severability, non-imputation and advancement of defence costs | |
| 09 | Claims-made continuity verified | Prior acts, pending litigation date, known circumstances and prior policy evidence | |
| 10 | Employment-practices and entity modules assessed | Need, limit sharing, retention, allegations, exclusions and separate capacity | |
| 11 | Financial condition disclosed accurately | Accounts, forecasts, debt, covenants, auditors, funding and insolvency concerns | |
| 12 | Transactions and run-off controlled | Acquisitions, disposals, listing, change of control, cessation and reporting period | |
| 13 | Claims process tested | Notification, panel counsel, consent, interim costs, crisis support and complaints | |
| 14 | Provider and insurer verified | FCA status, insurer, intermediary, claims handler and financial strength | |
| 15 | Three-year cost and governance complete | Premium, IPT, finance, fees, limit strategy, policy changes, renewal and run-off |
Common Directors & Officers Insurance Buying Mistakes
Most avoidable problems begin with limited-liability assumptions, unclear insured people, limit dilution, late notification or transaction planning left until completion.
| Mistake | Why It Creates Risk | Better Control |
|---|---|---|
| Assuming limited liability protects directors personally | Directors can face personal claims, investigations and defence costs | Assess management liability and corporate indemnification separately |
| Buying one aggregate without modelling entity claims | Company or employment claims can consume the limit needed by individuals | Review priority, retentions and additional personal capacity |
| Using a narrow insured-person definition | Senior managers, shadow directors, trustees or outside appointments may be omitted | Map every role and obtain written confirmation |
| Waiting for a formal claim before notifying | Complaints, errors and regulatory contact can be notifiable circumstances | Use a board-level claims and circumstance escalation process |
| Treating all investigations as covered | Some wordings require a formal order, notice or defined investigation | Compare trigger wording, sublimits and lawyer appointment |
| Ignoring conduct-exclusion mechanics | Weak wording can prejudice innocent insureds before wrongdoing is established | Require final adjudication, severability and non-imputation |
| Failing to disclose financial pressure | Inaccurate accounts, debt or insolvency information can affect underwriting and claims | Use verified finance and board information |
| Completing a transaction before checking change of control | The policy can enter run-off and stop covering new management acts | Agree transaction and run-off terms before completion |
| Assuming D&O covers every claim against a director | Claims arising in another professional or operational capacity can fall outside management liability | Test the capacity in which the allegation is made |
| Comparing monthly price without limit structure | Limits, entity cover, retentions, defence costs, finance and fees can differ | Compare complete annual cost and exhaustion scenarios |
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions from UK businesses comparing personal protection, company reimbursement, investigations, claims-made cover, exclusions, transactions and pricing.
What Is Directors And Officers Insurance?
Directors and officers insurance can cover defence costs, settlements and judgments when directors, officers or other insured people face claims alleging wrongful acts committed while managing an organisation. Depending on the policy, it can also reimburse the company and cover selected claims against the entity.
Is Directors And Officers Insurance Compulsory In The UK?
D&O insurance is not generally a statutory requirement for UK companies. Investors, lenders, contracts, transaction advisers or governance policies may require it. Directors remain legally responsible for their duties whether or not insurance is purchased.
Who Can Make A Claim Against A Director Or Officer?
Claims and investigations can arise from shareholders, investors, employees, regulators, creditors, customers, competitors, suppliers, liquidators and other parties. The policy must respond to the capacity in which the individual acted and the defined wrongful act.
Does A Limited Company Protect A Director’s Personal Assets?
Limited liability protects shareholders in their capacity as owners but does not prevent personal allegations against directors for breach of duty, wrongful trading, neglect, misleading statements or regulatory matters. D&O insurance can fund covered defence and liability when company indemnification is unavailable.
What Are Side A, Side B And Side C D&O Cover?
Side A commonly refers to direct protection for an individual when the organisation cannot indemnify them. Side B reimburses the organisation after it lawfully indemnifies an individual. Side C covers defined claims against the entity itself. Terminology and scope vary, so buyers should read the wording.
What Does Claims-Made D&O Insurance Mean?
Claims-made cover generally requires a claim or notifiable circumstance to be reported during the active policy or an applicable extended reporting period. Continuous prior-acts protection, accurate renewal declarations and prompt notification are therefore critical.
Does D&O Insurance Cover Regulatory Investigations?
Many policies cover defined investigation costs, interviews, disqualification or regulatory proceedings, but triggers and sublimits vary. Some require a formal notice or compulsory attendance. Compare when cover begins, who selects the lawyer and whether defence costs erode the main limit.
Does Directors And Officers Insurance Cover Fraud Or Fines?
Policies generally exclude deliberately fraudulent, dishonest or criminal conduct and illegal personal profit. Public-policy rules can prevent insurance of certain fines and penalties. Strong wording can continue advancing defence costs until an appropriate final determination and protect innocent insureds.
What Happens To D&O Insurance When A Company Is Sold Or Closes?
A change of control commonly places the existing policy into run-off for acts committed before the transaction. New acts after completion may require the buyer’s programme. Businesses should agree run-off duration, limit, insurer, premium and notification responsibility before sale, merger, closure or insolvency.
How Should UK Businesses Compare D&O Providers?
Give every insurer or broker the same legal entities, ownership, directors, subsidiaries, financial information, regulators, territories, claims history, employment matters, planned transactions, required limit, entity-cover preference and payment assumptions. Compare wording, investigations, exclusions, continuity, claims service and complete annual cost.
Official Guidance And Provider Resources
Reviewed by Bhav Giva, Founder & Lead Analyst at CompareServices.co.uk, on 5 August 2026.
Use current GOV.UK, ABI, FCA, insurer and broker documentation to verify director responsibilities, insured-person definitions, wrongful acts, investigations, limit structure, conduct exclusions, claims-made continuity, transactions, run-off, insurer and intermediary status, Insurance Premium Tax, fees and policy terms. Product appetite, premiums and wording can change. Obtain legal, transaction or appropriately authorised insurance advice where governance, financial condition, corporate events or claims circumstances are complex.
- GOV.UK — Being A Company Director
- GOV.UK — Running A Limited Company: Directors’ Responsibilities
- HMRC — Directors’ And Officers’ Liabilities
- Association of British Insurers — Directors And Officers Liability Insurance
- FCA — FCA Firm Checker
- FCA — Financial Services Register
- GOV.UK — Insurance Premium Tax
- Allianz — Complete Directors & Officers
- AXA — Management Liability Prevent & Protect
- Hiscox — Directors And Officers Insurance
- Markel Direct — Directors And Officers Insurance
- Chubb — Directors And Officers Liability Insurance
- Zurich — Management Liability
- QBE — Directors And Officers Liability
- Travelers — Directors And Officers Liability