August 6, 2013

Nicholas Financial Reports 1st Quarter Results

Clearwater, Florida, - August 6, 2013 - Nicholas Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: NICK), announced that for the three months ended June 30, 2013 net earnings increased 5% to $5,700,000 as compared to $5,407,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012. Per share diluted net earnings increased 5% to $0.46 as compared to $0.44 for the three months ended June 30, 2012. Revenue was $20,476,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2013 as compared to $20,428,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2012.

“Our results for the three months ended June 30, 2013 were positively affected by a non-cash gain related to interest rate swap agreements (mark-to-market) and were adversely effected by an increase in operating expenses,” stated Peter L. Vosotas, Chairman and CEO. During the June quarter we opened our fourth branch office in the South Florida market. "We will continue to develop additional markets and expect to open new branch locations during the remainder of our current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2014."

The Company will hold its Annual Shareholders Meeting on December 16th at 12:00p.m. The meeting will be held at the Company’s headquarters in Clearwater, Florida.

Nicholas Financial, publicly traded specialty consumer finance company. The company presently operates branch locations in both the Southeastern and the Midwestern states. 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, 2013. 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
June 30,
  2013      2012     
Revenue
  Interest and fee income on finance receivables $20,470  $20,418 
  Sales 6  10 
  20,476  20,428 
Expenses
  Operating 7,997  7,135 
  Provision for credit losses 2,642  3,103
  Interest Expense 1,405  1,192 
  Change in fair value of interest rate swaps (833)  209 
  11,211  11,639 
 
Operating income before income taxes 9,265  8,789
  Income tax expense 3,565  3,382 
    Net income $5,700  $5,407 
 
Earnings Per share:
    Basic $  0.47  $  0.45 
    Diluted $  0.46  $  0.44 
 
Weighted average shares 12,065,000  11,940,000 
 
Weighted average shares 12,287,000  12,179,000 
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands)
  June 30, March 31,
  2013 2013
Cash $   3,659  $   2,798 
Finance receivables, net 255,258  249,826 
Other assets 11,175  11,211 
     
  Total assets $270,092  $263,835 
     
Line of credit $126,022  $125,500 
Other Liabilities 12,593  11,370 
 
  Total Liabilities 138,615  136,870 
 
Shareholders' equity 131,477  126,965 
 
Total Liabilities and hareholders' equity $270,092   $263,835  
 

Portfolio Summary Three months ended
June 30,
  2013  2012 
Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (1) $285,637,997  $279,750,283 
Average indebtedness (2) $125,880,390  $110,750,000 
Interest and fee income on finance receivables (3)* $  20,469,372  $  20,417,957 
Interest Expense 1,404,906  1,192,140 
Net Interest and fee income on finance receivables* $19,064,466  $19,225,817 
Weighted average contractual rate (4) 22.99%  23.81% 
Average cost of borrowed funds (2) 4.46%  4.31% 
Gross portfolio yield (5)* 28.66% 29.19% 
Interest expense as a percentage of average finance
  receivables, net of unearned interest		 1.97%  1.70% 

Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average
  finance receivables, net of unearned interest*		 3.70%  4.44% 
Net portfolio yield (5)* 22.99%  23.05%
Marketing, salaries, employee benefits, depreciation and administrative expenses
  as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (6)		 11.12%  10.10% 
Pre-tax yield as a percentage of average finance  receivables, net of unearned interest (7)* 11.87%  12.95% 
Write-off to liquidation (8) 5.90%  4.93% 
Net charge-off percentage (9) 5.15%  4.07% 
 
Note:  All three 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)     Interest & fee income on finance receivables does not include revenue generated by Nicholas Data Services, Inc. (NDS) the
            wholly-owned software subsidiary of Nicholas Financial, Inc.
(4)     Weighted average contractual rate represents the weighted average annual percentage rate (APR) of all automobile finance
           installment contracts purchased and direct consumer loans originated during the period.

(5)     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.

(6)     Administrative expenses included in the calculation above are net of administrative expenses associated with NDS which
           approximated $55,000 and $67,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
(7)     Pre-tax yield represents net portfolio yield minus operating expenses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of
            unearned interest.
(8)     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.
(9)     Net charge-off percentage represents net charge-offs divided by average finance receivables, net of unearned interest,
            outstanding during the period.
*      These amounts for June 30, 2012 have been revised as discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. 

The following tables present certain information regarding the delinquency rates experienced by the Company with respect to Contracts and under its direct loan program:
 
  Delinquencies
Contracts  Gross Balance
Outstanding		 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days Over 90 Total
June 30, 2013 $393,780,400 $12,803,342 $3,540,383 $ 2,080,951 $18,424,676
    3.25% 0.90% 0.53% 4.68%
   
June 30, 2012 $385,611,683 $12,745,275 $3,216,955 $804,930 $16,767,160
    3.31% 0.83% 0.21% 4.35%
Direct Loans  Gross Balance
Outstanding		 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days Over 90 Total
June 30, 2013 $9,666,870 $ 83,885 $ 27,046 $ 16,454 $ 127,385
    0.87% 0.28% 0.17% 1.32%
   
June 30, 2012 $7,095,917 $78,044 $19,390 $4,226 $101,660
    1.10% 0.27% 0.06% 1.43%
           

The following table presents selected information on Contracts purchased by the Company,
net of unearned interest:
     
  Three months ended
June 30,
Contracts 2013      2012     
Purchases $41,882,714  $37,231,993 
Weighted APR 22.81%  23.67% 
Average Discount 8.35%  9.04% 
Weighted average term (months) 51  49 
Average Loan $   10,576  $    9,918 
Number of contracts 3,960  3,754