UNICO AMERICAN CORP - Annual Report: 2015 (Form 10-K)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (818) 591-9800

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes No X

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes No X  

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 website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes _X_  No___

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy of information statements incorporated by reference as Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. X

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

Large accelerated filer __ Accelerated filer __

Non-accelerated filer __ Smaller reporting company X

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

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The aggregate market value of registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2015, the last business day of Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $29,921,651.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Portions of the definitive proxy statement that Registrant intends to file pursuant to Regulation 14(a) by a date no later than 120 days after December 31, 2015, to be used in connection with the annual meeting of shareholders, are incorporated herein by reference into Part III hereof. If such definitive proxy statement is not filed in the 120-day period, the information called for by Part III will be filed as an amendment to this Form 10-K not later than the end of the 120-day period. 

PART I

Item 1. 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.

Descriptions of the Company’s operations in the following paragraphs are categorized between the Company’s major segment, the insurance company operation, and other insurance operations. The insurance company operation is conducted through Crusader Insurance Company (Crusader), Unico’s property and casualty insurance company. Revenues from insurance company operation and other insurance operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, December 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, are as follows:

INSURANCE COMPANY OPERATION

General

The insurance company operation is conducted through Crusader. Crusader is a multiple line property and casualty insurance company that began transacting business on January 1, 1985. Since 2004, all Crusader business has been written in the state of California until June 2014 when Crusader also began writing business in the state of Arizona. During the year ended December 31, 2015, approximately 98% of Crusader’s business was commercial multiple peril policies. Commercial multiple peril policies provide a combination of property and liability coverages for businesses. Commercial property coverage insures against loss or damage to buildings, inventory and equipment from natural disasters, including hurricanes, windstorms, hail, water, explosions, severe winter weather, and other events such as theft and vandalism, fires, storms, and financial loss due to business interruption resulting from covered property damage. However, Crusader does not write earthquake coverage. Commercial liability coverage insures against third party liability from accidents occurring on the insured’s premises or arising out of its operation. In addition to commercial multiple peril policies, Crusader also writes separate policies to insure commercial property and commercial liability risks on a mono-line basis. Crusader is domiciled in California; and, as of December 31, 2015, Crusader is licensed as an admitted insurance carrier in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Production and Servicing of Policies

Crusader sells its insurance policies through Unifax Insurance Systems, Inc. (Unifax), Crusader’s sister corporation and exclusive general agent. All policies are produced by a network of independent brokers and agents.

Although Crusader plans to continually introduce new products, it did not introduce new products during 2015; instead, in 2015 Crusader implemented product changes such as revised rates, eligibility guidelines, rules and coverage forms. On October 9, 2015, the Company concluded that a charge for impairment of the Company’s capitalized computer software costs, related to a policy administration system contract entered into on November 1, 2012, was required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The decision to impair the asset was based on the Company’s beliefs that the software had not achieved and would not be able to achieve the Company’s expected implementation targets and that the Company was unable to renegotiate the terms of its agreement with the software vendor. The Company believes that it will need to make future cash expenditures to replace or upgrade its policy administration system but it is unable to estimate the amount at this time. While the Company’s policy administration system continues to support the Company’s existing operations, the Company believes it would realize more competitive parity with respect to product and service by switching or upgrading to a more contemporary platform. The Company is currently evaluating its alternatives. Crusader does not intend to substantially increase its number of appointed retail agents until the Company replaces or upgrades its policy administration system.

The property casualty insurance marketplace continues to be intensely competitive. While Crusader attempts to meet such competition with competitive prices, its emphasis is on service, promotion, and distribution. Crusader 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 areas of its operations: (1) product development, (2) improved service to retail brokers, (3) appointment of captive and independent retail agents, and (4) geographical expansion..

Adjusting of Claims

Crusader manages all of its claims with a staff of in-house claim adjusters. This staff adjusts claims and oversees all outside claim services such as attorneys, independent or outside claim adjusters, investigators, and experts as necessary.

Reinsurance

A reinsurance transaction occurs when an insurance company transfers (cedes) a portion of its exposure on policies written to a reinsurer that assumes that risk for a premium (ceded premium). Reinsurance does not legally discharge Crusader from primary liability under its policies. If the reinsurer fails to meet its obligations, Crusader must nonetheless pay its policy obligations. Crusader’s primary excess of loss reinsurance agreements during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows:

In calendar years 2015 and 2014, Crusader retained a participation in its excess of loss reinsurance treaties of 10% in its 1^st layer ($500,000 in excess of $500,000), 0% in its 2^nd layer ($2,000,000 in excess of $1,000,000) and 0% in its property and casualty clash treaty.

In calendar year 2013, Crusader retained a participation in its excess of loss reinsurance treaties of 10% in its 1^st layer ($500,000 in excess of $500,000), 5% in its 2^nd layer ($1,000,000 in excess of $1,000,000) and 0% in its property and casualty clash treaty.

Crusader’s excess of loss reinsurance treaties provided for a contingent commission for accident years 2006, 2004 and 2003. Crusader’s 2006 1^st layer primary excess of loss reinsurance treaty provided for a contingent commission equal to 20% of the net profit, if any, accruing to the reinsurer. Crusader’s 2004 and 2003 1^st layer primary excess of loss reinsurance treaties provided for a contingent commission to the Company equal to 45% of the net profit, if any, accruing to the reinsurer. Any contingent commission received was subject to return based on future development of ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses. The contingent commission income (loss) recognized was $91,686, $(17,092) and $301,102 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, the contingent commission agreements had expired, and all contingent commission income due on these agreements had been recognized. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the unearned contingent commission balance included in “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0 and $77,839, respectively.

Crusader also has catastrophe reinsurance treaties from various highly rated California authorized and California unauthorized reinsurance companies. These reinsurance treaties help protect Crusader against losses in excess of certain retentions, from catastrophic events that may occur on property risks which Crusader insures. In calendar years 2015 and 2014, Crusader retained a participation in its catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance treaties of 5% in its 1^st layer ($9,000,000 in excess of $1,000,000) and 0% in its 2^nd layer ($31,000,000 in excess of $10,000,000). In calendar year 2013, Crusader retained a participation in its catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance treaties of 10% in its 1^st layer ($9,000,000 in excess of $1,000,000) and 0% in its 2^nd layer ($31,000,000 in excess of $10,000,000).

Crusader has no reinsurance recoverable balances in dispute.

Crusader evaluates each of its ceded reinsurance treaties at its inception to determine if there is sufficient risk transfer to allow the contract to be accounted for as reinsurance under current accounting literature. As of December 31, 2015, all such ceded contracts are accounted for as risk transfer reinsurance.

The aggregate amount of ceded earned premium to the reinsurers was $5,328,639, $5,090,268 and $5,121,233 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

On most of the premium that Crusader cedes to the reinsurer, the reinsurer pays a commission to Crusader that includes a reimbursement of the cost of acquiring the portion of the premium that is ceded. Crusader does not currently assume any reinsurance. Crusader intends to continue obtaining reinsurance although the availability and cost may vary from time to time. The unpaid losses ceded to the reinsurer are recorded as an asset on the balance sheet.

Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Crusader maintains reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to both reported and unreported losses. When a claim for loss is reported to Crusader, a reserve is established for the expected cost to settle the claim, including estimates of any related legal expense and other costs associated with resolving the claim. These reserves are called “case based” reserves. In addition, Crusader also sets up reserves at the end of each reporting period for losses that have occurred but have not yet been reported to Crusader. These incurred but not reported losses are referred to as “IBNR” reserves.

Crusader establishes reserves for reported losses based on historical experience, upon case-by-case evaluation of facts surrounding each known loss, and the related policy provisions. The amount of reserves for unreported losses is estimated by analysis of historical and statistical information. The ultimate liability of Crusader may be greater or less than estimated reserves. Reserves are monitored and adjusted when appropriate and are reflected in the statement of operations in the period of adjustment. Reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses are estimated to cover the future amounts needed to pay claims and related expenses with respect to insured events that have occurred.

Crusader does not discount to a present value the portion of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves expected to be paid in future periods. Federal tax law, however, requires Crusader to discount loss and loss adjustment expense reserves for federal income tax purposes.

The process of establishing loss and loss adjustment expense reserves involves significant judgment. The following table shows the development of the unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses for fiscal years 2005 through 2014. The top line of the table shows the estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance, recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. This liability represents the estimated amount of losses and loss adjustment expenses for losses arising in the current and prior years that are unpaid at the balance sheet date. The table shows the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded liability based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate may change as more information becomes known. The Company believes that Crusader’s loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are properly stated. When subsequent loss and loss adjustment expense development justifies changes in reserving practices, the Company responds accordingly.

The following table reflects redundancies in Crusader’s net loss and loss adjustment expense reserves for each of the 2005 through 2014 periods. The gross loss and loss adjustment expense reserves reflect a cumulative redundancy for the 2005 through 2012 periods and a cumulative deficiency for the 2013 and 2014 periods. See discussion of losses and loss adjustment expenses in Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Results of Operations - Insurance Company Operation.”

When evaluating the information in the following table, it should be noted that each amount includes the effects of all changes in amounts of prior periods; therefore, the cumulative redundancy represents the aggregate change in the estimates over all prior years. Conditions and trends that have affected development of the liability in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to extrapolate future deficiencies or redundancies based on this table.

Net Written Premium to Statutory Surplus Ratio

The following table shows, for the periods indicated, Crusader's statutory ratio of net written premium to statutory surplus. Since each property and casualty insurance company has different capital needs, an "acceptable" ratio of net written premium to statutory surplus for one company may be inapplicable to another. While there is no statutory requirement applicable to Crusader that establishes a permissible net premium to surplus ratio, guidelines established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provide that such ratio should generally be no greater than 3 to 1.

Crusader’s results herein are reported in accordance with GAAP. These results differ from Crusader’s financial results reported in accordance with Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP) as prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory authorities. Crusader is required to file financial statements with insurance regulatory authorities prepared on a SAP basis.

SAP differs in certain respects from GAAP. The more significant of these differences that apply to Crusader are:

Regulation

The insurance company operation is subject to regulation by the California Department of Insurance (CA DOI) and by the insurance departments of other states in which Crusader is licensed. The insurance departments have broad regulatory, supervisory, and administrative powers. These powers relate primarily to the standards of solvency which must be met and maintained; the licensing of insurers and their agents; the nature and limitation of insurers' investments; the prior approval of rates, rules and forms; the issuance of securities by insurers; periodic financial and market conduct examinations of the affairs of insurers; the annual and other reports required to be filed on the financial condition and results of operations of such insurers or for other purposes; and the establishment of reserves required to be maintained for unearned premium, losses, and other purposes. The regulations and supervision by the insurance departments are designed principally for the benefit of policyholders and not for the insurance company shareholders. The insurance departments may perform market conduct examinations of Crusader to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations with respect to rating, underwriting and claims handling practices. The most recent market conduct examination of Crusader was conducted by the CA DOI and covered claims handling practices in California during the period March 1, 2010, through February 28, 2011. The examination report was adopted by the CA DOI on January 11, 2012. All issues identified during the examination were resolved to the satisfaction of the CA DOI and Crusader. None of the issues identified during the examination had any material effect on Crusader. The insurance departments may also conduct periodic financial examinations of Crusader. During 2012, the CA DOI conducted a financial examination of Crusader’s December 31, 2011, statutory financial statements. On June 6, 2013, Crusader was notified that the report of examination was officially filed and became part of the records of the CA DOI. No comments or recommendations were identified in the current report of examination or in the previous report of examination. The CA DOI has scheduled a periodic financial examination of Crusader’s December 31, 2015, statutory financial statements to commence in the second quarter of 2016; the Company does not have an expected date for completion of this examination.

In December 1993, the NAIC adopted a Risk-Based Capital (RBC) Model Law for property and casualty companies. The RBC Model Law is intended to provide standards for calculating a variable regulatory capital requirement related to a company's current operations and its risk exposures (asset risk, underwriting risk, credit risk and off-balance sheet risk). These standards are intended to serve as a diagnostic solvency tool for regulators that establish uniform capital levels and specific authority levels for regulatory intervention when an insurer falls below minimum capital levels. The RBC Model Law specifies four distinct action levels at which a regulator can intervene with increasing degrees of authority over a domestic insurer if its RBC is equal to or less than 200% of its computed authorized control level RBC. A company's RBC is required to be disclosed in its statutory annual statement. The RBC is not intended to be used as a rating or ranking tool nor is it to be used in premium rate making or approval. Crusader’s adjusted capital at December 31, 2015, was 1,005% of the authorized control level RBC.

The following table sets forth the different levels of risk-based capital that may trigger regulatory involvement and the corresponding actions that may result.

Insurance Regulatory Information System (IRIS) was developed by a committee of state insurance regulators primarily to assist state insurance departments in executing their statutory mandate to oversee the financial condition of insurance companies. IRIS helps those companies that merit highest priority in the allocation of the regulators’ resources on the basis of 13 financial ratios that are calculated annually. The analytical phase is a review of annual statements and the financial ratios. The ratios and trends are valuable in pointing to companies likely to experience financial difficulties but are not themselves indicative of adverse financial condition. The ratio and benchmark comparisons are mechanically produced and are not intended to replace the state insurance departments’ own in-depth financial analysis or on-site examinations.

An unusual range of ratio results has been established from studies of the ratios of companies that have become insolvent or have experienced financial difficulties. In the analytical phase, companies that receive four or more financial ratio values outside the usual range are analyzed in order to identify those companies that appear to require immediate regulatory action. Subsequently, a more comprehensive review of the ratio results and an insurer’s annual statement is performed to confirm that an insurer’s situation calls for increased or close regulatory attention.

In 2015, Crusader was outside the usual value on one of the thirteen IRIS ratio tests. IRIS ratio test number 6 considers Crusader’s 2015 investment yield. An unusual value for that ratio is an investment yield equal to or greater than 6.5% or equal to or less than 3%. Primarily due to Crusader’s conservative investments, its 2015 investment yield, as computed for IRIS purposes, was 0.2%.

California Insurance Guarantee Association

The California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) was created to provide for payment of claims for which insolvent insurers of most casualty lines are liable but which cannot be paid out of such insurers’ assets. The Company is subject to assessment by CIGA for its pro-rata share of such claims based on written premium in the particular line in the year preceding the assessment by insurers writing that line of insurance in California. Such assessments are based upon estimates of losses to be incurred in liquidating an insolvent insurer. Assessments are recouped through a mandated surcharge to policyholders the year after the assessment. No assessment was made by CIGA for the 2015, 2014, or 2013 calendar years.

Holding Company Act

Crusader is subject to regulation by the CA DOI pursuant to the provisions of the California Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act (the "Holding Company Act"). Pursuant to the Holding Company Act, the CA DOI may examine the affairs of Crusader at any time. Certain transactions defined to be of an extraordinary type may not be effected without the prior approval of the CA DOI. Such transactions include, but are not limited to, sales, purchases, exchanges, loans and extensions of credit, and investments made within the immediately preceding 12 months involving the lesser of 3% of admitted assets or 25% of statutory surplus as of the preceding December 31. An extraordinary transaction also includes a dividend which, together with other dividends or distributions made within the preceding 12 months, exceeds the greater of 10% of the insurance company's statutory surplus as of the preceding December 31 or the insurance company's net income for the preceding calendar year. An insurance company is also required to notify the CA DOI of any dividend after declaration, but prior to payment.

The Holding Company Act also provides that the acquisition or change of control of a California domiciled insurance company or of any person who controls such an insurance company cannot be consummated without the prior approval of the insurance commissioner. In general, a presumption of control arises from the ownership of voting securities and securities that are convertible into voting securities, which in the aggregate constitute 10% or more of the voting securities of a California insurance company or a person who controls a California insurance company, such as Crusader. A person seeking to acquire control, directly or indirectly, of the Company must generally file with the insurance commissioner an application for change of control containing certain information required by statute and published regulations and provide a copy of the application to the Company. The Holding Company Act also effectively restricts the Company from consummating certain reorganizations or mergers without prior regulatory approval. The Company is in compliance with the Holding Company Act.

Rating

Insurance companies are rated to provide both industry participants and insurance consumers with meaningful information on specific insurance companies. Higher ratings generally indicate financial stability and a strong ability to pay claims. These ratings are based upon factors relevant to policyholders and are not directed toward protection of investors. Such ratings are neither a rating of securities nor a recommendation to buy, hold or sell any security and may be revised or withdrawn at any time. Ratings focus primarily on the following factors: capital resources, financial strength, demonstrated management expertise in the insurance business, credit analysis, systems development, market segment position and growth opportunities, marketing, sales conduct practices, investment operations, minimum statutory surplus requirements and capital sufficiency to meet projected growth, as well as access to such traditional capital as may be necessary to continue to meet standards for capital adequacy.

The claims-paying abilities of insurers are rated to provide both insurance consumers and industry participants with comparative information on specific insurance companies. Claims-paying ratings are important for the marketing of certain insurance products.

In October of 2015, A.M. Best Company reaffirmed Crusader’s financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and a rating outlook of stable. In addition, Crusader was assigned an Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent).

Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002

On November 26, 2002, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (The Act) was signed into law and set to expire on December 31, 2020. The Act establishes a program within the Department of the Treasury in which the federal government will share the risk of loss from acts of terrorism with the insurance industry. Federal participation will be triggered when the Secretary of the Treasury, in concurrence with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General of the United States, certifies an act to be an act of terrorism. No act shall be certified as an act of terrorism unless the terrorist act results in aggregate losses in excess of $5 million.

Under The Act, the federal government will pay 85% of covered terrorism losses exceeding the statutorily established deductible. All property and casualty insurance companies are required to participate in the program to the extent that they must make available property and casualty insurance coverage for terrorism that does not differ materially from the terms, amounts and other coverage limitations applicable to losses arising from events other than acts of terrorism.

The Company does not write policies on properties considered a target of terrorist activities such as airports, large hotels, large office structures, amusement parks, landmark defined structures, or other large scale public facilities. In addition, there is not a high concentration of policies in any one area where increased exposure to terrorist threats exist. Consequently, the Company believes its exposure relating to acts of terrorism is low. In 2015, Crusader received $93,839 in terrorism coverage premium from approximately 5% of its policyholders. Crusader’s 2015 terrorism deductible was $6,292,738. Crusader’s 2016 terrorism deductible is $6,980,486.

OTHER INSURANCE OPERATIONS

General Agency Operations

Unifax primarily sells and services commercial multiple peril business insurance policies for Crusader in California.

The Company’s subsidiary, Bedford Insurance Services, Inc. (Bedford), sells and services daily automobile rental policies in most states for a non-affiliated insurer.

As general agents, these subsidiaries market, rate, underwrite, inspect and issue policies, bill and collect insurance premiums, and maintain accounting and statistical data. Unifax is the exclusive general agent for Crusader. Bedford is a non-exclusive general agent for non-affiliated insurance companies. The Company's marketing is conducted through advertising to independent insurance agents and brokers. For its services, the general agent receives a commission (based on the written premium) from the insurance company and, in some cases, a policy fee from the customer. These subsidiaries hold licenses issued by the CA DOI and other states where applicable.

Bedford no longer writes new business for the non-affiliated insurance company it previously represented. Bedford entered into a new producer agreement effective June 1, 2013, with a non-affiliated group of insurance companies. Under that agreement, Bedford had the authority to solicit and refer to these companies its daily automobile rental insurance policy submissions. Bedford did not have the authority to bind any risk or commit to any course of action without first obtaining prior written permission from the non-affiliated group of insurance companies. For its services, Bedford received a commission.

Insurance Premium Finance Operation

The Company’s subsidiary, American Acceptance Corporation (AAC), is a licensed insurance premium finance company that provides insurance purchasers with the ability to pay their insurance premium on an installment basis. The premium finance company pays the insurance premium to the insurance company in return for a premium finance note from the insured. These notes are paid off by the insured in nine monthly installments and are secured by the unearned premium held by the insurance company. AAC provides premium financing solely for Crusader policies that are produced by Unifax in California.

Association Operation

The Company's subsidiary, Insurance Club, Inc., dba AAQHC, An Administrator (AAQHC) (formally American Association for Quality Health Care), is a membership association and a third party administrator. AAQHC provides various consumer benefits to its members, including participation in group medical and dental insurance policies that it negotiates. AAQHC also provides services as a third party administrator and is licensed by the CA DOI. For these services, AAQHC receives membership and fee income from its members.

Health Insurance Operation

The Company's subsidiary, American Insurance Brokers, Inc. (AIB), markets health insurance in California as a general agency and an independent broker through non-affiliated insurance companies for individuals and groups. The services provided consist of marketing, sales and customer service. For these services AIB receives commissions from insurance companies. AIB holds licenses issued by the CA DOI.

INVESTMENTS

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 premium 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 at least 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.

COMPETITION

Insurance Company and General Agency Operations (Property and Casualty)

The property and casualty markets in which the Company operates are highly competitive. Property and casualty insurers generally compete on many factors, including price, commission rates, consumer recognition, coverages offered, financial stability, customer service and geographic coverage. Competition is also affected by the pace of technological developments. An insurer’s ability to innovate, develop and implement new applications and other technology can affect its competitive position. The Company continues to invest in technology in order to compete more effectively in the insurance marketplace. The marketplace is highly cyclical, characterized by periods of high premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity followed by periods of severe price competition and excess underwriting capacity.

The profitability of insurers is affected by many factors including premium adequacy, the frequency and severity of claims, state regulations, interest rates, general business conditions, and court decisions redefining and expanding the extent of coverage. One of the challenging and unique features of the property and casualty business is the fact that since premiums are collected before losses are paid, its products are normally priced before its costs are known.

Additional information regarding competition in the insurance marketplace is discussed in Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Results of Operations.”

Insurance Premium Financing Operation

The insurance premium financing operation currently finances policies produced only through its sister company, Unifax. Consequently, AAC’s growth is primarily dependent on the growth of Crusader and Unifax business. Since July 2010, AAC has continued to offer 0% financing on policies produced by Unifax for Crusader. The Company monitors the cost of providing this incentive; and, depending on the cost/benefit determination, the Company can continue to offer 0% financing or withdraw it at any time.

Health Insurance Operation

The health insurance market is uncertain due to changes in healthcare insurance mandated by recent federal legislation. AIB provides a variety of health and life insurance products to individuals and groups. These same products are offered by most of our competitors; thus service, reliability and stability are important to obtain and retain customers.

EMPLOYEES

As of March 25, 2016, the Company employed 86 persons of which 85 are full time employees at its facility located in Calabasas, California. The Company has no collective bargaining agreements and believes its relations with its employees are excellent.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

The Company is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, the outcome of which may impact future results of operations and financial condition.

Management divides these risks into three broad categories in assessing how they may affect our financial condition and operating results, as well as our ability to achieve our business objectives:

This information is not all encompassing and should be considered carefully together with the other information contained in this report and in the other reports and materials filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as news releases and other information the Company publicly disseminates from time to time.

RISKS RELATED TO THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS

Crusader is subject to minimum capital and surplus requirements, and any failure to meet these requirements could subject Crusader to regulatory action.

Crusader is subject to RBC standards and other minimum capital and surplus requirements imposed under applicable laws of its state of domicile. The RBC standards, based upon the Risk-Based Capital Model Act adopted by the NAIC, require Crusader to report the results of RBC calculations to state departments of insurance and the NAIC. If Crusader fails to meet these standards and requirements, the CA DOI may require specified actions to be taken.

The Company’s business is vulnerable to significant catastrophic property loss, which could have an adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.

The Company faces a significant risk of loss in the ordinary course of its business for property damage resulting from natural disasters, man-made catastrophes and other catastrophic events, particularly hurricanes, earthquakes, hail storms, explosions, tropical storms, fires, sinkholes, war, acts of terrorism, severe winter weather and other natural and man-made disasters. Such events typically increase the frequency and severity of commercial property claims.  Because catastrophic loss events are by their nature unpredictable, historical results of operations may not be indicative of future results of operations, and the occurrence of claims from catastrophic events may result in substantial volatility in the Company’s financial condition and results of operations from period to period. Although the Company attempts to manage its exposure to such events, the occurrence of one or more major catastrophes in any given period could have a material and adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and could result in substantial outflows of cash as losses are paid.

Changes in accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) or other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are subject to the application of GAAP, which is periodically revised and/or expanded. Accordingly, the Company is required to adopt new or revised accounting standards from time to time issued by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB. It is possible that future changes the Company is required to adopt could change the current accounting treatment that the Company applies to its consolidated financial statements and that such changes could have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may be required to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The ultimate adoption of such standards could negatively impact its financial condition or results of operations.

Although not yet required, the Company could be required to adopt IFRS, which differs from GAAP, for the Company’s accounting and reporting standards. The ultimate implementation and adoption of new standards could materially impact the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The Company’s success may depend on its ability to adjust claims accurately.

Many factors can affect our ability to pay claims accurately, including the training, experience, and skill of the Company’s claims representatives, continued access to independent or outside adjusters, the extent of and ability to recognize and respond to fraudulent or inflated claims, the claims organization’s culture and the effectiveness of its management, the ability to develop or select and implement appropriate procedures, technologies, and systems to support claims functions. The Company’s failure to pay claims fairly, accurately, and in a timely manner, or to deploy claims resources appropriately, could result in unanticipated costs, lead to material litigation, undermine customer goodwill and the Company’s reputation in the marketplace, impair its brand image and, as a result, materially adversely affect its competitiveness, financial results, prospects, and liquidity.

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are based on estimates and may not be sufficient to cover future losses.

Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves represent an estimate of amounts needed to pay and administer claims with respect to insured events that have occurred, including events that have occurred but have not yet been reported to Crusader. There is a high level of uncertainty inherent in the evaluation of the required loss and loss adjustment expense reserves for Crusader. The long-tailed nature of liability claims and the volatility of jury awards exacerbate that uncertainty. Crusader sets loss and loss adjustment expense reserves at each balance sheet date based upon management’s best estimate of the ultimate payments that it anticipates will be made to settle all losses incurred and related loss adjustment expenses incurred as of that date for both reported and unreported losses. The ultimate cost of claims is dependent upon future events, the outcomes of which are affected by many factors. Crusader claim reserving procedures and settlement philosophy, current and perceived social and economic inflation, current and future court rulings and jury attitudes, improvements in medical technology, and many other economic, scientific, legal, political, and social factors all can have significant effects on the ultimate costs of claims. Changes in Crusader operations and management philosophy also may cause actual developments to vary from the past. Since the emergence and disposition of claims are subject to uncertainties, the net amounts that will ultimately be paid to settle claims may vary significantly from the estimated amounts provided for in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Any adjustments to reserves are reflected in the operating results of the periods in which they are made.

Any inability of the Company to realize its deferred tax assets may have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences related to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and the respective tax bases, and for tax credits.  The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets for recoverability based on available evidence, including assumptions about future profitability, reversal patterns of recorded deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, and capital gain generation. Although management believes that it is more-likely-than-not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized, some or all of the Company’s deferred tax assets could expire unused if the Company is unable to generate taxable income of a sufficient nature in the future to utilize them.

If the Company determines it is more-likely-than-not that it would not be able to realize all or a portion of its deferred tax assets in the future, the Company would reduce the deferred tax asset through a charge to earnings in the period in which the determination is made. This charge could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the assumptions used to make this determination are subject to change from period to period based on changes in tax laws or variances between the Company’s projected operating performance and actual results. As a result, management judgment is required in assessing the possible need for a deferred tax asset valuation allowance.

The Company’s success depends on its ability to accurately underwrite risks and to charge adequate premium to policyholders.

The Company’s financial condition, liquidity and results of operations largely depend on the Company’s ability to underwrite and set premium accurately for the risks it faces. Premium rate adequacy is necessary to generate sufficient premium to offset losses, loss adjustment expenses, underwriting expenses, and to earn a profit. In order to price its products accurately, the Company must collect and properly analyze a substantial volume of data; develop, test and apply appropriate rating formulas; closely monitor and timely recognize changes in trends; and project both severity and frequency of losses with reasonable accuracy. The Company’s ability to undertake these efforts successfully is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation:

Such risks may result in the Company’s pricing being based on outdated, inadequate, or inaccurate data, or inappropriate analyses, assumptions, or methodologies, and may cause the Company to estimate incorrectly future changes in the frequency or severity of claims. As a result, the Company could underprice risks, which would negatively affect the Company’s margins, or it could overprice risks, which could reduce the Company’s volume and competitiveness. In either event, the Company’s operating results, financial condition, and cash flow could be materially adversely affected.

Inability to obtain reinsurance or to collect ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses could adversely affect Crusader’s ability to write new policies.

The availability, amount and cost of reinsurance depend on market conditions and may vary significantly. Any decrease in the amount of Crusader’s reinsurance will increase the risk of loss and could materially adversely affect its business and financial condition. Ceded reinsurance does not discharge Crusader’s direct obligations under the policies it writes. Crusader remains liable to its policyholders even if it is unable to make recoveries that it believes it is entitled to under the reinsurance contracts. Losses may not be recovered from the reinsurers until claims are paid.

The insurance business is subject to extensive regulation and legislative changes, which may impact the manner in which the Company operates its business.

The insurance business is subject to extensive regulation by the insurance departments which have broad regulatory powers implemented to protect policyholders, not stockholders or other investors. These powers include, among other things, the ability to:

Federal legislation currently does not directly impact the property and casualty business, but the business can be indirectly affected by changes in federal regulations. In addition, the U.S. Congress and other federal agencies from time to time consider whether federal regulation of U.S. insurers is necessary. The Company is unable to predict whether such laws will be enacted and how and to what extent this could affect the Company.

The extensive regulation may affect the cost of or demand for the Company’s products and may limit the ability to obtain rate increases or to take other actions that the Company might desire to do in order to increase its profitability.

Unico is a holding company that relies on its subsidiaries to satisfy its obligations.

As a holding company, Unico does not generate revenue sufficient to pay operating expenses or stockholders’ dividends. Consequently, Unico relies on the ability of its subsidiaries to meet its obligations. The ability of Crusader to pay dividends to Unico is regulated by state insurance laws, which limit the amount of, and in certain circumstances may prohibit the payment of, cash dividends. The inability of Crusader to pay dividends in an amount sufficient to enable Unico to meet its cash requirements could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and its ability to pay dividends to its shareholders.

A downgrade in the financial strength rating of the insurance company could reduce the amount of business it may be able to write.

Rating agencies rate insurance companies based on financial strength as an indication of an ability to pay claims. The financial strength rating of A.M. Best is subject to periodic review using, among other things, proprietary capital adequacy models and is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. Insurance financial strength ratings are directed toward the concerns of policyholders and insurance agents and are not intended for the protection of investors. Any downgrade in Crusader’s A.M. Best rating could cause a reduction in the number of policies it writes and could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.

Intense competition could adversely affect the ability to sell policies at premium rates the Company deems adequate.

The Company faces significant competition which, at times, is intense. If the Company is unable to compete effectively, its business and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Competition in the property and casualty marketplace is based on many factors including premiums charged, services provided, financial strength ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, speed of claims payments, reputation, perceived financial strength, technology, and general experience. The Company competes with regional and national insurance companies. Some competitors have greater financial, marketing, and management resources than the Company. Intense competitive pressure on prices can result from the actions of even a single large competitor. The Company uses its own proprietary premium rates to determine the price it charges for its property and casualty policies.

The Company’s earnings may be affected by changes in interest rates.

Investment income is an important component of the Company’s revenues and net income. The ability to achieve investment objectives is affected by factors that are beyond the Company’s control. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including governmental monetary policies and domestic and international economic and political conditions. Any significant decline in investment income as a result of falling interest rates or general market conditions may have an adverse effect on net income and, as a result, on the Company’s stockholders' equity and statutory surplus.

The outlook for the Company’s investment income is dependent on the future direction of interest rates and the amount of cash flows from operations that are available for investment. The fair values of fixed maturity investments that are "available-for-sale" fluctuate with changes in interest rates and cause fluctuations in stockholders' equity.

The Company’s geographic concentration ties its performance to the business, economic, and regulatory conditions in California.

The Company’s insurance business is concentrated in California (99.5%, 99.8% and 100% of direct written premium in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively). Accordingly, unfavorable business, economic or regulatory conditions in the state of California could negatively impact the Company’s performance. In addition, California is exposed to severe natural perils, such as earthquakes and fires along with the possibility of terrorist acts. Accordingly, the Company could suffer losses as a result of catastrophic events.

The Company relies on independent insurance agents and brokers.

The failure or inability of independent insurance agents and brokers to market the Company’s insurance programs successfully could have a materially adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. Independent brokers are not obligated to promote the Company’s insurance programs and may sell competitors' insurance programs. The Company’s business largely depends on the marketing efforts of independent brokers and on the Company’s ability to offer insurance programs and services that meet the requirements of the customers of those brokers.

The Company’s reserve for doubtful accounts is based on estimates.

The Company may not be able to collect the premiums it estimates is collectible from its agents and brokers and, therefore, the Company’s reserve for doubtful accounts may not be sufficient.

Litigation may have an adverse effect on the Company’s business.

The insurance industry is the target of class action lawsuits and other types of litigation, some of which involve claims for substantial and/or indeterminate amounts and the outcomes of which are unpredictable. This litigation can be based on a variety of issues including insurance and claim settlement practices. Although the Company has not been the target of any specific class action lawsuits, it is possible that a lawsuit of this type could have a negative impact on the Company’s business.

The exclusions and limitations in the Company’s policies may not be enforceable.

Many of the Company’s policies include exclusions or other conditions that define and limit coverage, which exclusions and conditions are designed to manage the Company’s exposure to certain types of risks and expanding theories of legal liability. In addition, many of the Company’s policies limit the period during which a policyholder may bring a claim under the policy, which period in many cases is shorter than the statutory period under which these claims can be brought by the policyholders. While these exclusions and limitations help the Company assess and control its loss exposure, it is possible that a court or regulatory authority could nullify or void an exclusion or limitation, or legislation could be enacted modifying or barring the use of these exclusions and limitations. This could result in higher than anticipated losses and loss adjustment expenses by extending coverage beyond the Company’s underwriting intent or increasing the number or size of claims, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operating results. In some instances, these changes may not become apparent until sometime after the Company has issued the insurance policies that are affected by the changes. As a result, the full extent of liability under the Company’s insurance policies may not be known for many years after a policy is issued.

The Company relies on its information technology systems to manage many aspects of its business; and any failure of these systems to function properly or any interruption in their operation could result in a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company depends on the accuracy, reliability, and proper functioning of its information technology systems. The Company relies on these information technology systems to effectively manage many aspects of its business, including underwriting, policy acquisition, claims processing and handling, accounting, reserving and actuarial processes and policies, and maintaining its policyholder data. The failure of hardware or software that supports the Company’s information technology systems or the loss of data contained in the systems could disrupt its business and could result in decreased premiums, increased overhead costs, and inaccurate reporting, all of which could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, despite system redundancy, the implementation of security measures and the existence of a disaster recovery plan for the Company’s information technology systems, these systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from events such as:

It is possible that a system failure, accident, or security breach could result in a material disruption to the Company’s business. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred to remedy the damages caused by these disruptions. To the extent that a critical system fails or is not properly implemented and the failure cannot be corrected in a timely manner, the Company may experience disruptions to the business that could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all acts of fraud.

The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management and is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. The Company’s management believes that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been prevented or detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by an unauthorized override of the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and the Company cannot ensure that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in a cost effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be detected.

Changes in general economic conditions may have an adverse effect on the Company’s revenues and profitability.

The Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be negatively impacted by national and local economic conditions, such as recessions, increased levels of unemployment, inflation and the disruption in the financial markets. The Company is not able to predict the effect of these factors or their duration and severity.

The Company depends on key personnel, the loss of which could negatively impact it business.

The Company’s current and future success is dependent to a large extent on the retention and continued service of its key personnel, which includes its executive officers. The loss or unavailability of any key personnel, which includes executive officers, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The ability of the Company to attract, develop and retain employees and to maintain appropriate staffing levels is critical to the Company’s success.

The Company must hire and train new employees and retain current employees to handle its operations. The failure of the Company to successfully hire and retain a sufficient number of skilled employees could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business.

The Company’s financial condition may be adversely affected if one or more parties that have significant contracts or relationships with the Company become insolvent, experience other financial difficulties, or default in the performance of obligations.

The Company’s business is dependent on the performance by third parties of their responsibilities under various contractual or services arrangements. These include, for example, contracts for the acquisition of goods and services (such as telecommunications and information technology facilities, equipment and support, and other systems and services that are integral to its operations), agreements with independent or outside claim adjusters, agreements with other insurance carriers to sell products that the Company does not offer, and arrangements for transferring certain risks (including reinsurance used in connection with certain insurance products and corporate insurance policies). The Company is also dependent on its dealings with banks and other financial institutions. If one or more of these parties were to default in the performance of their obligations or determine to abandon or terminate support for a system, product, or service that is significant to the Company’s business, it could suffer significant financial losses and operational interruptions or other problems, which could in turn adversely affect its financial performance, cash flows, or results of operations and cause damage to its brand and reputation.

Development or acquisition of new computer software may not be successfully completed or implemented.

The costs associated with the development or acquisition of new computer software may be impaired if not successfully completed or implemented. Such impairment could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations.

RISKS RELATED TO THE COMPANY’S INDUSTRY

The property casualty insurance industry is highly competitive, and the Company may not be able to compete effectively against larger better capitalized companies.

The Company competes with many property and casualty insurance companies. Many of these competitors are better capitalized than the Company and have higher A.M. Best ratings. The superior capitalization of the competitors may enable them to offer lower rates, to withstand larger losses, and to more effectively take advantage of new marketing opportunities. The Company’s competition may also become increasingly better capitalized in the future as the traditional barriers between insurance companies and banks and other financial institutions erode and as the property and casualty industry continues to consolidate.

The Company may undertake strategic marketing and operating initiatives to improve its competitive position and drive growth. If the Company is unable to successfully implement new strategic initiatives or if the Company’s marketing campaigns do not attract new customers, the Company’s competitive position may be harmed, which could adversely affect the Company’s business and results of operations.

Regulation may become more extensive in the future, which may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

From time to time, the United States Congress and certain federal agencies investigate the current condition of the insurance industry to determine whether federal regulation is necessary. The Company cannot predict whether, and to what extent, new laws and regulations that would affect its business will be adopted, the timing of any such adoption and what effects, if any, they may have on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Crusader is subject to extensive regulations and supervision in the states in which it operates or is licensed to conduct business. These regulations are generally designed to protect the interests of policyholders and not necessarily the interests of insurers, their stockholders or other investors. The regulations relate to authorization for lines of business, capital and surplus requirements, investment limitations, underwriting limitations, transactions with affiliates, dividend limitations, changes in control, premium rates and a variety of other financial and nonfinancial components of an insurance company’s business.

Crusader, along with other licensed insurers, is required to bear a portion of the losses suffered by some insureds as the result of impaired or insolvent insurance companies. In addition, Crusader must participate in mandatory arrangements to provide various types of insurance coverage to individuals or other entities that otherwise are unable to purchase that coverage from private insurers. The effect of these and similar arrangements could reduce its profitability in any given period or limit its ability to grow the business.

The NAIC and state insurance regulators are continually reexamining existing laws and regulations, specifically focusing on modifications to statutory accounting principles, interpretations of existing laws and the development of new laws and regulations. The NAIC recently has undertaken a Solvency Modernization Initiative focused on updating the U.S. insurance solvency regulation framework, including capital requirements, governance and risk management, group supervision, accounting and financial reporting and reinsurance. On the federal level, the Dodd-Frank Act, enacted in July 2010, mandated significant changes to the regulation of U.S. insurance effective as of July 21, 2011. Currently, the impact of these regulations has not materially affected the Company’s business. Any proposed or future state or federal legislation or NAIC initiatives, if adopted, may be more restrictive on the ability of Crusader to conduct business and/or may result in higher costs.

RISKS RELATED TO THE COMPANY’S STOCK

The Company’s goal is to maximize the long-term value of the enterprise and thus does not focus on short-term earnings expectations.

The Company does not manage its business to maximize short-term stock performance. It also does not provide earnings estimates to the market and does not comment on earnings estimates by analysts. As a result, its reported results for a particular period may vary, perhaps significantly, from investors’ expectations, which could result in significant volatility in the price of its common shares.

In addition, due to the Company’s focus on the long-term value of the enterprise, it may undertake business strategies and establish related financial goals for a specific year that are designed to enhance its longer-term performance, while understanding that such strategies may not always similarly benefit short-term results, such as its annual underwriting profit or earnings per share.

The Company is controlled by a small number of shareholders who will be able to exert significant influence over matters requiring shareholder approval.

Messrs. Erwin Cheldin, Cary L. Cheldin, Lester A. Aaron and George C. Gilpatrick, who hold approximately 52.91% of the voting power of the Company, have agreed to vote the shares of common stock held by each of them so as to elect each of them to the Board of Directors and to vote on all other matters as they may agree. As a result of this agreement, the Company is a “Controlled Company” as defined in the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ) Listing Rules. A Controlled Company is exempt from the requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules requiring that (i) the Company have a majority of independent directors on the Board of Directors, (ii) the Compensation Committee be composed solely of independent directors, (iii) the compensation of the executive officers be determined by a majority of the independent directors or a compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors and (iv) director nominees be elected or recommended either by a majority of the independent directors or a nominating committee comprised solely of independent directors.

Accordingly, Messrs. Erwin Cheldin, Cary L. Cheldin, Lester A. Aaron, and George C. Gilpatrick have the ability to exert significant influence on the actions the Company may take in the future, including change of control transactions. This concentration of ownership may conflict with the interests of the Company’s other shareholders.

Failure to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting may have an adverse effect on the Company’s stock price.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC require the Company to include in its Form 10-K a report by its management regarding the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The report includes, among other things, an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of the end of its fiscal year, including a statement as to whether or not the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective. This assessment must include disclosure of any material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified by management. Areas of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting may require improvement from time to time. If management is unable to assert that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective now or in any future period, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of the Company’s financial reports, which could have an adverse effect on its stock price.

Insurance laws make it difficult to effect a change of control of the Company or the sale of any subsidiaries.

To acquire control of a U.S. insurance company or any holding company of a U.S. insurance company, prior written approval must be obtained from the Department of Insurance in the state where the insurer is domiciled. The Department of Insurance of the state will consider a number of factors relating to the acquirer and the transaction prior to granting approval of the application to acquire control of the insurer or the holding company. These laws and regulations may discourage potential acquisition proposals and may delay, deter or prevent a change of control of the Company or the sale by the Company of any of its insurance subsidiaries, including transactions that some or all of the Company’s shareholders might consider to be desirable.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2. Properties.

On September 26, 2013, Crusader closed escrow on the purchase of land and a building located in Calabasas, California. The real estate consists of a two-story office building located on commercial land. The office building has approximately 46,884 rentable square feet.

On September 7, 2014, a lease from a single tenant occupying approximately 32,403 square feet of the Calabasas building ended, and the tenant has vacated the premises. The Company moved its home office into this vacated space on October 9, 2015.

As of December 31, 2015, 10,292 square feet of the Calabasas building was leased to non-affiliated entities, and 4,189 square feet was vacant and available to be leased to non-affiliated entities.

Prior to October 9, 2015, the Company occupied approximately 23,000 square feet of an office building located at 23251 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, California. Erwin Cheldin, the Company's former president and a current director and principal stockholder, is the owner of the Woodland Hills building. The lease provided for an annual gross rent of $486,000 and was effective from April 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013. The lease provided for extension options at the same terms and conditions. The Company exercised its right to extend the lease through June 30, 2014, and the lease continued thereafter on a month-to-month basis. The Company believes that at the inception of the lease agreement, and at each subsequent extension, the terms of the lease were at least as favorable to the Company as could have been obtained from non-affiliated third parties. The Company utilized for its own operations 100% of the space it leased at the Woodland Hills building. The Company also leased storage space from Erwin Cheldin. Depending on usage, storage space rental was estimated to be approximately $15,000 annually. The total rent for the Woodland Hills building was $406,796, $501,258 and $500,770 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company’s month-to-month lease of the home office in Woodland Hills, California, ended on October 15, 2015.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

The Company, by virtue of the nature of the business conducted by it, becomes involved in numerous legal proceedings in which it may be named as either plaintiff or defendant. Incidental actions are sometimes brought by customers or others that relate to disputes concerning the issuance or non-issuance of individual insurance policies or other matters. In addition, the Company resorts to legal proceedings from time to time in order to enforce collection of premiums, commissions, or fees for the services rendered to customers or to their agents. These routine items of litigation do not materially affect the Company’s operations and are handled on a routine basis through independent counsel.

On October 9, 2015, the Company filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against a software vendor, Insurance Systems, Inc. (ISI). Causes of action stated in the lawsuit included fraudulent inducement and intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, negligence, violation of business and professional code, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, breach of implied warranty of fitness, breach of contract and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealings. The lawsuit sought an unspecified amount in monetary damages plus punitive damages against ISI. The Company intends to pursue the litigation against ISI until final adjudication or until a reasonable settlement can be reached.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "UNAM." The high and low sales prices for each quarterly period in the two most recent fiscal years are as follows:

As of March 25, 2016, the number of shareholders of record of the Company's common stock was 275. That number does not include beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock held in the name of nominees.

There were no cash dividends declared or paid by the Company in the years ending December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company considers its profitability, cash requirements and other factors prior to the declaration of cash dividends. Because the Company is a holding company and operates through its subsidiaries, its cash flow and, consequently, its ability to pay dividends are dependent upon the earnings and cash requirements of its subsidiaries and the distribution of those earnings to the Company. Also, the ability of Crusader to pay dividends to the Company is subject to certain regulatory restrictions under the Holding Company Act (see Item 1 – “Business - Insurance Company Operation - Holding Company Act”). Presently, without prior regulatory approval, Crusader may pay a dividend in any 12-month period to Unico up to the greater of (a) 10% of its statutory surplus or (b) its statutory net income for the preceding calendar year. Based on Crusader’s statutory surplus for the year ended December 31, 2015, the maximum dividend that could be made by Crusader to Unico without prior regulatory approval in 2016 is $6,136,773.

On December 19, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire, from time to time, up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. This program has no expiration date and may be terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. As of December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company had remaining authority under the 2008 program to repurchase up to an aggregate of 197,467 and 222,669 shares of its common stock, respectively. The 2008 program is the only program under which there is authority to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company repurchased 25,202 shares of stock during the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, in unsolicited transactions at a cost of $242,314 of which $12,385 was allocated to capital and $229,929 was allocated to retained earnings. The Company did not repurchase any stock during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. The Company has or will retire all stock repurchased.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to purchases of common stock of the Company during the quarter ended December 31, 2015, by the Company.

Performance Graph.

The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company's Common Stock with the cumulative total return of equity securities traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ) and peer groups consisting of all NASDAQ property and casualty companies and all fire, marine and casualty companies (Standard Industrial Classification Code 6331). The comparison assumes $100.00 was invested on December 31, 2010, in the Company's Common Stock and in each of the comparison groups, and assumes reinvestment of dividends. It should be noted that this graph represents historical stock price performance and is not necessarily indicative of any future stock price performance.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein, including the sections entitled “Business,” “Legal Proceedings” and “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,” “appear,” “believe,” “estimate,” “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; the outcome of rate change filings with regulatory authorities; acceptance by insureds of rate changes; adequacy of rate changes; changes in Crusader’s A.M. Best rating; regulatory changes or developments; the outcome of regulatory proceedings; unforeseen calamities; general market conditions; and the Company’s ability to introduce new profitable products.

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; provides insurance premium financing; and provides membership association services.

The Company’s net income (loss) was $(1,182,870), $846,361 and $603,668 for the years ended December 31 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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 consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, and all other items contained within this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Revenue and Income Generation

The Company receives its revenue primarily from earned premium derived from the insurance company operation, 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 91% of the Company’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2015. 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

As of December 31, 2015, Crusader was licensed as an admitted insurance carrier in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Since 2004, all of Crusader’s business was written in the state of California until June 2014 when the Company also began writing business in the state of Arizona. During the year ended December 31, 2014, 98% of Crusader’s business was commercial multi-peril policies. In October of 2015, A.M. Best Company reaffirmed Crusader’s financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and a rating outlook of “stable.” In addition, Crusader was assigned an Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent).

The property and casualty insurance business is cyclical in nature, and the previous years have been characterized as a “soft market.” The conditions of a soft market include premium rates that are stable or falling and insurance is readily available. Contrarily, “hard market” conditions occur during periods in which premium rates rise, coverage may be more difficult to find, and there is a potential for insurers’ profits to increase. The Company believes that the California property and casualty insurance market has begun to transition but remains soft and intensely competitive.

Direct written premium 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. Written premium is a required statutory measure. Earned premium, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, represents the portion of written premium that is recognized as income in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the period presented and earned on a pro-rata basis over the terms of the policies.

The following is a reconciliation of net written premium to net earned premium:

For the year ended December 31, 2015, direct written premium as reported on Crusader’s statutory financial statement was $36,374,509 compared to $32,810,088, for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $3,564,421 (11%). For the year ended December 31, 2014, direct written premium as reported on Crusader’s statutory financial statement was $32,810,088 compared to $31,214,091, for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of $1,595,997 (5%). The property casualty insurance marketplace continues to be intensely competitive. While Crusader attempts to meet such competition with competitive prices, its emphasis is on service, promotion, and distribution. Crusader 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 four areas of its operations: (1) product development, (2) improved service to retail brokers, (3) appointment of captive and independent retail agents, and (4) geographical expansion. While the Company’s policy administration system continues to support the Company’s existing operations, the Company believes it would realize more competitive parity with respect to product and service by switching or upgrading to a more contemporary platform. The Company is currently evaluating its alternatives. Crusader does not intend to substantially increase its number of appointed retail agents until the Company replaces its policy administration system.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, 99.5% and 0.5% of direct written premium was produced in California and Arizona, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2014, 99.8% and 0.2% of direct written premium was produced in California and Arizona, respectively.

The insurance company operation underwriting profitability is defined by pre-tax underwriting profit which is calculated as net earned premium less losses and loss adjustment expenses and policy acquisition costs. Crusader’s underwriting profit (before income taxes) is as follows:

The combined ratio is the sum of (1) the net ratio of losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred (including a provision for IBNR to net earned premium (loss ratio) and (2) the ratio of policy acquisition costs to net earned premium (expense ratio). If the combined ratio is below 100%, an insurance company has an underwriting profit; if it is above 100%, the company has an underwriting loss.

The following table shows the loss ratios, expense ratios, and combined ratios of Crusader as derived from data prepared in accordance with GAAP:

The following table provides an analysis of the losses and loss adjustment expenses:

Other Insurance Operations

The Company’s other insurance operations generate commissions and fees from various insurance products. The events that have the most significant economic impact are as follows:

Unifax 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 Company’s consolidated financial statements. Policy fee income for the year ended December 31, 2015, increased $87,074 (5%) as compared to the prior year. The policy fee income is earned ratably over the life of related insurance policies.

The health insurance market is uncertain due to changes in healthcare insurance mandated by recent federal legislation. AIB is contracted with non-affiliated insurance carriers to provide a variety of health and life insurance products to individuals and groups. These same products are offered by most of our competitors; thus, service, reliability and stability are important to obtain and retain customers. AAQHC, as a membership association and third party administrator, has negotiated health insurance premiums for its members with several carriers and receives fees and dues from its members for access to these benefits. AIB underwrites these risks and receives a commission from the insurance carriers.

AIB’s commissions decreased $121,742 (11%) for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to 2014 as a result of decreases in the number of group accounts it underwrites and decreases in commission rates on individual and group policies. AAQHC, a membership association and third party administrator, saw its fee income decrease $11,802 (12%) for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to 2014 as a result of a decrease in membership. AAQHC membership is primarily comprised of individuals included in group accounts.

The insurance premium financing operation currently finances policies written only through its sister company, Unifax. Since July 2010, AAC has offered 0% financing on policies written by Unifax for Crusader as a promotion to increase the sale of Crusader policies. The Company monitors the cost of providing this incentive, and, depending on the cost/benefit determination, the Company can continue to offer 0% financing or withdraw it at any time. AAC issued 3,314, 3,278 and 3,281 loans in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Revenue earned in 2015 and 2014 consisted entirely of late fees and other miscellaneous fees charged. The average policy premium financed by AAC was $3,733, $3,492 and $3,276 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The daily automobile rental insurance program is produced by Bedford Insurance Services, Inc. Bedford received commission income from a non-affiliated insurance company based on written premium. Bedford no longer writes new business for the non-affiliated insurance company it previously represented. Bedford entered into a new producer agreement effective June 1, 2013, with a non-affiliated group of insurance companies. Under that agreement, Bedford had the authority to solicit and refer to these companies its daily automobile rental insurance policy submissions. Bedford did not have the authority to bind any risk or commit to any course of action without first obtaining prior written permission from the non-affiliated group of insurance companies. For its services, Bedford received a commission. Commission income in the daily automobile rental insurance program decreased $97,752 (84%) in 2015 as compared to 2014. The decrease in commission income is primarily due to a continued decline in written premium in this program from the non-affiliated insurance companies that it previously represented. The Company no longer actively markets this program.

Investments and Liquidity

The Company generates revenue from its total invested assets of approximately $97.8 million (at amortized cost) as of December 31, 2015 and $107.4 million (at amortized cost) as of December 31, 2014. Investment income, excluding realized investment losses, for the year ended December 31, 2015, increased $317,626 (196%) as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase in investment income was primarily due to an increase in the Company’s annualized yield on average invested assets to 0.47% in 2015 from 0.15% in 2014. The increase in the annualized yield on average invested assets is primarily a result of a decrease in short-term investments and an increase in fixed maturity investments that provide a higher yield. Due to the current interest rate and financial market environment, management believes it is prudent to purchase fixed maturity investments with maturities of 5 years or less and with minimal credit risk.

The weighted average maturity of the Company’s fixed maturity investments was 1.5 years, 1.8 years and 1.6 years as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company reported net cash used by operating activities for each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2013 and net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2014.  Cash used by operating activities in 2015 was $7,980,958 compared to cash provided by operating activities in 2014 of $2,468,186.  Cash provided by operating activities in 2014 was $2,468,186 compared to cash used in operating activities in 2013 of $4,108,304.

The change in cash flows from operating activities is primarily attributable to the increase in loss and loss adjustment expense payments. Contributing to the use of cash for the year ended December 31, 2015, was a $7,924,178 cash deposit by Crusader in lieu of an appeal bond placed with the Los Angeles Superior Court on December 28, 2015. This cash deposit was required to appeal a judgment which was finalized in December 2015 on a Crusader policy liability claim. In March 2016, an additional judgment on the same case for plaintiff’s attorney fees and costs was finalized, which the Company is also appealing. That additional appeal required an additional cash deposit in lieu of an appeal bond of $5,449,615. The additional cash deposit was made on March 21, 2016. These cash deposits for the appeals represent 150% of the judgments. Management believes the ultimate outcome of this litigation will be covered by Crusader’s reinsurance.

Other fluctuations in cash flows from operating activities relate to the timing of the collection and the payment of insurance-related receivables and payables. The variability of the Company’s losses and loss adjustment expenses is primarily due to its small population of claims which may result in greater fluctuations in claim frequency and/or severity. Although the consolidated statements of cash flows reflect net cash used by operating activities, the Company does not anticipate future liquidity problems and continues to be well capitalized and adequately reserved.

The most significant liquidity risk faced by the Company is adverse development of the insurance company’s loss and loss adjustment expense reserves.  Based on the Company’s current loss and loss expense reserves and expected current and future payments, the Company believes that there are no current liquidity issues.  However, no assurance can be given that the Company’s estimate of ultimate loss and loss adjustment expense reserves will be sufficient.

Crusader generates a significant amount of cash as a result of its holdings of unearned premium reserves, its reserves for loss and loss adjustment expense 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.  Cash and investments (at amortized cost) of the Company at December 31, 2015, were $98,178,025 compared to $107,721,681 at December 31, 2014.  Crusader's cash and investments were 99% of the total cash and investments held by the Company as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

As of December 31, 2015, all of the Company’s investments are in U.S. treasury securities, FDIC insured certificates of deposit and money market funds.  The Company’s investments in U.S treasury securities and money market funds are readily marketable.  The weighted average maturity of the Company’s investments is approximately 1.5 years.

The Company's investments are as follows:

The Company is required to classify its investment securities into one of three categories: held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading securities. Although all of the Company's investments in fixed maturity securities are classified as available-for-sale and while 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.

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 8 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. When the Company invests in fixed maturity municipal securities, preference is given to issues that are 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 at least 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.

The investment marketplace in general, and in certain asset classes specifically, has been impacted by volatility as a result of uncertainty in the credit markets that began in 2007 and continued throughout 2015. The Company’s fixed maturity (amortized cost) investment portfolio as of December 31, 2015, consisted of 29% U.S. treasury securities and 71% FDIC insured certificates of deposit.

Crusader's statutory capital and surplus as of December 31, 2015, was $61,367,728, a decrease of $2,124,641 (3%) from December 31, 2014. Crusader's statutory capital and surplus as of December 31, 2014, was $63,492,369, an increase of $2,081,203 (3%) from December 31, 2013. In the year ending December 31, 2015, Crusader issued a cash dividend of $3,000,000 to Unico, its parent and sole shareholder. In 2015, the dividend was used primarily for general corporate purposes. No cash dividends were issued by Crusader in 2014. Based on Crusader’s statutory surplus for the year ended December 31, 2015, the maximum dividend that could be made by Crusader to Unico without prior regulatory approval in 2016 is $6,136,773.

During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, no cash dividends were declared or issued by the Company to its shareholders. Declaration of future cash dividends will be subject to the Company’s profitability and its cash requirements.

On December 19, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire, from time to time, up to an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. This program has no expiration date and may be terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. As of December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014, the Company had remaining authority under the 2008 program to repurchase up to an aggregate of 197,467 and 222,669 shares of its common stock, respectively. The 2008 program is the only program under which there is authority to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company repurchased 25,202 shares of stock during the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, in unsolicited transactions at a cost of $242,314 of which $12,385 was allocated to capital and $229,929 was allocated to retained earnings. The Company did not repurchase any stock during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. The Company has or will retire all stock repurchased.

One of the Company’s agents, which was appointed in 2008 to assist the Company in implementing its Trucking Program, failed to pay the 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 Company subsequently commenced legal proceedings against the agent corporation, its three principals (who personally guaranteed the agent’s obligations) and a fourth individual for the recovery of the balance due and any related recovery costs incurred. All related recovery costs have been expensed as incurred. The agent corporation and two of its principals filed bankruptcy. The corporation was adjudicated bankrupt. The Company obtained judgments, non-dischargeable in bankruptcy, for the full amount due from the two principals who filed bankruptcy. The other principal stipulated to a judgment of $1,200,000 and that person has not filed for bankruptcy. The claim against the fourth individual was resolved. The Company collected $0 and $75,000 during the years ended December 31, 2015, and 2014, respectively. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the agent’s balance due to Unifax was $1,181,272. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company’s bad debt reserve associated with this matter was $1,181,272 which represents approximately 100% of the balance due to Unifax. Although the receivable is fully reserved for financial reporting purposes at December 31, 2015, the Company continues to pursue collection of the judgments from the three principals. Bad debt expense was $(1,460) and $255,299 and $(50,792) for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Although material capital expenditures may also be funded through borrowings, the Company believes that its cash and short-term investments at year end, net of statutory deposits of $700,000, and California insurance company statutory dividend restrictions applicable to Crusader plus the cash to be generated from operations, should be sufficient to meet its operating requirements during the next 12 months without the necessity of borrowing funds. Trust restrictions on cash and short-term investments were $0 and $112,008 at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

As a California insurance company, Crusader is obligated to pay a premium tax on direct written premium in all states that Crusader is admitted. Premium taxes are deferred and amortized as the related premium is earned. The premium tax is in lieu of state franchise taxes and is not included in the provision for state taxes.

The Company has certain obligations to make future payments under contracts and credit-related financial instruments and commitments. At December 31, 2015, certain long-term aggregate contractual obligations and credit-related commitments are summarized as follows:

*Unlike many other forms of contractual obligations, loss and loss adjustment expense reserves do not have definitive payment due dates, and the ultimate payment dates are subject to a number of variables and uncertainties. As a result, the total loss and loss adjustment expense reserve payments to be made by period, as shown above, are estimates.

Results of Operations

General

Total revenue was $33,264,639, $30,470,240 and $31,130,892 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This represents an increase of $2,794,399 (9%) for the 2015 year compared to the 2014 year and a decrease of $660,652 (2%) for the 2014 year compared to the 2013 year. The Company had net loss of $1,182,870 for the year ended December 31, 2015 and net income of $846,361 and $603,668 for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. This represents a decrease of $2,029,231 (240%) for the 2015 year compared to the 2014 year and an increase of $242,693 (40%) for the 2014 year compared to the 2013 year.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had loss before taxes of $1,734,958 compared to income before taxes of $1,296,505 for the year ended December 31, 2014, a decrease of $3,031,463 (234%). This decrease in income before taxes was primarily due to increased losses and loss adjustment expenses and the impairment of the Company’s capitalized computer software costs, partially offset by the increase in revenues.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company had income before taxes of $1,296,505 compared to income before taxes of $1,240,775 for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of $55,730 (4%).

The effect of inflation on the Company’s net income during the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 was not significant.

The Company derives revenue from various sources as discussed below:

Insurance Company Operation

Premium and loss information of Crusader are as follows:

Crusader’s primary line of business is commercial multi-peril policies. This line of business represented approximately 98% of Crusader’s total written premium for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Since 2004, all Crusader business has been written in the state of California until June 2014 when the Crusader also began writing business in the state of Arizona. For the year ended December 31, 2015, 99.5% and 0.5% of direct written premium was produced in California and Arizona, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, Crusader was licensed as an admitted insurance company in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington and is approved as a non-admitted surplus lines writer in other states.

Crusader Premium

For the year ended December 31, 2015, direct written premium, as reported on Crusader’s statutory financial statement, was $36,374,509 compared to $32,810,088 for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $3,564,421 (11%). The rise in written premium in 2015 of 11% compared to 2014 is not attributable to any material single event.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, direct written premium, as reported on Crusader’s statutory financial statement, was $32,810,088 compared to $31,214,091 for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of $1,595,997 (5%). The rise in written premium in 2014 of 5% compared to 2013 is not attributable to any material single event.

Crusader writes annual policies and, therefore, earns written premium daily over the one-year policy term.

In the year ended December 31, 2015, earned premium before reinsurance increased $3,438,744 (11%) to $34,902,435 compared to $31,463,691 for the year ended December 31, 2014. In the year ended December 31, 2014, earned premium before reinsurance decreased $519,849 (2%) to $31,463,691 compared to $31,983,540 for the year ended December 31, 2013. The fluctuation in earned premium before reinsurance is directly related to the fluctuation in direct written premium.

Ceded earned premium for the year ended December 31, 2015, increased $238,371 (5%) to $5,328,639 compared to $5,090,268 for the year ended December 31, 2014. Ceded earned premium for the year ended December 31, 2014, decreased $30,965 (less than 1%) to $5,090,268 compared to $5,121,233 for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Ceded earned premium as a percentage of direct earned premium was 15% in 2015, 16% in 2014 and 2013. The ceded earned premium as a percentage of direct earned premium is relatively unchanged as there were no major modifications to Crusader’s excess of loss treaties.

In calendar years 2015 and 2014, Crusader retained a participation in its excess of loss reinsurance treaties of 10% in its 1^st layer ($500,000 in excess of $500,000), 0% in its 2^nd layer ($2,000,000 in excess of $1,000,000) and 0% in its property and casualty clash treaty.

In calendar year 2013, Crusader retained a participation in its excess of loss reinsurance treaties of 10% in its 1^st layer ($500,000 in excess of $500,000), 5% in its 2^nd layer ($1,000,000 in excess of $1,000,000) and 0% in its property and casualty clash treaty.

Crusader’s excess of loss reinsurance treaties provided for a contingent commission for accident years 2006, 2004 and 2003. Crusader’s 2006 1^st layer primary excess of loss reinsurance treaty provided for a contingent commission equal to 20% of the net profit, if any, accruing to the reinsurer. Crusader’s 2004 and 2003 1^st layer primary excess of loss reinsurance treaties provided for a contingent commission to the Company equal to 45% of the net profit, if any, accruing to the reinsurer. Any contingent commission received was subject to return based on future development of ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses. The contingent commission income (loss) recognized was $91,686, $(17,092) and $301,102 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, the contingent commission agreements had expired, and all contingent commission income due on these agreements had been recognized. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the unearned contingent commission balance included in “Accrued expenses and other liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0 and $77,839, respectively.

The Company evaluates each of its ceded reinsurance contracts at its 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 December 31, 2015, all such ceded contracts are accounted for as risk transfer reinsurance.

Crusader’s direct, ceded and net earned premium are as follows:

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Crusader’s emerging loss ratios for each accident year are reviewed in detail at the end of each quarter as part of the reserve review process. Net losses and loss adjustment expenses for the calendar years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $19,163,316, $14,617,118 and $16,089,175, respectively.

Losses and loss adjustment expenses and loss ratios are as follows:

As indicated in the above table, the calendar year loss ratio for the year ended December 31, 2015, increased to 65% from 55% in 2014, and decreased to 55% in 2014 from 60% in 2013. The increase in the 2015 loss ratio when compared to 2014 and 2013 was primarily due to an increase in the provision for insured events of the current year as a percent of net earned premium. The provision for insured events of the current year as a percent of net earned premium was 73%, 68% and 77% for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The amount of favorable development recognized during the year ended December 31, 2015, decreased $864,452 (26%) to $2,444,312 from $3,308,764 in 2014. The amount of favorable development recognized during the year ended December 31, 2014, decreased $1,250,695 (27%) to $3,308,764 from $4,559,459 in 2013. The favorable development in the above table is not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in future periods The variability of Crusader’s losses and loss adjustment expenses for the periods presented is due primarily to the small population of Crusader’s claims, which may result in greater fluctuations in claim frequency and/or severity. The favorable (adverse) development by accident year is as follows:

Crusader sets reserves based on its expected loss ratio and its expected loss and loss adjustment expense development patterns. Crusader’s initial expected loss ratio is based on its historical average loss ratio, and its expected loss and loss adjustment expense development patterns are based on its historical loss and loss adjustment expense development patterns. Actuarial methods utilizing expected loss ratios tend to be relied on more heavily earlier in the life of an accident year, while actuarial methods that apply development patterns to emerged losses and loss adjustment expenses tend to be relied on more heavily as an accident year develops. For prior accident years, emerging differences between actual and expected losses and loss adjustment expenses are recognized quarterly in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Based on the loss and loss adjustment expense reserve estimates as of December 31, 2015, the estimated ultimate loss ratio is within five percentage points of the initial expected loss ratio in 9 of Crusader’s 31 years. Since Crusader’s net earned premium in 2015 was $29,573,796, a difference between the accident year 2015 actual and initial expected loss ratios of only five percentage points will or may ultimately impact losses and loss adjustment expenses by $1,478,690. The estimated ultimate loss ratio is within ten percentage points of the initial expected loss ratio in 14 of Crusader’s 31 years. A ten percentage point difference between the accident year 2015 actual and the initial expected loss ratios will ultimately impact losses and loss adjustment expenses by $2,957,380. The estimated ultimate loss ratio is within twenty percentage points of the initial expected loss ratio in 24 of Crusader’s 31 years. A twenty percentage point difference between the accident year 2015 actual and the initial expected loss ratios will ultimately impact losses and loss adjustment expenses by $5,914,759.

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

Crusader's liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves consists of case reserves and reserves for IBNR claims. Case reserves are established by claims personnel based on a review of the facts known at the time the claim is reported and are subsequently revised as more information about a claim becomes known. IBNR is estimated using various actuarial methods and techniques and includes (1) reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses on claims that have occurred but for which claims have not yet been reported to Crusader, and (2) a provision for expected future development on case reserves for information not currently known.

Crusader’s loss and loss adjustment expense reserves are as follows:

Reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses before reinsurance for each of Crusader’s lines of business are as follows:

The Company‘s consolidated financial statements include estimated reserves for both reported and unreported claims. The Company sets these reserves at each quarterly balance sheet date based upon management’s best estimate of the ultimate loss and loss adjustment expense payments that it anticipates will be made to settle all reported and unreported claims.

Roll forward of loss and loss adjustment expense reserves.

The following table is a roll forward of Crusader’s loss and loss adjustment expense reserves, including a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance sheet liability for the periods indicated:

Crusader’s net loss and loss adjustment expense reserve was $39,456,610 as of December 31, 2015. Since underwriting profit is a significant part of income, a small percentage change in reserve estimates may result in a substantial effect on future reported earnings. Such changes might result from a variety of factors, including claims costs emerging in a different pattern than the average historical development patterns.

If future development ultimately ends up being five percent different than Crusader’s 2015 net reserve, approximately $2.0 million would be reflected in future periods as an increase or decrease in the provision for events of prior years and would be recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations in future periods. If future development ultimately ends up being ten percent different than Crusader’s 2015 net reserve, approximately $3.9 million would be reflected in future periods as an increase or decrease in the provision for events of prior years and would be recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations in future periods.

Other Insurance Operations

Health Insurance Program

Commission income from health insurance sales is as follows:

AIB markets health insurance in California through non-affiliated insurance companies for individuals and groups. For these services, AIB receives commission based on the premium that it writes. Commission income for the year ended December 31, 2015, decreased $121,742 (11%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. Commission income for the year ended December 31, 2013, decreased $150,912 (12%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease in commission income in each of the years presented is a result of decreases in the number of group accounts it underwrites and commission income on individual and group policies due primarily to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In 2015, approximately 39% and 40% of the $960,670 commission income from the Company’s health insurance program was from Guardian Life Insurance Company of America dental and group life plan programs and the Blue Shield Care Trust, health and life insurance programs, respectively. In 2014, approximately 38% and 39% of the $1,082,412 commission income from the Company’s health insurance program was from Guardian Life Insurance Company of America dental and group life plan programs and the Blue Shield Care Trust, health and life insurance programs, respectively.

Association Operation

Membership and fee income from the association program of AAQHC is as follows:

Membership and fee income for the year ended December 31, 2015, decreased $11,802 (12%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. Membership and fee income for the year ended December 31, 2014, decreased $14,469 (13%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease for each of the years presented is a result of a decrease in the number of association members primarily due to increased competition.

Policy Fee Income

Unifax 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 Company’s consolidated financial statements. Unifax also receives non-refundable policy fee income that is directly related to the Crusader policies it sells. For financial statement reporting purposes, policy fees are earned ratably over the life of the related insurance policy and are proportionate to premium earned. The unearned portion of the policy fee is recorded as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet under “Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities.” The earned portion of the policy fee charged to the policyholder by Unifax is recognized as income in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Unifax’s policy fee income is as follows:

Policy fee income for the year ended December 31, 2015, increased $87,074 (5%) as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. Policy fee income for the year ended December 31, 2014, decreased $48,042 (3%) as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The 5% increase in policy fee income is primarily a result of a 437 (5%) increase in the number of policies issued during 2015 as compared to 2014.

Daily Automobile Rental Insurance Program

The daily automobile rental insurance program was produced by Bedford for a non-affiliated insurance company.

Commission income from the daily automobile rental insurance program is as follows:

The daily automobile rental insurance program commission income for the year ended December 31, 2015, decreased $97,752 (84%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2014, commission income decreased $108,020 (48%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. Bedford receives a commission from a non-affiliated insurance company based on written premium. Bedford no longer writes new business for the non-affiliated insurance company it previously represented. Bedford entered into a new producer agreement effective June 1, 2013, with a non-affiliated group of insurance companies. Under that agreement, Bedford had the authority to solicit and refer to these companies its daily automobile rental insurance policy submissions. Bedford did not have the authority to bind any risk or commit to any course of action without first obtaining prior written permission from the non-affiliated group of insurance companies. For its services, Bedford received a commission. The decrease in commission income is primarily due to a continued decline in written premium in this program from the non-affiliated insurance companies that it previously represented. The Company no longer actively markets this program.

Premium Finance Program

The insurance premium financing operation currently finances policies produced only through its sister company, Unifax. Consequently, AAC’s growth is primarily dependent on the growth of Crusader and Unifax business. Effective July 20, 2010, AAC reduced the interest rate charged on premium financed to 0% in an effort to increase the sales of existing renewal and new business written by Unifax for Crusader. Due to the low interest rate environment, the cost of money to provide this incentive is not material. The Company monitors the cost of providing this incentive, and depending on the cost/benefit determination, can continue to offer it or withdraw it at any time. Income generated by AAC consists of late fees, returned check fees and payment processing fees.

Finance fees earned from financing policies are as follows:

The finance fees earned for the year ended December 31, 2015, decreased $1,282 (2%) to $65,730 compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. For the year ended December 31, 2014, finance fees earned decreased $9,833 (13%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease in fees earned during the years presented compared to the prior year period is primarily a result of fewer late fees earned during the periods.

Loans issued increased by 36 (1%) during 2015 when compared to 2014 and decreased by 3 (less than 1%) during 2014 when compared to 2013. The average premium financed by AAC was $3,733, $3,492 and $3,276 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. During 2015, 41% of all Unifax policies were financed and 82% of those policies were financed by AAC. During 2014, 42% of all Unifax policies were financed and 83% of those policies were financed by AAC.

Investment Income and Net Realized Losses

Investment income, excluding net realized losses, is as follows:

*The average is based on the beginning and ending balances of the amortized cost of the invested assets for each respective year.

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company’s average invested assets (at amortized value) decreased $3,954,175 (4%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. In the year ended December 31, 2015, investment income earned, excluding realized losses, increased $317,626 (196%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The yield on average invested assets increased to 0.47% in 2015 from 0.15% in 2014. The increase in the annualized yield on average invested assets is primarily a result of a decrease in short-term investments and an increase in fixed maturity investments that provide a higher yield. 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. Thus, the weighted average maturity of the Company’s fixed maturity investments as of December 31, 2015, was 1.5 years compared to 1.8 years as of December 31, 2014. The Company’s invested assets (at amortized value) as of December 31, 2015, were $97,843,530 as compared to $107,412,519 as of December 31, 2014.

In the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company’s average invested assets (at amortized value) decreased $6,143,970 (5%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. In the year ended December 31, 2014, investment income earned, excluding realized losses, decreased $171,259 (51%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The yield on average invested assets decreased to 0.15% in 2014 from 0.30% in 2013. The decrease in the yield on average invested assets is primarily the result of a decrease in the average return on new and reinvested assets in the Company’s investment portfolio. 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. Thus, the weighted average maturity of the Company’s fixed maturity investments as of December 31, 2014, was 1.8 years compared to 1.6 years as of December 31, 2013. The Company’s invested assets (at amortized value) as of December 31, 2014, were $107,412,519 as compared to $105,751,880 as of December 31, 2013.

The par value, amortized cost, estimated market value and weighted average yield of fixed maturity investments at December 31, 2015, 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.

The following table sets forth the composition of the investment portfolio of the Company at the dates indicated:

The Company had three U.S. treasury securities in an unrealized loss position for a continuous period of less than twelve months and two U.S. treasury securities in an unrealized loss position for a continuous period of more than twelve months as of December 31, 2015. The Company had one U.S. treasury security in an unrealized loss position for a continuous period of less than twelve months and one U.S. treasury security in an unrealized loss position for a continuous period of more than twelve months as of December 31, 2014.

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 and 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. The unrealized gains or losses from fixed maturities are reported as “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),” which is a separate component of stockholders’ equity, net of any deferred tax effect.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company sold 22 certificates of deposit with an amortized cost of $5,478,000. The Company realized an investment loss of $7,251 on the sale. Proceeds of the sale of these securities were used to fund the $7,924,178 cash deposit by Crusader in lieu of an appeal bond placed with the Los Angeles Superior Court on December 28, 2015. This cash deposit was required to appeal a judgment which was finalized in December 2015 on a Crusader policy liability claim. In March 2016, an additional judgment for plaintiff’s attorney fees and costs on this Crusader policy liability claim was finalized. The Company is also appealing this additional judgment. That additional appeal required an additional cash deposit in lieu of an appeal bond of $5,449,615. The additional cash deposit was made on March 21, 2016. These cash deposits for the appeals represent 150% of the judgments. Management believes the ultimate outcome of this litigation will be covered by Crusader’s reinsurance.

The Company did not sell any fixed maturity investments in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. There were no realized investment gains or losses in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.

Other Income

Other income from insurance company operation and other insurance operations is primarily comprised of miscellaneous items not relevant to the primary income statement captions.

Other income from insurance company operation and other insurance operations decreased of $570,845 (60%) in the year ended December 31, 2015, when compared to year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily the result of a decrease of $620,357 (76%) in rental income received by Crusader from the office building located in Calabasas, California, due to a major tenant vacating the building on September 7, 2014; the tenant occupied approximately 32,403 square feet. This vacated space was subsequently occupied by the Company on October 9, 2015. This decrease was partially offset by $108,778 (636%) increase in the contingent commission the Company recognized on the Company’s 2003, 2004 and 2006 excess of loss reinsurance treaties.

The increase of $330,767 (53%) in other income from insurance company operation and other insurance operations for the year ended December 31, 2014, when compared to year ended December 31, 2013, is primarily the result of an increase of $551,694 (209%) in rental income received by Crusader from the office building located in Calabasas, California, that was purchased on September 26, 2013. This increase was offset by the decrease of $318,194 (106%) in the contingent commission the Company recognized on the Company’s 2003, 2004 and 2006 excess of loss reinsurance treaties.

Operating Expenses

Policy Acquisition Costs are as follows:

Policy acquisition costs consist of commissions, premium taxes, inspection fees and certain other underwriting costs that are directly related to and vary with the production of Crusader insurance policies. These costs include both Crusader expenses and the 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. No ceding commission is received on facultative or catastrophe ceded premium. Policy acquisition costs, net of ceding commission, are deferred and amortized as the related premium is earned. Policy acquisition costs increased $479,124 (8%) in the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to the year ended December 31, 2014, due primarily to an increase in premium volume. Policy acquisition costs decreased $46,019 (less than 1%) in the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to the year ended December 31, 2013, due primarily to lower deferred underwriting expenses.

Salaries and Employee Benefits are as follows:

Total salaries and employee benefits incurred for the year ended December 31, 2015, increased $175,463 (2%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. Total salaries and employee benefits incurred for the year ended December 31, 2014, increased $16,862 (less than 1%) compared to the year ended December 31, 2013.

Commissions to Agents/Brokers are as follows:

Commissions to agents/brokers (not including commissions on Crusader policies that are reflected in policy acquisition costs) are generally related to gross commission income from the health insurance program and the daily automobile rental insurance program. Commissions to agents and brokers decreased $26,043 (14%) for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. Commissions to agents and brokers decreased $39,417 (17%) for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. The fluctuations in commissions to agents/brokers when compared to prior periods are primarily due to the fluctuations in written premium in the health insurance program and daily automobile rental insurance program and the related commission income from those programs.

Other Operating Expenses are as follows:

Other operating expenses generally do not change significantly with changes in production. This is true for both increases and decreases in production. However, other operating expenses increased $965,553 (29%) due primarily to impairment of the Company’s capitalized computer software costs. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $256,760 in bad debt expense.

On October 9, 2015, the Company concluded that a charge for impairment of the Company’s capitalized computer software costs, related to a contract entered into on November 1, 2012, was required under GAAP. The capitalized costs included $1,287,460 of paid and $223,442 of accrued unpaid invoices from the software vendor, ISI. The impact of this impairment to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations was a charge of $1,287,460 before income taxes. The decision to impair the asset was based on the Company’s beliefs that the ISI software had not achieved and would not be able to achieve the Company’s expected implementation targets and that the Company was unable to renegotiate the terms of its agreement with ISI. The charge is included in “Other operating expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for year ended December 31, 2015.

Other operating expenses increased $859,690 (34%) for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase is related primarily to operating costs associated with the Company’s office building located in Calabasas, California, which was purchased on September 26, 2013, and to an increase in the Company’s bad debt expense. The operating expenses for the Calabasas office building were $781,988 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $186,230 for the year ended December 31, 2013, an increase of $595,758 (320%). The Company’s bad debt expense was $255,299 for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to a benefit of $50,792 for the year ended December 31, 2013, or an increase of $306,091. The increase in bad debt expense was primarily a result of an increase in the reserves for bad debts in 2014 of $250,000 related to the principals of one of the Company’s former agents as discussed above in “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Income Taxes

Income Tax Expenses are as follows:

Income tax was a benefit for the year ended December 31, 2015, of $552,088 compared to income tax expense of $450,144 for the year ended December 31, 2014, a change of $1,002,232. The effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were 32% and 35%, respectively. The decrease in income tax expense is related primarily to the $1,734,958 loss before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to the $1,296,505 income before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2014, was $450,144 compared to income tax expense of $637,107 for the year ended December 31, 2013, a change of $186,963. The effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were 35% and 51%, respectively. The decrease in income tax expense is primarily related to approximately $198,000 in lower state income tax that resulted from a decrease in the recognition of additional valuation allowances related to state net operating loss carryforwards in the years ended December 31, 2014 compared to 2013 (net of the federal tax benefit).

Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. While every effort is made to ensure the integrity of such estimates, actual results could differ.

Management believes the Company’s current critical accounting policies comprise the following:

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires estimation of certain liabilities, most significantly the liability for unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense (reserves). Management makes its best estimate of the liability for these 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 are 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 Crusader. 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; rather, management draws on its collective experience to judgmentally determine its best estimate. In addition to applying a variety of standard actuarial methods to the data, an extensive series of diagnostic tests are applied to the resultant reserve estimates 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, severities, loss ratios to premium, and loss adjustment expense ratios to loss.

When there is clear evidence that the actual emerged claims costs are different than the claims costs that were expected for any prior accident year, the claims cost estimates for that year are revised accordingly. If the claims costs that emerge are less favorable than initially anticipated, generally, the Company increases its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves immediately. However, if the claims costs that emerge are more favorable than initially anticipated, generally, the Company reduces its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves over time while it continues to assess the validity of the observed trends based on the subsequent emerged claims costs.

Some lines of insurance are commonly referred to as "long-tail" lines because of the extended time required before claims are ultimately settled. Lines of insurance in which claims are settled relatively quicker are called "short-tail" lines. It is generally more difficult to estimate loss reserves for long-tail lines because of the long period of time that elapses between the occurrence of a claim and its final disposition and the difficulty of estimating the settlement value of the claim. Crusader’s short-tail lines consist of its property coverages, and its long-tail lines consist of its liability coverages. However, compared to other long-tail liability lines that are not underwritten by Crusader, such as workers’ compensation, professional liability, umbrella liability, and medical malpractice, Crusader’s liability claims tend to be settled relatively quicker. Since trends develop over longer periods of time on long-tail lines of business, the Company generally gives credibility to those trends more slowly than for short-tail or less volatile lines of business.

Crusader underwrites four statutory annual statement lines of business: (1) commercial multi-peril, (2) liability other than automobile and products, (3) fire and (4) allied lines. Commercial multi-peril policies comprised 98% of Crusader’s 2015, 2014 and 2013 premium. Commercial multi-peril policies include both property and liability coverages. For all of Crusader’s coverages and lines of business, Crusader’s actuarial loss and loss adjustment expense reserving methods require assumptions that can be grouped into two key categories: (1) expected loss and loss adjustment expense development patterns and (2) expected loss and loss adjustment expense per premium dollar.

The Company also segregates most of its business into smaller homogeneous categories primarily for management’s internal detailed reserve review and analysis. These homogeneous categories used by the Company include various combinations and special groupings of its lines of business, programs types, states and coverages. Some categories exclude certain items and/or others include certain items. Not all categories are defined in the same way. This analysis includes the tracking of historical claims costs and development patterns separately for each of these uniquely defined categories. Generally, neither the liability development patterns nor the property development patterns vary significantly by category.

The 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 Crusader’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 premium 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, Crusader’s reserves for each accident year (i.e., for all claims occurring within each year) are re-evaluated independently by the Company’s president, the Company’s chief financial officer and by an independent consulting actuary.  Generally accepted actuarial methods, including the widely used Bornhuetter-Ferguson and loss development methods, are employed to estimate ultimate claims costs. An actuarial central estimate of the ultimate claims costs and IBNR reserves is ultimately determined by management and tested for reasonableness by the independent consulting actuary.

Each year, management compares the actual claims costs that emerge to the claims costs that were expected to emerge and evaluates whether any observed significant differences are due to normal variances in the development process that occur from time to time, particularly in an insurer the size of Crusader, or if they are an indication that changes in the key reserve assumptions or methodologies are appropriate. Management concluded that no changes in Crusader’s key reserve assumptions or methodologies are appropriate.

Crusader’s actuarially based loss and loss adjustment expense reserve methodology does not include an implicit or explicit provision for uncertainty. Insurance claims costs are inherently uncertain. There is not a precise means of quantifying in advance a provision for uncertainty when determining an appropriate liability for unpaid claims costs. Rather, the potential for claims costs being less than estimated and the potential for claims costs being more than estimated are considered when selecting the parameters to be used in the application of the actuarial methods and when testing the estimates for reasonableness. Management believes that its recorded loss and loss adjustment expense reserves make reasonable provision for its liability for unpaid claims costs.

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. The information that management uses to arrive at its booked reserve estimate comes from many sources within the Company, including its accounting, legal, claims and underwriting departments. Informed managerial judgment is applied throughout the reserving process. In addition, time can be a critical part of reserving determinations since the longer the span between the incidence of a loss and the payment or settlement of the claim, the more variable the ultimate settlement amount will tend to be. Accordingly, short-tail claims, such as the emergence of property damage claims costs, tend to be subject to less variability than the emergence of long-tail liability claims costs. The liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is based upon the accumulation of individual case estimates for losses reported prior to the close of the accounting period plus estimates based on experience and industry data for development of case estimates and for unreported losses and loss adjustment expenses. Since the emergence and disposition of claims are subject to uncertainties, the net amounts that will ultimately be paid to settle claims should be expected to vary, perhaps significantly, from the estimated amounts provided for in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 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.

The Company must estimate its ultimate losses and loss adjustment expenses using a very small claim population size. At the beginning of 2015, Crusader had 597 open claim files. During 2015, 735 new claim files were opened and 713 claim files were closed, leaving 619 open claim files at the end of 2015. Due to the small size of Crusader and the related small population of claims, Crusader’s losses and loss adjustment expenses for any accident year can vary significantly from the initial expectations. Due to the small number of claims, changes in claim frequency and/or severity can materially affect Crusader’s reserve estimate. The potential variability from management’s best estimate cannot be measured from any meaningful statistical basis due to the numerous uncertainties in the claims reserving process and the small population of claims.

At each quarterly review, actual claims costs that emerge are compared with the claims costs that were expected to emerge during that development period. Sometimes the previous claims costs estimates prove to have been too high; sometimes they prove to have been too low. The favorable development in the 2013 through 2015 calendar years underscores the inherent uncertainty in insurance claims costs, especially for a very small insurer. While additional redundancies on losses and loss adjustment expenses may emerge, the Company believes that this trend may not be indicative of future results.

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 make reasonable provision for all unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses of the Company.

There have been no changes in key assumptions of estimating future loss and loss adjustment expense payments. The changes in estimates of prior accident year incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses are attributed to the passage of time and the greater amount of actual loss data available for each accident year.

Reinsurance

Crusader’s recoverable from reinsurers represents an estimate of the amount of future loss and loss adjustment expense payments that will be recoverable from Crusader’s reinsurers. These estimates are based upon estimates of the ultimate losses and loss adjustment expenses that Crusader expects to incur and the portion of those losses that are expected to be allocable to reinsurers based upon the terms of the reinsurance agreements. Given the uncertainty of the ultimate amounts of losses and loss adjustment expenses, the estimates may vary significantly from the eventual outcome. Crusader’s estimate of the amounts recoverable from reinsurers is regularly reviewed and updated by management as new data becomes available. Crusader’s assessment of the collectability of the recorded amounts recoverable from reinsurers is based primarily upon public financial statements and rating agency data. Any adjustments necessary are reflected in the current operations. Crusader evaluates each of its ceded reinsurance contracts at its inception to determine if there is sufficient risk transfer to allow the contract to be accounted for as reinsurance under current accounting literature. At December 31, 2015, all such ceded contracts are accounted for as risk transfer reinsurance.

The following tables provide the effect of reinsurance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements:

The effect of reinsurance on financial position is as follows:

The effect of reinsurance on the results of operations is as follows:

The effect of reinsurance on earned premium is as follows:

The effect of reinsurance on losses and loss adjustment expenses is as follows: