SPAR Group Reports 50% Increase in Third Quarter Revenue to $26.4 Million and 134% Increase in Net Income to $.03 per Diluted Share

TARRYTOWN, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 11/08/12 -- SPAR Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGRP) ("we", the "Company" or "SPAR Group"), a leading supplier of retail merchandising and other marketing services throughout the United States and internationally, today announced third quarter 2012 financial results, including revenue of $26.4 million, gross profit of $6.5 million and net income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc. of $578,000 or $0.03 per diluted share. In the first nine months of 2012, the Company achieved revenue of $71.8 million, gross profit of $19.0 million, net income attributable to Spar Group, Inc. of $1.6 million, and diluted earnings per share of $0.07.

Company Highlights

• Third quarter 2012:
  • Revenue increased 50% to $26.4 million;
  • Gross profit increased 29% to $6.5 million;
  • Operating income increased 134% to $936,000;
  • Consolidated net income attributable to the Company increased 134% to $578,000, or $0.03 per diluted share.
• Nine months of 2012:
  • Revenue increased 44% to $71.8 million;
  • Consolidated net income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc. increased 59% to $1.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share;
• Signed new contracts and expanded South African locations that will add a combined $20 million in revenue over next 12 months;
• Book Value increased to $11.6 million as of September 30, 2012 compared to $9.3 million as of December 31, 2011;
• Cash increased to $1.9 million compared to $1.7million as of December 31, 2011 while the company decreased its lines of credit by just under $3 million, from $3.64 million to $757,000.

"Management is pleased with the significant expansion in both our international and domestic businesses," stated Gary Raymond, Chief Executive Officer of SPAR Group. "We remained disciplined during the third quarter, delivering strong revenue growth while simultaneously increasing our net income 134%. The Company sustained organic growth by signing multiple international contracts with Fortune 500 companies that we estimate will add $10 million in revenue over the next twelve months. Additionally, with our expansion into both the "Inland Territory" of South Africa and Romania, we believe that the Company will deliver an additional $10 million in annualized revenue. With this additional $20 million in annualized revenue, we are anticipating increased profitability in these important international markets. Our entire management team and board of directors are excited about the financial momentum we continue to build at SPAR Group as we head into our traditionally strongest performing quarter of the year. We believe that we will continue to find new opportunities for growth due to our strengthened balance sheet and earnings power."

Financial Results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30,

 2012 and 2011





                   For the Three Months Ended     For the Nine Months Ended

                          September 30,                 September 30,

                  ----------------------------   --------------------------

                                     Change                        Change

                                  ------------                   ----------

                    2012    2011     $      %      2012    2011     $    %

                  ------- ------- -------  ---   ------- ------- ----------

Net Revenue:

Domestic          $11,016 $ 8,734 $ 2,282   26%  $31,182 $27,621 $ 3,561 13%

International      15,407   8,830   6,577   75%   40,631  22,304  18,327 82%

                  ------- ------- -------        ------- ------- -------

Total             $26,423 $17,564 $ 8,859   50%  $71,813 $49,925 $21,888 44%



Gross Profit:

Domestic          $ 3,243 $ 2,662 $   581   22%  $ 9,945 $ 8,870 $ 1,075 12%

International       3,281   2,387     894   38%    9,055   6,371   2,684 42%

                  ------- ------- -------        ------- ------- -------

Total             $ 6,524 $ 5,049 $ 1,475   29%  $19,000 $15,241 $ 3,759 25%



Net Income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.:

Domestic          $   617 $   282 $   335  119%  $ 1,808 $ 1,340 $   468 35%

International         (39)    (35)     (4) (12)%    (205)   (332)    127 38%

                  ------- ------- -------        ------- ------- -------

Total             $   578 $   247 $   331  134%  $ 1,603 $ 1,008 $   595 59%



Earnings per Diluted Share:

                  $  0.03 $  0.01 $  0.02        $  0.07 $  0.05 $  0.02

Consolidated net revenue for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 increased 50% and 44%, respectively, when compared to the same periods in 2011. The increases in net revenue were primarily due to our new subsidiaries in Mexico, Romania and Turkey and strong performances in South Africa, China and Japan. Continued growth in SPAR Group's domestic operations also contributed to those increases and was primarily due to new client work, continued growth in the Company's syndicated services and assembly business, and increased project work in the third quarter of 2012 when compared to a year ago.

Consolidated gross profit for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 increased 29% and 25%, respectively, when compared to the prior year due primarily to our international expansion efforts.

Net income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc. increased 134% and 59% for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, respectively, when compared to the same period a year ago. The increase for the three month period ended September 30, 2012 was driven by a 119% increase in domestic operations. The improvement in net income for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012 was attributed to the improved performances in both the domestic and international divisions.

Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2012

As of September 30, 2012, our working capital improved to $8.2 million and our current ratio was 1.7 to 1. Total current assets and total assets were $20.5 million and $25.7 million, respectively, and cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.9 million at September 30, 2012. Total current liabilities and total liabilities were $12.3 million and $12.7 million, respectively, and total equity was $11.6 million at September 30, 2012.

The Company currently plans to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before November 9, 2012, and to host a shareholder conference call on November 9, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. eastern standard time.

Conference Call
As a reminder, the Company will host a shareholder update conference call on Friday, November 9, at 11:00 a.m. (EST). It is recommended that participants dial in approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the start of the call, and ask for the SPAR Group Third Quarter Conference Call. Those calling from within the U.S. should dial: 1-877-941-8416 while International callers should dial: 1-480-629-9808.

About SPAR Group
SPAR Group, Inc. is a diversified international merchandising and marketing services company and provides a broad array of services worldwide to help companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits at retail locations. The Company provides merchandising and other marketing services to manufacturers, distributors and retailers worldwide, primarily in mass merchandisers, office supply, grocery and drug store chains, independent, convenience and electronics stores, as well as providing furniture and other product assembly services, in-store events, radio frequency identification ("RFID") and related technology services and marketing research. The Company has supplied these project and product services in the United States since certain of its predecessors were formed in 1979 and internationally since the Company acquired its first international subsidiary in Japan in May of 2001. Product services include product additions; placement, reordering, replenishment, labeling, evaluation and deletions, and project services include seasonal and special product promotions, product recalls and complete setups of departments and stores. The Company operates throughout the world in 10 of the most populated countries, including China and India. For more information, visit the SPAR Group's Web site at http://www.sparinc.com/.

Certain statements in this news release and such conference call are forward-looking, including (without limitation) expectations, estimates, belief or guidance respecting customer contract expansion, increasing revenues, profits and earnings per share through organic growth and acquisitions, attracting new business that will increase SPAR Group's revenues, continuing to maintain costs and consummating any acquisitions or other transactions. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. The Company's actual results, performance and trends could differ materially from those indicated or implied by such statements as a result of various factors, including (without limitation) the continued strengthening of SPAR Group's selling and marketing functions, continued customer satisfaction and contract renewal, new product development, continued availability of capable dedicated personnel, continued cost management, success of the Company's international efforts, success and availability of acquisitions, and availability of financing and other risks or matters, as well as by factors applicable to most companies such as general economic, competitive and other business and civil conditions. Information regarding certain of those forward looking statements and other risk factors and cautionary statements that could affect future results, performance or trends are discussed in SPAR Group's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. All of the Company's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements.

                     SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

         Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

                                (unaudited)

                   (In thousands, except per share data)



                                     Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended

                                        September 30,       September 30,

                                     ------------------  ------------------

                                       2012      2011      2012      2011

                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Net revenues                         $ 26,423  $ 17,564  $ 71,813  $ 49,925

Cost of revenues                       19,899    12,515    52,813    34,684

                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Gross profit                            6,524     5,049    19,000    15,241



Selling, general and administrative

 expenses                               5,290     4,368    15,945    13,078

Depreciation and amortization             298       280       868       808

                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Operating income                          936       401     2,187     1,355



Interest expense                           33        55        96       160

Other income                              (29)      (30)      (36)      (22)

                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Income before provision for income

 taxes                                    932       376     2,127     1,217



Provision for income taxes                 73        17       173        72

                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Net income                                859       359     1,954     1,145



Net income attributable to the non-

 controlling interest                    (281)     (112)     (351)     (137)

                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Net income attributable to SPAR

 Group, Inc.                         $    578  $    247  $  1,603  $  1,008

                                     ========  ========  ========  ========

Basic/diluted net income per common

 share:

Net income - basic                   $   0.03  $   0.01  $   0.08  $   0.05

                                     ========  ========  ========  ========



Net income - diluted                 $   0.03  $   0.01  $   0.07  $   0.05

                                     ========  ========  ========  ========



Weighted average common shares -

 basic                                 20,275    20,081    20,175    19,911

                                     ========  ========  ========  ========

Weighted average common shares -

 diluted                               21,987    21,536    21,682    21,423

                                     ========  ========  ========  ========



Net income                                859       359     1,954     1,145

Other comprehensive income:

  Foreign currency translation

   adjustments                            158      (163)      (37)     (138)

                                     --------  --------  --------  --------

Comprehensive income                 $  1,017  $    196  $  1,917  $  1,007

                                     ========  ========  ========  ========







                     SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

                        Consolidated Balance Sheets

              (In thousands, except share and per share data)



                                               September 30,  December 31,

                                                    2012           2011

                                               -------------  -------------

                                                (unaudited)       (note)

Assets

Current assets:

  Cash and cash equivalents                    $       1,929  $       1,705

  Accounts receivable, net                            17,713         15,461

  Prepaid expenses and other current assets              896            801

                                               -------------  -------------

Total current assets                                  20,538         17,967



Property and equipment, net                            1,725          1,523

Goodwill                                               1,348          1,148

Intangibles                                            1,365            705

Other assets                                             681            178

                                               -------------  -------------

Total assets                                   $      25,657  $      21,521

                                               =============  =============



Liabilities and equity

Current liabilities:

  Accounts payable                             $       2,699  $       1,819

  Accrued expenses and other current

   liabilities                                         5,967          4,039

  Accrued expenses due to affiliates                   2,488          1,092

  Customer deposits                                      423            183

  Lines of credit                                        757          3,641

                                               -------------  -------------

Total current liabilities                             12,334         10,774

Long-term debt and other liabilities                     329            334

                                               -------------  -------------

Total liabilities                                     12,663         11,108





Equity:

SPAR Group, Inc. equity

  Preferred stock, $.01 par value:

    Authorized and available shares- 2,245,598

    Issued and outstanding shares - none -

     September 30, 2012 and none - December

     31, 2011                                              -              -

  Common stock, $.01 par value:

    Authorized shares - 47,000,000

    Issued and outstanding shares - 20,414,468

     - September 30, 2012 and 20,103,043 -

     December 31, 2011                                   204            201

  Treasury stock                                         (24)             -

  Additional paid-in capital                          14,609         13,940

  Accumulated other comprehensive loss                  (209)          (172)

  Accumulated deficit                                 (3,023)        (4,626)

                                               -------------  -------------

Total SPAR Group, Inc. equity                         11,557          9,343

Non-controlling interest                               1,437          1,070

                                               -------------  -------------



Total liabilities and equity                   $      25,657  $      21,521

                                               =============  =============

Note: The Balance Sheet at December 31, 2011, is excerpted from the consolidated audited financial statements as of that date but does not include certain information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

Contact:

James R. Segreto

Chief Financial Officer

SPAR Group, Inc.

(914) 332-4100



Investors:

Alan Sheinwald

Alliance Advisors, LLC

(212) 398-3486

Email Contact



Chris Camarra

Alliance Advisors, LLC

(212) 398-3487

Email Contact

Source: SPAR Group, Inc.

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