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Is skin in the game a game changer? Evidence from mandatory changes of D&O insurance policies

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  • Lin, Chen
  • Officer, Micah S.
  • Schmid, Thomas
  • Zou, Hong

Abstract

This paper examines the incentive effects of a mandatory personal deductible in liability insurance contracts for directors and officers (D&Os). Exploiting a novel German law that mandates personal deductibles for executives, we document positive returns for affected firms around the first announcement of the plan to impose a personal deductible. We also find evidence of long-run effects: affected firms decrease risk taking in operational activities and financial reporting, and improve the quality of takeover decisions. Our study shows that the structure of D&O insurance contracts matters because mandating that D&Os have “skin in the game” appears to lead to real effects on firm value.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Chen & Officer, Micah S. & Schmid, Thomas & Zou, Hong, 2019. "Is skin in the game a game changer? Evidence from mandatory changes of D&O insurance policies," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:68:y:2019:i:1:s0165410119300011
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2019.01.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

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    2. An, Jiafu & Duan, Tinghua & Hou, Wenxuan & Liu, Xianda, 2020. "The legacy of wars around the world: Evidence from military directors," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    3. Sophie Wang, Qing & Lai, Shaojie & Pi, Shuwen & Anderson, Hamish, 2022. "Does directors' and officers' liability insurance induce empire building? Evidence from corporate labor investment," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    4. Zhang, Xuejiao & Huang, Shoufeng & Li, Wanfu & Wang, Yu, 2023. "Directors' and officers' liability insurance, environmental regulation and firms' envi ronmental responsibility," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    5. Su, Xuan-Qi, 2023. "Directors' and Officers' liability insurance and cross section of expected stock returns: A mispricing explanation," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    6. Lin, Feng-Yi & Guan, Liming & Ho, Chia-Ling & Wang, Teng-Shih, 2022. "Examining the D&O insurance effect on managerial ability," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PA).
    7. Qu, Shawn, 2024. "Costs may be a blessing in disguise: Litigation risk and greenwashing," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    8. Xia, Changyuan & Yang, Junjie & Yang, Zeng & Chan, Kam C., 2023. "Do directors with foreign experience increase the corporate demand for directors' and officers' liability insurance? Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    9. Liu, Wenjun & Lin, Guoyu & He, Qian, 2024. "Enhanced management information disclosure responsibilities and corporate risk-taking: Evidence from the accountability system for errors in China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 511-531.
    10. Degl'Innocenti, Marta & Fiordelisi, Franco & Song, Wei & Zhou, Si, 2023. "Shareholder litigation and bank risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    D&O liability insurance; Deductible; Legal liability; Firm value; Risk taking; Accruals;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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