The Options Scandal and the D&O Insurance Response

The director and officer liability insurance industry was as surprised as everyone else by the recent options backdating scandal. D&O carriers had never previously considered improper option accounting, and therefore few, if any, D&O policies contained explicit provisions addressing options backdating. Since the scandal first hit, however, D&O insurance carriers have had a chance to assess their exposure, consider their coverage position under the language of existing policies, and determine how they will treat improper option accounting issues going forward. In general, most D&O insurance carriers have been reasonable and evenhanded in their response. This article discusses those the backdating issue and the D&O insurance response.

Download PDF