UNICO AMERICAN CORP - Quarter Report: 2009 September (Form 10-Q)
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 September 30, 2009 or
[ ] 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
__
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit
and post such
files). Yes__ No__
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 No
X
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
|
Outstanding at
November 10, 2009
|
Common
Stock, $0 Par value per share
|
5,429,143
|
1 of
23
PART
1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
UNICO
AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
September
30
|
December
31
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Investments
|
||||||||
Available
for sale:
|
||||||||
Fixed
maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: September 30,
2009,
|
||||||||
$115,279,542;
December 31, 2008, $135,540,354)
|
$ | 120,131,818 | $ | 142,971,980 | ||||
Short-term
investments, at cost
|
25,671,033 | 9,502,033 | ||||||
Total
Investments
|
145,802,851 | 152,474,013 | ||||||
Cash
|
67,531 | 27,710 | ||||||
Accrued
investment income
|
715,627 | 1,301,238 | ||||||
Premiums
and notes receivable, net
|
4,890,312 | 4,680,779 | ||||||
Reinsurance
recoverable:
|
||||||||
Paid
losses and loss adjustment expenses
|
69,038 | 114,734 | ||||||
Unpaid
losses and loss adjustment expenses
|
17,556,010 | 19,815,573 | ||||||
Deferred
policy acquisition costs
|
5,112,515 | 5,219,892 | ||||||
Property
and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation)
|
269,119 | 359,553 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
389,986 | - | ||||||
Other
assets
|
834,942 | 609,484 | ||||||
Total Assets
|
$ | 175,707,931 | $ | 184,602,976 | ||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES
|
||||||||
Unpaid
losses and loss adjustment expenses
|
$ | 73,487,422 | $ | 78,654,590 | ||||
Unearned
premiums
|
19,651,837 | 19,962,118 | ||||||
Advance
premium and premium deposits
|
1,262,409 | 1,192,553 | ||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
- | 558,604 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
- | 795,088 | ||||||
Accrued
expenses and other liabilities
|
6,024,785 | 6,481,768 | ||||||
Total
Liabilities
|
$ | 100,426,453 | $ | 107,644,721 | ||||
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
Common
stock, no par – authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and
outstanding
|
||||||||
shares
5,429,343 at September 30, 2009, and 5,574,315 at December 31,
2008
|
$ | 3,497,856 | $ | 3,569,099 | ||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
3,202,502 | 4,904,873 | ||||||
Retained
earnings
|
68,581,120 | 68,484,283 | ||||||
Total Stockholders’
Equity
|
$ | 75,281,478 | $ | 76,958,255 | ||||
Total Liabilities and
Stockholders' Equity
|
$ | 175,707,931 | $ | 184,602,976 |
See notes
to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
2 of
23
UNICO
AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Three
Months Ended
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
September 30
|
September 30
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
REVENUES
|
||||||||||||||||
Insurance
Company Revenues
|
||||||||||||||||
Premium
earned
|
$ | 10,088,770 | $ | 10,566,831 | $ | 30,185,220 | $ | 32,519,317 | ||||||||
Premium
ceded
|
2,336,520 | 2,199,769 | 6,950,632 | 6,646,493 | ||||||||||||
Net
premium earned
|
7,752,250 | 8,367,062 | 23,234,588 | 25,872,824 | ||||||||||||
Net
investment income
|
1,011,848 | 1,415,072 | 3,379,032 | 4,493,258 | ||||||||||||
Net
realized investment gains
|
- | - | - | 6,306 | ||||||||||||
Other
income
|
174,490 | 209,242 | 575,028 | 531,425 | ||||||||||||
Total
Insurance Company Revenues
|
8,938,588 | 9,991,376 | 27,188,648 | 30,903,813 | ||||||||||||
Other
Revenues from Insurance Operations
|
||||||||||||||||
Gross
commissions and fees
|
1,277,838 | 1,412,911 | 4,072,049 | 4,299,668 | ||||||||||||
Investment
income
|
35 | 10,319 | 1,310 | 51,396 | ||||||||||||
Finance
charges and fees
|
86,755 | 110,255 | 279,417 | 353,787 | ||||||||||||
Other
income
|
1,196 | 4,271 | 4,659 | 10,982 | ||||||||||||
Total
Revenues
|
10,304,412 | 11,529,132 | 31,546,083 | 35,619,646 | ||||||||||||
EXPENSES
|
||||||||||||||||
Losses
and loss adjustment expenses
|
4,931,348 | 4,750,265 | 14,353,234 | 17,026,560 | ||||||||||||
Policy
acquisition costs
|
1,845,975 | 2,055,828 | 5,770,733 | 6,213,989 | ||||||||||||
Salaries
and employee benefits
|
1,305,366 | 1,493,937 | 4,015,515 | 4,329,374 | ||||||||||||
Commissions
to agents/brokers
|
251,538 | 320,334 | 860,515 | 959,986 | ||||||||||||
Other
operating expenses
|
1,071,232 | 716,478 | 3,103,496 | 2,284,960 | ||||||||||||
Total
Expenses
|
9,405,459 | 9,336,842 | 28,103,493 | 30,814,869 | ||||||||||||
Income
Before Taxes
|
898,953 | 2,192,290 | 3,442,590 | 4,804,777 | ||||||||||||
Income
tax provision
|
281,273 | 746,950 | 1,111,600 | 1,618,487 | ||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ | 617,680 | $ | 1,445,340 | $ | 2,330,990 | $ | 3,186,290 | ||||||||
PER
SHARE DATA:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
||||||||||||||||
Earnings
Per Share
|
$ | 0.11 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.57 | ||||||||
Weighted
Average Shares
|
5,499,691 | 5,624,188 | 5,545,204 | 5,624,935 | ||||||||||||
Diluted
|
||||||||||||||||
Earnings
Per Share
|
$ | 0.11 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.56 | ||||||||
Weighted
Average Shares
|
5,541,867 | 5,664,525 | 5,584,711 | 5,667,509 |
See notes
to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
3 of
23
UNICO
AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND
SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT
OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(UNAUDITED)
Three
Months Ended
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
September 30
|
September 30
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ | 617,680 | $ | 1,445,340 | $ | 2,330,990 | $ | 3,186,290 | ||||||||
Other
changes in comprehensive income, net of tax:
|
||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
gains (losses) on securities classified as available-for-sale arising
during the period
|
10,630 | 749,683 | (1,702,371 | ) | 668,564 | |||||||||||
Comprehensive
Income
|
$ | 628,310 | $ | 2,195,023 | $ | 628,619 | $ | 3,854,854 |
See notes
to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
4 of
23
UNICO
AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
For
the Nine Months Ended
|
||||||||
September 30
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Cash
Flows from Operating Activities:
|
||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ | 2,330,990 | $ | 3,186,290 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash from operations
|
||||||||
Depreciation
|
146,937 | 158,955 | ||||||
Bond
amortization, net
|
212,453 | 194,293 | ||||||
Net
realized investment gains
|
- | (6,306 | ) | |||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities
|
||||||||
Premium,
notes and investment income receivable
|
376,078 | 289,061 | ||||||
Reinsurance
recoverable
|
2,305,259 | 6,824,103 | ||||||
Deferred
policy acquisition costs
|
107,377 | 400,798 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
106,049 | 153,953 | ||||||
Reserve
for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
|
(5,167,168 | ) | (12,206,233 | ) | ||||
Unearned
premium reserve
|
(310,281 | ) | (2,246,696 | ) | ||||
Funds
held as security and advanced premiums
|
69,856 | (559,832 | ) | |||||
Accrued
expenses and other liabilities
|
(456,983 | ) | 1,951,142 | |||||
Income
taxes current/deferred
|
(1,198,206 | ) | 666,778 | |||||
Net Cash (Used in)
Operations
|
(1,477,639 | ) | (1,193,694 | ) | ||||
Investing
Activities
|
||||||||
Purchase of fixed maturity
investments
|
(22,651,641 | ) | (61,561,017 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from maturity of fixed
maturity investments
|
42,700,000 | 60,010,000 | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of fixed
maturity investments
|
- | 505,750 | ||||||
Net (increase) decrease in
short-term investments
|
(16,169,000 | ) | 2,258,808 | |||||
Additions to property and
equipment
|
(56,503 | ) | (5,254 | ) | ||||
Net Cash Provided by Investing
Activities
|
3,822,856 | 1,208,287 | ||||||
Financing
Activities
|
||||||||
Dividends paid to
shareholders
|
(1,002,173 | ) | - | |||||
Repurchase of common
stock
|
(1,303,223 | ) | (98,495 | ) | ||||
Net Cash (Used) in Financing
Activities
|
(2,305,396 | ) | (98,495 | ) | ||||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash
|
39,821 | (83,902 | ) | |||||
Cash at beginning of
period
|
27,710 | 108,864 | ||||||
Cash at End of
Period
|
$ | 67,531 | $ | 24,962 | ||||
Supplemental
Cash Flow Information
|
||||||||
Cash paid during the period
for:
|
||||||||
Interest
|
- | - | ||||||
Income taxes
|
$ | 2,308,920 | $ | 950,240 |
See notes
to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
5 of
23
UNICO
AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER
30, 2009
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 and nine months ended
September 30, 2009, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be
expected for the year ending December 31, 2009. Quarterly financial
statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and related notes in the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Accounting Standards
Codification
In
June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168, “The FASB Accounting Standards
Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles — a
replacement of FASB Statement No. 162” (The Codification or
ASC). The Codification reorganized existing U.S. accounting and
reporting standards issued by the FASB and other related private sector standard
setters into a single source of authoritative accounting principles arranged by
topic. The Codification supersedes all existing U.S. accounting
standards; all other accounting literature not included in the Codification
(other than Securities and Exchange Commission guidance for publicly-traded
companies) is considered non-authoritative. The Codification was
effective on a prospective basis for interim and annual reporting periods ending
after September 15, 2009. The adoption of the Codification changed
the Company’s references to U.S. GAAP accounting standards but did not
materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of
operations.
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.
Fair Value of Financial
Instruments
The
Company has used the following methods and assumptions in estimating its fair
value disclosures:
·
|
Fixed
Maturities:
|
1.
|
Investment
Securities excluding Long Term Certificates of Deposit - Fair values are
obtained from a national quotation service. The fair values for
equity securities are based on quoted market
prices.
|
2.
|
Long
Term Certificates of Deposit - The carrying amounts reported in the
balance sheet for these instruments approximate their fair
values.
|
·
|
Cash
and Short-Term Investments - The carrying amounts reported in the balance
sheet for these instruments approximate their fair
values.
|
·
|
Premiums
and Notes Receivable - The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet
for these instruments approximate their fair
values.
|
6 of
23
NOTE 2 – STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION
Effective
January 1, 2006, the Company adopted ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock
Compensation Topic” 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 estimated grant-date fair value. 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 this accounting standard.
There
were no options granted on or after January 1, 2006; and there were no unvested
options as of January 1, 2006. As a result, there was no share-based
compensation expense recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30,
2009 and 2008.
The
Company’s 1999 Omnibus Stock Plan that covered 500,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock (subject to adjustment in the case of stock splits, reverse stock
splits, stock dividends, etc.) was approved by shareholders on June 4,
1999. This plan terminated in accordance with its terms in March
2009. All then outstanding options continued in full force in
accordance with the agreements under which those options were
issued. On August 26, 1999, the Company granted 135,000 incentive
stock options, of which 30,000 options had been exercised, 45,000 had been
terminated and the remaining 60,000 options expired on August 26,
2009.
On
December 18, 2002, the Company granted 182,000 incentive stock options under the
Company’s 1999 Omnibus Stock Plan. On December 30, 2005, the Company
accelerated the vesting of 37,500 options that were originally scheduled to vest
on January 1, 2006, and 30,000 options that were originally scheduled to vest on
January 1, 2007. As of September 30, 2009, there were 64,650 of those
options outstanding and exercisable, 114,850 options had been exercised, and
2,500 options had been terminated. These options expire 10 years from
the date of the grant.
NOTE 3 – REPURCHASE OF
COMMON STOCK - EFFECTS ON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
In April
2000, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the
purchase from time to time of up to an aggregate of 315,000 shares of the common
stock of the Company. On August 8, 2000, the Board of Directors
authorized the purchase of an additional 315,000 shares and on September 6,
2000, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of another 315,000 shares
of the common stock of the Company. On December 19, 2008, the
Board of Directors authorized an additional stock repurchase program to acquire
from time to time up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock. This brought the total shares of the Company’s common stock
authorized to be repurchased to 1,445,000 shares since the year
2000. The programs have no expiration date and may be terminated by
the Board of Directors at any time. During the nine months ended
September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 144,972 shares of the Company’s
common stock at a cost of $1,303,223 of which $71,243 was allocated to capital
and $1,231,980 was allocated to retained earnings. As of September
30, 2009, under the stock repurchase programs previously adopted by the Company,
the Company had remaining authority to repurchase up to an aggregate of 370,495
shares of common stock.
7 of
23
NOTE 4 - 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
and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:
Three
Months Ended
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
September 30
|
September 30
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Basic Earnings Per Share
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
income numerator
|
$ | 617,680 | $ | 1,445,340 | $ | 2,330,990 | $ | 3,186,290 | ||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding denominator
|
5,499,691 | 5,624,188 | 5,545,204 | 5,624,935 | ||||||||||||
Basic
Earnings Per Share
|
$ | 0.11 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.57 | ||||||||
Diluted Earnings per Share
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
income numerator
|
$ | 617.680 | $ | 1,445,340 | $ | 2,330,990 | $ | 3,186,290 | ||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
5,499,691 | 5,624,188 | 5,545,204 | 5,624,935 | ||||||||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities
|
42,176 | 40,337 | 39,507 | 42,574 | ||||||||||||
Diluted
shares outstanding denominator
|
5,541,867 | 5,664,525 | 5,584,711 | 5,667,509 | ||||||||||||
Diluted
Earnings Per Share
|
$ | 0.11 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.56 |
NOTE 5 - RECENTLY ISSUED
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
Accounting Guidance Adopted
in 2009:
In
April 2009, the FASB issued guidance on “Recognition and Presentation of
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments.” This guidance requires entities to
separate an other-than-temporary impairment of a debt security into two
components when there are credit related losses associated with the impaired
debt security for which management asserts that it does not have the intent to
sell the security and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to
sell the security before recovery of its cost basis. The amount of the
other-than-temporary impairment related to a credit loss is recognized in
earnings and the amount of the other-than-temporary impairment related to other
factors is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). This guidance
was effective for periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption
permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. The adoption of
this guidance did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial
condition or results of operations.
In
April 2009, the FASB issued guidance on “Determining Fair Value When Volume
and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased
and Identifying Transactions that are Not Orderly.” Under this guidance,
if an entity determines that there has been a significant decrease in the volume
and level of activity for the asset or the liability in relation to the normal
market activity for the asset or liability (or similar assets or liabilities),
then transactions or quoted prices may not accurately reflect fair value.
In addition, if there is evidence that the transaction for the asset or
liability is not orderly, the entity shall place little, if any, weight on that
transaction price as an indicator of fair value. This guidance is
effective for periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early adoption
permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. The adoption of
this guidance did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial
condition or results of operations.
In
April 2009, the FASB issued guidance on “Interim Disclosures about Fair
Value of Financial Instruments.” This guidance requires disclosures about
fair value of financial instruments in interim and annual financial statements
which is effective for periods ending after June 15, 2009, with early
adoption permitted for periods ending after March 15, 2009. The
Company adopted this guidance in the second quarter 2009 and has included
required disclosures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
In
May 2009, the FASB issued new guidance on “Subsequent Events.” The
new guidance is consistent with existing auditing standards in defining
subsequent events as events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet
date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be
issued, but it also requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity
has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date. The new
guidance defines two types of subsequent events: “recognized subsequent events”
and “non-recognized subsequent events.” Recognized subsequent events
provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the balance sheet
date and must be reflected in a company’s financial statements.
Non-recognized subsequent events provide evidence about conditions that arose
after the balance sheet date and are not reflected in the financial statements
of a company. Certain non-recognized subsequent events may require
disclosure to prevent the financial statements from being misleading. The
new guidance was effective on a prospective basis for interim or annual periods
ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this guidance did not
materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of
operations.
8 of
23
In
August 2009, the FASB issued new guidance on “Fair Value Measurements and
Disclosures - Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value.” The new guidance
provides clarification that in certain circumstances in which a quoted price in
an active market for the identical liability is not available, a company is
required to measure fair value using one or more of the following valuation
techniques: the quoted price of the identical liability when traded as an asset,
the quoted prices for similar liabilities or similar liabilities when traded as
assets, and/or another valuation technique that is consistent with the
principles of fair value measurements. The new guidance clarifies that a
company is not required to include an adjustment for restrictions that prevent
the transfer of the liability and if an adjustment is applied to the quoted
price used in a valuation technique, the result is a Level 2 or 3 fair value
measurement. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods
beginning after August 27, 2009. The provisions of the new guidance
did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial condition or
results of operations.
Accounting Guidance Not Yet
Effective:
In
June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued
guidance on “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets” that requires
enhanced disclosures about transfers of financial assets and a company’s
continuing involvement in transferred assets. This guidance is effective
for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption of
this guidance to have any material impact on the consolidated financial
condition or results of operations.
In
June 2009, the FASB issued guidance which 1) replaces the
quantitative-based risks and rewards calculation for determining whether an
enterprise is the primary beneficiary in a variable interest entity with an
approach that is primarily qualitative, 2) requires ongoing assessments of
whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity,
and 3) requires additional disclosures about an enterprise’s involvement in
variable interest entities. This guidance is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009.
The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material
impact, if any, on its consolidated financial condition or results of
operation.
There
have been no other accounting standards issued during 2009 that are expected to
have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
NOTE 6 – 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 2007 through 2008 for federal
income taxes and 2004 through 2008 for California state income
taxes.
ASC 740,
which became effective January 1, 2007, 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. It also
provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties,
accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. Since
adoption of ASC 740 and as of September 30, 2009, the Company had no
unrecognized tax benefits and no additional liabilities or reduction in deferred
tax asset. In addition, the Company had not accrued 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.
NOTE 7 - SEGMENT
REPORTING
ASC 280
establishes standards for the way information about operating segments is
reported in financial statements. The Company has identified its
insurance company operation as its primary reporting
segment. Revenues from this segment comprised 87% of consolidated
revenues for the three months and 86% of consolidated revenues for the
nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, compared to 87% of
revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008. 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
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
September
30
|
September
30
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues
|
||||||||||||||||
Insurance
company operation
|
$ | 8,938,588 | $ | 9,991,376 | $ | 27,188,648 | $ | 30,903,813 | ||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Other
insurance operations
|
3,813,224 | 4,419,131 | 12,551,420 | 13,169,590 | ||||||||||||
Intersegment
eliminations (1)
|
(2,447,400 | ) | (2,881,375 | ) | (8,193,985 | ) | (8,453,757 | ) | ||||||||
Total
other insurance operations
|
1,365,824 | 1,537,756 | 4,357,435 | 4,715,833 | ||||||||||||
Total
Revenues
|
$ | 10,304,412 | $ | 11,529,132 | $ | 31,546,083 | $ | 35,619,646 | ||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Income (Loss) Before Income
Taxes
|
||||||||||||||||
Insurance
company operation
|
$ | 1,762,019 | $ | 2,701,615 | $ | 5,698,085 | $ | 6,611,699 | ||||||||
Other
insurance operations
|
(863,066 | ) | (509,325 | ) | (2,255,495 | ) | (1,806,922 | ) | ||||||||
Total
income before income taxes
|
$ | 898,953 | $ | 2,192,290 | $ | 3,442,590 | $ | 4,804,777 |
As of
|
||||||||
September
30
|
December
31
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Assets
|
||||||||
Insurance
company operation
|
$ | 162,623,510 | $ | 171,700,199 | ||||
Intersegment
eliminations (2)
|
(1,403,003 | ) | (1,658,771 | ) | ||||
Total
insurance company operation
|
161,220,507 | 170,041,428 | ||||||
Other
insurance operations
|
14,487,424 | 14,561,548 | ||||||
Total
Assets
|
$ | 175,707,931 | $ | 184,602,976 |
(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 8 - FAIR VALUE
MEASUREMENTS
ASC 820,
“Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” was adopted by the Company as of
January 1, 2008. The accounting standard 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). Financial assets and financial liabilities recorded on the
consolidated balance sheets at fair value are categorized based on the
reliability of inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:
Level 1 -
Financial assets and financial liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted
quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
Level 2 -
Financial assets and financial liabilities whose values are based on quoted
prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for
identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets; or valuation
models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially
the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3 -
Financial assets and financial liabilities whose values are based on prices or
valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and
significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect the
Company’s estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in
valuing the financial assets and financial liabilities.
The
hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs and the lowest priority
to Level 3 inputs. 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.
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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 in active markets for
identical assets with reasonable levels of price transparency. Fair
value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs.
All of
the Company’s fixed maturity investments are classified as available-for-sale
and are stated at fair value. Although all of the Company's
investments are classified as available-for-sale and the Company may sell
investment securities from time to time in response to economic and market
conditions, its investment guidelines place primary emphasis on buying and
holding high-quality investments to maturity. Short-term investments
are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. The unrealized
gains or losses from fixed maturities are reported as “accumulated other
comprehensive income,” which is a separate component of stockholders’ equity,
net of any deferred tax effect. For fixed maturity investments that
the Company does not intend to sell or for which it is more likely than not that
the Company would not be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in
value, the Company separates the credit loss component of the impairment from
the amount related to all other factors and reports the credit loss component in
net realized investment gains (losses). There was no credit loss component
for any of the periods presented in the accompanying consolidated statement of
operations. The impairment related to all other factors is reported in
“accumulated other comprehensive income.” Realized gains and losses,
if any, are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations based on the
specific identification method.
The
Company had $3,202,502 of unrealized investment gain, net of deferred taxes as
of September 30, 2009, as compared to $4,904,873 of unrealized investment gains,
net of deferred taxes as of December 31, 2008.
NOTE 9 -
INVESTMENTS
The
amortized cost and estimated fair values of investments in fixed maturities by
categories are as follows:
Gross
|
Gross
|
Estimated
|
||||||||||||||
Amortized
|
Unrealized
|
Unrealized
|
Fair
|
|||||||||||||
Cost
|
Gains
|
Losses
|
Value
|
|||||||||||||
September 30, 2009
|
||||||||||||||||
Available
for sale:
|
||||||||||||||||
Fixed
maturities
|
||||||||||||||||
Certificates
of deposit
|
$ | 17,854,997 | - | - | $ | 17,854,997 | ||||||||||
U.S.
treasury securities
|
93,368,889 | $ | 4,797,892 | - | 98,166,781 | |||||||||||
Industrial
and miscellaneous taxable bonds
|
4,055,656 | 54,384 | - | 4,110,040 | ||||||||||||
Total
fixed maturities
|
$ | 115,279,542 | $ | 4,852,276 | - | $ | 120,131,818 | |||||||||
December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Available
for sale:
|
||||||||||||||||
Fixed
maturities
|
||||||||||||||||
Certificates
of deposit
|
$ | 400,000 | - | - | $ | 400,000 | ||||||||||
U.S.
treasury securities
|
124,526,227 | $ | 7,412,273 | - | 131,938,500 | |||||||||||
Industrial
and miscellaneous taxable bonds
|
10,614,127 | 85,078 | $ | 65,725 | 10,633,480 | |||||||||||
Total
fixed maturities
|
$ | 135,540,354 | $ | 7,497,351 | $ | 65,725 | $ | 142,971,980 |
A summary
of the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments carried at fair
value and the applicable deferred federal income taxes are shown
below:
September
30
|
December
31
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Gross
unrealized appreciation of fixed maturities
|
$ | 4,852,276 | $ | 7,497,351 | ||||
Gross
unrealized (depreciation) of fixed maturities
|
- | (65,725 | ) | |||||
Net
unrealized appreciation on investments
|
4,852,276 | 7,431,626 | ||||||
Deferred
federal tax (expense)
|
(1,649,774 | ) | (2,526,753 | ) | ||||
Net
unrealized appreciation, net
of deferred income taxes
|
$ | 3,202,502 | $ | 4,904,873 |
The
Company had no investments in an unrealized loss position as of September 30,
2009. As of December 31, 2008, The Company had three fixed maturity
investment grade industrial securities with a gross unrealized loss of $65,725,
for continuous periods of 0 to 6 months.
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The
Company did not sell any fixed maturity investment in the nine months ended
September 30, 2009. The Company sold one fixed maturity investment in the nine
months ended September 30, 2008, with net realized gain in the amount of
$6,306.
Short-term
investments have an initial maturity of one year or less and consist of the
following:
September
30
|
December
31
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Bank
money market accounts
|
$ | 17,158,342 | $ | 3,312,140 | ||||
U.S.
government money market fund
|
5,416,932 | 5,585,395 | ||||||
Certificates
of deposit
|
3,094,000 | 200,000 | ||||||
Short-term
U.S. treasury bills
|
- | 399,953 | ||||||
Bank
savings accounts
|
1,759 | 4,545 | ||||||
Total
short-term investments
|
$ | 25,671,033 | $ | 9,502,033 |
The
Company manages its own investment portfolio. A summary of net
investment and related income is as follows:
Three
Months Ended September 30
|
Nine
Months Ended September 30
|
|||||||||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
||||||||||||
Fixed
maturities
|
$ | 993,811 | $ | 1,398,720 | $ | 3,332,842 | $ | 4,419,171 | ||||||||
Realized
gains on fixed maturities
|
- | - | - | 6,306 | ||||||||||||
Short-term
investments
|
18,072 | 26,671 | 47,500 | 125,483 | ||||||||||||
Total
investment income
|
$ | 1,011,883 | $ | 1,425,391 | $ | 3,380,342 | $ | 4,550,960 |
NOTE 10 –
CONTINGENCIES
One of
the Company’s agents that was recently appointed to help the Company get its
Trucking Program started failed to pay the net premium and policy fees due
Unifax, the exclusive general agent for Crusader. The agent was initially late
in paying its February 2009 production that was due to Unifax on April 15,
2009. In May 2009, as a result of the agent’s failure to timely pay
its balance due to Unifax, the Company terminated its agency agreement and
assumed ownership and control of that agent’s policy expirations written with
the Company. The agent has not paid any subsequent premium to Unifax.
The Company subsequently commenced legal proceedings against the agent and the
agent’s guarantors for recovery of the balance due and any related recovery
costs incurred. All related recovery costs have been expensed as
incurred. As of September 30, 2009, the agent’s balance due to Unifax
was $1,448,060. Based on the limited information presently available,
in the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company increased the
previously established bad debt reserve for this agent by
$150,000. Thus the total bad debt reserve as of September 30, 2009,
is $501,385 which represents approximately 35% of the current balance due to
Unifax. The Company’s bad debt reserve is subject to change as more information
becomes available.
NOTE 11 – SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
The
Company evaluated subsequent events through November 10,
2009, the date the financial statements were issued, and noted no
significant events to be disclosed.
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 and health 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 $617,680 for the three months ended September 30,
2009, compared to net income of $1,445,340 for the three months ended September
30, 2008, a decrease in net income of $827,660 (57%). For
the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company had a net income of
$2,330,990 compared to a net income of $3,186,290 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008, a decrease in net income of $855,300 (27%).
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23
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
management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations, 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 company operation. The insurance company operation
generated approximately 87% of consolidated
revenues for the three months and 86% of consolidated revenues for the nine
months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The insurance company
operation generated approximately 87% of consolidated revenues for the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2008. 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 in the areas of
price, coverage, and service. It is highly cyclical, characterized by
periods of high premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity followed by
periods of severe price competition and excess capacity. The property
and casualty insurance industry 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. In addition, Crusader competes
not only with other insurance companies but also with other general
agencies. Many of those general agencies offer more products than the
Company.
Effective
January 27, 2009, A.M. Best Company upgraded Crusader’s financial strength
rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good), and revised Crusader’s rating outlook
to “stable” from “positive.” In addition, Crusader’s Issuer Credit
Rating was upgraded to a- (Excellent) from bbb+ (Good).
Premium
written before reinsurance decreased $1,037,938 (10%) to $9,350,531 for the
three months ended September 30, 2009, compared to $10,388,469 for the
three months ended September 30, 2008. Premium written before
reinsurance decreased $397,684 (1%) to $29,874,937 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009, compared to $30,272,621 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008. The decrease in premium written before
reinsurance for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared
to prior year periods is primarily attributed to a loss of customers
attributable to the fact that the insurance marketplace continues to be
intensely competitive. While the Company attempts to meet such
competition with competitive prices, its emphasis is on service, promotion, and
distribution. 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 continue to
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.
Crusader’s
underwriting profit (before income taxes) is as follows:
|
Three Months Ended September
30
|
Nine Months Ended September
30
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase
|
Increase
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
(Decrease)
|
2009
|
2008
|
(Decrease)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net
premium earned
|
$ | 7,752,250 | $ | 8,367,062 | $ | (614,812 | ) | $ | 23,234,588 | $ | 25,872,824 | $ | (2,638,236 | ) | ||||||||||
Less:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses
and loss adjustment
expenses
|
4,931,348 | 4,750,265 | 181,083 | 14,353,234 | 17,026,560 | (2,673,326 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Policy
acquisition costs
|
1,845,975 | 2,055,828 | (209,853 | ) | 5,770,733 | 6,213,989 | (443,256 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total
|
6,777,323 | 6,806,093 | (28,770 | ) | 20,123,967 | 23,240,549 | (3,116,582 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Underwriting
Profit (Before
Income Taxes)
|
$ | 974,927 | $ | 1,560,969 | $ | (586,042 | ) | $ | 3,110,621 | $ | 2,632,275 | $ | 478,346 |
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The
decrease in underwriting profit (before income tax) for the three months ended
September 30, 2009, compared to the prior year period, as shown in the above
table, is primarily the result of a decrease in net premium
earned. The increase in underwriting profit (before income tax) for
the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to the prior year period, as
shown in the above table, is primarily the result of a decrease in losses and
loss adjustment expenses and policy acquisition costs, offset by a decrease in
net premium earned.
Losses
and loss adjustment expenses were 64% of net premium earned for the three months
ended September 30, 2009, compared to 57% of net premium earned for the three
months ended September 30, 2008. Losses and loss adjustment expenses
were 62% of net premium earned for the nine months ended September 30, 2009,
compared to 66% of net premium earned for the nine months ended September 30,
2008.
The
following table provides an analysis of the losses and loss adjustment expenses
as follows:
Three Months Ended September
30
|
Nine Months Ended September
30
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
2009
|
2008
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Losses
and loss
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
adjustment
expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current
accident year
|
$ | 5,861,811 | $ | 5,798,936 | $ | 62,875 | $ | 17,044,045 | $ | 18,731,978 | $ | (1,687,933 | ) | |||||||||||
Less:
favorable development
of all prior
accident years
|
930,463 | 1,048,671 | (118,208 | ) | 2,690,811 | 1,705,418 | 985,393 | |||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 4,931,348 | $ | 4,750,265 | $ | 181,083 | $ | 14,353,234 | $ | 17,026,560 | $ | (2,673,326 | ) |
The
increase in losses and loss adjustment expenses for the three months ended
September 30, 2009, 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.
The
decrease in losses and loss adjustment expenses for the nine months ended
September 30, 2009, as compared to the prior year period is primarily due to a
decrease in current accident year losses incurred and an increase in favorable
development of prior accident years’ losses and loss adjustment
expenses. The decrease in current accident year losses and loss
adjustment expenses incurred is primarily related to lower reserve estimates for
unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses due to fewer policies sold and a
decrease in net earned premium.
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 and 14% in the nine months ended September
30, 2009, respectively, compared to approximately 13% of total revenues in the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2008.
The
Company’s bad debt expense increased $150,006 and $499,951 for the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The increase was
primarily due to a single agent’s failure to remit premiums due to
Unifax. See “Note 10, Contingencies.”
Investments and
Liquidity
The
Company generates revenue from its investment portfolio, which consisted of
approximately $141.0 million (at amortized cost) at September 30, 2009, compared
to $145.0 million (at amortized cost) at December 31, 2008. Investment income,
excluding net realized investment gains, decreased $413,508 (29%) and $1,164,312
(26%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to
prior year periods, respectively. The decrease in investment income
is primarily a result of a decrease in invested assets and a decrease in the
Company’s annualized weighted average investment yield to 2.9% and 3.2% in the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, from 3.9% and 4.1%
in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008,
respectively. 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. The
Company had no realized gains or losses for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2009. The Company sold one fixed maturity investment in
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, with a net realized gain of
$6,306.
14 of
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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 September 30, 2009, the Company had cash and
investments of $141,018,106 (at amortized cost) of which $138,647,709 (98%) were
investments of Crusader.
As of
September 30, 2009, the Company had invested $115,279,542 (at
amortized cost) or 82% of its invested assets in fixed maturity
obligations. All of our investments in fixed maturity and
short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair
value with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a
separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of tax. 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 until maturity.
The Company's investments in
fixed maturity obligations of $115,279,542 (at amortized cost) includes
$93,368,889 (81%) of U.S. treasury securities, $4,055,656 (4%) of industrial and
miscellaneous securities, and $17,854,997 (15%) of long-term certificates of
deposit.
The
remaining balance of the Company's investments is in short-term investments that
include bank money market accounts, certificates of deposit, 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. 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, readily marketable, and could be
liquidated without any materially adverse financial impact.
In April
2000, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the
purchase from time to time of up to an aggregate of 315,000 shares of the common
stock of the Company. On August 8, 2000, the Board of Directors
authorized the purchase of an additional 315,000 shares and on September 6,
2000, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of another 315,000 shares
of the common stock of the Company. On December 19, 2008, the
Board of Directors authorized an additional stock repurchase program to acquire
from time to time up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock. This brought the total shares of the Company’s common stock
authorized to be repurchased to 1,445,000 shares since the year
2000. The programs have no expiration date and may be terminated by
the Board of Directors at any time. During the nine months ended
September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 144,972 shares of the Company’s
common stock at a cost of $1,303,223 of which $71,243 was allocated to capital
and $1,231,980 was allocated to retained earnings. As of September
30, 2009, under the stock repurchase programs previously adopted by the Company,
the Company had remaining authority to repurchase up to an aggregate of 370,495
shares of common stock.
At a
meeting of the Board of Directors held on March 23, 2009, the Board declared a
cash dividend of $0.18 per common share. The dividend aggregating $1,002,173 was
paid on May 1, 2009, to shareholders of record on April 10, 2009.
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 restrictions of $894,531, 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.
15 of
23
Results of
Operations
All
comparisons made in this discussion are comparing the three months and nine
months ended September 30, 2009, to the three months and nine months ended
September 30, 2008, unless otherwise indicated.
The
Company had a net income of $617,680 for the three months ended September 30,
2009, compared to a net income of $1,445,340 for the three months ended
September 30, 2008, a decrease of $827,660 (57%). For the nine months
ended September 30, 2009, the Company had a net income of $2,330,990 compared to
a net income of $3,186,290 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, a
decrease of $855,300 (27%). Total revenues decreased $1,224,720 (11%)
to $10,304,412 for the three months and $4,073,563 (11%) to $31,546,083 for the
nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to total revenues of $11,529,132
for the three months and $35,619,646 for the nine months ended September 30,
2008.
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 $1,037,938 (10%) and $397,684 (1%), to $9,350,531 and
$29,874,937 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to
$10,388,469 and $30,272,621 for the three and nine months ended September 30,
2008.
The
decrease in premium written before reinsurance for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2009, as compared to prior year periods is primarily
attributed to a loss of customers attributable to the fact that the insurance
marketplace continues to be intensely competitive. While the Company
attempts to meet such competition with competitive prices, its emphasis is on
service, promotion, and distribution. 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 continue to 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.
Premium earned before
reinsurance decreased $478,061 (5%) to $10,088,770 for the three months and
$2,334,097 (7%) to $30,185,220 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009,
compared to $10,566,831 for the three months and $32,519,317 for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008. The Company writes annual policies and,
therefore, earns written premium over the one-year policy term.
Earned
ceded premium (excluding provisionally rated ceded premium) increased $136,751
(6%) to $2,336,520 for the three months and $304,139 (5%) to $6,950,632 for the
nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to ceded premium of $2,199,769 in
the three months and $6,646,493 for the nine months ended September 30,
2008. The increase in earned ceded premium is primarily a result of
changes in the rates charged by Crusader’s reinsurers, offset in part by a
decrease in direct premium earned. The Company evaluates each of its
ceded reinsurance contracts at inception to determine if there is a sufficient
risk transfer to allow the contract to be accounted for as reinsurance under
current accounting literature. As of September 30, 2009, all such
ceded contracts are accounted for as risk transfer reinsurance. The
earned ceded premium 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.
16 of
23
Direct
earned premium, earned ceded premium, and ceding commission are as
follows:
Three Months Ended September
30
|
Nine Months Ended September
30
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase
|
Increase
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
(Decrease)
|
2009
|
2008
|
(Decrease)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Direct
earned premium
|
$ | 10,088,770 | $ | 10,566,831 | $ | (478,061 | ) | $ | 30,185,220 | $ | 32,519,317 | $ | (2,334,097 | ) | ||||||||||
Earned
ceded premium:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Excluding
provisionally rated ceded premium
|
2,336,520 | 2,199,742 | 136,778 | 6,958,759 | 6,726,302 | 232,457 | ||||||||||||||||||
Provisionally
rated ceded premium
|
- | 27 | (27 | ) | (8,127 | ) | (79,809 | ) | 71,682 | |||||||||||||||
Total
earned ceded premium
|
2,336,520 | 2,199,769 | 136,751 | 6,950,632 | 6,646,493 | 304,139 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ceding
commission
|
(698,347 | ) | (653,296 | ) | (45,051 | ) | (2,072,667 | ) | (2,010,939 | ) | (61,728 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total
earned ceded premium net of ceding commission
|
$ | 1,638,173 | $ | 1,546,473 | $ | 91,700 | $ | 4,877,965 | $ | 4,635,554 | $ | 242,411 |
Total
earned ceded premium excluding provisionally rated ceded premium was
approximately 23% of direct earned premium in the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2009, and 21% of direct earned premium in the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2008. There was no significant change in
the ceding commission rate.
In 2009
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 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.
The 2007
through 2009 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 calculated and reported net profit
(excluding incurred but not reported losses) as of December 31, 2008, the
Company paid its reinsurer $311,616 in March 2009. Based on the
Company’s ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses (including ceded incurred
but not reported losses) as of September 30, 2009, the Company recorded
$1,660,729 of these net payments as an advance from its reinsurer and this
amount is included in “Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities” in the
consolidated balance sheets. Thus, the Company has recognized
$1,447,595 of contingent commission, of which $161,839 and $527,866 was
recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009,
respectively.
Investment income, excluding
realized investment gains, decreased $413,508 (29%) to $1,011,883 for the three
months ended September 30, 2009, compared to investment income of $1,425,391 for
the three months ended September 30, 2008. Investment income,
excluding realized investment gains, decreased $1,164,312 (26%) to $3,380,342
for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to investment income of
$4,544,654 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The Company
had no realized gains or losses for the three and nine months ended September
30, 2009. The Company sold one fixed maturity investment
in the nine months ended September 30, 2008, with net realized gain of
$6,306. The decrease in investment income in the current periods as
compared to the prior year periods is primarily a result of a decrease in the
Company’s annualized yield on average invested assets to 2.9% for the three
months and 3.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, from
3.9% for the three months and 4.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008,
respectively. 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.
17 of
23
The
average annualized yields on the Company’s average invested assets are as
follows:
Three Months Ended September
30
|
Nine Months Ended September
30
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Average
Invested Assets*
|
$ | 141,759,987 | $ | 145,521,741 | $ | 142,996,481 | $ | 146,647,603 | ||||||||
Total
Investment Income
|
$ | 1,011,883 | $ | 1,425,391 | $ | 3,380,342 | $ | 4,544,654 | ||||||||
Annualized
Yield on
Average
Invested Assets
|
2.9 | % | 3.9 | % | 3.2 | % | 4.1 | % |
|
*
The average is based on the beginning and ending balance of the amortized
cost of the invested assets.
|
The par
value, amortized cost, estimated fair value and weighted average yield of fixed
maturity investments at September 30, 2009, by contractual maturity are set
forth below. Expected maturities may 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, 2009
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
December
31, 2010
|
37,548,999 | 37,594,005 | 38,114,820 | 2.4 | % | |||||||||||
December
31, 2011
|
30,355,998 | 30,419,727 | 31,028,186 | 2.3 | % | |||||||||||
December
31, 2012
|
38,200,000 | 38,172,763 | 41,404,375 | 4.4 | % | |||||||||||
December
31, 2013
|
9,100,000 | 9,093,047 | 9,584,437 | 3.3 | % | |||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 115,204,997 | $ | 115,279,542 | $ | 120,131,818 | 3.1 | % |
The
weighted average maturity of the Company’s fixed maturity investments was 2.0
years as of September 30, 2009, and 2.2 years as of September 30,
2008. 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.
As of
September 30, 2009, the Company held fixed maturity investments with unrealized
appreciation of $4,852,276 and held no fixed maturity investments 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 does not have the intent
to sell its fixed maturity investments and it is not likely that the Company
would be required to sell any of its fixed maturity investments prior to
recovery of is amortized cost basis.
Gross commissions and fees
decreased $135,073 (10%) to $1,277,838 for the three months and decreased
$227,619 (5%) to $4,072,049 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009,
compared to commissions and fees of $1,412,911 for the three months and
$4,299,668 for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.
The
decreases in gross commission and fee income for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2009, as compared to the three and nine months ended September 30,
2008, are as follows:
18 of
23
Three Months Ended September
30
|
Nine Months Ended September
30
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Increase
|
Increase
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
(Decrease)
|
2009
|
2008
|
(Decrease)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Policy
fee income
|
$ | 526,035 | $ | 554,774 | $ | (28,739 | ) | $ | 1,589,682 | $ | 1,697,793 | $ | (108,111 | ) | ||||||||||
Health
insurance program
|
601,931 | 690,870 | (88,939 | ) | 1,962,054 | 2,049,747 | (87,693 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Membership
and fee income
|
63,195 | 74,499 | (11,304 | ) | 199,631 | 227,548 | (27,917 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Other
commission and fee income
|
30 | 50 | (20 | ) | 673 | 7,212 | (6,539 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Daily
automobile rental insurance program:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commission
income (excluding contingent
commission)
|
86,647 | 92,718 | (6,071 | ) | 254,495 | 258,775 | (4,280 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Contingent
commission
|
- | - | - | 65,514 | 58,593 | 6,921 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 1,277,838 | $ | 1,412,911 | $ | (135,073 | ) | $ | 4,072,049 | $ | 4,299,668 | $ | (227,619 | ) |
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 non-refundable policy fee income
that is directly related to the Crusader policies it sells. For
financial reporting purposes 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 $28,739 (5%) and $108,111
(6%) in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively,
compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008. The
decrease in policy fee income is directly related to a decrease in the number of
policies issued in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, as
compared to the prior year periods.
American
Insurance Brokers, Inc. (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 decreased $88,939 (13%) and $87,693 (4%) in
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, compared to
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008. In November 2008,
AIB entered into a general agent contract with Blue Shield of California who
pays AIB override commissions for all business submitted to
them. Beginning in September 2009, CIGNA substantially reduced the
medical plans offered to small group employers in the state of California, from
nineteen plans to four. All new employer groups and existing employer groups on
their anniversary date will have the option to choose from the four available
plans. AIB will be assisting its CIGNA policyholders in obtaining new
coverage in one of the four CIGNA plans or with other contracted
carriers. This reduction in CIGNA medical plans offered to small
group employers in the state of California has resulted in a decrease in AIB
commission income and AAQHC fee income. AAQHC will continue to
underwrite and administer all remaining CIGNA business, including dental plans
for individuals and small group employers.
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. Membership and fee income decreased $11,304
(15%) and $27,917 (12%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009,
respectively. This decrease was primarily a result of the reduction
in CIGNA medical plans offered to small group employers in the state of
California as discussed above.
The daily
automobile rental insurance program is produced by Bedford Insurance Services,
Inc. (Bedford), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Bedford
receives a commission from a non-affiliated insurance company based on premium
written. Due to declining sales, commission in the daily automobile
rental insurance program (excluding contingent commission) decreased $6,071 (7%)
and $4,280 (2%) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009,
respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30,
2008.
Losses and loss adjustment
expenses were 64% of net premium earned for the three months ended
September 30, 2009, compared to 57% of net premium earned for the three months
ended September 30, 2008. Losses and loss adjustment expenses were
62% of net premium earned for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared
to 66% of net premium earned for the nine months ended September 30,
2008. The increase in losses and loss adjustment expenses for the
three months ended September 30, 2009, 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. The decrease in losses and loss adjustment
expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to the prior
year period is primarily due to a decrease in current accident year losses
incurred and an increase in favorable development of prior accident years’
losses and loss adjustment expenses. The decrease in current accident
year losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred is primarily related to lower
reserve estimates for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses due to fewer
policies sold and a decrease in net earned premium.
19 of
23
The
following table provides an analysis of the losses and loss adjustment expenses
as follows:
Three Months Ended September
30
|
Nine Months Ended September
30
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
2009
|
2008
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Losses
and loss adjustment expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current
accident year
|
$ | 5,861,811 | $ | 5,798,936 | $ | 62,875 | $ | 17,044,045 | $ | 18,731,978 | $ | (1,687,933 | ) | |||||||||||
Less:
favorable development
of all prior
accident years
|
930,463 | 1,048,671 | (118,208 | ) | 2,690,811 | 1,705,418 | 985,393 | |||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 4,931,348 | $ | 4,750,265 | $ | 181,083 | $ | 14,353,234 | $ | 17,026,560 | $ | (2,673,326 | ) |
The
Company’s consolidated financial statements include estimated reserves for
unpaid losses and 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 chief
executive officer, 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 to 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.
20 of
23
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 24% of net
premium earned for the three months and 25% for the nine months ended September
30, 2009, respectively, compared to 25% of net premium earned for the three
months and 24% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008,
respectively.
Salaries and employee benefits
decreased $188,571 (13%) to $1,305,366 for the three months and $313,859
(7%) to $4,015,515 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to
salary and employee benefits of $1,493,937 for the three months and $4,329,374
for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was
primarily due to the retirement of the former chief executive officer of the
Company on April 1, 2009.
Commissions to agents/brokers
decreased $68,796 (21%) to $251,538 for the three months and $99,471 (10%) to
$860,515 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to commission
expense of $320,334 for the three months and $959,986 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008. The decrease in commission to agents/brokers is
primarily the result of a decrease in commission expense on the health insurance
program in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to
the prior year periods.
Other operating expenses
increased $354,754 (50%) to $1,071,232 for the three months and $818,536
(36%) to $3,103,496 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to
$716,478 for the three months and $2,284,960 for the nine months ended September
30, 2008. The increase in other operating expenses is primarily due
to an increase in the Company’s reserve for bad debts, legal fees and the fees
charged by the California Department of Insurance for performing its required
tri-annual examination of the Company’s insurance subsidiary. The Company’s bad
debt expense increased $150,006 and $499,951 for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2009, respectively. The increase in bad debt expense
and legal fees was primarily due to a single agent’s failure to remit premiums
due Unifax. See “Note 10, Contingencies.” The Company’s
examination fee expense increased $98,013 and $216,244 for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.
Income tax provision was an
expense of $281,273 (31% of pre-tax income) for the three months and $1,111,600
(32% of pre-tax income) for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared
to an income tax expense of $746,950 (34% of pre-tax income) for the three
months and $1,618,487 (34% of pre-tax income) for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008. This decrease in income tax expense was primarily
due to a decrease in pre-tax income to $898,953 in the three months and
$3,442,590 in the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to pre-tax
income of $2,192,290 in the three months and $4,804,777 in the nine months ended
September 30, 2008.
The
effect of inflation on net income of the Company during the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2009, and the three and nine months ended September
30, 2008, was not significant.
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.
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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:
September
30
2009
|
December
31
2008
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
||||||||||
Fixed
maturity bonds (at amortized value)
|
$ | 97,424,545 | $ | 135,140,354 | $ | (37,715,809 | ) | |||||
Short-term
cash investments (at cost)
|
25,671,033 | 9,502,033 | 16,169,000 | |||||||||
Certificates
of deposit (over 1 year, at cost)
|
17,854,997 | 400,000 | 17,454,997 | |||||||||
Total
invested assets
|
$ | 140,950,575 | $ | 145,042,387 | $ | (4,091,812 | ) |
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 4T – CONTROLS AND
PROCEDURES
An
evaluation was carried out by the Company's management, including its 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
September 30, 2009 (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.
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, 2008, in response to Item 1A
to Part I of Form 10-K.
ITEM 2 – UNREGISTERED SALES
OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to purchases of
common stock of the Company during the quarter ended September 30, 2009, by the
Company.
Period
|
Total
Number
of
Shares
Purchased
|
Average
Price
Paid
Per Share
|
Total
Number
of
Shares
Purchased
as Part
Of
Publicly
Announced
Plans
Or Programs(1)
|
Maximum
Number
of Shares
that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the Plans or Programs(1)
|
||||||||||||
July
1, 2009, through July 31, 2009
|
- | - | - | 505,604 | ||||||||||||
August
1, 2009, through August 31, 2009
|
132,528 | $ | 9.08 | 132,528 | 373,076 | |||||||||||
September
1, 2009, through September 30, 2009
|
2,581 | $ | 9.14 | 2,581 | 370,495 | |||||||||||
Total
|
135,109 | $ | 9.08 | 135,109 | 370,495 |
(1)
|
In
April 2000, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had
authorized the purchase from time to time of up to an aggregate of 315,000
shares of the common stock of the Company. On August 8, 2000,
the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of an additional 315,000
shares and on September 6, 2000, the Board of Directors authorized the
purchase of another 315,000 shares of the common stock of the
Company. On December 19, 2008, the Board of Directors
authorized an additional stock repurchase program to acquire from time to
time up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock. This brought the total shares of the Company’s common
stock authorized to be repurchased to 1,445,000 shares since the year
2000. The programs have no expiration date and may be
terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. During the
nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 144,972
shares of the Company’s common stock at a cost of $1,303,223 of which
$71,243 was allocated to capital and $1,231,980 was allocated to retained
earnings. As of September 30, 2009, under the stock repurchase
programs previously adopted by the Company, the Company had remaining
authority to repurchase up to an aggregate of 370,495 shares of common
stock.
|
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ITEM 6 -
EXHIBITS
|
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
Pursant 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: November 10,
2009 By: /s/ CARY L.
CHELDIN
Cary Cheldin
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief
Executive Officer, (Principal
Executive Officer)
Date: November 10,
2009 By: /s/ LESTER A.
AARON
Lester A. Aaron
Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer,
(Principal
Accounting and Principal Financial
Officer)
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23
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
No. Description
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).
|