---
title: "Side A vs Side C D&O: What’s the Difference?"
description: "Side A protects leaders when the company cannot indemnify them; Side C covers the company for defined claims."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/side-a-vs-side-c"
page-type: "faq-question"
updated-at: "2026-09-25"
---

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# Side A vs Side C D&O: What’s the Difference?

Side A protects leaders when the company cannot indemnify them; Side C covers the company for defined claims.

Side A protects leaders when the company cannot indemnify them; Side C covers the company for defined claims.

Side A protects an insured individual when the organization cannot indemnify; Side C insures the organization itself for claims described in its grant. Side C may be limited to securities claims or may use broader private-company wording, so the same label does not establish equivalent scope. The grants may share an aggregate, leaving less for individuals if the entity uses limits first. Review the entity-claim definition, covered defendants, Side A limit and priority clause, and any allocation provision for mixed claims. Check whether the quote includes both grants and any separate Side A-only limit or endorsement.

## Related Questions

- [Side A vs Side B D&O: What’s the Difference?](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/side-a-vs-side-b)
- [What Is Side A D&O Insurance?](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/what-is-side-a)
- [Does D&O Cover Securities Claims?](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/do-cover-securities-claims)
- [D&O vs E&O: What’s the Difference?](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers/do-vs-eo)

## Related Coverage

- [Directors and officers](https://spot.insure/coverage/directors-officers)

## Sources

1. [The Chubb Primary Directors & Officers and Entity Securities Liability Insurance](https://eperils.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/14-02-18480.pdf). Chubb Group of Insurance Companies; hosted by eperils; I.A–C p.1; I.C p.1; I and III.A–B pp.1–2; VI Reporting pp.3–4; XVII Spouses, Domestic Partners, Estates and Legal Representatives; XX Bankruptcy; form version 14-02-18480 (06/2012). Accessed 2026-09-25.
2. [Private Company Directors and Officers Liability Coverage](https://asset.trvstatic.com/download/assets/pdo-3001.pdf/d66bd58e63c911ee99d14294a32ecb95). Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America; I.A–C p.1; III.A–E pp.1–2; III.J–M pp.2–3; IV Exclusions pp.3–4; VI Defense and Settlement pp.6–7; form version PDO-3001 Ed. 01-09. Accessed 2026-09-25.
3. [Directors and Officers insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/directors-and-officers-insurance). Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I); What D&O covers; What’s excluded?; The added value of protecting company leaders. Accessed 2026-09-25.

More answers: [Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance FAQ](https://spot.insure/insurance-faq/directors-officers).

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