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UNICO AMERICAN CORP - Quarter Report: 2008 March (Form 10-Q)

unam0308.htm
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
 (Mark One)

x    Quarterly Report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008 or

o     Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File No. 0-3978

UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Nevada
95-2583928
(State or Other Jurisdiction of 
 (I.R.S. Employee
 Incorporation or Organization)
Identification No.)
 
 
 23251 Mulholland Drive,  Woodland Hills, California  91364
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)
 
(818) 591-9800
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

No Change
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  x  No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerator filer and large accelerator in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  Accelerated filer  Non-accelerated filer Smaller reporting company  x  
                                                                              (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  o    No  x

5,625,308
Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of May 14, 2008
 
 
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 PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

   
March 31
   
December 31
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Investments
           
   Available for sale:
           
      Fixed maturities, at market value (amortized cost:  March 31, 2008 $134,111,143; December 31, 2007 $139,992,208)
  $ 139,608,891     $ 142,895,472  
   Short-term investments, at cost
    14,985,626       7,356,159  
Total Investments
    154,594,517       150,251,631  
Cash
    46,436       108,864  
Accrued investment income
    1,227,361       1,554,741  
Premiums and notes receivable, net
    4,817,192       5,066,646  
Reinsurance recoverable:
               
   Paid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    989,571       318,186  
   Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    24,488,933       28,425,424  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    5,523,620       5,722,847  
Property and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation)
    516,469       557,234  
Deferred income taxes
    -       686,910  
Other assets
    761,149       1,083,378  
Total Assets
  $ 192,965,248     $ 193,775,861  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
LIABILITIES
               
Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
  $ 89,085,761     $ 94,730,711  
Unearned premiums
    21,546,879       22,742,612  
Advance premium and premium deposits
    2,540,331       2,159,290  
Income taxes payable
    94,331       -  
Deferred income taxes
    186,944       -  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    7,735,549       5,040,145  
Total Liabilities
  $ 121,189,795     $ 124,672,758  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS'  EQUITY
               
Common stock, no par – authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding shares 5,625,308 at March 31, 2008, and 5,625,308 at December 31, 2007
  $ 3,594,207     $ 3,594,207  
Accumulated other comprehensive gain
    3,628,514       1,916,154  
Retained earnings
    64,552,732       63,592,742  
Total Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 71,775,453     $ 69,103,103  
                 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
  $ 192,965,248     $ 193,775,861  
 
 
 
See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
 AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)


   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
REVENUES
           
Insurance Company Revenues
           
     Premium earned
  $ 11,146,946     $ 12,740,333  
     Premium ceded
    2,222,180       3,031,135  
          Net premium earned
    8,924,766       9,709,198  
     Net investment income
    1,597,066       1,622,290  
Net realized investment gains
    6,306       -  
     Other income
    114,638       9,641  
          Total Insurance Company Revenues
    10,642,776       11,341,129  
                 
Other Revenues from Insurance Operations
               
     Gross commissions and fees
    1,471,364       1,366,077  
     Investment income
    25,448       38,025  
     Finance charges and fees earned
    124,521       148,540  
     Other income
    4,011       3,281  
          Total Revenues
    12,268,120       12,897,052  
                 
EXPENSES
               
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    6,195,706       5,933,970  
Policy acquisition costs
    2,080,971       1,995,580  
Salaries and employee benefits
    1,437,039       1,421,507  
Commissions to agents/brokers
    321,491       204,305  
Other operating expenses
    786,612       765,252  
     Total Expenses
    10,821,819       10,320,614  
                 
Income Before Taxes
    1,446,301       2,576,438  
Income Tax Provision
    486,311       854,139  
     Net Income
  $ 959,990     $ 1,722,299  
                 
                 
                 
PER SHARE DATA
               
Basic Shares Outstanding
    5,625,308       5,595,526  
Basic Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.17     $ 0.31  
                 
Diluted Shares Outstanding
    5,669,634       5,679,250  
Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.17     $ 0.30  
 
 
 
See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
 AND SUBSIDIARIES

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)


   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Net Income
  $ 959,990     $ 1,722,299  
Other changes in comprehensive income, net of tax:
               
     Unrealized gains on securities classified as available-for-sale arising during the period
    1,712,360       205,067  
            Comprehensive Income
  $ 2,672,351     $ 1,927,366  
 
 
 
See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
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UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
 AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)


   
Three Months Ended March 31
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
           
   Net Income
  $ 959,990     $ 1,722,299  
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operations
               
      Depreciation
    52,985       58,208  
      Bond amortization, net
    56,744       (24,685 )
Net realized investment gains
    (6,306 )     -  
   Changes in assets and liabilities
               
      Premium, notes and investment income receivable
    576,834       473,642  
      Reinsurance recoverable
    3,265,106       (584,232 )
      Deferred policy acquisitions costs
    199,227       174,544  
      Other assets
    (80,580 )     (10,392 )
      Reserve for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
    (5,644,950 )     (743,559 )
      Unearned premium reserve
    (1,195,733 )     (2,439,701 )
      Funds held as security and advanced premiums
    381,041       506,510  
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    2,695,403       1,310,921  
      Income taxes current/deferred
     488,869       (795,860 )
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operations
    1,748,632       (352,305 )
                 
Investing Activities
               
Purchase of fixed maturity investments
    (11,185,123 )     (3,196,120 )
Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturity investments
    16,510,000       6,000,000  
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturity investments
    505,750       -  
Net (increase) in short-term investments
    (7,629,467 )     (2,398,286 )
Additions to property and equipment
    (12,220 )     (29,855 )
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
    (1,811,060 )     375,739  
                 
Financing Activities
               
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    -       46,250  
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
    -       46,250  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash
    (62,428 )     69,684  
Cash at beginning of period
    108,864       34,535  
Cash at End of Period
  $ 46,436     $ 104,219  
                 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
    -       -  
Income taxes
    -     $ 1,650,000  
 
 
 
See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Nature of Business
Unico American Corporation is an insurance holding company that underwrites property and casualty insurance through its insurance company subsidiary; provides property, casualty, and health insurance through its agency subsidiaries; and provides insurance premium financing and membership association services through its other subsidiaries.  Unico American Corporation is referred to herein as the "Company" or "Unico" and such references include both the corporation and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned, unless otherwise indicated.  Unico was incorporated under the laws of Nevada in 1969.

Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Unico American Corporation and its subsidiaries.  All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2008, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008.  Quarterly financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Financial Statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect its reported amounts of assets and liabilities and its disclosure of any contingent assets and liabilities at the date of its financial statements, as well as its reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  While every effort is made to ensure the integrity of such estimates, actual results may differ.

NOTE 2 – IMMATERIAL CORRECTION TO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AMOUNTS
 
The Company identified an error associated with the Company’s policy fee income.  The error arose from the recognition of non-refundable policy fee income at policy inception rather than over the policy term in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104, Revenue Recognition, and EITF 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.

The Company made an assessment of the materiality of this item on the Company’s historical financial statements in accordance with SAB No. 99, Materiality, and concluded that the error was immaterial to all periods.  The Company also concluded that had the error been adjusted when it was identified within the first quarter of 2008, the impact of such an adjustment would have been material to its first quarter 2008 financial statements and was expected to be material to its full year 2008 financial statements.

Accordingly, in accordance with SAB No. 108, Financial Statements, the December 31, 2007 balance sheet, and the consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2007, herein have been revised to correct the immaterial error and to reflect the corrected balances as of that date.
 
 
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The line items in the financial statements that are impacted by this error are detailed in the table below.

   
Consolidated Balance Sheet
For the year ended December 31, 2007
 
   
As previously reported
   
Correction
   
As corrected
 
                   
Deferred income taxes
  $ 295,026     $ 391,884     $ 686,910  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
  $ 3,887,546     $ 1,152,599     $ 5,040,145  
Retained earnings
  $ 64,353,457     $ (760,715 )   $ 63,592,742  
 

   
Consolidated Statement of Operation
For the three months ended March 31, 2007
 
   
As previously reported
   
Correction
   
As corrected
 
                   
Gross commission and fees
  $ 1,315,000     $ 51,077     $ 1,366,077  
Income tax provision
  $ 836,773     $ 17,366     $ 854,139  
 
 
   
Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the three months ended March 31, 2007
 
   
As previously reported
   
Correction
   
As corrected
 
                   
Net income
  $ 1,688,588     $ 33,711     $ 1,722,299  

 
   
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow
For the three months ended March 31, 2007
 
   
As previously reported
   
Correction
   
As corrected
 
                   
Net income
  $ 1,688,588     $ 33,711     $ 1,722,299  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
  $ 1,361,998     $ (51,077 )   $ 1,310,921  
Income taxes current/deferred
  $ (813,226 )   $ 17,366     $ (795,860 )

NOTE 3 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS No. 123R), using the modified prospective transition method.  Under this transition method, share-based compensation expense for 2006 includes compensation expense for all share-based compensation awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” Share-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted or modified on or after January 1, 2006, is based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123R.

There were no options granted on or after January 1, 2006, and there were no unvested options as of January 1, 2006, on adoption of SFAS 123R.  As a result, there are no share-based compensation expenses recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.

NOTE 4 – REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK - EFFECTS ON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
The Company has previously announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase in the open market from time to time of up to an aggregate of 945,000 shares of the common stock of the Company.  During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company did not repurchase any shares of the Company’s common stock.  As of March 31, 2008, the Company had purchased and retired under the Board of Directors’ authorization an aggregate of 878,441 shares of its common stock at a cost of $5,632,727.
 
 
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NOTE 5 - EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
The following table represents the reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the Company's basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share computations reported on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:
       
   
Three Months Ended
   
March 31
   
2008
   
2007
Basic Earnings Per Share
         
Net income numerator
  $ 959,990     $ 1,722,299
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding denominator
    5,625,308       5,595,526
                 
     Basic Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.17     $ 0.31

 
Diluted Earnings Per Share
           
Net income numerator
  $ 959,990     $ 1,722,299  
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding
    5,625,308       5,595,526  
Effect of diluted securities
    44,326       83,724  
Diluted shares outstanding denominator
    5,669,634       5,679,250  
                 
     Diluted Earnings Per Share
  $ 0.17     $ 0.30  

NOTE 6 - RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes” (FIN 48).  This interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.”  FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  This interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.  This interpretation became effective January 1, 2007.  The Company’s adoption of FIN 48 did not have an effect on its results of operations or financial position.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140” (“SFAS No. 155”).  The provisions of SFAS No. 155 are effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of the first fiscal year after September 15, 2006.  SFAS No. 155 amends the accounting for hybrid financial instruments and eliminates the exclusion of beneficial interests in securitized financial assets from the guidance under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”  It also eliminates the prohibition on the type of derivative instruments that qualified special purpose entities may hold under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities.”  Furthermore, SFAS No. 155 clarifies that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded derivatives.  The Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 155 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measures” (SFAS 157).  SFAS 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities and applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value but does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances.  SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In October 2005, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) issued Statement of Position 05-1, “Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance Contracts” (SOP 05-1).  SOP 05-1 provides accounting guidance for deferred policy acquisition costs associated with internal replacements of insurance and investment contracts other than those already described in SFAS No. 97, “Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments.” SOP 05-1 defines an internal replacement as a modification in product benefits, features, rights, or coverages that occurs by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract.  The provisions of SOP 05-1 became effective for internal replacements occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.  The Company’s adoption of SOP 05-1 did not have an effect on its results of operations or financial position.
 
 
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In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities - Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS No. 159”).  SFAS No. 159 permits an entity to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value.  The main objective of SFAS No. 159 is to improve financial reporting by allowing entities to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by the measurement of related assets and liabilities using different attributes, without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  Entities that elect the fair value option will report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date.  SFAS No. 159 establishes presentation and disclosure requirements to help financial statement users understand the effect of the entity’s election on its earnings, but does not eliminate disclosure requirements of other accounting standards.  SFAS No. 159 is expected to expand the use of fair value measurement, which is consistent with the FASB’s long-term measurement objectives for accounting for financial instruments.  SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 as of the beginning of 2008 by not electing the fair value option for any of its financial assets or liabilities.

In December 2007, FASB Statements No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”), and No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements” (“SFAS 160”), were issued.  SFAS 141R replaces FASB Statement No. 141, “Business Combinations.”  SFAS 141R requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize all (and only) the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction; establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; and requires the acquirer to disclose additional information regarding the nature and financial effect of the business combination.  SFAS 160 requires all entities to report non-controlling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the same way - as equity in the consolidated financial statements.  SFAS 160 also requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated statement of income, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the non-controlling interest.  The Company will adopt SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 for any business combinations initiated after December 31, 2008.

There were no other accounting standards issued during 2008 that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 7 – ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES
 
The Company and its subsidiaries file federal and state income tax returns.  Management does not believe that the ultimate outcome of any future examinations of open tax years will have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.  Tax years that remain subject to examination by major taxing jurisdictions are 2004 through 2007 for federal income taxes and 2003 through 2007 for California state income taxes.  On April 30, 2008, the Company was notified by the Internal Revenue Service that its consolidated federal income tax return on Form 1120 for the tax year ended December 31, 2006, was selected for examination.  As of the date of this report, a date for such examination has not been scheduled.

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes” (FIN 48).  This interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.”  FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.  This interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition.  This interpretation became effective January 1, 2007.  The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits and recognized no additional liability or reduction in deferred tax asset as a result of the adoption of FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007.  In addition, the Company had not accrued for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. However, if interest and penalties would need to be accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits, such amounts would be recognized as a component of federal income tax expense.  As of March 31, 2008, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits and no additional liabilities or reduction in deferred tax asset as a result of the adoption of FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007.
 
NOTE 8 - SEGMENT REPORTING
 
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 (SFAS No. 131), “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information,” became effective for fiscal years effective after December 15, 1997.  SFAS No. 131 establishes standards for the way information about operating segments is reported in financial statements.  The Company has adopted SFAS No. 131 and has identified its insurance company operation, Crusader Insurance Company (Crusader), as its primary reporting segment.  Revenues from this segment comprised 87% of consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008, and 88% of revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The Company’s remaining operations constitute a variety of specialty insurance services, each with unique characteristics and individually insignificant to consolidated revenues.
 
 
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Revenues, income before income taxes, and assets by segment are as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
   
March 31
   
   
2008
 
2007
   
Revenues
           
Insurance company operation
  $ 10,642,776   $ 11,341,129    
                 
Other insurance operations
    4,516,229     4,592,300    
Intersegment elimination (1)
    (2,890,885 )   (3,036,377 )  
   Total other insurance operations
    1,625,344     1,555,923    
                 
   Total Revenues
  $ 12,268,120   $ 12,897,052    
                 
Income Before Income Taxes
               
Insurance company operation
  $ 2,005,177   $ 2,927,051    
Other insurance operations
    (558,876 )   (350,613 )  
     Total Income Before Income Taxes
  $ 1,446,301   $ 2,576,438    
                 
   
As of March 31
   
2008
 
2007
Assets
               
Insurance company operation
  $ 175,559,187   $ 165,715,530  
Intersegment eliminations (2)
    (1,656,492 )   (2,018,365 )
     Total insurance company operation
 
    173,902,695     163,697,165  
                 
Other insurance operations
    19,062,553     23,953,517  
                 
     Total Assets
  $ 192,965,248   $ 187,650,682  

(1)  
Intersegment revenue eliminations reflect commission paid by Crusader to Unifax Insurance Systems, Inc., (Unifax) a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
(2)  
Intersegment asset eliminations reflect the elimination of Crusader receivables and Unifax payables.

NOTE 9 - FAIR VALUE ON FIXED MATURITY INVESTMENTS
 
SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price).  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to level 1 inputs and the lowest priority to level 3 inputs.  In general, fair values determined by level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.  Fair values determined by level 2 inputs utilize inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals.  Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.  In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.  In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.  The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The Company’s fixed maturities investments are all classified within level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency.  Fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs.  The Company’s fixed maturities investments are at fair value and reflected in the consolidated balance sheets on a trade-date basis.  If an unrealized loss is determined to be other than temporary, it is written off as a realized loss through the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
 
 
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ITEM 2 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Overview
 
General
 
Unico American Corporation is an insurance holding company that underwrites property and casualty insurance through its insurance company subsidiary; provides property, casualty, health and life insurance through its agency subsidiaries; and through its other subsidiaries provides insurance premium financing and membership association services.

The Company had a net income of $959,990 for the three months ending March 31, 2008, compared to net income of $1,722,299 for the three months ended March 31, 2007, a decrease in net income of  $762,309 (44%).  This overview discusses some of the relevant factors that management considers in evaluating the Company's performance, prospects, and risks.  It is not all-inclusive and is meant to be read in conjunction with the entirety of the management discussion and analysis, the Company's financial statements and notes thereto, and all other items contained within the report on this Form 10-Q.

Revenue and Income Generation
 
The Company receives its revenue primarily from earned premium derived from the insurance company operations, commission and fee income generated from the insurance agency operations, finance charges and fee income from the premium finance operations, and investment income from cash generated primarily from the insurance operation.  The insurance company operation generated approximately 87% of consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008, and 88% of consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The Company’s remaining operations constitute a variety of specialty insurance services, each with unique characteristics and individually not material to consolidated revenues.

Insurance Company Operation
 
The property and casualty insurance industry is highly competitive and includes many insurers, ranging from large companies offering a wide variety of products worldwide to smaller, specialized companies in a single state or region offering only a single product.  Many of the Company's existing or potential competitors have considerably greater financial and other resources, have a higher rating assigned by independent rating organizations such as A.M. Best Company, have greater experience in the insurance industry, and offer a broader line of insurance products than the Company.  Crusader is only writing business in the state of California which consists primarily of Commercial Multiple Peril business.  Crusader’s A.M. Best Company rating is B++ (Good).   On January 15, 2008, A.M. Best Company upgraded Crusader’s rating outlook from stable to positive.

The property and casualty insurance industry is characterized by periods of soft market conditions, in which premium rates are stable or falling and insurance is readily available, and by periods of hard market conditions, in which premium rates rise, coverage may be more difficult to find, and insurers’ profits increase.  The Company believes that the California property and casualty insurance market has transitioned to a “soft market” in the last few years.  The Company cannot determine how long the existing market conditions will continue nor in which direction they might change.

Premium written before reinsurance decreased $349,419 (3%) to $9,951,213 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $10,300,632 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  A primary challenge of the property and casualty insurance company operation is contending with the fact that the Company sells its products before the ultimate costs are actually known.  That is, when pricing its products, the Company must forecast the ultimate claim and loss adjustment costs.  In addition, factors such as changes in regulations and legal environment, among other things, can all impact the accuracy of such cost.  The decrease in written premium before reinsurance which began in 2005 and has continued through the three months ended March 31, 2008, is primarily due to the fact that the insurance marketplace has been and continues to be intensely competitive.  There are more insurers competing for the same customers.  Many of those competitors price their insurance at rates that Crusader believes are inadequate to support any profit.  The Company believes that rate adequacy is more important than premium growth and that underwriting profit (net earned premium less losses and loss adjustment expenses and policy acquisition costs) is its primary goal.  Nonetheless, Crusader believes that it can grow its sales and profitability by continuing to focus upon three key areas of its operations: (1) product development, (2) improved service to retail brokers, and (3) appointment of captive and independent retail agents.
 
 
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Crusader’s underwriting profit (before income taxes) is as follows:

   
Three Months Ended March 31
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
Increase (Decrease)
 
                   
Net premium earned
  $ 8,924,766     $ 9,709,198     $ (784,432 )
                         
Less:
                       
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    6,195,706       5,933,970       261,736  
Policy acquisition costs
    2,080,971       1,995,580       85,391  
     Total
    8,276,677       7,929,550       347,127  
                         
Underwriting Profit (Before Income Taxes)
  $ 648,089     $ 1,779,648     $ (1,131,559 )

The $1,131,559 (64%) decrease in underwriting profit (before income tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the prior year period is primarily the result of a $784,432 (8%) decrease in net premium earned and $261,736 (4%) increase in losses and loss adjustment expenses.  Losses and loss adjustment expenses were 69% of net premium earned for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to 61% of net premium earned for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The increase in losses and loss adjustment expenses as compared to the prior year period is primarily due to an increase in current accident year losses incurred and a decrease in favorable development of prior accident years’ losses and loss adjustment expenses.  In the three months ended March 31, 2008, current accident year losses incurred were approximately 73% of net premium earned and the Company incurred favorable development of prior years’ losses of $358,773.  In the three months ended March 31, 2007, current accident year losses incurred were approximately 70% of net premium earned and the Company incurred favorable development of prior years’ losses of $840,539.
 
Other Operations
 
The Company’s other revenues from insurance operations consist of commissions, fees, finance charges, and investment and other income.  Excluding investment and other income, these operations accounted for approximately 13% of total revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2008, and approximately 11% of total revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Investments and Liquidity
The Company generates revenue from its investment portfolio, which consisted of approximately $149.1 million (at amortized cost) at March 31, 2008, compared to $147.3 million (at amortized cost) at December 31, 2007.  Investment income decreased $37,801 (2%) to $1,622,514 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $1,660,315 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The slight decrease in investment income is primarily a result of decrease in the Company’s annualized weighted average investment yield on its fixed maturity obligations from 4.5% in the three months ended March 31, 2007, to 4.4% in the current period.  Due to the current interest rate environment, management believes it is prudent to purchase fixed maturity investments with maturities of five years or less and with minimal credit risk.


Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Due to the nature of the Company's business (insurance and insurance services) and whereas Company growth does not normally require material reinvestments of profits into property or equipment, the cash flow generated from operations usually results in improved liquidity for the Company.

Crusader generates a significant amount of cash as a result of its holdings of unearned premium reserves, reserves for loss payments, and its capital and surplus.  Crusader's loss and loss adjustment expense payments are the most significant cash flow requirement of the Company.  These payments are continually monitored and projected to ensure that the Company has the liquidity to cover these payments without the need to liquidate its investments.  As of March 31, 2008, the Company had cash and investments of $149,143,205 (at amortized cost) of which $144,345,947 (97%) were investments of Crusader.

As of March 31, 2008, the Company had invested $134,111,143 (at amortized cost) or 90% of its invested assets in fixed maturity obligations.  In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” the Company is required to classify its investments in debt and equity securities into one of three categories: held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading securities.  Although all of the Company's investments are classified as available-for-sale, the Company's investment guidelines place primary emphasis on buying and holding high-quality investments.
 
 
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The Company's investments in fixed maturity obligations of $134,111,143 (at amortized cost) include $15,023 (0.0%) of pre-refunded state and municipal tax-exempt bonds, $125,254,018 (93.4%) of U.S. treasury securities, $8,442,102 (6.3%) of industrial and miscellaneous securities, and $400,000 (0.3%) of long-term certificates of deposit.

The balance of the Company's investments is in short-term investments that include U.S. treasury bills, bank money market accounts, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and a short-term treasury money market fund.

The Company’s investment guidelines on equity securities limit investments in equity securities to an aggregate maximum of $2,000,000.  The Company’s investment guidelines on fixed maturities limit those investments to high-grade obligations with a maximum term of eight years.  The maximum investment authorized in any one issuer is $2,000,000 and the maximum in any one U.S. government agency or U.S. government sponsored enterprise is $3,000,000.  This dollar limitation excludes bond premiums paid in excess of par value and U.S. government or U.S. government guaranteed issues.  Investments in municipal securities are primarily pre-refunded and secured by U.S. treasury securities.  The short-term investments are either U.S. government obligations, FDIC insured, or are in an institution with a Moody's rating of P2 and/or a Standard & Poor's rating of A1.  All of the Company's fixed maturity investment securities are rated and readily marketable and could be liquidated without any materially adverse financial impact.

The Company has previously announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase in the open market from time to time of up to an aggregate of 945,000 shares of the common stock of the Company (see Note 4).  No shares were repurchased in the three months ended March 31, 2008.

Although material capital expenditures may also be funded through borrowings, the Company believes that its cash and short-term investments as of the date of this report, net of trust restriction of $1,434,082, statutory deposits of $700,000, and the dividend restriction between Crusader and Unico plus the cash to be generated from operations, should be sufficient to meet its operating requirements during the next twelve months without the necessity of borrowing funds.


Results of Operations
 
All comparisons made in this discussion are comparing the three months ended March 31, 2008, to the three months ended March 31, 2007, unless otherwise indicated.

The Company had net income of $959,990 for the three months ending March 31, 2008, compared to net income of $1,722,299 for the three months ended March 31, 2007, a decrease in net income of $762,309 (44%).  Total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2008, decreased $628,932 (5%) to $12,268,120, compared to total revenue of $12,897,052 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Premium written (before reinsurance) is a non-GAAP financial measure which is defined, under statutory accounting, as the contractually determined amount charged by the Company to the policyholder for the effective period of the contract based on the expectation of risk, policy benefits, and expenses associated with the coverage provided by the terms of the policies.  Premium earned, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, represents the portion of premiums written that is recognized as income in the financial statements for the period presented and earned on a pro-rata basis over the term of the policies.  Direct written premium reported on the Company’s statutory statement decreased $349,419 (3%) to $9,951,213 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $10,300,632 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

The $349,419 decrease in written premium in the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, was primarily the result of the intense competition in the property and casualty market.  The insurance marketplace has become more competitive as more insurers are competing for the same customers.  Many of those competitors price their insurance at rates that Crusader believes are inadequate to support any profit.  Nonetheless, Crusader believes that it can grow its sales and profitability by continuing to focus upon three key areas of its operations: (1) product development, (2) improved service to retail brokers, and (3) appointment of captive and independent retail agents.  During 2008, Crusader plans to introduce many product changes such as changes in its rates, eligibility guidelines, rules and coverage forms.  Improved service to retail brokers is primarily focused upon transacting business through the internet, as well as providing more options to make the brokers’ time more efficiently spent with us (i.e., as opposed to spending time with our competitors).  In an effort to increase sales during 2007, Crusader employed two full-time marketing representatives.  Those individuals are charged with the responsibility of identifying product development opportunities, promoting the company and its products to the brokerage community, and are charged with the duty to appoint retail agents, so as to introduce the Crusader brand at the consumer’s level of distribution (i.e., retail).  Crusader plans to have approximately twelve retail agents appointed by the end of year 2008, and approximately twenty-four by the end of year 2009.  Presently it is expected that each such retail agent should be able to reach an annual sales volume of approximately one to two million dollars of Crusader’s products within three to five years of their appointment by the Company.
 
 
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Premium earned before reinsurance decreased $1,593,387 (13%) to $11,146,946 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $12,740,333 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The Company writes annual policies and, therefore, earns written premium over the one-year policy term.  The decrease in earned premium is a direct result of the related decrease in written premium as previously discussed.

Premium ceded decreased $808,955 (27%) to $2,222,180 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to ceded premium of $3,031,135 in the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The $808,955 decrease in premium ceded is primarily a result of a decrease in direct premium earned, and a decrease in the rate charged by Crusader’s reinsurers.  The earned premium ceded consists of both premium ceded under the Company’s current reinsurance contracts and premium ceded to the Company’s provisionally rated reinsurance contracts.  Prior to January 1, 1998, the Company’s reinsurer charged a provisional rate on exposures up to $500,000 that was subject to adjustment and was based on the amount of losses ceded, limited by a maximum percentage that could be charged.  That provisionally rated treaty was cancelled on a runoff basis in 1997.  Direct earned premium, earned ceded premium, and ceding commission are as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31
 
   
 2008
   
 2007
   
Increase
(Decrease)
 
                   
Direct earned premium
  $ 11,146,946     $ 12,740,333     $ (1,593,387 )
                         
Earned ceded premium
                       
     Excluding provisionally rated ceded premium
    2,295,931       3,025,989       (730,058 )
     Provisionally rated ceded premium
    (73,751 )     5,146       (78,897 )
            Total earned ceded premium
    2,222,180       3,031,135       (808,955 )
Ceding commission
    689,403       928,573       (239,170 )
            Earned ceded premium, net of ceding commission
  $ 1,532,777     $ 2,102,562     $ (569,785 )
 
Total earned ceded premium was 20% of direct earned premium in the three months ended March 31, 2008, and 24% of direct earned premium in the three months ended March 31, 2007.  There was no significant change in the ceding commission rate.

In 2008 Crusader retained a participation in its excess of loss reinsurance treaties of 20% in its 1st layer ($700,000 in excess of $300,000), 15% in its 2nd layer ($1,000,000 in excess of $1,000,000), and 0% in its property and casualty clash treaty.  In 2007 Crusader retained a participation in its excess of loss reinsurance treaties of 15% in its 1st layer ($700,000 in excess of $300,000), 15% in its 2nd layer ($1,000,000 in excess of $1,000,000), and 15% in its property clash treaty.

The 2008 and 2007 excess of loss treaties do not provide for a contingent commission.  Crusader’s 2006 1st layer primary excess of loss treaty provides for a contingent commission equal to 20% of the net profit, if any, accruing to the reinsurer.  The first accounting period for the contingent commission covers the period from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006.  The 2005 excess of loss treaties do not provide for a contingent commission. Crusader’s 2004 and 2003 1st layer primary excess of loss treaties provide for a contingent commission to the Company equal to 45% of the net profit, if any, accruing to the reinsurer.  The first accounting period for the contingent commission covers the period from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2004.  For each accounting period as described above, the Company will calculate and report to the reinsurers its net profit (excluding incurred but not reported losses), if any, within 90 days after 36 months following the end of the first accounting period, and within 90 days after the end of each 12 month period thereafter until all losses subject to the agreement have been finally settled.  Any contingent commission payment received is subject to return based on future development of ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses.  In March 2007, the Company received an advance of $1 million from its reinsurer, and in February 2008, the Company received an additional $2,419,940 to be applied against future contingent commission earned, if any.  Based on the Company’s ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses (including ceded incurred but not reported losses) as of March 31, 2008, the Company recorded $3,075,802 of these payments as an advance from its reinsurer and it is included in “Accrued Expenses And Other Liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets.  Thus, the Company has recognized $344,138 of contingent commission, of which $90,583 was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2008.
 
 
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Investment income decreased $37,801 (2%) to $1,622,514 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to investment income of $1,660,315 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The Company sold one fixed maturity investment in the three months ended March 31, 2008, with net realized gain in the amount of $6,306.  The Company had no realized gains or losses for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The slight decrease in investment income in the current period as compared to the prior year period is primarily a result of a decrease in the Company’s annualized weighted average yield from 4.5% in the prior year period to 4.4% in the current period.  The decrease in the annualized yield on average invested assets is a result of lower yields in the marketplace on both new and reinvested assets.

The average annualized yields on the Company’s average invested assets are as follows:

   
Three Months Ended March 31
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Average Invested Assets*
  $ 148,222,568     $ 147,121,880  
Total Investment Income
  $ 1,622,514     $ 1,660,315  
Annualized Yield on  Average Invested Assets
    4.4 %     4.5 %

 
* The average is based on the beginning and ending balance of the amortized cost of the invested assets.

The par value, amortized cost, estimated market value and weighted average yield of fixed maturity investments at March 31, 2008, by contractual maturity are as follows.  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without penalties.

    Maturities by
   Calendar Year
 
Par
 Value
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Weighted
Average Yield
 
                         
December 31, 2008
  $ 50,850,000     $ 50,975,824     $ 51,482,246       4.3 %
December 31, 2009
    32,700,000       32,737,838       33,864,881       4.8 %
December 31, 2010
    5,100,000       5,098,924       5,112,100       1.8 %
December 31, 2011
    7,250,000       7,236,259       7,865,437       4.6 %
December 31, 2012
    38,000,000       37,958,249       41,178,610       4.4 %
December 31, 2013
    100,000       104,049       105,617       2.7 %
   Total
  $ 134,000,000     $ 134,111,143     $ 139,608,891       4.4 %

The weighted average maturity of the Company’s fixed maturity investments was 1.9 years as of March 31, 2008, compared to 1.1 years as of March 31, 2007.  Due to the current interest rate environment, management believes it is prudent to purchase fixed maturity investments with maturities of 5 years or less and with minimal credit risk.

At March 31, 2008, the Company held fixed maturity investments with unrealized appreciation of $5,497,748, and did not hold any fixed maturity investment with unrealized depreciation.  The Company monitors its investments closely.  If an unrealized loss is determined to be other than temporary, it is written off as a realized loss through the Consolidated Statements of Operations.  The Company’s methodology of assessing other-than-temporary impairments is based on security-specific analysis as of the balance sheet date and considers various factors including the length of time to maturity, the extent to which the fair value has been less than the cost, the financial condition and the near-term prospects of the issuer, and whether the debtor is current on its contractually obligated interest and principal payments.  The Company has the ability and intent to hold its fixed maturity investments for a period of time sufficient to allow the Company to recover its costs.
 
 
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Gross commission and fee income increased $105,287 (8%) to $1,471,364 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to commission and fee income of $1,366,077 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
The increases in gross commission and fee income for the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007, are as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended
       
   
March 31
   
Increase
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
(Decrease)
 
                   
Policy fee income
  $ 578,858     $ 649,639     $ (70,781 )
Health insurance program
    672,458       501,043       171,415  
Membership and fee income
    76,917       77,144       (227 )
Other commission and fee income
    997       6,936       (5,939 )
Daily automobile rental insurance program:
                       
   Commission income (excluding contingent commission)
    83,541       84,776       (1,235 )
   Contingent commission
    58,593       46,539       12,054  
           Total
  $ 1,471,364     $ 1,366,077     $ 105,287  

Unifax primarily sells and services insurance policies for Crusader.  The commissions paid by Crusader to Unifax are eliminated as intercompany transactions and are not reflected as income in the financial statements.  Unifax also receives policy fee income that is directly related to the Crusader policies it sells.  Policy fees are earned ratably over the life of the related insurance policy.  The unearned portion of the policy fee is recorded as a liability on the balance sheet under Accrued Expenses And Other Liabilities.  Policy fee income decreased $70,781 (11%) in the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The decrease in policy fee income is directly related to a decrease in the number of policies written in the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the prior year period.

AIB markets health insurance in California through non-affiliated insurance companies for individuals and groups.  For these services, AIB receives commission based on the premiums that it writes.  Commission income for the three months ended March 31, 2008, increased $171,415 (34%), compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The increase is primarily due to the increase in sales of small group medical insurance offered through CIGNA HealthCare.  In May 2006, CIGNA HealthCare began offering new small group medical insurance policies in the state of California.  Beginning April 1, 2008, these plans are being actively marketed by AIB and other agencies throught California.  All CIGNA small group insurance policyholders in California are members of AAQHC

The Company's subsidiary Insurance Club, Inc., dba AAQHC An Administrator (AAQHC), is an administrator for CIGNA HealthCare and is a membership association that provides various consumer benefits to its members, including participation in group health care insurance policies that AAQHC negotiates for the association.  For these services, AAQHC receives membership and fee income from its members.

The daily automobile rental insurance program is produced by Bedford Insurance Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.  Bedford receives a commission from a non-affiliated insurance company based on premium written.  Commission in the daily automobile rental insurance program (excluding contingent commission) decreased $1,235 (1%) in the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses were 69% of net premium earned for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to 61% of net premium earned for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The increase in losses and loss adjustment expenses as compared to the prior year period is primarily due to an increase in current accident year losses incurred and a decrease in favorable development of prior accident years’ losses and loss adjustment expenses.  In the three months ended March 31, 2008, current accident year losses incurred were approximately 73% of net premium earned and the Company incurred favorable development of prior years’ losses of $358,773.  In the three months ended March 31, 2007, current accident year losses incurred were approximately 70% of net premium earned and the Company incurred favorable development of prior years’ losses of $840,539.
 
 
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The Company‘s consolidated financial statements include estimated reserves for unpaid losses and related loss adjustment expenses of the insurance company operation.  Management makes its best estimate of the liability for unpaid claims costs as of the end of each fiscal quarter.  Due to the inherent uncertainties in estimating the Company’s unpaid claims costs, actual loss and loss adjustment expense payments should be expected to vary, perhaps significantly, from any estimate made prior to the settling of all claims.  Variability is inherent in establishing loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, especially for a small insurer like the Company.  For any given line of insurance, accident year, or other group of claims, there is a continuum of possible reserve estimates, each having its own unique degree of propriety or reasonableness.  Due to the complexity and nature of the insurance claims process, there are potentially an infinite number of reasonably likely scenarios.  The Company does not specifically identify reasonably likely scenarios other than utilizing management’s best estimate.  In addition to applying the various standard methods to the data, an extensive series of diagnostic tests of the resultant reserve estimates are applied to determine management’s best estimate of the unpaid claims liability.  Among the statistics reviewed for each accident year are loss and loss adjustment expense development patterns, frequencies (expected claim counts), severities (average cost per claim), loss and loss adjustment expense ratios to premium, and loss adjustment expense ratios to loss.  When there is clear evidence that the actual claims costs emerged are different than expected for any prior accident year, the claims cost estimates for that year are revised accordingly.  The accurate establishment of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves is a difficult process, as there are many factors that can ultimately affect the final settlement of a claim and, therefore, the reserve that is needed.  Estimates are based on a variety of industry data and on the Company’s current and historical accident year claims data, including but not limited to reported claim counts, open claim counts, closed claim counts, closed claim counts with payments, paid losses, paid loss adjustment expenses, case loss reserves, case loss adjustment expense reserves, earned premiums and policy exposures, salvage and subrogation, and unallocated loss adjustment expenses paid.  Many other factors, including changes in reinsurance, changes in pricing, changes in policy forms and coverage, changes in underwriting and risk selection, legislative changes, results of litigation and inflation are also taken into account.  At the end of each fiscal quarter, the Company’s reserves are re-evaluated for each accident year (i.e., for all claims incurred within each year) by a committee consisting of the Company’s executive vice president, the Company’s chief financial officer, and an independent consulting actuary.  The Company uses the loss ratio method to estimate ultimate claims costs on the current accident year.  The current accident year IBNR reserves are initially determined by multiplying earned premiums for the year by the expected loss and loss adjustment expense ratio, then subtracting the current accident year’s cumulative incurred (paid plus case reserves) to date.  This method is subject to adjustment based upon actual results incurred during the reporting period.  This initial IBNR reserve is adjusted as subsequent development of that accident year takes place.  The differences between actual and expected claims costs are typically not due to one specific factor, but a combination of many factors such as the period of time between the initial occurrence and the final settlement of the claim, current and perceived social and economic inflation, and many other economic, legal, political, and social factors.  Because of these and other factors, actual loss and loss adjustment expense payments should be expected to vary, perhaps significantly, from any estimate made prior to the settling of all claims.  Any adjustments to reserves are reflected in the operating results of the periods in which they are made.  Management believes that the aggregate reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses are reasonable and adequate to cover the cost of claims, both reported and unreported.
 
Policy acquisition costs consist of commissions, premium taxes, inspection fees, and certain other underwriting costs, which are related to the production of Crusader insurance policies.  These costs include both Crusader expenses and allocated expenses of other Unico subsidiaries.  Crusader's reinsurers pay Crusader a ceding commission, which is primarily a reimbursement of the acquisition cost related to the ceded premium.  Policy acquisition costs, net of ceding commission, are deferred and amortized as the related premiums are earned.  These costs were approximately 23% of net premium earned for the three months ended March 31, 2008, and 21% of net premium earned for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
Salaries and employee benefits increased $15,532 (1%) to $1,437,039 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to salary and employee benefits of $1,421,507 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
Commissions to agents/brokers increased $117,186 (57%) to $321,491 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to commission expense of $204,305 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The increase is primarily the result of the increase in written premium in the health and life insurance program and is related to the increase in commission income from that program.
 
Other operating expenses increased $21,360 (3%) to $786,612 for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $765,252 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
Income tax provision was an expense of $486,311 (34% of pre-tax income) for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to an income tax expense of $854,139 (33% of pre-tax income) for the three months ended March 31, 2007.  The decrease in tax expense was primarily due to a decrease in pre-tax income to $1,446,301 in the three months ended March 31, 2008, from pre-tax income of $2,576,438 in the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
The effect of inflation on net income of the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2008, and the three months ended March 31, 2007, was not significant.
 
 
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Forward Looking StatementsCertain statements contained herein, including the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” that are not historical facts are forward-looking.  These statements, which may be identified by forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” ”expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “should,” and “would” involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.  Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.  Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially include underwriting or marketing actions not being effective, rate increases for coverages not being sufficient, premium rate adequacy relating to competition or regulation, actual versus estimated claim experience, regulatory changes or developments, unforeseen calamities, general market conditions, and the Company’s ability to introduce new profitable products.


ITEM 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
The Company’s consolidated balance sheet includes a substantial amount of invested assets whose fair values are subject to various market risk exposures including interest rate risk and equity price risk.
The Company’s invested assets consist of the following:
 
   
March 31
 2008
   
December 31
 2007
   
Increase
(Decrease)
 
                   
Fixed maturity bonds (at amortized value)
  $ 133,711,143     $ 139,592,208     $ (5,881,065 )
Short-term cash investments (at cost)
    14,985,626       7,356,159       7,629,467  
Certificates of deposit (over 1 year, at cost)
    400,000       400,000       -  
     Total invested assets
  $ 149,096,769     $ 147,348,367     $ 1,748,402  

There have been no material changes in the composition of the Company’s invested assets or market risk exposures since the end of the preceding fiscal year end.
 
ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
An evaluation was carried out by the Company's management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2008, (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

During the period covered by this report, there have been no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
 
There were no material changes from risk factors as previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, in response to Item 1A to Part I of Form 10-K.


ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS
 
10.1
Employment Agreement effective December 15, 2007, by and between the Registrant and Cary L. Cheldin. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 21, 2008)
10.2
Employment Agreement effective December 15, 2007, by and between the Registrant and Lester A. Aaron. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 21, 2008)
31.1
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.




SIGNATURES

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
                                                             
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION

Date:        May 14, 2008                   By:                /s/ ERWIN CHELDIN
Erwin Cheldin
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer, (Principal Executive Officer)


Date:        May 14, 2008                   By:                /s/ LESTER A. AARON
Lester A. Aaron
Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, (Principal
Accounting and Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit
   No          Description
 
10.1
Employment Agreement effective December 15, 2007, by and between the Registrant and Cary L. Cheldin. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 21, 2008)
10.2
Employment Agreement effective December 15, 2007, by and between the Registrant and Lester A. Aaron. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 21, 2008)
31.1
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
31.2
Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)