May 7, 2015

Nicholas Financial Reports 4th Quarter Results

Clearwater, Florida, - May 7, 2015 - Nicholas Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: NICK), announced that for the three months ended March 31, 2015, diluted earnings per share increased 43% to $0.33 as compared to $0.23 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Net earnings increased 35% to $3,848,000 as compared to $2,860,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Revenue increased 7% to $21,934,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 as compared to $20,443,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

For the year ended March 31, 2015, diluted earnings per share increased 1% to $1.38 as compared to $1.36 for the year ended March 31, 2014. Net earnings increased 1% to $16,856,000 as compared to $16,703,000 for the year ended March 31, 2014. Revenue increased 5% to $86,790,000 for the year ended March 31, 2015 as compared to $82,629,000 for the year ended March 31, 2014.

Our results for the three and twelve months ended March 31, 2015 were adversely affected by reductions in the gross portfolio yield and increases in the provision for losses compared to the three and twelve months ended March 31, 2014. While we increased our purchases and overall revenue as well as diluted earnings per share, aggressive competition in the industry has negatively impacted our weighted APR and average discount rate, and increased our weighted average term.

Our results for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were positively impacted by a reduction in professional fees associated with the previously announced potential sale of the Company. Such fees were principally related to fiscal 2014 and resulted in a higher effective tax rate as the majority were not deductible for income tax purposes. The impact on diluted earnings per share of such professional fees totaling $1,131,000 was a reduction of approximately $0.09 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Our three-month diluted earnings per share also were favorably impacted by $0.02 for the tender offer that occurred on March 13, 2015, and negatively impacted by $0.01 as a result of the change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements.

Twelve-month results were further impacted negatively by a change in the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements which resulted in a reduction of diluted earnings per shares by $0.02 for the twelve months ending March 31, 2015 in comparison to an increase of diluted earnings per share by $0.04 for the twelve months ending March 31, 2014. Our results for the twelve months were favorably impacted by a reduction in professional fees associated with the previously announced potential sale of the Company. The reduction in diluted earnings per share by such professional fees totaling $2,312,000 was approximately $0.18 for the twelve months ended March 31, 2014. Consequently, during the fiscal year 2015, our results were favorably impacted by a reduction in income tax expense and ultimately an impact on diluted earnings per share of $0.06 when such fees became deductible as a result of the termination of the Arrangement Agreement announced on July 1, 2014.

“In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 we began purchasing installment contracts in the state of Texas and plan on opening branch locations during fiscal 2016. The number of locations that we anticipate opening could range from one to four locations depending on market conditions. We will continue to look at developing additional markets and we may open additional branch locations in these new markets, although no assurances can be given at this time,” stated Ralph T. Finkenbrink, President and CEO.

Nicholas Financial, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded specialty consumer finance companies based in the Southeastern states. The Company presently operates 67 branch locations in both the Southeastern and the Midwestern states. The Company has approximately 7,700,000 shares of common stock outstanding. For an index of Nicholas Financial, Inc.’s news releases or to obtain a specific release, visit our web site at www.nicholasfinancial.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including general economic conditions, access to bank financing, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2014. Such statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management. Actual events or results may differ materially. All forward looking statements and cautionary statements included in this document are made as of the date hereby based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward looking statement or cautionary statement.

NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
         
  Three months ended      
March 31,          		 Year ended         
March 31,            
  2015      2014      2015      2014     
 
  Interest and fee income on finance receivables $21,934  $20,443  $86,790  $82,629 
 
Expenses
  Operating 8,420  7,843  32,606  30,485 
          
  Professional fees 258  1,647  1,383  3,659 
  Provision for credit losses 5,188  4,181  20,371  14,979 
  Interest Expense 1,578  1,389  5,970  5,678 
  Change in fair value of interest rate swaps 258  (6) 364   (688)
  15,702  15,054  60,694  54,113 
 
Operating income before income taxes 6,232  5,389  26,096  28,516 
  Income tax expense 2,384  2,529  9,240  11,813 
    Net income $3,848  $2,860  $16,856  $16,703 
 
Earnings Per share:
    Basic $  0.34  $  0.24   $  1.40  $  1.38 
    Diluted $  0.33  $  0.23   $  1.38  $  1.36 
Dividends declared per share -   -   -  $  24 
 
Weighted average shares 11,475,000  12,125,000  12,013,000  12,096,000 
 
Weighted average shares and assumed dilution 11,639,000  12,348,000  12,192,000  12,325,000 
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands)
     
  March 31,
2015      		 March 31, 
2014     
Cash $   3,388  $   2,635 
Finance receivables, net 288,904  269,344 
Other assets 10,237  11,451 
     
  Total assets $302,529  $283,430 
     
Line of credit $199,000  $127,900 
Other Liabilities 13,641  13,592 
 
  Total Liabilities 212,641  141,492 
 
Shareholders' equity 89,888  141,938 
 
Total Liabilities and shareholders' equity $302,529   $283,430  
 

Portfolio Summary Three months ended
March 31,		 Year ended
March 31,
  2015      2014      2015      2014     
Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (1) $314,730,362  $294,412,632  $309,994,611  $290,435,690 
Average indebtedness (2) $146,750,000  $125,737,114  $135,600,000  $127,093,220 
Interest and fee income on finance receivables $  21,933,607  $  20,441,293  $  86,785,042  $  82,609,859 
Interest Expense 1,578,737  1,389,209  5,970,434  5,678,188 
Net Interest and fee income on finance receivables $20,354,870  $19,052,084  $80,814,608  $76,931,671 
Weighted average contractual rate (3) 22.93%  23.16%  22.93%  23.16% 
Average cost of borrowed funds (2) 4.30%  4.42%  4.40%  4.47% 
Gross portfolio yield (4) 27.88%  27.77%  28.00%  28.44% 
Interest expense as a percentage of average finance
   receivables, net of unearned interest		 2.01 %  1.89 %  1.93%  1.95% 
Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average
   finance receivables, net of unearned interest		 6.59%  5.68%  6.57%  5.16% 
Net portfolio yield (4) 19.28%  20.20%  19.50%  21.33% 
Marketing, salaries, employee benefits, depreciation,
  administrative and professional fee expenses and dividend
  taxes as a percentage average finance receivables, net of
  unearned interest (5)		 11.03%  12.82%  10.96%  11.68% 
Pre-tax yield as a percentage of average finance
  receivables, net of unearned interest (6)		 8.25%  7.38%  8.54%  9.65% 
Write-off to liquidation (7) 7.42%  6.98%  8.13%  7.17% 
Net charge-off percentage (9) 6.72%  6.29%  7.04%  6.22% 
 
Note:  All three month key performance indicators expressed as percentages have been annualized.
(1)     Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest, represents the average of gross finance receivables, less unearned
           interest throughout the period.
(2)     Average indebtedness represents the average outstanding borrowings under the Line. Average cost of borrowed funds
           represents interest expense as a percentage of average indebtedness.
(3)     Weighted average contractual rate represents the weighted average annual percentage rate ("APR") of all Contracts and Direct
          Loans as of the period ending date.
(4)     Gross portfolio yield represents interest and fee income on finance receivables as a percentage of average finance
          receivables, net of unearned interest. Net portfolio yield represents interest and fee income on finance receivables minus
           (a) interest expense and (b) the provision for credit losses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned
           interest.

(5)     The numerators include expenses associated with the potential sale of the Company and include taxes associated with the
           payments of cash dividends. Absent these expenses, the percentages would have been 10.85% for the twelve months ended March
           31, 2015. Absent these expenses, the percentages would have been 11.29% and 10.83% for the three and twelve months ended
           March 31, 2013 respectively.
(6)     Pre-tax yield represents net portfolio yield minus operating expenses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of
            unearned interest.
(7)     Write-off to liquidation percentage is defined as net charge-offs divided by liquidation. Liquidation is defined as beginning
           receivable balance plus current period purchases minus voids and refinances minus ending receivable balance.
(8)     Net charge-off percentage represents net charge-offs divided by average finance receivables, net of unearned interest,
            outstanding during the period.
 

The following tables present certain information regarding the delinquency rates experienced by the Company with respect to automobile finance installment contracts ("Contracts") and under its direct consumer loans ("Direct Loans"), excluding any Chapter 13 bankrupt accounts:
 
  Delinquencies
Contracts  Gross Balance
Outstanding		 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days Over 90 Total
March 31, 2015 $ 443,083,009 $ 13,694,370 $ 3,435,332 $ 1,330,093 $ 18,459,796
    3.09% 0.78% 0.30% 4.17%
   
March 31, 2014 $ 410,532,221 $ 11,713,021 $ 2,994,228 $ 1,896,591 $ 16,553,840
    2.85% 0.72% 0.46% 4.03%
Direct Loans  Gross Balance
Outstanding		 30 - 50 days 60 - 89 days 90 +days Total
March 31, 2015 $ 10,911,845 $ 122,718 $ 41,894 $ 14,652 $ 179,354
    1.12% 0.38% 0.13% 1.64%
   
March 31, 2014 $ 10,704,545 $ 143,624 $ 25,345 $ 22,515 $ 191,484
    1.34% 0.23% 0.21% 1.78%
           

The following table presents selected information on Contracts purchased by the Company, net of unearned interest:
         
  Three months ended      
March 31,           		 Year ended        
March 31,          
Contracts 2015      2014      2015      2014     
Purchases $48,889,450  $49,161,645  $178,368,342 $169,244,136 
Weighted APR 22.79%  23.10%  22.90%  23.00% 
Average Discount 7.96%  8.36% 8.08%  8.44%
Weighted average term (months) 55  53  55  52 
Average Loan $  10,867  $   10,547  $  10,967  $   10,612 
Number of contracts 4,499  4,661  16,264  15,949