SPAR Group Reports Financial Results for 2003 Year and Fourth Quarter

Mar 26, 2004
SPAR Group Reports Financial Results for 2003 Year and Fourth Quarter

SPAR Group Reports Financial Results for 2003 Year and Fourth Quarter

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Mar 26, 2004 -- SPAR Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGRP) today reported financial results for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003.

For the full year, SPAR sustained a net loss of $539,000, equal to $0.03 per diluted share, on net revenues of $64.9 million. The company had net income of $5.3 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, on net revenues of $69.6 million for 2002.

SPAR recorded a net loss for the 2003 fourth quarter of $2.1 million, equal to $0.11 per share, on revenues of $12.2 million, compared with net income of $2.5 million, or $0.13 per share, on net revenues of $18.2 million in the corresponding prior-year period.

"The fourth quarter results were not indicative of our business," said Bob Brown, SPAR Group's chairman and chief executive officer. "Almost 50% of the fourth quarter loss was attributable to charges not expected to recur in the future. However, SPAR did experience lower revenue from per unit fee contracts resulting from lower retail sales of some of our larger clients' products. In addition, these revenues were impacted by the loss of a particular client earlier in the year.

"Moving into 2004, the company will focus on improving our core merchandising business. We will continue to invest in technology, the expansion of our international operations, and expansion of our local in-store demonstration business. We are confident that the investments we are making will provide long-term benefits to the company," said Brown.

"We remain focused on enhancing efficiencies. We have implemented and will continue to implement cost reductions throughout the company as appropriate and we are committed to developing and exploring new programs and technology, such as RFID applications at retail, to stimulate revenue growth. The fundamentals of our business remain strong, and we are devoting all our energy to ensuring SPAR is well positioned to be the best merchandising company in the world by using the latest technologies to produce the highest measurable value for our clients at the lowest possible cost," Brown added.

SPAR Group, Inc. is a diversified international 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, in-store demonstrations, technology, and research to manufacturers and retailers covering all product classifications and all classes of trade, including mass market, drug store, and grocery chains throughout the United States and internationally.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including, but not limited to, benefits to be derived from programs to enhance efficiencies, cost reductions, programs to stimulate revenue growth and the timing of returning the company to profitability. 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, continued technological superiority over its competitors, continued availability of capable, dedicated personnel, continued cost management, the success of its international efforts, success and availability of acquisitions, 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 is 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     Twelve Months
                                         Ended             Ended
                                   Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31, Dec. 31,
                                    2003     2002     2003     2002

 Net revenues                       $12,155  $18,249  $64,859  $69,612
 Cost of revenues                     8,561    9,229   42,338   40,331
 Gross profit                         3,594    9,020   22,521   29,281

 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses             5,923    4,592   20,967   18,804
 Depreciation and amortization          367      499    1,529    1,844
 Operating (loss) income             (2,696)   3,929       25    8,633

 Interest expense                        60      132      269      363
 Other expense                          209     (192)     237      (26)
 (Loss) income before provision for
  income taxes                       (2,965)   3,989     (481)   8,296

 Provision for income taxes            (885)   1,454       58    2,998

 Net (loss) income                  $(2,080)  $2,535    $(539)  $5,298

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

   Net (Loss) Income                 $(0.11)   $0.13   $(0.03)   $0.28

 Weighted average common shares -
  basic                              18,859   18,816   18,855   18,761

 Weighted average common shares -
  diluted                            18,859   19,237   18,855   19,148


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


                                             Dec. 31,        Dec. 31,
                                               2003            2002
 ASSETS
 Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                        $-              $-
   Accounts receivable, net                     13,942          16,458
   Prepaid expenses and other current
    assets                                         415             687
   Deferred income taxes                         1,305             903
 Total current assets                           15,662          18,048

 Property and equipment, net                     2,099           1,972
 Goodwill                                        8,749           7,858
 Deferred income taxes                             434             705
 Other assets                                      926             217
 Total assets                                  $27,870         $28,800

 LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                            $1,445            $422
    Accrued expenses and other current
     liabilities                                 4,367           5,140
    Accrued expense due to affiliates              996             958
    Restructuring charges, current                 685           1,354
    Line of credit, short-term                   4,084               -
    Due to certain stockholders                      -           3,951
 Total current liabilities                      11,577          11,825

 Line of credit, long-term                           -             148
 Restructuring charges, long-term                    -             235
 Other long-term debt                              270               -

 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 -
       18,858,972 - December 31, 2003
       18,824,527 - December 31, 2002              189             188
    Treasury stock                                (384)            (30)
    Additional paid-in capital                  11,249          10,919
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     loss                                           (7)              -
    Retained earnings                            4,976           5,515
 Total stockholders' equity                     16,023          16,592
 Total liabilities and stockholders'
  equity                                       $27,870         $28,800
Contact:
SPAR Group, Inc.
SPAR Group, Inc.
Charles Cimitile, 914-332-4100
or
PondelWilkinson Inc.
Roger S. Pondel, 323-866-6006