SPAR Group Reports Record Results for 2002 Fourth Quarter and Year; Income From Continuing Operations Up 28 Percent in 2002

Feb 28, 2003
SPAR Group Reports Record Results for 2002 Fourth Quarter and Year; Income From Continuing Operations Up 28 Percent in 2002

SPAR Group Reports Record Results for 2002 Fourth Quarter and Year; Income From Continuing Operations Up 28 Percent in 2002

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2003--SPAR Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGRP) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2002.

Income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2002 increased 24 percent to $2.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to $2.0 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the same period a year earlier. Net income for the fourth quarter was $2.5 million compared to a net loss of $3.3 million in the 2001 fourth quarter. The 2001 loss included a non-cash charge for the impairment of goodwill related to the divestiture of SPAR's Incentive Marketing Division that was subsequently sold to employees through an employee stock ownership plan, effective June 30, 2002. Revenues for the fourth quarter were $18.2 million compared to $20.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2001.

For the year ended December 31, 2002, income from continuing operations increased 28 percent to $5.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to $4.2 million or $0.23 per diluted share, a year earlier. Net income for the year was $5.3 million compared to a net loss of $1.7 million for 2001. Revenues for 2002 were $69.6 million compared to $70.9 million last year.

"Once again, SPAR achieved record operating results for the year and met its goal of $0.28 per diluted share from continuing operations," said Bob Brown, SPAR Group's chairman and chief executive officer. "During the year, we continued to refine our product offerings and strengthened our selling and marketing functions. We believe our success is testament to our innovative products, superior technology, dedicated people and continued cost management. As always, moving forward we plan to work closely with our clients and leverage SPAR's unique merchandising expertise to increase their sales and profits." Brown noted that the company is well positioned for top line growth in 2003 and is targeting a 20% increase in net income, translating to earnings per share of $0.33 for the year.

During the fourth quarter the company's board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to 100,000 shares of the company's outstanding common stock. Since the time of the authorization, the company has repurchased approximately 24,400 shares of its common stock at an average share price of $3.23. The company will remain active with the share repurchase program should the right market conditions exist.

SPAR Group, Inc. is a diversified marketing services company, providing a broad array of productivity enhancing products and services to help Fortune 1000 companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits. The company provides in-store merchandising, database and research services to general retail, mass market, drug, and grocery chains both, throughout the United States and internationally.

Certain statements in this news release (including, without limitation, the top line, net income and earnings per share estimates for 2003) are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties (both known and unknown). 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's selling and marketing functions, continued customer satisfaction and contract renewal, new product development and marketing, continued technological superiority over its competitors, continued availability of capable dedicated personnel, continued cost management, the success of its international efforts, and other factors, as well as by factors applicable to most companies such as general economic, competitive and other business and civil conditions. Information respecting certain of these and other factors that could effect future results, performance or trends are discussed in SPAR Group's annual report of 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.
             Condensed, Consolidated Statements of Operations
                               (unaudited)
                (In thousands, except per share data)

                            Three Months       Twelve Months
                                  Ended              Ended
                             December 31,       December 31,
                              2002     2001      2002     2001
  Net Revenues                    $18,249  $20,834   $69,612  $70,891
  Cost of revenues                  9,230   10,606    40,331   40,883
  Gross profit                      9,019   10,228    29,281   30,008

  Selling, general and
   administrative expenses          4,593    5,569    18,804   19,380
  Depreciation and amortization       499      680     1,844    2,682
  Operating income                  3,927    3,979     8,633    7,946
  Interest expense                    133      109       363      561
  Other (Income) expense             (193)     107       (26)     107
   Income before provision for
   income taxes                     3,987    3,763     8,296    7,278

 Provision for income taxes        1,454    1,718     2,998    3,123

 Income from continuing
  operations                       2,533    2,045     5,298    4,155

  Loss from discontinued
  operations, net of tax benefit       0   (5,332)        0   (5,869)

  Net Income (loss)               $2,533  $(3,287)   $5,298  $(1,714)

  Net income (loss) per common
   share:
      Income from continuing
       operations - basic/diluted   $0.13    $0.11     $0.28    $0.23

   Loss from discontinued
    operations, net of tax
     benefit
         - basic                    0.00    (0.29)     0.00    (0.32)
         - diluted                  0.00    (0.28)     0.00    (0.32)

  Net Income (loss)
          - basic                   $0.13   $(0.18)    $0.28   $(0.09)
          - diluted                 $0.13   $(0.17)    $0.28   $(0.09)

 Weighted average common shares
    - basic                         18,816   18,582    18,761   18,389

  Weighted average common shares
    - diluted                       19,237   18,957    19,148   18,467



                                SPAR Group, Inc.
                        Condensed, Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                   (unaudited)
                         (In thousands, except per share data)
                                                      December 31,
                                                        2002      2001
 Assets
 Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                             $0        $0
  Accounts receivable, net                          17,415    21,144
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets            783       440
  Deferred income taxes                                903     3,241
 Total current assets                               19,101    24,825

 Property and equipment, net                         1,972     2,644
 Goodwill and other intangibles, net                 7,858     8,357
 Deferred income taxes                                 705       389
 Other assets                                          121       110
 Net assets from discontinued operations                 0     4,830
 Total assets                                      $29,757   $41,155

 Liabilities and stockholders' equity
  Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable                                   $422      $440
   Accrued expenses and other current liabilities    7,054     5,868
   Restructuring and other charges, current          1,355     1,597
   Due to certain stockholders                       1,951     2,655
   Current portion of long-term debt                     0        57
   Net liabilities from discontinued operations          0     5,732
 Total current liabilities                          10,782    16,349

 Line of credit                                        148    11,287
 Long-term debt due to certain stockholders          2,000     2,000
 Restructure and other charges, long-term              235       585

 Commitments and contingencies

 Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
    Authorized shares- 3,000,000
    Issued and outstanding shares-none

   Common stock, $.01 par value:
     Authorized shares- 47,000,000
     Issued and outstanding shares- 18,824,527 -
     December 31, 2002 and 18,582,615 - December
      31, 2001                                        188       186
  Treasury stock                                      (30)        0
  Additional paid-in capital                        10,919    10,531
  Retained Earnings                                  5,515       217
 Total stockholders' equity                         16,592    10,934
 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity        $29,757   $41,155
Contact:
SPAR Group, Inc.
Charles Cimitile, 914/332-4100
       or
PondelWilkinson MS&L
Roger S. Pondel, 323/866-6060