UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 27, 2005 NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter) British Columbia, Canada 0-26680 8736-3354 (State or Other Jurisdiction of(Commission (I.R.S. Employer Incorporation or Organization)File Number) Identification No.) 2454 McMullen Booth Road, Building C Clearwater, Florida 33759 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (727) 726-0763 (Registrant's telephone number, Including area code) Not applicable (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) 2 Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition Clearwater, Florida, - January 27, 2005: Nicholas Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ, NICK), today announced record revenues, net income and earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2004. Revenues for the third quarter ended December 31, 2004 increased 34% to $8,541,000 compared to $6,385,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2003. Net income for the quarter increased 70% to $2,214,000 from $1,306,000 last year. Earnings per share for the quarter increased 33% to $0.32 per share from $0.24 per share last year. The Company has reported record same quarter increases in revenues and earnings for 57 out of the past 58 quarters. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibit # Description 9 Press release dated January 27, 2005, announcing record earnings for the third quarter ended December 31, 2004. 3 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized. NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC. (Registrant) Date: January 27, 2005 /s/ Peter L. Vosotas Peter L. Vosotas Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) Date: January 27, 2005 /s/ Ralph T. Finkenbrink Ralph T. Finkenbrink (Principal Financial Officer and Accounting Officer) 4 Exhibit Index Exhibit Description 9 Press release dated January 27, 2005, announcing record earnings for the third quarter ended December 31, 2004. 5 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nicholas Financial, Inc. Corporate Headquarters 2454 McMullen-Booth Rd. Building C, Suite 501 Clearwater, FL 33759 Contact: Ralph Finkenbrink Sr. Vice President, CFO NASDAQ: NICK Web site: www.nicholasfinancial.com Ph # : 727-726-0763 Nicholas Financial Reports Record 3rd Quarter Results & Expands into Kentucky Clearwater, Florida, - January 27, 2005: Nicholas Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ, NICK), today announced record revenues, net income and earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2004. Revenues for the third quarter ended December 31, 2004 increased 34% to $8,541,000 compared to $6,385,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2003. Net income for the quarter increased 70% to $2,214,000 from $1,306,000 last year. Earnings per share for the quarter increased 33% to $0.32 per share from $0.24 per share last year. The Company has reported record same quarter increases in revenues and earnings for 57 out of the past 58 quarters. For the nine months ended December 31, 2004, revenues increased 27% to $23,651,000 compared to $18,590,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2003. Net income for the nine-month period increased 54% to $5,712,000 from $3,721,000 last year. Earnings per share increased 25% to $0.86 per share compared to $0.69 per share last year. During the 3rd quarter, the Company opened its first branch office in the state of Kentucky. The branch office is located in Florence, Kentucky. Founded in 1985, with assets of $114,029,000 as of December 31, 2004, Nicholas Financial, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded specialty consumer finance companies based in the Southeast. The Company presently operates out of 35 branch locations in both the Southeast and the Mid-West States. The Company has approximately 6,550,000 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 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- KSB for the year ended March 31, 2004. 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. ## More ## 6 Nicholas Financial, Inc. Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2004 2003 2004 2003 ------------------------------------------ Revenue: Finance charge income $ 8,485 $ 6,335 $ 23,496 $ 18,397 Other income 56 50 155 193 ------------------------------------------- 8,541 6,385 23,651 18,590 Costs and expenses: Operating expenses 3,506 2,700 9,930 8,090 Provision for losses 566 633 1,806 1,617 Interest expense 909 950 2,720 2,906 ------------------------------------------ 4,981 4,283 14,456 12,613 Income before income taxes 3,560 2,102 9,195 5,977 ------------------------------------------ Income tax provision 1,346 796 3,483 2,256 Net income $ 2,214 $ 1,306 $ 5,712 $ 3,721 =========================================== Earnings per share: Basic $ .34 $ .26 $ .92 $ .74 =========================================== Diluted $ .32 $ .24 $ .86 $ .69 =========================================== Weighted average shares 6,514,634 5,064,623 6,227,129 5,036,730 =========================================== Weighted average shares and assumed dilution 6,929,919 5,438,989 6,629,730 5,395,815 =========================================== Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited, Dollars in Thousands) December 31, March 31, 2004 2004 ---------------------------------------- Cash $ 1,494 $ 958 Finance receivables, net 106,989 97,237 Other assets 5,546 5,028 --------- -------- Total assets $114,029 $103,223 ========= ======== Line of credit $ 62,208 $ 67,510 Other notes payable 1,552 1,593 Other liabilities 6,460 6,674 --------- --------- Total liabilities 70,220 75,777 Shareholders' equity 43,809 27,446 --------- --------- Total liabilities and Shareholders' equity $114,029 $103,223 ========= ========= ## More ## 7 Three months ended Nine months ended December 31, December 31, Portfolio Summary 2004 2003 2004 2003 -------------------------------------------------------- Average finance receivables, net of unearned interest(1) $130,157,442 $112,338,303 $127,149,953 $110,248,781 ====================================================== Average indebtedness (2) $63,908,352 $66,328,452 $63,564,709 $64,243,278 ====================================================== Finance revenue (3) $8,484,354 $6,334,652 $23,495,609 $18,397,452 Interest expense 909,468 950,109 2,719,551 2,905,747 ----------------------------------------------------- Net finance revenue $7,574,886 $5,384,543 $20,776,058 $15,491,708 ===================================================== Weighted average contractual rate (4) 23.65% 23.85% 23.90% 24.02% ===================================================== Average cost of borrowed funds(2) 5.69% 5.73% 5.70% 6.03% ===================================================== Gross portfolio yield (5) 26.07% 22.56% 24.63% 22.25% Interest expense as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest 2.79% 3.38% 2.85% 3.51% Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest 1.74% 2.25% 1.89% 1.96% ----------------------------------------------------- Net portfolio yield (5) 21.54% 16.93% 19.89% 16.78% Operating expenses as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (6) 10.60% 9.39% 10.25% 9.51% ----------------------------------------------------- Pre-tax yield as a percentage of average finance receivables, net of unearned interest (7) 10.94% 7.54% 9.64% 7.27% ===================================================== Write-off to liquidation (8) 7.45% 9.64% 6.99% 9.12% Net charge-off percentage (9) 6.52% 8.11% 6.03% 7.79% Note: All three and nine 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 and notes payable-related party. Average cost of borrowed funds represents interest expense as a percentage of average indebtedness. (3) Finance revenue 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 revenues 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. ## More ## 8 The following tables present certain information regarding delinquency rates experienced by the Company with respect to Contracts and under its direct loan program. At December 31, 2004 2003 ------------------------------------- Contracts Gross Balance Outstanding $165,583,890 $143,113,043 Delinquencies 30 to 59 days $3,056,372 1.85% $2,836,531 1.98% 60 to 89 days 706,221 0.43% 805,643 0.56% 90 + days 327,077 0.19% 247,261 0.17% ---------- ----- ---------- ----- Total Delinquencies $4,089,670 2.47% $3,889,435 2.71% Direct Loans Gross Balance Outstanding $5,583,074 $4,536,172 Delinquencies 30 to 59 days $61,980 1.11% $37,451 0.83% 60 to 89 days 16,758 0.30% 33,612 0.74% 90 + days 27,475 0.49% 30,354 0.67% ------- ----- ------- ----- Total Delinquencies $ 106,213 1.90% $ 101,417 2.24% The amounts shown in the tables below represent the amount of Contracts purchased, net of unearned interest. Three months ended Nine months ended December 31, December 31, State 2004 2003 2004 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------ FL $10,121,741 $8,226,294 $30,643,243 $27,210,545 GA 1,238,711 1,802,773 5,547,869 6,384,776 NC 2,081,482 1,581,909 6,577,416 5,548,857 SC 781,675 664,595 2,847,066 2,144,234 OH 2,064,868 2,267,575 8,635,938 8,453,317 MI 412,137 597,254 2,225,223 1,665,511 VA 1,400,228 438,850 4,270,114 611,901 KY 234,820 - 234,820 - MD 414,908 - 414,908 - ---------------------------------------------------------- Total $18,750,570 $15,579,250 $61,396,597 $52,019,141 ========================================================== Three months ended Nine months ended December 31, December 31, Contracts 2004 2003 2004 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Purchases $18,750,570 $15,579,250 $61,396,597 $52,019,141 Weighted APR 23.65% 23.66% 23.90% 23.88% Average Discount 8.73% 8.80% 8.72% 8.91% Average Term(months) 45 43 44 43 Average Loan $8,504 $8,110 $8,382 $8,128 Number of Contracts 2,205 1,921 7,325 6,400 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ## End ##