DARCstar

The new and improved Directors’ All Risk Cover (DARCstar) is here and it is continuously reviewed, revised and designed to simplify and improve the protection available to directors and officers. First launched in May 2011, the DARCstar policy is exclusive to WTW.

Download the DARCstar 2025 guide to changes to see how we can provide comprehensive and clear coverage for insured individuals and entities:

Features and benefits

Feature: One insuring clause

Benefit: Instead of the conventional twin insuring clause approach, with indemnification being the barrier between the two, there is a single insuring clause providing direct access for the directors to insurers

Feature: D&O cover on an ‘all risks’ basis

Benefit: Rather than an insured perils/affirmative cover approach, the assumption is that the risk is covered unless excluded

Feature: Nil deductibles

Benefit: No compulsory deductibles or retentions other than with respect to securities claims

Feature: Investigation cost coverage

Benefit: Full-limit coverage for insolvency investigations and comprehensive investigation cost protection for directors and officers

Feature: Flexible claims participation

Benefit: Minimal claims participation requirements for a seamless claims process

Feature: Policy conditions simplified

Benefit: Clear, simple and concise terms. No conditions precedent and insurers’ remedy for policy breach established only upon prejudice

DARCstar includes additional features not seen in standard D&O policies. These include:

• Advancement of all directors’ costs in the event of an allocation dispute
• Defence and investigation costs cover for death under the D&O policy (for death resulting in a claim against a director or officer or other insured person)
• Fully integrated Outside Directors Liability (ODL) cover
• Loss mitigation protection
• Suspended claims reporting requirements where legal restrictions apply

The DARCstar concept

DARCstar is based on the premise that many D&O liability insurance policies are too lengthy and cumbersome. Just twelve pages long, it tackles the issue that more complex terms don’t always offer better protection.

The two principles on which the DARCstar concept rests are: