EXHIBIT 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Budnitsky
Chief Financial Officer
818-591-9800
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION REPORTS
FIRST QUARTER 2017 FINANCIAL RESULTS
Calabasas, CA, May 15, 2017 – Unico American Corporation. (NASDAQ – “UNAM”) (“Unico,” the “Company”), announced today its consolidated financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, revenues were $9.0 million and net loss was $2.1 million ($0.40 diluted loss per share) compared with revenues of $8.5 million and net loss of $0.2 million ($0.04 diluted loss per share) for the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Stockholders’ equity was $66.8 million as of March 31, 2017, or $12.58 per common share including unrealized after-tax investment gains of $0.02 million, compared to stockholders’ equity of $68.9 million as of December 31, 2016, or $12.98 per common share including unrealized after- tax investment gains of $0.08 million.
"The Company's first quarter 2017 financial results clearly did not meet our expectations,” said Cary L. Cheldin, Unico’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “During the first quarter of 2017, our losses from policies issued in prior years turned out to be more costly than originally anticipated, reflecting in the first quarter a higher than normal number of large losses. Management filed for regulatory approval of rate increases last November. We received that approval today, and we continue to actively evaluate pricing adequacy.
“I believe that our first quarter financial results reflect neither our current underwriting activity nor our recent operational changes. Earlier this year we changed our underwriting and marketing operations from a ‘regional’ distribution model to a ‘product line’ distribution model, thus positioning our P&C marketing and underwriting employees to compete on a more specialized basis. Also, continuing with our renewed talent acquisition strategy, we brought in a new Vice President to head up our Information Technology department. We expect these changes to have a meaningful impact on our results as the changes take hold. Furthermore, we are considering a change for some of our underwriting activities to a non-admitted, excess and surplus lines basis which, if adopted, would help us avoid future delays in adjusting rates.”
Headquartered in Calabasas, California, 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 through its other subsidiaries provides insurance premium financing and membership association services. Unico has conducted the majority of its operations through its subsidiary Crusader Insurance Company since 1985. For more information concerning Crusader Insurance Company, please visit Crusader’s website atwww.crusaderinsurance.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking. These statements, which may be identified by forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “appears,” “believe,” ”expect,” “intend,” “may,” “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 actions not being effective, rate increases for coverages not being sufficient, premium rate adequacy relating to competition or regulation, actual versus estimated claim experience, regulatory changes or developments, unforeseen calamities, general market conditions, and the Company’s ability to introduce new profitable products.
Financial Tables Follow –
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands)
| | | March 31 | | December 31 |
| | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| | | | (Unaudited) | | | | | |
| ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
| Investments | | | | | | | | |
| Available-for-sale: | | | | | | | | |
| Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost: March 31, 2017 $68,237; December 31, 2016 $80,372) | | $ | 68,240 | | | $ | 80,384 | |
| Short-term investments, at fair value | | | 21,803 | | | | 10,205 | |
| Total Investments | | | 90,043 | | | | 90,589 | |
| Cash and restricted assets | | | 13,602 | | | | 13,496 | |
| Accrued investment income | | | 212 | | | | 186 | |
| Receivables, net | | | 6,261 | | | | 6,008 | |
| Reinsurance recoverable: | | | | | | | | |
| Paid losses and loss adjustment expenses | | | 158 | | | | 261 | |
| Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | | | 9,886 | | | | 9,521 | |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 4,421 | | | | 4,432 | |
| Property and equipment, net | | | 10,186 | | | | 10,283 | |
| Deferred income taxes | | | 1,174 | | | | 1,177 | |
| Other assets | | | 3,017 | | | | 2,269 | |
| Total Assets | | $ | 138,960 | | | $ | 138,222 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| LIABILITIES | | | | | | | | |
| Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | | $ | 49,890 | | | $ | 47,056 | |
| Unearned premiums | | | 19,397 | | | | 19,375 | |
| Advance premium and premium deposits | | | 393 | | | | 224 | |
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | 2,520 | | | | 2,661 | |
| Total Liabilities | | $ | 72,200 | | | $ | 69,316 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | | | | | | | | |
| Common stock, no par – authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding shares 5,307,133 at March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016 | | $ | 3,767 | | | $ | 3,761 | |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | | | 2 | | | | 8 | |
| Retained earnings | | | 62,991 | | | | 65,137 | |
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | | $ | 66,760 | | | $ | 68,906 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | | $ | 138,960 | | | $ | 138,222 | |
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
($ in thousands, except per share)
| | | Three Months Ended |
| | | March 31 |
| | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| REVENUES | | | | |
| Insurance company operation: | | | | | | | | |
| Net premium earned | | $ | 7,921 | | | $ | 7,572 | |
| Investment income | | | 212 | | | | 212 | |
| Net realized investment losses | | | — | | | | (1 | ) |
| Other income | | | 68 | | | | 68 | |
| Total Insurance Company Revenues | | | 8,201 | | | | 7,851 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Other insurance operations: | | | | | | | | |
| Gross commissions and fees | | | 742 | | | | 657 | |
| Finance fees earned | | | 18 | | | | 17 | |
| Other income | | | — | | | | 5 | |
| Total Revenues | | | 8,961 | | | | 8,530 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| EXPENSES | | | | | | | | |
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | | | 8,525 | | | | 5,085 | |
| Policy acquisition costs | | | 1,498 | | | | 1,700 | |
| Salaries and employee benefits | | | 1,349 | | | | 1,382 | |
| Commissions to agents/brokers | | | 42 | | | | 40 | |
| Other operating expenses | | | 814 | | | | 593 | |
| Total Expenses | | | 12,228 | | | | 8,800 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Loss before taxes | | | (3,267 | ) | | | (270 | ) |
| Income tax benefit | | | 1,120 | | | | 71 | |
| Net Loss | | $ | (2,147 | ) | | $ | (199 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| PER SHARE DATA: | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | | | | | | | |
| Loss Per Share | | $ | (0.40 | ) | | $ | (0.04 | ) |
| Weighted Average Shares | | | 5,307,133 | | | | 5,309,377 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Diluted | | | | | | | | |
| Loss Per Share | | $ | (0.40 | ) | | $ | (0.04 | ) |
| Weighted Average Shares | | | 5,307,133 | | | | 5,309,377 | |
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
($ in thousands)
| | | Three Months Ended |
| | | March 31 |
| | | 2017 | | 2016 |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
| Net Loss | | $ | (2,147 | ) | | $ | (199 | ) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from operations: | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | 132 | | | | 116 | |
| Bond amortization, net | | | (3 | ) | | | (4 | ) |
| Bad debt expense | | | 13 | | | | — | |
| Non-cash stock based compensation | | | 6 | | | | 6 | |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
| Net receivables and accrued investment income | | | (292 | ) | | | (276 | ) |
| Reinsurance recoverable | | | (262 | ) | | | (872 | ) |
| Deferred policy acquisition costs | | | 11 | | | | (88 | ) |
| Other assets | | | 377 | | | | 537 | |
| Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | | | 2,834 | | | | 917 | |
| Unearned premiums | | | 22 | | | | 135 | |
| Advance premium and premium deposits | | | 169 | | | | 282 | |
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | (141 | ) | | | 206 | |
| Income taxes current/deferred | | | (1,118 | ) | | | (69 | ) |
| Net Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities | | | (399 | ) | | | 691 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | | | |
| Purchase of fixed maturity investments | | | (100 | ) | | | (200 | ) |
| Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturity investments | | | 12,238 | | | | 1,046 | |
| Net decrease (increase) in short-term investments | | | (11,598 | ) | | | 4,352 | |
| Additions to property and equipment | | | (35 | ) | | | (352 | ) |
| Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities | | | 505 | | | | 4,846 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | | | |
| Repurchase of common stock | | | — | | | | (89 | ) |
| Net Cash Used by Financing Activities | | | — | | | | (89 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net increase in cash and restricted cash | | | 106 | | | | 5,448 | |
| Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period | | | 13,496 | | | | 8,259 | |
| Cash and Restricted Cash at End of Period | | $ | 13,602 | | | $ | 13,707 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Supplemental cash flow information | | | | | | | | |
| Cash paid during the period for: | | | | | | | | |
| Interest | | | — | | | | — | |
| Income taxes | | | — | | | | — | |
