UNAM Unico American Corp

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

NOTE 1 – NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business

Unico American Corporation (the “Company” or “Unico”) is an insurance holding company that underwrote property and casualty insurance through its insurance company subsidiary; provided property, casualty, and health insurance through its agency subsidiaries; and provided insurance premium financing and membership association services through its other subsidiaries. References to Unico or the Company include both the corporation and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. Unico was incorporated under the laws of Nevada in 1969.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, Unico took actions to cause its insurance company subsidiary, Crusader Insurance Company (“Crusader”), to enter into runoff. In connection with its runoff, Crusader began to cease writing new and renewal business and to wind down operations that support the writing of insurance policies. Effective September 30, 2021, Crusader ceased writing any new insurance policies and ceased renewing policies that were expiring after December 8, 2021. Crusader issued notices of non-renewal in accordance with the California Department of Insurance ("CA DOI") rules and regulations for its existing in-force policies to terminate such policies at the expiration of the current policy periods. In August 2021, Unico also discontinued its premium financing operations formerly conducted through its subsidiary American Acceptance Corporation (“AAC”), which activity is reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations under “Other insurance operations.” On August 24, 2022, the Company’s subsidiaries American Insurance Brokers, Inc., National Insurance Brokers, Inc. and Insurance Club, Inc. (collectively, the “Sellers”) each entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Agreements”) with Warner Pacific Insurance Services, Inc. (the “Purchaser”) pursuant to which the Sellers agreed to sell and the Purchaser agreed to purchase certain assets, primarily contracts, trademarks and service marks, owned by each respective Seller, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions (the “Asset Sale Transaction”). The Asset Sale Transaction closed on October 1, 2022. As a result of the Asset Sale Transaction, the Company received $630,000 of the aggregate purchase price at closing and $70,000 of the aggregate purchase price is being retained by the Purchaser for one year to secure claims that may arise against the Sellers under the Agreements.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Unico American Corporation and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10‑Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X for smaller reporting companies. Accordingly, the condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022. The quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K/A.

Going Concern

Based on Unico’s current cash and short‑term investments at September 30, 2022, as well as the other factors described herein, there is substantial doubt that Unico will have sufficient cash to meet its operating and other liquidity requirements when they become due during the next twelve months from the date of issuance of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

The Company prepared the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis, which assumes that it will realize its assets and satisfy its liabilities in the normal course of business. Unico has a history of recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from its operating activities which may continue in the future, and as an insurance holding company, does not independently generate significant revenue, and is dependent on dividends and other cash distributions from Crusader and its other subsidiaries to fund its operations and expenses. Historically, Unico received dividends periodically from Crusader, but does not expect to receive any such dividends for the foreseeable future due to prohibitions on the payment of dividends imposed by the CA DOI pursuant to the Administration Supervision Agreement (the “Supervision Agreement”), dated September 7, 2021, by and between Crusader and the CA DOI and other actions by the CA DOI in its review of the financial statements of Crusader. The CA DOI advised in April 2021, that Crusader was prohibited from paying dividends during the year 2021 and for the years 2022 through 2025. Any continued financial support from Crusader will be at the discretion of the Special Examiner appointed pursuant to the Supervision Agreement (the “Special Examiner”). If the Special Examiner does not permit Crusader to continue to provide financial support to Unico, Unico will be unable to continue to fund its continued operations and expenses. The Special Examiner has recently informed Crusader that the CA DOI does not intend to continue to permit Crusader to fund certain expenses attributable to Unico’s status as a public company, including certain legal and accounting expenses without an undertaking by the Company to repay payments made on its behalf by Crusader. The Company will have an inter-company account payable to Crusader and Crusader will have an inter-company account receivable due from the Company for such payments made by Crusader and authorized by the Special Examiner. The inability of Crusader to pay certain expenses of the Company will exacerbate Unico’s lack of liquidity. Additionally, many of the potential strategic alternatives that the Unico Board of Directors is considering will also depend on continued financial support from Crusader to fund transaction expenses and other costs. If Crusader is not permitted to do so, Unico would be unable to pursue such alternatives, which may otherwise be in the best interests of its stockholders. These circumstances raise substantial doubt about Unico’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications of liabilities that may result from the outcome of the uncertainty of Unico’s ability to remain a going concern. Unico needs to improve its condensed consolidated operating results through expense reductions, continue to receive financial support from Crusader, and/or raise substantial additional capital to continue to fund its operations. Unico has taken actions to cause Crusader to enter into runoff and to wind down operations that support the writing of insurance policies. To address its liquidity concerns and meet its capital obligations, Unico has announced a review of strategic alternatives and, with the assistance of a financial advisor, is considering multiple alternatives, including, but not limited to, strategic financing, further scaling back, or eliminating some or all of its remaining business operations, expense reductions, reorganization, merger with another entity, filing for bankruptcy or cessation of operations. Unico is also considering a potential transaction, which is known as a loss portfolio transfer transaction. In a loss portfolio transfer transaction, Crusader would cede its loss obligations to another insurer through the transfer of assets equivalent to the reserves being transferred to that insurer. Additional consideration or premium will be required to be paid by Crusader if the loss obligations of Crusader are viewed as being greater than the reserves being transferred to the insurer. There can be no assurances that capital will be available when needed or that, if available, it will be obtained on terms favorable to the Company and its stockholders, particularly in light of the effects that the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and general economic conditions have had on the capital markets and investor sentiment. In addition, equity or debt financings may have a dilutive effect on the holdings of Unico’s existing stockholders, and debt financings may subject Unico to restrictive covenants, operational restrictions, and security interests in Unico’s assets. Many of these potential alternatives will also depend on continued financial support from Crusader to fund transaction expenses and other costs. If Unico becomes unable to continue as a going concern, Unico may have to dispose of or liquidate its assets and might realize significantly less than the values at which they are carried on its condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, Unico may have to write down some or all of its capitalized assets or liquidate some or all of its investments in a gross unrealized loss position. These actions may cause Unico’s stockholders to lose all or part of their investment in Unico’s common stock. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Supervision Agreement

Crusader and the CA DOI entered into the Supervision Agreement due to the CA DOI’s concerns regarding the financial stability of Crusader and the potential effects on Crusader and Crusader’s California policyholders of any potential bankruptcy of Unico. The Supervision Agreement among other things, provides for the appointment by the CA DOI of a Special Examiner to provide supervision and regulatory oversight of Crusader. The Supervision Agreement imposes limitations on Crusader’s ability to take certain actions without the prior written consent of the CA DOI Commissioner (the “Commissioner”), the Special Examiner, or the Special Examiner’s appointed representative. Among the actions that Crusader is prohibited from making without such prior written consent are the following: (i) making payments, engaging in any transaction with or entering into any agreement with, any affiliated or otherwise related person or entity if the cost to Crusader is an individual payment of more than $5,000 or aggregate payments of more than $20,000; (ii) making payments, engaging in any transaction with or entering into any agreement with, any non-affiliated or otherwise unrelated person or entity if the cost to Crusader is an individual payment of more than $5,000 or aggregate payments of more than $20,000; (iii) paying any dividend of any amount; (iv) except as provided in (i) and (ii), making any payments to or on behalf of the Company in connection with any agreement entered into between Crusader and the Company; (v) making any loans to affiliates, officers, directors, stockholders or third parties; (vi) incurring any debt, obligation or liability greater than $5,000; (vii) entering into any new reinsurance contract or treaty or amending any existing reinsurance contract or treaty; (viii) making any material changes in management and essential staffing; (ix) increasing salaries or benefits of officers or directors or making any preferential payment of bonuses or other payments considered legally preferential; and (x) making any other material changes in its normal course of operations, including but not limited to, entering into new lines of business, making major corporate reorganizations, or redomesticating from California. The Supervision Agreement provides that the Special Examiner will meet with Crusader to develop a list of recurring payments under items (i) and (ii) that may not require prior written approval. To date, the Special Examiner has permitted Crusader to provide significant financial support to Unico in the form of reimbursement and/or direct payment of certain operating and other expenses, but there can be no assurance that the Special Examiner will continue to permit Crusader to do so under the Supervision Agreement. If the Special Examiner does not continue to permit Crusader to financially support Unico in the future, Unico will be unable to continue to fund its ongoing operations.

On September 13, 2021, the Special Examiner advised Crusader, through its counsel, that a deficiency existed in certain funds that Unifax Insurance Systems, Inc. (“Unifax”), a subsidiary of the Company and an affiliate of Crusader, is required to maintain, in a fiduciary capacity, for Crusader’s benefit. Pursuant to the provisions of California Insurance Code (“CIC”) Sections 1733 and 1734, Unifax is required to hold premium payment funds received from policyholders as fiduciary funds in trust maintained for the benefit of Crusader. The Special Examiner informed Crusader that the CA DOI believed that the deficiency in such fiduciary funds was approximately $3,100,000 as of September 13, 2021. In January 2022, Unico, Crusader, and Unifax agreed, with the pre-approval of the Special Examiner, to transfer a computer system, owned by Unico, to Crusader. Unico contributed the computer system at its book value of $1,991,956 to Unifax, and Unifax in turn contributed the computer system to Crusader at its book value of $1,991,956 as a direct reduction in the amount due to Crusader which resulted in a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the premium trust deficiency. The amount of such deficiency was $340,907 as of September 30, 2022. The premium trust deficiency was paid to Crusader on November 18, 2022.

Independent Investigation

The Audit Committee of Unico’s Board of Directors retained independent outside counsel, who in turn engaged forensic accountants to work at their direction, to conduct an independent investigation and provide legal advice to the Audit Committee (the “Independent Investigation”), regarding the facts and circumstances relating to, and resulting in, the observed fiduciary funds deficiency. As a result of the Independent Investigation, the Company has determined that, over a period of multiple years, (i) Unifax did not comply with the requirements of the CIC to hold premium trust funds in separate accounts or segregate such funds in accordance with the CIC; (ii) the funds in question were improperly transferred to an operating account of Unifax and were subsequently transferred to a Unico operating account; and (iii) the funds in question were utilized by Unico and its consolidated subsidiaries for general corporate purposes. The Independent Investigation did not find any evidence that any of such funds had been stolen or used for non-corporate purposes.

Concentration of Risks

100% of Crusader’s gross written premium was derived from California during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. As of September 30, 2022, Crusader was licensed as an admitted insurance carrier in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, 100.0% of Crusader’s business was commercial multiple peril (“CMP”) policies. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, approximately 99.9% and 99.7%, respectively, of Crusader’s business was comprised of CMP policies.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company employs a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs for valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price). Financial assets and financial liabilities recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value are categorized based on the reliability of inputs for the valuation techniques. (See Note 7.)

The Company has used the following methods and assumptions in estimating its fair value disclosures for instruments carried at fair value:

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of the Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect its reported amounts of assets and liabilities and its disclosure of any contingent assets and liabilities at the date of its financial statements, as well as its reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates in the preparation of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements relate to losses and loss adjustment expenses. Actual results may differ significantly from the estimates used in preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements.

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash include custodial trust, bank money market accounts, and a bank savings account. Any financial instruments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash or are so near their maturity that they present an insignificant interest rate risk are considered cash equivalents. Any certificate of deposit which matures in three months or less from the reporting date is considered a cash equivalent.

NOTE 3 – LOSS PER SHARE

The following table represents the reconciliation of the Company’s basic and diluted loss per share computations reported on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021:

Basic loss per share excludes the impact of common share equivalents and is based upon the weighted average common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share utilizes the average market price per share when applying the treasury stock method in determining common share dilution. When outstanding stock options are dilutive, they are treated as common share equivalents for purposes of computing diluted earnings or losses per share and represent the difference between basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding. In loss periods, stock options are excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share, as the inclusion of stock options would have an anti-dilutive effect. There is no difference between basic and diluted loss per share.

NOTE 4 – RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Standards not yet adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 replaces the current incurred loss methodology for recognizing credit losses with a current expected credit loss model, which requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. ASU 2016-13 also requires enhanced disclosures for better understanding of significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses. The Company is currently evaluating the effect ASU 2016-13 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements but expects the primary changes to be (i) the use of the expected credit loss model for its reinsurance recoverable and (ii) the presentation of credit losses within the available-for-sale fixed maturities portfolio through an allowance method rather than as a direct write-down. ASU 2016-13 will primarily impact the Company’s available-for-sale fixed maturities portfolio and reinsurance recoverable.

In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Derivatives and Hedging, and Leases, (“ASU 2019-10”). ASU 2019-10 updated the effective date for implementing ASU 2016-13 for smaller reporting entities, and that effective date will be for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. Since the Company’s fixed income portfolio is invested primarily in higher rated bonds and the reinsurance is purchased from financially strong reinsurers, the Company believes the adoption of ASU 2016-13 will not have a material impact to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

NOTE 5 – ACCOUNTING FOR TAXES

The Company and its subsidiaries file consolidated federal and state income tax returns. Pursuant to a tax allocation agreement, Crusader and AAC, are allocated taxes or tax credits in the case of losses, at current corporate rates based on their own taxable income or loss. The Company files income tax returns under U.S. federal and various state jurisdictions. The Company is subject to examination by U.S. federal income tax authorities for tax returns filed starting at taxable year 2018 and California state income tax authorities for tax returns filed starting at taxable year 2017. There are no ongoing examinations of income tax returns by federal or state tax authorities.

As a California insurance company, Crusader is obligated to pay a premium tax on direct written premium in all states where Crusader is admitted. The premium tax is in lieu of state franchise taxes and is not included in the provision for state taxes.

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits or liabilities and, therefore, had not accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits or liabilities. However, if interest and penalties would need to be accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits or liabilities, such amounts would be recognized as a component of federal income tax expense.

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had deferred tax assets of $10,144,183 and $8,584,487 generated from $48,305,638 and $40,878,510, respectively, of federal net operating loss carryforwards that will begin to expire in 2035 and deferred tax assets of $2,499,635 and $2,509,115 generated from state net operating loss carryforwards which begin to expire between 2028 and 2040. In connection with the preparation of its condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company performed an analysis of future income projections to determine the adequacy of the valuation allowance. In light of the net losses that were generated in recent years, for the periods ended September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company has established a full valuation allowance against all deferred tax assets in the amount of $12,643,818 and $11,093,602, respectively, as in management’s judgement they will not more-likely-than-not be realized.

On January 11, 2022, Crusader entered into a sublease agreement (the “Lease”) with Western General Insurance Company, in Liquidation (“Western General”) for the lease of approximately 4,199 rentable square feet of office space located at 5230 Las Virgenes Road, Suite 100, Calabasas, CA 91302 (the “Premises”). The Lease is subject and subordinate to that certain Office Lease by and between Western General and Colorado Capital Calabasas LLC, a Delaware limited liability Company, dated August 1, 2021. Crusader is using the Premises for its new corporate headquarters.

The term of the Lease commenced on February 1, 2022 (the “Commencement Date”) and will terminate on January 31, 2023, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the Lease and becomes month to month after the termination date. The Lease is considered a “short-term” lease as a lease term with twelve months or less that does not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. Management has elected the permitted practical expedient that applies solely to short-term leases under ASC 842-Leases of not recognizing a right-of-use asset on the Company’s balance sheet and expensing the rental payments as an operating expense when incurred.

Beginning on the Commencement Date, Crusader is obligated to make monthly rent payments in an amount of $10,539. In addition, Crusader is obligated to pay Western General its proportionate share, 5.45%, of operating expenses. Crusader was also required to deliver to Western General an initial payment of $20,539, $10,000 of which is held by Western General as a refundable security deposit.

In January 2022, Unico, Crusader, and Unifax agreed, with the pre-approval of the Special Examiner, to transfer a computer system, owned by Unico, to Crusader. Unico contributed the computer system at its book value of $1,991,956 to Unifax, and Unifax in turn contributed the computer system to Crusader at its book value of $1,991,956 as a direct reduction in the amount due to Crusader, which resulted in a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the premium trust deficiency. The amount of such deficiency was $340,907 as of September 30, 2022. The premium trust deficiency was paid to Crusader on November 18, 2022.

Depreciation on furniture, fixtures, and equipment was computed using the straight-line method over 3 to 15 years. Depreciation and amortization expense on all property and equipment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, was $176,345 and $546,207, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, was $147,463 and $416,631, respectively.

The Company capitalizes certain computer software costs purchased from outside vendors for internal use or incurred internally to upgrade the existing systems. These costs also include configuration and customization activities, coding, testing and installation. Training costs and maintenance are expensed as incurred, while upgrade and enhancements are capitalized if it is probable that such expenditure will result in additional functionality. The capitalized costs are not depreciated until the software is placed into production.

NOTE 7 – FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

In determining the fair value of its financial instruments, the Company employs a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs for the valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (the exit price). Financial assets and financial liabilities recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value are categorized based on the reliability of inputs for the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1 – Financial assets and financial liabilities whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.

Level 2 – Financial assets and financial liabilities whose values are based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets; or valuation models whose inputs are observable, directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability as of the reporting date.

Level 3 – Financial assets and financial liabilities whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. These inputs reflect the Company’s estimates of the assumptions that market participants would use in valuing the financial assets and financial liabilities as of the reporting date.

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs and the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Thus, a Level 3 fair value measurement may include inputs that are observable (Level 1 or Level 2) or unobservable (Level 3). The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

The following table presents information about the Company’s financial instruments and their estimated fair values, which are measured on a recurring basis, and are allocated among the three levels within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021:

Fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction costs. The Company recognizes transfers between levels at either the actual date of the event or a change in circumstances that caused the transfer. The Company did not have any transfers between Levels 1, 2, and 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of investments in fixed maturities by category are as follows:

(1) On September 30, 2022, the Company recorded an intent-to-sell impairment loss of $4,447,570 on its fixed maturities, available-for-sale portfolio and a new cost basis for these securities was established. 

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, five securities and six securities, respectively, were held as collateral with Comerica Bank & Trust, N. A. (“Comerica”), pursuant to the Reinsurance Trust Agreement among Crusader, United Insurance Company (“USIC”), and Comerica (the “Reinsurance Trust Agreement”) to secure payment of Crusader’s liabilities and performance of its obligations under the Reinsurance Agreement with USIC described in Note 9, Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses, Termination of Reinsurance Arrangement below. The estimated fair value and amortized cost of those securities was $7,612,474 and $7,612,474 and $8,243,758 and $8,162,053 on September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 respectively.

A summary of the unrealized gains (losses) on investments in fixed maturities carried at fair value and the applicable deferred federal income taxes are shown below:

The amortized cost, estimated fair value (net of unrealized gains and losses) and weighted average yield of fixed maturity investments by contractual maturity are as follows:

(1) On September 30, 2022, the Company recorded an intent-to-sell impairment loss of $4,447,570 on fixed maturities, available-for-sale portfolio and a new cost basis for these securities was established.

Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without penalties. The weighted average maturity of the Company’s fixed maturity investments was approximately 3.1 years as of September 30, 2022 and approximately 6.7 years as of December 31, 2021.

A summary of estimated fair value, gross unrealized losses, and number of securities in a gross unrealized loss position by the length of time in which the securities have continually been in that position as of September 30, 2022 is not necessary as all securities were marked to their fair market value and a new cost basis established: therefore, there is no unrealized amount.  The following table is as of December 31, 2021: