Abstract

We study, for the first time, whether and how directors’ and officers’ (D&O) insurance affects independent directors’ voting. We provide new evidence that D&O insurance through the insurance channel and the insurance-monitoring channel incentivizes independent directors to monitor. The positive relation between D&O insurance and dissension is stronger if a firm faces higher information asymmetry or litigation risk, or if the firm purchased the D&O policy from a higher-quality insurer. Although dissension occurs less at D&O firms with high agency conflict, which is consistent with the argument that D&O insurance induces self-dealing by nullifying the disciplining effect of litigation, we find that giving shareholders a say on the corporate decision to buy D&O insurance counteracts this agency effect of D&O insurance.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.