Nature of Business

Unico American Corporation (the “Company” or “Unico”) 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. 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.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). As described in Note 14, the Company's insurance subsidiary also files financial statements with regulatory agencies prepared on a statutory basis of accounting that differs from GAAP. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Investments

The Company’s fixed maturity investments are classified either as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale and are stated at fair value. Although part of the Company's investments is classified as available-for-sale and the Company may sell investment securities from time to time in response to economic and market conditions, or investment securities may be called by their issuers prior to the securities’ maturity, its investment guidelines place primary emphasis on buying and holding high-quality investments to maturity. Short-term investments are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. Equity securities are reported at fair value. The Company’s equity securities allocation is intended to enhance the return of and provide diversification for the total investment portfolio. 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. The net unrealized investment gains on equity securities are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. When a decline in the value of a fixed maturity is considered other-than-temporary, a loss is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Realized gains and losses are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations based on the specific identification method.

The Company has a comprehensive portfolio monitoring process to identify and evaluate each fixed income security whose carrying value may be other-than-temporarily impaired. For each fixed income security in an unrealized loss position, the Company assesses whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the amortized cost basis for reasons such as liquidity, contractual or regulatory purposes, or the credit quality of the underlying security. If a security meets this criteria, the security's decline in fair value is considered other than temporary and is recorded as a net realized investment loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) based on the specific identification method. There were no realized investments gains (losses) from other than temporary impairments for any of the periods presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. For each fixed income security that the Company does not intend to sell or for which it is more likely than not that the Company would not be required to sell before an anticipated recovery in value, the Company separates the credit loss component of the impairment, if any, from the amount related to all other factors and reports the credit loss component in net realized investment gains (losses). There was no credit loss component for any of the periods presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The short-term investments include U.S. Treasury bills, certificates of deposit, and commercial paper that are all highly rated and have initial maturity between three and twelve months.

Property and Equipment

All property and equipment held for use is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Depreciation on Crusader Insurance Company (“Crusader”), the Company’s subsidiary, owned building, located at 26050 Mureau Road, Calabasas, California, is computed using the straight-line method over 39 years. Improvements to the building structure are amortized over the useful life of the improvements. Depreciation on furniture, fixtures and equipment in the Calabasas building is computed using the straight-line method over 3 to 15 years. Amortization of tenant improvements in the Calabasas building was being computed using the shorter of the useful life of the tenant improvements or the remaining years of the lease.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share exclude the impact of common share equivalents and are based upon the weighted average common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share utilize 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 per share and represent the difference between basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding. In loss periods, the options are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share, as the inclusion of such options would have an anti-dilutive effect.

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expenses

Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses

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 incurred but unreported losses and loss adjustment expenses.

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 records 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 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’s 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 Company 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. 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 applies judgment in determining estimates for reserves associated with anticipated recoveries of salvage and subrogation on paid losses and loss adjustment expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company changed that estimate to be in-line with its historic salvage and subrogation recovery success pattern. The impact of that change was a $968,400 reduction in losses and loss adjustment expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019, and in unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses. The change was accounted for as a change in accounting estimate.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Policy acquisition costs consist of commissions, premium taxes, inspection fees, and certain other underwriting costs, which are related to the successful production of Crusader insurance policies. Policy acquisition costs that are eligible for deferral are deferred and amortized as the related premium is earned and are limited to their estimated realizable value based on the related unearned premium plus investment income less anticipated losses and loss adjustment expenses. Ceding commission applicable to the unexpired terms of policies in force is recorded as unearned ceding commission, which is included in deferred policy acquisition costs.

Concentration of Risk

Concentration of Risks

99.9% of Crusader’s gross written premium was derived from California during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. In 2020, approximately 30% and 56% of the $727,515 commission income from the Company’s health insurance program was from Guardian Life Insurance Company of America dental and group life plan programs and Blue Shield Care Trust health and life insurance programs, respectively. In 2019, approximately 39% and 49% of the $939,689 commission income from the Company’s health insurance program was from Guardian Life Insurance Company of America dental and group life plan programs and Blue Shield Care Trust health and life insurance programs, respectively.

Crusader’s reinsurance recoverable on paid and unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses is as follows:

		Year ended December 31
Name of Reinsurer	A.M. Best Rating (1)	2020		2019

Renaissance Reinsurance U.S. Inc.	A+	$	11,906,416	$	8,095,647
Hannover Ruck SE	A+		10,673,173		6,869,914
TOA Reinsurance Company of America	A		295,188		438,308
Other	A		172		7,827
Total		$	22,874,949	$	15,411,696

(1) A.M. Best ratings are as of December 31, 2020.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently adopted standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 “Leases.” ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by all leases, including those historically accounted for as operating leases. The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 did not have a material impact to the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In August, 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13 “Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements for assets and liabilities measured at fair value. The amendments in this ASU require certain existing disclosure requirements to be modified or removed, and certain new disclosure requirements to be added. In addition, this ASU allows entities to exercise more discretion when considering fair value measurement disclosures. This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted ASU 2018-13 effective January 1, 2020. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact to the Company’s disclosures.

Standards not yet adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” 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 premium receivables and reinsurance recoverables 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 recoverables. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10 “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Derivatives and Hedging, and Leases.” 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 Consolidated Statements of Operations and the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In December of 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes or ASU 2019-12. ASU 2019-12 is expected to reduce the cost and complexity related to the accounting for income taxes. The ASU removes specific exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and improves the financial statement preparer's application of income tax related guidance. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.