UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


Form 10-Q

 

 

 

(Mark One)

 

☒     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the first quarterly period ended March 31, 2017.

OR

☐     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the transition period from __________ to __________.  

    

Commission file number: 0-27408

 

SPAR Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   

Delaware

33-0684451

State of Incorporation

IRS Employer Identification No.

   

333 Westchester Avenue, South Building, Suite 204, White Plains, New York 10604

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (914) 332-4100

 

Indicate by check whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:   

Yes    ☐ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes    ☐ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  

 

Large Accelerated Filer ☐

         Accelerated Filer ☐

Non-Accelerated Filer ☐(Do not check if a smaller

reporting company)

Smaller Reporting Company

Emerging Growth Company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)        

Yes    ☒ No

 

 

On May 4, 2017, there were 20,655,840 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

 

 

 
 

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc.

 

Index

 

PART I:

FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
     

Item 1

Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 
     
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2017 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2016

2

     
 

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

3

 

   
 

Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2017

4

     
 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

5

     

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

6

     

Item 2

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

25

 

   

Item 3

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

30

     

Item 4

Controls and Procedures

31

     

PART II:

OTHER INFORMATION

 

     

Item 1

Legal Proceedings

32

     

Item 1A

Risk Factors

34

     

Item 2

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

34

     

Item 3

Defaults upon Senior Securities

34

     

Item 4

Mine Safety Disclosures

34

     

Item 5

Other Information

34

     

Item 6

Exhibits

35

     

SIGNATURES

36

 

 
1

 

 

PART I:

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data) 

 

   

March 31,

2017

   

December 31,
201
6

 
   

(Unaudited)

      (revised) (1)   
Assets                

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 8,273     $ 7,324  

Accounts receivable, net

    30,124       33,669  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    535       1,299  

Total current assets

    38,932       42,292  

Property and equipment, net

    2,523       2,536  

Goodwill

    1,851       1,847  

Intangible assets, net

    2,201       2,340  

Deferred income taxes

    4,753       4,694  

Other assets

    1,791       1,142  

Total assets

  $ 52,051     $ 54,851  

Liabilities and equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 7,133     $ 5,567  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    10,381       9,766  

Due to affiliates

    3,094       3,349  

Customer incentives and deposits

    1,481       1,305  

Lines of credit and short-term loans

    6,535       9,778  

Total current liabilities

    28,624       29,765  

Long-term debt and other liabilities

    46       4  

Total liabilities

    28,670       29,769  

Commitments and Contingencies – See Note 9

               

Equity:

               

SPAR Group, Inc. equity

               

Preferred stock, $.01 par value:

               

Authorized and available shares– 2,445,598

               

Issued and outstanding shares– None – March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016

           

Common stock, $.01 par value:

               

Authorized shares – 47,000,000

               

Issued shares – 20,680,717 – March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016

    207       207  

Treasury stock, at cost 24,877 shares – March 31, 2017 and 37,877 shares – December 31, 2016

    (34 )     (51 )

Additional paid-in capital

    16,138       16,093  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (2,341 )     (2,407 )

Retained earnings

    5,591       5,835  

Total SPAR Group, Inc. equity

    19,561       19,677  

Non-controlling interest

    3,820       5,405  

Total equity

    23,381       25,082  

Total liabilities and equity

  $ 52,051     $ 54,851  

  

(1)     See Note 2 Correction of Prior Period Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 
2

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Loss

(unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

   

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 
              (revised) (1)  

Net revenues

  $ 39,886     $ 26,611  

Cost of revenues

    31,838       20,442  

Gross profit

    8,048       6,169  
                 

Selling, general and administrative expense

    7,058       5,513  

Depreciation and amortization

    505       488  

Operating income

    485       168  
                 

Interest (income) expense

    (46

)

    28  

Other income, net

    (62

)

    (24

)

Income before income tax expense

    593       164  
                 

Income tax expense

    419       5  

Net income

    174       159  

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

    (418

)

    (298

)

Net loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ (244

)

  $ (139

)

                 

Basic and diluted loss per common share:

  $ (0.01

)

  $ (0.01

)

                 

Weighted average common shares – basic and diluted

    20,649       20,563  
                 

Net income

  $ 174     $ 159  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

               

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    164       (488

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

    338       (329

)

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interest

    (516

)

    17

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ (178

)

  $ (312

)

 

(1)     See Note 2 Correction of Prior Period Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 
3

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Equity

(unaudited) (revised) (1)

(In thousands)

 

   

Common Stock

    Treasury Stock    

Additional

   

Accumulated

Other

           

Non-

         
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Paid-In
Capital

   

Comprehensive
Loss

   

Retained

Earnings

   

Controlling

Interest

   

Total
Equity

 

Balance at January 1, 2017

    20,681     $ 207       38     $ (51 )   $ 16,093     $ (2,407 )   $ 5,835     $ 5,405     $ 25,082  
                                                                         

Share-based compensation

                            55                         55  

Purchase of treasury shares

                                                           

Reissued treasury shares – RSU's

                (1 )     1       (1 )                        

Reissued treasury shares – employee stock plan

                                                           

Exercise of stock options

                (12 )     16       (9 )                       7  

Distributions to non-controlling investors

                                              (2,101     (2,101

Other comprehensive income

                                  66             98       164  

Net loss

                                        (244 )     418       174  

Balance at March 31, 2017

    20,681     $ 207       25     $ (34 )   $ 16,138     $ (2,341 )   $ 5,591     $ 3,820     $ 23,381  

 

(1)     See Note 2 Correction of Prior Period Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 
4

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Operating activities

               

Net income

  $ 174     $ 159  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

               

Depreciation and amortization

    505       488  

Bad debt expense, net of recoveries

    25       (40 )

Share based compensation

    55       88  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions and disposition:

               

Accounts receivable

    3,486       3,039  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    56       (466 )

Accounts payable

    1,569       1,052  

Accrued expenses, other current liabilities and customer incentives and deposits

    440       99  

Net cash provided by operating activities

    6,310       4,419  
                 

Investing activities

               

Purchases of property and equipment and capitalized software

    (284 )     (372 )

Net cash used in investing activities

    (284 )     (372 )
                 

Financing activities

               

Net payments on lines of credit

    (3,192 )     (1,868 )

Proceeds from stock options exercised

    7        

Payments on term debt

    (6 )     (6 )

Distribution to non-controlling investors

    (2,101     (286 )

Net cash used in financing activities

    (5,292 )     (2,160 )
                 

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

    215       (572 )

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    949       1,315  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    7,324       5,718  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 8,273     $ 7,033  
                 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information

               

Interest paid

  $ 109     $ 86  

Income taxes paid

  $ 117     $ 39  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

 
5

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

 

1.     Basis of Presentation

 

The unaudited, interim consolidated financial statements of SPAR Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SGRP"), and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, collectively, the "Company" or the "SPAR Group"), accompanying this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 (this "Quarterly Report"), have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 has been compiled from the Company’s audited consolidated balance sheet as of such date. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included in these interim financial statements. However, these interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the Company as contained in the SGRP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 17, 2017 (the "2016 Annual Report"), and SGRP's Proxy Statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017 (the "2017 Proxy Statement"). Particular attention should be given to Items 1 and 1A of the 2016 Annual Report respecting the Company's Business and Risk Factors, respectively, and the following parts of SGRP's 2017 Proxy Statement: (i) SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT, (ii) CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, (iii) EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, COMPENSATION, DIRECTORS AND OTHER INFORMATION and (iv) EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, EQUITY AWARDS AND OPTIONS. The Company's results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of its operating results for the entire year. 

 

2.     Correction of Prior Period Financial Statements

 

In connection with the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2017, we identified an error in the recognition of accumulated other comprehensive loss both in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statement of equity and the comprehensive loss portion of the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive loss. In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 99, Materiality, and SAB No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, we evaluated the error and determined that the related impact was not material to our results of operations or financial position for any prior annual or interim period. The correction of this error required reclassification of $1.6 million between comprehensive loss attributable to the Company and comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest for the year ended December 31, 2016. Accordingly, we have corrected the consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of income and comprehensive loss as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016 and will correct these errors for all prior periods presented by revising the appropriate consolidated financial statements. The impact to the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016 and the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2016, the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, and the year ended December 31, 2016 is as follows:

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):

 

 

   

As of

March 31, 2016

   

As of 

June 30, 2016

 
   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

 
                                                 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $ (3,357

)

  $ 1,332     $ (2,025

)

  $ (3,570

)

  $ 1,479     $ (2,091

)

Total SPAR Group, Inc. equity

  $ 18,163     $ 1,332     $ 19,495     $ 18,330     $ 1,479     $ 19,809  

Non-controlling interest

  $ 5,708     $ (1,332

)

  $ 4,376     $ 6,028     $ (1,479

)

  $ 4,549  

   

 
6

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

 

   

As of 

September 30, 2016

   

As of 

December 31, 2016

 
   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

 
                                                 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $ (3,364

)

  $ 1,373     $ (1,991

)

  $ (3,995

)

  $ 1,588     $ (2,407

)

Total SPAR Group, Inc. equity

  $ 18,572     $ 1,373     $ 19,945     $ 18,089     $ 1,588     $ 19,677  

Non-controlling interest

  $ 6,574     $ (1,373

)

  $ 5,201     $ 6,993     $ (1,588

)

  $ 5,405  

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Loss (in thousands):

 

   

Three months ended

March 31, 2016

 
   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

 
                         

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interest

  $ (298

)

  $ 315     $ 17  

Comprehensive loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ (627

)

  $ 315     $ (312

)

 

 

   

Three months ended

June 30, 2016

   

Six months ended

June 30, 2016

 
   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

 
                                                 

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest

  $ (320

)

  $ 148     $ (172

)

  $ (618

)

  $ 462     $ (156

)

Comprehensive loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ 69     $ 148     $ 217     $ (558

)

  $ 462     $ (96

)

 

 

   

Three months ended

September 30, 2016

   

Nine months ended

September 30, 2016

 
   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

 
                                                 

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest

  $ (546

)

  $ (105

)

  $ (651

)

  $ (1,164

)

  $ 357     $ (807

)

Comprehensive loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ 147     $ (105

)

  $ 42     $ (411

)

  $ 357     $ (54

)

 

 
7

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

   

Twelve months ended

December 31, 2016

 
   

As

Reported

   

Adjusted

   

As

Revised

 
                         

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest

  $ (1,583

)

  $ 572     $ (1,011

)

Comprehensive loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ (953

)

  $ 572     $ (381

)

 

3.     Business and Organization 

 

The Company is a supplier of merchandising and other marketing services throughout the United States and internationally. The Company also provides in-store event staffing, product sampling, audit services, furniture and other product assembly services, technology services and marketing research services. Assembly services are performed in stores, homes and offices while those other services are primarily performed in mass merchandise, office supply, grocery, drug, home improvement, independent, convenience, value channel and electronics stores.

 

Merchandising services primarily consist of regularly scheduled, special project and other product services provided at the store level, and the Company may be engaged by either the retailer or the manufacturer. Those services may include restocking and adding new products, removing spoiled or outdated products, resetting categories "on the shelf" in accordance with client or store schematics, confirming and replacing shelf tags, setting new sale or promotional product displays and advertising, replenishing kiosks, providing in-store event staffing and providing assembly services in stores, homes and offices. Other merchandising services include whole store or departmental product sets or resets, including new store openings, new product launches and in-store demonstrations, audit services, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support and product recalls. The Company also provides technology services and marketing research services. 

 

As of March 31, 2017, the Company operates in 10 countries and divides its operations into two reportable segments: its Domestic Division, which has provided services in the United States of America since certain of its predecessors were formed in 1979, and its International Division, which began operations in May 2001 and provides similar merchandising, marketing, audit and in-store event staffing services in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.  

 

 
8

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

4.     Earnings Per Share

 

The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except per share data):

 

   

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Numerator:

               

Net loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ (244 )   $ (139 )
                 

Denominator:

               

Weighted average shares used in basic and diluted net income per share calculation

    20,649       20,563  
                 
                 

Basic and diluted net loss per common share

  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )

 

For the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, 723,000 and 771,000 vested and non-vested stock options were not included in the calculation because they would have had an anti-dilutive effect.

 

5.     Credit Facilities

 

Sterling Credit Facility: 

 

SGRP and certain of its US and Canadian subsidiaries (namely SPAR Marketing Force, Inc., SPAR Assembly & Installation, Inc. (F/K/A SPAR National Assembly Services, Inc.), SPAR Group International, Inc., SPAR Trademarks, Inc., SPAR Acquisition, Inc., SPAR Canada, Inc.), and SPAR Canada Company ("SCC") (together with SGRP and SCC, each a "Borrower") are parties to a Revolving Loan and Security Agreement dated July 6, 2010, as amended in June 2011, July 2012, January 2013, July 2013, October 2013, June 2014, September 2015, December 2016, March 2017 and April 2017 (as amended, the "Sterling Loan Agreement"), with Sterling National Bank (the "Lender"), and their Secured Revolving Loan Note in the amended maximum principal amounts of $9.0 million (see below) to the Lender (as amended by all loan amendments, the "Sterling Note"), to document and govern their credit facility with the Lender (including such agreement and note, the "Sterling Credit Facility"). The Sterling Credit Facility currently is scheduled to expire and the Borrowers' loans thereunder will become due on July 6, 2017 (with no early termination fee). 

 

The Sterling Loan Agreement currently requires the Borrowers to pay interest on the loans thereunder equal to the Agent's floating Prime Rate (as defined in such agreement) plus one half of one percent (1/2%) per annum, and a fee on the maximum unused line thereunder equal to one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) per annum.

 

Revolving Loans of up to $9.0 million are available to the Borrowers under the Sterling Credit Facility based upon the borrowing base formula defined in the Sterling Loan Agreement (principally 85% of "eligible" US and Canadian accounts receivable less certain reserves). The Sterling Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Borrowers (other than SGRP's non-Canadian foreign subsidiaries, certain designated domestic subsidiaries, and their respective equity and assets).  

 

The amendment to the Sterling Loan Agreement dated as of December 22, 2016, among other things, increased the maximum principal amount of the Secured Revolving Loan Note to $9.0 million until January 31, 2017 and increased the interest rate to Prime plus one half of one percent. The amendment to the Sterling Loan Agreement dated as of March 3, 2017, among other things, extended the Secured Revolving Loan Note of $9.0 million until July 6, 2017. The amendment to the Sterling Loan Agreement dated as of April 13, 2017, among other things, provided for a waiver of the Company’s default on its Fixed Charge Ratio (“FCR”) for the year ended December 31, 2016 and provided for an adjustment to its FCR for 2017. 

 

 
9

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued) 

 

The Sterling Loan Agreement requires the Borrowers to maintain certain financial covenants, including maintenance by the Borrowers of a minimum combined tangible net worth of $7.4 million and minimum consolidated tangible net worth of $10.0 million, with those figures increasing by at least 50% of combined and consolidated net profit each year, respectively. In addition, the Borrowers and the Company must not exceed a maximum combined indebtedness to tangible net worth ratio of 3.0 to 1.0, and the Borrowers must maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.5 to 1.0. Also, capital expenditures for the Borrowers cannot exceed $2.0 million during any fiscal year, and, on a consolidated basis, the Company's year-end operations may not result in a loss or deficit, as determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company was in compliance with its financial covenants at March 31, 2017. 

 

International Credit Facilities:  

 

SPARFACTS Australia Pty. Ltd. has a secured line of credit facility with Oxford Funding Pty Ltd. for $1.2 million (Australian) or approximately $917,000 (based upon the exchange rate at March 31, 2017). The facility provides for borrowing based upon a formula, as defined in the agreement (principally 80% of eligible accounts receivable less certain deductions). The agreement technically expired on October 31, 2012, but is being extended from month to month at the Company's request. The outstanding balance as of March 31, 2017 was $252,000.

 

On March 7, 2011, the Japanese subsidiary, SPAR FM Japan, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, secured a term loan with Mizuho Bank in the amount of 20.0 million Yen (Japanese), or approximately $179,000. The loan is payable in monthly installments of 238,000 Yen or approximately $2,000 at an interest rate of 0.1% per annum with a maturity date of February 28, 2018. The outstanding balance at March 31, 2017, was approximately 2.6 million Yen or $24,000 (based upon the exchange rate at March 31, 2017), all of which is now short term.

 

On November 29, 2016, SPAR Brazil established a line of credit with Itau Bank for 1.5 million Brazilian Real or approximately $477,000 USD (based upon the exchange rate at March 31, 2017). The line of credit expires November 29, 2017, and the current interest rate is 2.08% per month. The outstanding balance at March 31, 2017 was zero.

 

On December 26, 2016, SPAR Brazil secured a term loan with Bradesco Bank for 2.0 million Brazilian Real or approximately $636,000 USD (based upon the exchange rate at March 31, 2017). The term loan is payable in monthly installments of R$184,000 or approximately $58,000 USD at an annual interest rate of 17.3% with a maturity date of December 15, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, 1,445,000 Brazilian Real or $459,000 USD was outstanding (based upon the exchange rate at March 31, 2017).

 

SPAR Todopromo has secured a line of credit facility with BBVA Bancomer Ban for 5.0 million Mexican Pesos or approximately $267,000 USD (based upon the exchange rate at March 31, 2017). The revolving line of credit was secured on March 15, 2016 and expires March 2018. The variable interest rate is TIIE (Interbank Interest Rate) +4% which resulted in an annual interest rate of 10.5% at the end of March 2017. The outstanding balance at March 31, 2017 was zero.

 

 
10

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

The Company had scheduled future maturities of loans as of March 31, 2017, approximately as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

   

Interest Rate as of

March 31, 2017

   

2017

   

2018

 

USA - Sterling National Bank

    4.5 %   $ 5,800        

Japan - Mizuho Bank

    0.1 %     19     $ 5  

Australia - Oxford Funding Pty Ltd.

    6.4 %     252        
                         

Brazil – Bradesco Bank

    17.3 %     459        

Total

          $ 6,530     $ 5  

 

Summary of Unused Company Credit and Other Debt Facilities (in thousands):

 

   

March 31, 2017

   

December 31, 2016

 

Unused Availability:

               

United States

  $ 1,716     $ 500  

Australia

    665       688  

Mexico

    267       241  

Brazil

    477        

Total Unused Availability

  $ 3,125     $ 1,429  

 

Management believes that based upon the continuation of the Company's existing credit facilities, projected results of operations, vendor payment requirements and other financing available to the Company (including amounts due to affiliates), sources of cash availability should be manageable and sufficient to support ongoing operations over the next year. However, delays in collection of receivables due from any of the Company's major clients, or a significant reduction in business from such clients could have a material adverse effect on the Company's cash resources and its ongoing ability to fund operations.

 

6.     Related-Party Transactions

 

SGRP's policy respecting approval of transactions with related persons, promoters and control persons is contained in the SPAR Group Code of Ethical Conduct for its Directors, Senior Executives and Employees Amended and Restated (as of) August 13, 2015 (the "Ethics Code"). The Ethics Code is intended to promote and reward honest, ethical, respectful and professional conduct by each Covered Person (as defined in the Ethics Code in his or her position with the Company anywhere in the world, including (among other things) serving each customer, dealing with each vendor and treating each other with integrity and respect, and behaving honestly, ethically and professionally with each customer, each vendor, each other and the Company. Article II of the Ethics Code specifically prohibits various forms of self-dealing and collusion and Article V of the Ethics Code generally prohibits each "Covered Person" (including SGRP's officers and directors) from engaging in any business activity that conflicts with his or her duties to the Company, and directs each "Covered Person" to avoid any activity or interest that is inconsistent with the best interests of the SPAR Group, in each case except for any "Approved Activity" (as such terms are defined in the Ethics Code). Examples of violations include (among other things) having any ownership interest in, acting as a director or officer of or otherwise personally benefiting from business with any competitor, customer or vendor of the Company other than pursuant to any Approved Activity. Approved Activities include (among other things) any contract with an affiliated person (each an "Approved Affiliate Contract") or anything else disclosed to and approved by SGRP's Board of Directors (the "Board"), its Governance Committee or its Audit Committee, as the case may be, as well as the ownership, board, executive and other positions held in and services and other contributions to affiliates of SGRP and its subsidiaries by certain directors, officers or employees of SGRP, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective family members. The Company's senior management is generally responsible for monitoring compliance with the Ethics Code and establishing and maintaining compliance systems, including those related to the oversight and approval of conflicting relationships and transactions, subject to the review and oversight of SGRP's Governance Committee as provided in clause IV.11 of the Governance Committee's Charter, and SGRP's Audit Committee as provided in clause I.2(l) of the Audit Committee's Charter. The Governance Committee and Audit Committee each consist solely of independent outside directors.

 

 
11

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

SGRP's Audit Committee has the specific duty and responsibility to review and approve the overall fairness of all material related-party transactions. The Audit Committee receives affiliate contracts and amendments thereto for its review and approval (to the extent approval is given), and these contracts are periodically (often annually) again reviewed, in accordance with the Audit Committee Charter, the Ethics Code, the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ("Nasdaq"), and other applicable law to ensure that the overall economic and other terms will be (or continue to be) no less favorable to the Company than would be the case in an arms-length contract with an unrelated provider of similar services (i.e., its overall fairness to the Company including pricing and the ability to provide services at comparable performance levels). The Audit Committee periodically reviews all related party relationships and transactions described below.  

 

In addition, in order to (among other things) assist the Board and the Audit Committee in connection with an overall review of the Company’s related party transactions and certain worker classification-related litigation matters, in April 2017 the Board formed a special subcommittee of the Audit Committee (the "Special Subcommittee") to (among other things) review the structure, documentation, fairness, conflicts, fidelity, appropriateness, and practices respecting each of the relationships and transactions discussed in this Note 6 (including those described in this Note under Domestic Related Party Services, below). The Special Subcommittee has commenced that review with the assistance of special auditors and counsel recently retained by such Subcommittee. The Company is currently unable to predict the duration, ultimate scope, or results of this review by the Special Subcommittee. See Note 9 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Commitments and ContingenciesLegal Matters, below.

  

Domestic Related Party Services: 

 

SPAR Business Services, Inc. ("SBS"), SPAR Administrative Services, Inc. ("SAS"), and SPAR InfoTech, Inc. ("SIT"), are affiliates of SGRP but are not under the control or part of the consolidated Company. Mr. Robert G. Brown, a Director, Chairman and a major stockholder of SGRP, and Mr. William H. Bartels, a Director, Vice Chairman and a major stockholder of SGRP, are the sole stockholders of SBS. Mr. Brown is the sole stockholder of SIT. Mr. Brown is a director and officer of SBS and SIT. Mr. Bartels is a director and officer of SAS. The stockholders of SAS were Mr. Bartels and previously Mr. Brown, and as of January 1, 2015, Mr. Brown transferred all of his ownership to parties related to Mr. Brown, each of whom is considered an affiliate of the Company for related party purposes because of their family relationships with Mr. Brown. 

 

The Company executes the services it provides to its domestic clients through independent field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist"), substantially all of whom are provided by SBS, and administers those services through local and regional administrators, substantially all of whom are provided by SAS. The Company paid $5.9 million and $4.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, to SBS for its provision as needed of approximately 4,100 of SBS's available Field Specialists in the U.S.A. (which amounted to approximately 83% and 80% of the Company's total domestic Field Specialist expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively). The Company paid $1.1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, to SAS for its provision of its 55 and 56 full-time regional and district administrators as of March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively (which amounted to approximately 92% and 93% of the Company's total domestic field administrative service cost for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016). In addition to these field service and administration expenses, SAS also incurs other administrative expenses related to benefit and employment tax expenses of SAS and payroll processing, legal and other administrative expenses and SBS incurs expenses for processing vendor payments, legal defense and other administrative expenses (but those expenses are only reimbursed by SGRP to the extent approved by the Company as described below). The total cost recorded by the Company for the expenses of SBS and SAS in providing their services to the Company, including the "Cost Plus Fee" arrangement (as defined and discussed below) and other expenses paid directly by the Company on behalf of and invoiced to SBS and SAS, was $6.9 million and $6.1 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The terms of the Amended and Restated Field Service Agreement with SBS dated as of January 1, 2004, as amended in 2011, and the Amended and Restated Field Management Agreement with SAS dated as of January 1, 2004 (each a "Prior Agreement"), defined reimbursable expenses and established a "Cost Plus Fee" arrangement where the Company paid SBS and SAS for their costs of providing those services plus a fixed percentage of such reimbursable expenses (the "Cost Plus Fee"). The parties have had negotiations respecting replacement agreements since the Prior Agreements expired on November 30, 2014. As further described below, a new Field Administration Agreement was entered into with SAS in 2016.

 

 
12

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

The Company and SBS have agreed in principle to a revised Cost Plus Fee arrangement equal to 2.96% of the Field Specialists and certain other approved reimbursable expenses incurred by SBS in performing services for the Company, subject to certain offsetting credits. This agreement in principle went into effect on and has applied since December 1, 2014. A new SBS agreement is being prepared, which will be subject to contractual terms and provisions acceptable to the parties, but the documentation is proceeding slowly because the parties have failed (among other things) to agree on the descriptions and extent of the approval processes for reimbursable expenses.

 

No SBS compensation to any officer, director or other related party has been reimbursed or approved to date by the Company, and no such compensation reimbursements were made or approved under SBS's Prior Agreement. This is not a restriction on SBS since SBS is not controlled by the Company and may pay any compensation to any person that SBS desires out of its own funds. However, SBS has attempted to invoice the Company monthly for certain such compensation payments since July of 2015, but the Company has rejected those invoices as non-reimbursable expenses. Since SBS is a "Subchapter S" corporation, all income from SBS is allocated to its stockholders (see above).

 

The Company has determined that the rates charged by SBS for the services of its field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist") are favorable to the Company when compared to other possible non-affiliate providers. SBS has advised the Company that those favorable rates are dependent (at least in part) on SBS's ability to continue to use independent contractors as its Field Specialists, that such Field Specialists generally provide greater flexibility and performance quality at lower total costs as a result of their business independence and initiative, and that it has an agreement with each Field Specialist clearly confirming his, her, or its status as an independent contractor.

 

The appropriateness of SBS's treatment of its Field Specialists as independent contractors has been periodically subject to legal challenge (both currently and historically) by various states and others, SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings have historically been reimbursed by the Company under SBS's Prior Agreement, and SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings were reimbursed by the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in the amounts of $85,000 and $354,000, respectively), after determination (on a case by case basis) that those defense expenses were costs of providing services to the Company. The Company has advised SBS that, since there is no currently effective comprehensive written services agreement with SBS, the Company will continue to review and decide each request by SBS for reimbursement of its legal defense expenses (including appeals) on a case-by-case basis, including the relative costs and benefits to the Company. The Company has not agreed, and does not currently intend, to reimburse SBS for any judgment, settlement, or related tax, penalty, or interest in any legal challenge or other proceeding, and the Company does not believe it has ever done so (other than in insignificant nuisance amounts). However, there are no assurances that SBS or someone else will not claim, or that SBS will be able to successfully defend any claim, that the Company is liable (through reimbursement, indemnification or otherwise) for any judgment against SBS. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that SBS will succeed in defending any such legal challenge, the legal expenses of prolonged litigation and appeals could continue to be (and have from time to time been) significant, and any adverse determination in any such challenge could have a material adverse effect on SBS's ability to provide services needed by the Company and the Company's costs of doing business.  

 

Current material and potentially material proceedings against SBS and, in one instance, the Company are described in Note 9 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Commitments and ContingenciesLegal Matters, below. These descriptions are based on an independent review by the Company and do not reflect the views of SBS, its management or its counsel.  

 

 
13

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued) 

 

Any prolonged continuation of or material increase in the legal defense costs of SBS (and thus the reimbursable expenses SBS may charge to and that may be paid by the Company), any claim by SBS, SAS, any related party or any third party that the Company is somehow liable for any judgment against SBS or SAS, any judicial determination that the Company is somehow liable for any judgment against SBS or SAS (in whole or in part), any decrease in SBS's or SAS’s performance (quality or otherwise), any inability by SBS or SAS to execute the services for the Company, or any increase in the Company's use of employees (rather than independent contractors) as its domestic Field Specialists, in each case in whole or in part, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected. 

 

On June 14, 2016, SAS and SMF entered into a new Field Administration Agreement (the "SAS Agreement"). In order to provide continuity with SAS's Prior Agreement, the SAS Agreement is effective and governs the relationship of the parties as of December 1, 2014, and amends, restates and completely replaces SAS's Prior Agreement. The SAS Agreement more clearly defines reimbursable and excluded expenses and the budget and approval procedures and continues the indemnifications and releases provided by SAS's Prior Agreement (which indemnifications and releases were and are comparable to those applicable to SGRP's directors and executive officers under its By-Laws and applicable law). Specifically, the SAS Agreement reduced the Cost Plus Fee from 4% to 2% effective as of June 1, 2016.

 

SGRP's Audit Committee has approved the SAS Agreement pursuant to its specific duty and responsibility to review and approve the overall fairness of all material related-party transactions, as more fully provided above in this Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. 

 

No unbudgeted SAS compensation to any officer, director or other related party has been reimbursed or approved to date by the Company, and no such compensation reimbursements were made or approved under SAS's Prior Agreement. This is not a restriction on SAS since SAS is not controlled by the Company and may pay any compensation to any person that SAS desires out of its own funds. Since SAS is a "Subchapter S" corporation, all income from SAS is allocated to its stockholders (see above).

 

National Merchandising Services, LLC ("NMS"), is a consolidated domestic subsidiary of the Company and is owned jointly by SGRP through its indirect ownership of 51% of the NMS membership interests and by National Merchandising of America, Inc. ("NMA"), through its ownership of the other 49% of the NMS membership interests. Mr. Edward Burdekin is the Chief Executive Officer and President and a director of NMS and also is an executive officer and director of NMA. Ms. Andrea Burdekin, Mr. Burdekin's wife, is the sole stockholder and a director of NMA and a director of NMS. NMA is an affiliate of the Company but is not consolidated with the Company.

 

International Related Party Services:

 

SGRP Meridian (Pty), Ltd. ("Meridian") is a consolidated international subsidiary of the Company and is owned 51% by SGRP and 49% by the following individuals: Mr. Brian Mason, Mr. Garry Bristow, and Mr. Adrian Wingfield. Mr. Mason is President and a director and Mr. Bristow is an officer and director of Meridian. Mr. Mason is also an officer and director and 50% shareholder of Merhold Property Trust ("MPT"). Mr. Mason and Mr. Bristow are both officers and directors and both own 50% of Merhold Cape Property Trust ("MCPT"). Mr. Mason, Mr. Bristow and Mr. Wingfield are all officers and own 46.7%, 20% and 33.3%, respectively of Merhold Holding Trust ("MHT") which provides similar services like MPT. MPT owns the building where Meridian is headquartered and also owns 2 vehicles both of which are subleased to Meridian. MCPT provides a fleet of 126 vehicles to Meridian under a 4 year lease program. These leases are provided to Meridian at local market rates included in the summary table below. 

 

SPAR Todopromo is a consolidated international subsidiary of the Company and is owned 51% by SGRP and 49% by the following individuals: Mr. Juan F. Medina Domenzain, Juan Medina Staines, Julia Cesar Hernandez Vanegas, and Jorge Medina Staines. Mr. Juan F. Medina Domenzain is an officer and director of SPAR Todopromo and is also majority shareholder (90%) of CONAPAD ("CON") which supplied administrative and operational consulting support to SPAR Todopromo for both the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. 

 

 
14

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

In August 2016, Mr. Juan F. Medina Domenzain ("JFMD"), partner in SPAR Todopromo, purchased the warehouse that was being leased by SPAR Todopromo. A new lease expiring December 31, 2017, was entered into with SPAR Todopromo with the same terms and cost as with the previous owner. 

 

On September 8, 2016, the Company (through one of its subsidiaries, SPAR International Ltd.) acquired 100% ownership of SGRP Brasil Participações Ltda. ("SGRP Holdings"), a Brazilian limitada (which is a form of limited liability company), from its affiliate, SIT, at cost (including approved expenses). See Related Party Transactions and Arrangements in the Brazil Acquisition in this Note, below. SGRP Holdings then completed the formation and acquired a majority of the stock of SPAR Brasil Serviços de Merchandising e Tecnologia S.A., a Brazilian corporation ("SPAR BSMT"). SGRP Holdings and SPAR BSMT are consolidated subsidiaries of the Company. SPAR BSMT is owned 51% by the Company, 39% by JK Consultoria Empresarial Ltda.-ME, a Brazilian limitada ("JKC"), and 10% by Earth Investments, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company ("EILLC").  

 

JKC is owned by Mr. Jonathan Dagues Martins, a Brazilian citizen and resident ("JDM") and his sister, Ms. Karla Dagues Martins, a Brazilian citizen and resident. JDM is the Chief Executive Officer and President of each SPAR Brazil company pursuant to a Management Agreement between JDM and SPAR BSMT dated September 13, 2016. JDM also is a director of SPAR BSMT. Accordingly, JKC and JDM are each a related party in respect of the Company. EILLC is owned by Mr. Peter W. Brown, a citizen and resident of the USA ("PWB"). PWB is an officer and employee of the Company's affiliate, SIT, which is owned by SGRP's Chairman, Mr. Robert G. Brown, and is also an employee of the Company’s affiliate, SAS. PWB was an official observer at the meetings of SGRP's Board from 2014 through December 2016, and PWB also is the nephew of Mr. Robert G. Brown. PWB also is a director of SPAR BSMT. Accordingly, PWB and EILLC are each a related party in respect of the Company.

 

SPAR BSMT has contracted with Ms. Karla Dagues Martins, a Brazilian citizen and resident and JDM's sister to handle the labor litigation cases for SPAR BSMT and its subsidiaries. These legal services are being provided to them at local market rates by Ms. Martins's company, Karla Martins Sociedade de Advogados ("KMSA").

 

The NM Acquisition (as defined below in Note 11 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statement - Purchase of Interest in Subsidiaries) and associated related party transactions were reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee of SGRP's Board of Directors. 

 

The Company believes it is the largest and most important customer of SBS, SAS, NRS, MPT, MCPT, MHT, CON, JFMD and KMSA (and from time to time may be their only customer), and accordingly the Company generally has been able to negotiate better terms, receives more personal and responsive service and is more likely to receive credits and other financial accommodations from SBS, SAS, NRS, MPT, MCPT, MHT, CON, JFMD and KMSA than the Company could reasonably expect to receive from an unrelated service provider who has significant other customers and business. SBS, SAS and other material affiliate contracts and arrangements are annually reviewed and considered for approval by SGRP's Audit Committee, subject to the ongoing negotiations with SBS as described above. 

 

Summary of Related Party Services:

 

The following costs of affiliates were charged to the Company (in thousands): 

 

   

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Services provided by affiliates:

               

Field merchandiser and other expenses (SBS)

  $ 5,875     $ 4,947  

Field administration and other expenses (SAS)

  $ 1,074     $ 1,138  

Office and vehicle rental expenses (MPT)

  $ 15     $ 12  

Vehicle rental expenses (MCPT)

  $ 297     $ 179  

Office and vehicle rental expenses (MHT)

  $ 40     $ 20  

Consulting and administrative services (CON)

  $ 96     $ 77  
Legal Services (KMSA)   $ 24     $  

Warehouse rental (JFMD)

  $ 11     $  
                 

Total services provided by affiliates

  $ 7,432     $ 6,373  

 

 
15

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

Due to affiliates consists of the following (in thousands):

 

March 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Loans from local investors:(1)

               

Australia

  $ 244     $ 231  

Mexico

    1,001       1,001  

Brazil

    139       139  

China

    763       761  

NMS LLC

    -       348  

Accrued Expenses due to affiliates:

               

SBS/SAS

    947       869  

Total due to affiliates

  $ 3,094     $ 3,349  

 

(1)     Represent loans from the local investors into the Company's subsidiaries (representing their proportionate share of working capital loans). The loans have no payment terms and are due on demand and as such have been classified as current liabilities in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 

Other Related Party Transactions and Arrangements

 

In July 1999, SPAR Marketing Force, Inc. ("SMF"), SBS and SIT entered into a perpetual software ownership agreement providing that each party independently owned an undivided share of and had the right to unilaterally license and exploit their "Business Manager" Internet job scheduling software (which had been jointly developed by such parties), and all related improvements, revisions, developments and documentation from time to time voluntarily made or procured by any of them at its own expense. Business Manager and its other proprietary software and applications are used by the Company for (among other things) the scheduling, tracking, coordination and reporting of its merchandising and marketing services and are accessible via the Internet or other applicable telecommunication network by the authorized representatives of the Company and its clients through their respective computers and mobile devices. In addition, SPAR Trademarks, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SGRP ("STM"), SBS and SIT entered into separate perpetual trademark licensing agreements whereby STM has granted non-exclusive royalty-free licenses to SIT and SBS (and through them to their commonly controlled subsidiaries and affiliates by sublicenses, including SAS) for their continued use of the name "SPAR" and certain other trademarks and related rights of STM. SBS and SAS provide services to the Company, as described above, SIT assisted in the Brazilian acquisition at a cost to the Company of $49,000, as described below, and SIT no longer provides services to and does not compete with the Company.

 

Through arrangements with the Company, SBS, SAS and other companies owned by Mr. Brown or Mr. Bartels participate in various benefit plans, insurance policies and similar group purchases by the Company, for which the Company charges them their allocable shares of the costs of those group items and the actual costs of all items paid specifically for them. All such transactions between the Company and the above affiliates are paid and/or collected by the Company in the normal course of business.

 

In addition to the above, SAS purchases insurance coverage for worker compensation, casualty and property insurance risk for itself, for SBS for its Field Specialists that require such insurance coverage, and for the Company from Affinity Insurance, Ltd. ("Affinity"). SAS owns a minority (less than 1%) of the common stock in Affinity. The Affinity insurance premiums for such coverage are ultimately charged to SAS (and through SAS to the Company), SBS (and through SBS to its covered Field Specialists) and the Company based on the contractual arrangements of the parties. 

 

7.      Preferred Stock

 

SGRP's certificate of incorporation authorizes it to issue 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.01 per share (the "SGRP Preferred Stock"), which may have such preferences and priorities over the SGRP Common Stock and other rights, powers and privileges as the Company's Board of Directors may establish in its discretion from time to time. The Company has created and authorized the issuance of a maximum of 3,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to SGRP's Certificate of Designation of Series "A" Preferred Stock (the "SGRP Series A Preferred Stock"), which have dividend and liquidation preferences, have a cumulative dividend of 10% per year, are redeemable at the Company's option and are convertible at the holder's option (and without further consideration) on a one-to-one basis into SGRP Common Stock. The Company issued 554,402 of SGRP shares to affiliated retirement plans which were all converted into common shares in 2011 (including dividends earned thereon), leaving 2,445,598 shares of remaining authorized preferred stock. At March 31, 2017, no shares of SGRP Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding.

 

 
16

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

8.      Stock-Based Compensation and Other Plans

 

SGRP has granted restricted stock and stock option awards to its eligible directors, officers and employees and certain employees of its affiliates respecting shares of Common Stock issued by SGRP ("SGRP Shares") pursuant to SGRP's 2008 Stock Compensation Plan (as amended, the "2008 Plan"), which was approved by SGRP's stockholders in May of 2008 and 2009. The 2008 Plan provides for the granting of restricted SGRP shares, stock options to purchase SGRP shares (either incentive or nonqualified), and restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and other awards based on SGRP shares ("Awards") to SGRP Directors and the Company's specified executives, employees and consultants (which are employees of certain of its affiliates), although to date SGRP has not issued any permissible form of Award other than stock option, restricted share awards, and performance stock units. As of March 31, 2017, approximately 1.1 million SGRP shares were available for Award grants under the amended 2008 Plan. 100,000 option grants were issued to the new SVP Sales and Marketing during the three month period ended March 31, 2017.

 

The Company recognized $46,000 and $66,000 in stock-based compensation expense relating to stock option Awards during the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The tax benefit, available to the Company, from stock based compensation expense related to stock options during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $17,400 and $25,300, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was $373,500.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized approximately $9,000 and $12,000, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock. The tax benefit, available to the Company, from stock based compensation expense related to restricted stock during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $3,400 and $4,700, respectively. As of March 31, 2017, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock Awards was $65,300.

  

9.     Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Matters  

 

The Company is a party to various legal actions and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of Company's management, disposition of these matters are not anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its estimated or desired assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition.

 

The Company executes the services it provides to its domestic clients through independent field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist"), almost all of whom are independent contractors. Substantially all of the Company's domestic Field Specialists are engaged and provided as independent contractors by SBS. For contractual details and payment amounts, see Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party TransactionsDomestic Related Party Services, above.

 

 
17

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

The appropriateness of SBS's treatment of its Field Specialists as independent contractors has been periodically subject to legal challenge (both currently and historically) by various states and others, SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings have historically been reimbursed by the Company under SBS's Prior Agreement, and SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings were reimbursed by the Company during the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in the amounts of $85,000 and $354,000, respectively), after determination (on a case by case basis) that those defense expenses were costs of providing services to the Company. The Company has advised SBS that, since there is no currently effective comprehensive written services agreement with SBS, the Company will continue to review and decide each request by SBS for reimbursement of its legal defense expenses (including appeals) on a case-by-case basis, including the relative costs and benefits to the Company. The Company has not agreed, and does not currently intend, to reimburse SBS for any judgment, settlement, or related tax, penalty, or interest in any legal challenge or other proceeding, and the Company does not believe it has ever done so (other than in insignificant nuisance amounts). However, there are no assurances that SBS or someone else will not claim, or that SBS will be able to successfully defend any claim, that the Company is liable (through reimbursement, indemnification or otherwise) for any judgment against SBS. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that SBS will succeed in defending any such legal challenge, the legal expenses of prolonged litigation and appeals could continue to be (and have from time to time been) significant, and any adverse determination in any such challenge could have a material adverse effect on SBS's ability to provide services needed by the Company and the Company's costs of doing business.

 

Current material and potentially material proceedings against SBS and, in one instance, the Company are described below. These descriptions are based on an independent review by the Company and do not reflect the views of SBS, its management or its counsel.

 

SBS Clothier Litigation

 

Melissa Clothier was engaged by SBS (then known as SPAR Marketing Services, Inc.) and provided services pursuant to the terms of an "Independent Merchandiser Agreement" acknowledging her engagement as an independent contractor. On June 30, 2014, Ms. Clothier filed suit against SBS and the Company styled Case No. RG12 639317, in the Superior Court in Alameda County, California, in which Ms. Clothier asserted claims on behalf of herself and a putative class of similarly situated merchandisers in California who are or were classified as independent contractors at any time between July 16, 2008, and June 30, 2014. Ms. Clothier alleged that she and other class members were misclassified as independent contractors and that, as a result of this misclassification, the defendants improperly underpaid them in violation of California minimum wage and overtime laws. The Company was subsequently dismissed from the action without prejudice. The court ordered that the case be heard in two phases. Phase one was limited to the determination of whether members of the class were misclassified as independent contractors. After hearing evidence, receiving post-trial briefings and considering the issues, the Court issued its Statement of Decision on September 9, 2016, finding that the class members had been misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees. The parties have now moved into phase two to determine damages (if any). No trial date for phase two has been set and the parties are currently engaged in discovery as to the measure of damages in this case. SBS has advised the Company that SBS will appeal the adverse phase one determination when permitted under the court's rules.

 

SBS Rodgers Litigation

 

Maceo Rodgers was engaged by and provided services to SBS pursuant to the terms of his "Master Agreements" with SBS acknowledging his engagement as an independent contractor. On February 21, 2014, Rodgers filed suit against SBS, Robert G. Brown and William H. Bartels, styled Civil Action No. 3:14-CV-00055, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Galveston Division). Plaintiff asserted claims on behalf of himself and an alleged class of similarly situated individuals who provided services to SBS as independent contractors at any time on or after July 15, 2012, claiming they all were misclassified as independent contractors and that, as a result of this misclassification, the Defendants improperly underpaid them in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and minimum wage provisions. Although the Court conditionally certified the class on December 8, 2015, only 61 individuals joined the action as opt-in plaintiffs, and all but 11 of them have potentially disqualifying arbitration provisions, residences outside the class's geographic area, or late opt-in filings, and are being challenged by the Defendants in various pending motions, including a motion to decertify the class.

 

 
18

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

SBS and SGRP Hogan Litigation  

 

Paradise Hogan was engaged by and provided services to SBS as an independent contractor pursuant to the terms of an "Independent Contractor Master Agreement" with SBS acknowledging his engagement as an independent contractor. On January 6, 2017, Hogan filed suit against SBS and SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP" and part of the Company), styled Civil Action No. 1:17-cv-10024-LTS, in the U.S. District Court for District of Massachusetts. Hogan initially asserted claims on behalf of himself and an alleged nationwide class of similarly situated individuals who provided services to SBS and SGRP as independent contractors. Hogan alleged that he and other alleged class members were misclassified as independent contractors, and as a result of this purported misclassification, Hogan asserted claims on behalf of himself and the alleged Massachusetts class members under the Massachusetts Wage Act and Minimum Wage Law for failure to pay overtime and minimum wages, as well as state law claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In addition, Hogan asserted claims on behalf of himself and the nationwide class for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and minimum wage provisions. On March 28, 2017, Company moved to refer Hogan's claim to arbitration pursuant to his agreement, to dismiss or stay Hogan's case pending arbitration, and to dismiss Hogan's case for failure to state a specific claim upon which relief could be granted. Plaintiff’s counsel subsequently notified SGRP’s attorney of their intent to amend their Complaint without prejudice. The Amended Complaint, which was filed on May 2, 2017, eliminated all of Plaintiff’s claims except for a single claim against SGRP for failure to pay Hogan and a similarly situated class of Massachusetts independent contractors all wages under the Massachusetts Wage Act and a separate, but identical claim against SBS. The result of the amendment significantly narrowed the scope of the litigation and eliminated the original nationwide Fair Labor Standards Act claims. The Company has been granted leave to refile their motion to compel arbitration pursuant to Hogan’s agreement, to dismiss or stay Hogan’s case pending arbitration, and to dismiss Hogan’s case for failure to state a specific claim upon which relief could be granted. The Company’s motion is due on May 24, 2017.

  

Potential Adverse Effects of the SBS Litigation  

 

Any prolonged continuation of or material increase in the legal defense costs of SBS (and thus the reimbursable expenses SBS may charge to and that may be paid by the Company), any claim by SBS, any other related party or any third party that the Company is somehow liable for any judgment against SBS or other related party, any judicial determination that the Company is somehow liable for any judgment against SBS or other related party (in whole or in part), any decrease in SBS's performance (quality or otherwise), any inability by SBS to execute the services for the Company, or any increase in the Company's use of employees (rather than independent contractors) as its domestic Field Specialists, in each case in whole or in part, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected. See Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions – Domestic Related Party Services, above. 

  

10.     Segment Information

 

The Company reports net revenues from operating income by reportable segment. Reportable segments are components of the Company for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated on a regular basis by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

 

The Company provides similar merchandising and marketing services throughout the world, operating within two reportable segments, its Domestic Division and its International Division. The Company uses those divisions to improve its administration and operational and strategic focuses, and it tracks and reports certain financial information separately for each of those divisions. The Company measures the performance of its Domestic and International Divisions and subsidiaries using the same metrics. The primary measurement utilized by management is operating profits, historically the key indicator of long-term growth and profitability, as the Company is focused on reinvesting the operating profits of each of its international subsidiaries back into its local markets in an effort to improve market share and continued expansion efforts.

 

 
19

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

The accounting policies of each of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Management evaluates performance as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Revenue:

               

United States

  $ 11,321     $ 9,752  

International

    28,565       16,859  

Total revenue

  $ 39,886     $ 26,611  
                 

Operating income (loss):

               

United States

  $ 64     $ (297

)

International

    421       465  

Total operating income

  $ 485     $ 168  
                 

Interest (income) expense:

               

United States

  $ 51     $ 24  

International

    (97

)

    4  

Total interest (income) expense

  $ (46

)

  $ 28  
                 

Other income, net:

               

United States

  $     $  

International

    (62

)

    (24

)

Total other income, net

  $ (62

)

  $ (24

)

                 

Income before income tax expense:

               

United States

  $ 13     $ (321

)

International

    580       485  

Total income before income tax expense

  $ 593     $ 164  
                 

Income tax expense:

               

United States

  $ 249     $ (211

)

International

    170       216  

Total income tax expense

  $ 419     $ 5  
                 

Net income:

               

United States

  $ (236

)

  $ (110

)

International

    410       269  

Total net income

  $ 174     $ 159  
                 
                 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest:

               

United States

  $ (26

)

  $ (39

)

International

    (392

)

    (259

)

Total net income attributable to non-controlling interest

  $ (418

)

  $ (298

)

                 

Net (loss) income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.:

               

United States

  $ (262

)

  $ (149

)

International

    18       10  

Total net (loss) income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ (244

)

  $ (139

)

                 

Depreciation and amortization:

               

United States

  $ 340     $ 343  

International

    165       145  

Total depreciation and amortization

  $ 505     $ 488  
                 

Capital expenditures:

               

United States

  $ 266     $ 245  

International

    94       127  

Total capital expenditures

  $ 360     $ 372  
                 

Note: There were no inter-company sales for the three months ended March 31, 2017 or 2016.

               

 

 
20

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Assets:

               

United States

  $ 19,313     $ 22,189  

International

    32,738       32,662  

Total assets

  $ 52,051     $ 54,851  

 

 

Geographic Data (in thousands)

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

International

revenue:

         

% of

consolidated

net revenue

           

% of

consolidated

net revenue

 

Brazil

  $ 9,943       24.9%     $       –%  

South Africa

    6,027       15.1       4,214       15.8  

Mexico

    4,688       11.8       4,999       18.8  

China

    2,408       6.0       2,735       10.3  

Japan

    1,709       4.3       1,593       6.0  

India

    1,612       4.0       1,304       4.9  

Canada

    1,303       3.3       1,258       4.7  

Australia

    810       2.0       659       2.5  

Turkey

    65       0.2       97       0.4  

Total international revenue

  $ 28,565       71.6%     $ 16,859       63.4%  

 

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Long lived assets:

               

United States

  $ 8,526     $ 8,594  

International

    4,593       3,965  

Total long lived assets

  $ 13,119     $ 12,559  

 

 
21

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

11.   Purchase of Interests in Subsidiaries

 

In September 2016, after acquiring SGRP Brasil Participações Ltda. ("SGRP Holdings"), a Brazilian limitada (which is a form of limited liability company), and establishing SPAR Brasil Serviços de Merchandising e Tecnologia S.A., a Brazilian corporation ("SPAR BSMT"), in a series of related party transactions (See Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Related Party Transactions - Related Party Transactions and Arrangements in the Brazil Acquisition, above), SGRP Holdings and SPAR BSMT (the "Purchasers") entered into a Quota Purchase Agreement dated September 13, 2016 (the "NM QPA"), with Interservice Publicidade Sociedade Ltda., a Brazilian limitada, Momentum Promoções Ltda., a Brazilian limitada, and IPG Nederland B.V., a Netherlands company (collectively, the "Sellers"). The Sellers are subsidiaries of The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Interpublic"), which is a global provider of advertising, media and other business services. The NM QPA provided for the acquisition by the Purchasers from the Sellers (the "NM Acquisition") of all of the equity shares (called "quotas") in New Momentum Ltda., a Brazilian limitada, and New Momentum Serviços Temporários Ltda., a Brazilian limitada (each a "NM Company" or collectively the "NM Companies"), two of Interpublic's "In Store" companies in Brazil. SPAR BSMT acquired 99% of the quotas issued by each NM Company and SGRP Holdings acquired 1% of the quotas issued by each NM Company pursuant to the NM QPA. The closing of the acquisition of the NM Companies was completed with the disbursement of the purchase price to the Sellers on September 19, 2016, effective as of close of business on September 13, 2016. The purchase price for the NM Companies was R$1,312,000 (approximately US$401,000). The Company has since changed the names of the NM Companies to SPAR Brasil Serviços LTDA. and SPAR Brasil Serviços Temporários LTDA.

 

Momentum Promoções Ltda., one of the Sellers, also agreed to provide certain transition services and continued use of certain existing office space to SPAR BSMT and each of the NM Companies (collectively, "SPAR Brazil"), pursuant to a Transition Services Agreement dated September 13, 2016 (the "Transition Agreement"), and a Sublease Agreement dated September 13, 2016 (the "Sublease"), respectively. The Sublease has an initial term of 12 months and requires monthly rent and back office support payments of R$205,417 (approximately US$65,700). After December 31, 2016, the Transition Agreement relating to Accounting Service, terminates on April 30, 2017 and for IT service, terminates on September 13, 2017.

 

The Company has completed its preliminary calculation of the fair value and related allocation of assets between goodwill and other. The amounts listed below reflect the results of our preliminary assessment and may be updated should additional information become available related to this acquisition. A summary of assets acquired, goodwill and liabilities assumed and net of purchase price are as follows (in thousands):

 

Cash

  $ 484  

Net Working Capital, net of cash

    (155

)

Fixed Assets

    22  

Intangible Assets

    336  

Goodwill

    133  

Assumed Liabilities

    (419

)

Net Fair Value of Assets Acquired

  $ 401  

 

For the three month period ended March 31, 2017, the Company reported revenue of $9.9 million and a net income of $22,000 related to this acquisition. The following table contains unaudited pro forma revenue and net income for SPAR Group, Inc. assuming SPAR Brasil closed on January 1, 2016 (in thousands):

 

   

Revenue

   

Net Loss

 

Consolidated supplemental pro forma for the three month period ended March 31, 2016

  $ 33,838     $ (266 )

 

 
22

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

The pro forma in the table above includes adjustments for, amortization of intangible assets and acquisition costs to reflect results that are more representative of the results of the transactions as if the SPAR Brasil acquisition closed on January 1, 2016. This pro forma information utilizes certain estimates, is presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be indicative of the results of operation that would have actually occurred. In addition, future results may vary significantly from the results reflected in the pro forma information. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not reflect the impact of future events that may occur after the acquisition, such as anticipated cost savings from operating synergies.

 

12.   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

New Accounting Pronouncements  

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update 2017-04 (ASU 2017-04), Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. With ASU 2017-04, an entity will no longer determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Instead, an entity will compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. ASU 2017-01 is required to be applied prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2017. The impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements will depend on the facts and circumstances of any specific future transactions.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation— Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” (“ASU 2016-09”). The guidance changes how companies account for certain aspects of equity-based payments to employees. Entities will be required to recognize income tax effects of awards in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. The guidance also allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it can under current guidance for tax withholding purposes providing for withholding at the employee’s maximum rate as opposed to the minimum rate without triggering liability accounting and to make a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted the accounting guidance contained within ASU 2016-09.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 amending the existing accounting standards for lease accounting and requiring lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months, including those classified as operating leases. Both the asset and liability will initially be measured at the present value of the future minimum lease payments, with the asset being subject to adjustments such as initial direct costs. Consistent with current U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the presentation of expenses and cash flows will depend primarily on the classification of the lease as either a finance or an operating lease. The new standard also requires additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases in order to provide additional information about the nature of an organization's leasing activities. This ASU is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires modified retrospective application. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. As our operations are conducted in leased facilities, this ASU may require us to disclose additional information about our leasing activities. We plan to evaluate the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, simplifying the balance sheet classification of deferred taxes by requiring all deferred taxes, along with any related valuation allowance, to be presented as noncurrent. This ASU is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2017, which the Company has applied retrospectively. Upon the adoption of the guidance, the Company reclassified $471,000 from current assets to non-current assets, and reduced both non-current assets and current liabilities by $2,389,000.

  

 
23

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued new revenue recognition guidance under ASU 2014-09 that will supersede the existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The new standard focuses on creating a single source of revenue guidance for revenue arising from contracts with customers for all industries. The objective of the new standard is for companies to recognize revenue when it transfers the promised goods or services to its customers at an amount that represents what the company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date by one year (ASU 2015-14). This ASU will now be effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. Since the issuance of the original standard, the FASB has issued several other subsequent updates including the following: 1) clarification of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations (ASU 2016-08); 2) further guidance on identifying performance obligations in a contract as well as clarifications on the licensing implementation guidance (ASU 2016-10); 3) rescission of several SEC Staff Announcements that are codified in Topic 605 (ASU 2016-11); 4) additional guidance and practical expedients in response to identified implementation issues (ASU 2016-12); and 5) technical corrections and improvements (ASU 2016-20). The company is currently assessing the method under which it will adopt and the potential impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 on its financial position, results of operations, cash flow and/or disclosures.

 

13.   Capital Lease Obligations

 

The Company has an outstanding capital lease obligation with an interest rate of 5.8%. The related capital lease assets balances are detailed below (in thousands):

 

Start Date:

 

Original Cost

   

Accumulated

Amortization

   

Net Book Value at

March 31, 2017

 

January 2017

  $ 76     $ 6     $ 70  

 

Annual future minimum lease payments required under the leases, together with the present value as of March 31, 2017, are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year Ending
December 31,

 


Amount

 
         

2017

  $ 20  

2018

    28  

2019

    28  
      76  

Less amount representing interest

    6  

Present value of net minimum lease payments included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and long term debt

  $ 70  

 

 
24

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Forward-Looking Statements 

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 8-K (this "Quarterly Report") contains "forward-looking statements" within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, made by, or respecting, SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP") and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company"), and this Quarterly Report has been filed by SGRP with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). There also are "forward-looking statements" contained in SGRP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (as filed, the "Annual Report"), as filed with the SEC on April 17, 2017, in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on or about May 18, 2017 (the "Proxy Statement"), which SGRP filed with the SEC on April 28, 2017, and SGRP's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports and statements as and when filed with the SEC (including this Quarterly Report, the Annual Report and the Proxy Statement, each a "SEC Report"). "Forward-looking statements" are defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and other applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations, as amended (together with the Securities Act and Exchange Act, the "Securities Laws").

 

All statements (other than those that are purely historical) are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend", "believe", "estimate", "anticipate," "continue," "plan," "project," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions also identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements made by the Company in this Quarterly Report or the Annual Report may include (without limitation) statements regarding: risks, uncertainties, cautions, circumstances and other factors ("Risks"); and plans, intentions, expectations, guidance or other information respecting the pursuit or achievement of the Company's five corporate objectives (growth, customer value, employee development, greater productivity & efficiency, and increased earnings per share), building upon the Company's strong foundation, leveraging compatible global opportunities, growing the Company's client base and contracts, continuing to strengthen its balance sheet, growing revenues and improving profitability through organic growth, new business development and strategic acquisitions, and continuing to control costs. The Company's forward-looking statements also include (without limitation) those made in the Annual Report in "Business", "Risk Factors", "Legal Proceedings", "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", "Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance", "Executive Compensation", "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters", and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence".

 

You should carefully review and consider the Company's forward-looking statements (including all risk factors and other cautions and uncertainties) and other information made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report, the Annual Report, the Proxy Statement and the other applicable SEC Reports, but you should not place undue reliance on any of them. The results, actions, levels of activity, performance, achievements or condition of the Company (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition) and other events and circumstances planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected by the Company (collectively, "Expectations"), and our forward-looking statements (including all Risks) and other information reflect the Company's Quarterly views about future events and circumstances. Although the Company believes those Expectations and views are reasonable, the results, actions, levels of activity, performance, achievements or condition of the Company or other events and circumstances may differ materially from our Expectations and views, and they cannot be assured or guarantied by the Company, since they are subject to Risks and other assumptions, changes in circumstances and unpredictable events (many of which are beyond the Company's control). In addition, new Risks 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. Accordingly, the Company cannot assure you that its Expectations will be achieved in whole or in part, that it has identified all potential Risks, or that it can successfully avoid or mitigate such Risks in whole or in part, any of which could be significant and materially adverse to the Company and the value of your investment in the Company's Common Stock.

 

These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's Expectations, views, Risks and assumptions only as of the date of this Annual Report, and the Company does not intend, assume any obligation, or promise to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements (including any Risks or Expectations) or other information (in whole or in part), whether as a result of new information, new or worsening Risks or uncertainties, changed circumstances, future events, recognition, or otherwise.

 

 
25

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries 

 

GENERAL

 

The Company 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 its merchandising and other marketing services to manufacturers, distributors and retailers worldwide, primarily in mass merchandise, office supply, grocery, drug, independent, convenience, toy, home improvement and electronics stores. The Company also provides furniture and other product assembly services in stores, homes and offices. The Company has supplied these 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. The Company currently does business in 10 countries that encompass approximately 50% of the total world population through its operations in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey.

 

Merchandising services primarily consist of regularly scheduled, special project and other product services provided at store level, and the Company may be engaged by either the retailer or the manufacturer. Those services may include restocking and adding new products, removing spoiled or outdated products, resetting categories "on the shelf" in accordance with client or store schematics, confirming and replacing shelf tags, setting new sale or promotional product displays and advertising, replenishing kiosks, demonstrating or promoting a product, providing on-site audit and in-store event staffing services and providing product assembly services in stores, homes and offices. Other merchandising services include whole store or departmental product sets or resets, including new store openings, new product launches and in-store demonstrations, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support and product recalls. The Company continues to seek to expand its merchandising, assembly and marketing services business throughout the world.

 

An Overview of the Merchandising and Marketing Services Industry

 

The merchandising and marketing services industry includes manufacturers, retailers, brokers, distributors and professional service merchandising companies. Merchandising services primarily involve placing orders, shelf maintenance, display placement, reconfiguring products on store shelves and replenishing product inventory. Additional marketing services include but are not limited to new store sets and remodels, audits, sales assist, installation and assembly, product demos/sampling, promotion and various others. The Company believes that merchandising and marketing services add value to retailers, manufacturers and other businesses and enhance sales by making a product more visible and more available to consumers.

 

Historically, retailers staffed their stores as needed to provide these services to ensure that manufacturers' inventory levels, the advantageous display of new items on shelves, and the maintenance of shelf schematics and product placement were properly merchandised. However retailers, in an effort to improve their margins, have decreased their own store personnel and increased their reliance on manufacturers to perform such services. At one time, manufacturers attempted to satisfy the need for merchandising and marketing services in retail stores by utilizing their own sales representatives. Additionally, retailers also used their own employees to merchandise their stores to satisfy their own merchandising needs. However, both manufacturers and retailers discovered that using their own sales representatives and employees for this purpose was expensive and inefficient. In addition, the changing retail environment, driven by the rise of digital and mobile technology, is fostering even more challenges to the labor model of retailers and manufacturers. These challenges include increased consumer demand for more interaction and engagement with retail sales associates, stores remodels to accommodate more technology, installation and continual maintenance of in-store digital and mobile technology, in-store pick-up and fulfillment of online orders and increased inventory management to reduce out-of-stocks from omnichannel shopping.

 

 
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SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Most manufacturers and retailers have been, and SPAR Group believes they will continue, outsourcing their merchandising and marketing service needs to third parties capable of operating at a lower cost by (among other things) serving multiple manufacturers simultaneously. The Company also believes that it is well positioned, as a domestic and international merchandising and marketing services company, to provide these services to retailers, manufacturers and other businesses around the world more effectively and efficiently than other available alternatives.

 

Another significant trend impacting the merchandising and marketing services business is the continued preference of consumers to shop in stores and their tendency to make product purchase decisions once inside the store. Accordingly, merchandising and marketing services and in-store product promotions have proliferated and diversified. Retailers are continually re-merchandising and re-modeling entire departments and stores in an effort to respond to new product developments and changes in consumer preferences. We estimate that these activities have increased in frequency over the last few years. Both retailers and manufacturers are seeking third party merchandisers to help them meet the increased demand for these labor-intensive services.

 

In addition, the consolidation of many retailers and changing store formats have created opportunities for third party merchandisers when an acquired retailer's stores are converted to the look and format of the acquiring retailer. In many of those cases, stores are completely remodeled and re-merchandised to implement the new store formats.

 

SPAR Group believes the current trend in business toward globalization fits well with its expansion model. As companies expand into foreign markets they will need assistance in merchandising or marketing their products. As evidenced in the United States, retailer and manufacturer sponsored merchandising and marketing programs are both expensive and inefficient. The Company also believes that the difficulties encountered by these programs are only exacerbated by the logistics of operating in foreign markets. This environment has created an opportunity for the Company to exploit its global Internet and data network based technology (through computers or mobile devices) and its business model worldwide.

 

The Company's Domestic and International Geographic Segments:

 

The Company provides similar merchandising and marketing services throughout the world, operating within two reportable segments, its Domestic and International Divisions. The Company tracks and reports certain financial information separately for these two segments using the same metrics. The primary measurement utilized by management is operating profit level, historically the key indicator of long-term growth and profitability, as the Company is focused on reinvesting the operating profits of each of its international subsidiaries back into local markets in an effort to improve its market share and continued expansion efforts. Certain financial information regarding each of the Company's two segments, which includes their respective net revenues and operating income for each of the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, and their respective assets as of March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, is provided above in Note 10 to the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – Segment Information.

 

The Company's international business in each territory outside the United States is conducted through a foreign subsidiary incorporated in its primary territory. The primary territory establishment date (which may include predecessors), the percentage of the Company's equity ownership, and the principal office location for its US (domestic) subsidiaries and each of its foreign (international) subsidiaries is as follows:

 

 

Primary Territory

 

Date

Established

 

SGRP Percentage

Ownership

 

Principal Office Location

United States of America

 

1979

 

100%

 

White Plains, New York, United States of America

Japan

 

May 2001

 

100%

 

Tokyo, Japan

Canada

 

June 2003

 

100%

 

Vaughan, Canada

South Africa

 

April 2004

 

  51%

 

Durban, South Africa

India

 

April 2004

 

  51%

 

New Delhi, India

Australia

 

April 2006

 

  51%

 

Melbourne, Australia

China

 

March 2010

 

  51%

 

Shanghai, China

Mexico

 

August 2011

 

  51%

 

Mexico City, Mexico

Turkey

 

November 2011

 

  51%

 

Istanbul, Turkey

Brazil1

 

September 2016

 

  51%

 

Sao Paolo, Brazil

 

 

1.

In September 2016, the Company established a new joint venture subsidiary in Brazil as noted above in Note 11 to the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – Purchase of Interests in Subsidiaries. This new subsidiary purchased stock in two Brazilian companies – New Momentum, Ltda. and New Momentum Servicos Temporarios Ltda.

 

 
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SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Critical Accounting Policies 

 

Other than the adoption of accounting pronouncements as described above, there have been no significant changes to the Company’s accounting policies since it filed its audited consolidated financial statements in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, with the SEC on April 17, 2017.

  

Results of Operations

 

Three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to three months ended March 31, 2016

 

 

The following table sets forth selected financial data and data as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated (in thousands, except percent data).

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 
    $    

%

    $    

%

 

Net revenues

  $ 39,886       100.0 %   $ 26,611       100.0 %

Cost of revenues

    31,838       79.8       20,442       76.8  

Gross profit

    8,048       20.2       6,169       23.2  

Selling, general & administrative expense

    7,058       17.7       5,513       20.7  

Depreciation & amortization

    505       1.3       488       1.8  

Operating income

    485       1.2       168       0.7  

Interest (income) expense, net

    (46 )     (0.1 )     28       0.1  

Other income, net

    (62 )     (0.2 )     (24 )     (0.1 )

Income before income taxes

    593       1.5       164       0.7  

Income tax expense

    419       1.1       5       0.0  

Net income

    174       0.4       159       0.7  

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

    (418 )     (1.0 )     (298 )     (1.1 )

Net loss attributable to SPAR Group, Inc.

  $ (244 )     (0.6 )%   $ (139 )     (0.4 )%

 

Net Revenues

 

Net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017, were $39.9 million, compared to $26.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, an increase of $13.3 million or 50%. The increase in net revenue is primarily attributable to our international segment, Brazil $9.9 million, South Africa $1.8 million and $1.6 million from our domestic operations.

 

Domestic net revenues totaled $11.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $9.7 million for the same period in 2016, an increase of 16%. The increase was primarily due to an increase in annuity business compared to last year.

 

International net revenues totaled $28.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $16.9 million for the same period in 2016, an increase of $11.7 million or 69%. The increase in net revenues was primarily due to the September 2016 acquisition of our Brazilian operation $9.9 million and increase in South Africa by $1.8 million.

 

 
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SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

Cost of Revenues

 

The Company's cost of revenues consists of its on-site labor and field administration fees, travel and other direct labor-related expenses and was 79.8% of its net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and 76.8% of its net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016. 

 

Domestic cost of revenues was 72.1% of net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and 71.5% of net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase in cost of revenues as a percentage of net revenues of 0.6 percentage points was due primarily to continued price pressure and an unfavorable mix of project work compared to the same period last year. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately 84% and 82%, respectively, of the Company's domestic cost of revenues resulted from in-store merchandiser specialist, on-site assembly technician and field administration services, purchased from certain of the Company's affiliates, SPAR Business Services, Inc. ("SBS"), and SPAR Administrative Services, Inc. ("SAS"), respectively. (See Note 6 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements - Related-Party Transactions.)  

 

Internationally, the cost of revenues increased to 82.9% of net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to 79.9% of net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The cost of revenue increase of 3 percentage points was primarily due to a mix of higher cost margin business in Brazil and South Africa.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses of the Company include its corporate overhead, project management, information technology, executive compensation, human resources, legal and accounting expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately $7.1 million and $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

 

Domestic selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $2.8 million and $2.7 million for the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

  

International selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $2.8 million for the same period in 2016. The increase of approximately $1.5 million was primarily attributable to the Brazil acquisition.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Depreciation and amortization charges totaled $505,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, and $488,000 for the same period in 2016.

 

Interest (Income) Expense

 

The Company's net interest income was $(46,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $28,000 interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The change was primarily due to interest earned on cash in South Africa.

 

Other Income

 

Other income totaled $62,000 and $24,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, with the increases primarily in South Africa and Mexico.

 

 
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SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Income Taxes

 

Income tax expense was $419,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $5,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase in tax expense was primarily due to tax on the distribution of earnings received from our South African subsidiary.

 

Non-controlling Interest

 

Net operating profits from the non-controlling interest, from the Company's 51% owned subsidiaries, resulted in a reduction of net income attributable to SPAR Group, Inc. of $418,000 and $298,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

Net Loss

 

The Company reported a net loss of $(244,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2017, or $(0.01)per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(139,000), or $(0.01) per diluted share, for the corresponding period last year.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources   

 

In the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company had a net income before non-controlling interest of $174,000.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.3 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The net cash provided by operating activities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily due to cash-impacting earnings and a decrease in accounts receivable, plus increases in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities.

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, was approximately $300,000 and $400,000, respectively. The net cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was due to fixed asset additions, primarily capitalized software.

 

Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017, was approximately $5.3 million, compared to $2.2 million used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily a result of net payments on lines of credit, and also a distribution to non-controlling local investors in South Africa.

 

The above activity and the impact of foreign exchange rate changes resulted in an increase in cash and cash equivalents for the three months ended March 31, 2017 of $949,000.

 

At March 31, 2017, the Company had net working capital of $10.3 million, as compared to net working capital of $12.5 million at December 31, 2016. The Company's current ratio was 1.4 at both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 

  

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

The Company's accounting policies for financial instruments and disclosures relating to financial instruments require that the Company's consolidated balance sheets include the following financial instruments: cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and lines of credit. The Company carries current assets and liabilities at their stated or face amounts in its consolidated financial statements, as the Company believes those amounts approximate the fair value for these items because of the relatively short period of time between origination of the asset or liability and their expected realization or payment. The Company monitors the risks associated with asset and liability positions, as well as interest rates. The Company's investment policy objectives require the preservation and safety of the principal, and the maximization of the return on investment based upon its safety and liquidity objectives.

 

 
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SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

The Company is exposed to market risk related to the variable interest rate on its lines of credit, both in its United States subsidiaries (i.e., the Domestic Division) and in its International (non-U.S.) subsidiaries (i.e., the International Division). At March 31, 2017, the Company's outstanding lines of credit and other debt totaled approximately $6.5 million, as noted in the table below (in thousands):

 

Location

 

Variable Interest Rate (1)

   

US Dollars (2)

 

United States

      4.5%       $ 5,800  

International

    0.1% - 17.3%       730  
                $ 6,530  

(1)

Based on interest rate at March 31, 2017.

(2)

Based on exchange rate at March 31, 2017.

 

The Company has foreign currency exposure associated with its international subsidiaries. In both 2017 and 2016, these exposures are primarily concentrated in the South African Rand, the Canadian Dollar, the Mexican Peso, the Australian Dollar, the Japanese Yen, the Chinese Yuan, and the Brazilian Real.

 

 

Item 4.      Controls and Procedures

 

Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2017. The evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures by our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer included a review of the restatement described in the filing of this Form 10-Q, where we restated our consolidated balance sheet, consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income and consolidated statements of equity. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 31, 2017 at the reasonable assurance level, to enable us to record, process, summarize and report information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit within the time periods specified in the SEC rules or forms due to the material weakness described below.

 

Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

A material weakness is defined as a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. In connection with the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2017, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting associated with the recognition of accumulated other comprehensive loss both in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet and the comprehensive loss portion of the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive loss.

 

The Company did not design and maintain effective control over the assessment of the presentation of foreign currency translation adjustments when preparing the consolidated financial statements. While this is considered a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting, the Company determined that the related impact was not material to the results of operations or financial position for any prior annual or interim period as described above in Note 2 of the Company’s prior period financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Other than the material weakness as set forth above during the quarter ended March 31, 2017 there have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the quarter ended March 31, 2017 identified in connection with our evaluation that has materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Management’s Remediation Initiatives

 

We have taken, and continue to take, the actions described below to remediate the identified material weakness. As we continue to evaluate and work to improve our internal controls over financial reporting, our senior management may determine to take additional measures to address control deficiencies or modify the remediation efforts, or in appropriate circumstances not to complete certain of the remediation measures described in this section. While the Audit Committee and senior management are closely monitoring the implementation, until the remediation efforts discussed in this section, including any additional remediation efforts that our senior management identifies as necessary, are completed, tested, and determined effective, the material weakness described above will continue to exist.

 

To address this material weakness, our management has implemented new procedures and internal controls surrounding the reporting of its majority owned international subsidiaries to ensure comprehensive income (loss) and non-controlling interest are properly adjusted to account for the impact of foreign currency translation.

 

As a smaller reporting company, the Company is not required to obtain an attestation report from the Company's independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting, and accordingly, such an attestation has not been obtained or included in this Quarterly Report. 

 

 
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SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION 

 

Item 1.      Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is a party to various legal actions and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of Company's management, disposition of these matters are not anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its estimated or desired assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition.

 

The Company executes the services it provides to its domestic clients through independent field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist"), almost all of whom are independent contractors. Substantially all of the Company's domestic Field Specialists are engaged and provided as independent contractors by SBS. For contractual details and payment amounts, see Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party TransactionsDomestic Related Party Services, above.

 

The appropriateness of SBS's treatment of its Field Specialists as independent contractors has been periodically subject to legal challenge (both currently and historically) by various states and others, SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings have historically been reimbursed by the Company under SBS's Prior Agreement, and SBS's expenses of defending those challenges and other proceedings were reimbursed by the Company during the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in the amounts of $85,000 and $354,000, respectively), after determination (on a case by case basis) that those defense expenses were costs of providing services to the Company. The Company has advised SBS that, since there is no currently effective comprehensive written services agreement with SBS, the Company will continue to review and decide each request by SBS for reimbursement of its legal defense expenses (including appeals) on a case-by-case basis, including the relative costs and benefits to the Company. The Company has not agreed, and does not currently intend, to reimburse SBS for any judgment, settlement, or related tax, penalty, or interest in any legal challenge or other proceeding, and the Company does not believe it has ever done so (other than in insignificant nuisance amounts). However, there are no assurances that SBS or someone else will not claim, or that SBS will be able to successfully defend any claim, that the Company is liable (through reimbursement, indemnification or otherwise) for any judgment against SBS. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that SBS will succeed in defending any such legal challenge, the legal expenses of prolonged litigation and appeals could continue to be (and have from time to time been) significant, and any adverse determination in any such challenge could have a material adverse effect on SBS's ability to provide services needed by the Company and the Company's costs of doing business.

 

Current material and potentially material proceedings against SBS and, in one instance, the Company are described below. These descriptions are based on an independent review by the Company and do not reflect the views of SBS, its management or its counsel.

 

SBS Clothier Litigation

 

Melissa Clothier was engaged by SBS (then known as SPAR Marketing Services, Inc.) and provided services pursuant to the terms of an "Independent Merchandiser Agreement" acknowledging her engagement as an independent contractor. On June 30, 2014, Ms. Clothier filed suit against SBS and the Company styled Case No. RG12 639317, in the Superior Court in Alameda County, California, in which Ms. Clothier asserted claims on behalf of herself and a putative class of similarly situated merchandisers in California who are or were classified as independent contractors at any time between July 16, 2008, and June 30, 2014. Ms. Clothier alleged that she and other class members were misclassified as independent contractors and that, as a result of this misclassification, the defendants improperly underpaid them in violation of California minimum wage and overtime laws. The Company was subsequently dismissed from the action without prejudice. The court ordered that the case be heard in two phases. Phase one was limited to the determination of whether members of the class were misclassified as independent contractors. After hearing evidence, receiving post-trial briefings and considering the issues, the Court issued its Statement of Decision on September 9, 2016, finding that the class members had been misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees. The parties have now moved into phase two to determine damages (if any). No trial date for phase two has been set and the parties are currently engaged in discovery as to the measure of damages in this case. SBS has advised the Company that SBS will appeal the adverse phase one determination when permitted under the court's rules.

 

 
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SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

SBS Rodgers Litigation

 

Maceo Rodgers was engaged by and provided services to SBS pursuant to the terms of his "Master Agreements" with SBS acknowledging his engagement as an independent contractor. On February 21, 2014, Rodgers filed suit against SBS, Robert G. Brown and William H. Bartels, styled Civil Action No. 3:14-CV-00055, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Galveston Division). Plaintiff asserted claims on behalf of himself and an alleged class of similarly situated individuals who provided services to SBS as independent contractors at any time on or after July 15, 2012, claiming they all were misclassified as independent contractors and that, as a result of this misclassification, the Defendants improperly underpaid them in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and minimum wage provisions. Although the Court conditionally certified the class on December 8, 2015, only 61 individuals joined the action as opt-in plaintiffs, and all but 11 of them have potentially disqualifying arbitration provisions, residences outside the class's geographic area, or late opt-in filings, and are being challenged by the Defendants in various pending motions, including a motion to decertify the class.

 

SBS and SGRP Hogan Litigation

 

Paradise Hogan was engaged by and provided services to SBS as an independent contractor pursuant to the terms of an "Independent Contractor Master Agreement" with SBS acknowledging his engagement as an independent contractor. On January 6, 2017, Hogan filed suit against SBS and SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP" and part of the Company), styled Civil Action No. 1:17-cv-10024-LTS, in the U.S. District Court for District of Massachusetts. Hogan initially asserted claims on behalf of himself and an alleged nationwide class of similarly situated individuals who provided services to SBS and SGRP as independent contractors. Hogan alleged that he and other alleged class members were misclassified as independent contractors, and as a result of this purported misclassification, Hogan asserted claims on behalf of himself and the alleged Massachusetts class members under the Massachusetts Wage Act and Minimum Wage Law for failure to pay overtime and minimum wages, as well as state law claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In addition, Hogan asserted claims on behalf of himself and the nationwide class for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime and minimum wage provisions. On March 28, 2017, Defendants moved to refer Hogan's claim to arbitration pursuant to his agreement, to dismiss or stay Hogan's case pending arbitration, and to dismiss Hogan's case for failure to state a specific claim upon which relief could be granted. Plaintiff’s counsel subsequently notified SGRP’s attorney of their intent to amend their Complaint without prejudice. The Amended Complaint, which was filed on May 2, 2017, eliminated all of Plaintiff’s claims except for a single claim against SGRP for failure to pay Hogan and a similarly situated class of Massachusetts independent contractors all wages under the Massachusetts Wage Act and a separate, but identical claim against SBS. The result of the amendment significantly narrowed the scope of the litigation and eliminated the original nationwide Fair Labor Standards Act claims. Defendants have been granted leave to refile their motion to compel arbitration pursuant to Hogan’s agreement, to dismiss or stay Hogan’s case pending arbitration, and to dismiss Hogan’s case for failure to state a specific claim upon which relief could be granted. Defendants’ motion is due on May 24, 2017.

 

Potential Adverse Effects of the SBS Litigation

 

Any prolonged continuation of or material increase in the legal defense costs of SBS (and thus the reimbursable expenses SBS may charge to and that may be paid by the Company), any claim by SBS, any other related party or any third party that the Company is somehow liable for any judgment against SBS or other related party, any judicial determination that the Company is somehow liable for any judgment against SBS or other related party (in whole or in part), any decrease in SBS's performance (quality or otherwise), any inability by SBS to execute the services for the Company, or any increase in the Company's use of employees (rather than independent contractors) as its domestic Field Specialists, in each case in whole or in part, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected. See Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party TransactionsDomestic Related Party Services, above.

 

 
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SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

Item 1A.      Risk Factors 

 

Existing Risk Factors

 

Various risk factors applicable to the Company and its businesses are described in Item 1A under the caption "Risk Factors" in the 2016 Annual Report, which risk factors are incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report. There have been no material changes in the Company's risk factors since the 2016 Annual Report other than as disclosed below.

 

We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to remediate this material weakness, our ability to produce accurate and timely financial statements could be impaired, which could adversely affect investor views of us and the value of our common stock.

 

As a public company, we are required to comply with the standards adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, regarding internal control over financial reporting. In connection with our evaluation of compliance, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017. A “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. During the first quarter of 2017, we have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting associated with the recognition of accumulated other comprehensive loss both in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet and the comprehensive loss portion of the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive loss. Specifically, the Company previously attributed 100% of the foreign currency translation adjustment recorded in annual comprehensive loss to the Company compared to allocating a proportionate amount to the non-controlling interest portion on both the consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive loss. To address this material weakness, our management has implemented new procedures and internal controls surrounding the reporting of its majority owned international subsidiaries to insure comprehensive income (loss) and non-controlling interest are properly adjusted to account for the impact of foreign currency translation. However, these steps will take time to fully integrate and confirm, and until the remediation steps are fully implemented and tested, the material weakness will continue to exist.

 

If we fail to remediate the identified material weakness or identify further material weaknesses, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results, prevent fraud, or file our periodic reports in a timely manner, which may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and may lead to a decline in our stock price. In addition, our failure to timely file our periodic reports could eventually result in the delisting of our common stock from the New York Stock Exchange, regulatory sanctions from the SEC, and/or the breach of covenants in our credit facilities or of any preferred equity or debt securities we may issue in the future, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our operations and your investment in our common stock.

 

Item 2.      Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

Not applicable

 

Item 3.       Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.       Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable. 

 

Item 5.       Other Information

 

Not applicable.

 

 
34 

 

 

Item 6.       Exhibits

   

10.1 Waiver letter from Sterling National Bank, dated as of April 13, 2017, as filed herewith.
   
31.1 Certification of the CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as filed herewith.
   
31.2 Certification of the CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as filed herewith.
   
32.1 Certification of the CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as filed herewith.
   
32.2 Certification of the CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as filed herewith.
   

101.INS*

XBRL Instance

   

101.SCH*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

   

101.CAL*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation

   

101.DEF*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition

   

101.LAB*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels

   

101.PRE*

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

 

* XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

 
35

 

 

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Date: May 22, 2017

SPAR Group, Inc., Registrant

 

 

 

 

 

By: /s/ James R. Segreto

 

James R. Segreto
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary

 

 

36

sgrp20170331_10q.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

TENTH AGREEMENT OF AMENDMENT AND WAIVER TO REVOLVING LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

 

This Tenth Agreement of Amendment to Revolving Loan and Security Agreement and Other Documents (this "Amendment") shall be dated and effective as of April 13, 2017 and is by and between STERLING NATIONAL BANK, having an office at 489 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10017 ("Sterling"), and any other entity becoming a lender pursuant to the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) are individually referred to as a "Lender" and collectively referred to as the "Lenders", and Sterling as the agent for the Lenders as well as acting for the benefit of the Lenders (the "Agent"), and SPAR GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation, SPAR ASSEMBLY & INSTALLATION, INC. (F/K/A SPAR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SERVICES, INC.), a Nevada corporation, SPAR GROUP INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Nevada corporation, SPAR ACQUISITION, INC., a Nevada corporation, SPAR TRADEMARKS, INC., a Nevada corporation, SPAR MARKETING FORCE, INC., a Nevada corporation, SPAR CANADA, INC., a Nevada corporation and SPAR CANADA COMPANY, an unlimited liability company incorporated in the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada (either separately, jointly, or jointly and severally, collectively, the "Borrowers"), each having an address at 333 Westchester Avenue, South Building, Suite 204, White Plains, New York 10604.

 

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have executed and delivered or have become parties to, as applicable, a certain Secured Revolving Loan Note dated July 6, 2010 in the original principal amount of Five Million and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000,000.00), payable to the order of the Agent, as same was subsequently increased to Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,500,000.00) and as same was subsequently further increased to Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($7,500,000.000) as evidenced by a certain Amended and Restated Secured Revolving Loan Note dated July 1, 2014, as same was subsequently modified as evidenced by a certain Amended and Restated Secured Revolving Loan Note dated as of September 28, 2015 and as same was subsequently temporarily increased to Nine Million and 00/100 Dollars (9,000,000.00) as evidenced by a certain Amended and Restated Secured Revolving Loan Note dated as of December 22, 2016 and as same (and Sterling’s Commitment to make revolving loan advances) was permanently increased to Nine Million and 00/100 Dollars ($9,000,000.00) pursuant to an Amended and Restated Secured Revolving Loan Note dated as of March 3, 2017 in the original principal amount of Nine Million and 00/100 Dollars ($9,000,000.00) issued by the Borrowers to Sterling (collectively, the "Note");

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the execution and delivery of the Note and to secure payment and performance of the Note and other obligations of the Borrowers to the Agent, the Agent and the Borrowers have executed or become parties to, as applicable, a certain Revolving Loan and Security Agreement effective July 6, 2010, as same has been amended from time to time and as same is hereby further amended pursuant to the terms of this Amendment (collectively, the "Loan Agreement");

 

 
1

 

 

WHEREAS, in addition to the Note and the Loan Agreement, the Borrowers and the Agent have executed and/or delivered certain other collateral agreements, certificates and instruments perfecting or otherwise relating to the security interests created, which together with the Note and the Loan Agreement are hereinafter individually referred to as a "Loan Document" and collectively referred to as the "Loan Documents";

 

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Agent modify and waive compliance with certain provisions of the Loan Agreement to which the Agent has agreed provided the Borrowers enter into this Amendment;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which being hereby acknowledged, the Agent and the Borrowers hereby agree as follows:

 

1.      Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Loan Agreement.

 

2.     Section 7.19 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

"The Borrower is not to cause or permit its combined Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.5 to 1.0 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter for the twelve month period then ended. The term "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" is to be determined for the Borrower on a combined basis in accordance with GAAP and means and includes with respect to any fiscal period the ratio of (a) (i) EBITDA of the Borrower on a combined basis, minus (ii) Non-Financed Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower on a combined basis during such period (including, with limitation, expenditures for software) to (b) the Fixed Charges of the Borrower on a combined basis during such period. "EBITDA" means (on a combined basis for the Borrower) for the applicable period the sum of (i) earnings of Borrower on a combined basis before interest and taxes for such period plus (ii) depreciation expense of Borrower on a combined basis for such period, plus (iii) amortization expenses of Borrower on a combined basis for such period, plus (iv) non-cash stock compensation on a combined basis for such period, plus (v) cash received during such period by Borrower from Foreign Subsidiaries as recorded through intercompany, less (vi) other income and/or expense of Borrower on a combined basis for such period related to extraordinary litigation, less (vii) allocation of Borrower expenses during such period to the Foreign Subsidiaries as recorded through intercompany. For the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2016 and the first and second quarters ending March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017 only, extraordinary one time charges in the aggregate amount of $571,000 shall be added back to EBIDTA. In addition, for fourth quarter ending December 31, 2016 and the first three quarters ending March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the $325,000 of one-time expenses related to the change from cash accounting to accrual accounting for the recording of rebates paid to Family Dollar Stores shall also be added back to EBITDA. "Non-Financed Capital Expenditures" means capital expenditures by Borrower on a combined basis during the applicable period not financed with proceed of purchase money financing permitted in Section 7.4. "Fixed Charge" means the sum (without duplication) for the Borrower on a combined basis during the applicable period of (i) all interest payments made on the Revolving Loan hereunder, plus (ii) all dividends or other distributions to stockholders and other payments made or paid with respect to any indebtedness for money borrowed (excluding the principal amount of Revolving Advances but including all payments made on capitalized leases) during such period, plus (iii) income or franchise taxes paid in cash during such period, plus (iv) all capital contributions and/or loans made by any Borrower to any Foreign Subsidiary during such period which are otherwise permitted by this Agreement."

 

 
2

 

 

3.     The Bank hereby waives compliance with Section 7.19 (the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio) for the twelve (12) month period ending December 31, 2016.

 

4.      The Borrowers hereby represent and warrant to the Agent that:

 

(a)     Each and every of the representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true in all material respects as of the date hereof and with the same effect as though made on the date hereof (except as and to the extent limited to reference dates), and are hereby incorporated herein in full by reference as if fully restated herein in its entirety;

 

(b)     No Default or event of Default and no event or condition which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or event of Default, now exists or would exist under any Loan Document after giving effect hereto;

 

(c)     There are no defenses or offsets to its outstanding obligations under the Loan Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents executed in connection therewith, and if any such defenses or offsets exist without the knowledge of the Borrowers, the same are hereby waived;

 

(d)     The Borrowers are not subject to any legal or contractual restrictions on their ability to enter into this Amendment;

 

(e)      The individual(s) executing this Amendment on behalf of the Borrowers has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment and that all action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment has been duly taken, and this Amendment is being duly executed and delivered by the officer or other representative authorized to execute and deliver this Amendment; and

 

(f)     As of the date hereof, the Borrowers are each duly formed, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation and each is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or unlimited liability company, as applicable, and in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required.

 

 
3

 

 

5.     It is expressly understood and agreed that all collateral security for the extensions of credit set forth in the Loan Agreement is and shall continue to be collateral security for all extensions of credit provided under the Loan Agreement as herein amended. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrowers hereby absolutely and unconditionally confirm that each document and instrument executed by the Borrowers pursuant to the Loan Agreement continues in full force and effect, is hereby ratified and confirmed and is and shall continue to be applicable to the Loan Agreement (as herein amended).

 

6.     The amendments and waiver set forth herein is limited precisely as written and shall not be deemed to (a) be a consent to or a waiver of any other term or condition of the Loan Agreement, the Loan Documents or any of the documents referred to therein, or (b) prejudice any right or rights which the Agent may now have or may have in the future under or in connection with the Loan Agreement, the Loan Documents or any documents referred to therein, as amended. Whenever the Loan Agreement is referred to in the Loan Agreement, the Loan Documents or any of the instruments, agreements or other documents or papers executed and delivered in connection therewith, it shall be deemed to mean the Loan Agreement and other Loan Documents as amended hereby.

 

7.     The Borrowers agree to sign, deliver and file any additional documents and take any other actions that may reasonably be required by the Agent including, but not limited to, affidavits, resolutions, or certificates for the full and complete consummation of the matters covered by this Amendment.

 

8.     This Amendment is binding upon, inures to the benefit of, and is enforceable by, the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto. This Amendment is not assignable by the Borrowers without the prior written consent of the Agent, provided, however, that this Amendment shall be deemed to be assigned with any assignment of the Loan Agreement consented to by the Agent.

 

9.     To the extent that any provision of this Amendment is determined by any court or legislature to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part either in a particular case or in all cases, such provision or part thereof is to be deemed surplusage. If that occurs, it shall not have the effect of rendering any other provision of this Amendment invalid or unenforceable and this Amendment is to be construed and enforced as if such invalid or unenforceable provision or part thereof were omitted.

 

10.     This Amendment may only be changed or amended by a written agreement signed by all of the parties. By execution of this Amendment, the Agent is not to be deemed to consent to any future renewal, extension or amendment of the Revolving Loan or the Loan Documents.

 

 
4

 

 

11.     This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. Said counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument and shall be binding upon each of the undersigned individually as fully and completely as if all had signed but one instrument.

 

12.      This Amendment shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to New York’s conflict of laws principles that would defer to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

13.     The parties to this Amendment acknowledge that each has had the opportunity to consult independent counsel of their own choice, and that each has relied upon such counsel’s advice concerning this Amendment, the enforceability and interpretation of the terms contained in this Amendment and the consummation of the transaction and matters covered by this Amendment. The parties to this Amendment agree that, when interpreting this Amendment, there shall be no presumption against the Agent on account of the fact that the Agent is the party causing the drafting of this Amendment.

 

14.     The obligation of the Agent to enter into this Amendment is subject to the following:

 

(a)     Receipt by the Agent of a fully executed counterpart of this Amendment from the Borrowers;

 

(b)     Payment to the Agent of an amendment and waiver fee in the amount of $5,000.00; and

 

(c)     The Agent shall have received such other documents or information as it may reasonably request.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Borrowers agree that they shall be obligated for the payment of the Agent’s reasonable legal fees incurred in connection with the preparation of this Amendment.

 

 

(REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)

 

 
5

 

 

The undersigned have caused this Amendment to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

STERLING NATIONAL BANK

 

By: ___________________________

Name:

Title:      

 

SPAR GROUP, INC.

 

By: ___________________________

Name: James R. Segreto

Title:   Chief Financial Officer,

            Treasurer and Secretary

 

SPAR ASSEMBLY & INSTALLATION, INC.

 

By: ___________________________

Name: James R. Segreto

Title:   Chief Financial Officer,

            Treasurer and Secretary

 

SPAR GROUP INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

By: ___________________________

Name: James R. Segreto

Title:   Chief Financial Officer,

            Treasurer and Secretary

 

SPAR ACQUISITION, INC.

 

By: ___________________________

Name: James R. Segreto

Title:   Chief Financial Officer,

            Treasurer and Secretary

 

SPAR TRADEMARKS, INC.

 

By: ___________________________

Name: James R. Segreto

Title:   Chief Financial Officer,

            Treasurer and Secretary

 

-Signatures Continued on Following Page-

 

 
6

 

 

 

SPAR MARKETING FORCE, INC.

 

By: ___________________________

Name: James R. Segreto

Title:   Chief Financial Officer,

            Treasurer and Secretary

 

SPAR CANADA, INC.

 

By: ___________________________

Name: James R. Segreto

Title:   Chief Financial Officer,

            Treasurer and Secretary

 

SPAR CANADA COMPANY

 

By: ___________________________

Name: James R. Segreto

Title:   Chief Financial Officer,

            Treasurer and Secretary

 

 

sgrp20170331_10q.htm

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Kori G. Belzer, certify that:  

 

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 of SPAR Group, Inc.;  

 

2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.     The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)     Designed such internal control over financial reporting or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.     The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 22, 2017

/s/ Kori G. Belzer
Kori G. Belzer

Interim President and Chief Executive Officer

sgrp20170331_10q.htm

EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, James R. Segreto, certify that: 

 

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 of SPAR Group, Inc.;  

 

2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.     The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)     Designed such internal control over financial reporting or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.     The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 22, 2017

/s/ James R. Segreto
James R. Segreto, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary

sgrp20170331_10q.htm

EXHIBIT 32.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 of SPAR Group, Inc., the undersigned hereby certifies that, to his knowledge:  

 

1.        The report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

 

2.        The information contained in the report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the registrant.

 

 

 

/s/ Kori G. Belzer
Kori G. Belzer
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer

May 22, 2017

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to SPAR Group, Inc. and will be retained by SPAR Group, Inc., and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. 

 

sgrp20170331_10q.htm

EXHIBIT 32.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 of SPAR Group, Inc., the undersigned hereby certifies that, to his knowledge:  

 

1.        The report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

 

2.        The information contained in the report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the registrant.

 

 

/s/ James R. Segreto
James R. Segreto
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
Secretary

May 22, 2017



 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to SPAR Group, Inc. and will be retained by SPAR Group, Inc., and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.