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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. For example, to the extent a claim is asserted by a third party in a lawsuit against one of the Company’s insureds covered by a particular policy, the Company may have a duty to defend the insured party against the claim. These claims may relate to bodily injury, property damage or other compensable injuries as set forth in the policy. Such proceedings are considered in estimating the liability for loss and LAE expenses.
Office Lease

The Company enters into lease agreements for real estate that is primarily used for office space in the ordinary course of business. These leases are accounted for as operating leases, whereby lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
On February 10, 2025, KICO entered into a lease agreement for an office facility located in Kingston, New York under an operating lease. The lease commenced on March 1, 2025 (the "Commencement Date") and will expire on March 31, 2030. KICO has the option to renew the lease for an additional term of five years. KICO may terminate the lease anytime following the third anniversary of the Commencement Date if its insurance business is sold or substantially all of the Company's assets are sold. Base rent over the term of the lease is $269,777 plus a proportionate share of taxes, common area maintenance costs and insurance.
Additional information regarding the Company’s office operating leases is as follows:
Three months ended
June 30,
Six months ended
June 30,
Lease cost 2026202520262025
Operating lease$13,391 $13,391 $26,783 $17,855 
Total lease cost$13,391 $13,391 $26,783 $17,855 
Other information on operating leases
Cash payments included in the measurement of lease liability reported in operating cash flows$13,129 $12,254 $25,674 $16,338 
Discount rate13.75%13.75%13.75%13.75%
Remaining lease term in years3.674.673.674.67
Operating lease right-of-use assets, included in other assets, were $103,312 and $136,209 as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. Operating lease right-of-use liabilities, included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, were $103,312 and $136,209 as of June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
Rent expense for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 amounted to $13,391 and $13,391, respectively, and is included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income within other underwriting expenses. Rent expense for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 amounted to $26,783 and $17,855, respectively, and is included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income within other underwriting expenses.
Employment Agreements
Meryl Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer
Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2025
On April 15, 2024, the Company and Ms. Golden entered into a third amended and restated employment agreement (the “Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement”). The Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement was effective as of January 1, 2025 and extends the expiration date of Ms. Golden's previous employment agreement (the "Second Amended Golden Employment Agreement") from December 31, 2024 to January 10, 2027. Pursuant to the Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement, Ms. Golden is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $550,000 (increased from $500,000 previously in effect) and an annual bonus equal to 3% of the Company’s consolidated income from operations before taxes, exclusive of the Company’s consolidated net investment income (loss), net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities and net realized gains (losses) on investments, up to a maximum of 1.25 times her base annual salary (the same as previously in effect). Pursuant to the Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement (and as was provided for in the Second Amended Golden Employment Agreement), in the event that Ms. Golden’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or she resigns for good reason (each as defined in the Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement), Ms. Golden would be entitled to receive her base salary and the 3% bonus for the remainder of the term. Ms. Golden would be entitled, under certain circumstances, to a payment equal to 1.5 times her then annual salary and her accrued bonus in the event of the termination of her employment following a change of control of the Company (also as is provided for in the Second Amended Golden Employment Agreement). Pursuant to the Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement, Ms. Golden received during each of January 2025 and January 2026 a grant of 40,000 shares of restricted stock. The 2025 grant vested with respect to one-half of the award on the first anniversary of the grant date and will become vested with respect to one-half of the award on December 31, 2026. The 2026 grant will become vested on the first anniversary of the grant date.
Employment Agreement effective as of January 11, 2027
On April 17, 2026, the Company and Ms. Golden entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Fourth Amended Golden Employment Agreement”). The Fourth Amended Golden Employment Agreement is effective as of January 11, 2027 and expires on January 10, 2029. The Fourth Amended Golden Employment Agreement extends the expiration date of the Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement from January 10, 2027 to January 10, 2029.

Pursuant to the Fourth Amended Golden Employment Agreement, Ms. Golden is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $550,000 (the same as currently in effect) and an annual bonus equal to 3% of the Company’s consolidated income from operations before taxes, exclusive of the Company’s consolidated net investment income (loss), net unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities and net realized gains (losses) on investments, up to a maximum of 1.25 times her base annual salary (the same as currently in effect). Pursuant to the Fourth Amended Golden Employment Agreement (and as provided for in the Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement), in the event that Ms. Golden’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or she resigns for good reason (each as defined in the Fourth Amended Golden Employment Agreement), Ms. Golden would be entitled to receive her base salary and the 3% bonus for the remainder of the term. Ms. Golden would be entitled, under certain circumstances, to a payment equal to 1.5 times her then annual salary and her accrued 3% bonus in the event of the termination of her employment following a change of control of the Company (also as is provided for in the Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement). Pursuant to the Fourth Amended Golden Employment Agreement, Ms. Golden will be entitled to receive, under certain circumstances, a grant, during each of January 2027 and January 2028, of 40,000 shares of restricted stock. The 2027 grant will become vested with respect to one-half of the award on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date. The 2028 grant will become vested on the first anniversary of the grant date. The above grants are generally consistent with the grants provided for in the Third Amended Golden Employment Agreement. In the event that the Company is precluded from making a grant to Ms. Golden in either 2027 or 2028, she would instead be entitled to a cash bonus for such year equal to 40,000 multiplied by the Common Stock market price at the time.
Randy Patten, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer
On July 23, 2025, the Company and Randy Patten entered into an employment agreement (the “Patten Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Patten serves as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer. Mr. Patten also serves as KICO’s Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer. The Patten Employment Agreement was effective as of August 25, 2025 (the "Effective Date") and will expire on August 25, 2028 (the "Expiration Date"). The term of the Patten Employment Agreement shall automatically be extended for one year periods beyond the Expiration Date unless either party provides written notice to the other party, no later than four months preceding the Expiration Date (or the end of the term, if extended), of its or his desire that the term not be extended.
Pursuant to the Patten Employment Agreement, Mr. Patten is entitled to receive an annual base salary of $400,000 and shall participate in the Company's Bonus Plan, including with respect to the SLT RSA bonus, each as described in Note 12 – Employee Benefit Plans, Bonus Plans, Employee Bonus Plan. In accordance with the Bonus Plan, Mr. Patten's cash bonus target is 25% of his base salary, and in no event, could the cash bonus for the calendar year ended December 31, 2025 be less than $35,000.
On September 12, 2025, the Company paid to Mr. Patten a sign-on bonus of $200,000 (the “Sign-on Bonus”). In the event that, prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, Mr. Patten's employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for cause (as defined in the Patten Employment Agreement) or by Mr. Patten without good reason (as defined in the Patten Employment Agreement), Mr. Patten would be obligated to promptly repay the Sign-on Bonus to the Company. At its option, the Company shall have the right to offset such Sign-on Bonus repayment obligation against any and all amounts payable to Mr. Patten.
Pursuant to the Patten Employment Agreement, Mr. Patten was entitled to receive a restricted stock grant of a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing $600,000 by the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. On the Effective Date, Mr. Patten was granted 43,290 shares of restricted stock pursuant to this provision. Such stock grant will become vested with respect to 25% of the award on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date and 50% on the third anniversary of the grant date.