With compiler 15 (Update 1), linker fails to recognize UNC path name in LIBPATH whereas it works with Compiler 13

Has anything changed with respect to working with UNC path names (\\server\share\file_path) in LIBPATH input to linker toward building Fortran EXE projects between Intel Fortran Compiler 13 (version 13.1.3.198) and Compiler 15 (Update 1 i.e., 15.0.1.148)?

I've a project that works fine with Visual Studio 2012 and Intel Fortran 13.1.3.198.  This project fails with Visual Studio 2012 and Intel Fortran 15.0.1.148; "LINK : fatal error LNK1181: cannot open input file 'xyz.lib'"

The issue seems to be a failure with Intel Fortran 15.0.1.148 to recognize the UNC path name used in the "Additional Library Dependencies" setting in Visual Studio under Project Configuration Properties -> Linker -> General which translates to /LIBPATH:"\\server\share\file_path" option for the linker.

Now if I add an extra backslash to the UNC path name at the beginning i.e., \\\server\share\file_path, then linker works fine with Intel Fortran 15.0.1.148.

Is this an intended and known change between the compiler versions?  I couldn't find any documentation about this.

Thanks,