November 4, 2014

Nicholas Financial Reports 2nd Quarter Results

Clearwater, Florida, - Nicholas Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: NICK) announced that for the three months ended September 30, 2014 net earnings remained relatively flat at $4,330,000 as compared to $4,317,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Per share diluted net earnings remained flat at $0.35 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. Revenue increased 4% to $21,723,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 as compared to $20,949,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013.

For the six months ended September 30, 2014 net earnings decreased 8% to $9,239,000 as compared to $10,017,000 for the six months ended September 30, 2013. Per share diluted net earnings decreased 9% to $0.75 as compared to $0.82 for the six months ended September 30, 2013. Revenue increased 4% to $43,056,000 for the six months ended September 30, 2014 as compared to $41,425,000 for the six months ended September 30, 2013.

Our results for the three months ended September 30, 2014 were adversely affected by a reduction in the gross portfolio yield and an increase in the provision for losses compared to corresponding period ended September 30, 2013. Our results were favorably impacted by a change in fair value of the interest rate swap agreements which resulted in a gain of $251,000 compared to a loss of $250,000 for the comparable three-month period.

The results for the six-month period ended September 30, 2014 as compared to the six months ended September 30, 2013 were adversely affected by a reduction in the gross portfolio yield, an increase in the provision for losses, and a change in the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements, which was a gain of $39 thousand and $583 thousand, respectively. Our results were favorably impacted by a reduction in income tax expense earlier in the year related to professional fees associated with the previously announced potential sale of the Company. Such fees became deductible as a result of the termination of the Arrangement Agreement announced on July 1, 2014, resulting in a decrease in income tax expense of $804,000.

“We continue to experience elevated levels of aggressive competition which is putting pressure on margins and making it more difficult to acquire business that is consistent with our internal guidelines. We will continue to develop additional markets and we may open additional branch locations during the remainder of our current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2015", stated Ralph T. Finkenbrink, President and CEO.

Nicholas Financial, Inc. is one of the largest publically traded specialty consumer finance companies in North America. The Company operates branch locations in both the Southeastern and the Midwestern states. The Company has approximately 12,300,000 shares of common stock outstanding. For an index of Nicholas Financial, Inc. news releases and public filings please 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      
September 30,          		 Six months ended      
Septemember 30,          
  2014      2013      2014      2013     
 
  Interest and fee income on finance receivables $21,723  $20,949  $43,056  $41,425 
         
Expenses
  Operating 8,147  7,597  16,238  15,126 
  Professional fees 193  483  811  951 
  Provision for credit losses 5,154  3,973  9,386  6,615 
  Interest Expense 1,485  1,443  2,934  2,848 
  Change in fair value of interest rate swaps (251)  250  (39)  (583) 
  14,728  13,746  29,330  24,957 
 
Operating income before income taxes 6,995  7,203  13,726  16,468 
  Income tax expense 2,665  2,886  4,487  6,451 
    Net income $4,330  $4,317  $9,239  $10,017 
 
Earnings Per share:
    Basic $  0.36  $  0.36   $  0.76  $  0.83 
    Diluted $  0.35  $  0.35   $  0.75  $  0.82 
 
Weighted average shares 12,191,000  12,092,000  12,185,000  12,079,000 
 
Weighted average shares 12,365,000  12,315,000  12,371,000  12,274,000 
 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands)
     
  September 30,
2014      		 March 31, 
2014     
Cash $   4,982  $   2,635 
Finance receivables, net 279,182  269,344 
Other assets 11,611  11,451 
     
  Total assets $295,775  $283,430 
     
Line of credit $132,000  $127,900 
Other Liabilities 12,150  13,592 
 
  Total Liabilities 144,150  141,492 
 
Shareholders' equity 151,625  141,938 
 
Total Liabilities and shareholders' equity $295,775   $283,430  
 

Portfolio Summary Three months ended
September 30,		 Six months ended
September 30,
  2014      2013      2014      2013     
Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (1) $309,836,832  $290,071,860  $307,376,210  $287,854,928 
Average indebtedness (2) $132,350,000  $128,255,377  $131,093,750  $127,067,884 
Interest and fee income on finance receivables $  21,723,073  $  20,943,161  $  43,055,586  $  41,412,533 
Interest Expense 1,485,192  1,442,898  2,933,778  2,847,804 
Net Interest and fee income on finance receivables $20,237,881  $19,500,263  $40,121,808  $38,564,729 
Weighted average contractual rate (3) 23.10%  23.24%  23.10%  23.24% 
Average cost of borrowed funds (2) 4.49%  4.50%  4.48%  4.48% 
Gross portfolio yield (4) 28.04%  28.88%  28.01%  28.77% 
Interest expense as a percentage of average finance
   receivables, net of unearned interest 		1.92 %  1.99 %  1.91%  1.98% 
Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average
   finance receivables, net of unearned interest 		6.65%  5.48%  6.11%  4.60% 
Net portfolio yield (4) 19.47%  21.41%  19.99%  22.19% 
Marketing, salaries, employee benefits, depreciation
  administrative, professional fee expenses and dividend taxes
  as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned   interest (5)		 10.77%  11.07%  11.09%  11.10% 
Pre-tax yield as a percentage of average finance
  receivables, net of unearned interest (6)		 8.70%  10.34%  8.90%  11.09% 
Write-off to liquidation (7) 9.01%  8.19%  7.77%  7.05% 
Net charge-off percentage (8) 7.89%  7.10%  6.63%  6.13% 
 
Note:  All three and six 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.
(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 paymentsof
           cash dividends. Absent these expenses, the percentages would have been 10.72% and 10.81% for the three months ended September 30,
           2014 and 2013, respectively, and 10.86% and 10.75% for the six months ended eptember 30, 2014 and 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 direct consumer loans ("Direct Loans"):
 
  Delinquencies
Contracts  Gross Balance
Outstanding		 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days 90 + days Total
September 30, 2014 $ 427,196,623 $ 19,923,081 $ 5,241,042 $ 2,844,277 $ 28,008,400
    4.66% 1.23% 0.67% 6.56%
   
September 30, 2013 $ 397,098,910 $ 15,504,636 $ 2,855,032 $ 1,841,390 $ 20,201,058
    3.91% 0.72% 0.46% 5.09%
Direct Loans  Gross Balance
Outstanding		 31 - 60 days 61 - 90 days 90 + days Total
September 30, 2014 $ 11,369,476 $ 215,570 $ 77,219 $ 23,852 $ 316,641
    1.90% 0.68% 0.21% 2.79%
   
September 30, 2013 $10,614,902 $104,983 $37,604 $ 21,246 $ 163,833
    0.99% 0.35% 0.20% 1.54%
           

The following table presents selected information on Contracts purchased by the Company, net of unearned interest:
         
  Three months ended      
September 30,          		 Six months ended       
September 30,           
  2014      2013      2014      2013     
Purchases $40,876,742  $41,958,515  $87,646,344 $83,841,229
Weighted APR 23.07%  23.05%  23.04%  22.93% 
Average Discount 8.18%  8.51%  8.16%  8.43% 
Weighted average term (months) 55  52  55  52 
Average Loan $   10,953  $   10,685  $   10,989  $   10,664 
Number of contracts 3,732  3,927  7,976  7,862