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Share-Based Payments

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs, Share-Based Payments [Abstract]

Share-Based Payments

9. Share-Based Payments

The Company has share awards outstanding under two share-based compensation plans (the “Equity Plans”). The Company believes that such awards generally align the interests of its employees with those of its shareholders. Under the shareholder-approved 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”) the Board of Directors was authorized to grant option awards for up to approximately 1.1 million common shares. On August 13, 2015, the Company’s shareholders approved the Nicholas Financial, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) for employees and non-employee directors. Under the 2015 Plan, the Board of Directors is authorized to grant total share awards for up to 750,000 common shares. Awards under the 2006 Plan will continue to be governed by the terms of that plan. The 2015 Plan replaced the 2006 Plan; accordingly, no additional option awards may be granted under the 2006 Plan. In addition to option awards, the 2015 Plan provides for restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, and other equity-based compensation.

Option awards previously granted to employees and directors under the 2006 Plan generally vest ratably based on service over a five- and three-year period, respectively, and generally have a contractual term of ten years. Vesting and contractual terms for option awards under the 2015 Plan are essentially the same as those of the 2006 Plan. Restricted stock awards generally cliff vest over a three-year period based on service conditions. Vesting of performance units generally does not commence until the attainment of Company-wide performance goals including annual revenue growth and operating income targets. There are no post-vesting restrictions for share awards.

The Company funds share awards from authorized but unissued shares and does not purchase shares to fulfill its obligations under the Equity Plans. Cash dividends, if any, are not paid on unvested performance units or unexercised options but are paid on unvested restricted stock awards.

The Company did not grant any options during the years ended March 31, 2018 or 2017.

A summary of option activity under the Equity Plans as of March 31, 2018, and changes during the year are presented below.


		(Shares and Aggregate Intrinsic Value in thousands)
Options		Shares				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term				Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at March 31, 2017			333			$	10.08
Granted			—			$	—
Exercised			(91	)		$	5.01
Forfeited			(91	)		$	13.21

Outstanding at March 31, 2018			151			$	11.25				4.83			$	107

Exercisable at March 31, 2018			201			$	7.71				2.02			$	514

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $343,000, $46,500 and $82,000 respectively.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, approximately 91,000 options were exercised at exercise prices ranging from $3.50 to $8.44 per share. During the same period, approximately 91,000 options were forfeited at exercise prices ranging from $8.21 to $14.36 per share.

Cash received from options exercised during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 totaled approximately $458,000, $50,000, and $85,000, respectively. As of March 31, 2018, there was approximately $44,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to options granted. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.6 years.

A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested restricted shares under the Equity Plan as of March 31, 2018, and changes during the year then ended is presented below.


		(Shares and Aggregate Intrinsic Value in thousands)
Restricted Share Awards		Shares				Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term				Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Non-vested at March 31, 2017			90			$	11.95
Granted			30			$	8.45
Vested			(7	)		$	11.71
Forfeited			(36	)		$	11.01

Non-vested at March 31, 2018			77			$	11.25				1.16			$	695

The Company awarded approximately 30,000 restricted shares during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. There are no performance shares included within the 30,000 restricted shares granted that resulted from the Company meeting a performance threshold. During the same period there were approximately 36,000 restricted shares forfeited. With the adoption of ASU 2016-09 on January 1, 2017, we no longer reduce stock-based compensation by estimated forfeitures. Instead we account for forfeitures when they occur. For any vesting tranche of an award, the cumulative amount of compensation cost recognized is at least equal to the portion of the grant-date value of the award tranche that is actually vested at that date.

As of March 31, 2018, there was approximately $321,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted share awards granted under the Equity Plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.56 years.