<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-14-257879.txt : 20140701
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-14-257879.hdr.sgml : 20140701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140701171702
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-14-257879
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		5
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140625
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140701
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140701

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NICHOLAS FINANCIAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001000045
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SHORT-TERM BUSINESS CREDIT INSTITUTIONS [6153]
		IRS NUMBER:				593019317
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26680
		FILM NUMBER:		14953508

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2454 MCMULLEN BOOTH RD
		STREET 2:		BLDG C SUITE 501 B
		CITY:			CLEARWATER
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33759
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7277260763

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2454 MCMULLEN BOOTH RD
		STREET 2:		BLDG C SUITE 501B
		CITY:			CLEARWATER
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33759
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d752354d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>WASHINGTON, DC 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM 8-K
</B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Pursuant
to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June&nbsp;25, 2014 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>British Columbia, Canada</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>0-26680</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>8736-3354</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of incorporation)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Commission</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>File Number)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(IRS Employer</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Identification No.)</B></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>2454 McMullen Booth Road, Building C </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Clearwater, Florida 33759 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(727) 726-0763 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Not applicable </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain
Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On June&nbsp;25, 2014, Peter L. Vosotas, the founder of Nicholas Financial, Inc. (the
&#147;Company&#148;), resigned as Chairman of the Board and a director of the Company after having served in such capacities for almost 30 years. Mr.&nbsp;Vosotas&#146; decision was based on personal reasons and was not the result of any
disagreement with the Company on any matters relating to the Company&#146;s operations, policies or practices. In connection with Mr.&nbsp;Vosotas&#146; retirement from the Company, the Company agreed to sell Mr.&nbsp;Vosotas his Company-provided
automobile at a discount to fair market value. In addition, Mr.&nbsp;Vosotas&#146; ability to exercise his currently exercisable options to purchase 82,500 Common Shares of the Company was extended until June&nbsp;25, 2015, as permitted under the
terms of the Company&#146;s Equity Incentive Plan. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On July&nbsp;1, 2014, the Company&#146;s Board of Directors (the &#147;Board&#148;) unanimously
appointed Ralph T. Finkenbrink, the Company&#146;s President and Chief Executive Officer, to serve as Chairman of the Board. The Board also unanimously elected Kevin D. Bates, the Company&#146;s Senior Vice President &#150; Branch Operations, as a
director to fill the vacancy created by Mr.&nbsp;Vosotas&#146; resignation. As executive officers of the Company, neither Mr.&nbsp;Finkenbrink nor Mr.&nbsp;Bates will receive any additional compensation for his service as a member of the Board. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On June&nbsp;30, 2014, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Ralph T. Finkenbrink, the Company&#146;s President and Chief
Executive Officer. The agreement currently provides for a minimum base salary of $325,000 and annual performance bonuses as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The agreement has an initial term of two years. Thereafter, the
agreement automatically renews on June&nbsp;30 of each year, unless the Company provides to Mr.&nbsp;Finkenbrink, at least sixty days prior to such date, written notification that it intends not to renew the agreement. Thus, the current term of
Mr.&nbsp;Finkenbrink&#146;s employment agreement will expire on June&nbsp;30, 2016, unless automatically renewed as described above. Mr.&nbsp;Finkenbrink&#146;s employment agreement provides that, if he is terminated by the Company without cause, or
if he terminates his employment upon (a)&nbsp;a good faith determination by him that the Company has materially breached his employment agreement, (b)&nbsp;a material adverse change in his working conditions or status, (c)&nbsp;a significant
relocation of his principal office or (d)&nbsp;upon or within the two-year period following a change of control of the Company, a good faith determination by him that there has been any of the following:&nbsp;a breach of his employment agreement by
the Company, any adverse change in his working conditions, status, authority, duties, responsibilities (including reporting other than directly to the Board of Directors) or any requirement that he relocate his principal office to a location that is
more than ten miles from the location of his principal office immediately prior to the change of control, then he shall be entitled to a severance payment equal to two times the sum of his annual base salary in effect at the time of such termination
and his average annual bonus for the two full calendar years immediately preceding such termination. Mr.&nbsp;Finkenbrink&#146;s employment agreement further provides that, during the term of the agreement and for a period of two years thereafter,
Mr.&nbsp;Finkenbrink will not, directly or indirectly, compete with the Company by engaging in certain proscribed activities. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On June&nbsp;30, 2014, the
Company entered into an employment agreement with Kevin D. Bates, the Company&#146;s Senior Vice President &#150; Branch Operations. The agreement currently provides for a minimum base salary of $225,000 and annual performance bonuses as determined
by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The agreement has an initial term of two years. Thereafter, the agreement automatically renews on June&nbsp;30 of each year, unless the Company provides to Mr.&nbsp;Bates, at least sixty days prior to such
date, written notification that it intends not to renew the agreement. Thus, the current term of Mr.&nbsp;Bates&#146; employment agreement will expire on June&nbsp;30, 2016, unless automatically renewed as described above. Mr.&nbsp;Bates&#146;
employment agreement provides that, if he is terminated by the Company without cause, or if he terminates his employment upon (a)&nbsp;a good faith determination by him that the Company has materially breached his employment agreement, (b)&nbsp;a
material adverse change in his working conditions or status, (c)&nbsp;a significant relocation of his principal office or (d)&nbsp;upon or within the two-year period following a change of control of the Company, a good faith determination by him
that there has been any of the following:&nbsp;a breach of his employment agreement by the Company, any adverse change in his working conditions, status, authority, duties, responsibilities (including reporting other than directly to the Board of
Directors) or any requirement that he relocate his principal office to a location that is more than ten miles from the location of his principal office immediately prior to the change of control, then he shall be entitled to a severance payment
equal to two times the sum of his annual base salary in effect at the time of such termination and his average annual bonus for the two full calendar years immediately preceding such termination. Mr.&nbsp;Bates&#146; employment agreement further
provides that, during the term of the agreement and for a period of two years thereafter, Mr.&nbsp;Bates will not, directly or indirectly, compete with the Company by engaging in certain proscribed activities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Copies of the foregoing employment agreements with Messrs. Finkenbrink and Bates are attached hereto as Exhibits&nbsp;10.1 and&nbsp;10.2, respectively, and
are incorporated into this Item&nbsp;5.02 by reference. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On June&nbsp;13, 2014, the Company&#146;s executive officers were granted the following equity
awards under the Company&#146;s Equity Incentive Plan as part of their incentive bonus program for the fiscal year ending March&nbsp;31, 2015: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Executive Officer</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Shares of Restricted Stock*</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">Non-Qualified Stock Options**</P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Ralph T. Finkenbrink</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">20,000</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">40,000</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Kevin D. Bates</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">12,000</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">25,000</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Katie L. MacGillivary</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">8,000</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center">15,000</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">These awards will vest on March&nbsp;31, 2017. </TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">**</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">These awards will vest in five equal installments, commencing as of the first anniversary of the date of grant, and expire on June&nbsp;13, 2024. </TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01 Other Events. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On July&nbsp;1, 2014, the Board determined to discontinue its previously announced exploration of possible strategic alternatives for the Company, including,
but not limited to, the possible sale of the Company to Prospect Capital Corporation or another third party, potential acquisition and expansion opportunities and/or a possible debt or equity financing. Effective as of the same date, the Board
terminated its engagement of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, which firm was acting as the Board&#146;s independent financial advisor in connection with such exploration of strategic alternatives. After careful consideration, the Board determined that
the Company and its shareholders&#146; interests will be best served at this time by the Company focusing on its operations as a stand-alone entity. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The
2014 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, which was tentatively scheduled to be held on July&nbsp;30, 2014, will be held on August&nbsp;12, 2014. The record date for such Annual General Meeting is June&nbsp;24, 2014. The Company
anticipates mailing a proxy statement and related materials on or about July&nbsp;11, 2014 to shareholders entitled to vote at the 2014 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>The statements contained in this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section&nbsp;27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section&nbsp;31E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the Company&#146;s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future.
Forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the future intentions of the Board of Directors of the Company regarding possible strategic alternatives. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. All forward-looking
statements included in this document are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Prospective investors should also consult the risks
described from time to time in the Company&#146;s Reports on Forms&nbsp;8-K, 10-Q and 10-K and Annual Reports to Shareholders. </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits. </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:25.30pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>No.</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:39.50pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


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<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.1*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Employment Agreement (as Amended and Restated), dated June&nbsp;30, 2014, between Nicholas Financial, Inc. and Ralph T. Finkenbrink, President and Chief Executive Officer.</TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.2*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Employment Agreement, dated June&nbsp;30, 2014, between Nicholas Financial, Inc. and Kevin D. Bates, Senior Vice President &#150; Branch Operations.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>99.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Press release, dated July&nbsp;1, 2014.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Represents a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement in which a director or named executive officer of the Company participated. </TD></TR></TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="38%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="7%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="36%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="16%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"><B>NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC.</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Registrant)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="text-indent:2.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Date: July&nbsp;1, 2014</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Ralph T. Finkenbrink</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Ralph T. Finkenbrink</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">President and Chief Executive Officer</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">(Principal Executive Officer)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:25.30pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>No.</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:39.50pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.1*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Employment Agreement (as Amended and Restated), dated June&nbsp;30, 2014, between Nicholas Financial, Inc. and Ralph T. Finkenbrink, President and Chief Executive Officer.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.2*</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Employment Agreement, dated June&nbsp;30, 2014, between Nicholas Financial, Inc. and Kevin D. Bates, Senior Vice President &#150; Branch Operations.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>99.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Press release, dated July&nbsp;1, 2014.</TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="line-height:8.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;width:10%">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">*</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Represents a management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement in which a director or named executive officer of the Company participated. </TD></TR></TABLE>
</BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>d752354dex101.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Employment  Agreement</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Exhibit 10.1 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>As Amended and Restated </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">THIS AGREEMENT is amended and restated as of the 30<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">th</SUP> day of June, 2014
(as amended and restated, this &#147;Agreement&#148;), by NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC., a British Columbia, Canada corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), and RALPH T. FINKENBRINK (the &#147;Employee&#148;). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">W I T N E S S E T H: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee entered into an Employment Agreement as of November&nbsp;22, 1999, which was
subsequently amended and restated as of July&nbsp;3, 2012; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, effective as of May&nbsp;31, 2014, the Employee was
appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Company desires to reflect the change in the
Employee&#146;s position with the Company and to continue to assure itself of the Employee&#146;s continued employment in an Employee capacity; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Company continues to recognize that circumstances may arise in which a change in control of the Company occurs,
through acquisition or otherwise, thereby causing uncertainty about the Employee&#146;s future employment with the Company without regard to the Employee&#146;s competence or past contributions, which uncertainty may result in the loss of valuable
services of the Employee to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders, and the Company and the Employee wish to provide reasonable security to the Employee against changes in the Employee&#146;s relationship with the Company in the event of
any such change in control; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee continue to be desirous that any proposal for a change
in control or acquisition of the Company will be considered by the Employee objectively and with reference only to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Employee will be in a better position to consider the Company&#146;s best interests if the Employee is afforded
reasonable security, as provided in this Agreement, against altered conditions of employment which could result from any such change in control or acquisition; and </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Employee desires to continue to be employed by the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
</P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements of the
parties contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">1. EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to employ the Employee, and the Employee
hereby agrees to serve the Company, as President and Chief Executive Officer. The Employee shall report directly to the Company&#146;s Board of Directors and shall render to the Company such management and policy-making services of the type
customarily performed by persons serving in similar capacities with other employers that are similar to the Company, together with such other duties with which he is charged by the Company&#146;s Articles or Notice of Articles (or any similar
governance instruments) and subject to the overall direction and control of the Company&#146;s Board of Directors. The Employee accepts such employment and agrees to devote his best efforts and substantially all of his business time, skill, labor
and attention to the performance of such duties. The Employee agrees not to engage in or be concerned with any other commercial duties or pursuits during the Term (as hereinafter defined) of this Agreement; provided, however, that the Employee may
be involved in a passive capacity in a non-competitive business subject to the prior written approval of the Company&#146;s Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Employee shall assume and competently perform such reasonable responsibilities and
duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company. To the extent that the Company shall have any parent, subsidiary, affiliated corporations, partnerships, or joint venture (collectively &#147;Related
Entities&#148;), the Employee shall perform such duties to promote these entities and their respective interests to the same extent as the interests of the Company without additional compensation. At all times, Employee agrees that he has read and
will abide by, and prospectively will read and abide by, any employee handbook, policy, or practice that the Company or Related Entities has or hereafter adopts with respect to its employees generally. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">2. TERM. The employment of the Employee under this Agreement commences on the date hereof and will continue through and including the close of
business on the 2nd anniversary of the date hereof (the &#147;Initial Term&#148;). After the end of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall continue to renew automatically on the anniversary of the last day of the Initial Term for successive 1-year
terms (the Initial Term, as well as any such renewal(s) thereof, shall be referred to herein as the &#147;Term&#148;) unless the Company provides to the Employee, at least sixty (60)&nbsp;days prior to the expiration of any renewal Term, written
notification that it intends not to renew this Agreement; and, provided, further, that this Agreement may be terminated in accordance with Section&nbsp;5 hereof (with the exception of the obligations of the parties hereunder that shall survive any
such termination). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">3. COMPENSATION. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Annual Base Salary and Bonus. As compensation for his services under this Agreement, the Employee shall receive, and the
Company shall pay, an annual base salary of such amount as shall be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company&#146;s Board of Directors (or other committee performing similar functions), but not less than $325,000 (U.S.). Such annual
base salary shall be payable in equal installments in accordance with the policy then prevailing for the Company&#146;s Employees. In addition to such annual base salary, within ten (10)&nbsp;days of the date hereof, the Employee shall be paid a
signing bonus in the amount of $25,000 (U.S.). The Employee also shall be entitled, during the Term, to an annual performance bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (or other committee performing similar
functions), and to participate in and receive payments from all other bonus and other incentive compensation plans as may be adopted by the Company as are made available to other Employees of the Company. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-2- </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Payments. All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding or deduction by reason of the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, Federal income tax, state and local income tax, if any, and comparable laws and regulations. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Other Benefits. The Employee shall be reimbursed by the Company for all reasonable and customary travel and other business
expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with the Company&#146;s standard policy regarding expense verification practices. The Employee shall be entitled to that number of weeks paid vacation per year that is
available to other Employees of the Company, and shall be eligible to participate in such pension, life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance and other employee benefits plans, if any, which the Company may from time to time make
available to its Employees generally. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">4. NONCOMPETITION AND NON-DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Employee acknowledges that his services are of a special, unique, extraordinary and intellectual character, and his
position with the Company places him in a position of confidence and trust with customers, suppliers and employees of the Company and other Related Entities. The Employee further acknowledges that the rendering of services under this Agreement
necessarily requires the disclosure to him of confidential information (as defined below) of the Company and/or Related Entities. The Employee and the Company agree that both prior to and during his course of employment with the Company, the
Employee had, has and will continue to develop personal relationships with the Company&#146;s financiers, customers, suppliers and employees, and that the Employee holds a position of substantial trust and confidence. As a consequence, the Employee
agrees that it is reasonable and necessary for the protection of goodwill and legitimate business interests of the Company and Related Entities that the Employee make the covenants contained herein, that the covenants are a material inducement for
the Company to employ the Employee and to enter into this Agreement, and that the covenants are given as an integral part of and incident to this Agreement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) The Employee covenants and agrees that during his employment by the Company (whether during the Term hereof or otherwise),
and thereafter for a period of two (2)&nbsp;years following the termination of the Employee&#146;s employment with the Company, he will not: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(i) directly or indirectly engage in, continue in or carry on the business of the Company or any Related Entity, or any
business substantially similar thereto, including owning or controlling any financial interest in, any corporation, partnership, firm or other form of business organization which competes with or is engaged in or carries on any aspect of such
business or any business substantially similar thereto; </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-3- </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(ii) directly or indirectly, assist, promote or encourage any employees or
clients, or potential employees or clients, of the Company or Related Entities to terminate or discontinue their relationship in order to pursue opportunities or employment with any competitor of the Company or Related Entities; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iii) consult with, advise or assist in any way, whether or not for consideration, any corporation, partnership, firm or other
business organization which is now, becomes or may become a competitor of the Company or any Related Entity in any aspect of their respective businesses during the Employee&#146;s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to:
advertising or otherwise endorsing the products of any such competitor; soliciting customers or otherwise serving as an intermediary for any such competitor; or loaning money or rendering any other form of financial assistance to or engaging in any
form of business transaction whether or not on an arms&#146; length basis with any such competitor; or </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iv) engage in any
practice the purpose of which is to evade the provisions of this Agreement or to commit any act which is detrimental to the successful continuation of, or which adversely affects, the business or the Company; provided, however, that the foregoing
shall not preclude the Employee&#146;s ownership of not more than 5% of the equity securities of a corporation which has such securities registered under Section&nbsp;12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange
Act&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) The Employee acknowledges that the inventions, innovations, software, trade secrets, business plans,
financial strategies, finances, and all other confidential or proprietary information with respect to the business and operations of the Company and Related Entities are valuable, special and unique assets of the Company. The Employee agrees not to,
at any time during or after the Term of this Agreement, disclose, directly or indirectly, to any person or entity, or use or authorize or propose to authorize any person or entity to use any confidential or proprietary information with respect to
the Company or Related Entities without the prior written consent of the Company including, without limitation, information as to the financial condition, results of operations, identities of clients or prospective clients, products under
development, acquisition strategies or acquisitions under consideration, pricing or cost information, marketing strategies or any other information relating to the Company or any of the Related Entities which could be reasonably regarded as
confidential. However, this does not include information which is or shall become generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Company or Related Entities or any of their agents, affiliates or representatives or a
person to whom any of them has provided such information. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) The Employee agrees that the geographic scope of this
covenant not to compete shall extend to (i)&nbsp;the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, which constitute the
geographic area in which the Company has operated its business at some time during the two years preceding the date of this Agreement; or (ii)&nbsp;such broader geographic area where the Company conducts business at any time during the Term of this
Agreement. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-4- </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) In the event of any breach of this covenant not to compete, the Employee
recognizes that the remedies at law will be inadequate and that in addition to any relief at law which may be available to the Company for such violation or breach and regardless of any other provision contained in this Agreement, the Company shall
be entitled to equitable remedies (including an injunction) and such other relief as a court may grant after considering the intent of this Section&nbsp;4. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(f) In the event a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the provisions of this covenant not to compete are
excessively broad as to duration, geographic scope, prohibited activities or otherwise, the parties agree that this covenant shall be reduced or curtailed to the extent necessary to render it enforceable. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">5. TERMINATION. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Death. The Employee&#146;s employment hereunder shall terminate upon his death. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Disability. If, during the Term, the Employee becomes physically or mentally disabled in accordance with the terms and
conditions of any disability insurance policy covering the Employee or, if due to such physical or mental disability, the Employee becomes unable for a period of more than one hundred eighty (180)&nbsp;consecutive days to perform his duties
hereunder on substantially a full-time basis as determined by the Company in its sole reasonable discretion, the Company may, at its option, terminate the Employee&#146;s employment hereunder upon not less than thirty (30)&nbsp;days&#146; written
notice of termination. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time with Cause. As used in this
Agreement, &#147;Cause&#148; shall mean the following: (1)&nbsp;a material violation of the Employer&#146;s policies or practices which reasonably justifies termination; (2)&nbsp;conviction of a felony, as evidenced by a binding and final judgment,
order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; (3)&nbsp;the commission by the Employee of any act which would reasonably be expected to materially injure the reputation, business, or business relationships of the Company or Related Entities;
or (4)&nbsp;any material breach by Employee of this Agreement. The Company may terminate this Agreement with Cause as defined in clauses (1)&nbsp;and (4)&nbsp;above upon fifteen (15)&nbsp;business days&#146; prior written notice (the &#147;Cause
Notification Period&#148;) to Employee, but such termination shall only become effective in the event of Employee&#146;s failure to cure the applicable breach or violation, to the reasonable satisfaction of Company, prior to the end of the Cause
Notification Period. The Company may terminate this Agreement without notice at any time with Cause as defined in clause (2)&nbsp;or (3)&nbsp;above. In the event of a termination with Cause, the Company shall be relieved of all its obligations to
the Employee provided for by this Agreement, and all payments to the Employees hereunder shall immediately cease and terminate. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company also may terminate the Employee&#146;s employment hereunder at any time without
Cause by written notice; provided, however, that the Company shall owe the Employee the Severance Payment (as defined below) following a termination of the Employee&#146;s employment by the Company other than for Cause. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) Involuntary Termination by Employee. The Employee may terminate his employment hereunder upon (i)&nbsp;a good faith
determination by the Employee that there has been a </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-5- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
material breach of the Agreement by the Company, (ii)&nbsp;a material adverse change in the Employee&#146;s working conditions or status, (iii)&nbsp;a significant relocation of the
Employee&#146;s principal office, or (iv)&nbsp;upon or within the two-year period following a Change of Control (as defined in Appendix A hereto), a good faith determination by the Employee that there has been any of the following: a breach of the
Agreement by the Company, any adverse change in the Employee&#146;s working conditions, status, authority, duties, responsibilities (including but not limited to a requirement that the Employee report to a corporate officer instead of reporting
directly to the board of directors) or any requirement that the Employee relocate his principal office to a location that is more than ten (10)&nbsp;miles from the location of the Employee&#146;s principal office immediately prior to the Change of
Control (any one of the preceding constituting &#147;Good Reason&#148;), by delivering written notice of termination to the Company indicating in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances alleged to provide a basis for such termination and shall
cease performing the Employee&#146;s duties hereunder on the date which is ten (10)&nbsp;days after delivery of the notice, which date shall also be the date of termination of the Employee&#146;s employment. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) Voluntary Termination by Employee. The Employee agrees to provide the Company with at least twenty (20)&nbsp;business
days&#146; (&#147;Termination Notice Period&#148;) prior written notice of his intent to terminate employment voluntarily. Failure to provide such notice terminates the Employee&#146;s entitlement to payment of accrued, unused benefits, such as
vacation. However, the Company reserves the right to terminate the Employee before the end of the Termination Notice Period, provided that the Company pays the Employee the salary that he would have received from the date of the last payroll payment
to the end of the Termination Notice Period. Such salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company&#146;s normal payroll procedures applicable to base salary. During the Termination Notice Period, the Employee agrees to make a good faith effort
to perform the duties described hereunder. If, during the Term, the Employee voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company, the Company&#146;s obligations, including payment obligations, under this Agreement shall cease, except that the
Company shall pay the Employee the amount of base salary that he would have received from the date of the last payroll payment to the end of the Termination Notice Period in accordance with the Company&#146;s normal payroll procedures applicable to
base salary. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(f) Severance Payment. In the event of a termination of the Employee&#146;s employment (i)&nbsp;by the
Company other than for Cause or (ii)&nbsp;by the Employee in a manner which satisfies Section&nbsp;5(d), the Company shall pay the Employee (subject to the provisions of Section&nbsp;6 of this Agreement) a one-time, lump-sum severance payment equal
to TWO (2)&nbsp;times the sum of (A)&nbsp;the Employee&#146;s annual base salary in effect at the time of such termination and (B)&nbsp;the Employee&#146;s average annual bonus for the TWO (2)&nbsp;full calendar years immediately preceding such
termination (&#147;Severance Payment&#148;). The Severance Payment shall be paid to the Employee in cash equivalent on the first day of the seventh (7<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">th</SUP>)&nbsp;month following the month in which
the termination of the Employee&#146;s employment occurs, without interest thereon; provided, however, that if, on the date of termination of the Employee&#146;s employment, the Employee is not a &#147;specified employee&#148; within the meaning of
Section&nbsp;409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the &#147;Code&#148;), then the Severance Payment shall be paid to the Employee in cash equivalent on the date that is sixty (60)&nbsp;days after the date of termination of the
Employee&#146;s employment. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-6- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(g) Benefits. The following shall apply upon termination of the Employee&#146;s
employment: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the Employee shall receive all compensation and other benefits to which he was entitled under this Agreement or otherwise as an employee of the Company through the termination
date, including payments of base salary accrued hereunder through the calendar month in which such termination occurs. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">6. TAX PROVISIONS.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Limitation on Parachute Payments. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any portion of the
Severance Payment or any other payment under this Agreement, or payments to or for the benefit of the Employee under any other agreement or plan (collectively, the &#147;Change of Control Benefits&#148;), would constitute an &#147;excess parachute
payment,&#148; then the Change of Control Benefits to be made to the Employee shall be reduced such that the value of the aggregate Change of Control Benefits that the Employee is entitled to receive shall be One Dollar ($1) less than the maximum
amount which the Employee may receive without becoming subject to the tax imposed by Section&nbsp;4999 of the Code (or any successor provision) or which the Company may pay without loss of deduction under Section&nbsp;280G(a) of the Code (or any
successor provision); provided that the foregoing reduction in the amount of Change of Control Benefits shall not apply if the after-tax value to the Employee of the Change of Control Benefits prior to reduction in accordance herewith is greater
than the after-tax value to the Employee if the Change of Control Benefits are reduced in accordance herewith. For purposes of this Agreement, the terms &#147;excess parachute payment&#148; and &#147;parachute payments&#148; shall have the meanings
assigned to them in Code Section&nbsp;280G, and such &#147;parachute payments&#148; shall be valued as provided therein. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Opinion. For purposes of this Section, within thirty (30)&nbsp;days after notice by one party to the other of its belief
that there is a payment or benefit due the Employee that will result in an excess parachute payment as defined in Section&nbsp;280G of the Code or any successor provision thereto, the Employee and the Company shall obtain, at the Company&#146;s
expense, the opinion (which need not be unqualified) of nationally recognized tax counsel (&#147;Tax Counsel&#148;) selected by the Company&#146;s independent auditors and acceptable to the Employee, which sets forth (A)&nbsp;the &#147;base
amount&#148; within the meaning of Section&nbsp;280G; (B)&nbsp;the aggregate present value of the payments in the nature of compensation to the Employee as prescribed in Section&nbsp;280G(b)(2)(A) (ii); (C)&nbsp;the amount and present value of any
&#147;excess parachute payment&#148; within the meaning of Section&nbsp;280G(b)(1) without regard to the limitations of this Section&nbsp;6; (D)&nbsp;the after-tax value of the Change of Control Benefits if the reduction in Change of Control
Benefits contemplated under this Section&nbsp;6 did not apply; and (E)&nbsp;the after-tax value of the Change of Control Benefits taking into account the reduction in Change of Control Benefits contemplated under this Section&nbsp;6. For purposes of
determining the after-tax value of the Change of Control Benefits, the Employee shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the
payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and locality of the Employee&#146;s domicile for income tax purposes on the date the payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in
federal income taxes that may be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-7- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In the event that a reduction is to be made under this Section&nbsp;6, the
Change of Control Benefits shall be reduced or eliminated by applying the following principles, in order: (i)&nbsp;the payment or benefit with the higher ratio of the parachute payment value to present economic value (determined using reasonable
actuarial assumptions) shall be reduced or eliminated before a payment or benefit with a lower ratio; (ii)&nbsp;the payment or benefit with the later possible payment date shall be reduced or eliminated before a payment or benefit with an earlier
payment date; and (iii)&nbsp;cash payments shall be reduced prior to non-cash benefits; provided, however, that if the foregoing order of reduction or elimination would violate Section&nbsp;409A of the Code, then the reduction shall be made pro rata
among the payments or benefits included in the Change of Control Benefits (on the basis of the relative present value of the parachute payments). For purposes of this Agreement, the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit,
and all present economic values, shall be determined by the Company&#146;s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G, which determination shall be evidenced in a certificate of such auditors addressed to the Company and
the Employee. Such opinion shall be dated as of the date of termination of the Employee&#146;s employment and addressed to the Company and the Employee and shall be binding upon the Company and the Employee. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The provisions of this Section&nbsp;6(b), including the calculations, notices and opinions provided for herein shall be based
upon the conclusive presumption that the compensation earned by the Employee pursuant to the Company&#146;s compensation programs prior to a change of control is reasonable; provided, however, that in the event such Tax Counsel so requests in
connection with the opinion required by this Section&nbsp;6(b), the Company shall obtain at its expense, and Tax Counsel may rely on in providing the opinion, the advice of a firm of recognized Employee compensation consultants as to the
reasonableness of any item of compensation to be received by the Employee. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Effect of Change in Law. In the event that
the provisions of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code (or any successor provisions) are repealed, this Section&nbsp;6 shall cease to be effective on the effective date of such repeal. The parties to this Agreement recognize that final regulations
promulgated under Section&nbsp;280G of the Code may affect the amounts that may be paid under this Agreement and agree that, upon issuance of such final regulations, this Agreement may be modified as the parties hereto may in good faith deem
necessary in light of the provisions of such regulations to achieve the purposes of this Agreement, and that consent to such modification shall not be unreasonably withheld. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">7. SUCCESSORS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) If the Company sells, assigns or transfers all or substantially all of its business and assets to any Person (as defined
in Appendix A hereto) or if the Company merges into or consolidates or otherwise combines (where the Company does not survive such combination) with any Person (any such event, a &#147;Sale of Business&#148;), then the Company shall assign all of
its right, title and interest in this Agreement as of the date of such event to such Person, and the Company shall cause such Person, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Employee, to expressly assume and agree
to perform from and after the date of such assignment all of the terms, conditions and provisions imposed by this Agreement upon the Company. Failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the
</P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-8- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
effective date of such Sale of Business shall be a material breach of this Agreement. In case of such assignment by the Company and of assumption and agreement by such Person, as used in this
Agreement, &#147;Company&#148; shall thereafter mean such Person which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section&nbsp;7 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law,
and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, such Person. The Employee shall, in the Employee&#146;s discretion, be entitled to proceed against any or all of such Persons, any Person which theretofore was such a successor
to the Company (as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement) and the Company (as so defined) in any action to enforce any rights of the Employee hereunder. Except as provided in this Subsection, this Agreement shall not be assignable by the
Company. This Agreement shall not be terminated by the voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Company. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) This
Agreement and all rights of the Employee shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee&#146;s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs and beneficiaries. All amounts payable to the Employee under
Sections&nbsp;3, 5, and 7 of this Agreement if the Employee had lived shall be paid, in the event of the Employee&#146;s death, to the Employee&#146;s estate, heirs and representatives; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be construed to
modify any terms of any benefit plan of the Company, as such terms are in effect on the date of the Employee&#146;s death, that expressly govern benefits under such plan in the event of the Employee&#146;s death. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">8. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be regarded as divisible, and the parties agree that if any of said provisions or any
part hereof shall under any circumstances be deemed or declared invalid, inoperative or unenforceable, then the validity and enforceability of the remainder of such provisions or parts hereof and the applicability thereof shall not be affected
thereby. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">9. AMENDMENT. This Agreement (as hereby amended and restated) may not be further amended or modified at any time except by
written instrument executed by the Company and the Employee. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">10. WITHHOLDING. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from amounts to
be paid to the Employee hereunder any federal, state or local withholding or other taxes or charges which it is from time to time required to withhold; provided, that the amount so withheld shall not exceed the minimum amount required to be withheld
by law (unless the Employee has otherwise indicated in writing). The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel if any question as to the amount or requirement of any such withholding shall arise. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-9- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">11. NOTICE. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for
herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when actually received, whether hand-delivered, sent by telecopier, facsimile transmission or other electronic means of transmitting written documents (as long as receipt is
acknowledged) or mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If
to the Employee, to: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Ralph T. Finkenbrink </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">4348 Hythe Court </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Palm Harbor, FL 34685 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(727)&nbsp;943-2762 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If to the Company, to: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Nicholas Financial, Inc. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">2454 McMullen Booth Road </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Building C </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Clearwater, Florida 33759 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Attn: Corporate Secretary </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that a notice of change of
address shall be effective only upon receipt. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">12. NO WAIVER; ENTIRE AGREEMENT. No waiver by any party hereto of any breach of this
Agreement by any other party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar term or condition at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement and any equity award agreements between the Company and the Employee
constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the Employee&#146;s employment by the Company and there are no agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied, with respect to or related to the
employment of the Employee which are not set forth in this Agreement or such equity award agreements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">13. NO ASSIGNMENT. Except as
expressly set forth herein, no party shall assign any of his or its rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party and any attempted assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void and without
legal effect. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">14. COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE SIGNATURES. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be effective upon the execution and delivery by any party hereto of facsimile copies of signature pages hereto duly executed by such
party; provided, however, that any party delivering a facsimile signature page covenants and agrees to deliver promptly after the date hereof two (2)&nbsp;original copies to the other party hereto. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">15. GOVERNING LAW. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the
State of Florida, except that Section&nbsp;15(b) shall be construed in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act if arbitration is chosen by the Employee as the method of dispute resolution. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall, at the Employee&#146;s election, be determined by either
(i)&nbsp;arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect (but subject to any evidentiary standards set forth in this Agreement), in which both parties shall be bound by the arbitration award, or (ii)&nbsp;by
litigation. Whether the dispute is to be settled by arbitration or litigation, the venue for the arbitration or litigation shall be Tampa, Florida. The parties consent to personal jurisdiction in each trial court in the selected venue having subject
matter jurisdiction notwithstanding their residence or situs, and each party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided hereunder for the giving of notices. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-10- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">16. CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION; CODE SECTION 409A. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) No party shall be considered as being responsible for the drafting of this Agreement for the purpose of applying any rule
construing ambiguities against the drafter or otherwise. No draft of this Agreement shall be taken into account in construing this Agreement. Any provision of this Agreement which requires an agreement in writing shall be deemed to require that the
writing in question be signed by the Employee and an authorized representative of the Company. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) The Company and the
Employee intend the terms of this Agreement to be in compliance with Section&nbsp;409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. To the maximum extent permissible, any ambiguous terms of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner
that avoids a violation of Section&nbsp;409A of the Code. The phrase &#147;termination of the Employee&#146;s employment&#148; and similar phrases in this Agreement shall mean the Employee&#146;s &#147;separation from service&#148; as defined in
Section&nbsp;409A of the Code. The Company does not guarantee the tax treatment or tax consequences associated with any payment or benefit, including but not limited to consequences related to Section&nbsp;409A of the Code. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) If, after the date of a Change of Control of the Company, any payment amount or the value of any benefit under this
Agreement is required to be included in the Employee&#146;s income prior to the date such amount is actually paid or the benefit provided as a result of the failure of this Agreement (or any other arrangement that is required to be aggregated with
this Agreement under Code Section&nbsp;409A) to comply with Code Section&nbsp;409A, then the Employee shall receive a distribution, in a lump sum, within 90 days after the date it is finally determined that the Agreement (or such other arrangement
that is required to be aggregated with this Agreement) fails to meet the requirements of Section&nbsp;409A of the Code; such distribution shall equal the lesser of (i)&nbsp;the amount required to be included in the Employee&#146;s income as a result
of such failure and (ii)&nbsp;the benefits otherwise due hereunder, and shall in any event reduce the amount of payments or benefits otherwise due hereunder. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">17. HEADINGS. The headings herein contained are for reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-11- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and
year first above written. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


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<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Katie L. MacGillivary</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Katie L. MacGillivary</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">EMPLOYEE:</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Ralph T. Finkenbrink</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">Printed Name: Ralph T. Finkenbrink</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>APPENDIX A </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following
paragraphs shall have occurred: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) any person or entity, or group thereof acting in concert (a &#147;Person&#148;) (other than
(A)&nbsp;the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B)&nbsp;a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (C)&nbsp;an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to
an offering of such securities or (D)&nbsp;a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock in the Company), being or becoming the &#147;beneficial
owner&#148; (as such term is defined in Securities and Exchange Commission (&#147;SEC&#148;) Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company which, together with securities previously owned, confer upon such person, entity or group
the combined voting power, on any matters brought to a vote of shareholders, of twenty percent (20%)&nbsp;or more of the then outstanding shares of voting securities of the Company; or </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) the sale, assignment or transfer of assets of the Company or any subsidiary or subsidiaries, in a transaction or series of transactions,
if the aggregate consideration received or to be received by the Company or any such subsidiary in connection with such sale, assignment or transfer is greater than fifty percent (50%)&nbsp;of the book value, determined by the Company in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, of the Company&#146;s assets determined on a consolidated basis immediately before such transaction or the first of such transactions; or </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) the merger, consolidation, share exchange or reorganization of the Company (or one or more direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company)
as a result of which the holders of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company as a group would receive less than fifty percent (50%)&nbsp;of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving or resulting
entity or any parent thereof immediately after such merger, consolidation, share exchange or reorganization; or </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) the adoption of a plan
of complete liquidation or the approval of the dissolution of the Company; or </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) a determination by the Board of Directors of the
Company, in view of the then current circumstances or impending events, that a Change of Control of the Company has occurred or is imminent, which determination shall be made for the specific purpose of triggering the operative provisions of this
Agreement. </P>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.2
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>d752354dex102.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Employment  Agreement</TITLE>
</HEAD>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Exhibit 10.2 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 30<SUP STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">th</SUP> day of June, 2014, this
&#147;Agreement&#148;), by NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC., a British Columbia, Canada corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), and KEVIN D. BATES (the &#147;Employee&#148;). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">W I T N E S S E T H: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, effective June&nbsp;1, 2014, the Employee was appointed Senior Vice President-Branch Operations of the Company; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure itself of the Employee&#146;s continued employment in an Employee capacity; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that circumstances may arise in which a change in control of the Company occurs, through
acquisition or otherwise, thereby causing uncertainty about the Employee&#146;s future employment with the Company without regard to the Employee&#146;s competence or past contributions, which uncertainty may result in the loss of valuable services
of the Employee to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders, and the Company and the Employee wish to provide reasonable security to the Employee against changes in the Employee&#146;s relationship with the Company in the event of any such
change in control; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee desire that any proposal for a change in control or acquisition
of the Company will be considered by the Employee objectively and with reference only to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Employee will be in a better position to consider the Company&#146;s best interests if the Employee is afforded
reasonable security, as provided in this Agreement, against altered conditions of employment which could result from any such change in control or acquisition; and </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">WHEREAS, the Employee desires to continue to be employed by the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein, and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">1. EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to employ the Employee, and the Employee
hereby agrees to serve the Company, as Senior Vice President &#150; Branch Operations. The Employee shall report directly to the Company&#146;s President and Chief Executive Officer and shall render to the Company such management and policy-making
services of the type customarily performed by persons serving in similar capacities with other employers that are similar to the Company, together with such other duties with which he is charged by the Company&#146;s Articles or Notice of Articles
(or any </P>

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similar governance instruments) and subject to the overall direction and control of the Company&#146;s Board of Directors. The Employee accepts such employment and agrees to devote his best
efforts and substantially all of his business time, skill, labor and attention to the performance of such duties. The Employee agrees not to engage in or be concerned with any other commercial duties or pursuits during the Term (as hereinafter
defined) of this Agreement; provided, however, that the Employee may be involved in a passive capacity in a non-competitive business subject to the prior written approval of the Company&#146;s Board of Directors. Furthermore, the Employee shall
assume and competently perform such reasonable responsibilities and duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Chairman of the Board or the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. To the extent that the Company shall
have any parent, subsidiary, affiliated corporations, partnerships, or joint venture (collectively &#147;Related Entities&#148;), the Employee shall perform such duties to promote these entities and their respective interests to the same extent as
the interests of the Company without additional compensation. At all times, Employee agrees that he has read and will abide by, and prospectively will read and abide by, any employee handbook, policy, or practice that the Company or Related Entities
has or hereafter adopts with respect to its employees generally. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">2. TERM. The employment of the Employee under this Agreement commences
on the date hereof and will continue through and including the close of business on the 1st anniversary of the date hereof (the &#147;Initial Term&#148;), unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. After the end of the
Initial Term, this Agreement shall continue to renew automatically on the anniversary of the last day of the Initial Term for successive 1-year terms (the Initial Term, as well as any such renewal(s) thereof, shall be referred to herein as the
&#147;Term&#148;) unless the Company provides to the Employee, at least sixty (60)&nbsp;days prior to the expiration of any renewal Term, written notification that it intends not to renew this Agreement; and, provided, further, that this Agreement
may be terminated in accordance with Section&nbsp;5 hereof (with the exception of the obligations of the parties hereunder that shall survive any such termination). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">3. COMPENSATION. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Annual Base Salary and Bonus. As compensation for his services under this Agreement, the Employee shall receive, and the
Company shall pay, an annual base salary of such amount as shall be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company&#146;s Board of Directors (or other committee performing similar functions), but not less than $225,000 (U.S.). Such annual
base salary shall be payable in equal installments in accordance with the policy then prevailing for the Company&#146;s Employees. In addition to such annual base salary, the Employee shall be entitled, during the Term, to an annual performance
bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (or other committee performing similar functions), and to participate in and receive payments from all other bonus and other incentive compensation plans as may be adopted
by the Company as are made available to other Employees of the Company. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Payments. All amounts paid pursuant to this
Agreement shall be subject to withholding or deduction by reason of the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, Federal income tax, state and local income tax, if any, and comparable laws and regulations. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Other Benefits. The Employee shall be reimbursed by the Company for all reasonable and customary travel and other business
expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with the Company&#146;s standard policy regarding expense verification practices. The Employee shall be entitled to that number of weeks paid vacation per year that is
available to other Employees of the Company, and shall be eligible to participate in such pension, life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance and other employee benefits plans, if any, which the Company may from time to time make
available to its Employees generally. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-2- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">4. NONCOMPETITION AND NON-DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Employee acknowledges that his services are of a special, unique, extraordinary and intellectual character, and his
position with the Company places him in a position of confidence and trust with customers, suppliers and employees of the Company and other Related Entities. The Employee further acknowledges that the rendering of services under this Agreement
necessarily requires the disclosure to him of confidential information (as defined below) of the Company and/or Related Entities. The Employee and the Company agree that both prior to and during his course of employment with the Company, the
Employee had, has and will continue to develop personal relationships with the Company&#146;s financiers, customers, suppliers and employees, and that the Employee holds a position of substantial trust and confidence. As a consequence, the Employee
agrees that it is reasonable and necessary for the protection of goodwill and legitimate business interests of the Company and Related Entities that the Employee make the covenants contained herein, that the covenants are a material inducement for
the Company to employ the Employee and to enter into this Agreement, and that the covenants are given as an integral part of and incident to this Agreement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) The Employee covenants and agrees that during his employment by the Company (whether during the Term hereof or otherwise),
and thereafter for a period of two (2)&nbsp;years following the termination of the Employee&#146;s employment with the Company, he will not: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(i) directly or indirectly engage in, continue in or carry on the business of the Company or any Related Entity, or any
business substantially similar thereto, including owning or controlling any financial interest in, any corporation, partnership, firm or other form of business organization which competes with or is engaged in or carries on any aspect of such
business or any business substantially similar thereto; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(ii) directly or indirectly, assist, promote or encourage any
employees or clients, or potential employees or clients, of the Company or Related Entities to terminate or discontinue their relationship in order to pursue opportunities or employment with any competitor of the Company or Related Entities; </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iii) consult with, advise or assist in any way, whether or not for consideration, any corporation, partnership, firm or other
business organization which is now, becomes or may become a competitor of the Company or any Related Entity in any aspect of their respective businesses during the Employee&#146;s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to:
advertising or </P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
otherwise endorsing the products of any such competitor; soliciting customers or otherwise serving as an intermediary for any such competitor; or loaning money or rendering any other form of
financial assistance to or engaging in any form of business transaction whether or not on an arms&#146; length basis with any such competitor; or </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:17%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(iv) engage in any practice the purpose of which is to evade the provisions of this Agreement or to commit any act which is
detrimental to the successful continuation of, or which adversely affects, the business or the Company; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not preclude the Employee&#146;s ownership of not more than 5% of the equity securities of a
corporation which has such securities registered under Section&nbsp;12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) The Employee acknowledges that the inventions, innovations, software, trade secrets, business plans, financial strategies,
finances, and all other confidential or proprietary information with respect to the business and operations of the Company and Related Entities are valuable, special and unique assets of the Company. The Employee agrees not to, at any time during or
after the Term of this Agreement, disclose, directly or indirectly, to any person or entity, or use or authorize or propose to authorize any person or entity to use any confidential or proprietary information with respect to the Company or Related
Entities without the prior written consent of the Company including, without limitation, information as to the financial condition, results of operations, identities of clients or prospective clients, products under development, acquisition
strategies or acquisitions under consideration, pricing or cost information, marketing strategies or any other information relating to the Company or any of the Related Entities which could be reasonably regarded as confidential. However, this does
not include information which is or shall become generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Company or Related Entities or any of their agents, affiliates or representatives or a person to whom any of them has
provided such information. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) The Employee agrees that the geographic scope of this covenant not to compete shall extend
to (i)&nbsp;the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, which constitute the geographic area in which the Company has
operated its business at some time during the two years preceding the date of this Agreement; or (ii)&nbsp;such broader geographic area where the Company conducts business at any time during the Term of this Agreement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) In the event of any breach of this covenant not to compete, the Employee recognizes that the remedies at law will be
inadequate and that in addition to any relief at law which may be available to the Company for such violation or breach and regardless of any other provision contained in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to equitable remedies (including
an injunction) and such other relief as a court may grant after considering the intent of this Section&nbsp;4. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(f) In the
event a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the provisions of this covenant not to compete are excessively broad as to duration, geographic scope, prohibited activities or otherwise, the parties agree that this covenant shall be reduced
or curtailed to the extent necessary to render it enforceable. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-4- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">5. TERMINATION. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Death. The Employee&#146;s employment hereunder shall terminate upon his death. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Disability. If, during the Term, the Employee becomes physically or mentally disabled in accordance with the terms and
conditions of any disability insurance policy covering the Employee or, if due to such physical or mental disability, the Employee becomes unable for a period of more than one hundred eighty (180)&nbsp;consecutive days to perform his duties
hereunder on substantially a full-time basis as determined by the Company in its sole reasonable discretion, the Company may, at its option, terminate the Employee&#146;s employment hereunder upon not less than thirty (30)&nbsp;days&#146; written
notice of termination. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time with Cause. As used in this
Agreement, &#147;Cause&#148; shall mean the following: (1)&nbsp;a material violation of the Employer&#146;s policies or practices which reasonably justifies termination; (2)&nbsp;conviction of a felony, as evidenced by a binding and final judgment,
order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; (3)&nbsp;the commission by the Employee of any act which would reasonably be expected to materially injure the reputation, business, or business relationships of the Company or Related Entities;
or (4)&nbsp;any material breach by Employee of this Agreement. The Company may terminate this Agreement with Cause as defined in clauses (1)&nbsp;and (4)&nbsp;above upon fifteen (15)&nbsp;business days&#146; prior written notice (the &#147;Cause
Notification Period&#148;) to Employee, but such termination shall only become effective in the event of Employee&#146;s failure to cure the applicable breach or violation, to the reasonable satisfaction of Company, prior to the end of the Cause
Notification Period. The Company may terminate this Agreement without notice at any time with Cause as defined in clause (2)&nbsp;or (3)&nbsp;above. In the event of a termination with Cause, the Company shall be relieved of all its obligations to
the Employee provided for by this Agreement, and all payments to the Employees hereunder shall immediately cease and terminate. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company also may terminate the Employee&#146;s employment hereunder at any time without
Cause by written notice; provided, however, that the Company shall owe the Employee the Severance Payment (as defined below) following a termination of the Employee&#146;s employment by the Company other than for Cause. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) Involuntary Termination by Employee. The Employee may terminate his employment hereunder upon (i)&nbsp;a good faith
determination by the Employee that there has been a material breach of the Agreement by the Company, (ii)&nbsp;a material adverse change in the Employee&#146;s working conditions or status, (iii)&nbsp;a significant relocation of the Employee&#146;s
principal office, or (iv)&nbsp;upon or within the two-year period following a Change of Control (as defined in Appendix A hereto), a good faith determination by the Employee that there has been any of the following: a breach of the Agreement by the
Company, any adverse change in the Employee&#146;s working conditions, status, authority, duties, responsibilities (including but not limited to a requirement that the Employee report to a corporate officer instead of reporting directly to the board
of directors) or any requirement that the Employee relocate his principal office to a location that is more than ten (10)&nbsp;miles from the location of the Employee&#146;s principal </P>
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office immediately prior to the Change of Control (any one of the preceding constituting &#147;Good Reason&#148;), by delivering written notice of termination to the Company indicating in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances alleged to provide a basis for such termination and shall cease performing the Employee&#146;s duties hereunder on the date which is ten (10)&nbsp;days after delivery of the notice, which date shall also
be the date of termination of the Employee&#146;s employment. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) Voluntary Termination by Employee. The Employee agrees
to provide the Company with at least twenty (20)&nbsp;business days&#146; (&#147;Termination Notice Period&#148;) prior written notice of his intent to terminate employment voluntarily. Failure to provide such notice terminates the Employee&#146;s
entitlement to payment of accrued, unused benefits, such as vacation. However, the Company reserves the right to terminate the Employee before the end of the Termination Notice Period, provided that the Company pays the Employee the salary that he
would have received from the date of the last payroll payment to the end of the Termination Notice Period. Such salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company&#146;s normal payroll procedures applicable to base salary. During the Termination
Notice Period, the Employee agrees to make a good faith effort to perform the duties described hereunder. If, during the Term, the Employee voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company, the Company&#146;s obligations, including payment
obligations, under this Agreement shall cease, except that the Company shall pay the Employee the amount of base salary that he would have received from the date of the last payroll payment to the end of the Termination Notice Period in accordance
with the Company&#146;s normal payroll procedures applicable to base salary. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(f) Severance Payment. In the event of a
termination of the Employee&#146;s employment (i)&nbsp;by the Company other than for Cause or (ii)&nbsp;by the Employee in a manner which satisfies Section&nbsp;5(d), the Company shall pay the Employee (subject to the provisions of Section&nbsp;6 of
this Agreement) a one-time, lump-sum severance payment equal to TWO (2)&nbsp;times the sum of (A)&nbsp;the Employee&#146;s annual base salary in effect at the time of such termination and (B)&nbsp;the Employee&#146;s average annual bonus for the TWO
(2)&nbsp;full calendar years immediately preceding such termination (&#147;Severance Payment&#148;). The Severance Payment shall be paid to the Employee in cash equivalent on the first day of the seventh (7<SUP
STYLE="font-size:85%; vertical-align:top">th</SUP>)&nbsp;month following the month in which the termination of the Employee&#146;s employment occurs, without interest thereon; provided, however, that if, on the date of termination of the
Employee&#146;s employment, the Employee is not a &#147;specified employee&#148; within the meaning of Section&nbsp;409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the &#147;<U>Code</U>&#148;), then the Severance Payment shall be paid to the
Employee in cash equivalent on the date that is sixty (60)&nbsp;days after the date of termination of the Employee&#146;s employment. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(g) Benefits. The following shall apply upon termination of the Employee&#146;s employment: Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein contained, the Employee shall receive all compensation and other benefits to which he was entitled under this Agreement or otherwise as an employee of the Company through the termination date, including payments of base salary
accrued hereunder through the calendar month in which such termination occurs. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">6. TAX PROVISIONS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) Limitation on Parachute Payments. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any portion of the Severance
Payment or any other payment under this </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-6- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
Agreement, or payments to or for the benefit of the Employee under any other agreement or plan (collectively, the &#147;Change of Control Benefits&#148;), would constitute an &#147;excess
parachute payment,&#148; then the Change of Control Benefits to be made to the Employee shall be reduced such that the value of the aggregate Change of Control Benefits that the Employee is entitled to receive shall be One Dollar ($1) less than the
maximum amount which the Employee may receive without becoming subject to the tax imposed by Section&nbsp;4999 of the Code (or any successor provision) or which the Company may pay without loss of deduction under Section&nbsp;280G(a) of the Code (or
any successor provision); provided that the foregoing reduction in the amount of Change of Control Benefits shall not apply if the after-tax value to the Employee of the Change of Control Benefits prior to reduction in accordance herewith is greater
than the after-tax value to the Employee if the Change of Control Benefits are reduced in accordance herewith. For purposes of this Agreement, the terms &#147;excess parachute payment&#148; and &#147;parachute payments&#148; shall have the meanings
assigned to them in Code Section&nbsp;280G, and such &#147;parachute payments&#148; shall be valued as provided therein. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Opinion. For purposes of this Section, within thirty (30)&nbsp;days after notice by one party to the other of its belief
that there is a payment or benefit due the Employee that will result in an excess parachute payment as defined in Section&nbsp;280G of the Code or any successor provision thereto, the Employee and the Company shall obtain, at the Company&#146;s
expense, the opinion (which need not be unqualified) of nationally recognized tax counsel (&#147;Tax Counsel&#148;) selected by the Company&#146;s independent auditors and acceptable to the Employee, which sets forth (A)&nbsp;the &#147;base
amount&#148; within the meaning of Section&nbsp;280G; (B)&nbsp;the aggregate present value of the payments in the nature of compensation to the Employee as prescribed in Section&nbsp;280G(b)(2)(A) (ii); (C)&nbsp;the amount and present value of any
&#147;excess parachute payment&#148; within the meaning of Section&nbsp;280G(b)(1) without regard to the limitations of this Section&nbsp;6; (D)&nbsp;the after-tax value of the Change of Control Benefits if the reduction in Change of Control
Benefits contemplated under this Section&nbsp;6 did not apply; and (E)&nbsp;the after-tax value of the Change of Control Benefits taking into account the reduction in Change of Control Benefits contemplated under this Section&nbsp;6. For purposes of
determining the after-tax value of the Change of Control Benefits, the Employee shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the
payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and locality of the Employee&#146;s domicile for income tax purposes on the date the payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in
federal income taxes that may be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In the event that a reduction is
to be made under this Section&nbsp;6, the Change of Control Benefits shall be reduced or eliminated by applying the following principles, in order: (i)&nbsp;the payment or benefit with the higher ratio of the parachute payment value to present
economic value (determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions) shall be reduced or eliminated before a payment or benefit with a lower ratio; (ii)&nbsp;the payment or benefit with the later possible payment date shall be reduced or eliminated
before a payment or benefit with an earlier payment date; and (iii)&nbsp;cash payments shall be reduced prior to non-cash benefits; provided, however, that if the foregoing order of reduction or elimination would violate Section&nbsp;409A of the
Code, then the reduction shall be made pro rata among the payments or benefits included in the Change of Control Benefits (on the basis of the relative present value of the parachute payments). For purposes of this Agreement, the value of any
noncash benefits or any deferred payment or </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-7- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
benefit, and all present economic values, shall be determined by the Company&#146;s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G, which determination shall be evidenced
in a certificate of such auditors addressed to the Company and the Employee. Such opinion shall be dated as of the date of termination of the Employee&#146;s employment and addressed to the Company and the Employee and shall be binding upon the
Company and the Employee. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The provisions of this Section&nbsp;6(b), including the calculations, notices and opinions
provided for herein shall be based upon the conclusive presumption that the compensation earned by the Employee pursuant to the Company&#146;s compensation programs prior to a change of control is reasonable; provided, however, that in the event
such Tax Counsel so requests in connection with the opinion required by this Section&nbsp;6(b), the Company shall obtain at its expense, and Tax Counsel may rely on in providing the opinion, the advice of a firm of recognized Employee compensation
consultants as to the reasonableness of any item of compensation to be received by the Employee. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) Effect of Change in
Law. In the event that the provisions of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code (or any successor provisions) are repealed, this Section&nbsp;6 shall cease to be effective on the effective date of such repeal. The parties to this Agreement recognize
that final regulations promulgated under Section&nbsp;280G of the Code may affect the amounts that may be paid under this Agreement and agree that, upon issuance of such final regulations, this Agreement may be modified as the parties hereto may in
good faith deem necessary in light of the provisions of such regulations to achieve the purposes of this Agreement, and that consent to such modification shall not be unreasonably withheld. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">7. SUCCESSORS. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) If the Company sells, assigns or transfers all or substantially all of its business and assets to any Person (as defined
in Appendix A hereto) or if the Company merges into or consolidates or otherwise combines (where the Company does not survive such combination) with any Person (any such event, a &#147;Sale of Business&#148;), then the Company shall assign all of
its right, title and interest in this Agreement as of the date of such event to such Person, and the Company shall cause such Person, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Employee, to expressly assume and agree
to perform from and after the date of such assignment all of the terms, conditions and provisions imposed by this Agreement upon the Company. Failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the effective date of such Sale of Business shall
be a material breach of this Agreement. In case of such assignment by the Company and of assumption and agreement by such Person, as used in this Agreement, &#147;Company&#148; shall thereafter mean such Person which executes and delivers the
agreement provided for in this Section&nbsp;7 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, such Person. The Employee
shall, in the Employee&#146;s discretion, be entitled to proceed against any or all of such Persons, any Person which theretofore was such a successor to the Company (as defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement) and the Company (as so
defined) in any action to enforce any rights of the Employee hereunder. Except as provided in this Subsection, this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Company. This Agreement shall not be terminated by the voluntary or involuntary dissolution
of the Company. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) This Agreement and all rights of the Employee shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Employee&#146;s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs and beneficiaries. All amounts payable to the Employee under Sections&nbsp;3, 5, and 7 of this Agreement if the Employee had lived shall be paid, in the event of the
Employee&#146;s death, to the Employee&#146;s estate, heirs and representatives; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be construed to modify any terms of any benefit plan of the Company, as such terms are in effect on the date of the
Employee&#146;s death, that expressly govern benefits under such plan in the event of the Employee&#146;s death. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-8- </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">8. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be regarded as divisible, and the parties
agree that if any of said provisions or any part hereof shall under any circumstances be deemed or declared invalid, inoperative or unenforceable, then the validity and enforceability of the remainder of such provisions or parts hereof and the
applicability thereof shall not be affected thereby. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">9. AMENDMENT. This Agreement (as hereby amended and restated) may not be further
amended or modified at any time except by written instrument executed by the Company and the Employee. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">10. WITHHOLDING. The Company shall
be entitled to withhold from amounts to be paid to the Employee hereunder any federal, state or local withholding or other taxes or charges which it is from time to time required to withhold; provided, that the amount so withheld shall not exceed
the minimum amount required to be withheld by law (unless the Employee has otherwise indicated in writing). The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel if any question as to the amount or requirement of
any such withholding shall arise. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">11. NOTICE. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when actually received, whether hand-delivered, sent by telecopier, facsimile transmission or other electronic means of transmitting written documents (as long as receipt is
acknowledged) or mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If
to the Employee, to: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Kevin D. Bates </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">[Address] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">[City, State Zip] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">[Phone Number] </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If to the Company, to: </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Nicholas Financial, Inc. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">2454 McMullen Booth Road </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Building C </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Clearwater, Florida 33759 </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Attn: President </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-9- </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that a notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">12. NO WAIVER; ENTIRE AGREEMENT. No waiver by
any party hereto of any breach of this Agreement by any other party hereto shall be deemed a waiver of any similar or dissimilar term or condition at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement and any equity award agreements between
the Company and the Employee constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the Employee&#146;s employment by the Company and there are no agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied, with
respect to or related to the employment of the Employee which are not set forth in this Agreement or such equity award agreements. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">13. NO
ASSIGNMENT. Except as expressly set forth herein, no party shall assign any of his or its rights under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party and any attempted assignment without such prior written consent shall be null
and void and without legal effect. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">14. COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE SIGNATURES. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be effective upon the execution and delivery by any party hereto of facsimile copies of signature pages hereto duly
executed by such party; provided, however, that any party delivering a facsimile signature page covenants and agrees to deliver promptly after the date hereof two (2)&nbsp;original copies to the other party hereto. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">15. GOVERNING LAW. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the
State of Florida, except that Section&nbsp;15(b) shall be construed in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act if arbitration is chosen by the Employee as the method of dispute resolution. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) Any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall, at the Employee&#146;s election, be determined by either
(i)&nbsp;arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect (but subject to any evidentiary standards set forth in this Agreement), in which both parties shall be bound by the arbitration award, or (ii)&nbsp;by
litigation. Whether the dispute is to be settled by arbitration or litigation, the venue for the arbitration or litigation shall be Tampa, Florida. The parties consent to personal jurisdiction in each trial court in the selected venue having subject
matter jurisdiction notwithstanding their residence or situs, and each party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided hereunder for the giving of notices. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">16. CERTAIN RULES OF CONSTRUCTION; CODE SECTION 409A. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) No party shall be considered as being responsible for the drafting of this Agreement for the purpose of applying any rule
construing ambiguities against the drafter or otherwise. No draft of this Agreement shall be taken into account in construing this Agreement. Any provision of this Agreement which requires an agreement in writing shall be deemed to require that the
writing in question be signed by the Employee and an authorized representative of the Company. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-10- </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) The Company and the Employee intend the terms of this Agreement to be in
compliance with Section&nbsp;409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. To the maximum extent permissible, any ambiguous terms of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner that avoids a violation of Section&nbsp;409A of the
Code. The phrase &#147;termination of the Employee&#146;s employment&#148; and similar phrases in this Agreement shall mean the Employee&#146;s &#147;separation from service&#148; as defined in Section&nbsp;409A of the Code. The Company does not
guarantee the tax treatment or tax consequences associated with any payment or benefit, including but not limited to consequences related to Section&nbsp;409A of the Code. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) If, after the date of a Change of Control of the Company, any payment amount or the value of any benefit under this
Agreement is required to be included in the Employee&#146;s income prior to the date such amount is actually paid or the benefit provided as a result of the failure of this Agreement (or any other arrangement that is required to be aggregated with
this Agreement under Code Section&nbsp;409A) to comply with Code Section&nbsp;409A, then the Employee shall receive a distribution, in a lump sum, within 90 days after the date it is finally determined that the Agreement (or such other arrangement
that is required to be aggregated with this Agreement) fails to meet the requirements of Section&nbsp;409A of the Code; such distribution shall equal the lesser of (i)&nbsp;the amount required to be included in the Employee&#146;s income as a result
of such failure and (ii)&nbsp;the benefits otherwise due hereunder, and shall in any event reduce the amount of payments or benefits otherwise due hereunder. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">17. HEADINGS. The headings herein contained are for reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:13%; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="92%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">NICHOLAS FINANCIAL, INC.</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Ralph T. Finkenbrink</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Ralph T. Finkenbrink,</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">President and Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">EMPLOYEE:</TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="3"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Kevin D. Bates</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">Printed Name: Kevin D. Bates</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">-11- </P>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>APPENDIX A </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following
paragraphs shall have occurred: </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a) any person or entity, or group thereof acting in concert (a &#147;Person&#148;) (other than
(A)&nbsp;the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B)&nbsp;a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (C)&nbsp;an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to
an offering of such securities or (D)&nbsp;a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock in the Company), being or becoming the &#147;beneficial
owner&#148; (as such term is defined in Securities and Exchange Commission (&#147;SEC&#148;) Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company which, together with securities previously owned, confer upon such person, entity or group
the combined voting power, on any matters brought to a vote of shareholders, of twenty percent (20%)&nbsp;or more of the then outstanding shares of voting securities of the Company; or </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(b) the sale, assignment or transfer of assets of the Company or any subsidiary or subsidiaries, in a transaction or series of transactions,
if the aggregate consideration received or to be received by the Company or any such subsidiary in connection with such sale, assignment or transfer is greater than fifty percent (50%)&nbsp;of the book value, determined by the Company in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, of the Company&#146;s assets determined on a consolidated basis immediately before such transaction or the first of such transactions; or </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(c) the merger, consolidation, share exchange or reorganization of the Company (or one or more direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company)
as a result of which the holders of all of the shares of capital stock of the Company as a group would receive less than fifty percent (50%)&nbsp;of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving or resulting
entity or any parent thereof immediately after such merger, consolidation, share exchange or reorganization; or </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) the adoption of a
plan of complete liquidation or the approval of the dissolution of the Company; or </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(e) a determination by the Board of Directors of the
Company, in view of the then current circumstances or impending events, that a Change of Control of the Company has occurred or is imminent, which determination shall be made for the specific purpose of triggering the operative provisions of this
Agreement. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">A-1 </P>

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>d752354dex991.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Press Release</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="right"><B>Exhibit 99.1 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right"><B><U>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</U></B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><B>N<SMALL>ICHOLAS</SMALL></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><B>Contact:</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><B></B>Ralph Finkenbrink</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><B>NASDAQ: NICK</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:2.00pt solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&nbsp;</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">President, CEO</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><B>Web site: </B>www.nicholasfinancial.com</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Nicholas Financial, Inc.</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Ph # - 727-726-0763</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TR STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Corporate Headquarters</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">2454 McMullen-Booth Rd.</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Building C, Suite 501</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT STYLE="font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Clearwater, FL 33759</TD>
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</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>NICHOLAS FINANCIAL ANNOUNCES BOARD CHANGES; </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>DISCONTINUANCE OF EXPLORATION OF STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>July&nbsp;1, 2014 </B>&#150; Clearwater, Florida - Nicholas Financial, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) (NASDAQ: NICK) is filing this Current Report on Form
8-K to report that, on June&nbsp;25, 2014, Peter L. Vosotas, the founder of the Company, resigned as Chairman of the Board and a director of the Company after having served in such capacities for almost 30 years. Mr.&nbsp;Vosotas&#146; decision was
based on personal reasons and was not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matters relating to the Company&#146;s operations, policies or practices. On July&nbsp;1, 2014, the Company&#146;s Board of Directors (the
&#147;Board&#148;) unanimously appointed Ralph T. Finkenbrink, the Company&#146;s President and Chief Executive Officer, to serve as Chairman of the Board. The Board also unanimously elected Kevin D. Bates, the Company&#146;s Senior Vice President
&#150; Branch Operations, as a director to fill the vacancy created by Mr.&nbsp;Vosotas&#146; resignation. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On July&nbsp;1, 2014, the Board also
determined to discontinue its previously announced exploration of possible strategic alternatives for the Company, including, but not limited to, the possible sale of the Company to Prospect Capital Corporation or another third party, potential
acquisition and expansion opportunities and/or a possible debt or equity financing. After careful consideration, the Board determined that the Company and its shareholders&#146; interests will be best served at this time by the Company focusing on
its operations as a stand-alone entity. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The 2014 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, which was tentatively scheduled to be held on
July&nbsp;30, 2014, will be held on August&nbsp;12, 2014. The record date for such Annual General Meeting is June&nbsp;24, 2014. The Company anticipates mailing a proxy statement and related materials on or about July&nbsp;11, 2014 to shareholders
entitled to vote at the 2014 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section&nbsp;27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section&nbsp;31E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the Company&#146;s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions,
or strategies regarding the future. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the future intentions of the Board of Directors of the Company regarding possible strategic alternatives. Prospective investors are
cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of
various factors. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Prospective investors
should also consult the risks described from time to time in the Company&#146;s Reports on Forms&nbsp;8-K, 10-Q and 10-K and Annual Reports to Shareholders. </I></P>
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`
end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
