Definition of "Proprietary insurer"

The term proprietary insurer may seem like a tongue-twister and a mind-twister in itself. It kind of is. But what is the definition of a proprietary insurer? A proprietary insurer is a for-profit insurance company specializing in insuring high-risk items.

Mutual vs. proprietary companies

People often mistake proprietary and mutual insurance companies. On the one hand, a mutual or joint organization encompasses owners and clients who are virtually the same individuals. In other words, customers can also be the company’s proprietors. We call life assurance companies, insurance societies, or even credit unions a mutual company. Their members enjoy the same amount of voting power, regardless of their investment in the organization. 

On the other hand, shareholders own proprietary organizations, such as limited companies and banks. Shareholdings determine the voting rights of a proprietary company. 

Premiums and profits

The so-called Deed of Settlement brought mutual companies into existence. They could also register under the Companies Acts. These types of organizations belong to policyholders, who share the revenue and income. At the same time, shareholders at proprietary companies collect their profits in dividends and premiums. In contrast, the policyholder owner at the mutual company may obtain a more significant life assurance and smaller bonuses.

Mutual and proprietary companies can issue dividends. Still, the government considers dividends a profit on the premium at mutual companies. They will not tax policyholders. However, they believe dividends as income subject to tax proprietary insurance companies.

One cannot tell about a company based on their names, whether mutual or proprietary. Organizations originally established as mutual are now registered as proprietary companies in various instances.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Donation of amount "A," made by donor X to a charity. The charity agrees to pay donor X an amount ("B") for the rest of donor X's life. Since the donation is used to fund an annuity, only a ...

Coverage for two or more persons with the death benefit payable at the death of the last of those insured. Premiums are significantly lower under joint life and survivor insurance than for ...

Type of commercial form that provides coverage for business vehicles regardless of whether they are owned, leased, hired, or borrowed. The form's coverages are divided into the following ...

Protection to maintain the value of a business in case of death or disability of a partner. Upon the death or long-term disability of a partner, insurance can provide for the transfer of a ...

Automatic nonproportional reinsurance treaty or automatic proportional reinsurance treaty that provides coverage for losses upon which claims are made while the treaty is in force, without ...

Stipulation that no claim will be paid until a loss exceeds a flat dollar amount or a given percentage of the amount of insurance in force. After the loss exceeds this dollar amount or ...

Partnership in which family members hold all interest in the partnership. This partnership is treated as a cash flow through stand-alone entity. All sums of income and credits, as well as ...

a large number of homogeneous exposures (in order for the deviation of actual losses from expected losses to approach zero, and thecreditability of the prediction to approach one). loss ...

Combination of property insurance on the hull of an airplane and liability insurance in the following manner: property coverage provided on an ALL RISKS basis or on a specified perils ...

Popular Insurance Questions