UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
   Washington, D.C. 20549    


Form 10-Q


x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2007

or

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT of 1934

For the transition period from       to       

Commission File Number: 0-19599
 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter.)
 
South Carolina
 
57-0425114
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)
 
Number)
 
108 Frederick Street
          Greenville, South Carolina 29607         
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

       (864) 298-9800      
(registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for shorter period than the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):
Large Accelerated Filer  x   Accelerated Filer o   Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

The number of outstanding shares of the issuer’s no par value common stock as of January 30, 2008 was 16,929,652.
 


WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited):
 
     
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2007
3
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
4
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income for the year ended March 31, 2007 and the nine months ended December 31, 2007
5
     
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
6
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
7
     
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  
15
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
21
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
22
     
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
22
     
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
22
     
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
22
     
Item 6.
Exhibits
23
     
Signatures
25

2

 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

   
December 31,
 
March 31,
 
   
2007
 
2007
 
ASSETS
             
               
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
7,728,090
   
5,779,032
 
Gross loans receivable
   
663,217,054
   
505,788,440
 
Less:
             
Unearned interest and fees
   
(175,152,051
)
 
(127,750,015
)
Allowance for loan losses
   
(36,789,724
)
 
(27,840,239
)
Loans receivable, net
   
451,275,279
   
350,198,186
 
Property and equipment, net
   
17,834,844
   
14,310,458
 
Deferred taxes
   
20,825,126
   
14,507,000
 
Other assets, net
   
8,994,224
   
10,221,562
 
Goodwill
   
5,352,675
   
5,039,630
 
Intangible assets, net
   
10,509,355
   
11,060,139
 
Total assets
 
$
522,519,593
   
411,116,007
 
               
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
               
Liabilities:
             
Senior notes payable
   
163,050,000
   
60,600,000
 
Convertible senior subordinated notes payable
   
110,000,000
   
110,000,000
 
Other notes payable
   
400,000
   
600,000
 
Income taxes payable
   
3,503,527
   
8,015,514
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
17,527,629
   
16,407,846
 
Total liabilities
   
294,481,156
   
195,623,360
 
               
Shareholders' equity:
             
Preferred stock, no par value
             
Authorized 5,000,000 shares, no shares issued or outstanding
   
-
   
-
 
Common stock, no par value
             
Authorized 95,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 16,878,552 and 17,492,521 shares at December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2007, respectively
   
-
   
-
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
2,830,522
   
5,770,665
 
Retained earnings
   
225,285,667
   
209,769,808
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(77,752
)
 
(47,826
)
Total shareholders' equity
   
228,038,437
   
215,492,647
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
$
522,519,593
   
411,116,007
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3


WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

   
Three months ended
December 31,
 
Nine months ended
December 31,
 
 
 
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
                   
Revenues:
                         
Interest and fee income
 
$
75,207,879
   
63,509,413
   
210,303,422
   
176,795,459
 
Insurance and other income
   
12,835,015
   
10,593,333
   
34,326,841
   
28,352,370
 
Total revenues
   
88,042,894
   
74,102,746
   
244,630,263
   
205,147,829
 
                           
Expenses:
                         
Provision for loan losses
   
23,223,929
   
18,365,040
   
55,856,170
   
43,345,287
 
General and administrative expenses:
                         
Personnel
   
29,280,288
   
25,777,752
   
86,027,643
   
73,044,091
 
Occupancy and equipment
   
5,555,057
   
4,439,229
   
15,856,114
   
12,769,189
 
Data processing
   
343,486
   
571,233
   
1,532,994
   
1,620,976
 
Advertising
   
6,023,271
   
4,734,272
   
10,753,160
   
8,417,723
 
Amortization of intangible assets
   
621,844
   
683,437
   
1,874,838
   
2,219,354
 
Other
   
5,645,730
   
5,253,576
   
15,546,532
   
13,524,267
 
     
47,469,676
   
41,459,499
   
131,591,281
   
111,595,600
 
                           
Interest expense
   
3,338,181
   
2,822,951
   
8,606,177
   
6,993,730
 
Total expenses
   
74,031,786
   
62,647,490
   
196,053,628
   
161,934,617
 
                           
Income before income taxes
   
14,011,108
   
11,455,256
   
48,576,635
   
43,213,212
 
                           
Income taxes
   
6,723,034
   
4,444,007
   
19,972,176
   
16,354,457
 
                           
Net income
 
$
7,288,074
   
7,011,249
   
28,604,459
   
26,858,755
 
                           
Net income per common share:
                         
Basic
 
$
0.43
   
0.40
   
1.66
   
1.48
 
Diluted
 
$
0.43
   
0.39
   
1.63
   
1.45
 
                           
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                         
Basic
   
16,892,219
   
17,572,202
   
17,200,506
   
18,169,659
 
Diluted
   
17,148,112
   
17,950,091
   
17,511,074
   
18,547,439
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)

   
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net
 
Total Shareholders’ Equity
 
Total Comprehensive Income
 
                       
Balances at March 31, 2006
 
$
1,209,358
   
209,270,853
   
(50,092
)
 
210,430,119
       
Proceeds from exercise of stock options (331,870 shares), including excess tax benefits of $2,937,122
   
6,423,279
   
-
   
-
   
6,423,279
       
Common stock repurchases (1,209,395 shares)
   
(6,698,538
)
 
(47,397,425
)
 
-
   
(54,095,963
)
     
Issuance of restricted common stock under stock option plan (33,442 shares)
   
449,331
   
-
   
-
   
449,331
       
Stock option expense
   
3,481,617
   
-
   
-
   
3,481,617
       
Tax benefit from Convertible note
   
9,359,000
   
-
   
-
   
9,359,000
       
Proceeds from sale of warrants associated with convertible notes
   
16,155,823
   
-
   
-
   
16,155,823
       
Purchase of call option associated with convertible notes
   
(24,609,205
)
 
-
   
-
   
(24,609,205
)
     
Other comprehensive income
   
-
   
-
   
2,266
   
2,266
   
2,266
 
Net income
   
-
   
47,896,380
   
-
   
47,896,380
   
47,896,380
 
Total comprehensive income
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
47,898,646
 
Balances at March 31, 2007
   
5,770,665
   
209,769,808
   
(47,826
)
 
215,492,647
       
 
                               
Proceeds from exercise of stock options (82,250 shares), including excess tax benefits of $569,613
   
1,822,266
   
-
   
-
   
1,822,266
       
Common stock repurchases (690,100 shares)
   
(8,740,277
)
 
(12,538,600
)
 
-
   
(21,278,877
)
     
Issuance of restricted common stock under stock option plan (44,981 shares)
   
1,092,331
   
-
   
-
   
1,092,331
       
Stock option expense
   
2,885,537
   
-
   
-
   
2,885,537
       
Cumulative effect of FIN 48
   
-
   
(550,000
)
 
-
   
(550,000
)
     
Other comprehensive loss
   
-
   
-
   
(29,926
)
 
(29,926
)
 
(29,926
)
Net income
   
-
   
28,604,459
   
-
   
28,604,459
   
28,604,459
 
Total comprehensive income
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
28,574,533
 
Balances at December 31, 2007
 
$
2,830,522
   
225,285,667
   
(77,752
)
 
228,038,437
       

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
5


WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

   
Nine months ended
December 31,
 
   
2007
 
2006
 
           
Cash flows from operating activities:
             
Net income
 
$
28,604,459
   
26,858,755
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
             
Provision for loan losses
   
55,856,170
   
43,345,287
 
Amortization of intangible assets
   
1,874,838
   
2,219,354
 
Amortization of loan costs and discounts
   
572,446
   
189,069
 
Depreciation
   
2,666,458
   
2,088,592
 
Compensation related to stock option and restricted stock plans
   
4,186,351
   
2,524,976
 
Change in accounts:
             
Deferred tax assets
   
(1,818,126
)
 
(1,249,382
)
Other assets, net
   
631,780
   
(1,097,219
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
621,939
   
(1,028,571
)
Income taxes payable
   
(9,561,987
)
 
(6,778,276
)
 
             
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
83,634,328
   
67,072,585
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
             
Increase in loans, net
   
(154,168,220
)
 
(122,858,663
)
Tangible assets acquired from office acquisitions,
             
primarily loans
   
(2,899,857
)
 
(16,101,334
)
Purchases of premises and equipment
   
(6,062,844
)
 
(4,790,681
)
Purchases of intangible assets in office acquisitions
   
(1,637,099
)
 
(2,003,678
)
               
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(164,768,020
)
 
(145,754,356
)
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
             
Net change in bank overdraft
   
497,844
   
1,522,061
 
Proceeds from senior notes payable, net
   
102,450,000
   
26,500,000
 
Proceeds from convertible senior subordinated notes
   
-
   
110,000,000
 
Repayments of other notes payable
   
(200,000
)
 
(200,000
)
Repurchases of common stock
   
(21,278,877
)
 
(49,581,323
)
Proceeds from sale of warrants associated with convertible notes
   
-
   
16,155,823
 
Purchase of call option associated with convertible notes
   
-
   
(24,609,205
)
Loan cost associated with convertible notes
   
-
   
(3,613,883
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
   
1,252,653
   
3,103,167
 
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options
   
569,613
   
2,492,660
 
Other
   
(208,483
)
 
-
 
               
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
83,082,750
   
81,769,300
 
               
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
1,949,058
   
3,087,529
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period
   
5,779,032
   
4,033,888
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents end of period
 
$
7,728,090
   
7,121,417
 
               
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
             
 
$
6,910,529
   
6,997,336
 
Cash paid for income taxes
   
30,802,289
   
23,153,254
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
6

 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements of the Company at December 31, 2007, and for the three and nine months then ended, were prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q and are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of items of a normal recurring nature) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position at December 31, 2007, and the results of operations and cash flows for the period then ended, have been included. The results for the period ended December 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period.

Certain reclassification entries have been made for fiscal 2007 to conform with fiscal 2008 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income or net income.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

These consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended March 31, 2007, included in the Company's 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders.

NOTE 2 COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The Company applies the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 130 “ Reporting Comprehensive Income .” The following summarizes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of December 31, 2007:

   
Three months
 
Nine months
 
   
ended December 31,
 
ended December 31,
 
   
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
                   
Balance at beginning of period
   
(63,995
)
 
(95,283
)
 
(47,826
)
 
(50,092
)
Unrealized income (loss) from foreign
                         
exchange translation adjustment
 
$
(13,757
)
 
81,026
   
(29,926
)
 
35,835
 
Balance at end of period
 
$
(77,752
)
 
(14,257
)
 
(77,752
)
 
(14,257
)

NOTE 3 - ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The following is a summary of the changes in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:
 
   
Three months
 
Nine months
 
   
ended December 31,
 
ended December 31,
 
   
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
                   
Balance at beginning of period
 
$
32,268,714
   
26,548,792
   
27,840,239
   
22,717,192
 
Provision for loan losses
   
23,223,929
   
18,365,040
   
55,856,170
   
43,345,287
 
Loan losses
   
(20,283,740
)
 
(16,300,585
)
 
(51,639,877
)
 
(40,338,087
)
Recoveries
   
1,532,579
   
1,446,900
   
4,627,973
   
4,123,139
 
Allowance on acquired loans
   
48,242
   
654,989
   
105,219
   
867,605
 
Balance at end of period
 
$
36,789,724
   
30,715,136
   
36,789,724
   
30,715,136
 

Effective April 1, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Position No. 03-3 ("SOP 03-3"), " Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer ," which prohibits carry over or creation of valuation allowances in the initial accounting of all loans acquired in a transfer that are within the scope of this SOP. Management believes that a loan has shown deterioration if it is over 60 days delinquent. The Company believes that loans acquired since the adoption of SOP 03-3 have not shown evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination, and therefore, are not within the scope of SOP 03-3 because the Company did not pay consideration for, or record, acquired loans over 60 days delinquent. Loans acquired that are more than 60 days past due are included in the scope of SOP 03-3 and therefore, subsequent refinances or restructures of these loans would not be accounted for as a new loan.
 
7

 
For the quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded adjustments of approximately $48,000 and $655,000, respectively, to the allowance for loan losses in connection with acquisitions in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These adjustments were approximately $105,000 and $868,000 for the nine-months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These adjustments represent the allowance for loan losses on acquired loans which do not meet the scope of SOP 03-3.
 
NOTE 4 AVERAGE SHARE INFORMATION

The following is a summary of the basic and diluted average common shares outstanding:
 
   
Three months ended December 31,
 
Nine months ended December 31,
 
   
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
                   
Basic:
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding (denominator)
   
16,892,219
   
17,572,202
   
17,200,506
   
18,169,659
 
                           
Diluted:
                         
Weighted average common shares outstanding
   
16,892,219
   
17,572,202
   
17,200,506
   
18,169,659
 
Dilutive potential common shares
   
255,893
   
377,889
   
310,568
   
377,780
 
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (denominator)
   
17,148,112
   
17,950,091
   
17,511,074
   
18,547,439
 

Options to purchase 141,375 and 30,936 shares of common stock at various prices were outstanding during the periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the option price was greater than the average market price of the common shares. The shares related to the convertible senior notes payable (1,762,519) and related warrants were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the effects of such instruments were anti-dilutive during the periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006.

NOTE 5 STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Option Plans

The Company has a 1992 Stock Option Plan, a 1994 Stock Option Plan, a 2002 Stock Option Plan and a 2005 Stock Option Plan for the benefit of certain directors, officers, and key employees. Under these plans, 5,350,000 shares of authorized common stock have been reserved for issuance pursuant to grants approved by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors. Stock options granted under these plans have a maximum duration of 10 years, may be subject to certain vesting requirements, which are generally one year for directors and three to five years for officers and key employees, and are priced at the market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant of the option. At December 31, 2007, there were 234,123 shares available for grant under the plans.

Effective April 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” SFAS 123-R, using the modified prospective transition method, and did not retroactively adjust results from prior periods. Under this transition method, stock option compensation is recognized as an expense over the remaining unvested portion of all stock option awards granted prior to April 1, 2006, based on the fair values estimated at grant date in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123. The Company has applied the Black-Sholes valuation model in determining the fair value of the stock option awards. Compensation expense is recognized only for those options expected to vest, with forfeitures estimated based on historical experience and future expectations.
 
Option activity for the nine months ended December 31, 2007, was as follows:
 
   
Weighted
 
Weighted
     
   
Average
 
Average
     
   
Exercise
 
Remaining
 
Aggregated
 
   
Shares
 
Price
 
Contractual Term
 
Intrinsic Value
 
                   
Options outstanding, beginning of year
   
1,139,949
 
$
23.41
             
Granted
   
286,250
 
$
28.55
             
Exercised
   
(82,250
)
$
15.23
             
Forfeited
   
(35,700
)
$
27.19
             
Options outstanding, end of period
   
1,308,249
 
$
24.95
   
7.1
 
$
7,821,988
 
Options exercisable, end of period
   
554,899
 
$
16.16
   
4.9
 
$
6,975,883
 
 
8

 
The aggregate intrinsic value reflected in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between the closing stock price on December 31, 2007 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of December 31, 2007. This amount will change as the stock’s market price changes. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the period ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was as follows:

   
2007
 
2006
 
Three months ended
 
$
693,655
   
1,452,961
 
Nine months ended
 
$
1,738,972
   
6,935,825
 

As of December 31, 2007, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock options amounted to approximately $7.3 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately three years.

The weighted-average fair value at the grant date for options issued during the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $14.21 and $26.44, respectively, and options issued during the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were $14.41 and $15.11 per share, respectively. This fair value was estimated at grant date using the following weighted-average assumptions:

   
Three months ended December 31,
 
Nine month ended December 31,
 
   
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
                   
Dividend yield
   
0
%
 
0
%
 
0
%
 
0
%
Expected volatility
   
42.99
%
 
43.37
%
 
42.99
%
 
43.37
%
Average risk-free interest rate
   
3.98
%
 
4.69
%
 
4.00
%
 
4.69
%
Expected life
   
6. 9 years
   
7.5 years
   
6. 9 years
   
7.5 years
 
Vesting period
   
5 years
   
5 years
   
5 years
   
5 years
 
 
The expected stock price volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock for a period approximating the expected life. The expected life represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding after their grant date. The risk-free interest rate reflects the interest rate at grant date on zero-coupon U.S. governmental bonds that have a remaining life similar to the expected option term.

Restricted Stock

On April 30, 2007, the Company granted 8,000 shares of restricted stock (which are equity classified), with a grant date fair value of $42.93 per share, to its independent directors. One-half of the restricted stock vested immediately and the other half will vest on the first anniversary of grant.

On November 12, 2007, the Company granted 8,000 shares of restricted stock (which are equity classified), with a grant date fair value of $28.19 per share, to certain officers. One-third of the restricted stock vested immediately and one-third will vest on the first and second anniversary of grant.

On November 28, 2007, the Company granted 20,800 shares of restricted stock (which are equity classified), with a grant date fair value of $30.94 per share, to certain executive officers. One-third of the restricted stock vested immediately and one-third will vest on the first and second anniversary of grant. The Company granted an additional 15,150 shares of restricted stock (which are equity classified), with a grant date fair value of $30.94 per share, to the same executive officers. The 15,150 shares will vest in three years based on the Company’s compounded annual EPS growth according to the following schedule:

   
Compounded
 
Vesting
 
Annual
 
Percentage
 
EPS Growth
 
100%
   
             15% or higher
 
67%
   
             12% - 14.99 %
 
33%
 
 
             10% - 11.99 %
 
0%
   
             Below 10 %
 

Compensation expense related to restricted stock is based on the number of shares expected to vest and the fair market value of the common stock on the grant date. The Company recognized $584,000 and $1.3 million of compensation expense for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2007, respectively, and $679,000 and $843,000 of compensation expense for the quarter and nine months December 31, 2006, respectively, related to restricted stock, which is included as a component of general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. All shares are expected to vest.
 
9

 
As of December 31, 2007, there was approximately $1.2 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards granted, which is expected to be recognized over the next two years.

A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock as of December 31, 2007, and changes during the nine months ended December 31, 2007, is presented below:
 
         
Number of
  Shares
 
Weighted Average  Fair
  Value at Grant Date
 
Outstanding at March 31, 2007
   
29,442
   
43.87
 
Granted during the period
   
51,950
   
32.36
 
Vested during the period, net
   
(23,323
)  
 
40.83
 
Cancelled during the period
   
(6,969
)
 
29.92
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
   
51,100
 
$
35.46
 
 
Total share-based compensation included as a component of net income during the quarters and nine months ended December 31, were as follows:

   
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
   
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
Share-based compensation related to equity classified units:
                 
Share-based compensation related to stock options
 
$
972,335
   
977,263
 
$
2,885,537
   
2,239,369
 
Share-based compensation related to restricted stock units
   
583,841
   
678,787
   
1,300,814
   
842,892
 
                           
Total share-based compensation related to equity
                         
classified awards
 
$
1,556,176
   
1,656,050
   
4,186,351
   
3,082,261
 
          
NOTE 6 ACQUISITIONS

The following table sets forth the acquisition activity of the Company for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006:

   
2007
 
2006
 
           
Number of offices purchased
   
21
   
84
 
Merged into existing offices
   
8
   
42
 
               
Purchase Price
 
$
4,536,956
   
18,105,012
 
Tangible assets:
             
Net loans
   
2,765,043
   
15,962,834
 
Furniture, fixtures & equipment
   
128,000
   
138,500
 
Other
   
6,814
   
-
 
               
Excess of purchase prices over carrying value of
             
net tangible assets
 
$
1,637,099
 
$
2,003,678
 
               
Customer lists
   
1,228,054
   
1,612,473
 
Non-compete agreements
   
96,000
   
63,000
 
Goodwill
   
313,045
   
328,205
 
               
Total intangible assets
 
$
1,637,099
 
$
2,003,678
 
 
The Company evaluates each acquisition to determine if the acquired enterprise meets the definition of a business. Those acquired enterprises that meet the definition of a business are accounted for as a business combination under SFAS No. 141 and all other acquisitions are accounted for as asset purchases. All acquisitions have been with independent third parties.

When the acquisition results in a new office, the Company records the transaction as a business combination, since the office acquired will continue to generate loans. The Company typically retains the existing employees and the office location. The purchase price is allocated to the estimated fair value of the tangible assets acquired and to the estimated fair value of the identified intangible assets acquired (generally non-compete agreements and customer lists). The remainder is allocated to goodwill. During the nine months ended December 31, 2007, 13 acquisitions were recorded as business combinations.
 
10

 
When the acquisition is of a portfolio of loans only, the Company records the transaction as an asset purchase. In an asset purchase, no goodwill is recorded. The purchase price is allocated to the estimated fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired. During the nine months ended December 31, 2007, eight acquisitions were recorded as asset acquisitions.

The Company’s acquisitions include tangible assets (generally loans and furniture and equipment) and intangible assets (generally non-compete agreements, customer lists, and goodwill), both of which are recorded at their fair values, which are estimated pursuant to the processes described below.

Acquired loans are valued at the net loan balance. Given the short-term nature of these loans, generally four months, and that these loans are subject to continual repricing at current rates, management believes the net loan balances approximate their fair value.

Furniture and equipment are valued at the specific purchase price as agreed to by both parties at the time of acquisition, which management believes approximates their fair values.

Non-compete agreements are valued at the stated amount paid to the other party for these agreements, which the Company believes approximates the fair value. The fair value of the customer lists is based on a valuation model that utilizes the Company’s historical data to estimate the value of any acquired customer lists. In a business combination the remaining excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the tangible assets, customer list, and non-compete agreements is allocated to goodwill. The offices the Company acquires are small, privately owned offices, which do not have sufficient historical data to determine attrition. The Company believes that the customers acquired have the same characteristics and perform similarly to its customers. Therefore, the Company utilized the attrition patterns of its customers when developing the method. This method is re-evaluated periodically.

Customer lists are allocated at an office level and are evaluated for impairment at an office level when a triggering event occurs, in accordance with SFAS 144. If a triggering event occurs, the impairment loss to the customer list is generally the remaining unamortized customer list balance. In most acquisitions, the original fair value of the customer list allocated to an office is generally less than $100,000, and management believes that in the event a triggering event were to occur, the impairment loss to an unamortized customer list would be immaterial.

The results of all acquisitions have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the respective acquisition dates. The pro forma impact of these purchases as though they had been acquired at the beginning of the periods presented would not have a material effect on the results of operations as reported.

NOTE 7 NOTES PAYABLE

Summaries of the Company's notes payable follow:

Senior Notes Payable

$187,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility

This facility, as amended effective August 31, 2007, provides for borrowings of up to $187 million, with $163.1 million outstanding at December 31, 2007, subject to a borrowing base formula. An additional $30 million is available as a seasonal revolving credit commitment from November 15 of each year through March 31 of the immediately succeeding year to cover the increase in loan demand during this period. The Company may borrow, at its option, at the rate of prime or LIBOR plus 1.80%. At December 31, 2007, the Company’s interest rate was 7.25% and the unused amount available under the revolver was $53.9 million. The revolving credit facility has a commitment fee of 0.375% per annum on the unused portion of the commitment. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility mature on December 31, 2009.

Substantially all of the Company’s assets are pledged as collateral for borrowings under the revolving credit agreement.

Convertible Senior Notes
 
On October 10, 2006, the Company issued $110 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.0% convertible senior subordinated notes due October 1, 2011 (the “Convertible Notes”) to qualified institutional brokers in accordance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. Interest on the Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing April 1, 2007. The Convertible Notes are the Company’s direct, senior subordinated, unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured senior subordinated debt of the Company, senior in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future subordinated debt and junior to all of the Company’s existing and future senior debt.  The Convertible Notes are structurally junior to the liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Convertible Notes are convertible prior to maturity, subject to certain conditions described below, at an initial conversion rate of 16.0229 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $62.41 per share, subject to adjustment. Upon conversion, the Company will pay cash up to the principal amount of notes converted and deliver shares of its common stock to the extent the daily conversion value exceeds the proportionate principal amount based on a 30 trading-day observation period.
 
11

 
Holders may convert the Convertible Notes prior to July 1, 2011 only if one or more of the following conditions are satisfied:
 
 
During any fiscal quarter commencing after December 31, 2006, if the last reported sale price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal quarter is greater than or equal to 120% of the applicable conversion price on such last trading day;
     
 
During the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per note for each day of such ten consecutive trading day period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the applicable conversion rate on each such day; or
     
 
 
The occurrence of specified corporate transactions.  
 
If the Convertible Notes are converted in connection with certain fundamental changes that occur prior to October 1, 2011, the Company may be obligated to pay an additional make-whole premium with respect to the Convertible Notes converted. If the Company undergoes certain fundamental changes, holders of Convertible Notes may require the Company to purchase the Convertible Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes purchased plus accrued interest to, but excluding, the purchase date.
 
Holders may also surrender their Convertible Notes for conversion anytime on or after July 1, 2011 until the close of business on the third business day immediately preceding the maturity date, regardless of whether any of the foregoing conditions have been satisfied. 
 
The contingent conversion feature was not required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately under the provisions of FAS 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”
 
The aggregate underwriting commissions and other debt issuance costs incurred with respect to the issuance of the Convertible Notes were approximately $3.6 million and are being amortized over the period the Convertible Notes are outstanding.
 
Convertible Notes Hedge Strategy
 
Concurrent and in connection with the sale of the Convertible Notes, the Company purchased call options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock equal to the conversion rate as of the date the options are exercised for the Convertible Notes, at a price of $62.41 per share. The cost of the call options totaled $24.6 million. The Company also sold warrants to the same counterparties to purchase from the Company an aggregate of 1,762,519 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $73.97 per share and received net proceeds from the sale of increasing these warrants of $16.2 million. Taken together, the call option and warrant agreements increased the effective conversion price of the Convertible Notes to $73.97 per share. The call options and warrants must be settled in net shares. On the date of settlement, if the market price per share of the Company’s common stock is above $73.97 per share, the Company will be required to deliver shares of its common stock representing the value of the call options and warrants in excess of $73.97 per share.

The warrants have a strike price of $73.97 and are generally exercisable at anytime. The Company issued and sold the warrants in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by virtue of section 4(2) thereof. There were no underwriting commissions or discounts in connection with the sale of the warrants.

In accordance with EITF. No. 00-19 “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, the Company’s Own Stock”, the Company accounted for the call options and warrants as a net reduction in additional paid in capital, and is not required to recognize subsequent changes in fair value of the call options and warrants in its consolidated financial statements.

Other Note Payable

The Company also has a $400,000 note payable to Carolina First Bank, bearing interest of LIBOR plus 2.00% payable monthly, which is to be repaid in two remaining annual installments of $200,000 ending on May 1, 2009.
 
12

 
Debt Covenants

The various debt agreements contain restrictions on the amounts of permitted indebtedness, investments, working capital, repurchases of common stock and cash dividends. At December 31, 2007, $29.9 million was available under these covenants for the payment of cash dividends, or the repurchase of the Company's common stock. In addition, the agreements restrict liens on assets and the sale or transfer of subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with the various debt covenants for all periods presented.

NOTE 8 DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

On October 5, 2005, the Company entered into an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $30 million to economically hedge a portion of the cash flows from its floating rate revolving credit facility. Under the terms of the interest rate swap, the Company will pay a fixed rate of 4.755% on the $30 million notional amount and receive payments from a counterparty based on the 1 month LIBOR rate for a term ending October 5, 2010. Interest rate differentials paid or received under the swap agreement are recognized as adjustments to interest expense.

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded a liability of $737,000 and an asset of $239,000, respectively, related to the interest rate swap, which represented the fair value of the interest rate swap at those dates. A corresponding unrealized loss of $610,000 and a gain of $24,000 were recorded as other income for the quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. During the quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, interest expense was decreased by approximately $65,000 and $44,000 as a result of net receipts under the terms of the interest rate swap.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, unrealized losses of $829,000 and $253,000, respectively, were recorded as other income and interest expense was decreased by approximately $118,000 and $107,000, respectively, as a result of net receipts under the terms of the interest rate swap.

On May 9, 2007, the Company entered into a $3 million foreign exchange currency option to economically hedge its foreign exchange risk relative to the Mexican peso. Under the terms of the option contract, the Company can exchange $3 million U.S. dollars at a rate of 11.18 Mexican pesos on May 9, 2008. The fair value of the option at December 31, 2007 was immaterial.

The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The purpose of these instruments is to reduce the exposure to variability in future cash flows attributable to a portion of its LIBOR-based borrowings and to reduce variability in foreign cash flows. The fair value of the interest rate swap and option is recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as an other asset or other liability. The Company is currently not accounting for these derivative instruments using the cash flow hedge accounting provisions of SFAS 133; therefore, the changes in fair value of the swap and option are included in earnings as other income or expenses.

By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk. Credit risk, which is the risk that a counterparty to a derivative instrument will fail to perform, exists to the extent of the fair value gain in a derivative. Credit risk is created when the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, since this generally indicates that the counterparty owes the Company. When the fair value of a derivative is negative, no credit risk exists since the Company would owe the counterparty. Market risk is the adverse effect on the financial instruments from a change in interest rates or implied volatility of exchange rates. The Company manages the market risk associated with interest rate contracts and currency options by establishing and monitoring limits as to the types and degree of risk that may be undertaken. The market risk associated with derivatives used for interest rate and foreign currency risk management activities is fully incorporated in the Company’s market risk sensitivity analysis.
 
NOTE 9 – ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes , on April 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of Interpretation 48, the Company recognized a charge of approximately $550,000 to the April 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. As of April 1, 2007, the Company had approximately $5.5 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits. Of this total, approximately $800,000 represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that are permanent in nature and, if recognized, would affect the annual effective tax rate.

The Company does not expect that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease between the present time and March 31, 2008.
 
13

 
The Company is subject to U.S and Mexican income taxes, as well as various other state and local jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2003, although carryforward attributes that were generated prior to 2003 may still be adjusted upon examination by the taxing authorities if they either have been or will be used in a future period.    

The federal income tax (2005 and 2006) are currently under examination by the taxing authorities. In addition, the income tax return (2001 through 2006) are under examination by a state authority which has completed its examinations and issued a proposed assessment for tax years 2001 and 2006. The Company is in the very initial process of responding to the Jurisdiction. In consideration of the proposed assessment, net income for this quarter was reduced by a charge of $1.5 million and the total gross unrecognized tax benefits has increased by $2.3 million as a result of this examination. At this time, it is too early to predict the outcome on this tax issue and any future recoverability of this charge. Until the tax issue is resolved, the Company expects to accrue approximately $40,000 per quarter for interest and penalties.

The Company's continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had approximately $889,000 accrued for interest and penalties, of which $393,000 and $533,000 were expensed during the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2007, respectively.
 
14

 

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain information derived from the Company's consolidated statements of operations and balance sheets, as well as operating data and ratios, for the periods indicated:

   
Three months
 
Nine months
 
   
ended December 31,
 
ended December 31,
 
   
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                   
Average gross loans receivable (1)
 
$
608,880
   
511,210
   
566,563
   
470,399
 
Average net loans receivable (2)
   
448,946
   
379,879
   
419,050
   
350,384
 
                           
Expenses as a % of total revenue:
                         
Provision for loan losses
   
26.4
%
 
24.8
%
 
22.8
%
 
21.1
%
General and administrative
   
53.9
%
 
55.9
%
 
53.8
%
 
54.4
%
Total interest expense
   
3.8
%
 
3.8
%
 
3.5
%
 
3.4
%
                           
Operating margin (3)
   
19.7
%
 
19.3
%
 
23.4
%
 
24.5
%
                           
Return on average assets (annualized)
   
5.9
%
 
6.9
%
 
8.3
%
 
9.5
%
                           
Offices opened or acquired, net
   
14
   
53
   
99
   
111
 
                           
Total offices (at period end)
   
831
   
731
   
831
   
731
 
 

(1)
Average gross loans receivable have been determined by averaging month-end gross loans receivable over the indicated period.
(2)
Average net loans receivable have been determined by averaging month-end gross loans receivable less unearned interest and deferred fees over the indicated period.
(3)
Operating margin is computed as total revenues less provision for loan losses and general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of total revenue.

Comparison of Three Months Ended December 31, 2007, Versus
Three Months Ended December 31, 2006

Net income increased to $7.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2007 compared to $7.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2006. Operating income (revenues less provision for loan losses and general and administrative expenses) increased approximately $3.1 million, or 21.5%, and was offset partially by an increase in interest expense and an increase in income taxes. The increase in operating margins from 19.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2006 compared to 19.7% for the three months ended December 31, 2007 resulted from a decrease in general and administrative expenses.

Total revenues rose to $88.0 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2007, an 18.8% increase over the $74.1 million for the corresponding quarter of the previous year. This increase was attributable to an increase in the average loan balances and an increase in other income. In addition, revenues from the 640 offices open throughout both quarterly periods increased by approximately 11.0%. At December 31, 2007, the Company had 831 offices in operation, an increase of 99 offices from March 31, 2007.

Interest and fee income for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, increased by $11.7 million, or 18.4%, over the same period of the prior year. This increase resulted from a $97.7 million increase, or 19.1%, in average gross loans receivable over the two corresponding periods.

Insurance commissions and other income increased by $2.2 million, or 21.2%, between the two quarterly periods. Insurance commissions increased by $2.1 million, or 33.2%, during the most recent quarter when compared to the prior year quarter due to the increase in loans in those states where credit insurance is sold in conjunction with the loan. Other income increased by approximately $160,000, or 3.7%, over the two corresponding quarters. The increase is attributed to an increase in revenue from motor club products of approximately $271,000 and an increase in World Class Buying Club sales of $566,000 when comparing the two quarters. The increase was offset by a $610,000 loss on the interest rate swap.
 
15

 
The provision for loan losses during the quarter ended December 31, 2007 increased by $4.9 million, or 26.5%, from the same quarter last year. This increase resulted from an increase in the general allowance for loan losses due to loan growth and an increase in charge-offs. Net charge-offs for the current quarter amounted to $18.8 million, a 26.2% increase from the $14.9 million charged off during the same quarter of fiscal year 2007. As a percentage of average loans receivable, net charge-offs increased to 16.7% on an annualized basis for the current quarter from 15.6% for the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The Company believes that the increase is attributed to a soft economy.

General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 increased by $6.0 million, or 14.5% over the same quarter of fiscal year 2007. Overall, general and administrative expenses, when divided by average open offices, decreased by approximately 0.6% when comparing the two periods; and, as a percentage of total revenue, decreased from 55.9% over the same quarter of fiscal year 2007 to 53.9% during the most recent period. This decrease resulted from a higher growth in revenue than in expenses.

Interest expense increased by $515,000 when comparing the two corresponding quarterly periods as a result of an increase in the average outstanding debt balance.

Income tax expense increased $2.3 million, or 51.3%, primarily from an increase in pre-tax income and a charge of $1.5 million related to a tax examination. A State jurisdiction has completed its examinations and issued a proposed assessment for tax years 2001 through 2006. The Company is in the very initial process of responding to the Jurisdiction. In consideration of the proposed assessment, net income for this quarter was reduced by this charge of $1.5 million and the total gross unrecognized tax benefits has increased by $2.3 million as a result of this examination. At this time, it is too early to predict the outcome on this tax issue and any future recoverability of this charge. Until the tax issue is resolved, the Company expects to accrue approximately $40,000 per quarter for interest and penalties. As a result, the Company’s effective income tax rate increased to 47.98% for the three months ended December 31, 2007 from 38.79% for the prior year quarter.

Comparison of Nine Months Ended December 31, 2007, Versus
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2006

Net income increased to $28.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007, or 6.5%, from the nine month period ended December 31, 2006. Operating income increased approximately $7.0 million, or 13.9%, and was offset partially by an increase in interest expense and an increase in income taxes. The decrease in operating margins from 24.5% for the nine months ended December 31, 2006 compared to 23.4% for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 resulted from an increase in the provision expense.

Total revenues rose to $244.6 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2007, a 19.2% increase over the $205.1 million for the corresponding period of the previous year. This increase was attributable to a 19.6% increase in average net loans and an increase in revenues from offices open throughout both periods. Revenues from the 640 offices open throughout both periods increased by approximately 9.8%.

Interest and fee income for the nine months ended December 31, 2007, increased by $33.5 million, or 19.0%, over the same period of the prior year. This increase resulted from a $96.2 million increase, or 20.4%, in average gross loans receivable over the two corresponding periods.

Insurance commissions and other income increased by $6.0 million, or 21.1%, between the two periods. Insurance commissions increased by $4.8 million, or 26.6%, during the most recent nine months when compared to the prior year first nine months due to the increase in loans in those states where credit insurance is sold in conjunction with the loan. Other income increased by approximately $1.2 million, or 11.6%, over the two corresponding periods primarily due to an increase in revenue from motor club products of approximately $1.1 million and increased World Class Buying Club revenue of $637,000 when comparing the two nine month periods. The increase was offset by an $829,000 loss on the interest rate swap recorded in fiscal 2008 compared to a $253,000 loss recorded in fiscal 2007.

The provision for loan losses during the nine months ended December 31, 2007 increased by $12.5 million, or 28.9%, from the same period last year. This increase resulted from an increase in the general allowance for loan losses due to loan growth and an increase in charge-offs. Net charge-offs for the current nine month period amounted to $47.0 million, a 29.8% increase from the $36.2 million charged off during the same period of fiscal 2007. As a percentage of average loans receivable, net charge-offs increased to 15.0% on an annualized basis for the current nine month period from 13.8% for the nine month period ended December 31, 2006. As discussed above, the Company believes that increase is attributed to a soft economy.

16


General and administrative expenses for the nine month period ended December 31, 2007 increased by $20.0 million, or 17.9% over the same nine month period of fiscal 2007. Overall, general and administrative expenses, when divided by average open offices, decreased by approximately 0.4% when comparing the two periods. Total general and administrative expenses as a percent of total revenues decreased from 54.4% during the prior year nine month period to 53.8% during the most recent nine month period due to a higher growth in revenues than in expenses.

Interest expense increased by $1.6 million when comparing the two corresponding nine month periods as a result of an increase in the average outstanding debt balance.

Income tax expense increased $3.6 million, or 22.1%, primarily from an increase in pre-tax income and a charge of $1.5 million related to a tax examination. A State jurisdiction has completed its examinations and issued a proposed assessment for tax years 2001 through 2006. The Company is in the very initial process of responding to the Jurisdiction. In consideration of the proposed assessment, net income for this quarter was reduced by this charge of $1.5 million and the total gross unrecognized tax benefits has been increased by $2.3 million as a result of this examination. At this time, it is too early to predict the outcome on this tax issue and any future recoverability of this charge. Until the tax issue is resolved, the Company expects to accrue approximately $40,000 per quarter for interest and penalties. As a result, the Company’s effective income tax rate increased to 41.11% for the three months ended December 31, 2007 from 37.85% for the prior year quarter.

Critical Accounting Policies
 
The Company’s accounting and reporting policies are in accordance with U. S. generally accepted accounting principles and conform to general practices within the finance company industry. Certain critical accounting policies involve significant judgment by the Company’s management, including the use of estimates and assumptions which affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. As a result, changes in these estimates and assumptions could significantly affect the Company’s financial position and results of operations. The Company considers its policies regarding the allowance for loan losses and share-based compensation to be its most critical accounting policies due to the significant degree of management judgment involved.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The Company has developed policies and procedures for assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses that take into consideration various assumptions and estimates with respect to the loan portfolio. The Company’s assumptions and estimates may be affected in the future by changes in economic conditions, among other factors. Additional information concerning the allowance for loan losses is discussed under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations - Credit Quality” in the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
 
Share-Based Compensation

The Company measures compensation cost for share-based awards at fair value and recognizes compensation over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of restricted stock is based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock at the grant date, and the fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Black-Scholes model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including expected volatility, risk-free interest rate and expected life, changes to which can materially affect the fair value estimate. In addition, the estimation of share-based awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from the Company’s current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. The Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. Actual results, and future changes in estimates, may differ substantially from the Company’s current estimates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company has financed its operations, acquisitions and office expansion through a combination of cash flow from operations and borrowings from its institutional lenders. The Company's primary ongoing cash requirements relate to the funding of new offices and acquisitions, the overall growth of loans outstanding, the repayment of indebtedness and the repurchase of its common stock. As the Company's gross loans receivable increased from $351.5 million at March 31, 2005 to $505.8 million at March 31, 2007, net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended March 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 was $87.7 million, $98.0 million and $110.1 million, respectively.

17


During the first nine months of fiscal 2008, the Company repurchased 690,100 shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $21.3 million. The Company believes stock repurchases to be a viable component of the Company’s long-term financial strategy and an excellent use of excess cash when the opportunity arises. In addition, the Company plans to open or acquire at least 75 new offices in the United States and 20 new offices in Mexico in fiscal 2008. Expenditures by the Company to open and furnish new offices generally averaged approximately $25,000 per office during fiscal 2007. New offices have also required from $100,000 to $400,000 to fund outstanding loans receivable originated during their first 12 months of operation.

The Company acquired 13 offices and 8 loan portfolios from competitors in 6 states in 9 separate transactions during the first nine months of fiscal 2008. Gross loans receivable purchased in these transactions were approximately $4.1 million in the aggregate at the dates of purchase. The Company believes that attractive opportunities to acquire new offices or receivables from its competitors or to acquire offices in communities not currently served by the Company will continue to become available as conditions in local economies and the financial circumstances of owners change.

The Company has a $187.0 million base credit facility with a syndicate of banks. In addition to the base revolving credit commitment, there is a $30 million seasonal revolving credit commitment available November 15 of each year through March 31 of the immediately succeeding year to cover the increase in loan demand during this period. The credit facility will expire on December 31, 2009. Funds borrowed under the revolving credit facility bear interest, at the Company's option, at either the agent bank's prime rate per annum or the LIBOR rate plus 1.80% per annum. At December 31, 2007, the interest rate on borrowings under the revolving credit facility was 7.25%. The Company pays a commitment fee equal to 0.375% per annum of the daily unused portion of the revolving credit facility. Amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility may not exceed specified percentages of eligible loans receivable. On December 31, 2007, $163.1 million was outstanding under this facility, and there was $53.9 million of unused borrowing availability under the borrowing base limitations.

The Company's credit agreements contain a number of financial covenants, including minimum net worth and fixed charge coverage requirements. The credit agreements also contain certain other covenants, including covenants that impose limitations on the Company with respect to (i) declaring or paying dividends or making distributions on or acquiring common or preferred stock or warrants or options; (ii) redeeming or purchasing or prepaying principal or interest on subordinated debt; (iii) incurring additional indebtedness; and (iv) entering into a merger, consolidation or sale of substantial assets or subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with these agreements as of December 31, 2007, and does not believe that these agreements will materially limit its business and expansion strategy.

On April 1, 2007, the Company adopted FIN No. 48. As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s contractual obligations, relating to FIN No. 48, included unrecognized tax benefits of $5.5 million which are expected to be settled in greater than one year. While the settlement of the obligation is expected to be in excess of 1 year, the precise timing of the settlement is indeterminable.

The Company believes that cash flow from operations and borrowings under its revolving credit facility or other sources will be adequate to fund the expected cost of opening or acquiring new offices, including funding initial operating losses of new offices and funding loans receivable originated by those offices and the Company's other offices and the scheduled repayment of the other notes payable (for the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future beyond that). Management is not currently aware of any trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties related to the Company’s operations that it believes will result in, or are reasonably likely to result in, the Company’s liquidity increasing or decreasing in any material way. From time to time, the Company has needed and obtained, and expects that it will continue to need on a periodic basis, an increase in the borrowing limits under its revolving credit facility. The Company has successfully obtained such increases in the past and anticipates that it will be able to obtain such increases or secure other sources of financing in the future as the need arises; however, there can be no assurance that this additional funding will be available (or available on reasonable terms) if and when needed.

Inflation

The Company does not believe that inflation has a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. The primary impact of inflation on the operations of the Company is reflected in increased operating costs. While increases in operating costs would adversely affect the Company's operations, the consumer lending laws of three of the eleven states in which the Company currently operates allow indexing of maximum loan amounts to the Consumer Price Index. These provisions will allow the Company to make larger loans at existing interest rates, which could partially offset the effect of inflationary increases in operating costs.

18


Quarterly Information and Seasonality

The Company's loan volume and corresponding loans receivable follow seasonal trends. The Company's highest loan demand occurs each year from October through December, its third fiscal quarter. Loan demand is generally the lowest and loan repayment is highest from January to March, its fourth fiscal quarter. Loan volume and average balances remain relatively level during the remainder of the year. This seasonal trend causes fluctuations in the Company's cash needs and quarterly operating performance through corresponding fluctuations in interest and fee income and insurance commissions earned, since unearned interest and insurance income are accreted to income on a collection method. Consequently, operating results for the Company's third fiscal quarter are significantly lower than in other quarters and operating results for its fourth fiscal quarter are generally higher than in other quarters.

Recently Adopted and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments

In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140” (“SFAS 155”). SFAS 155 permits an entity to measure at fair value any financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would be required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately under SFAS 133. SFAS 155 is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006. The adoption of SFAS 155 had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes

In July 2006, FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”), was issued. It clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an entity’s financial statements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold and measurement attribute a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

In May 2007, the FASB issued FSP FIN No. 48-1, “Definition of Settlement in FASB Interpretation No. 48.” FSP FIN No. 48-1 provides guidance on how a company should determine whether a tax position is effectively settled for the purpose of recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits. FSP FIN No. 48-1 is effective upon initial adoption of FIN No. 48, which the Company adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, as discussed in footnote 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 provides a common definition of fair value and a framework for measuring assets and liabilities at fair values when a particular standard prescribes it. In addition, the Statement prescribes a more enhanced disclosure of fair value measures, and requires a more expanded disclosure when non-market data is used to assess fair values. As required by SFAS 157, the Company will adopt this new accounting standard effective April 1, 2008. Management is currently reviewing the impact SFAS 157 on the Company’s financial statements.

19

 
Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
 
On February 15, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159 (“SFAS 159”), “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which allows an entity the irrevocable option to elect fair value for the initial and subsequent measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities on a contract-by-contract basis. Subsequent changes in fair value of these financial assets and liabilities would be recognized in earnings when they occur. SFAS 159 further establishes certain additional disclosure requirements. SFAS 159 is effective for the Company’s financial statements for the year beginning on April 1, 2008. The Company does not expect the effect of adopting this standard to be material to its Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance
 
In September 2006, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the EITF on Issue No. 06-5, “Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance — Determining the Amount That Could Be Realized in Accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, Accounting for Purchases of Life Insurance.” FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4 requires that the amount that could be realized under the insurance contract as of the date of the statement of financial position should be reported as an asset. Since the issuance of FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4, there has been diversity in practice in the calculation of the amount that could be realized under insurance contracts. Issue No. 06-5 concludes that the Company should consider any additional amounts (e.g., cash stabilization reserves and deferred acquisition cost taxes) included in the contractual terms of the insurance policy other than the cash surrender value in determining the amount that could be realized in accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-4. The adoption of this Interpretation had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Business Combinations

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations, which replaces SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations . SFAS No. 141R requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date, with limited exceptions. SFAS No. 141R also requires acquisition-related costs and restructuring costs that the acquirer expected, but was not obligated to incur at the acquisition date, to be recognized separately from the business combination. In addition, SFAS No. 141R amends SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, to require the acquirer to recognize changes in the amount of its deferred tax benefits that are recognizable because of a business combination either in income from continuing operations in the period of the combination or directly in contributed capital. SFAS No. 141R applies prospectively to business combinations in fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and would therefore impact our accounting for future acquisitions beginning in fiscal 2010.

Noncontrolling Interest in consolidated Financial Statements

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 clarifies the accounting for noncontrolling interests and establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary, including classification as a component of equity. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, our fiscal 2010. The Company is in the process of determining the effect, if any, that the adoption of SFAS 160 will have on our financial statements.

Forward-Looking Information

This report on Form 10-Q, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains various “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that are based on management’s belief and assumptions, as well as information currently available to management. Statements other than those of historical fact, as well as those identified by the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “expect,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” and “should” any variation of the foregoing and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Specifically, the statements in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Company’s expectations regarding charge-off trends or office expansion plans and are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual financial results, performance or financial condition may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or expected. Among the key factors that could cause the Company’s actual financial results, performance or condition to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements are the following: changes in interest rates; risks inherent in making loans, including repayment risks and value of collateral; recently-enacted or proposed legislation; the timing and amount of revenues that may be recognized by the Company; changes in current revenue and expense trends (including trends affecting delinquencies and charge-offs); changes in the Company’s markets and general changes in the economy (particularly in the markets served by the   Company); the unpredictable nature of litigation, and other matters discussed in this Report in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Company’s other reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC from time to time. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements it makes.
 
20

 
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s financial instruments consist of the following: cash, loans receivable, senior notes payable, convertible senior subordinated notes payable, another note payable, an interest rate swap and a foreign currency option. Fair value approximates carrying value for all of these instruments, except the convertible senior subordinated notes payable, for which the fair value represents the quoted market price. Loans receivable are originated at prevailing market rates and have an average life of approximately four months. Given the short-term nature of these loans, they are continually repriced at current market rates. The Company’s outstanding debt under its revolving credit facility was $163.1 million at December 31, 2007. Interest on borrowings under this facility is based, at the Company’s option, on the prime rate or LIBOR plus 1.80%.

Based on the outstanding balance at December 31, 2007, a change of 1% in the interest rates would cause a change in interest expense of approximately $1.3 million on an annual basis.

In October 2005, the Company entered into an interest rate swap to economically hedge the variable cash flows associated with $30 million of its LIBOR-based borrowings. This swap converted the $30 million from a variable rate of one-month LIBOR to a fixed rate of 4.755% for a period of five years.

In accordance with SFAS 133, the Company records derivatives at fair value, as other assets or liabilities, on the consolidated balance sheets. Since the Company is not utilizing hedge accounting under SFAS 133, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are included in other income. As of December 31, 2007, the fair value of the interest rate swap was a liability of $737,000 and is included in other liabilities. The change in fair value from the beginning of the year, recorded as an unrealized loss in other income, was $829,000.

The Company has another note payable which has a balance of $400,000 at December 31, 2007, and carries an interest rate equal to LIBOR + 2.00%.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
 
In September 2005 the Company began opening offices in Mexico, where its local businesses utilize the Mexican peso as their functional currency.  The consolidated financial statements of the Company are denominated in U.S. dollars and are therefore subject to fluctuation as the U.S. dollar and Mexican peso foreign exchange rates change. International revenues were less than 2% of the Company’s total revenues for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2007 and net loans denominated in Mexican pesos were approximately $6.3 million (USD) at December 31, 2007.
 
The Company’s foreign currency exchange rate exposures may change over time as business practices evolve and could have a material effect on the Company’s financial results.  There have been, and there may continue to be, period-to-period fluctuations in the relative portions of Mexican revenues.
 
On May 9, 2007, the Company economically hedged its foreign exchange risk by purchasing a $3 million foreign exchange currency option with a strike rate of 11.18 Mexican peso per US dollar. This option expires on May 9, 2008. Changes in the fair value of this option are recorded as a component of earnings since the Company does not apply hedge accounting under SFAS 133. The fair value of the option at December 31, 2007, and the change in the fair value of the option in fiscal 2008 was less than $30,000.
 
21

 
Because its earnings are affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies, the Company has performed an analysis assuming a hypothetical 10% increase or decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Mexican peso in which our transactions in Mexico are denominated. At December 31, 2007, the analysis indicated that such market movements would not have had a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The actual effects on the consolidated financial statements in the future may differ materially from results of the analysis for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2007. The Company will continue to monitor and assess the effect of currency fluctuations and may institute further hedging alternatives.
 
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures
 
An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2007.  Based on that evaluation, the Company's management, including the CEO and CFO, has concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of December 31, 2007. During the third quarter of fiscal 2008, there was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings
 
From time to time the Company is involved in routine litigation relating to claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business. The Company believes that it is not presently a party to any such pending legal proceedings that would have a material adverse effect on its financial condition.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors
 
There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed under Part I, Item 1A (page 9) of the Company Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2007.
 
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The Company's credit agreements contain certain restrictions on the payment of cash dividends on its capital stock. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Note 7 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in this report.

22


WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION, CONTINUED

Item 6.
Exhibits

       
Previous
 
Company
Exhibit
     
Exhibit
 
Registration
Number
 
Description
 
Number
 
No. or Report
  3.1
 
Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended
 
3.1
 
333-107426
             
  3.2
 
Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company
 
99.3
 
8-02-07 8-K
             
  4.1
 
Specimen Share Certificate
 
4.1
 
33-42879
             
  4.2
 
Articles 3, 4 and 5 of the Form of Company's Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (as amended)
 
3.1
 
333-107426
             
  4.3
 
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated July 20, 2005
 
4.4
 
6-30-05 10-Q
             
  4.4
 
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of August 4, 2006
 
4.4
 
6-30-06 10-Q
             
  4.5
 
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of October 2, 2006
 
10.1
 
10-04-06 8-K
             
  4.6
 
Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of August 31, 2007
 
10.1
 
9-07-07 8-K
             
  4.7
 
Subsidiary Security Agreement dated as of June 30, 1997, as amended through July 20, 2005
 
4.5
 
9-30-05 10-Q
             
  4.8
 
Company Security Agreement dated as of June 20, 1997, as amended through July 20, 2005
 
4.6
 
9-30-05 10-Q
             
  4.9
 
Fourth Amendment to Subsidiary Amended and Restated Security Agreement, Pledge and Indenture of Trust (i.e. Subsidiary Security Agreement)
 
4.7
 
6-30-05 10-Q
             
  4.10
 
Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Security Agreement, Pledge and Indenture of Trust, dated as of June 30, 1997, between the Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Security Trustee
 
4.8
 
9-30-07 10-Q
             
  4.11
 
Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Security Agreement, Pledge and Indenture of Trust (i.e. Company Security Agreement)
 
4.9
 
6-30-05 10-Q
             
  4.12
 
Form of 3.00% Convertible Senior Subordinated Note due 2011
 
4.1
 
10-12-06 8-K
             
  4.13
 
Indenture, dated October 10, 2006 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
 
4.2
 
10-12-06 8-K
             
  10.1
 
World Acceptance Corporation Supplemental Income Plan
 
10.7
 
2000 10-K
             
  10.2
 
Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan
 
10.6
 
2000 10-K
             
  10.3
 
1992 Stock Option Plan of the Company
 
4
 
33-52166
 
23


       
Previous
 
Company
Exhibit
     
Exhibit
 
Registration
Number
 
Description
 
Number
 
No. or Report
10.4
 
1994 Stock Option Plan of the Company, as amended
 
10.6
 
1995 10-K
             
10.5
 
2002 Stock Option Plan of the Company
 
Appendix A
 
Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2002 Annual Meeting
             
10.6
 
2005 Stock Option Plan of the Company
 
Appendix B
 
Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2005 Annual Meeting
             
10.7
 
The Company's Executive Incentive Plan
 
10.6
 
1994 10-K
             
10.8
 
World Acceptance Corporation Retirement Savings Plan
 
4.1
 
333-14399
             
10.9
 
Executive Deferral Plan
 
10.12
 
2001 10-K
             
10.10
 
First Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation 1992 And 1994 Stock Option Plans
 
*  
 
 
             
10.11
 
First Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation 2002 Stock Option Plan
  *  
 
             
10.12
 
First Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Stock Option Plan
 
*  
 
 
             
10.13
 
Second Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (2000)
 
*  
 
 
             
10.14
 
Second Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation Executive Deferral Plan
 
*  
 
 
             
10.15
 
Second Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation Supplemental Income Plan
 
*  
 
 
             
10.16
 
First Amended and Restated World Acceptance Corporation Board of Directors 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan
 
*  
 
 
             
10.17
 
First Amended and Restated World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Executive Deferral Plan
 
*  
 
 
             
10.18
 
Second Amended and Restated World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Supplemental Income Plan
       
             
31.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
*  
 
 
             
31.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
*  
 
 
             
32.1
 
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
*  
 
 
             
32.2
 
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
*  
 
 
 
*   Filed or furnished herewith.

24


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
   
   
 
By:
/s/ A. Alexander McLean, III
 
A. Alexander McLean, III, Chairman and
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: February 1, 2008
   
   
 
By:
/s/ Kelly M. Malson
 
Kelly M. Malson, Vice President and
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: February 1, 2008

25

 

FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
1992 and 1994 STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
This First Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation 1992 and 1994 Stock Option Plans is made and entered into effective as of January 1, 2008.

WHEREAS , World Acceptance Corporation ("Company") adopted the World Acceptance Corporation 1992 Stock Option Plan, effective April 22, 1992, and the World Acceptance Corporation 1994 Stock Option Plan, effective January 26, 1994, copies of which Plans are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference and which are referred to herein as the “1992 Plan” and the “1994 Plan” and collectively as the “Plans; and

WHEREAS , in response to the enactment of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, the Company has determined that the Plans should be amended to clarify that the Plans are intended to qualify for the exemptions from the application of Section 409A for ISOs under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(ii), NQOs under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A), and restricted Stock under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(6), and to clarify that the Plans provide for no feature for the deferral of compensation.

NOW, THEREFORE , the Plans are hereby amended as follows.

1. Section 10 (Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization) of the Plans is amended to read as follows:
 
In the event of a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the Committee shall adjust Awards to preserve the benefits or potential benefits of the Awards. Action by the Committee shall include, as appropriate: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of shares which may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the Exercise Price of outstanding Options; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable and consistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v).
 
2. Section 13 (Amendment and Termination) of the Plans is amended by adding after the first paragraph and before the second paragraph of said Section the following:
 
To the extent that the Board or Committee determines that the restrictions imposed hereby preclude the achievement of the material purposes of the Awards in any applicable jurisdiction, the Board or Committee will have the authority and discretion to modify those restrictions as the Board or Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to conform to applicable requirements or practices of such jurisdictions. Specifically, and without limiting the foregoing, Awards under this Plan are intended to be exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to revise any of the terms and provisions hereof to the extent necessary to cause Awards to be exempt from Section 409A and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder.
 


3. Section 19 b. (Change of Control) of the 1994 Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
b.
For purposes of this Section, “Change in Control” means a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
 
4. Sections 4 c. of the 1992 Plan 4 d. of the 1994 Plan are amended by striking that portion of the Sections beginning with “If the Company’s shares of Common Stock are:…” and ending with “… (3) not traded, the Board or Committee shall consider any factor or factors which it believes affects fair market value, and shall determine fair market value without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which by its terms will never lapse.” and replacing that stricken portion with the following:
 
Fair Market Value . For purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of a share of Stock as of any date, the following rules shall apply:
 
(i)   If the principal market for the Stock is a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq stock market, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be the closing price of the Stock on the immediately preceding date on the principal exchange or market on which the Stock is then listed or admitted to trading.
 
(ii)   If sale prices are not available or if the principal market for the Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq stock market, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be determined in good faith by the Committee using a reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method consistent with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(B).
 
(iii) If the immediately preceding date is not a business day, and as a result, clause (i)  above is inapplicable, the Fair Market Value of the Stock shall be determined as of the next earlier business day.
 

 
5. Section 3 (Stock Subject to Plan) of the Plans is amended by adding at the beginning of the Sections the following:

Notwithstanding the following provisions of this Section 3, the term “Stock” shall mean and shall be limited to shares of common stock of the Company that satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii).
 
6. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plans, no Award or Plan provision shall be construed as providing a Participant with a right to defer payment of an Award or as a feature for the deferral of compensation.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has executed this First Amendment to the Plans this _____ day of _____________, 2007.

 
By:
 
 
 

 

FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
2002 STOCK OPTION PLAN

This First Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation 2002 Stock Option Plan is made and entered into effective as of January 1, 2008.

WHEREAS , World Acceptance Corporation ("Company") adopted the World Acceptance Corporation 2002 Stock Option Plan, effective May 14, 2002, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference ("Plan"); and

WHEREAS , in response to the enactment of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, the Company has determined that the Plan should be amended to clarify that the Plan is intended to qualify for the exemptions from the application of Section 409A for ISOs under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(ii), NQOs under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A), and restricted Stock under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(6), and to clarify that the Plan provides for no feature for the deferral of compensation.

NOW, THEREFORE , the Plan is hereby amended as follows.

1. Section 5.2(f) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
(f)   In the event of a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the Committee shall adjust Awards to preserve the benefits or potential benefits of the Awards. Action by the Committee shall include, as applicable: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of shares which may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the Exercise Price of outstanding Options; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable and consistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v).

2. Section 5.5 of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
5.5   Grant and Use of Awards . In the discretion of the Committee, a Participant may be granted any Award permitted under the provisions of the Plan, and more than one Award may be granted to a Participant. Subject to the overall limitation on the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Committee may use available shares of Stock as the form of payment for compensation, grants or rights earned or due under any other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary, including the plans and arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary assumed in business combinations.
 


3. Section 5.6 of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
5.6   Dividends and Dividend Equivalents . An Award (including without limitation an Option) may provide the Participant with the right to receive dividend payments or dividend equivalent payments with respect to Stock subject to the Award (both before and after the Stock subject to the Award is earned, vested, or acquired), which payments shall be made currently, and may be settled in cash or Stock, as determined by the Committee.

4. Section 5.7 of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
5.7   Settlement of Awards . The obligation to make payments and distributions with respect to Awards may be satisfied through cash payments, the delivery of shares of Stock, or combination thereof as the Committee shall determine. Satisfaction of any such obligations under an Award, which is sometimes referred to as “settlement” of the Award, shall not be subject to any conditions, restrictions or contingencies. Each Subsidiary shall be liable for payment of cash due under the Plan with respect to any Participant to the extent that such benefits are attributable to the services rendered for that Subsidiary by the Participant. Any disputes relating to liability of a Subsidiary for cash payments shall be resolved by the Committee.

5. Section 7.2(b) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
(b)   To the extent that the Committee determines that the restrictions imposed hereby preclude the achievement of the material purposes of the Awards in jurisdictions outside the United States, the Committee will have the authority and discretion to modify those restrictions as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to conform to applicable requirements or practices of jurisdictions outside of the United States. Specifically, and without limiting the foregoing, Awards under this Plan are intended to be exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to revise any of the terms and provisions hereof to the extent necessary to cause Awards to be exempt from Section 409A and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder.

6. Section 9(c) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:

(c)   Change in Control. The term “Change in Control” means a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

7. Section 9(f) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
(f)   Fair Market Value . For purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of a share of Stock as of any date, the following rules shall apply:
 
(i)   If the principal market for the Stock is a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq stock market, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be the closing price of the Stock on the immediately preceding date on the principal exchange or market on which the Stock is then listed or admitted to trading.
 
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(ii)   If sale prices are not available or if the principal market for the Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq stock market, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be determined in good faith by the Committee using a reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method consistent with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(B).
 
(iii)   If the immediately preceding date is not a business day, and as a result, clause (i)  above is inapplicable, the Fair Market Value of the Stock shall be determined as of the next earlier business day.

8. Section 9(h) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
(h)   Stock . The term “Stock” shall mean shares of common stock of the Company which satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii).

9. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same definitions given to them under the Plan.
 
10. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, no Award or Plan provision shall be construed as providing a Participant with a right to defer payment of an Award or as a feature for the deferral of compensation.
 
11. The Plan shall remain in full force and effect as modified by the terms of this amendment.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has executed this First Amendment to the Plan this _____ day of _____________, 2007.

 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
   
 
By:
 
   
 
A. Alexander McLean, III, CEO

3




FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
This First Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Stock Option Plan is made and entered into effective as of January 1, 2008.

WHEREAS , World Acceptance Corporation ("Company") adopted the World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Stock Option Plan, effective August 1, 2005, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference ("Plan"); and

WHEREAS , in response to the enactment of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, the Company has determined that the Plan should be amended to clarify that the Plan is intended to qualify for the exemptions from the application of Section 409A for ISOs under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(ii), NQOs under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A), and restricted Stock under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(6), and to clarify that the Plan provides for no feature for the deferral of compensation.

NOW, THEREFORE , the Plan is hereby amended as follows.

1. Section 2.6 of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
2.6   Repricing . Except for adjustments pursuant to Section 5.2(e) (relating to the adjustment of shares), the Exercise Price for any outstanding Option granted hereunder may not be decreased after the date of grant, nor may an outstanding Option granted hereunder be surrendered to the Company as consideration for the grant of a new Option with a lower exercise price.
 
2. Section 3.6 of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
3.6   Repricing . Except for adjustments pursuant to Section 5.2(e) (relating to the adjustment of shares), the Exercise Price for any outstanding Option granted hereunder may not be decreased after the date of grant, nor may an outstanding Option granted hereunder be surrendered to the Company as consideration for the grant of a new Option with a lower exercise price.
 
3. Section 5.2(e) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
(e)   In the event of a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares), the Committee shall adjust Awards to preserve the benefits or potential benefits of the Awards. Action by the Committee shall include, as appropriate: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of shares which may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the Exercise Price of outstanding Options; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable and consistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v).
 
 
 

 
 
4. Section 5.5 of the Plan is amended to read as follows:

5.5   Grant and Use of Awards . In the discretion of the Committee, a Participant may be granted any Award permitted under the provisions of the Plan, and more than one Award may be granted to a Participant. Subject to the overall limitation on the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Committee may use available shares of Stock as the form of payment for compensation, grants or rights earned or due under any other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary, including the plans and arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary assumed in business combinations.

5. Section 5.6 of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
5.6   Dividends and Dividend Equivalents . An Award (including without limitation an Option) may provide the Participant with the right to receive dividend payments or dividend equivalent payments with respect to Stock subject to the Award (both before and after the Stock subject to the Award is earned, vested, or acquired), which payments shall be made currently, and may be settled in cash or Stock, as determined by the Committee.
 
6. Section 5.7 of the Plan is amended to read as follows:

5.7   Settlement of Awards . The obligation to make payments and distributions with respect to Awards may be satisfied through cash payments or the delivery of shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as the Committee shall determine. Satisfaction of any such obligations under an Award, which is sometimes referred to as “settlement” of the Award, shall not be subject to any conditions, restrictions or contingencies.

7. Section 6(b) is deleted in its entirety.

8. Section 7.2(b) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
(b)   To the extent that the Committee determines that the restrictions imposed hereby preclude the achievement of the material purposes of the Awards in any applicable jurisdiction, the Committee will have the authority and discretion to modify those restrictions as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to conform to applicable requirements or practices of such jurisdictions. Specifically, and without limiting the foregoing, Awards under this Plan are intended to be exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Committee and the Board shall have the authority to revise any of the terms and provisions hereof to the extent necessary to cause Awards to be exempt from Section 409A and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder.
 
9. Section 9(c) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:

(c)   Ch ange in Control . The term “Change in Control” means a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
 
 
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10. Section 9(f) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
(f)   Fair Market Value . For purposes of determining the “Fair Market Value” of a share of Stock as of any date, the following rules shall apply:
 
(i)   If the principal market for the Stock is a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq stock market, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be the closing price of the Stock on the immediately preceding date on the principal exchange or market on which the Stock is then listed or admitted to trading.
 
(ii)   If sale prices are not available or if the principal market for the Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq stock market, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be determined in good faith by the Committee using a reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method consistent with the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iv)(B).
 
(iii) If the immediately preceding date is not a business day, and as a result, clause (i)  above is inapplicable, the Fair Market Value of the Stock shall be determined as of the next earlier business day.
 
11. Section 9(h) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:
 
(h)   Stock . The term “Stock” shall mean shares of common stock of the Company that satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii).
 
12. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same definitions given to them under the Plan.

13. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, no Award or Plan provision shall be construed as providing a Participant with a right to defer payment of an Award or as a feature for the deferral of compensation.

14. The Plan shall remain in full force and effect as modified by the terms of this amendment.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has executed this First Amendment to the Plan this _____ day of _____________, 2007.
 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
 
By:
 
 
A. Alexander McLean, III, CEO    
 
 
3

 
SECOND AMENDMENT
TO THE
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
(2000)
 
This Second Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (2000) is made and entered into effective as of November 20, 2007.

WHEREAS , World Acceptance Corporation ("Company") adopted the World Acceptance Corporation Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, pursuant to authority granted by its Board of Directors on October 20, 1999 ("2000 Plan"); and

WHEREAS, effective December 31, 2004, the Plan was first amended to ensure its compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") as it then read; and

WHEREAS , it is now necessary and desirable to further amend the Plan to ensure that it is in compliance with the provisions of Code Section 409A that must be adopted on or before December 31, 2007.

NOW, THEREFORE , the 2000 Plan is further amended such that new Article XII at the end of the 2000 Plan shall read.

ARTICLE XII
PLAN FROZEN EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2004

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Plan is frozen effective December 31, 2004, so that benefits administered and payable under this Plan are limited only to those benefits, including earnings thereon accrued after December 31, 2004, that are fully vested and are not subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code because such benefits are "grandfathered" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-6(a)(3)(ii) and (iv). Furthermore, it is intended that nothing in this amendment shall be considered a "material modification" of the Plan within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-6(a)(4), and that no amendment to this Plan may hereafter be adopted that would constitute such a material modification. Following the freeze, the grandfathered benefits of a Participant shall thereafter be administered and be payable to the Participant in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Plan. The benefits, if any, that are not "grandfathered" will be administered and payable under the terms of the New Plan, which will become effective January 1, 2005 and will comply with the restrictions and requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.


 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has executed this Second Amendment to the Plan this _____ day of _____________, 2007.

   
By:
 
   

2

 
SECOND AMENDMENT
TO THE
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN

This Second Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation Executive Deferral Plan is made and entered into effective as of November 20, 2007.

WHEREAS , World Acceptance Corporation ("Company") adopted the World Acceptance Corporation Executive Deferral Plan, effective December 19, 2000, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference (“2000 Plan”); and

WHEREAS, effective December 31, 2004, the 2000 Plan was first amended to ensure its compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") as it then read; and

WHEREAS , it is now necessary and desirable to further amend the 2000 Plan to ensure that it is in compliance with the provisions of Code Section 409A that must be adopted on or before December 31, 2007.

NOW, THEREFORE , the 2000 Plan is further amended such that new Article XIV at the end of the 2000 Plan shall read.

ARTICLE XIV
PLAN FROZEN EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2004

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Plan is frozen effective December 31, 2004, so that benefits administered and payable under this Plan are limited only to those benefits, including earnings thereon accrued after December 31, 2004, that are fully vested and are not subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code because such benefits are "grandfathered" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.409A-6(a)(3)(ii) and (iv). Furthermore, it is intended that nothing in this amendment shall be considered a "material modification" of the Plan within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-6(a)(4), and that no amendment to this Plan may hereafter be adopted that would constitute such a material modification. Following the freeze, the grandfathered benefits of a Participant shall thereafter be administered and be payable to the Participant in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Plan. The benefits, if any, that are not "grandfathered" will be administered and payable under the terms of the New Plan, which will become effective January 1, 2005 and will comply with the restrictions and requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.


 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has executed this Second Amendment to the 2000 Plan this _____ day of _____________, 2007.

 
By:
 
 


 

SECOND AMENDMENT
TO THE
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME PLAN
 
This Second Amendment to the World Acceptance Corporation Supplemental Income Plan is made and entered into effective as of November 20, 2007.

WHEREAS , World Acceptance Corporation ("Company") adopted the World Acceptance Corporation Supplemental Income Plan, effective April 1, 2000, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference ("Plan"); and

WHEREAS, effective December 31, 2004, the Plan was first amended to ensure its compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") as it then read; and

WHEREAS , it is now necessary and desirable to further amend the Plan to ensure that it is in compliance with the provisions of Code Section 409A that must be adopted on or before December 31, 2007; and

WHEREAS , under the 2004 Plan amendment, benefits under the Plan were fully vested at December 31, 2004 only for participants who reached age 65 on or before December 31, 2004.

NOW, THEREFORE , the Plan is further amended such that new Article 10 at the end of the Plan shall read.

10.   Plan Frozen Effective December 31, 2004

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Plan is frozen effective December 31, 2004, so that benefits administered and payable under this Plan are limited only to those benefits, including earnings thereon accrued after December 31, 2004, that are fully vested and are not subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code because such benefits are "grandfathered" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-6(a)(3)(ii) and (iv). Furthermore, it is intended that nothing in this amendment shall be considered a "material modification" of the Plan within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-6(a)(4), and that no amendment to this Plan may hereafter be adopted that would constitute such a material modification. Following the freeze, the grandfathered benefits of an Executive shall thereafter be administered and be payable to the Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Plan. The benefits, if any, that are not "grandfathered" will be administered and payable under the terms of the New Plan, which will become effective January 1, 2005 and will comply with the restrictions and requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
 
 
 

 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has executed this Second Amendment to the Plan this _____ day of _____________, 2007.
 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
 
By:
 
 
A. Alexander McLean, III, CEO    
 
 
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FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2005 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
(November, 2007)
 
PURPOSE

The purpose of this 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan ("Plan") is to recognize the value to the Company of the services rendered by Eligible Directors covered by the Plan and to encourage and assure their continued service with the Company by making more adequate provisions for their future retirement security. This Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and the regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, as in effect from time to time. To the extent a provision of the Plan is contrary to or fails to address the requirements of Code Section 409A and related treasury regulations, the Plan shall be construed and administered as necessary to comply with such requirements to the extent allowed under applicable treasury regulations until the Plan is appropriately amended to comply with such requirements.

The Company also maintains for the benefit of certain Eligible Directors the World Acceptance Corporation Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan authorized by its Board of Directors on October 20, 1999, ("Prior Plan"). In response to the enactment of Code Section 409A, the Prior Plan was frozen as of December 31, 2004 so that the benefits payable under the Prior Plan are limited to those benefits, including earnings accrued after December 31, 2004, that are not subject to Code Section 409A because they were earned and vested as of December 31, 2004 (i.e., they are "grandfathered" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 409A-6(a)(3)(ii) and (iv).

Accordingly, one of the purposes of this Plan is to continue to provide benefits to Participants that would have been payable under the Prior Plan had the Prior Plan not been frozen, subject to such changes as are required because the "non-grandfathered" benefits payable under this Plan are subject to Code Section 409A. The benefits provided under this Plan include all amounts deferred on and after January 1, 2005.

This Plan shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA. This Plan is a top hat plan within the meaning of Section 201(2), 201(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. As such, this Plan is subject to limited ERISA reporting and disclosure requirements, and is exempt from all other ERISA requirements. Distributions required or contemplated by this Plan or actions required to be taken under this Plan shall not be construed as creating a trust or any kind of a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, any Participant's designated Beneficiary, or any other person.
 


ARTICLE I
TITLE AND EFFECTIVE DATE

1.1   Title . This Plan shall be known as the World Acceptance Corporation Board of Directors 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan ("Plan").

1.2   Effective Date . The effective date of this Plan is January 1, 2005.
 
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS

2.1   Account . "Account" means those separate bookkeeping Accounts established and maintained by the Company under the Plan in the name of each Participant as required pursuant to the provisions of Article V.

2.2   Beneficiary . "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by a Participant to receive any benefits hereunder in the event of the death of the Participant, or in the absence of such a designated Beneficiary, the Participant's estate.

2.3   Board . "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.4   Change in Control . "Change in Control" means a "change in control event" as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

2.5   Code . "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

2.6   Committee . "Committee" means the Committee charged with managing and administrating the Plan and the individual Participant Enrollment and Election Forms in accordance with Articles VIII and IX hereof.

2.7   Company . "Company" means World Acceptance Corporation, or any successor company as a result of merger, consolidation, liquidation, transfer of assets, or other reorganization.

2.8   Compensation . "Compensation" means payment for services provided by an Eligible Director to the Company in the form of retainer fees, meeting fees, or other such fees, which would otherwise be paid in cash.

2.9   Deferred Stock Unit . "Deferred Stock Unit" means a phantom stock unit having value at any time equivalent to the Fair Market Value Per Share of the Company's common stock, no par value.

2.10   Dividend Date . "Dividend Date" means each date, if any, on which cash or other dividends are paid on the Company's common stock.

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2.11   Eligible Director . "Eligible Director" means a person not employed by the Company, but who is a member of the Board and receives Compensation.

2.12   Fair Market Value Per Share . "Fair Market Value Per Share" means on any date the average of the closing sales prices per share for the Company's common stock, no par value, over the preceding twenty (20) days on which common stocks are traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market.

2.13   Nonqualified Deferred Compensation . "Nonqualified Deferred Compensation" means Compensation that is due to be earned and which would otherwise be paid to a Participant, which the Participant elects to defer under the Plan, and which is credited to an Account on behalf of a Participant.

2.14   Participant . "Participant" means any Eligible Director who is or may become (or whose beneficiaries may become) eligible to receive a benefit under the Plan by executing a valid Participant Enrollment and Election Form.

2.15   Participant Enrollment and Election Form . "Participant Enrollment and Election Form" means the form on which an Eligible Director elects, prior to the period in which services are to be performed, to defer Compensation hereunder.

2.16   Plan . "Plan" means the World Acceptance Corporation Board of Directors 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan.

2.17   Plan Year . "Plan Year" means the calendar year.
 
ARTICLE III
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

3.1   Eligibility Requirements . In order to be eligible for participation in the Plan, a Participant must be an Eligible Director. Participation in the Plan is voluntary. In order to participate, an otherwise Eligible Director must execute a valid Participant Enrollment and Election Form in such manner as the Committee may require.
 
ARTICLE IV
DEFERRAL OF COMPENSATION

4.1   Nonqualified Deferral Elections . A Participant may elect to defer all or any part of his Compensation during any Plan Year by use of a Participant Enrollment and Election Form submitted to the Committee no later than the last day of the last month immediately preceding such Plan Year. Once made, a deferral election for any Plan Year shall be irrevocable for such Plan Year.

3


A Participant may change the amount of his deferred Compensation by delivering to the Committee prior to the beginning of any subsequent Plan Year a new Participant Enrollment and Election Form, with such change being first effective for Compensation to be earned in such subsequent Plan Year. Once made, an election shall continue until changed by a Participant on a new Participant Enrollment and Election Form delivered to the Committee.

4.2   Failure to Elect . A Participant failing to return a completed Participant Enrollment and Election Form to the Committee on or before the specified due date for any Plan Year shall be deemed to have elected not to defer receipt of his Compensation with respect to such Plan Year.
 
ARTICLE V
PLAN ACCOUNTS

5.1   Establishment of Accounts . There shall be established and maintained by the Company separate Accounts in the name of each Participant to which the Company shall credit the amount of Compensation deferred by the Participant under the Plan. For each Plan Year, the amount of Compensation credited to a Participant's Account shall equal the amount elected by the Participant on the Participant Enrollment and Election Form that is effective for that Plan Year. The Company shall credit the deferred amount of Compensation to the Participant's Account at the time the amount would otherwise have been paid.
 
ARTICLE VI
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS

6.1   Account Earnings . Unless a Participant elects otherwise, each Account shall also be credited periodically with interest as set forth below.

6.2   Interest Credit . Interest will be calculated during each Plan Year on the outstanding balance of each Account at a per annum rate equal to the prime rate as announced by the Harris Trust and Savings Bank for the applicable Plan Year. Interest will be credited to each Account on the last day of each Plan Year.

6.3   Deferred Stock Credit . If a Participant elects otherwise, such Participant may allocate all or a portion of his Compensation into Deferred Stock Units, and the Company will credit his Account with that number of Deferred Stock Units equal to the deferred Compensation (or portion thereof) of such Participant, divided by the Fair Market Value Per Share on the date such Compensation would have otherwise been paid. The value of any Deferred Stock Units in a Participant's Account will fluctuate based on changes from time to time in the Fair Market Value Per Share.

If at any time any Deferred Stock Units are maintained in a Participant's Account, there shall be credited to such Account additional Deferred Stock Units on each Dividend Date. The number of such additional Deferred Stock Units shall be determined by (i) multiplying the total number of Deferred Stock Units (including fractional Deferred Stock Units) in the Account immediately prior to the Dividend Date by the amount of the dividend per share to be payable on such Dividend Date and (ii) dividing the product by the Fair Market Value Per Share on the Dividend Date. In the case of dividends payable on the Company's common stock other than in cash, the amount of the dividend per share shall be based on the fair market value of the property at the time of distribution of the dividend, as determined by the Committee.
 
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In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company upon which the stock equivalency hereunder is based, by reason of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, or any other change in corporate structure, or in the event any dividend is paid in common shares of Company stock or other property, the number of Deferred Stock Units credited to an Account shall be equitably adjusted in such manner as the Committee shall determine to be fair under the circumstances.
 
ARTICLE VII
PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

7.1   Payment of Benefits . All benefits payable under this Plan will be payable in cash. Except as otherwise provided herein, the benefits payable under this Plan on account of a Participant's termination of Board membership for any reason shall be paid to the Participant, or in the event of death, to the Participant's Beneficiary, in a cash lump sum no later than 60 days after termination of Board membership. To the extent that any Deferred Stock Units are in a Participant's Account at a time when benefits would otherwise be payable under this Plan, the cash benefit represented by such Deferred Stock Units shall be equal to the number of Deferred Stock Units in such Account multiplied by the Fair Market Value Per Share on the date of termination of Board membership or such other event requiring payment of benefits (including without limitation the occurrence of a Change in Control). The Participant may elect to change the time of payment, or to change the form of payments from a lump sum to payments in equal annual installments over a five- year period, together with interest on unpaid amounts at the rate set forth in Section 6.2, by filing a Participant Enrollment and Election Form with the Committee at least twelve (12) months prior to termination of Board service, provided , that the initial payment with respect to such election must be deferred for a period of at least five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been made.

7.2   Beneficiary Designation . Each Participant may, from time to time, by signing a form approved by the Committee, designate any legal or natural person or persons (who may be designated contingently or successively) to whom payments are to be made if the Participant dies before receiving payment of all amounts due hereunder. A Beneficiary designation form will be effective only after the signed form is filed with the Committee while the Participant is alive and will cancel all beneficiary designation forms signed and filed earlier. If the Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above, or if all designated Beneficiaries of the Participant die before the Participant or before complete payment of all amounts due hereunder, the Company shall pay the unpaid amounts to the legal representative of the estate of the last to die of the Participant and the Participant's designated Beneficiary.
 
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7.3   Change in Control . In the event of a Change in Control, all benefits payable under this Plan shall be paid to the Participant as provided in Section 7.1 above within 60 days after the occurrence of such Change in Control.
 
ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEE

8.1   Membership of the Committee . The Committee shall consist of at least three people designated and appointed from time to time by the Board. Any member of the Committee may resign by notice in writing and filed with the Secretary of the Committee. Vacancies shall be filled promptly by the Board.

8.2   Duties of the Committee . The Company is the named fiduciary of the Plan. The Committee, acting on behalf of the Company, shall adopt, administer, construe, and interpret this Plan and shall determine the amount, if any, due a Participant (or his Beneficiary) under this Plan. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any act done or determination made in good faith. In carrying out its duties herein, the Committee shall have discretionary authority to exercise all powers and to make all determinations, consistent with the terms of the Plan, in all matters entrusted to it, and its determinations shall be given deference and shall be final and binding on all interested parties.
 
ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATION

9.1   Administrative Authority . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Committee shall have the sole responsibility for and the sole control of the operation and administration of the Plan, and shall have the power and authority to take all actions and to make all decisions and interpretations which may be necessary or appropriate in order to administer and operate the Plan, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power, duty, and responsibility to:

(a)   Resolve and determine all disputes or questions arising under the Plan, including the power to determine the rights of Participants and Beneficiaries, and their respective benefits, and to remedy any ambiguities, inconsistencies, or omissions in the Plan.

(b)   Adopt such rules of procedure and regulations as in its opinion may be necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the Plan and as are consistent with the Plan.

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(c)   Implement the Plan in accordance with its terms and the rules and regulations adopted as above.

(d)   Make determinations concerning the crediting and distribution of Plan Accounts.

(e)   Appoint any persons or firms, or otherwise act to secure specialized advice or assistance, as it deems necessary or desirable in connection with the administration and operation of the Plan, and the Committee shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon, and shall be fully protected in any action or omission taken by it in good faith reliance upon the advice or opinion of such firms or persons. The Committee shall have the power and authority to delegate from time to time by written instrument all or any part of its duties, powers, or responsibilities under the Plan, both ministerial and discretionary, as it deems appropriate, to any person or committee, and in the same manner to revoke any such delegation of duties, powers, or responsibilities. Any action of such person or committee in the exercise of such delegated duties, powers, or responsibilities shall have the same force and effect for all purposes hereunder as if such action had been taken by the Committee. Further, the Committee may authorize one or more persons to execute any certificate or document on behalf of the Committee, in which event any person notified by the Committee of such authorization shall be entitled to accept and conclusively rely upon any such certificate or document executed by such person as representing action by the Committee until such third person shall have been notified of the revocation of such authority.

9.2   Uniformity of Discretionary Acts . Whenever in the administration or operation of the Plan discretionary actions by the Committee are required or permitted, such actions shall be consistently and uniformly applied to all persons similarly situated, and no such action shall be taken that will discriminate in favor of any particular person or group of persons.

9.3   Litigation . Except as may be otherwise required by law, in any action or judicial proceeding affecting the Plan, no Beneficiary shall be entitled to any notice or service of process, and any final judgment entered in such action shall be binding on all persons interested in, or claiming under, the Plan.

9.4   Payment of Administration Expenses . All reasonable expenses incurred in the administration and operation of the Plan, including any taxes payable by the Company in respect of the Plan, shall be paid by the Company.

9.5   Liability of Committee, Indemnification . To the extent permitted by law, the Committee shall not be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the interpretation and administration of this Plan unless attributable to its own bad faith or willful misconduct.

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9.6   Expenses . The cost of the establishment of the Plan and the adoption of the Plan by Company, including but not limited to legal and accounting fees, shall be borne by Company.

9.7   Taxes . All amounts payable hereunder shall be reduced by any and all Federal, state, and local taxes imposed upon a Participant or his Beneficiary, which are required to be paid or withheld by Company. Any determination by the Company regarding applicable income tax withholding requirements shall be final and binding on the Participant.
 
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS

10.1   Alienation of Benefits . Benefits payable under this Plan shall not be subject in any manner to alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, charge, garnishment, execution or levy of any kind, either voluntary or involuntary, and any attempt to alienate, sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any interest shall be void.

10.2   General Creditor Status . Each Participant shall be regarded as a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to any rights derived by the Participant from the existence of this Plan or any benefit due him. A Participant's benefits under this Plan are unfunded. No Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder of the Company as a result of participation in this Plan.

10.3   Governing Law . The provisions of this Plan and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of South Carolina.

10.4   Binding On Successors . In the event that the Company is merged or consolidated with another entity or in the event that substantially all the assets of the Company are sold or transferred to another entity, the provisions of the Plan shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the continuing entity in such merger or consolidation or the entity to which such assets are sold or transferred.

10.5   No Guarantee of Employment . Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed as a contract of employment between the Company and any Participant.

10.6   Construction . The masculine gender when used herein shall be deemed to include the feminine gender, and the singular may include the plural unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary.

10.7   Acceleration of Payment . The time or schedule of payment of a benefit hereunder may be accelerated upon such events and conditions as the IRS may permit in generally applicable published regulatory or other guidance under Code Section 409A, including, without limitation, payment to a person other than the Participant to the extent necessary to fulfill the terms of a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)), payment of FICA tax and income tax on wages imposed on any amounts under this Plan, or payment of the amount required to be included in income for the Participant as a result of failure of the Plan at any time to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A with respect to the Participant.
 
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10.8   Delay of Payment . The Company may delay payment of a benefit hereunder upon such events and conditions as the IRS may permit in generally applicable published regulatory or other guidance under Code Section 409A, including, without limitation, payments that the Company reasonably anticipates will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law provided that any such delayed payment will be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment would not cause such a violation.
 
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

11.1   Amendment . The Committee reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan, provided that no modification or amendment shall be made that will affect adversely any right or obligation of any Participant with respect to a Participant's Account. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any modification or amendment of the Plan may be made, retroactively if necessary, which the Committee deems necessary or proper to bring the Plan into conformity with any law or governmental regulation relating to the Plan. No amendment to this Plan shall decrease a Participant's Account balance.

11.2   Termination . The Company may terminate the Plan for any reason at any time. The Company has established the Plan with the bona fide intention and expectation that the Plan will continue indefinitely, but the Company shall be under no obligation to maintain the Plan for any given length of time and may, in its sole discretion, terminate the Plan at any time without any liability whatsoever. In the case of termination of the Plan, the amounts in Participant's Account will be paid within a reasonable time after such termination if and to the extent permitted under Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall have the right to terminate this Plan and to accelerate the payment of benefits under the Plan in accordance with Code Section 409A and related treasury regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A in accordance with one of the following:
 
(1)   the termination of the Plan within twelve (12) months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331 or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 503(b)(1)(A), as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(A); or
 
(2)   the termination of the Plan within the thirty (30) days preceding or the twelve (12) months following a "change in control" (within the Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)) provided that all substantially similar arrangements are also terminated, as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B); or

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(3)   the termination of the Plan, provided that the termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Company, all arrangements that would be aggregated with the Plan under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) are terminated, no payments other than payments that would be payable under the terms of the Plan if the termination had not occurred are made within twelve (12) months of the Plan termination, all payments are made within twenty-four (24) months of Plan termination, and no new arrangement that would be aggregated with the Plan under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) is adopted within three (3) years following the Plan termination, as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(C); or
 
(4)   such other events and conditions as the IRS may prescribe in generally applicable published or regulatory guidance under Code Section 409A.

11.3   Notice of Amendment or Termination . Notice of every such amendment or termination shall be given in writing to each Participant and Beneficiary of a deceased Participant.
 
ARTICLE XII
CLAIMS PROCEDURE

12.1   Claim . A person with an interest in the Plan shall have the right to file a claim for benefits under the Plan and to appeal any denial of a claim for benefits. Any request for a Plan benefit or to clarify the claimant's right to future benefits under the terms of the Plan shall be considered to be a claim.

12.2   Written Claim . A claim for benefits will be considered as having been made when submitted in writing by the claimant to the Company. No particular form is required for the claim, but the written claim must identify the name of the claimant and describe generally the benefit to which the claimant believes he or she is entitled. The claim may be delivered personally during normal business hours or mailed to the Company.
 
12.3   Claim Determination . The Committee, acting on behalf of the Company, will determine whether, or to what extent, the claim may be allowed or denied under the terms of the Plan. If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claimant shall be so informed by written notice within 90 days after the day the claim is submitted unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If such an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period. Such extension may not exceed an additional 90 days from the end of the initial 90-day period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render the final decision.

12.4   Notice of Determination . The notice informing the claimant that his or her claim has been wholly or partially denied shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include:

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(1)   The specific reason(s) for the denial.
 
(2)   Specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based.
 
(3)   A description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary.
 
(4)   Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the claimant wishes to submit his or her claim for review.

12.5   Appeal . If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claimant (or his or her authorized representative) may file an appeal of the denied claim with the Committee requesting that the claim be reviewed. The Committee shall conduct a full and fair review of each appealed claim and its denial. Unless the Committee notifies the claimant that due to the nature of the benefit and other attendant circumstances he or she is entitled to a greater period of time within which to submit his or her request for review of a denied claim, the claimant shall have 60 days after he or she (or his or her authorized representative) received written notice of denial of his or her claim within which such request must be submitted to the Committee.

12.6   Request for Review . The request for review of a denied claim must be made in writing. In connection with making such request, the claimant or his authorized representative may submit written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim for benefits, and shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claimant's claim. The review shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

12.7   Determination of Appeal . The decision of the Committee regarding the appeal will be given to the claimant in writing no later than 60 days following receipt of the request for review. However, if special circumstances (for example, if the Committee decides to hold a hearing on the appeal) require an extension of time for processing, the decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. If special circumstances require that a decision will be made beyond the initial time for furnishing the decision, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant (or his authorized representative) prior to the commencement of the extension.

12.8   Hearing . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, decide to hold a hearing if it determines that a hearing is necessary or appropriate in order to make a full and fair review of the appealed claim.

12.9   Decision . The decision on review shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to by understood by the claimant, as well as specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

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12.10   Exhaustion of Appeals . A Participant must exhaust his rights to file a claim and to request a review of the denial of his claim before bringing any civil action to recover benefits due to him under the terms of the Plan, to enforce his rights under the terms of the Plan, or to clarify his rights to future benefits under the terms of the Plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Plan is hereby adopted this ____ day of _____________, 2007.

 
By:
 
 
 
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FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
2005 EXECUTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN
(November, 2007)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this 2005 Executive Deferral Plan is to provide deferred compensation to a select group of management or highly compensated Employees. This Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and the regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, as in effect from time to time. To the extent a provision of the Plan is contrary to or fails to address the requirements of Code Section 409A and related treasury regulations, the Plan shall be construed and administered as necessary to comply with such requirements to the extent allowed under applicable treasury regulations until the Plan is appropriately amended to comply with such requirements.

The Company also maintains for the benefit of certain Employees the World Acceptance Corporation Executive Deferral Plan dated December 19, 2000 (“Prior Plan”). In response to the enactment of Code Section 409A, the Prior Plan was frozen as of December 31, 2004 so that the benefits payable under the Prior Plan are limited to those benefits, including earnings accrued after December 31, 2004, that are not subject to Code Section 409A because they were earned and vested as of December 31, 2004 (i.e., they are “grandfathered” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 409A-6(a)(3)(ii) and (iv).

Accordingly, one of the purposes of this Plan is to continue to provide benefits to Participants that would have been payable under the Prior Plan had the Prior Plan not been frozen, subject to such changes as are required because the “non-grandfathered” benefits payable under this Plan are subject to Code Section 409A. The benefits provided under this Plan include all amounts deferred on and after January 1, 2005.

This Plan shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA. This Plan is a top hat plan within the meaning of Section 201(2), 201(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. As such, this Plan is subject to limited ERISA reporting and disclosure requirements, and is exempt from all other ERISA requirements. Distributions required or contemplated by this Plan or actions required to be taken under this Plan shall not be construed as creating a trust or any kind of a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, any Participant’s designated Beneficiary, or any other person.

ARTICLE I
TITLE AND EFFECTIVE DATE

1.1   This Plan shall be known as the World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Executive Deferral Plan ("Plan").



1.2   The effective date of this Plan is January 1, 2005.

ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS

2.1   "Account" means the record of deferrals and other amounts maintained with respect to each Participant pursuant to Article V.

2.2   "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by a Participant, or by another person entitled to receive benefits hereunder, to receive benefits following the death of such person.

2.3   "Board of Directors" or "Board" means the Board of Directors of World Acceptance Corporation.

2.4   “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

2.5   "Company" means World Acceptance Corporation, a corporation with headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina.

2.6   "Deferral Election" means a Participant's election, pursuant to Article IV, to defer amounts payable to such Participant for a particular Plan Year. Each Participant's Deferral Election for a Plan Year must be made on a form provided by the Company.

2.7   "Distribution Election" means a Participant's election as to the form of cash payment (either single-sum or annual installments over a period of up to five years) of amounts credited to his Account to be made in the event of his Termination of Employment due to death, Disability, or Retirement. The form of payment elected need not be the same for any of these three possible reasons for Termination of Employment. Each Participant's Distribution Election must be made on the form provided by the Company at the time a Participant makes an election to participate in the Plan pursuant to Article III.

2.8   "Disability" means any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months which results in (i) the Participant being unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity or (ii) the Participant receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company. In addition, the Participant will be deemed disabled if determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration, or if determined to be disabled in accordance with a disability insurance program provided the definition of disability applied under such disability insurance program complies with the requirements of the preceding sentence.
 
2.9   "Election Date" means September 30 of the Plan Year during which executive incentive compensation is earned pursuant to the Executive Incentive Plan.



2.10   "Employee" means any individual who is in the regular, full-time employment of the Company as determined by the personnel rules and practices of the Company.

2.11   "Final Award" means an incentive compensation amount to be paid under the Executive Incentive Plan.

2.12   "Executive Incentive Plan" means the World Acceptance Corporation Executive Incentive Plan.

2.13   "Participant" means any Employee for whom an Account is maintained under the Plan.

2.14   "Plan" means the World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Executive Deferral Plan.

2.15   "Plan Year" means the Company's fiscal year (April 1-March 31).

2.16   "Retirement" means any "separation from service" (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) from the Company and from all entities that are considered a single employer with the Company under Code Sections 414(b) and 414(c) within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(g) and 1.409A-1(h)(3), occurring on or after a Participant reaches age 55.

2.17   "Termination of Employment" means the date of a Participant's "separation from service" (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) from the Company and from all entities that are considered a single employer with the Company under Code Sections 414(b) and 414(c) within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(g) and 1.409A-1(h)(3), by reason of death, Disability, Retirement, resignation, discharge or otherwise.

ARTICLE III
ELIGIBIILITY

3.1   Eligible Employees . Only those Employees who are participants in the Executive Incentive Plan shall be eligible to become Participants in the Plan.

3.2   Election to Participate . An eligible Employee will become a Participant at the time he makes his initial Deferral Election.

ARTICLE IV
PARTICIPANT DEFERRALS

4.1   Deferrals . Each Participant may elect to defer, in accordance with the terms of this Plan, all or a portion of the amount payable to the Participant as a Final Award under the Executive Incentive Plan. This Deferral Election must be made by the Participant not later than the applicable Election Date. Deferred amounts will be credited to the Participant's Account as of the date that the Final Award under the Executive Incentive Plan becomes payable.



ARTICLE V
ACCOUNTS

5.1   Maintenance of Participant Accounts . An Account shall be established and maintained with respect to each Participant. Each Account shall reflect the amounts credited thereto pursuant to Article IV, plus or minus adjustments made in accordance with the provisions of this Article V.

5.2   Investment Direction . Each Participant will have the right to direct the investment of the Account holding the Participant's deferrals. The Company will establish an account with a brokerage company for this purpose. Each Participant's Account will be adjusted to reflect earnings, losses, commissions and fees attributable to such Account.

ARTICLE VI
BENEFITS

6.1   Death, Disability, or Retirement . Upon the Participant's Termination of Employment due to death, Disability, or Retirement, the amount in the Participant's Account will be paid to the Participant (or to the Beneficiary designated pursuant to Section 7.1) according to the Participant's Distribution Election, either in cash in a single-sum payment or, if the Participant has so elected, in annual cash installments over a period of up to five years. Payment pursuant to this section shall begin within 90 days after the Termination of Employment; provided, however, that, if the Participant is then a "specified employee" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i), payment hereunder shall commence on the date that is six months after the date of the Participant's Termination of Employment.

For installment payments, subsequent installments will be paid on the anniversary of the payment of the first installment. The amount of each installment payment will be determined by dividing the amount credited to the Participant's Account by the number of years remaining in the payment period. The last installment payment will be for the balance credited to the Participant's Account.

6.2   Other Termination of Employment . Upon the Participant's Termination of Employment for any reason other than those listed in Section 6.1 above, the amount in the Participant's Account will be paid to the Participant in cash in a single-sum payment. Such payment shall be made within 90 days after the Termination of Employment; provided, however, that if the Participant is then a "specified employee" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i), payment hereunder shall commence on the date that is six months after the date of the Participant’s Termination of Employment.

6.3   Payments After Death. If a Participant (or a Beneficiary previously designated by a deceased Participant) dies before receiving the amount payable hereunder, then the remaining amount payable will be paid to the specified Beneficiary of such deceased person; provided, however, that if such deceased person has failed to specify a Beneficiary, then the person's estate will be considered to be the Beneficiary.



6.4   Payment For Unforeseeable Emergency . A Participant or Beneficiary may submit a written request to the Board for a distribution due to an "unforeseeable emergency" on such form and in such manner as the Board prescribes. For purposes of this Section 6.4, “unforeseeable emergency” means an unforeseeable emergency, consistent with Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder, that would result in severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from (i) a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)) of the Participant, (ii) a loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or (iii) such other similar, extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant, all as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board based on the relevant facts and circumstances of the case but only to the extent the emergency may not be relieved through reimbursement or compensation from insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets to the extent the liquidation of the assets would not cause severe financial hardship, or by the cessation of deferrals under the Plan. Any distribution on account of unforeseeable emergency will be limited to the amount needed to meet the emergency.   The Board will have sole discretion to determine whether an unforeseeable emergency exists and the amount of any distribution.

ARTICLE VII
BENEFICIARY

7.1   Designation of Beneficiary . A Participant shall designate a Beneficiary to receive benefits under the Plan by submitting to the Company a Designation of Beneficiary in the form attached hereto. A Participant shall have the right to change the Beneficiary by submitting a new Designation of Beneficiary to the Company.

7.2   Discharge of Obligations . Any payment made by the Company in good faith and in accordance with this Plan shall fully discharge the Company from all further obligations with respect to that payment. If the Company has any doubt as to the proper Beneficiary to receive payments hereunder, the Company shall have the right to withhold such payments until the matter is finally adjudicated.

7.3   Payment to Minors, Etc . In making any payment to or for the benefit of any minor or an incompetent Participant or Beneficiary, the Board of Directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, may make a distribution to a legal or natural guardian or other relative of a minor or court-appointed committee of such incompetent. It may also make a payment to any adult with whom the minor or incompetent temporarily or permanently resides. The receipt by a guardian, committee, relative or other person shall be a complete discharge of the Company. Neither the Board nor the Company shall have any responsibility to see to the proper application of any payments so made.



ARTICLE VIII
NATURE OF COMPANY'S OBLIGATION

8.1   Unsecured Promise . The Company's obligation to the Participants under this Plan shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay. The rights of a Participant or Beneficiary under this Plan shall be solely those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

8.2   No Right to Specific Assets . Any assets that the Company may set aside in the Participant Accounts under this Plan are and remain general assets of the Company subject to the claims of its creditors. The Company does not give, and the Plan does not give, any beneficial ownership interest in any assets of the Company to a Participant or Beneficiary. All rights of ownership in any assets are and remain in the Company. Any general asset used or acquired by the Company in connection with the liabilities it has assumed under this Plan shall not be deemed to be held under any trust for the benefit of the Participant or any Beneficiary, and no general asset shall be considered security for the performance of the obligations of the Company. Any such asset shall remain a general, unpledged, and unrestricted asset of the Company.

8.3   Plan Provisions . The Company's liability for payment of benefits shall be determined only under the provisions of this Plan, as they may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

9.1   Amendment . This Plan may be amended or modified in any way, in whole or in part, at any time, in the discretion of the Board of Directors. However, no amendment or modification of the Plan will affect a Participant's right to receive the benefit such Participant has accrued prior to the effective date of such amendment or modification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment or modification to the Plan may be made, retroactively if necessary, which the Board deems necessary or proper to bring the Plan into conformity with any law or governmental regulation relating to this Plan.

9.2   Termination . This Plan may be terminated for any reason at any time, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, provided that no termination of the Plan will affect a Participant’s right to receive the benefit such Participant has accrued prior to the effective date of such termination. In the case of termination of the Plan, the amounts in Participant’s Account will be paid within a reasonable time after such termination if and to the extent permitted under Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.
 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall have the right to terminate this Plan and to accelerate the payment of benefits under the Plan in accordance with Code Section 409A and related treasury regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A in accordance with one of the following:


 
(1)   the termination of the Plan within twelve (12) months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331 or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 503(b)(1)(A), as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(A); or
 
(2)   the termination of the Plan within the thirty (30) days preceding or the twelve (12) months following a “change in control” (within the Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)) provided that all substantially similar arrangements are also terminated, as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B); or
 
(3)   the termination of the Plan, provided that the termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Company, all arrangements that would be aggregated with the Plan under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) are terminated, no payments other than payments that would be payable under the terms of the Plan if the termination had not occurred are made within twelve (12) months of the Plan termination, all payments are made within twenty-four (24) months of Plan termination, and no new arrangement that would be aggregated with the Plan under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) is adopted within three (3) years following the Plan termination, as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(C); or
 
(4)   such other events and conditions as the IRS may prescribe in generally applicable published or regulatory guidance under Code Section 409A.

ARTICLE X
LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER

10.1   Limitations on Transfer . Neither a Participant nor a Beneficiary may in any manner anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise transfer the right to receive payments under this Plan. Any attempt to do so will be void. Such rights are not subject to legal process or levy of any kind.

ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATION

11.1   Named Fiduciary . The Company is the named fiduciary of the Plan. The Board of Directors, acting on behalf of the Company, shall have the authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan except as otherwise expressly provided in this Plan document.

11.2   Administration . The Board, acting on behalf of the Company, has the discretion (1) to interpret and construe the terms and provisions of the Plan (including any rules or regulations adopted under the Plan), (2) to determine eligibility to participate in the Plan and (3) to make factual determinations in connection with any of the foregoing. A decision of the Board with respect to any matter pertaining to the Plan, including without limitation the Employees determined to be Participants, the benefits payable, and the construction or interpretation of any provision thereof, shall be conclusive and binding upon all interested persons. No Board member shall participate in any decision of the Board that would directly and specifically affect the timing or amount of his or her benefits under the Plan.



ARTICLE XII
CLAIMS PROCEDURE

12.1   Claim . A person with an interest in the Plan shall have the right to file a claim for benefits under the Plan and to appeal any denial of a claim for benefits. Any request for a Plan benefit or to clarify the claimant's right to future benefits under the terms of the Plan shall be considered to be a claim.

12.2   Written Claim . A claim for benefits will be considered as having been made when submitted in writing by the claimant to the Company. No particular form is required for the claim, but the written claim must identify the name of the claimant and describe generally the benefit to which the claimant believes he or she is entitled. The claim may be delivered personally during normal business hours or mailed to the Company.
 
12.3   Claim Determination . The Board of Directors, acting on behalf of the Company, will determine whether, or to what extent, the claim may be allowed or denied under the terms of the Plan. If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claimant shall be so informed by written notice within 90 days after the day the claim is submitted unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If such an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period. Such extension may not exceed an additional 90 days from the end of the initial 90-day period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render the final decision.

12.4   Notice of Determination . The notice informing the claimant that his or her claim has been wholly or partially denied shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include:
 
(1)   The specific reason(s) for the denial.
 
(2)   Specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based.
 
(3)   A description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary.
 
(4)   Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the claimant wishes to submit his or her claim for review.

12.5   Appeal . If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claimant (or his or her authorized representative) may file an appeal of the denied claim with the Board of Directors requesting that the claim be reviewed. The Board shall conduct a full and fair review of each appealed claim and its denial. Unless the Board notifies the claimant that due to the nature of the benefit and other attendant circumstances he or she is entitled to a greater period of time within which to submit his or her request for review of a denied claim, the claimant shall have 60 days after he or she (or his or her authorized representative) received written notice of denial of his or her claim within which such request must be submitted to the Board.



12.6   Request for Review . The request for review of a denied claim must be made in writing. In connection with making such request, the claimant or his authorized representative may submit written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim for benefits, and shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim. The review shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

12.7   Determination of Appeal . The decision of the Board regarding the appeal will be given to the claimant in writing no later than 60 days following receipt of the request for review. However, if special circumstances (for example, if the Board decides to hold a hearing on the appeal) require an extension of time for processing, the decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. If special circumstances require that a decision will be made beyond the initial time for furnishing the decision, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant (or his authorized representative) prior to the commencement of the extension.

12.8   Hearing . The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, decide to hold a hearing if it determines that a hearing is necessary or appropriate in order to make a full and fair review of the appealed claim.

12.9   Decision . The decision on review shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to by understood by the claimant, as well as specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

12.10   Exhaustion of Appeals . A Participant must exhaust his rights to file a claim and to request a review of the denial of his claim before bringing any civil action to recover benefits due to him under the terms of the Plan, to enforce his rights under the terms of the Plan, or to clarify his rights to future benefits under the terms of the Plan.

ARTICLE XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

13.1   No Rights to Employment . Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to give any person the right to remain in the employ of the Company or affect the right of the Company to terminate any Participant's employment with or without cause.

13.2   Withholding . Any amount required to be withheld under applicable Federal, state and local income tax laws will be withheld and any payment under the Plan will be reduced by the amount so withheld.



13.3   Acceleration of Payment . The time or schedule of payment of a benefit hereunder may be accelerated upon such events and conditions as the IRS may permit in generally applicable published regulatory or other guidance under Code Section 409A, including, without limitation, payment to a person other than the Participant to the extent necessary to fulfill the terms of a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)), payment of FICA tax and income tax on wages imposed on any amounts under this Plan, or payment of the amount required to be included in income for the Participant as a result of failure of the Plan at any time to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A with respect to the Participant.
 
13.4   Delay of Payment . The Company may delay payment of a benefit hereunder upon such events and conditions as the IRS may permit in generally applicable published regulatory or other guidance under Code Section 409A, including, without limitation, payments that the Company reasonably anticipates will be subject to the application of Code Section 162(m), or will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law; provided that any such delayed payment will be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment would not cause such a violation

13.5   Governing Law . This Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of South Carolina to the extent that such laws are not preempted by federal law.
 
This Plan document has been executed on behalf of the Company this ____  day of _____________ , 2007.

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
 
By:
 
 
A. Alexander McLean, III, CEO



WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
2005 EXECUTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN

DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

I, __________________________, hereby name and designate _________________________ to be my beneficiary in the event of my death under the World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Executive Deferral Plan

     
Print Name:
 
         
Date:
   
Signature:
 



BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION FORM

Employee Information (please print)

_____________________________________________________________________
First Name       Middle Initial                    Last Name              Social Security Number

Primary Beneficiary(ies)

Please complete this section to name, and provide the requested information for, the beneficiary (or beneficiaries) who would receive any benefits due under the plan in the event of your death. If you are choosing more that one primary beneficiary, you must specify the percentage of your deferral plan account that each beneficiary should receive. An attachment may be used if necessary.

_____________________________________________________________________
First Name       Middle Initial                    Last Name              Social Security Number
 
_____________________________________________________________________
Street Address
 
_____________________________________________________________________
City           State         Zip                 ; Relationship             Percent      
 
_____________________________________________________________________
First Name       Middle Initial                    Last Name              Social Security Number
 
_____________________________________________________________________
Street Address
 
_____________________________________________________________________
City           State         Zip                60; Relationship             Percent      
 
Secondary Beneficiary(ies)

Please complete this section to name, and provide the requested information for, your secondary beneficiary (or beneficiaries). Your secondary beneficiary (or beneficiaries) receives payment only if all primary beneficiaries are deceased.

_____________________________________________________________________
First Name       Middle Initial                    Last Name              Social Security Number
 
_____________________________________________________________________
Street Address
 
_____________________________________________________________________
City           State         Zip               & #160; Relationship             Percent      


 
_____________________________________________________________________
First Name       Middle Initial                    Last Name              Social Security Number
 
_____________________________________________________________________
Street Address
 
_____________________________________________________________________
City           State         Zip                 Relationship             Percent      
 
Authorization

You may amend or revoke your designation at any time before your retirement date by completing another copy of this form and submitting it to your employer. The most recently date form on file will supersede all previous copies.

With this signature, I am designating the individual(s) listed above as my beneficiary(ies).
 
_____________________________________________________________________
Your Signature                             Date    



WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
2005 EXECUTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN

Deferral Election

For the Plan Year ending March 31, ______, I hereby elect to defer $__________ amount payable to me as a Final Award under the Executive Incentive Plan.

     
Print Name:
 
         
Date:
   
Signature:
 



WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
2005 EXECUTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN

Distribution Election

1.   Death

In the event of my Termination of Employment due to my death, I hereby elect to have my Plan benefits paid to my Beneficiary as follows: (check one)

_____ single cash payment
_____ annual cash installments over a ______ (not to exceed five) year period

2.   Disability

In the event of my Termination of Employment due to my Disability, I hereby elect to have my Plan benefits paid to me as follows: (check one)

_____ single cash payment
_____ annual cash installments over a ______ (not to exceed five) year period

3.   Retirement

In the event of my Termination of Employment due to my Retirement, I hereby elect to have my Plan benefits paid to me as follows: (check one)
_____ single cash payment
_____ annual cash installments over a ______ (not to exceed five) year period

     
Print Name:
 
         
   
Signature:
 


 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
2005 SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME PLAN
(November, 2007)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this 2005 Supplemental Income Plan is to provide deferred compensation to a select group of management or highly compensated Employees. This Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and the regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, as in effect from time to time. To the extent a provision of the Plan is contrary to or fails to address the requirements of Code Section 409A and related treasury regulations, the Plan shall be construed and administered as necessary to comply with such requirements to the extent allowed under applicable treasury regulations until the Plan is appropriately amended to comply with such requirements.

The Company also maintains for the benefit of certain Employees the World Acceptance Corporation Supplemental Income Plan dated April 1, 2000 ("Prior Plan"). In response to the enactment of Code Section 409A, the Prior Plan was frozen as of December 31, 2004 so that the benefits payable under the Prior Plan are limited to those benefits, including earnings accrued after December 31, 2004, that are not subject to Code Section 409A because they were earned and vested as of December 31, 2004 (i.e., they are "grandfathered" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 409A-6(a)(3)(ii) and (iv).

Accordingly, one of the purposes of this Plan is to continue to provide benefits to Executives that would have been payable under the Prior Plan had the Prior Plan not been frozen, subject to such changes as are required because the "non-grandfathered" benefits payable under this Plan are subject to Code Section 409A. The benefits provided under this Plan include all amounts deferred on and after January 1, 2005.

This Plan shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA. This Plan is a top hat plan within the meaning of Section 201(2), 201(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. As such, this Plan is subject to limited ERISA reporting and disclosure requirements, and is exempt from all other ERISA requirements. Distributions required or contemplated by this Plan or actions required to be taken under this Plan shall not be construed as creating a trust or any kind of a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant, any Participant's designated Beneficiary, or any other person.

ARTICLE I
TITLE AND EFFECTIVE DATE

1.1   This Plan shall be known as the World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Supplemental Income Plan ("Plan").
 
 
 

 
 
1.2   The effective date of this Plan is January 1, 2005.

ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS

2.1   "Beneficiary" means, with respect to an Executive, the person or persons who are designated as such by an Executive, in his Participation Agreement, to receive payments under the Plan following the death of the Executive.

2.2   "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

2.2   "Company" means World Acceptance Corporation, a South Carolina corporation, or any successor thereto and it subsidiaries.

2.3   "Disability" means any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months which results in (i) the Executive being unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity or (ii) the Executive receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company. In addition, the Executive will be deemed disabled if determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration, or if determined to be disabled in accordance with a disability insurance program provided the definition of disability applied under such disability insurance program complies with the requirements of the preceding sentence.

2.4   "Early Retirement" means the "separation from service" (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.401A-1(h)) of an Executive, prior to his Normal Retirement Age, from employment with the Company and from all entities that are considered a single employer with the Company under Code Sections 414(b) and (c) within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(g) and 1.409A-1(h)(3) and after the Executive has reached the age of 57 and been a participant in the Plan for at least 8 years.

2.5   "Early Retirement Benefit" means, with respect to each Executive, 45% of such Executive's monthly base salary, at the time of Early Retirement, multiplied by his Days of Service Fraction.

2.6   "Early Retirement Date" means the first day of the month following the month during which the Executive is granted Early Retirement.

2.7   "Employment Date" means the most recent date an Executive became employed as an officer of the Company. If the Executive was originally employed as a non-officer, then the date of promotion to officer status constitutes the Employment Date.

2.8   "Executive" means any employee who is an officer, who is designated as eligible to participate in the Plan by the Board of Directors of the Company and who executes a Participation Agreement.

 
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2.9   "Fiscal Year" means the 12-month period beginning on April 1 of each year.

2.10   "Normal Retirement" means the "separation from service" (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)), of an Executive after reaching Normal Retirement Age, from employment with the Company and from all entities that are considered a single employer with the Company under Code Sections 414(b) and (c) within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.409A-1(g) and 1.409A-1(h)(3).

2.11   "Normal Retirement Age" means the date on which an Executive attains the age of sixty-five (65).

2.12   "Normal Retirement Benefit" means, with respect to each Executive, 45% of such Executive's monthly base salary at the time of Normal Retirement.

2.13   "Normal Retirement Date" means the first day of the month following the month during which the Executive attains Normal Retirement Age or, if later, the first day of the month following the Executive's retirement after attainment of his Normal Retirement Age.

2.14   "Participation Agreement" means the agreement executed by the Executive upon being admitted to the Plan. With respect to each Executive, the Participation Agreement shall be an integral part of the Plan.

2.15   "Plan" means the World Acceptance Corporation 2005 Supplemental Income Plan as described herein and as the same may hereafter from time to time be amended.
2.16   "Day of Service" means, with respect to each Executive, each day following such Executive's Employment Date on which such Executive is employed by the Company.

2.17   "Days of Service Fraction" means, with respect to each Executive, at any time, the number of Days of Service then accrued by such Executive, divided by the number of Days of Service such Executive would accrue if he were continuously employed by the Company from his Employment Date until his Normal Retirement Age.

ARTICLE III  
PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

3.1   If an Executive voluntarily terminates employment before retirement, or if an Executive's employment is terminated for reason of malfeasance, dishonesty, or other similar wrongdoing (even after becoming eligible for retirement), neither the Executive nor his Beneficiary will be entitled to receive any benefits under this Plan. If an Executive's malfeasance, dishonesty or other wrongdoing is discovered after payments to the Executive under this Plan have already begun, neither the Executive nor his Beneficiary will be entitled to receive any further payments under the Plan. All determinations under this paragraph will be made by World Acceptance Corporation's Board of Directors in its sole discretion.

 
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3.2   In the event of an Executive's Normal Retirement, the Company will make a series of monthly payments to the Executive. Each payment will be equal to the Executive's Normal Retirement Benefit. The first such payment shall be made on the Normal Retirement Date; provided, however, that if the Executive is a "specified employee" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of his Normal Retirement, then the first payment hereunder shall commence on the date that is six months after the date of the Executive's termination of employment. The remaining payments shall be made on the first day of each succeeding month until 180 total payments have been made. If the Executive dies before all of the payments due to him have been made, the remaining payments shall be made to the Executive's Beneficiary. If the Executive's Beneficiary dies before receiving all the payments due to him, then the remaining payments shall be made to the personal representative of the Beneficiary's estate.

3.3   In the event of an Executive's Early Retirement, the Company will make a series of monthly payments to the Executive. Each payment will be equal to the Executive's Early Retirement Benefit. The first such payment shall be made on the Executive's Early Retirement Date; provided, however, that if the Executive is a "specified employee" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of his Early Retirement, then the first payment hereunder shall commence on the date that is six months after the date of the Executive's termination of employment. The remaining payments shall be made on the first day of each succeeding month until 180 total payments have been made. If an Executive dies before receiving all of the payments due to him, then the remaining payments shall be made to the Executive's Beneficiary. If the Executive's Beneficiary dies before receiving all the payments due to him or her, then the remaining payments shall be made to the personal representative of the Beneficiary's estate.

3.4   Except as provided in section 3.1, if the Company terminates an Executive's employment before his death or retirement, or if an Executive terminates employment because of Disability, the Executive will receive the same benefit he would have received if he had retired on the date of his termination. For purposes of this paragraph, the age 57 and 8 years of Plan participation requirements for Early Retirement will not apply. The first such payment shall be made on the first day of the month following the Executive's separation from service (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) or, in the case of disability, on the first day of the first month after the expiration of any Company sponsored long term disability payments due to the Executive provided, however, that if the Executive is then a "specified employee" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i), payment hereunder shall commence on the date that is six months after the date of the Executive's termination of employment. The remaining payments shall be made on the first day of each succeeding month until 180 payments have been made. If the Executive's Beneficiary dies before all of the payments due have been made, then any remaining payments shall be made to the personal representative of the Beneficiary's estate.

3.5   If an Executive dies while employed with the Company or while receiving Company sponsored long term disability payments, his Beneficiary will receive payments pursuant to section 3.2 calculated as if the Executive's date of death is his Normal Retirement Date. The first such payment shall be made on the first day of the month following the date of the Executive's death, with remaining payments to be made to the Executive's Beneficiary as described in Section 3.2.
 
 
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3.6   If, at the death of the Executive, there is no properly designated living Beneficiary, or, if the Beneficiary is an entity and such entity is not then in existence, then any payments due under this Plan shall be made to the Executive's estate.

3.7   In making any payment to or for the benefit of any minor or an incompetent Beneficiary, the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, may make a distribution to a legal or natural guardian or other relative of a minor or court-appointed committee of such incompetent. It may also make a payment to any adult with whom the minor or incompetent temporarily or permanently resides. The receipt by a guardian, committee, relative or other person shall be a complete discharge of the Company. Neither the Board nor the Company shall have any responsibility to see to the proper application of any payments so made.

ARTICLE IV
NATURE OF COMPANY'S OBLIGATION

4.1   The Company's obligation to the Executives under this Plan shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay. The rights of an Executive or Beneficiary under this Plan shall be solely those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. The Company shall not be obligated under any circumstances to set aside or hold assets to fund its financial obligations under this Plan.

4.2   Any assets that the Company may set aside, acquire or hold to help cover its financial liabilities under this Plan are and remain general assets of the Company subject to the claims of its creditors. The Company does not give, and the Plan does not give, any beneficial ownership interest in any assets of the Company to an Executive or Beneficiary. All rights of ownership in any assets are and remain in the Company. Any general asset used or acquired by the Company in connection with the liabilities it has assumed under this Plan shall not be deemed to be held under any trust for the benefit of the Executive or any Beneficiary, and no general asset shall be considered security for the performance of the obligations of the Company. Any such asset shall remain a general, unpledged, and unrestricted asset of the Company.

4.3   The Company's liability for payment of benefits shall be determined only under the provisions of this Plan, as they may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE V
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

5.1   Amendment . This Plan may be amended in any way, in whole or in part, at any time, in the discretion of the Board. However, no amendment of the Plan will have the effect of reducing an Executive's retirement benefit below the amount of such benefit computed as of the date of amendment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment to the Plan may be made, retroactively if necessary, which the Board deems necessary or proper to bring the Plan into conformity with any law or governmental regulation relating to this Plan.

 
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5.2   Termination . This Plan may be terminated for any reason at any time, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, provided that no termination of the Plan will have the effect of reducing an Executive's retirement benefit below the amount of such benefit computed as of the date of Plan termination. In the case of termination of the Plan, the Executive's retirement benefit will be paid within a reasonable time after such termination if and to the extent permitted under Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall have the right to terminate this Plan and to accelerate the payment of benefits under the Plan in accordance with Code Section 409A and related treasury regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A in accordance with one of the following:

(1)   the termination of the Plan within twelve (12) months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331 or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 503(b)(1)(A), as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(A); or

(2)   the termination of the Plan within the thirty (30) days preceding or the twelve (12) months following a "change in control" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)) provided that all substantially similar arrangements are also terminated, as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B); or

(3)   the termination of the Plan, provided that the termination does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Company, all arrangements that would be aggregated with the Plan under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) are terminated, no payments other than payments that would be payable under the terms of the Plan if the termination had not occurred are made within twelve (12) months of the Plan termination, all payments are made within twenty-four (24) months of Plan termination, and no new arrangement that would be aggregated with the Plan under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(c) is adopted within three (3) years following the Plan termination, as provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(C); or

(4)   such other events and conditions as the IRS may prescribe in generally applicable published or regulatory guidance under Code Section 409A.

 
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ARTICLE VI
LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER

6.1   Neither an Executive nor a Beneficiary may in any manner anticipate, alienate, sell, assign, pledge, encumber or otherwise transfer the right to receive payments under this Plan. Any attempt to do so will be void. Such rights are not subject to legal process or levy of any kind.

ARTICLE VII
ADMINISTRATION

7.1   The Company is the named fiduciary of the Plan. The Board, acting on behalf of the Company, shall have the authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan except as otherwise expressly provided in this Plan document

7.2   The Board, acting on behalf of the Company, has the discretion (1) to interpret and construe the terms and provisions of the Plan (including any rules or regulations adopted under the Plan), (2) to determine eligibility to participate in the Plan and (3) to make factual determinations in connection with any of the foregoing. A decision of the Board with respect to any matter pertaining to the Plan, including without limitation the employees determined to be eligible, the benefits payable, and the construction or interpretation of any provision thereof, shall be conclusive and binding upon all interested persons. No Board member shall participate in any decision of the Board that would directly and specifically affect the timing or amount of his or her benefits under the Plan.

ARTICLE VIII
CLAIMS PROCEDURE

8.1   A person with an interest in the Plan shall have the right to file a claim for benefits under the Plan and to appeal any denial of a claim for benefits. Any request for a Plan benefit or to clarify the claimant's rights to future benefits under the terms of the Plan shall be considered to be a claim.

8.2   A claim for benefits will be considered as having been made when submitted in writing by the claimant to the Company. No particular form is required for the claim, but the written claim must identify the name of the claimant and describe generally the benefit to which the claimant believes he or she is entitled. The claim may be delivered personally during normal business hours or mailed to the Company.

8.3   The Board, acting on behalf of the Company, will determine whether, or to what extent, the claim may be allowed or denied under the terms of the Plan. If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claimant shall be so informed by written notice within 90 days after the day the claim is submitted unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If such an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period. Such extension may not exceed an additional 90 days from the end of the initial 90-day period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render the final decision.

 
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8.4   The notice informing the claimant that his or her claim has been wholly or partially denied shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include:

(1)   The specific reason(s) for the denial.

(2)   Specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based.

(3)   A description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary.

(4)   Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the claimant wishes to submit his or her claim for review.

8.5   If the claim is wholly or partially denied, the claimant (or his or her authorized representative) may file an appeal of the denied claim with the Board requesting that the claim be reviewed. The Board shall conduct a full and fair review of each appealed claim and its denial. Unless the Board notifies the claimant that due to the nature of the benefit and other attendant circumstances he or she is entitled to a greater period of time within which to submit his or her request for review of a denied claim, the claimant shall have 60 days after he or she (or his or her authorized representative) receives written notice of denial of his or her claim within which such request must be submitted to the Board.

8.6   The request for review of a denied claim must be made in writing. In connection with making such request, the claimant or his authorized representative may submit written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim for benefits, and shall be provided, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claimant's claim. The review shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

8.7   The decision of the Board regarding the appeal will be given to the claimant in writing no later than 60 days following receipt of the request for review. However, if special circumstances (for example, if the Board decides to hold a hearing on the appeal) require an extension of time for processing, the decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. If special circumstances require that a decision will be made beyond the initial time for furnishing the decision, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant (or his authorized representative) prior to the commencement of the extension.

 
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8.8   The Board may, in its sole discretion, decide to hold a hearing if it determines that a hearing is necessary or appropriate in order to make a full and fair review of the appealed claim.

8.9   The decision on review shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, as well as specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

8.10   An Executive or Beneficiary must exhaust his rights to file a claim and to request a review of the denial of his claim before bringing any civil action to recover benefits due to him under the terms of the Plan, to enforce his rights under the terms of the Plan, or to clarify his rights to future benefits under the terms of the Plan.

ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS

9.1   Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to give any person the right to remain in the employ of the Company or affect the right of the Company to terminate any Executive's employment with or without cause.

9.2   Any amount required to be withheld under applicable Federal, state and local income tax laws will be withheld and any payment under the Plan will be reduced by the amount so withheld.

9.3   The time or schedule of payment of a benefit hereunder may be accelerated upon such events and conditions as the IRS may permit in generally applicable published regulatory or other guidance under Code Section 409A, including, without limitation, payment to a person other than the Executive to the extent necessary to fulfill the terms of a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)), payment of FICA tax and income tax on wages imposed on any amounts under this Plan, or payment of the amount required to be included in income for the Executive as a result of failure of the Plan at any time to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A with respect to the Executive.

9.4   The Company may delay payment of a benefit hereunder upon such events and conditions as the IRS may permit in generally applicable published regulatory or other guidance under Code Section 409A, including, without limitation, payments that the Company reasonably anticipates will be subject to the application of Code Section 162(m) or will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law, provided that any such delayed payment will be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment would not cause such a violation.

9.5   This Plan shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of South Carolina to the extent that such laws are not preempted by federal law.

 
9

 
 
This Plan document has been executed on behalf of the Company this ____ day of ____________, 2007.

 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
   
 
By:
 
   
 
A. Alexander McLean, III, CEO

 
10

 

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
2005 SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME PLAN
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED
(November, 2007)

As provided in the above referenced Plan, effective ____________, 200__, you ____________, are hereby invited to participate. By accepting the invitation to participate in the Plan, you acknowledge that you have read the Plan, understand its terms, understand that benefits will be paid pursuant to the Plan only under specific circumstances described therein, understand that you are a general creditor of World Acceptance Corporation and that you have no interest in specific assets owned by the Company.

I hereby accept this invitation of World Acceptance Corporation to participate in its 2005 Supplemental Income Plan.

     
Witness
 
Participant

For purposes of the plan, I hereby designate the following Beneficiary or Beneficiaries:

     
   
(Beneficiary)

If the above named Beneficiary is not alive when payments are first due to be made under the Plan, I hereby designate the following Contingent Beneficiary or Beneficiaries:

     
   
(Contingent Beneficiary)

Plan Employment Date: _________________
 
 
11

 
 

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, A. A. McLean III, certify that:

 
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of World Acceptance Corporation;
     
 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
     
 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
     
 
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a 15(e) and 15d–15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Dated:       February 1, 2008
 
/s/ A. A. McLean III
   
A. A. McLean III
   
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


 

EXHIBIT 31.2

I, Kelly M. Malson, certify that:

 
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of World Acceptance Corporation;
     
 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
     
 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
     
 
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a 15(e) and 15d–15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 
c.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 
d.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Dated:         February 1, 2008
 
/s/ Kelly M. Malson
   
Kelly M. Malson
   
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 

 

EXHIBIT 32.1


CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT

I, A. A. McLean III, of World Acceptance Corporation (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that (to my knowledge):

(1)
the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:
February 1, 2008
 

 
/s/ A. A. McLean III
 
A. A. McLean III
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 

 
 

EXHIBIT 32.2
 
CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT

I, Kelly M. Malson, of World Acceptance Corporation (the “Company”), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that (to my knowledge):

(1)
the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:    February 1, 2008
 

 
/s/ Kelly M. Malson
 
Kelly M. Malson
 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer