There was a significant increase in corporate insolvencies in 2024. According to the Federal Statistical Office, corporate insolvencies rose by 24.9% in the first half of 2024 alone, compared to the same period in the previous year, with the number of major insolvencies rising even more sharply. Companies from the construction industry, fashion retail and, increasingly, the automotive sector are particularly affected. With a slight time lag, this will be accompanied by an increase in large D&O insurance cases, as insolvency administrators have long since discovered existing D&O insurance cover as a means of increasing the insolvency estate. Of particular relevance in this context is the liability of directors for payments made after insolvency, which has been a significant driver of major claims for years.