SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
Filed by the registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary proxy statement. [ ] Confidential, for use of the
Commission only (as permitted
by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)).
[X] Definitive proxy statement.
[ ] Definitive additional materials.
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12.
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
----------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
23251 Mulholland Drive
Woodland Hills, California 91364-2732
---------------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held Friday, May 30, 2003
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of shareholders of Unico
American Corporation (the "Company") to be held at the Woodland Hills Hilton and
Towers at Warner Center, 6360 Canoga Avenue, Woodland Hills, California 91367,
at 2:00 p.m. local time, to consider and act upon the following matters:
1. The election of seven (7) directors to hold office until the next
annual meeting of shareholders and thereafter until their successors
are elected and qualified; and
2. The transaction of such other business as may properly be brought
before the meeting.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 11, 2003, as the
record date for the determination of shareholders who will be entitled to notice
of and to vote at the meeting. The voting rights of the shareholders are
described in the Proxy Statement.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL SHAREHOLDERS BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON ARE REQUESTED TO
VOTE, DATE, AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ACCOMPANYING POSTAGE-PAID AND
ADDRESSED RETURN ENVELOPE. PROXIES ARE REVOCABLE AT ANY TIME, AND SHAREHOLDERS
WHO ARE PRESENT AT THE MEETING MAY WITHDRAW THEIR PROXIES AND VOTE IN PERSON IF
THEY SO DESIRE.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Erwin Cheldin
-----------------
Erwin Cheldin
Chairman of the Board, President, and
Chief Executive Officer
Woodland Hills, California
April 16, 2003
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
--------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT
---------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
May 30, 2003
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
by the Board of Directors of Unico American Corporation, a Nevada corporation
(the "Company"), for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to
be held at the Woodland Hills Hilton and Towers at Warner Center, 6360 Canoga
Avenue, Woodland Hills, California 91367 on May 30, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. local
time. Accompanying this Proxy Statement is a proxy card, which you may use to
indicate your vote as to each of the proposals described in this Proxy
Statement.
All proxies that are properly completed, signed, and returned to the Company
prior to the Annual Meeting, and which have not been revoked, will be voted. A
shareholder may revoke his or her proxy at any time before it is voted either by
filing with the Secretary of the Company at its principal executive offices a
written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or
by appearing in person at the Annual Meeting and expressing a desire to vote his
or her shares in person.
The close of business on April 11, 2003, has been fixed as the record date for
the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. As of the record date, the Company
had outstanding 5,489,533 shares of common stock, the only outstanding voting
securities of the Company. For each share held on the record date, a shareholder
is entitled to one vote on all matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting.
The Company's Articles of Incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast and abstentions and
broker non-votes are counted for the purposes of determining the existence of a
quorum at the meeting, but not for purposes of determining the results of the
vote.
The Company will bear the cost of the Annual Meeting and the cost of soliciting
proxies, including the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing the proxy
material. In addition to solicitation by mail, officers and other employees of
the Company may solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, or personal contact
without additional compensation.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 23251 Mulholland Drive,
Woodland Hills, California 91364-2732. The approximate mailing date of this
Proxy Statement and the Company's proxy card is April 16, 2003.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Company's By-Laws provide for a range of three to eleven directors and allow
the Board of Directors to set the exact number of authorized directors within
that range. The current number of authorized directors established by the Board
of Directors is eight (8). There is a vacancy on the Board of Directors and the
Board has determined not to nominate any person to fill such vacancy at this
time. Directors are elected at each Annual Meeting of Shareholders to serve
thereafter until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Each
nominee is currently a director, having served in that capacity since the date
indicated in the following table. All nominees have advised the Company that
they are able and willing to serve as directors. If any nominee refuses or is
unable to serve (an event which is not anticipated), the persons named in the
accompanying proxy card will vote for another person nominated by the Board of
Directors, provided, however, that the proxies cannot be voted for a greater
number of persons than seven. Unless otherwise directed in the accompanying
proxy card, the persons named therein will vote FOR the election of the seven
nominees listed in the following table.
1
The following table provides certain information as of April 12, 2003, for each
person named for election as a director, which includes all executive officers
of the Company:
First
Present Position with Company or Elected
Name Age Principal Occupation and Prior History Director
---- --- -------------------------------------- --------
Erwin Cheldin 71 President, Chief Executive Officer and 1969
Director since 1969. Chairman of the
Board since 1987.
Cary L. Cheldin 46 Executive Vice President since 1991. 1983
Vice President 1986 to 1991 and
Secretary 1987 to 1991.
Lester A. Aaron, CPA 57 Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer 1985
since 1985. Secretary 1991 to 1992.
George C. Gilpatrick 58 Vice President, Management Information 1985
Systems, since 1981. Secretary since 1992.
David A. Lewis, CPCU 81 Director. Retired insurance executive 1989
with over 40 years insurance experience.
The last 27 years were with the
Transamerica Group of insurance companies.
Warren D. Orloff 68 Retired actuary with over 40 years' 2001
experience specializing in retirement
plans. From 1990 until retiring in 1997,
he was an independent actuarial consultant
for pension administration firms. He is a
Fellow of Society of Actuaries, Fellow of
Conference of Consulting Actuaries, and
member of Academy of Actuaries.
Donald B. Urfrig 61 Consulting engineer in the areas of 2001
project management and integrated product
development since 1996. In addition, he
is also a private investor and owner of
commercial and agricultural businesses for
the past 31 years. From 1963 to 1996
worked in the aerospace industry in both
technical and management positions.
Except for Cary Cheldin, who is the son of Erwin Cheldin, none of the executive
officers or directors of the Company are related to any other officer or
director of the Company. The executive officers of the Company are elected by
the Board of Directors and serve at the pleasure of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors held
one meeting at which all directors were present. Non-employee directors receive
$2,000 each quarter as compensation for the committee meetings they attend and
$1,000 for each board meeting they attend. All incumbent directors attended 75%
or more of the combined total meetings of the Board of Directors and the
committees on which they served.
The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee presently consisting
of David A. Lewis, Warren D. Orloff and Donald B. Urfrig. The Audit Committee of
the Board of Directors oversees matters involving the independent accountants
and the integrity of the Company's financial reporting process. The Audit
Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2002, and held one
meeting subsequent to the year ended December 31, 2002, to discuss accounting
and financial statement matters related to the year ended December 31, 2002. Mr.
Lewis, Mr. Orloff and Mr. Urfrig are independent as defined in the rules of
National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) listing standards.
The Board of Directors has also established a Compensation Committee presently
consisting of Messrs. Cary Cheldin, Aaron, and Orloff. This Committee considers
and recommends to the Board of Directors compensation for executive officers.
The Compensation Committee held one meeting during the year ended December 31,
2002. The Company does not have a nominating committee of the Board of
Directors.
2
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of April 11, 2003, the names and holdings of
all persons who are known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of its
outstanding common stock, its only class of outstanding voting securities, and
the beneficial ownership of such securities held by each Director, nominee for
Director, and all Executive Officers and Directors as a group. Unless otherwise
indicated, the Company believes that each of the persons and entities set forth
below has the sole power to vote and dispose of the shares listed opposite his
or its name.
Amount Beneficially Owned
-------------------------
(1) (1)
Options Percent
Without Currently Of
Name of Beneficial Owner Options Exercisable Total Class
------------------------ ------- ----------- ----- -----
Certain Beneficial Owners
-------------------------
Erwin Cheldin 2,314,150 0 2,314,150 42.2%
23251 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Schwartz Investment Counsel, Inc., and Schwartz Investment
Trust, on behalf of its series Funds, Schwartz Value Fund, and
Ave Maria Catholic Values Fund (2) 520,445 520,445 9.5%
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. (3) 475,200 475,200 8.7%
1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Wellington Management Co., LLP (4) 425,000 425,000 7.7%
75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
General Re Corporation (5) 405,102 405,102 7.4%
695 East Main Street, Stamford, CT 06904
FMR Corp. (6) 309,000 309,000 5.6%
82 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109
Executive Officers, Directors, and Nominees for Director
--------------------------------------------------------
Erwin Cheldin 2,314,150 0 2,314,150 42.2%
Cary L. Cheldin 202,760 0 202,760 3.7%
Lester A. Aaron 150,171 0 150,171 2.7%
George C. Gilpatrick 116,717 0 116,717 2.1%
David A. Lewis 3,000 0 3,000 0.1%
Warren D. Orloff 0 0 0 0.0%
Donald B. Urfrig 20,000 0 20,000 0.4%
All executive officers & directors
as a group (7 persons) 2,806,798 0 2,806,798 51.1%
(1) Includes for each person or group, shares issuable upon exercise of
presently exercisable options or options exercisable within 60 days held
by such person or group.
(2) Per Schedule 13G dated February 10, 2003. (3) Per Schedule 13G dated
February 3, 2003
(4) Per Schedule 13G dated February 14, 2003. Of the 425,000 shares
beneficially owned, Wellington Management Company, LLP, does not have
sole voting power over the shares, has shared voting power over 375,000
shares, and has shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
425,000 shares.
(5) Per Schedule 13G dated February 14, 2003. Of the 405,102 shares
beneficially owned, General Re Corporation does not have sole voting
power over the shares, has shared voting power over 405,102 shares, and
has shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 405,102
shares.
(6) Per Schedule 13G dated February 14, 2000. Of the 309,000 shares
beneficially owned, FRM Corp. does not have sole or shared voting power
over the shares, and has sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of 309,000 shares.
3
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
Summary of Executive Compensation
---------------------------------
The following table sets forth information for years ended December 31, 2002,
2001, and 2000 as to executive compensation paid to the chief executive officer
and the other executive officers of the Company for the year ended December 31,
2002.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation All Other
Name and Principal Position Year Compensation (*)
--------------------------- ----
Salary Bonus
($) ($) ($)
--- --- ---
Erwin Cheldin 2002 300,000 - 30,000
President, Chief Executive Officer 2001 431,375 - 35,000
and Chairman of the Board 2000 431,375 - 30,000
Cary L. Cheldin 2002 275,000 25,000 30,000
Executive Vice President 2001 330,000 25,000 35,000
2000 330,000 32,500 30,000
Lester A. Aaron 2002 180,000 40,000 30,000
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer 2001 171,000 40,000 35,000
2000 170,000 40,000 30,000
George C. Gilpatrick 2002 170,000 40,000 30,000
Vice President and Secretary 2001 165,000 40,000 35,000
2000 165,000 40,000 30,000
(*) Represents amounts contributed or accrued to the person's account under
the Company's Profit Sharing Plan and the Company's Money Purchase
Plan, all of which is vested. During the year 2000, the amount
contributed to each executive officer's account under the Profit
Sharing Plan and Money Purchase Plan was $24,000 and $6,000,
respectively. During the year 2001, the amount contributed to each
executive officer's account under the Profit Sharing Plan and Money
Purchase Plan was $25,500 and $9,500, respectively. During the year
2002, the amount contributed to each executive officer's account under
the Profit Sharing Plan and Money Purchase Plan was $17,000 and
$13,000, respectively. The Company's Profit Sharing Plan and Money
Purchase Plan both have a March 31 fiscal year end. See "Retirement
Plans."
Option/SAR Grants in Last Fiscal Year
-------------------------------------
No stock options or stock appreciation rights were granted to any executive
officer during the year ended December 31, 2002.
Options/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and
Unexercised Options/SAR at Fiscal Year End
-------------------------------------------
No stock options or stock appreciation rights were exercised by any executive
officers during the year ended December 31, 2002, and no options or stock
appreciation rights were held by any executive officer at December 31, 2002.
Omnibus Stock Plan
------------------
The Company's 1999 Omnibus Stock Plan (the "1999 Plan") that covers 500,000
shares of the Company's common stock (subject to adjustment in the case of stock
splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, etc.) was adopted by the Board of
Directors in March 1999 and approved by shareholders on June 4, 1999. The 1999
Plan is divided into a Stock Option Program under which eligible persons may be
granted options to purchase shares of common stock, a Stock Appreciation Program
under which eligible persons may be granted the right to receive a payment in
the form of cash, stock or a combination of the foregoing and a Restricted Stock
Program under which eligible persons may be issued shares of common stock
directly either through an immediate purchase or as a bonus. The 1999 Plan and
each Program are administered by the Board of Directors or a committee
authorized by the Board and consisting of at least two directors each of whom is
not an officer or employee of the Company and meets the qualifications set forth
in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Presently, the 1999 Plan is being administered by the Board of Directors.
4
Employees, consultants, advisors and directors of the Company are eligible to
participate in the 1999 Plan. However, only employees are entitled to receive
"incentive stock options" (as provided in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended) under the Stock Option Program. Under the Stock Option
Program, both incentive stock options and options which do not qualify as
incentive stock options may be granted. The term of an option may not exceed ten
years (or five years in the case of the grant of an incentive stock option to a
holder of more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding common stock). The
exercise price per share of common stock under an option may not be less than
the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the option grant. In
the case of the grant of an incentive stock option to a holder of more than 10%
of the outstanding common stock, the exercise price may not be less than 110% of
the fair market value of the common stock on the date of the option grant. Under
the Stock Appreciation Program, stock appreciation rights may be granted
separately or in tandem with a stock option. Stock appreciation rights entitle
the holder thereof to receive upon exercise of such right without payment to the
Company an amount which is not greater than the fair market value of a share of
common stock on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right over the
fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant of the stock
appreciation right. Under the Restricted Stock Program, the Company may issue
shares of its common stock directly to eligible persons for consideration
consisting of cash, notes or past services rendered by the recipient. The
purchase price of the shares may not be less than the fair market value of the
Company's common stock on the date of issue. If a recipient terminates his or
her employment or other arrangements with the Company before the shares are
fully vested, then the recipient is required to surrender to the Company for
cancellation all unvested shares and the Company must repay the recipient cash
or cash equivalent consideration paid by him or her for those unvested shares
and cancel the unpaid principal balance, if any, on any promissory notes
attributable to surrender the shares.
In the event of a "change of control event" as defined in the 1999 Plan, all
unvested options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock issuances will
immediately become exercisable or vest, as the case may be. The 1999 Plan
administrator may override the acceleration of these rights either in the
agreement setting forth those rights or prior to the Change of Control Event. A
Change of Control Event occurs if (a) more than twenty percent (20%) of the
Company's common stock or combined voting power is acquired by a person or
entity other than Mr. Erwin Cheldin, the Company or an employee benefit plan of
the Company, but not including any acquisition directly from the Company; (b) a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors ceases to consist of the present
directors or persons whose election or nomination was approved by a majority of
the then incumbent Board of Directors (excluding any director who assumes his or
her position as a result of an actual or threatened proxy contest); (c) the
Company is reorganized, merged or consolidated into another entity; or (d) the
shareholders approve the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale
of all or substantially all of its assets; unless with respect to (c) or (d),
after the event more than eighty percent (80%) of the common stock or the
outstanding voting securities of the Company, the surviving company or the
company that purchases the Company's assets is still held by persons who were
formerly the shareholders of the Company, and no person or entity other than Mr.
Erwin Cheldin, the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or the
resulting company or a twenty percent (20%) shareholder prior to the transaction
holds more then twenty percent (20%) of such company's common stock or combined
voting power.
All outstanding options, stock appreciation rights and/or unvested stock
issuances under the 1999 Plan will terminate upon consummation of (a) a
dissolution of the Company or (b) in case no provision has been made for the
survival, substitution, exchange or other settlement of any outstanding option,
stock appreciation rights and/or unvested stock issuances, a merger or
consolidation of the Company with another corporation in which the shareholders
of the Company immediately prior to the merger will own less than a majority of
the outstanding voting securities of the surviving corporation after the merger,
or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company
to another corporation.
5
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The following table shows the total number of outstanding options and shares
available for other future issuance of options under the Company's equity
compensation plans as of December 31, 2002.
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
Number of securities to Weighted-average equity compensation
be issued upon exercise exercise price of plan (excluding
of outstanding options, outstanding options, securities reflected in
Plan Category warrants, and rights warrants and rights column (a))
------------- -------------------- ------------------- -----------
(a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plans
approved by security holders:
1999 Omnibus Stock Plan 287,000 $5.36 213,000
Equity compensation plans not approved
by security holders: 0 0 0
------- ----- -------
Total 287,000 $5.36 213,000
======= ===== =======
Retirement Plans
----------------
Profit Sharing Plan
-------------------
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1986, the Company adopted the Unico
American Corporation Profit Sharing Plan. Company employees who are at least 21
years of age and have been employed by the Company for at least two years are
participants in such Plan. Pursuant to the terms of such Plan, the Company
annually contributes for the account of each participant an amount equal to a
percentage of the participant's eligible compensation as determined by the Board
of Directors. Participants must be employed by the Company on the last day of
the plan year to be eligible for contribution. Participants are entitled to
receive distribution of benefits under the Plan upon retirement, termination of
employment, death or disability.
Money Purchase Plan
-------------------
During the year ended December 31, 1999, the Company adopted the Unico American
Corporation Money Purchase Plan. This plan covers the present executive officers
of the Company; namely Lester A. Aaron, Cary L. Cheldin, Erwin Cheldin, and
George C. Gilpatrick. Pursuant to the terms of such Plan, the Company annually
contributes for the account of each participant an amount equal to a percentage
of the participant's eligible compensation as determined by the Board of
Directors. However, amounts contributed to the Unico American Corporation Profit
Sharing Plan will be considered first in determining the actual amount available
under the Internal Revenue Service maximum contribution limits. Participants
must be employed by the Company on the last day of the plan year to be eligible
for contribution. Participants are entitled to receive distribution of benefits
under the Plan upon retirement, termination of employment, death or disability.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and
Insider Participation in Compensation Decisions
-----------------------------------------------
The Compensation Committee consists of the following Company directors: Cary L.
Cheldin, Lester A. Aaron, and Warren D. Orloff. Cary Cheldin is the son of Erwin
Cheldin, the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
During the year ended December 31, 2002, Cary Cheldin was the Executive Vice
President of the Company and Mr. Aaron was Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
of the Company.
Executive Compensation Committee Report
---------------------------------------
The Company's compensation package for executive officers primarily consists of
a base salary, an annual incentive bonus, long-term incentive or non-cash awards
in the form of stock options, and contributions under the Profit Sharing and
Money Purchase Plans. The executive compensation program is designed to retain
and reward individuals who are capable of leading the Company in achieving its
business objectives. The Compensation Committee submits its recommendation to
the entire Board of Directors. The philosophy of the Compensation Committee is
to maintain a competitive base salary for executive officers and to provide an
incentive program that rewards executive officers for achieving certain
financial results. Base compensation is determined on a calendar year basis and
other incentives are determined when deemed appropriate.
6
When determining base compensation for the executive officers, the Committee
takes into account competitive pay levels in the industry with its emphasis on
the median of the survey data. The Committee recommends adjustments to base
compensation when it determines that an executive officer's base compensation is
not competitive.
When determining bonuses for the executive officers, the Committee first
evaluates, and gives primary weight to, the operational and financial
performance of the executive management team, including the chief executive
officer, as a group. After the team results are determined, individual
effectiveness in contributing to the achievement of those results is considered.
The financial results, which are reviewed by the Committee, include the
Company's net income, revenues and expenses.
The Committee's base compensation review determined that the base salary for the
chief executive officer was within a competitive range of others in the
industry. However, the Committee recommended that the 2002 base salary for the
chief executive officer be reduced to $300,000, which is still in a competitive
range of others in the industry.
The Committee's bonus review considered and evaluated the losses incurred by the
Company during fiscal year 2001 and 2002 and determined that no bonus should be
paid to the chief executive officer for the year ended December 31, 2002. The
committee also recommended that the aggregate bonuses paid to all other
executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2002, remain approximately
the same as the prior year.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, enacted as part of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA) limits to $1,000,000 the deductibility
for any year beginning after December 31, 1993, of compensation paid by a public
corporation to the chief executive officer and the next four most highly
compensated executive officers unless such compensation is performance based
within the meaning of Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder. For the
year ended December 31, 2002, the Company does not contemplate that there will
be nondeductible compensation for the executive officers of the Company.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cary L. Cheldin
Lester A. Aaron
Warren D. Orloff
Report of the Audit Committee
-----------------------------
Neither the following report of the Audit Committee nor any other information
included in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 7(d)(3) of Schedule 14A
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or pursuant to Rule 306 of
Regulation S-K constitutes "soliciting material" and none of such information
should be deemed to be "filed" with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
incorporated by reference into any other filing of the Company under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the
extent that the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference
in any of those filings.
Management is responsible for the Company's financial reporting process
including its system of internal control and for the preparation of consolidated
financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The Company's independent auditors are
responsible for auditing those financial statements. Our responsibility is to
monitor and review these processes. It is not our duty or our responsibility to
conduct auditing or accounting reviews or procedures. We are not employees of
the Company; and we may not be, and we may not represent ourselves to be or to
serve as, accountants or auditors by profession or experts in the fields of
accounting or auditing. Therefore, we have relied on management's representation
that the financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity
and in conformity with GAAP and on the representations of the independent
auditors included in their report on the Company's financial statements. Our
oversight does not provide us with an independent basis to determine that
management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting
principles or policies, or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed
to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and
regulations. Furthermore, our considerations and discussions with management and
the independent auditors do not assure that the Company's financial statements
are presented in accordance with GAAP, that the audit of the Company's financial
statements has been carried out in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America, or that the Company's independent
accountants are in fact "independent."
7
The Audit Committee has a written charter. It is expected that the charter will
be updated later this year to include, prior to the effective dates, the
specific responsibilities of the Audit Committee mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 and the NASDAQ.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements
of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, with the Company's
management.
The Audit Committee has discussed with KPMG LLP the matters required to be
discussed pursuant to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Codification of
Statements on Auditing Standards, AU ss.380). Additionally, the Audit Committee
has received from KPMG LLP the written disclosures and the letter required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit
Committees). The Audit Committee also has discussed with KPMG LLP matters
relating to their independence.
Based on the review and discussions described above, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors of the Company that the audited financial
statements of the Company be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.
Members of the Audit Committee:
David L. Lewis
Warren D. Orloff
Donald B. Urfrig
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 a peer group consisting of all NASDAQ property and casualty
companies. The comparison assumes $100.00 was invested on December 31, 1997, 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.
[OBJECT OMITTED]
12/31/97 12/31/98 12/31/99 12/31/00 12/31/01 12/31/02
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Unico American Corp. $100.0 $92.0 $57.4 $49.4 $45.4 $26.9
NASDAQ Market Index $100.0 $141.0 $261.5 $157.8 $125.2 $86.5
Peer Group Index $100.0 $85.3 $64.2 $83.6 $85.3 $87.4
8
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
--------------------
The Company presently occupies a 46,000 square foot building located at 23251
Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, California, under a master lease expiring
March 31, 2007. The lease provides for an annual gross rental of $1,025,952.
Erwin Cheldin, the Company's president, chairman and principal shareholder, is
the owner of the building. On February 22, 1995, the Company signed an extension
to the lease with no increase in rent to March 31, 2007. The Company believes
that the terms of the lease at inception and at the time the lease extension was
signed were at least as favorable to the Company as could have been obtained
from unaffiliated third parties.
On November 15, 2002, the Company borrowed $500,000 from Erwin Cheldin, a
director and the Company's principal shareholder, president and chief executive
officer, and $250,000 from The Cary and Danielle Cheldin Family Trust. Cary L.
Cheldin is a director and the Company's executive vice president. The notes are
payable on demand of the lender (on no less than fourteen days' notice) and if
no demand is made, then the notes are payable in full on November 15, 2006. The
notes may be prepaid at any time without penalty. The notes are unsecured bear
interest at 8% per annum with interest payable monthly. Proceeds of the notes
and available cash from the Company's other operations were used by Unico to
make a capital contribution of $1,500,000 to Crusader Insurance Company, its
wholly owned subsidiary. This contribution was made to ensure that Crusader's
capital remained above $25,000,000.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
-------------------------------------------------------
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a
registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) initial reports of ownership and reports of
changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company.
Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners are
required by regulation of the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file. To the Company's knowledge, based solely on
review of copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written
representations that no other reports were required during the year ended
December 31, 2002, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners were
complied with.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
-----------------------
KPMG LLP has served as the Company's independent auditors since 1996. The Audit
Committee has selected them to continue as the Company's auditors and to audit
the books and other records of the Company for the year ending December 31,
2003. A representative of KPMG LLP is expected to attend the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. Such representative will have the opportunity to make a statement
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
Audit Fees
----------
The aggregate fees billed by KPMG LLP for professional services rendered for the
audit of the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2002, and for the reviews of the financial statements included in the
Company's Form 10-Qs for that fiscal year were approximately $140,000.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees
------------------------------------------------------------
The Company incurred no fees in 2002 for any financial information systems
design and implementation services rendered by KPMG LLP.
All Other Fees
--------------
All other fees of KPMG LLP incurred in 2002 totaled approximately $46,000,
including audit-related services of approximately $25,000 and non-audit related
services of approximately $21,000. Audit related services included fees for
Crusader's actuarial certification (required to be filed with regulatory
authorities), the audit of the Company's Profit Sharing Plan, and for services
rendered for filings made under Form S-8. Non-audit services included
preparation and review of the Company's income tax returns.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has considered whether the
provision of the services for which fees were incurred in 2002 as described
under "All Other Fees" were compatible with maintaining KPMG's independence. The
Audit Committee concluded that the services provided were consistent with KPMG
maintaining its independence. The Audit Committee's policy on auditor
independence is designed to ensure compliance with applicable federal security
laws and regulations.
9
OTHER MATTERS
-------------
The Board of Directors is not aware of any business to be presented at the
Annual Meeting except for the matters set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting
and described in this Proxy Statement. Unless otherwise directed, all shares
represented by proxy holders will be voted in favor of the proposals described
in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters come before the Annual Meeting,
the proxy holders will vote on those matters using their best judgment.
SHAREHOLDERS' PROPOSALS
-----------------------
Shareholders desiring to exercise their right under the proxy rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission to submit proposals for consideration by the
shareholders at the 2004 Annual Meeting are advised that their proposals must be
received by the Company no later than December 17, 2003, for inclusion in the
Company's Proxy Statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. If a
shareholder intends to present a proposal at the 2004 Annual Meeting but does
not seek inclusion of that proposal in the Proxy Statement for that meeting, the
holders of proxies for that meeting will be entitled to exercise their
discretionary authority on that proposal if the Company does not have notice of
the proposal by March 2, 2004.
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
-----------------------------
The Company's 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K includes financial statements for
the year ended December 31, 2002, the year ended December 31, 2001, and the year
ended December 31, 2000, and is being mailed to the shareholders along with this
Proxy Statement. The Form 10-K is not to be considered a part of the soliciting
material.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Erwin Cheldin
-----------------
Erwin Cheldin
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
Woodland Hills, California
April 16, 2003
10
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints LESTER A. AARON and CARY L.
CHELDIN, and each of them, with full power of substitution, the proxies of the
undersigned to represent the undersigned and vote all shares of common stock of
UNICO AMERICAN CORPORATION (the "Company"), which the undersigned would be
entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held at the Woodland Hills Hilton and Towers at Warner Center, 6360 Canoga
Avenue, Woodland Hills, California 91367, on May 30, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. local
time and at any adjournments thereof, with respect to the matters described in
the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement,
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, in the following manner.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS [ ] FOR all nominees listed [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
(except as marked to the to vote all nominees
contrary below) listed below
ERWIN CHELDIN, CARY L. CHELDIN, LESTER A. AARON, GEORGE C. GILPATRICK,
DAVID A. LEWIS, WARREN D. ORLOFF, DONALD B. URFRIG
INSTRUCTIONS: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE,
STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME ON THE LIST ABOVE.
2. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR BEST JUDGMENT, with respect to any other matters
which may properly come before the meeting and any adjournment or
adjournments thereof.
Please sign and date on reverse side.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND WILL BE VOTED AS
DIRECTED HEREIN. When this proxy is properly executed and returned, the shares
it represents will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the choices
specified herein. IF NO CHOICES ARE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL
NOMINEES.
DATED:__________________________________________________, 2003
_________________________________________________________
(Signature)
_________________________________________________________
(Signature if jointly held)
Please date and sign exactly as your name or names
appear herein. If more than one owner, all should sign.
When signing as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, give your full title as such. If
the signatory is a corporation or partnership, sign the
full corporate or partnership name by its duly authorized
officer or partner.
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, AND RETURN THIS
PROXY PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.