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SPAR Group, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)

          
 

 

 

     

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


Form 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

x     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the third quarterly period ended September 30, 2007.

     OR

o     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: 0-27824

SPAR Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                                                                              33-0684451
State of Incorporation                                                                                     IRS Employer Identification No.

555 White Plains Road, Suite 250, Tarrytown, New York 10591
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

 

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:      x Yes    o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. (See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Large Accelerated Filer  o       Accelerated Filer o        Non-Accelerated Filer x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).      YES  o      NO x


On September 30, 2007, there were 19,088,927
shares of Common Stock outstanding.








SPAR Group, Inc.

Index

PART I:

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1:

Financial Statements

 
 

Consolidated Balance Sheets
as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

 

3

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

 

4

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

 

5

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

6

Item 2:

 

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

 

17

 

Item 3:

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

27

Item 4:

Controls and Procedures

28

PART II:

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1:

Legal Proceedings

29

Item 1A:

Risk Factors

29

Item 2:

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

30

Item 3:

Defaults upon Senior Securities

30

Item 4:

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

30

Item 5:

Other Information

30

Item 6:

Exhibits

30

SIGNATURES

 

31



2





PART I:     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1: Financial Statements

SPAR Group, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

September 30,

December 31,

 

2007

2006

 

(Unaudited)

(Note)

Assets

   

Current assets:

   

Cash and cash equivalents

$      1,503   

$     1,148  

Accounts receivable, net

10,046   

 

12,982  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

677   

553  

Total current assets

12,226   

14,683  

     

Property and equipment, net

1,411   

901  

Goodwill

798   

798  

Other assets

1,597   

1,695  

Total assets

$      16,032   

$     18,077  

     

Liabilities and stockholders' equity

   

Current liabilities:

   

Accounts payable

$      3,830  

$     2,551  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

4,371  

2,864  

Accrued expenses due to affiliates

2,158  

 

1,752  

Customer deposits

694  

560  

Lines of credit

3,021  

5,318  

Total current liabilities

14,074  

13,045  

     

Other long-term liabilities

244  

6  

Minority interest

652  

 

498  

Total liabilities

14,970  

13,549  

     

Commitments and contingencies (Note – 9)

   
     

Stockholders' equity:

   

Preferred stock, $.01 par value:

Authorized shares – 3,000,000

Issued and outstanding shares – none

–  

 

–  

Common stock, $.01 par value:

Authorized shares – 47,000,000

Issued and outstanding shares –

19,088,927 – September 30, 2007

18,934,182 – December 31, 2006

189  

189  

Treasury stock

(1)

(1)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(32)

(109)

Additional paid-in capital

11,935  

11,484  

Accumulated deficit

(11,029)

(7,035)

Total stockholders' equity

1,062

4,528  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$      16,032

$     18,077  



 

 

Note:   The Balance Sheet at December 31, 2006, is an excerpt from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include any of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

See accompanying notes.



3





SPAR Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

 

2007

2006

           

Net revenues

$      14,365 

$      12,709 

 

$      42,284 

$      41,477 

Cost of revenues

10,483 

8,856 

 

29,738 

27,853 

Gross profit

3,882 

3,853 

 

12,546 

13,624 

           

Selling, general and administrative expenses

5,108 

4,855 

 

15,340 

13,794 

Depreciation and amortization

180 

170 

 

571 

565 

Operating loss

(1,406)

(1,172)

 

(3,365)

(735)

           

Interest expense

66 

65 

 

247 

162 

Other expense (income)

77 

48 

 

27 

(542)

Loss before provision for income taxes and minority interest

(1,549)

(1,285)

 

(3,639)

(355)

           

Provision for income taxes

79 

73 

 

220 

172 

Loss before minority interest

(1,628)

(1,358)

 

(3,859)

(527)

           

Minority interest

119 

34 

 

135 

(11)

Net loss

$      (1,747)

$     (1,392)

 

$     (3,994)

$       (516)

           

Basic/diluted net loss per common share:

         
           

Net loss – basic/diluted

$        (0.09)

$       (0.07)

 

$       (0.21)

$     (0.03)

           

Weighted average common shares
– basic/diluted

19,012  

18,934 

 

18,973 

18,929 

See accompanying notes


4






SPAR Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited) (In thousands)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

Operating activities

   

Net cash provided by operating activities

$      3,097 

$     117 

     

Investing activities

   

Purchases of property and equipment

(639)

(363)

     

Financing activities

   

Net payments on lines of credit

(2,297)

280 

Other long-term liabilities

(84)

(3)

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan and options exercised

201 

– 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(2,180)

277 

     

Translation gain (loss)

77 

(53)

     

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

355 

(22)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

1,148 

1,914 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$      1,503 

$     1,892 

     

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

   

Interest paid

$         178 

$        153 

Taxes paid

$            10 

$        123 

The Company acquired equipment by entering into capital leases in the amounts of $358,000 and $84,000 in January 2007 and September 2007, respectively.

See accompanying notes.



5





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

1.     Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited, consolidated financial statements of SPAR Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SGRP"), and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, collectively, the "Company" or the "SPAR Group") 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. In the opinion of management, all 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 Company's Annual Report for 2006 on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 2, 2007, and amended on Form 10-K/A by Amendment No. 1 filed with the SEC on April 13, 2007 (the "Company's Annual Report for 2006 on Form 10-K As Amended"). The Company's results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of its operating results for the entire year.

2.     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, radio frequency identification ("RFID") services, technology services and marketing research.

Today the Company operates in 12 countries whose population represents approximately 48% of the total world population. The Company's operations are currently divided into two divisions: the Domestic Merchandising Services Division and the International Merchandising Services Division. The Domestic Merchandising Services Division provides merchandising and marketing services, in-store event staffing, product sampling, RFID services, technology services and marketing research to manufacturers and retailers in the United States. The various services are primarily performed in mass merchandisers, electronics store chains, drug store chains and convenience and grocery stores. The International Merchandising Services Division was established in July 2000 and through its subsidiaries, the Company currently provides similar merchandising and marketing services in Japan, Canada, Turkey, South Africa, India, Romania, China, Lithuania, Latvia, Australia and New Zealand. The Company continues to focus on expanding its merchandising and marketing services business throughout the world.



6





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

3.     Earnings Per Share

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

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

 

2007

2006

Numerator:

         
           

Net loss

$     (1,747)

$     (1,392)

 

$     (3,994)

$     (516)

           

Denominator:

         

Shares used in basic net loss per share calculation

     19,012 

     18,934 

 

     18,973 

     18,929 

           

Effect of diluted securities:

         

Employee stock options

     –  

     – 

 

     – 

     – 

           

Shares used in diluted net loss per share calculation

     19,012 

     18,934 

 

     18,973 

     18,929 

           

Basic and diluted net loss per common share

$     (0.09)

$     (0.07)

 

$     (0.21)

$     (0.03)

4.      Lines of Credit

In January 2003, the Company (other than SGRP's foreign subsidiaries) and Webster Business Credit Corporation, then known as Whitehall Business Credit Corporation ("Webster"), entered into the Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (as amended, collectively, the "Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility provides for a $7.0 million revolving line of credit maturing on January 23, 2009. In March 2007 the credit facility was further amended to among other things, delay the Minimum Fixed Coverage ratio until the fourth quarter 2007, establish an EBITDA covenant and increase the interest rate by .25% beginning March 28, 2007. In May 2007 the credit facility was amended to provide for an availability reserve of $500,000. In August 2007 the credit facility was further amended to reduce the availability reserve to $250,000 until November 30, 2007. On November 16, 2007 Webster amended the credit facility to extend the availability reserve of $250,000 indefinitely and to reduce the revolving line of credit to $5.0 million. Borrowings are based upon a borrowing base formula as defined in the agreement (principally 85% of "eligible" domestic accounts receivable less certain reserves). The Credit Facility is secured by all of the assets of the Company and its domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Facility also limits certain expenditures, including, but not limited to, capital expenditures and other investments.

The basic interest rate under the Credit Facility is Webster's "Alternative Base Rate" plus 1.0% per annum (a total of 8.75% per annum at September 30, 2007), which automatically changes with each change made by Webster in such Alternative Base Rate. The Company at its option, subject to certain conditions, may elect to have portions of its loans under the Credit Facility bear interest at various LIBOR rates plus 3.5% per annum based on fixed periods of one, two, three or six months. The actual average interest rate under the Credit Facility was 9.14% per annum for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

The domestic revolving loan balances outstanding under the Credit Facility were $1.8 million and $4.2 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. There was a letter of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility of approximately $453,000 at December 31, 2006 and there was no letter of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2007. As of September 30, 2007, the SPAR Group had unused availability under the Credit Facility of $329,000 out of the remaining maximum $5.2 million unused revolving line of credit after reducing the borrowing base by outstanding loans.



7





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

Because of the requirement to maintain a lock box arrangement with Webster and Webster's ability to invoke a subjective acceleration clause at its discretion, borrowings under the Credit Facility are classified as current at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, in accordance with EITF 95-22, Balance Sheet Classification of Borrowings Outstanding Under Revolving Credit Agreements That Include Both a Subjective Acceleration Clause and a Lock-Box Agreement.

The Company was in violation of its Minimum EBITDA covenant at September 30, 2007, and on November 16, 2007 Webster amended the Credit Facility to, among other things (see comment above), waive the violation and agreed to reset the covenants for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and for 2008. The Company does not expect to comply with the existing covenants in future periods, and there can be no assurances that if the Company violates such covenants, Webster will continue to issue waivers. In addition, Mr. Robert G. Brown, a Director, the Chairman (former President and Chief Executive Officer) and a major stockholder of SGRP, and Mr. William H. Bartels, a Director, the Vice Chairman and a major stockholder of SGRP, have provided personal guarantees of the Credit Facility totaling $1.0 million.

The Japanese subsidiary SPAR FM Japan, Inc. has line of credit agreements totaling 100 million Yen or approximately $871,000 (based upon the exchange rate at September 30, 2007). The outstanding balances under the line of credit agreements were 90 million Yen or approximately $784,000 at September 30, 2007 and 70 million Yen or approximately $588,000 at December 31, 2006 (based upon the exchange rate at those dates). The interest rate was 1.88% per annum for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. In addition, the Japan subsidiary had cash balances totaling 121 million Yen or approximately $1.1 million and 97 million Yen or approximately $812,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 respectively (based upon the exchange rates at those dates).

In 2006, the Australian subsidiary SPARFACTS Australia Pty. Ltd. entered into a revolving line of credit arrangement with Oxford Funding Pty. Ltd. for $1.1 million (Australian) or approximately $977,000 (based upon the exchange rate at September 30, 2007). The outstanding balances under the line of credit agreement were $150,000 (Australian) or approximately $133,000 at September 30, 2007 and $429,000 (Australian) or approximately $339,000 at December 31, 2006 (based upon the exchange rate at those dates). The interest rate was 10.60% per annum for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

In 2006, SPAR Canada Company, a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a credit agreement with Royal Bank of Canada providing for a Demand Operating Loan for a maximum borrowing of $1.0 million (Canadian) or approximately $1.0 million (based upon the exchange rate at September 30, 2007). The Demand Operating Loan provides for borrowings based upon a borrowing base formula as defined in the agreement (principally 75% of eligible accounts receivable less certain deductions). The outstanding balances under the line of credit agreement were $298,000 (Canadian) or approximately $301,000 and $238,000 (Canadian) or approximately $204,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively (based upon the exchange rate at those dates). The average interest rate was 7.08% per annum for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

5.     Capital Lease Obligations

In 2007, the Company capitalized certain equipment leases. The economic substance of the leases is such that the Company is financing the acquisition of the assets through the leases. The equipment has cost of $442,000, accumulated depreciation of $92,000 and a net book value of $350,000 at September 30, 2007.



8





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

Annual future minimum lease payments required under the leases together with their present value as of September 30, 2007 are as follows:

     

Year Ending

December 31

               Amount

2007

$42,000

2008

167,000

2009

167,000

2010

55,000

 

431,000

Less amount representing interest

60,000

Present value of net minimum lease payments

371,000

Less current portion included with other current liabilities

131,000

Long-term portion included with other long-term liabilities

$240,000

6.     Related-Party Transactions

Mr. Robert G. Brown, a Director, the Chairman (former President and Chief Executive Officer) and a major stockholder of SGRP, and Mr. William H. Bartels, a Director, the Vice Chairman and a major stockholder of SGRP, are executive officers and the sole stockholders and directors of SPAR Marketing Services, Inc. ("SMS"), SPAR Management Services, Inc. ("SMSI"), and SPAR Infotech, Inc. ("SIT").

SMS and SMSI provided approximately 99% of the Company's domestic merchandising specialists field force (through independent contractors) for both the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, and approximately 84% and 76% of the Company's domestic field management at a total cost to the Company of approximately $13.0 million and $14.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Field Service Agreement dated as of January 1, 2004, SMS provides the services of SMS's merchandising specialist field force of approximately 3,300 independent contractors to the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Field Management Agreement dated as of January 1, 2004, SMSI provides 53 full-time national, regional and district managers to the Company. For those services, the Company has agreed to reimburse SMS and SMSI for all of their costs of providing those services and to pay SMS and SMSI each a premium equal to 4% of their respective costs. Total net premiums (4% of SMS and SMSI costs) paid to SMS and SMSI for services rendered were approximately $498,000 and $567,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The Company has been advised that Messrs. Brown and Bartels are not paid any salaries as officers of SMS or SMSI so there were no salary reimbursements for them included in such costs or premium. However, since SMS and SMSI are "Subchapter S" corporations and are owned by Messrs. Brown and Bartels, they benefit from any income of such companies allocated to them.

SIT provided substantially all of the Internet computer programming services purchased by the Company at a total cost of approximately $481,000 and $541,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. SIT provided approximately 15,000 and 19,000 hours of Internet computer programming services to the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Programming and Support Agreement dated as of September 15, 2007, SIT continues to provide programming services to the Company for which the Company has agreed to pay SIT competitive hourly wage rates for time spent on Company matters and to reimburse the related out-of-pocket expenses of SIT and its personnel. The average hourly billing rate was $33.02 and $28.39 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company has been advised that no hourly charges or business expenses for Messrs. Brown and Bartels were charged to the Company by SIT for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. However, since SIT is a "Subchapter S" corporation and is owned by Messrs. Brown and Bartels, they benefit from any income of such company allocated to them.



9





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

      In November 2004 and January 2005, the Company entered into separate operating lease agreements between SMS and the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries, SPAR Marketing Force, Inc. ("SMF") and SPAR Canada Company ("SPAR Canada"). In May 2005, the Company and SMS amended the lease agreements reducing the total monthly payment. Each lease, as amended, has a 36 month term and representations, covenants and defaults customary for the leasing industry. The SMF lease is for handheld computers to be used by field merchandisers in the performance of various merchandising and marketing services in the United States and has a monthly payment of $17,891. These handheld computers had an original purchase price of $632,200. The SPAR Canada lease is also for handheld computers to be used by field merchandisers in the performance of various merchandising and marketing services in Canada and has a monthly payment of $2,972. These handheld computers had an original purchase price of $105,000. The monthly payments, as amended are based upon a lease factor of 2.83%.

In March 2005, SMF entered into an additional 36 month lease with SMS for handheld computers. The lease factor is 2.83% and the monthly payment is $2,341. These handheld computers had an original purchase price of $82,727.

Through arrangements with the Company, SMS, SMSI and SIT 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 transactions between the Company and the above affiliates are paid and/or collected by the Company in the normal course of business.

The following transactions occurred between the Company and the above affiliates (in thousands):

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

 

2007

2006

Services provided by affiliates:

         

Independent contractor services (SMS)

$      2,866

$     3,098

 

$      9,783

$     11,915

           

Field management services (SMSI)

$     1,044

$        937

 

$      3,168

$       2,831

           

Handheld computer leases (SMS)

$           70

$          70

 

$         209

$          209

           

Internet and software program

Consulting services (SIT)

$         143

$       178

 

$         481

$          541

 

September 30,

December 31,

 Accrued expenses due to affiliates:

2007

2006

     

SPAR Marketing Services, Inc. (SMS)

$      1,482

$     1,238

     

SPAR Management Services, Inc. (SMSI)

      480

     346

     

SPAR Infotech, Inc. (SIT)

      196

     168

     

Total accrued expenses due to affiliates

$      2,158

$     1,752

In addition to the above, through the services of Affinity Insurance, Ltd. ("Affinity"), the Company purchases insurance coverage for its casualty and property insurance risk. The Company's Chairman and Vice Chairman own, through SMSI, a minority (less than 5%) equity interest in Affinity.



10





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

7.      Stock-Based Compensation

The Company grants options to purchase shares of the Company's common stock to its employees and certain employees of its affiliates. Under SFAS No. 123(R), the Company accounts for its employee and affiliate employee stock option expense as compensation expense in the Company's financial statements when the stock options are granted. Share-based compensation cost is measured on the grant date, based on the fair value of the award calculated at that date, and is recognized over the requisite service period, which generally is the options' vesting period. Fair value is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of the option continues to be updated through the vesting date. The options granted have a ten (10) year life and vest over four-year periods at a rate of 25% per year, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.

Based upon the Black-Scholes calculation, share-based compensation expense related to employee stock option grants totaled approximately $215,000 and $233,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 respectively. Basic and diluted earnings per share were impacted by approximately $0.01 for both the nine month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.

Compensation expense related to non-employee stock options awarded to the employees of the Company's affiliates, was approximately $36,000 and $74,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

8.     Customer Deposits

Customer deposits at September 30, 2007, were approximately $694,000 (approximately $255,000 from domestic operations and approximately $439,000 from international operations) compared to approximately $560,000 at December 31, 2006 (approximately $214,000 from domestic operations and approximately $346,000 from international operations).

9.     Commitments and Contingencies

International Commitments

The Company's international business model is to partner with local merchandising companies and combine the Company's proprietary software and expertise in the merchandising and marketing services business with their partner's knowledge of the local market. In 2001, the Company established its Japanese subsidiary to provide the latest in-store merchandising and marketing services to the Japanese market. Since 2003, the Company has expanded its international presence to Canada, Turkey, South Africa, India, Romania, China, Lithuania, Latvia, Australia, and New Zealand. Today the Company has nine subsidiaries operating in 12 countries whose population represents approximately 48% of the total world population.

Certain of these subsidiaries are profitable, while others are operating at a loss. In the event certain subsidiaries have continued losses, the Company may be required to make additional cash infusions into those subsidiaries.

Legal Matters

Safeway Inc. ("Safeway") filed a Complaint against PIA Merchandising Co., Inc. ("PIA Co."), a wholly owned subsidiary of SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP"), Pivotal Sales Company ("Pivotal"), a wholly owned subsidiary of PIA Co., and SGRP in Alameda Superior Court, case no. 2001028498 on October 24, 2001. Safeway claims, as subsequently amended, alleged causes of action for breach of contract and breach of implied contract. PIA Co. and Pivotal filed cross-claims against Safeway on or about March 11, 2002, and amended them on or about October 15, 2002, alleging causes of action by PIA Co. and Pivotal against Safeway for breach of contract, interference with economic relationship, unfair trade practices and unjust enrichment. Trial commenced in March 2006.



11





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

On May 26, 2006, the jury in this case returned a verdict resulting in a net award of $1,307,700 to Pivotal, a SGRP subsidiary. This net award is to be paid by Safeway and resulted from separate jury findings that awarded damages to those SGRP subsidiaries on certain claims and damages to Safeway on other claims. In particular, the jury awarded damages to Pivotal of $5,760,879 for Safeway's interference with Pivotal's contractual relationships with third party manufacturers and also awarded $782,400 to Pivotal and PIA for Safeway's breach of contract with those SGRP subsidiaries. The jury awarded damages to Safeway of $5,235,579 for breach of contract by SGRP and those SGRP subsidiaries. Judgment was entered in favor of Pivotal in September 2006 for $1,307,700. Both parties filed post trial motions but all post trial motions were denied. Notices of Appeal were thereafter filed by both Safeway and Pivotal. Pivotal/SGRP is seeking to have Safeway's judgment overturned, thereby increasing the award to Pivotal by over $5 million. Safeway has asked for a new trial on the judgment found against it. The appellate process is expected to take fourteen to twenty four months to complete. In the interim, the court ordered a mediation of the dispute, which took place but was not successful in resolving the matter. Accordingly, the appeals will proceed. The Company has recorded the net $1.3 million settlement award in other assets.

Briefing on the appeals will commence in January 2008. It is expected that opposition and reply briefs will be completed by July, 2008. Thereafter, an oral argument hearing date will be assigned by the court of appeal.

In addition to the above, the Company is a party to various other legal actions and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of Company's management, disposition of these other matters are not anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

10.     Geographic Data

A summary of the Company's net revenues, operating loss and long lived assets by geographic area for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, are as follows (in thousands):

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

 

2007

2006

Net revenues:

         

United States

$         5,631 

$        6,689 

 

$      19,976 

$      25,376 

International

      8,734 

      6,020 

 

      22,308 

     16,101 

Total net revenues

$      14,365 

$      12,709 

 

$      42,284 

$      41,477 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

 

2007

2006

Operating (loss) income:

         

United States

$     (1,570)

$       (1,165)

 

$      (3,168)

$         (426)

International

     164 

     (7)

 

     (197)

     (309)

Total operating loss

$     (1,406)

$       (1,172)

 

$      (3,365)

$         (735)

 



12





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

 

September 30,

December 31,

Long lived assets:

2007

2006

     

United States

$     3,563

$     3,141

International

243

253

Total long lived assets

$     3,806

$     3,394

International revenues disclosed above were based upon revenues reported by the Company's nine international subsidiaries. The Japan subsidiary contributed 18.3% and 19.3% of the consolidated net revenues of the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 17.1% and 17.0% of the Company's net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Included in the international revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, was an additional quarter of revenues, totaling approximately $1.3 million or 3.2% of the consolidated net revenues of the Company, associated with the change in reporting year of the Company's subsidiary in Japan. The Canadian subsidiary contributed 8.0% and 7.3% of the consolidated net revenues of the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 8.6% and 7.3% of the Company's net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Australian subsidiary that began operations in May 2006, contributed 18.1% and 9.6% of the consolidated net revenues of the Company for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively and 13.3% and 4.6% of the Company's net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Each of the remaining foreign subsidiaries contributed less than 6.4% of the consolidated net revenues of the Company for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.

11.     Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

 

September 30,

December 31,

Accounts receivable, net, consists of the following (in thousands):

2007

2006

     

Trade

$     7,323 

$     10,112 

Unbilled

2,345 

2,774 

Non-trade

799 

496 

 

10,467 

13,382 

Less allowance for doubtful accounts

(421)

(400)

Accounts receivable, net

$     10,046 

$     12,982 

 

September 30,

December 31,

Property and equipment, net, consists of the following (in thousands):

2007

2006

     

Equipment

$      6,538

$     5,810

Furniture and fixtures

621

606

Leasehold improvements

239

138

Capitalized software development costs

1,757

1,508

 

9,155

8,062

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

7,744

7,161

Property and equipment, net

$      1,411

$        901



13





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited) (continued)

 

September 30,

December 31,

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

2007

2006

     

Taxes payable

$      669

$         489

Accrued accounting and legal expense

236

219

Accrued salaries payable

1,767

1,232

Other

1,699

924

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

$   4,371

$     2,864

12.     Foreign Currency Rate Fluctuations

The Company has foreign currency exposure associated with its international subsidiaries. In both 2007 and 2006, these exposures are primarily concentrated in the Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen. At September 30, 2007, international assets totaled $8.4 million and international liabilities totaled $8.0 million. International revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were $22.3 million and $16.1 million, respectively. The international division reported a net loss of approximately $620,000 and $365,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

In those countries where the Company had the greater risk for currency exposure, the total assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

Country

Total Assets

Total Liabilities

Canada

$      723

$     1,302

Australia

     2,148

        1,561

Japan

     3,201

        3,089

13.     Interest Rate Fluctuations

The Company is exposed to market risk related to the variable interest rate on its lines of credit. At September 30, 2007, the Company's outstanding debt totaled approximately $3.0 million, as noted in the table below (in thousands):

Location

Variable Interest Rate (1)

Local Currency Amount

US Dollars Equivalent (2)

United States

8.75%

USD

$1,803

Japan

1.88%

YEN

    784

Canada

7.25%

CAD

     301

Australia

10.60%  

AUS

    133

     

$3,021 

 

(1)     Based on interest rate at September 30, 2007.

(2)     Based on exchange rate at September 30, 2007.

Based on the 2007 average outstanding borrowings under variable-rate debt, a one-percentage point increase in interest rates would negatively impact pre-tax earnings and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 by approximately $26,000.



14





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited) (continued)

14.     Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — including an Amendment of SFAS No. 115 (SFAS No. 159), which permits an entity to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. Entities that elect the fair value option will report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis, with few exceptions. SFAS No. 159 amends previous guidance to extend the use of the fair value option to available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities. The Statement also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements to help financial statement users understand the effect of the election. SFAS No. 159 is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. Management has reviewed SFAS No. 159 and determined that there is no impact of this standard on SPAR’s financial condition and results of operations.

     

15.    Taxes

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB interpretation No. 48 ("FIN 48"), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. FIN 48 prescribes detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in an enterprise's financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized upon the adoption of FIN 48 and in subsequent periods. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and the provisions of FIN 48 will be applied to all tax positions upon initial adoption of the Interpretation. The Company has adopted FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007.

FIN 48 requires that interest and penalties that the tax law requires to be paid on the underpayment of taxes should be accrued on the difference between the amount claimed or expected to be claimed on the return and the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements. The Company's policy is to record this interest and penalties as additional tax expense.

SPAR and its subsidiaries file numerous consolidated, combined and separate company income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction and in many U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, SPAR is subject to U.S. Federal, state and local income tax examinations for the years 2004 through the present. However, tax authorities have the ability to review years prior to the position taken by the Company to the extent that SPAR utilized tax attributes carried forward from those prior years.

In management's view, the Company's tax reserves at December 31, 2006, totaling $144,000 for potential domestic state tax liabilities were sufficient to meet the requirements of FIN 48. However, the reserve for potential international tax liabilities totaling $146,000 was deemed insufficient to satisfy FIN 48, and therefore, in March 2007, the Company recorded an adjustment increasing the total FIN 48 international tax reserve by $145,000 to $291,000.

Details of the Company's FIN 48 reserves at September 30, 2007 are outlined in the table below (in thousands):

 

Taxes

Interest

Penalty

Total Tax Liability

Domestic

       

State

$     105

$     19

$     20

$     144

Federal

International

251

14

26

291

Total FIN 48 Reserve

$     356

$     33

$     46

$     435



15





SPAR Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited) (continued)

16.     Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period financials to conform to the current presentation.



16





SPAR Group, Inc.

Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 (this "Quarterly Report" ), of SPAR Group, Inc. (" SGRP" , and together with its subsidiaries, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company "), include "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) that are based on the Company' s best estimates. In particular and without limitation, this "Management 's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contains such forward-looking statements, which are included in (among other places) the discussions respecting net revenues from significant clients, significant chain work and international joint ventures, federal taxes and net operating loss carryforwards, commencement of operations and future funding of international joint ventures, credit facilities and covenant compliance, cost savings initiatives, liquidity and sources of cash availability. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company' s actual results, performance and achievements, whether expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, to not occur or be realized or to be less than expected. Such forward-looking statements generally are based upon the Company' s best estimates of future results, performance or achievement, current conditions and the most recent results of operations. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "likely", "expect", "intend", "believe", "estimate", "anticipate", "continue" or similar terms, variations of those terms or the negative of those terms. You should carefully consider such risks, uncertainties and other information, disclosures and discussions containing cautionary statements or identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those provided in the forward-looking statements.

You should carefully review this management discussion and analysis together with the risk factors and other cautionary statements contained in the Company' s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC ") on April 2, 2007 and as amended on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 13, 2007 (the "Company 's Annual Report for 2006 on Form 10-K As Amended" ), including the risk factors described in Item 1A of that annual report under the caption "Certain Risk Factors" and the changes (if any) in such risk factors described in Item IA of Part II of this Quarterly Report (collectively, "Risk Factors" ), as well as the cautionary statements contained in this Quarterly Report. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified by the Risk Factors and other cautionary statements in this Quarterly Report and in the Company' s Annual Report for 2006 on Form 10-K As Amended, which are incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report. Although the Company believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved in whole or in part. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, or any Risk Factors or other cautionary statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Overview

Today the Company operates in 12 countries whose population represents approximately 48% of the total world population. The Company's operations are currently divided into two divisions: the Domestic Merchandising Services Division and the International Merchandising Services Division. The Domestic Merchandising Services Division provides merchandising and marketing services, in-store event staffing, product sampling, RFID services, technology services and marketing research to manufacturers and retailers in the United States. The various services are primarily performed in mass merchandisers, electronics store chains, drug store chains and convenience and grocery stores. The International Merchandising Services Division was established in July 2000 and through its subsidiaries, the Company currently provides similar merchandising and marketing services in Japan, Canada, Turkey, South Africa, India, Romania, China, Lithuania, Latvia, Australia and New Zealand.



17





SPAR Group, Inc.

Domestic Merchandising Services Division

The Company's Domestic Merchandising Services Division provides nationwide merchandising and other marketing services primarily on behalf of consumer product manufacturers and retailers at mass merchandisers, electronics store chains, drug store chains and grocery stores. Included in its clients are home entertainment, general merchandise, health and beauty care, consumer goods and food product companies in the United States.

Merchandising and marketing services primarily consist of regularly scheduled dedicated routed services and special projects provided at the store level for a specific retailer or single or multiple manufacturers or distributors. Services also include stand-alone large-scale implementations. These services may include sales enhancing activities such as ensuring that client products authorized for distribution are in stock and on the shelf, adding new products that are approved for distribution but not presently on the shelf, setting category shelves in accordance with approved store schematics, ensuring that shelf tags are in place, checking for the overall salability of client products and setting new and promotional items and placing and/or removing point of purchase and other related media advertising. Specific in-store services can be initiated by retailers or manufacturers or distributors, and include new store openings and existing store resets, re-merchandising, remodels and category implementations, new product launches, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support and product recalls. The Company also provides in-store product demonstrations, in-store product sampling and other in-store event staffing services, RFID services, technology services and marketing research services.

International Merchandising Services Division

In July 2000, the Company established its International Merchandising Services Division, operating through a wholly owned subsidiary, SPAR Group International, Inc. ("SGI"), to focus on expanding its merchandising and marketing services business worldwide. Currently, the Company's international subsidiaries are as follows:

Headquarter

Location

Ownership Percentage

Date

Established

Osaka, Japan

50%

May 2001

Toronto, Canada

100%

June 2003

Istanbul, Turkey

51%

July 2003

Durban, South Africa

51%

April 2004

New Delhi, India

51%

April 2004

Bucharest, Romania

51%

December 2004

Hong Kong, China

50%

February 2005

Siauliai, Lithuania

51%

September 2005

Melbourne, Australia

51%

April 2006

Critical Accounting Policies

There were no material changes to the Company's critical accounting policies as reported in the Company's Annual Report for 2006 on Form 10-K as amended.



18





SPAR Group, Inc.

Results of Operations

Three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to three months ended September 30, 2006

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 September 30,

 

2007

2006

Increase/

 

$

%

$

%

(decrease) %

Net revenues

$     14,365 

100.0%

$     12,709 

100.0%

13.0%

Cost of revenues

10,483 

73.0     

8,856 

69.7   

18.4    

Selling, general & administrative expense

5,108 

35.6     

4,855 

38.2   

5.2    

Depreciation and amortization

180 

1.3     

170 

1.3   

5.9    

Interest expense

66 

0.5     

65 

0.5   

1.1    

Other expense

77 

0.5     

48 

0.4    

63.9    

Loss before income tax provision and minority interest

(1,549)

(10.9)    

(1,285)

(10.1)  

20.5    

Provision for income taxes

79 

0.5     

73 

0.6    

9.9    

Loss before minority interest

(1,628)

(11.4)    

(1,358)

(10.7)   

19.8    

Minority interest

119 

0.8     

34 

0.3    

244.5    

Net loss

$     (1,747)

(12.2)%

$     (1,392)

(11.0)%

25.5%

Net Revenues

Net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2007, were $14.4 million, compared to $12.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $1.7 million or 13.0%.

International net revenues totaled $8.7 million for the three months ending September 30, 2007, compared to $6.0 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of $2.7 million or 45.1%. The increase in 2007 international net revenues was due to revenues from Australia $1.4 million, India $428,000, Turkey $366,000, Canada $224,000, Japan $181,000, Lithuania $134,000 and China $75,000, partially offset by net revenue decreases in South Africa $75,000.

Domestic net revenues totaled $5.7 million in the three months ending September 30, 2007, compared to $6.7 million for the same period in 2006. Domestic net revenues decreased $1.0 million primarily as a result of the loss of a significant client and reduced business from a client that was in the process of selling its US operation, partially offset by revenue from new clients that started doing business with the Company in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Approximately 11.1% and 9.8% of the Company's net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, resulted from merchandising services performed for clients at a leading domestic electronics chain. Services performed for these clients in that electronics chain also accounted for approximately 7.0% of the Company's accounts receivable at both September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. The Company's contractual relationships or agreements are with various clients and not that retail electronics chain.

The loss of the ability to provide merchandising and marketing services in the above and/or other chains or the loss of other clients could significantly decrease the Company's revenues and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.



19





SPAR Group, Inc.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues consists of in-store labor and field management wages, related benefits, travel and other direct labor-related expenses. Cost of revenues was 73.0% of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 69.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2006.

Domestic cost of revenues was 78.6% of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 73.6% of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006. The increase in cost as a percentage of net revenues is primarily a result of a decrease in per unit fee revenues that do not have a proportionate decrease in cost. As discussed in the Company's 10-K/A under Item 3, Critical Accounting Policies/Revenue Recognition, the Company's revenue consists of per unit fee revenue, which is earned when the client's product is sold to the consumer at retail, not when the services are performed. Retail sales of client products are influenced by numerous factors including consumer tastes and preferences, and not solely by the merchandising and marketing service performed, in any given period, the cost of per unit fee revenues may not be directly proportionate to the per unit fee revenue.

Internationally, the cost of revenues was 69.4% of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 65.3% of net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006. The international cost of revenues percentage increase was primarily attributed to higher cost of revenues in Japan as well as the mix of business in other countries.

Approximately 88% and 82% of the Company's domestic cost of revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, resulted from in-store independent contractor and field management services purchased from certain of the Company's affiliates, SPAR Marketing Services, Inc. ("SMS"), and SPAR Management Services, Inc. ("SMSI"), respectively (see Note 6 - Related-Party Transactions).

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses include corporate overhead, project management, information technology, executive compensation, human resource, legal and accounting expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $253,000, or 5.2%, for the three months ended September 30, 2007, to $5.1 million compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2006.

International selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2006. The $432,000 increase in international selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to Australia $314,000, Canada $245,000, partially offset by decreased expenses from Japan of $184,000. All other international subsidiaries resulted in a net increase of $58,000.

Domestic selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $2.6 million the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $2.8 million for the same period in 2006. The decrease in domestic selling, general and administrative expenses of $180,000 was primarily due to decreases in building related expenses of $165,000, I.T. expenses of $93,000, other expenses of $62,000 partially offset by increases in corporate expense of $140,000 mainly related to legal.

Depreciation and Amortization

     Depreciation and amortization charges for the three months ended September 30, 2007, totaled $180,000 and were comparable to $170,000 for the same period in 2006.     



20





SPAR Group, Inc.

Interest Expense

Interest expense totaled $66,000 and $65,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Other Expense

Other expense totaled $77,000 and $48,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively.

Income Taxes

     

Income taxes were approximately $79,000 and $73,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The tax provisions were primarily for minimum state taxes due. There were no tax provisions for federal tax as the Company reported a loss for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and in 2006 the Company was projecting to use net operating loss carryforwards to offset projected federal income taxes.

Minority Interest

Minority interest of approximately $119,000 and $34,000 resulted from the net operating profits of the Company's 51% owned subsidiaries and 50% owned subsidiaries for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Net Loss

     

The Company had a net loss of $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.4 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the corresponding period last year.


21





 

SPAR Group, Inc.

Results of Operations

Nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to nine months ended September 30, 2006

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).

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2007

2006

Increase/

 

$

%

$

%

(decrease)%

Net revenues

$   42,284  

100.0%

$   41,477

100.0%

1.9%

Cost of revenues

29,738  

70.3

27,853

67.1    

6.8    

Selling, general & administrative expense

15,340  

36.3

13,794 

33.2    

11.2    

Depreciation and amortization

571  

1.3

565 

1.4    

0.6    

Interest expense

247  

0.6

162 

0.4    

52.2    

Other expense (income)

27  

0.1

(542)

(1.3)   

(105.0)   

Loss before income tax provision and minority interest

(3,639)

(8.6)

(355)

(0.8)   

–    

Provision for income taxes

220 

0.5

172 

0.4    

27.7    

Loss before minority interest

(3,859)

(9.1)

(527)

(1.2)   

–    

Minority interest

135  

0.3

(11)

–     

–    

Net loss

$   (3,994) 

(9.4)%

$   (516)

(1.2)%

–    

Net Revenues

Net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, was $42.3 million, compared to $41.5 million for the same period in 2006, an increase of $800,000 or 1.9%.

International net revenues totaled $22.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $16.1 million for the same period in 2006. Included in the 2006 international revenues was an additional quarter of revenues totaling $1.3 million resulting from the change in the reporting year for the Japanese subsidiary. Excluding the $1.3 million of additional revenues for 2006, 2007 international net revenues increased $7.5 million or 51.1% from 2006. The increase in international net revenues was due to the Australian $3.7 million and Lithuanian subsidiaries $483,000, that started operations during the second quarter of 2006 as well as increased revenue in Japan $1.5 million, India $931,000, Turkey $650,000, Canada $590,000 and China $168,000, partially offset by net revenue decreases in South Africa of $507,000 and Romania of $17,000.

Domestic net revenues totaled $20.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $25.4 million for the same period in 2006. Included in 2006 domestic revenue was $770,000 from the termination of a customer service agreement. Excluding the $770,000, domestic net revenues decreased $4.6 million, primarily as a result of the loss of a significant client and reduced business from a client that was in the process of selling its US operation, partially offset by revenue from new clients that started doing business with the Company in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Approximately 12.1% and 10.1% of the Company's net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, resulted from merchandising services performed for clients at a leading domestic electronics chain. Services performed for these clients in that electronics chain also accounted for approximately 7.0% of the Company's accounts receivable at both September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. The Company's contractual relationships or agreements are with various clients and not that retail electronics chain.



22





SPAR Group, Inc.

The loss of the ability to provide merchandising and marketing services in the above and/or other chains or the loss of other clients could significantly decrease the Company's revenues and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues consists of in-store labor and field management wages, related benefits, travel and other direct labor-related expenses. Cost of revenues was 70.3% of net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 67.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

Domestic cost of revenues was 72.6% and 68.6% of net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The 2006 cost of revenue percentage includes $770,000 attributed to the termination of a client service agreement. When this one time additional revenue is excluded, domestic cost of revenues was 70.7% of net revenues.

Internationally, the cost of revenues as a percentage of net revenues was 68.3% and 64.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The international cost of revenues percentage increase was primarily attributed to higher cost revenues in Japan.

Approximately 89% and 85% of the Company's domestic cost of revenues in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, resulted from in-store independent contractor and field management services purchased from certain of the Company's affiliates, SPAR Marketing Services, Inc. ("SMS"), and SPAR Management Services, Inc. ("SMSI"), respectively (see Note 6 - Related-Party Transactions).

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses include corporate overhead, project management, information technology, executive compensation, human resource, legal and accounting expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by approximately $1.5 million, or 11.2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 to $15.3 million compared to $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

International selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $7.2 million for the nine months period ended September 30, 2007, compared to $5.9 million for the same period in 2006. Included in that 2006 period was an additional quarter of selling, general, and administrative expenses totaling $544,000 resulting from the change in the reporting year for the Japanese subsidiary. Excluding the $544,000, international 2007 selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $1.9 million or 35.4% from 2006. The increase in international selling, general and administrative expense was due to Australia $943,000 and Lithuania $94,000, that both started operations during the second quarter of 2006 as well as from increases in Canada $544,000, India $107,000, China $83,000, Turkey $36,000 and $181,000 in corporate international business development expenses, partially offset by decreases in selling, general and administrative expenses in South Africa $54,000, Romania $28,000 and Japan $22,000.

Domestic selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $8.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and were comparable to last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses in 2006 were $7.9 million which included an unpaid bonus accrual that reduced selling, general and administrative expenses by approximately $300,000. Excluding the $300,000 adjustment, 2006 selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $8.2 million.



23





SPAR Group, Inc.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 totaling $571,000 were comparable with $565,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

Interest Expense

Interest expense totaled $247,000 and $162,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in interest expense was a result of higher debt levels and higher interest rates in the first nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.

Other Expense (Income)

Other expense totaled $27,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to income of $542,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Other income in 2006 is primarily a result of the favorable jury award in a lawsuit in the net amount of approximately $1.3 million, partially offset by related legal expenses for the period of approximately $1.1 million, and a favorable settlement of a vendor lawsuit of approximately $175,000.

Income Taxes

Income taxes were approximately $220,000 and $172,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The tax provisions were primarily for minimum state taxes due. There were no tax provisions for federal tax as the Company reported a loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and in 2006 the Company was projecting to use net operating loss carryforwards to offset projected federal income taxes.

Minority Interest

Minority interest of approximately $135,000 and ($11,000) resulted from the net operating profits and losses of the Company's 51% owned subsidiaries and 50% owned subsidiaries for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Net Loss

     

The Company had a net loss of $4.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $516,000, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the corresponding period last year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2007 the Company had a net loss of $4.0 million.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $3.1 million compared to $117,000 for the prior year. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to decreases in accounts receivable, increases in accounts payable, accrued expense, other current liabilities and accrued expenses due to affiliates.

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006, was approximately $639,000 and $363,000, respectively. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was a result of increased purchases of property and equipment.



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SPAR Group, Inc.

Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, was approximately $2.2 million compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $277,000 for the prior year. The increase of net cash used in financing activities was primarily a result of increased payments on lines of credit.

The above activity resulted in an increase in cash and cash equivalents for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, of approximately $355,000.

At September 30, 2007, the Company had negative working capital of $1.8 million, as compared to a positive working capital of $1.6 million at December 31, 2006. The Company's current ratio was 0.87 at September 30, 2007, and 1.13 at December 31, 2006.

In January 2003, the Company (other than SGRP's foreign subsidiaries) and Webster Business Credit Corporation, then known as Whitehall Business Credit Corporation ("Webster"), entered into the Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (as amended, collectively, the "Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility provides for a $7.0 million revolving line of credit maturing on January 23, 2009. In March 2007 the credit facility was further amended to among other things, delay the Minimum Fixed Coverage ratio until the fourth quarter 2007, establish an EBITDA covenant and increase the interest rate by .25% beginning March 28, 2007. In May 2007 the credit facility was amended to provide for an availability reserve of $500,000. In August 2007 the credit facility was further amended to reduce the availability reserve to $250,000 until November 30, 2007. On November 16, 2007 Webster amended the credit facility to extend the availability reserve of $250,000 indefinitely and to reduce the revolving line of credit to $5.0 million. Borrowings are based upon a borrowing base formula as defined in the agreement (principally 85% of "eligible" domestic accounts receivable less certain reserves). The Credit Facility is secured by all of the assets of the Company and its domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Facility also limits certain expenditures, including, but not limited to, capital expenditures and other investments.

The basic interest rate under the Credit Facility is Webster's "Alternative Base Rate" plus 1.0% per annum (a total of 8.75% per annum at September 30, 2007), which automatically changes with each change made by Webster in such Alternative Base Rate. The Company at its option, subject to certain conditions, may elect to have portions of its loans under the Credit Facility bear interest at various LIBOR rates plus 3.5% per annum based on fixed periods of one, two, three or six months. The actual average interest rate under the Credit Facility was 9.14% per annum for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

The domestic revolving loan balances outstanding under the Credit Facility were $1.8 million and $4.2 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. There was a letter of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility of approximately $453,000 at December 31, 2006 and there was no letter of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2007. As of September 30, 2007, the SPAR Group had unused availability under the Credit Facility of $329,000 out of the remaining maximum $5.2 million unused revolving line of credit after reducing the borrowing base by outstanding loans.

Because of the requirement to maintain a lock box arrangement with Webster and Webster's ability to invoke a subjective acceleration clause at its discretion, borrowings under the Credit Facility are classified as current at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, in accordance with EITF 95-22, Balance Sheet Classification of Borrowings Outstanding Under Revolving Credit Agreements That Include Both a Subjective Acceleration Clause and a Lock-Box Agreement.

The Company was in violation of its Minimum EBITDA covenant at September 30, 2007, and on November 16, 2007 Webster amended the Credit Facility to, among other things (see comment above), waive the violation and agreed to reset the covenants for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and for 2008. The Company does not expect to comply with the existing covenants in future periods, and there can be no assurances that if the Company violates such covenants, Webster will continue to issue waivers. In addition, Mr. Robert G. Brown, a Director, the Chairman (former President and Chief Executive Officer) and a major stockholder of SGRP, and Mr. William H. Bartels, a Director, the Vice Chairman and a major stockholder of SGRP, have provided personal guarantees of the Credit Facility totaling $1.0 million.



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SPAR Group, Inc.

The Japanese subsidiary SPAR FM Japan, Inc. has line of credit agreements totaling 100 million Yen or approximately $871,000 (based upon the exchange rate at September 30, 2007). The outstanding balances under the line of credit agreements were 90 million Yen or approximately $784,000 at September 30, 2007 and 70 million Yen or approximately $588,000 at December 31, 2006 (based upon the exchange rate at those dates). The interest rate was 1.88% per annum for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. In addition, the Japan subsidiary had cash balances totaling 121 million Yen or approximately $1.1 million and 97 million Yen or approximately $812,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 respectively (based upon the exchange rates at those dates).

In 2006, the Australian subsidiary SPARFACTS Australia Pty. Ltd. entered into a revolving line of credit arrangement with Oxford Funding Pty. Ltd. for $1.1 million (Australian) or approximately $977,000 (based upon the exchange rate at September 30, 2007). The outstanding balances under the line of credit agreement were $150,000 (Australian) or approximately $133,000 at September 30, 2007 and $429,000 (Australian) or approximately $339,000 at December 31, 2006 (based upon the exchange rate at those dates). The interest rate was 10.60% per annum for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

In 2006, SPAR Canada Company, a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into a credit agreement with Royal Bank of Canada providing for a Demand Operating Loan for a maximum borrowing of $1.0 million (Canadian) or approximately $1.0 million (based upon the exchange rate at September 30, 2007). The Demand Operating Loan provides for borrowings based upon a borrowing base formula as defined in the agreement (principally 75% of eligible accounts receivable less certain deductions). The outstanding balances under the line of credit agreement were $298,000 (Canadian) or approximately $301,000 and $238,000 (Canadian) or approximately $204,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively (based upon the exchange rate at those dates). The interest rate was 7.08% per annum for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

The Company's international business model is to partner with local merchandising companies and combine the Company's proprietary software and expertise in the merchandising and marketing services business with their partner's knowledge of the local market. In 2001, the Company established its first subsidiary in Japan and has continued this strategy. As of this filing, the Company is currently operating in 12 countries and has 9 international subsidiaries. Certain of these subsidiaries are profitable, while others are operating at a loss. In the event of continued losses, the Company may be required to provide additional cash infusions into those subsidiaries with losses.

Management believes that based upon the Company’s existing credit facilities, projected results of operations and other financing available to the Company (including amounts due to affiliates), sources of cash availability should be sufficient to support ongoing operations over the next twelve months. However, continued losses, 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.



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Certain Contractual Obligations

The following table contains a summary of certain of the Company's contractual obligations by category as of September 30, 2007 (in thousands).

Contractual Obligations

Period in which payments are due

Total

Less than 1 year

1-3 years

3-5 years

More than 5 years

Credit Facility

$3,021 

$  3,021

$       –

$      –

$ –

Capital Lease Obligations

431

42  

389 

– 

– 

Operating Lease Obligations

2,383

926  

1,270 

187 

– 

Total

$5,835

$3,989  

$1,659 

$  187 

$ – 

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.

     The Company is exposed to market risk related to the variable interest rate on its lines of credit. At September 30, 2007, the Company's outstanding debt totaled $3.0 million, as noted in the table below (in thousands):

Location

Variable Interest Rate (1)

Local Currency Amount

US Dollars Equivalent (2)

United States

8.75%

USD

$1,803    

Japan

1.88%

YEN

784

Canada

7.25%

CAD

301

Australia

10.60%  

AUS

133

     

$3,021   

 

(1)     Based on interest rate at September 30, 2007.

(2)     Based on exchange rate at September 30, 2007.

Based on the 2007 average outstanding borrowings under variable-rate debt, a one-percentage point increase in interest rates would negatively impact pre-tax earnings and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 by approximately $26,000.

The Company has foreign currency exposure associated with its international subsidiaries. In both 2007 and 2006, these exposures are primarily concentrated in the Canadian Dollar, Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen. At September 30, 2007, international assets totaled $8.4 million and international liabilities totaled $8.0 million. International revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were $22.3 million and $16.1 million, respectively. The international division reported a net loss of approximately $620,000 and $365,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.



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     In those countries where the Company had the greater risk for currency exposure, the total assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Country

Total Assets

Total Liabilities

Canada

$

723 

$

 1,302

Australia

 

2,148

 

1,561

Japan

 

3,201

 

3,089

Item 4.     Controls and Procedures

The Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) as of the end of the period covering this report. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

There were no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls during the three months covered by this report or from the end of the reporting period to the date of this Form 10-Q.

The Company has established a plan and has begun to document and test its internal controls over financial reporting for both its domestic and international operations as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.



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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.      Legal Proceedings

Safeway Inc. ("Safeway") filed a Complaint against PIA Merchandising Co., Inc. ("PIA Co."), a wholly owned subsidiary of SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP"), Pivotal Sales Company ("Pivotal"), a wholly owned subsidiary of PIA Co., and SGRP in Alameda Superior Court, case no. 2001028498 on October 24, 2001. Safeway claims, as subsequently amended, alleged causes of action for breach of contract and breach of implied contract. PIA Co. and Pivotal filed cross-claims against Safeway on or about March 11, 2002, and amended them on or about October 15, 2002, alleging causes of action by PIA Co. and Pivotal against Safeway for breach of contract, interference with economic relationship, unfair trade practices and unjust enrichment. Trial commenced in March 2006.

On May 26, 2006, the jury in this case returned a verdict resulting in a net award of $1,307,700 to Pivotal, a SGRP subsidiary. This net award is to be paid by Safeway and resulted from separate jury findings that awarded damages to those SGRP subsidiaries on certain claims and damages to Safeway on other claims. In particular, the jury awarded damages to Pivotal of $5,760,879 for Safeway's interference with Pivotal's contractual relationships with third party manufacturers and also awarded $782,400 to Pivotal and PIA for Safeway's breach of contract with those SGRP subsidiaries. The jury awarded damages to Safeway of $5,235,579 for breach of contract by SGRP and those SGRP subsidiaries. Judgment was entered in favor of Pivotal in September 2006 for $1,307,700. Both parties filed post trial motions but all post trial motions were denied. Notices of Appeal were thereafter filed by both Safeway and Pivotal. Pivotal/SGRP is seeking to have Safeway's judgment overturned, thereby increasing the award to Pivotal by over $5 million. Safeway has asked for a new trial on the judgment found against it. The appellate process is expected to take fourteen to twenty four months to complete. In the interim, the court ordered a mediation of the dispute, which took place but was not successful in resolving the matter. Accordingly, the appeals will proceed. The Company has recorded the net $1.3 million settlement award in other assets.

Briefing on the appeals will commence in January 2008. It is expected that opposition and reply briefs will be completed by July, 2008. Thereafter, an oral argument hearing date will be assigned by the court of appeal.

In addition to the above, the Company is a party to various other legal actions and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of Company's management, disposition of these other matters are not anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

There have been no other new reportable proceedings or material developments in previously reported proceedings since the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 2, 2007, and amended on Form 10-K/A by Amendment No. 1 filed with the SEC on April 13, 2007, (the "Company's Annual Report for 2006 on Form 10-K As Amended").

Item 1A.      Risk Factors

The Company's Annual Report for 2006 on Form 10-K As Amended describes various risk factors applicable to the Company and its businesses in Item 1 under the caption "Certain Risk Factors", 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 Company's Annual Report for 2006 on Form 10-K As Amended.



29





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

Item 2(a): Not applicable

Item 2(b): Not applicable

Item 2(c): Not applicable

Item 3:       Defaults upon Senior Securities

Item 3(a): Defaults under Indebtedness: None.

Item 3(b): Defaults under Preferred Stock: Not applicable.

Item 4:       Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Not applicable.

Item 5:       Other Information

Not applicable.

Item 6:       Exhibits

10.1      Waiver and Amendment No. 11 to Third Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Security Agreement entered into as of November 16, 2007.

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.



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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: November 19, 2007  

SPAR Group, Inc., Registrant

 

 

By: /s/ Charles Cimitile

 

Charles Cimitile
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary

and duly authorized signatory



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