Exhibit 99.1
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 | | Contact: | | Ralph Finkenbrink | | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NASDAQ: NICK |
| | | | Sr. Vice President, CFO | | Web site: www.nicholasfinancial.com |
| Nicholas Financial, Inc. | | | | Ph # - 727-726-0763 | | |
| Corporate Headquarters | | | | | | |
2454 McMullen-Booth Rd.
Building C, Suite 501
Clearwater, FL 33759
Nicholas Financial Reports Results for the
3rd Quarter Ended December 31, 2007
February 5, 2008– Clearwater, Florida - Nicholas Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: NICK) announced that revenue increased 8% to $12,614,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 as compared to $11,730,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006. Net income decreased 19% to $2,236,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 as compared to $2,770,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006. Diluted earnings per share decreased 19% to $0.22 for the three months ended December 31, 2007 as compared to $0.27 for the three months ended December 31, 2006.
Revenue increased 8% to $37,362,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 as compared to $34,666,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2006. Net income decreased 11% to $7,617,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 as compared to $8,568,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2006. Diluted earnings per share decreased 11% to $0.74 for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 as compared to $0.83 for the nine months ended December 31, 2006.
The Company is very pleased to announce that BMO Capital Markets, a wholly owed subsidiary of Bank of Montreal, has joined our consortium of lenders, led by Bank of America. The Company now has a team of lenders comprised of Bank of America, 1st Horizon Bank, Capital One Bank, BMO Capital and Bank of Scotland.
The Company will be opening up two (2) new branch offices during the next 30 days. We will be adding a second branch location in Birmingham, Alabama and a second location in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Business has been very challenging this year as our typical customer is coping with both higher gasoline prices and a weaker employment environment. The Company believes the economic stimulus package that our government is proposing will be implemented quickly and will be helpful to many of our customers.
Founded in 1985, with assets of $184,847,000, Nicholas Financial, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded specialty consumer finance companies based in the Southeast. The Company presently operates out of 46 branch locations in both the Southeast and the Mid-West States. The Company has approximately 10,055,000 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 atwww.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 competitive factors, the management of growth, 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, 2007. 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.
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Nicholas Financial, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
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| | | Three months ended
December 31, | | Nine months ended
December 31, |
| | | 2007 | | 2006 | | 2007 | | 2006 |
Revenue: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income on finance receivables | | $ | 12,593 | | $ | 11,707 | | $ | 37,301 | | $ | 34,576 |
Sales | | | 21 | | | 23 | | | 61 | | | 90 |
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| | | 12,614 | | | 11,730 | | | 37,362 | | | 34,666 |
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Expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating | | | 4,982 | | | 4,604 | | | 14,983 | | | 13,871 |
Provision for credit losses | | | 2,467 | | | 1,194 | | | 5,281 | | | 2,856 |
Interest expense | | | 1,611 | | | 1,452 | | | 4,843 | | | 4,075 |
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| | | 9,060 | | | 7,250 | | | 25,107 | | | 20,802 |
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Operating income before income taxes | | | 3,554 | | | 4,480 | | | 12,255 | | | 13,864 |
Income tax expense | | | 1,318 | | | 1,710 | | | 4,638 | | | 5,296 |
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Net income | | $ | 2,236 | | $ | 2,770 | | $ | 7,617 | | $ | 8,568 |
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Earnings per share: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.22 | | $ | 0.28 | | $ | 0.76 | | $ | 0.86 |
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Diluted | | $ | 0.22 | | $ | 0.27 | | $ | 0.74 | | $ | 0.83 |
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Weighted average shares | | | 10,045,000 | | | 9,935,000 | | | 10,028,000 | | | 9,927,000 |
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Weighted average shares and assumed dilution | | | 10,298,000 | | | 10,264,000 | | | 10,346,000 | | | 10,270,000 |
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited, In Thousands)
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| | | December 31,
2007 | | March 31,
2007 |
Cash | | $ | 4,705 | | $ | 1,499 |
Finance receivables, net | | | 171,939 | | | 164,365 |
Other assets | | | 8,203 | | | 7,155 |
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Total assets | | $ | 184,847 | | $ | 173,019 |
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Line of credit | | $ | 99,903 | | $ | 94,012 |
Other liabilities | | | 7,880 | | | 9,200 |
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Total liabilities | | | 107,783 | | | 103,212 |
Shareholders’ equity | | | 77,064 | | | 69,807 |
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Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 184,847 | | $ | 173,019 |
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| | | Three months ended
December 31, | | | Nine months ended
December 31, | |
Portfolio Summary | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (1) | | $ | 192,408,861 | | | $ | 174,444,124 | | | $ | 189,618,834 | | | $ | 169,638,227 | |
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Average indebtedness (2) | | $ | 98,899,680 | | | $ | 88,950,919 | | | $ | 96,177,013 | | | $ | 85,716,061 | |
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Finance revenue (3) | | $ | 12,593,397 | | | $ | 11,706,733 | | | $ | 37,301,655 | | | $ | 34,575,726 | |
Interest expense | | | 1,610,758 | | | | 1,451,647 | | | | 4,842,628 | | | | 4,074,541 | |
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Net finance revenue | | $ | 10,982,639 | | | $ | 10,255,086 | | | $ | 32,459,027 | | | $ | 30,501,185 | |
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Weighted average contractual rate (4) | | | 24.14 | % | | | 23.78 | % | | | 24.25 | % | | | 23.95 | % |
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Average cost of borrowed funds (2) | | | 6.51 | % | | | 6.53 | % | | | 6.71 | % | | | 6.34 | % |
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Gross portfolio yield (5) | | | 26.18 | % | | | 26.84 | % | | | 26.23 | % | | | 27.18 | % |
Interest expense as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest | | | 3.35 | % | | | 3.33 | % | | | 3.41 | % | | | 3.20 | % |
Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest | | | 5.13 | % | | | 2.74 | % | | | 3.71 | % | | | 2.24 | % |
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Net portfolio yield (5) | | | 17.70 | % | | | 20.77 | % | | | 19.11 | % | | | 21.74 | % |
Operating expenses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (6) | | | 10.23 | % | | | 10.46 | % | | | 10.41 | % | | | 10.80 | % |
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Pre-tax yield as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (7) | | | 7.47 | % | | | 10.31 | % | | | 8.70 | % | | | 10.94 | % |
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Write-off to liquidation (8) | | | 10.35 | % | | | 7.96 | % | | | 8.77 | % | | | 6.91 | % |
Net charge-off percentage (9) | | | 9.51 | % | | | 7.38 | % | | | 7.98 | % | | | 6.47 | % |
Note:All three and nine-month 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) | Finance revenue is interest and fee income on finance receivables and 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 Contracts purchased and direct loans originated during the period. |
| (5) | Gross portfolio yield represents finance revenue as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest. Net portfolio yield represents finance revenue minus (a) interest expense and (b) the provision for credit losses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest. |
| (6) | Operating expenses represent total expenses, less interest expense, the provision for credit losses and operating costs associated with NDS. |
| (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. |
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The following tables present certain information regarding the delinquency rates experienced by the Company with respect to Contracts and under its direct loan program:
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| | | December 31, | | | |
| | | 2007 | | | | | 2006 | | | |
Contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross balance outstanding | | $ | 256,278,730 | | | | | $ | 233,992,372 | | | |
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Delinquencies | | | | | | | | | | | | |
30 to 59 days | | $ | 8,908,945 | | 3.48 | % | | $ | 4,942,628 | | 2.11 | % |
60 to 89 days | | | 2,933,134 | | 1.14 | % | | | 1,682,993 | | 0.72 | % |
90 + days | | | 1,402,143 | | 0.55 | % | | | 691,092 | | 0.30 | % |
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Total delinquencies | | $ | 13,244,222 | | 5.17 | % | | $ | 7,316,713 | | 3.13 | % |
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Direct Loans | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross balance outstanding | | $ | 10,989,625 | | | | | $ | 10,052,202 | | | |
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Delinquencies | | | | | | | | | | | | |
30 to 59 days | | $ | 212,084 | | 1.93 | % | | $ | 94,912 | | 0.95 | % |
60 to 89 days | | | 77,503 | | 0.71 | % | | | 55,635 | | 0.55 | % |
90 + days | | | 91,271 | | 0.83 | % | | | 25,482 | | 0.25 | % |
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Total delinquencies | | $ | 380,858 | | 3.47 | % | | $ | 176,029 | | 1.75 | % |
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The following table presents selected information on Contracts purchased by the Company, net of unearned interest:
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| | | Three months ended
December 31, | | | Nine months ended December 31, | |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Contracts | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchases | | $ | 25,469,763 | | | $ | 29,101,987 | | | $ | 83,498,826 | | | $ | 85,834,957 | |
Weighted APR | | | 24.08 | % | | | 23.66 | % | | | 24.13 | % | | | 23.84 | % |
Average discount | | | 8.34 | % | | | 8.53 | % | | | 8.18 | % | | | 8.46 | % |
Weighted average term (months) | | | 48 | | | | 46 | | | | 48 | | | | 46 | |
Average loan | | $ | 9,316 | | | $ | 9,100 | | | $ | 9,369 | | | $ | 9,073 | |
Number of contracts | | | 2,734 | | | | 3,198 | | | | 8,912 | | | | 9,460 | |
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