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Tech-Specific Covearges

Tech companies have heightened E&O and cyber risks due to their distribution and digital-first presence.  Only a handful of carriers write this without major gaps in coverage.  

Tech company insurance D&O, E&O, Cyber, Technology

Tech E&O

Clients

Fintech

Contract
w/ Client

Client' Clients

Contract
w/ Clients

Contract 
w/ Bank

Bank

Insurance

Litigation

Vendors

Regulators

Client(s)

Shareholders

Fintechs face significant risk based on their operations.  Because of this, your banking vendor will typically require Tech E&O insurance.  

Fintechs take actions as an intermediary between a vendor and the actual fintech customer. 

Customers are in privity of contract for services with the fintech.  If the services do not perform to the agreed upon standard, you may face a significant E&O claim for damages to the client, and the client's clients.  

Cyber

Fintech

Cloud

Data Storage

Hacker

Data Breach

Client
PII

Insurance

1st Prty

3rd Prty

Litigation

Clients

Litigation

Regulators

Customers

Shareholders

Vendors

Cyber risk is largely based on the amount of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) a company takes in.   

There are two categories of PII:  High risk (SSN, bank acct. #'s) and Low risk (email, phone) and this affects pricing of insurance.  

While you may use a third party vendor (TPV) to retain and protect this PII, you need cyber insurance for several reasons:


 

1. Your tech firm is still responsible to clients if there is a data breach at the TPV.  
2. The TPV will always limit their liability, and the limit is typically very low.  
3. You will get named in litigation when there is a breach and defense costs are significant.  

D&O

Side A DIC

Side A

Personal Asset Protection

Side B 

Company Reimbursement

Side C

Company Coverage

Private company D&O covers both the individual Directors and Officers and the Company itself for the costs associated with litigation and certain settlements.  

Side B 
If a director is sued, the company typically must indemnify the Directors and Officers (DE Title 8 Section 145),  When the company does so, it is reimbursed under Side B Coverage. excess of any retention.  

Side A
When the company fails to indemnify the director or officer (insolvency or refusal) then Side A coverage pays the legal costs and certain settlements with $0 retention.

Side C 
When the company is named in a lawsuit, Side C provides coverage.  

Side A DIC
Provides extremely broad additional Side A and is specifically reserved for individual directors and officers.  

EPL

- Wrongful Termination
- Discrimination
- Failure to Promote
- Sexual harassment 
- Wage and Hour Claims

EPL Claims are extremely simple for employees to file, and difficult for companies to resolve.  Wrongful termination claims, for example, can take years to litigate, and settle at around 3X yearly salary.  Discrimination claims are typically in the six to seven figure range, and class actions will easily get into the millions of dollars.  

Because of this, insurers typically place large retentions on their policies, especially in litigious locations such as California.  

While the structure of EPL is relatively straightforward, the wording can be highly complex, especially where you have independent contractors, international employees, or alternative corporate structures.  

Fintech 

Heavily Regulated

Stringent Vendor Req.s

Expensive, complex litigation

Finance
Insurtech
Payments

E&O Risk

Fintech

Contract

Contract

Bank

Fintechs face significant risk based on their operations.  

Generally, a fintech takes actions as an intermediary between a vendor and the actual fintech customer. 

Customers are in privity of contract with the fintech, and if there if services do not perform as agreed, you a potentially significant E&O claim.

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