• The co-insurance clause is an alternative to the standard hammer clause found on the Professionals, Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance Policy Forms and Error and Omission Insurance (E&O) Forms. This provision provides for the sharing of defense and indemnification costs (between the policyholder and the insurer) incurred after the policyholder’s refusal to agree to a settlement proposed by the insurer. The most common distribution percentage is 50/50, but can sometimes be higher (eg 70 insurers/30 insured). The effect of such clauses is to reduce the amount of damages and defense costs that the insured may potentially incur if he refuses to agree to the settlement amount recommended by the insurer.