Spar Group Reports Third Quarter Results -- Net Income Up More Than Five Fold

Oct 31, 2001
Spar Group Reports Third Quarter Results -- Net Income Up More Than Five Fold

Spar Group Reports Third Quarter Results -- Net Income Up More Than Five Fold

EPS Triples

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Oct 31, 2001 -- SPAR Group Inc. (Nasdaq:SGRP) today announced results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2001, with net income climbing more than five fold, earnings per share tripling and revenues increasing 22.6 percent over last year.

For the third quarter of 2001, SPAR reported net income of $583,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, compared with net income of $100,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, a year ago. Revenues for the third quarter of 2001 were $27.4 million compared with $22.3 million in the third quarter a year ago.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2001, net income increased 150 percent to $1.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared with net income of $630,000, or $0.03 per diluted share. Revenues for the same period of 2001 were $78.6 million compared with $83.1 million in the comparable 2000 period. Revenues for the 2001 nine-month period reflect discontinued in-store merchandising programs previously contracted with PIA Merchandising Co. Inc., a subsidiary of PIA Merchandising Services Inc., which SPAR Group acquired in July 1999 and completed integrating in the third quarter of 2000.

"Our strong results for the third quarter reflect increased revenues from new and existing customers in both the company's merchandising and incentive divisions," said Bob Brown, SPAR Group's chairman and chief executive officer.

He noted that while a number of retailers and manufacturers have been impacted by the economic slowdown and the effect of the September 11th terrorist attacks, SPAR's Internet-based information management technology continues to attract manufacturers, retailers and other clients who seek efficient and cost-effective marketing services.

"Given the economic environment, our clients appreciate the importance of being competitive, improving retailing efficiency and utilizing innovative incentive marketing programs. Our goal is to continue to leverage SPAR's technology and capitalize on the numerous opportunities within the broad marketing and retailing business segments," Brown said.

He indicated the company remains optimistic regarding its targets of $0.14 per share earnings from operations for the year 2001 and $0.28 per share in 2002.

SPAR Group Inc., a diversified marketing services company, provides a broad array of productivity enhancing products and services to help Fortune 1000 companies improve their sales, operating efficiency and profits. SPAR is organized into four operating divisions. SPAR's Merchandising Division provides in-store merchandising, database and research services to general retail, mass market, drug, and grocery chains. SPAR's Incentive Division provides a wide variety of consulting, creative program administration, travel and merchandising fulfillment services to companies seeking to retain, train, and motivate employees to higher levels of productivity. SPAR's Internet Division offers a series of Internet-based productivity improvement applications designed to help clients increase operating efficiencies and train employees in remote locations. SPAR's International Division, through a joint venture with a large Japanese wholesaler, is poised to provide in-store merchandising, database and research services in general retail, mass market, drug, and grocery chains in the Far East.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those indicated by such statements as a result of various factors, including the continued building of sales momentum, the success of marketing its Internet application software products and other factors discussed in SPAR Group's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and other filings made with the SEC from time to time.


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

                             Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                September 30,         September 30,
                               2001       2000       2001       2000

Net revenues                $ 27,379   $ 22,332   $ 78,566   $ 83,068
Cost of revenues              18,958     14,105     53,773     56,249
Gross profit                   8,421      8,227     24,793     26,819
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses                      6,196      6,721     18,267     22,560
Depreciation and
 amortization                    982        808      2,871      2,447
Operating income               1,243        698      3,655      1,812
Interest expense                 315        467      1,035      1,418
Other (income) expense          --         --         --         (786)
Income before provision
 for income taxes                928        231      2,620      1,180
Provision for income
 taxes                           345        131      1,044        550
Net income                  $    583   $    100   $  1,576   $    630
Actual basic earnings
 per share                  $   0.03   $   0.01   $   0.09   $   0.03
Actual basic weighted
 average common
 shares                       18,272     18,176     18,272     18,165
Actual diluted
 earnings per
 share                      $   0.03   $   0.01   $   0.09   $   0.03
Actual diluted
 weighted average
 common shares                18,391     18,297     18,350     18,290

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

                                        September 30,     December 31,
                                             2001             2000
ASSETS                                   (unaudited)        (audited)
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                $  --            $  --
   Accounts receivable, net                  23,340           23,207
   Prepaid expenses and other
    current assets                            1,349              880
   Prepaid program costs                      2,424            3,542
   Deferred Income Taxes                      1,718            1,718
    Total current assets                     28,831           29,347
Property and equipment, net                   3,120            3,561
Goodwill and other intangibles, net          19,962           21,485
Deferred income taxes                         1,082            1,082
Other assets                                    223              143
Total assets                                $53,218          $55,618
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable                         $ 3,108          $ 5,849
   Accrued expenses and other
    current liabilities                      10,116           10,178
Deferred revenue                              4,684            8,581
Restructuring and other charges,
 current                                      1,739            2,205
   Due to certain stockholders,
    current                                   3,062            3,505
   Current portion of long-term debt            380            1,211
Total current liabilities                    23,089           31,529
Line of credit and long-term
 liabilities, net of current
 portion                                     13,503            8,093
Long-term debt due to certain
 stockholders                                 2,059            2,160
Restructuring and other charges,
 long-term                                      751            1,596
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
     -- 18,272,330 as of
     September 30, 2001 and
     December 31, 2000                          182              182
 Additional paid-in capital                  10,127           10,127
 Retained earnings                            3,507            1,931
Total stockholders' equity                   13,816           12,240
Total liabilities and
 stockholders' equity                       $53,218          $55,618

Contacts:
Charles Cimitile, 914/332-4100
        or
PondelWilkinson MS&L
Gary S. Maier, 310/207-9300