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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Nicholas Financial – Canada and its wholly owned subsidiaries, NDS and NFI, collectively referred to as (the “Company”). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Dividends The following cash dividends were declared during fiscal year ended March 31, 2014. No dividends were declared during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2015 and 2016.
Fiscal Year |  | Date Declared |  | Record Date |  | Date Paid |  | Amount of Dividend |
2014 |  | May 7, 2013 |  | June 21, 2013 |  | June 28, 2013 |  | $ | 0.12 |
|  | August 13, 2013 |  | September 20, 2013 |  | September 27, 2013 |  |  | 0.12 |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.24 |
Payment of cash dividends results in a 5% withholding tax payable by the Company under the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention which is included in earnings under the caption of administrative expenses. Tender Offer On March 19, 2015, the Company announced the final results of the modified “Dutch auction” tender offer for the purchase of approximately 4.7 million shares of the Company’s common shares by its principal operating subsidiary. The tender offer expired on March 13, 2015. Total payments for common shares, including costs were approximately $70.5 million. Such costs were recorded as an increase to treasury stock, reducing shareholders’ equity. The aggregate number of common shares purchased in the tender offer by Nicholas represented approximately 38.0% of the Company’s outstanding common shares as of March 17, 2015. Following settlement of the tender offer, the Company had approximately 7.7 million common shares outstanding. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the determination of the allowance for credit losses on finance receivables and the fair value of interest rate swap agreements. Finance Receivables Finance receivables are recorded at cost, net of unearned interest, unearned dealer discounts and the allowance for credit losses. The amount of unearned interest, dealer discounts and allowance for credit losses as of March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015 are approximately $186.3 and 169.1 million respectively (See Note 3). Allowance for Credit Losses The allowance for credit losses is increased by charges against earnings and decreased by charge-offs (net of recoveries). The Company aggregates Contracts into static pools consisting of Contracts purchased during a three-month period for each branch location as management considers these pools to have similar risk characteristics. Management’s periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on the Company’s past loan experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, and current economic conditions. As conditions change, the Company’s level of provisioning and allowance may change as well. Assets Held for Resale Assets held for resale are stated at net realizable value and consist primarily of automobiles that have been repossessed by the Company and are awaiting final disposition. Most costs associated with repossession, transport and auction preparation expenses are reported under operating expenses in the period in which they are incurred. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Automobiles |  | 3 years
Equipment |  | 5 years
Furniture and fixtures |  | 7 years
Leasehold improvements |  | Lesser of lease term or useful life (generally 6 - 7 years)
Drafts Payable Drafts payable represent checks disbursed for loan purchases which have not yet been funded. Amounts generally clear within two business days of period end and then increase the line of credit or reduce cash. Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases along with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, if any. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes tax benefits from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from any such position would be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. It is the Company’s policy to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any uncertain tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. The Company does not have any accrued interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax benefits, nor has the Company recognized any related interest or penalties during the three years ended March 31, 2016. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction and various State jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal and State tax examinations for years before 2013. The Company does not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next 12 months. Revenue Recognition Interest income on finance receivables is recognized using the interest method. Accrual of interest income on finance receivables is suspended when a loan is contractually delinquent for 60 days or more or the collateral is repossessed, whichever is earlier, or when the account is in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 13 bankruptcy accounts are accounted for under the cost-recovery method. Interest income on Chapter 13 bankruptcy accounts does not resume until all principal amounts are recovered (see Note 3). A dealer discount represents the difference between the finance receivable, net of unearned interest, of a Contract, and the amount of money the Company actually pays for the Contract. The discount negotiated by the Company is a function of the lender, the wholesale value of the vehicle, and competition in any given market. In making decisions regarding the purchase of a particular Contract the Company considers the following factors related to the borrower: place and length of residence; current and prior job status; history in making installment payments for automobiles; current income; and credit history. In addition, the Company examines its prior experience with Contracts purchased from the dealer from which the Company is purchasing the Contract, and the value of the automobile in relation to the purchase price and the term of the Contract. The dealer discount is amortized as an adjustment to yield using the interest method over the life of the loan. The average dealer discount, as a percent of the amount financed, associated with new volume for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 was 7.51%, 8.08% and 8.44%, respectively. The amount of future unearned income is computed as the product of the Contract rate, the Contract term and the Contract amount. Deferred revenues consist primarily of commissions received from the sale of ancillary products. These products include automobile warranties, roadside assistance programs, accident and health insurance, credit life insurance and forced placed automobile insurance. These commissions are amortized over the life of the contract using the interest method. The Company’s net costs for originating Direct Loans are deferred and recognized as an adjustment to the yield and are amortized over the life of the loan using the interest method. Earnings Per Share The Company has granted stock compensation awards with nonforfeitable dividend rights which are considered participating securities. As such, earnings per share is calculated using the two-class method. Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, which excludes the participating securities. Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares from stock compensation awards. Earnings per share have been computed based on the following weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
|  | Fiscal Year ended March 31, (In thousands, except earnings per share numbers) |
|  | 2016 |  |  | 2015 |  |  | 2014 |
Numerator: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income per consolidated statements of income |  | $ | 12,379 |  |  | $ | 16,856 |  |  | $ | 16,703 |
Less: Allocation of earnings to participating securities |  |  | (170 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Net income allocated to common stock |  |  | 12,209 |  |  | $ | 16,856 |  |  | $ | 16,703 |
Basic earnings per share computation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income allocated to common stock |  | $ | 12,209 |  |  | $ | 16,856 |  |  | $ | 16,703 |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, including shares considered participating securities |  |  | 7,727 |  |  |  | 12,013 |  |  |  | 12,096 |
Less: Weighted average participating securities outstanding |  |  | (105 | ) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Weighted average shares of common stock |  |  | 7,622 |  |  |  | 12,013 |  |  |  | 12,096 |
Basic earnings per share |  | $ | 1.60 |  |  |  | 1.40 |  |  |  | 1.38 |
Diluted earnings per share computation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income allocated to common stock |  | $ | 12,209 |  |  | $ | 16,856 |  |  | $ | 16,703 |
Undistributed earnings re-allocated to participating securities |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Net income allocated to common stock |  | $ | 12,211 |  |  | $ | 16,856 |  |  | $ | 16,703 |
Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per share |  |  | 7,622 |  |  |  | 12,013 |  |  |  | 12,096 |
Incremental shares from stock options |  |  | 70 |  |  |  | 179 |  |  |  | 229 |
Weighted average shares and dilutive potential common shares |  |  | 7,692 |  |  |  | 12,192 |  |  |  | 12,325 |
Diluted earnings per share |  | $ | 1.59 |  |  | $ | 1.38 |  |  | $ | 1.36 |
Diluted earnings per share do not include the effect of certain stock options as their impact would be anti-dilutive. Approximately 161,000, 155,000, and 10,000 stock options were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the years ended March 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 respectively, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Share-Based Payments The grant date fair value of share awards is recognized in earnings over the requisite service period (presumptively the vesting period). The Company estimates the fair value of option awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The risk-free interest rate is based upon a U.S. Treasury instrument with a life that is similar to the expected term of the options. Expected volatility is based upon the historical volatility for the previous period equal to the expected term of the options. The expected term is based upon the average life of previously issued options. The expected dividend yield is based upon the yield expected on date of grant to occur over the term of the option. The fair value of non-vested restricted and performance shares are measured at the market price of a share on a grant date. The pool of excess tax benefits available to absorb future tax deficiencies is based on increases to shareholders’ equity related to tax benefits from share-based compensation, combined with the tax on the cumulative incremental compensation costs previously included in pro forma net income disclosures as if the Company had applied the fair-value method to all awards. Fair Value Measurements The Company measures specific assets and liabilities at fair value, which is an exit price, representing the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When applicable, the Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability under a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs about which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions (see Note 7). Financial Instruments and Concentrations The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, finance receivables (accrued interest is a part of finance receivables), the line of credit, and interest rate swap agreements. Financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk are primarily finance receivables and cash. As of March 31, 2016, the Company operated in eighteen states through sixty-seven branch locations. Florida represented 29% of the finance receivables total as of March 31, 2016. Ohio represented 14%, Georgia represented 10% and North Carolina represented 8% of the finance receivables total as of March 31, 2016. Of the remaining fourteen states, no one state represented more than 5% of the total finance receivables. The Company provides credit during the normal course of business and performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses which, when realized, have been within the range of management’s expectations. The Company perfects a primary security interest in all vehicles financed as a form of collateral. The combined account balances the Company maintains at financial institutions typically exceed federally insured limits, and there is a concentration of credit risk related to accounts on deposit in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes this risk of loss is not significant. Interest Rate Swap Agreements Interest rate swap agreements are reported as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. Interest rate swap agreements are not designated as cash-flow hedges, and accordingly, the changes in the fair value are recorded in earnings. The Company does not use interest rate swap agreements for speculative purposes (see Note 6). Statements of Cash Flows Cash paid for income taxes for the years ended March 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $8.5 million, $7.3 million and $10.8 million respectively. Cash paid for interest, including debt origination costs for the years ended March 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $8.8 million, $6.1 million and $5.7 million respectively. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued the Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which is intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public entities, ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU on the consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases”, intended to improve financial reporting about leasing transactions. The ASU affects all companies and other organizations that lease assets such as real estate, airplanes, and manufacturing equipment. “The ASU will require organizations that lease assets—referred to as “lessees”—to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases. The accounting by organizations that own the assets leased by the lessee—also known as lessor accounting— will remain largely unchanged from current U.S. GAAP. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of this ASU on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments—Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities,” which is intended to improve the recognition and measurement of financial instruments by requiring: equity investments (other than equity method or consolidation) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (i.e., securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; eliminating the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; and requiring a reporting organization to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk (also referred to as “own credit”) when the organization has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. This ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. This ASU permits early adoption of the instrument-specific credit risk provision. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of this ASU on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” The amendments in this ASU require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, since 2015-03 did not address presentation or subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements. The SEC staff indicated they would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The amendments are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the amendments is permitted. The Company does not believe the adoption of this ASU will have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”. The ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU, and all subsequently issued clarifying ASUs, will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved the deferral of the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. As a result, ASU 2014-09 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The ASU would permit public entities to adopt the ASU early, but not before the original effective date (i.e., annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016). The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of this ASU on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company does not believe there are any other recently issued accounting standards that have not yet been adopted that will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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