SPAR Group Records First Quarter Revenue of $21 Million, an Increase of 28% Year-Over-Year

May 08, 2012

TARRYTOWN, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 05/08/12 -- SPAR Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGRP) (the "Company" or "SPAR Group"), a leading supplier of retail merchandising and other marketing services throughout the United States and internationally, today announced first quarter 2012 Revenue, Gross Profit and Net Income of $21 million, $5.8 million and $307,000 respectively.

Company Highlights

  • First quarter 2012 revenue increased by 28% to $21 million, an increase of $4.6 million over the same period in 2011.
  • International division revenues grew by 71% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.
  • Gross Profit increased 10% year-over-year.
  • Net Income increased 21% year-over-year.
  • Working capital improved to $7.6 million.

"Management's ability to effectively integrate our recently acquired subsidiaries while improving operations in established markets has led to the current increase in financial growth during a traditionally slow period in the retail merchandising business cycle," stated Gary Raymond, Chief Executive Officer of SPAR Group. "Having recently released 2012 revenue guidance of $90 million and identified several new acquisition targets, management is pleased with the direction in which the Company is headed. Our international business continues to grow rapidly and management anticipates continued expansion of its client base in our domestic division which will improve our financial results in 2012."

Mr. Raymond continued, "Going forward, SPAR intends to acquire additional profitable companies operating within underserved international markets, while providing large-scale marketing solutions to global clients within the United States. Management anticipates continued growth across all businesses as we increase revenue, and expand profits. Accordingly, SPAR Group expects 2012 to be one of our strongest years ever."

Three Month Financial Results for the period ended March 31, 2012




                                      Three Months Ended March 31,

                                             (in thousands)

                              --------------------------------------------

                                  2012        2011            Change

                              ----------- -----------  -------------------

Net Revenue:                                               $         %

                                                       ---------  --------

  Domestic                    $     9,285 $     9,521  $    (236)       (3)%

  International                    11,762       6,897      4,865        71%

                              ----------- -----------  ---------

  Total                       $    21,047 $    16,418  $   4,629        28%



Gross Profit:

  Domestic                    $     2,960 $     3,274  $    (314)      (10)%

  International                     2,809       1,958        851        44%

                              ----------- -----------  ---------

  Total                       $     5,769 $     5,232  $     537        10%



Net Income:

  Domestic                    $       263 $       500  $    (237)      (47)%

  International                        44        (247)       291       118%

                              ----------- -----------  ---------

  Total                       $       307 $       253  $      54        21%



Net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012, were $21 million, compared to $16.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, an increase of $4.6 million or 28%.

Domestic net revenues totaled $9.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $9.5 million for the same period in 2011. The decrease in Domestic net revenues is primarily due to lower project work in the first quarter of 2012 compared to a year ago.

International net revenues totaled $11.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $6.9 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $4.9 million or 71%. International net revenues grew primarily as a result of incremental revenue from the new subsidiaries in Mexico and Turkey and strong performances in the South Africa and Japan markets.

Gross profit increased 10% to $5.8 million for the first quarter of 2012, when compared to $5.2 million the same period of 2011. The increase in gross profit was directly attributable to the significant increase in our international business.

The Company reported net income of $307,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $253,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the corresponding period last year.

Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2012

As of March 31, 2012 working capital improved to $7.6 million and our current ratio improved to 1.8 to 1 compared to 1.7 to 1 in the prior year. Total current assets and total assets were $17.2 million and $21 million, respectively, and cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.7 million at March 31, 2012. Total current liabilities and total liabilities were $9.6 million and $10.0 million, respectively and total equity was $11.0 million at March 31, 2012.

The Company intends to file the Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before May 15, 2012 and the Company will host a shareholder conference call on May 15, 2012 at 11:00 am eastern daylight time.

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 United States and internationally in 9 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 or guidance respecting customer contract expansion, growing revenues and profits through organic growth and acquisitions, attracting new business that will increase SPAR Group's revenues, continuing to maintain costs and consummating any 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, 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 those 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.

Tables Follow




                              SPAR Group, Inc.

         Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

                                (unaudited)

                   (in thousands, except per share data)



                                                      Three Months Ended

                                                           March 31,

                                                   ------------------------

                                                       2012         2011

                                                   -----------  -----------



Net revenues                                       $    21,047  $    16,418

Cost of revenues                                        15,278       11,186

                                                   -----------  -----------

Gross profit                                             5,769        5,232



Selling, general, and administrative expense             5,022        4,573

Depreciation and amortization                              277          262

                                                   -----------  -----------

Operating income                                           470          397



Interest expense                                            51           81

Other (income) expense                                     (82)           9

                                                   -----------  -----------

Income before provision for income taxes                   501          307



Provision for income taxes                                  42           24

                                                   -----------  -----------

Net income                                                 459          283

Net income attributable to the non-controlling

 interest                                                 (152)         (30)

                                                   -----------  -----------

Net income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.        $       307  $       253

                                                   ===========  ===========





Net income per basic/diluted common share:



Net income - basic                                 $      0.02  $      0.01

                                                   ===========  ===========



Net income - diluted                               $      0.01  $      0.01

                                                   ===========  ===========



Weighted average common shares - basic                  20,117       19,639

                                                   ===========  ===========



Weighted average common shares - diluted                21,467       21,347

                                                   ===========  ===========



Net income                                                 459          283

Other comprehensive income:

  Foreign currency translation adjustments                 (42)          23

                                                   -----------  -----------

Comprehensive income                               $       417  $       306

                                                   ===========  ===========





                             SPAR Group, Inc.

                       Consolidated Balance Sheets

               (in thousands, except share and per share data)



                                                   March 31,   December 31,

                                                      2012         2011

                                                  -----------  ------------

                                                  (unaudited)     (note)

Assets

Current assets:

  Cash and cash equivalents                       $     1,666  $      1,705

  Accounts receivable, net                             14,673        15,461

  Prepaid expenses and other current assets               860           801

                                                  -----------  ------------

Total current assets                                   17,199        17,967



Property and equipment, net                             1,771         1,523

Goodwill                                                1,148         1,148

Intangibles                                               677           705

Other assets                                              195           178

                                                  -----------  ------------

Total assets                                      $    20,990  $     21,521

                                                  ===========  ============



Liabilities and equity

Current liabilities:

  Accounts payable                                $     3,401  $      1,819

  Accrued expenses and other current liabilities        3,423         4,039

  Accrued expense due to affiliates                     1,551         1,092

  Customer deposits                                       217           183

  Lines of credit                                         972         3,641

                                                  -----------  ------------

Total current liabilities                               9,564        10,774

Long-term debt and other liabilities                      438           334

                                                  -----------  ------------

Total liabilities                                      10,002        11,108



Equity:

SPAR Group, Inc. equity

  Preferred stock, $.01 par value:

    Authorized and available shares - 2,445,598

    Issued and outstanding shares -

    None - March 31, 2012

    None - December 31, 2011                                -             -

   Common stock, $.01 par value:

    Authorized shares - 47,000,000

    Issued and outstanding shares -

    20,130,918 - March 31, 2012

    20,103,043 - December 31, 2011                        201           201

  Additional paid-in capital                           14,098        13,940

  Accumulated other comprehensive loss                   (214)         (172)

  Accumulated deficit                                  (4,319)       (4,626)

                                                  -----------  ------------

Total SPAR Group, Inc. equity                           9,766         9,343

Non-controlling interest                                1,222         1,070

                                                  -----------  ------------

Total liabilities and equity                      $    20,990  $     21,521

                                                  ===========  ============



Note: The Balance Sheet at December 31, 2011, is excerpted from the

consolidated audited financial statements as of that date but does not

include certain information and footnotes required by accounting principles

generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.



Contact:

James R. Segreto

Chief Financial Officer

SPAR Group, Inc.

(914) 332-4100



Investors:

Alan Sheinwald

Alliance Advisors, LLC

(212) 398-3486

Email Contact



Chris Camarra

Alliance Advisors, LLC

(212) 398-3487

Email Contact



Source: SPAR Group, Inc.

News Provided by Acquire Media