SPAR Group Reports Improved Financial Results for 2009 Second Quarter, Six Months

Jan 31, 2009
SPAR Group Reports Improved Financial Results for 2009 Second Quarter, Six Months

SPAR Group Reports Improved Financial Results for 2009 Second Quarter, Six Months

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., July 31, 2009 -- SPAR Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGRP) today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009.

Net revenues for the 2009 second quarter were $13.5 million, compared with $18.9 million a year ago. The company reported net income for the 2009 second quarter of $236,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared with net income of $3,000, or $0.00 per share, for the 2008 second quarter. Included in the 2009 second quarter results was other income of $285,000, resulting from a credit for prior legal expenses. Results for the 2008 second quarter included $458,000 in non-recurring litigation costs and a $170,000 tax benefit. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the 2009 second quarter decreased 13% to $3.9 million from $4.5 million a year ago.

"Second quarter revenues continued to be affected by weak global economic conditions, with our overseas operations experiencing the greater impact," said Gary Raymond, SPAR Group's president and chief executive officer. "We remain steadfastly focused on serving our clients, helping them to improve their performance, while at the same time increasing our marketing efforts to attract new business worldwide.

"In 2008, our management team had taken swift action to reduce expenses and control costs throughout the company. We are confident that SPAR Group's solid foundation will allow us to weather the current economic storm and emerge even stronger as business conditions improve," Raymond added.

Revenue in the U.S. for the 2009 second quarter was $6.8 million, compared with $8.9 million a year ago. SPAR Group's U.S. operations for the 2009 second quarter reported that net income significantly improved to $564,000, compared to a net loss of $185,000 for the 2008 second quarter.

International revenue for the 2009 second quarter was $6.7 million, compared with $10.0 million last year. The division posted a net loss of $328,000, versus net income of $188,000 for the 2008 second quarter.

For the 2009 six-month period, SPAR Group had revenues of $28.6 million, compared with $36.4 million last year. The company reported net income of $41,000 for the first half of 2009, equal to breakeven per share, which included other income of $265,000 resulting from a favorable judgment in a legal action and $285,000 from a credit for prior legal expenses, versus a net loss of $247,000, or $0.01 per share, for the 2008 comparable period. Results for the 2008 six-month period included $458,000 in non-recurring litigation costs and a $170,000 tax benefit. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the 2009 year-to-date period decreased 14% to $7.8 million from $9.2 million a year ago.

Revenue in the U.S. for the first half of 2009 was $12.4 million, compared with $16.4 million in the same period a year ago. The U.S. operation reported sharply increased net income of $444,000 for the 2009 six-month period versus a net loss of $504,000 for the first six months of 2008.

International revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was $16.2 million, compared with $20.0 million for the same period last year. Net loss for the international operations was $403,000 for the first half of 2009, compared with net income of $257,000 in the first half of 2008.

About SPAR Group

SPAR Group, Inc. is a diversified international marketing services company, providing a broad array of services to help companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits at retail worldwide. The company provides in-store merchandising, in-store event staffing, RFID and other technology, as well as research, to manufacturers and retailers covering all product classifications and all classes of trade, including mass market, drug store, convenience store and grocery chains. The company operates throughout the United States and internationally in Japan, Canada, Turkey, South Africa, India, Romania, China, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit SPAR Group's Web site, www.sparinc.com.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including, but not limited to, attracting new business that will increase SPAR Group's revenues and continuing to maintain costs. 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, the success of its international efforts, success and availability of acquisitions, availability of financing and other factors, as well as by factors applicable to most companies such as general economic, competitive and other business and civil conditions. Information regarding certain of these and other factors that could affect future results, performance or trends are discussed in SPAR Group's 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.



                            SPAR Group, Inc.
                 Consolidated Statements of Operations
                              (unaudited)
                    (in thousands, except per share data)


                                 Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                 ------------------  ------------------
                                 June 30,  June 30,  June 30,  June 30,
                                   2009      2008      2009      2008
                                 ------------------  ------------------
 Net revenues                    $ 13,478  $ 18,910  $ 28,649  $ 36,364
 Cost of revenues                   9,310    13,719    20,383    26,203
                                 ------------------  ------------------
 Gross profit                       4,168     5,191     8,266    10,161

 Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses                          3,888     4,510     7,856     9,168
 Depreciation and
  amortization                        267       221       529       429
                                 ------------------  ------------------
 Operating income (loss)               13       460      (119)      564

 Interest expense                      45        81       106       162
 Other (income) expense              (255)      521      (442)      564
                                 ------------------  ------------------
 Income (loss) before
  provision for
  income taxes                        223      (142)      217      (162)
 Provision for income
  taxes (benefit)                      73      (185)      222       (21)
                                 ------------------  ------------------
 Net income (loss)                    150        43        (5)     (141)
 Net (income) loss attributable
  to the non-controlling
  interest                            (86)       40       (46)      106
                                 ------------------  ------------------

                                 ------------------  ------------------
 Net income (loss) attributable
  to SPAR Group, Inc.                 236         3        41      (247)
                                 ==================  ==================

 Basic/diluted net income (loss)
  per common share:

 Net income (loss) - basic/
  diluted                        $   0.01  $     --  $     --  $  (0.01)
                                 ==================  ==================

 Weighted average common shares
  - basic                          19,139    19,133    19,139    19,123
                                 ==================  ==================

 Weighed average common shares
  - diluted                        19,183    19,133    19,183    19,123
                                 ==================  ==================


                             SPAR Group, Inc.
                       Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                (unaudited)
              (in thousands, except share and per share data)


                                                June 30,   December 31,
                                                  2009         2008
                                              ------------------------
 Assets
 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                   $      1466  $     1,685
  Accounts receivable, net                         10,751       13,110
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets         1,048        1,446
                                              ------------------------
 Total current assets                              13,265       16,241

 Property and equipment, net                        1,641        1,803
 Goodwill                                             798          798
 Other assets                                       1,908        1,806
                                              ------------------------
 Total assets                                 $    17,612  $    20,648
                                              ========================

 Liabilities and equity
 Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                            $     4,454  $     4,491
  Accrued expenses and other current
   liabilities                                      3,350        4,911
  Accrued expenses due to affiliates                1,533        1,398
  Customer deposits                                   538          582
  Lines of credit                                   3,825        5,494
                                              ------------------------
 Total current liabilities                         13,700       16,876

 Long-term liabilities                                 24          105

                                              ------------------------
 Total liabilities                                 13,724       16,981


 Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
   Authorized shares-3,000,000
   Issued and outstanding shares-
   554,402 - June 30, 2009 and
   December 31, 2008                                    6            6
  Common stock, $.01 par value:
   Authorized shares- 47,000,000
   Issued and outstanding shares-
   19,139,365 - June 30, 2009
   19,139,365 - December 31, 2008                     191          191
  Treasury stock                                       (1)          (1)
  Additional paid-in capital                       12,918       12,821
  Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)             (236)        (361)
  Accumulated deficit                              (9,436)      (9,477)
                                              ------------------------
 Total SPAR Group, Inc. equity                      3,442        3,179
                                              ------------------------
 Non-controlling interest                             446          488
                                              ------------------------
 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $    17,612  $    20,648
                                              ========================
CONTACT:  SPAR Group, Inc.
          James R. Segreto, Chief Financial Officer
          (914) 332-4100

          PondelWilkinson Inc.
          Roger S. Pondel 
          Judy Lin Sfetcu
          (310) 279-5980