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sgrp_8k-110812.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
______________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  November 8, 2012

 
SPAR Group, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
0-27824
(Commission
File No.)
33-0684451
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 
 
333 Westchester Avenue, South Building, Suite 204, White Plains, NY 10604
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)
 

 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (914) 332-4100
 
560 White Plains Road, Suite 210, Tarrytown, New York  10591
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ] 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 
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Item 5.02              Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
(a)
Not Applicable

(b)
Retirement of Director

On November 14, 2012, we, SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP" or the "Registrant"), and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, "we", "our" or the "Company"), issued a press release (the "Release") reporting the retirement of Mr. Jerry Gilbert from SGRP's Board of Directors (the "Board") and its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee, effective December 31, 2001.  Mr. Gilbert announced his retirement at the Board meeting on November 8, 2012, and has served on the Board and its committees since 2001.

A copy of the Release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this "Report") as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

(c)
Appointment of Director

In the Release, we also reported the Board's appointment of Mr. Arthur B. Drogue to the Board.  At its regular meeting on November 8, 2012, the Board appointed Mr. Drogue to the Board and the Board's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee, which appointments will become effective on January 1, 2013.  The Governance Committee and Board have determined that Mr. Drogue will be an independent director.

Mr. Drogue, age 65, was Senior Vice President of Customer Development for the America's at Unilever during 2009 and 2010. Prior to that, he led Unilever's U.S. Customer Development organization through eight years of outstanding growth and earnings success while merging five separate companies into one of the world's preeminent Consumer Packaged Goods companies with over $45 billion in annual sales.  His previous professional experience includes senior management positions at Best Foods, Nabisco, Northeastern Organization [NEO] Inc., and General Mills.  Mr. Drogue has held positions on several corporate and industry boards and has received numerous awards for his achievements.  Mr. Drogue earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Stetson University and completed an Executive Management Program at Cornell.

Information Not "Filed"

The information in Item 8.01 of this Report and the Release attached as Exhibit 99.1 shall, to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law, not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section.  Such information, to the extent deemed or determined to have been not "filed" under applicable law, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing by us under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act", and together with the Exchange Act, the "Securities Laws"), except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements contained in this Report and each attached Release include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including (without limitation) any statements relating to anticipated, prospective or desired customers, acquisitions or markets, trends, updates, or other anticipated, estimated, expected or desired assets, business, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks or condition.  You can identify forward-looking statements in such information by the Company's use of terms such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "believe", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue" or similar words or variations or negatives of those words.  You should carefully consider all such information and the other risks and cautions noted in the Company's Annual and Quarterly Reports and other filings under applicable Securities Laws (including this report, each a "SEC Report", each of which is available on the Company's website at http://investors.sparinc.com) that could cause the Company's actual assets, business, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks or condition to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the information in the Company's forward-looking statements, whether express or implied, as the Company's anticipations are based upon the Company's plans, intentions, expectations and best estimates and (although the Company believe them to be reasonable) involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause them to fail to occur or be realized or to be materially and adversely different from those the Company anticipated.
 
 
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Although the Company believe that its plans, intentions, expectations and estimates reflected or implied in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company cannot assure you that such plans, intentions, expectations or estimates will be achieved in whole or in part, that the Company has identified all potential risks, or that the Company can successfully avoid or mitigate such risks in whole or in part. You should carefully review the risk factors described below (See Item 1A – Risk Factors) and any other cautionary statements contained or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.  All forward-looking and other statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly subject to and qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements.

You should not place undue reliance on the Company's 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 its control.  The Company's forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to it and speak only as of the referenced date(s) or, in the case of forward-looking statements incorporated by reference, as of the date of the SEC Report that includes such statement. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these matters or how they may arise or affect the Company.  Over time, the Company's actual assets, business, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks or condition will likely differ from those expressed or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements, and such difference could be significant and materially adverse to the Company and  the value of your investment in the Company's Common Stock.

The Company does not intend or promise, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, risk factors or other cautionary statements (in whole or in part), whether as a result of new information, future events or recognition or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable law.

Item 9.01.             Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)           Exhibits:
 
99.1
Press Release of the Registrant dated November 14, 2012, as attached hereto.

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.

 
 
SPAR Group, Inc.
 
     
     
       
Date:           November 14, 2012
By:
/s/   James R. Segreto  
   
James R. Segreto, Chief Financial Officer
 
       
       
 
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX
                                
Exhibit
Number
Description
   
99.1 Press Release of the Registrant dated November 14, 2012, as attached hereto.
 
 
 
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ex99-1.htm
Exhibit 99.1

 
SPAR Group Announces the Appointment of Arthur B. Drogue to the Board of Directors

TARRYTOWN, NY – November 14, 2012 - 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 the appointment of Mr. Arthur B. Drogue to the Company's Board of Directors.  Mr. Drogue's Board appointment will become effective on January 1, 2013, when he also will become a member of the Board's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee.  Additionally, the Company announced the retirement of Mr. Jerry Gilbert as a director of the Company, effective December 31, 2012.

Arthur B. Drogue most recently was Senior Vice President of Customer Development for the America's at Unilever. Prior to that, he led Unilever's U.S. Customer Development organization through eight years of outstanding growth and earnings success while merging five separate companies into one of the world's preeminent Consumer Packaged Goods companies with over $45 billion in annual sales.  His previous professional experience includes senior management positions at Best Foods, Nabisco, Northeastern Organization [NEO] Inc., and General Mills.  Mr. Drogue has held positions on several corporate and industry boards and has received numerous awards for his achievements.  Mr. Drogue earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Stetson University and completed an Executive Management Program at Cornell.

"Management is extremely pleased with the addition of Mr. Drogue to our Board of Directors," stated Mr. Gary Raymond, CEO and President of the SPAR Group "We believe that his industry knowledge, strategic relationships and previous board experience will continue to support our growth initiatives as we expand our global footprint."
 
 
"Mr. Drogue's appointment will coincide with the retirement of Mr. Jerry Gilbert, whom has served dutifully on SPAR's Board of Directors since 2001," stated Mr. Robert Brown, Chairman of the Board of Directors.  "As a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee, Mr. Gilbert's leadership and insight were valuable assets to the Company.  We wish him well on his retirement and thank him for his many years of successful service."

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.


Contact:
James R. Segreto
Chief Financial Officer
SPAR Group, Inc.
(914) 332-4100

Investors:
Alan Sheinwald
Alliance Advisors, LLC
(212) 398-3486
asheinwald@allianceadvisors.net

Chris Camarra
Alliance Advisors, LLC
(212) 398-3487
ccamarra@allianceadvisors.net