SPAR Group, Inc. - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (this "Annual 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" or the "Corporation",) and its subsidiaries (and SGRP together with its subsidiaries may be referred to as "SPAR Group" and the "Company"). There also are "forward-looking statements" contained in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on or about May 18, 2021 (the "Proxy Statement"), which SGRP expects to file on or about April 28, 2021, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), 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 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 Annual Report may include (without limitation) statements regarding: risks, uncertainties, cautions, circumstances and other factors ("Risks"); the potential continuing negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business; the Company's potential non-compliance with applicable Nasdaq director independence; bid price or other rules; the integration and suitability of the Company's new CEO; the Company's cash flow or financial condition; 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 this 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 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, legal costs, 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 current 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 guaranteed 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.

PART I

Item 1. Business 

Our Company

SPAR Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SGRP”), and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, the “SPAR Group” or the “Company”), is a leading global merchandising and marketing services company, providing a broad range of services to retailers, manufacturers and distributors around the world.  With more than 40 years of experience, 20,000 merchandising specialists around the world, an average 200,000 store visits a week and long-term relationships with some of the world’s leading manufacturers and retail businesses, we provide specialized capabilities across 10 countries and 5 continents.  Our unique combination of scale, expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence, separate us from the competition. 

Our focus is merchandising and marketing.  Our specialists are in stores restocking shelves, auditing inventory, performing competitive price shopping, setting up exciting promotions, assembling fixtures and furniture, preparing new locations for grand openings, assisting with sales and more.  We provide the “last mile” of retailing and manufacturer product merchandising and marketing. 

Our services apply to a wide range of segments and categories.  We serve retailers in the grocery, drug, dollar, discount, convenience, cash and carry, home improvement, consumer electronics, automotive, pharmacy, office supply and mass merchandise segments.  We serve manufacturers and distributors in the personal technology, electronics, beverage, household product, consumables, automotive aftermarket and consumer product segments.  Our ability to recognize trends and opportunities across segments and geographies distinguishes us from local or regional competition.

We operate in markets that represent more than 50% of the world’s population.  We have expanded internationally to serve clients but also to capitalize on growing global demand.  As of the end of 2020, we are in 10 countries including, United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, China, Japan, India and Turkey. 

Our commitment to excellence comes from our people and organizational culture.  We are passionate about talent and building a culture of ideas and innovation.  We know that attracting, supporting and encouraging our people to do great things for clients results in excellent work.  This great work begets more work and creates an energy and enthusiasm for our people and the Company as a partner.  We are proud of our people and their dedication to clients and our company success. 

We are also a results-driven organization that holds itself to a high standard of execution.  We believe that our ability to meet or exceed our commitments to clients and the marketplace are part of how we define success.  This is true if we are growing our core business, innovating with technology or testing new services.  We aspire to be exceptional.

Our Industry

The merchandising and marketing services industry plays an important role in the growth and performance of some of the world’s most successful product and retail companies. Merchandising services includes placing orders, retail shelf maintenance, merchandising display setup, 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 assistance, installation and assembly, product demos/sampling, promotion and more. The Company believes that merchandising and marketing services add value to retailers, manufacturers and other businesses by making a product more visible and more available to consumers.

Historically, retailers staffed their stores to ensure the store was well merchandised and product was properly featured and placed. However, in an effort to control costs and improve margins, most retailers have reduced store payroll and increased their reliance on manufacturers to set up their own products and merchandise the shelves on behalf of the retailer. To begin, manufacturers utilized their own sales representatives to do this work.  Over time, this resulted in competing manufacturer representatives working in the same stores.  This often led to the best presentation of merchandise resulting from the last manufacturer representative physically in the store.  As a result, retailers began looking for third parties who could manage the merchandising process and ensure that the store, in total, was ready for the consumer. The result was the growth of the merchandising and marketing services industry. 

We believe this industry is more important today than ever before.  With the acceleration of digital and online retailing, the pressure on the physical store to remain relevant, efficient and compelling has never been higher.  In addition, product manufacturers are constantly trying to grab the consumer’s attention and make sure they are everywhere the consumer wants to shop.  These are exactly the issues merchandising and marketing services companies solve. 

Merchandising and marketing services companies work to ensure the store is exceptionally merchandised and products thoughtfully featured while enabling the retailer to maintain margins and leverage payroll.  As the retail industry evolves, these services will continue to be a significant part of retailer and manufacturer success.

SPAR Group’s role in this industry is as one of the leading providers of these services to companies across the globe.  With more than 40 years of history, the Company has established itself as a strategic partner to many of the world’s most exciting product manufacturers and retailers. 

Our Growth Strategy

As the need for merchandising and marketing services continues to increase both in the United States and internationally, many large retailers and manufacturers will continue to rely on third-party providers for these services.  We are uniquely able to meet these needs because of our global reach, more than 40-year track record, access to over 20,000 merchandisers, breadth of capability, unwavering focus on excellence and deep expertise. 

To capitalize on the growing demand, the Company’s current business strategy is focused on four priorities: 1) Expand the Core Business; 2) Grow Internationally; 3) Innovate with Technology; and 4) Introduce New Services.

Expand the Core Business

The Company is constantly pursuing new merchandising and marketing services business while working to earn more business from current clients.  We have a number of long-tenured client relationships that we invest resources and time to ensure we understand their business and are well-positioned to meet their needs in the future.  At the same time, we pursue and solicit request for proposals (“RFPs”), we actively market our services, we participate in industry events and we continuously look for opportunities to grow our business.  We believe our history, relationships, expertise, technology and scale are all competitive advantages for us. 

Grow Internationally

As part of our overall strategy, the Company is constantly exploring new international markets where we can bring our merchandising and marketing services expertise as well as expanding our current international businesses. For new markets, we look for markets with population density, high penetration of brand products and strong retail channels. We believe our understanding of how to successfully establish these markets coupled with our global manufacturer relationships puts us in a unique position for future opportunities.

At the same time, we are continuously exploring ways to expand our current international businesses.  As retail channels continue to consolidate around the globe, we look for unique, compelling financial opportunities to acquire, partner or organically grow into new segments, verticals and geographies. 

Innovate with Technology

We believe our current SPARView technology is a core competitive strength.  Our technology enables us to communicate, plan, track, analyze and optimize our merchandising and marketing services work.  However, we recognize that technology and our opportunity to leverage technology continues to change.  As a result, we are constantly adapting and innovating.  We explore relationships within and across geographies with solution providers while making investments in our own solutions.  Our objective is to provide technology to field merchandisers, our client partners and our management to make smarter decisions that yield better Company results.

Introduce New Services

The Company believes in testing new ideas and services to increase revenues and expand relationships.  Our objective is to identify and introduce capabilities that we believe the market and our clients need now and in the future.  To accomplish this, we pursue partnerships and explore ideas based on market trends and our own unique client experiences.  We also carefully measure the results of these tests and look for new services that can have a material impact on our financial and operational performance. 

Our Domestic and International Business

The Company has two divisions: Domestic, International.  The Domestic division is comprised of all operations within the United States.  The International division is a consolidation of all other operations and joint ventures. 

The Company’s business is distributed across 10 countries and 5 continents.  The Domestic business is led and operated from our global headquarters in Auburn Hills, MI.  The International business is led from our global headquarters, but then has regional leadership and offices in the respective countries. 

Our approach to the international marketplace has historically been to establish joint ventures.  We believe this approach enables us to bring the breadth of our global capabilities and tools while capitalizing on the strength and importance of local executive leadership and resources.

We continue to be excited about our international growth opportunities and the performance of our individual businesses.

The following table provides details of the structure of our Domestic and International businesses:

The Company tracks and reports certain financial information separately for the Domestic and International divisions using the same metrics. The primary measurement utilized by management is operating profit, historically the key indicator of long-term growth and profitability, as the Company is focused primarily 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 years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and their respective assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, is provided in Note 12 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Segment Information, below.

Our Services

The Company currently provides a broad range of services to some of the world's leading companies. The Company believes its capabilities to provide merchandising and marketing services on a global scale distinguishes the Company from its competitors. These capabilities include the ability to respond to multi-national requests for proposals (RFPs), to develop plans at one centralized location, to effect chain-wide execution, to implement rapid, coordinated responses to clients' needs and to report on a real time basis throughout the world. The Company also believes its international presence, proprietary technology, centralized decision-making ability, local follow-through, ability to perform large-scale initiatives on short notice, and strong retailer relationships provide the Company with a significant advantage over local, regional or other competitors.

The Company currently provides six principal types of merchandising and marketing services: syndicated services, dedicated services, project services, assembly services, audit services and in-store event staffing services.

Syndicated Services

Syndicated services consist of regularly scheduled, routed merchandising and marketing services provided at the retail store level for retailers, manufacturers and distributors. These services are performed for multiple manufacturers and distributors, including, in some cases, manufacturers and distributors whose products are in the same product category. Syndicated services may include activities such as:

Dedicated Services

Dedicated services consist of merchandising and marketing services, generally as described above, which are performed for a specific retailer or manufacturer by a dedicated organization, sometimes including a management team working exclusively for that retailer or manufacturer. These services include many of the above activities detailed in syndicated services, as well as, new store set-ups, store remodels and fixture installations.

Project Services

Project services consist primarily of specific in-store services initiated by retailers and manufacturers, such as new store openings, new product launches, special seasonal or promotional merchandising, focused product support, product recalls, in-store product demonstrations and in-store product sampling. The Company also performs other project services, such as kiosk product replenishment, inventory control, new store sets and existing store resets, re-merchandising, remodels and category implementations, under annual or stand-alone project contracts or agreements.

Retail New Store Openings and Remodeling Services

Retailer specific services consist primarily of in-store services initiated by retailers, such as new store openings, new store sets and existing store resets and remodels, under annual or stand-alone project contracts or agreements.

New store openings and remodels are particularly susceptible to external factors and these projects are being delayed by many clients due to the effects of the Novel Coronavirus.

Assembly Services

The Company's assembly services are initiated by consumers, retailers or manufacturers. Upon request, the Company assembles furniture, grills, and many other products in stores, homes and offices. The Company performs ongoing routed coverage at retail locations to ensure that furniture and other product lines are well displayed and maintained, and builds any new items or replacement items, as required. In addition, the Company provides in-home and in-office assembly to customers who purchase their product from retailers, whether in store, online or through catalog sales.

In-Store Event Staffing Services

The Company provides in-store product samplings, in-store product demonstrations and assisted sales in national chains in target markets worldwide.

Retail Compliance and Price Audit Services

The Company's retail compliance and price audit services are initiated by retailers and manufacturers and focus on the following: validating store promotions, auditing compliance with branding and signage, verifying product placement and displays, collecting inventory levels and out-of-stock status and more.  In addition, the Company provides competitive price intelligence gathering for retailers as well as ensuring price accuracy and consistency within the retail itself.

Other Marketing Services

Other marketing services performed by the Company include, at the direction of clients, anonymously calling and visiting retail outlets to evaluate the store conditions, product placement, etc.  This is called “mystery shopping”.  In addition, the Company provides data collection services for retailers who want to better understand the competitive landscape for categories, shopper behavior and more.

Our Customers

The Company currently represents numerous manufacturers and/or retail clients in a wide range of retail segments and stores worldwide, and its customers (which it refers to as “clients”) include the following markets:

Retail segments served include:

Manufacturer segments served include:

It is important to note that we also work across all channels: retail and online.  Our services make it possible for clients to ensure the online orders can be filled from stores and that the pricing is competitive in individual markets.

We are proud to serve some of the world’s most exciting brands and leading retail businesses.  In many cases, our clients cross over geographical boundaries and we provide services to support their business around the world. 

The Company did not have any clients that represented 10% or more of the Company's net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Trademarks and Technology Licensing

The Company has numerous registered trademarks. Certain of the Company's "SPAR" trademarks (the "Licensed Marks") are licensed: (i) for use in the United States royalty free and in perpetuity pursuant to license agreements that commenced in 1999 with then affiliated companies, (ii) for use worldwide royalty free and in perpetuity pursuant to informal license arrangements with its wholly owned subsidiaries; (iii) for use in their respective jurisdictions royalty free pursuant to license agreements for limited terms with its joint venture subsidiaries (executed contemporaneously with their respective joint venture agreements); and (iv) in the United States for limited terms and modest royalties pursuant to license agreements with the Independent Field Vendor and Independent Field Administrator respectively providing Field Specialists and Field Administrators to the Company domestically. Portions of the Company's proprietary scheduling, tracking, coordination, reporting and expense software (the "Co-Owned Software") currently included in the Company's technology are co-owned by the Company, SBS and Infotech. The Company's Global Technology Systems (including the Co-Owned Software) are maintained and further developed and improved by the Company at its own expense at a cost of $1.0 million and $1.3 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Except for SBS and Infotech (that do not need such software licenses because of their co-ownership), each subsidiary and vendor trademark license and arrangement also licenses the Co-Owned Software to the licensee.

Our Labor Force

Worldwide, the Company utilized a labor force of approximately 20,000 people in 2020, including the services of Field Specialists and Field Administrators provided by independent third parties.

The Company executes and administers its domestic field services through the services of field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist"), substantially all of whom are provided to the Company and engaged by independent third parties and located, scheduled, deployed and administered domestically through the services of local, regional, district and other personnel (each a "Field Administrator"), and substantially all of the Field Administrators are in turn employed by other independent third parties.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company's Domestic division's labor force totaled approximately 4,500 including the services of Field Specialists and Field Administrators furnished by independent third parties.  The Company's Domestic division employed a labor force of 833 individuals, 805 full-time employees and 28 part-time employees engaged in domestic operations. In the Company's Domestic division, the Company's merchandising, audit, assembly and other services for its domestic clients are performed by Field Specialists, and the services of a significant portion of them (approximately 3,600) were supplied to the Company by an independent vendor (the "Independent Field Vendor") under contract and license with the Company (and to the Company's knowledge substantially all of whom were engaged as independent contractors by that vendor).  The services of a significant portion of the Field Administrators who supervise the Field Specialists (approximately 57) were provided to the Company by an independent vendor (the "Independent Field Administrator") under contract and license with the Company.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company's International division's labor force totaled approximately 15,000 including the services of field personnel and others furnished by independent third parties. Approximately 5,000 individuals were engaged locally by its foreign subsidiaries, 4,954 full-time and 273 part-time employees.  The International Division's field force consisted of approximately 9,500 Field Specialists engaged locally by our foreign subsidiaries in their respective international operations. 

The Company continues to evaluate its business model of using third party independent contractors as Field Specialists (whether or not provided by others) in light of changing client requirements and legal and regulatory environments. 

The Company considers its relations with its own employees and independent vendors to be generally good.

Our Competition

The marketing services industry is highly competitive. The Company's competition in the Domestic and International markets arises from a number of large enterprises, many of which are national or international in scope. The Company also competes with a large number of relatively small enterprises with specific client, channel or geographic coverage, as well as with the internal marketing and merchandising operations of its existing and prospective clients. The Company believes that the principal competitive factors within its industry include breadth and quality of client services, cost, development and deployment of technology, the ability to execute specific client priorities rapidly and consistently over a wide geographic area, and the ability to ideate and operate as a business partner delivering value above the base services. The Company believes that its current structure favorably addresses these factors and establishes it as a leader in many retailer and manufacturer verticals. The Company also believes it has the ability to execute major national and international initiatives and develop and administer national and international manufacturer programs.

Corporate Website

The Company's website can be found at: http://www.sparinc.com, and the Company's SEC filings are available on that website under the Investors section and the Tab SEC Filings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors 

Investing in SGRP's common stock ("SGRP Common Stock") involves a high degree of risk and is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, cautions, circumstances and other factors ("Risks") that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise expected in any forward-looking statements or other information (see Forward-Looking Statements immediately preceding Part I, above).

You should carefully review and consider the following Risks as well as those made, contained or noted in or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, the Proxy Statement or other applicable SEC Report, but you should not place undue reliance on any of them. All forward-looking statements and other information attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly subject to and qualified by all such Risks.

Those Risks reflect our expectations, views 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 such Risk or 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.

Our results of operations have been adversely affected and could in the future be materially adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of Coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. The full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve as of the date of this report. As such, it is uncertain as to the full magnitude that the pandemic will have on the Company’s financial condition and future results of operations. Management is actively monitoring the impact of the global situation on its financial condition, operations, suppliers, industry, and workforce.

In 2020, many of our clients were impacted by temporary retail closures, reduced in-store hours, in-store customer limits and product shipping delays.  As a result, the Company implemented several cost savings measures which included a reduction in the use of contracted workers, furloughing employees, reducing hours and a reduction in other corporate and non-critical expenses.

Given the continued COVID-19 outbreak, the global responses to curb its spread and the distribution of vaccines, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the length or severity of this pandemic.  However, many of our clients whose business was shut down or reduced capacity earlier in 2020 have returned to normal operations, and the overall business has improved as the fiscal year of 2020 ended.  We do not anticipate a continual material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

The markets we operate in are cyclical and subject to the effects of economic downturns.

The markets in which the Company operates are cyclical and subject to the effects of economic downturns. The current political, social and economic conditions, including the impact of terrorism and COVID-19 on consumer and business behavior, make it difficult for the Company, its vendors and its clients to accurately forecast and plan future business activities. Substantially all of the Company's key clients are either retailers, manufacturers or those seeking to do product merchandising at retailers. Should the retail or manufacturing industries experience a significant economic downturn, the resultant reduction in product sales could significantly decrease the Company's revenues. The Company also has risks associated with its clients changing their business plans and/or reducing their marketing budgets in response to economic conditions, which could also significantly decrease the Company's revenues. Such revenue decreases could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

We can be adversely affected if governments pass legislation that mandates an increase in wages, changes labor laws or otherwise drives market behavior that negatively impacts the business or operations of SPAR Group or our clients. 

Because the Company has operations in 10 distinct countries and relies on independent contractors as well as other third-party providers to perform work, there is risk that any government legislation that restricts travel, changes labor laws, impacts wages or otherwise incentivizes behavior that negatively impacts our business or our clients, could impact our business. 

The continued legislative trend to increase minimum wages is one of these risks.  The minimum wage in states, cities and municipalities in the United States has been steadily increasing over the last several years.  A similar risk is the trend of legislatures and courts to apply those minimum wages and other benefits to ever increasing pools of workers.  We monitor these increases and trends and plan for future known changes as we manage our business and establish agreements with clients.

The Company continues to analyze various aspects of potential business impact driven by any legislation in all of the countries we operate. While we do not foresee any material impact in the short-term, the Company will continue to monitor and manage the business accordingly.

Our business depends on variable client projects that can shift from period to period, be delayed, be canceled or otherwise require us to assume higher costs to perform the work. 

The Company has experienced and, in the future, may experience fluctuations in quarterly operating results and cash flow. Factors that may cause the Company's quarterly operating results and cash flow to vary from time to time and may result in reduced revenue and profits include: (i) the number of active client projects; (ii) seasonality of client products; (iii) client delays, changes and cancellations in projects; (iv) staffing requirements, indemnifications, risk allocations, primary insurance coverages, intellectual property claims, and other contractual provisions and concessions demanded by clients that are unilateral, unreasonable and very time consuming to review and attempt to negotiate; (v) the timing requirements of client projects; (vi) the completion of major client projects; (vii) the timing of new engagements; (viii) the timing of personnel cost increases; (ix) service locations and conditions with higher than contemplated personnel costs (remote areas, higher minimum wages, higher skill sets required, etc.); and (x) the loss of major clients. In addition, the Company is subject to revenue or profit uncertainties resulting from factors such as unprofitable client work and the failure of clients to pay. These revenue fluctuations could materially and adversely affect the Company or its performance or condition, whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Our business could be adversely affected if retailers and manufacturers elect to perform merchandising and marketing services with their own resources or if they have less stores that need our services.

The business and growth of the Company depends in part on the continued outsourcing of merchandising and marketing services, which the Company believes has increased from the consolidation of retailers and manufacturers, as well as the desire to seek outsourcing specialists to reduce fixed operation expenses and concentrate internal staff on customer service and sales. There can be no assurance that this outsourcing will continue, as companies may elect to perform such services internally.

In addition, retailers with physical store locations are facing increasing consolidation and competition from eCommerce/virtual stores. The Company's business and growth depends in part on the continuing need for in-store merchandising of products and the continuing success of retailers with physical store locations. There can be no assurance that the in-store merchandising of products will increase or even continue at current levels or that retailers with physical store locations will continue to compete successfully in those stores, and some retailers are shifting their sales focus to their virtual online stores.

A significant decrease in such need for in-store merchandising or success of such physical stores could significantly decrease the Company's revenues and such decreased revenues could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition, whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected. 

We do work with furniture and other related assembly services at stores, in homes and in offices.
 

The Company's technicians assemble furniture and other products in the stores, homes and offices of customers.  Working at a customer's store, home or office could give rise to claims against the Company for errors, omissions or misconduct by those technicians, including (without limitation) harassment, personal injury, death, damage to or theft of customer property, or other civil or criminal misconduct by such technicians.  Claims also could be made against the Company as a result of its involvement in such assembly services due to (among other things) product assembly errors and omissions, product defects, deficiencies, breakdowns or collapse, products that are not merchantable or fit for their particular purpose, products that do not conform to published specifications or satisfy customer expectations, or products that cause personal injury, death or property damage, in each case whether actual, alleged or perceived by customers, and irrespective of how much time may have passed since such assembly.  If such claims are asserted and adversely determined against the Company, then to the extent such claims are not covered by indemnification from the product's seller or manufacturer or by insurance, they could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

We depend upon third-party independent contractors and the services they provide.

The success of the Company's domestic business is dependent upon the successful execution and administration of its domestic field services through the services of field merchandising, auditing, assembly and other field personnel (each a "Field Specialist"), and a significant portion of them are provided to the Company and are engaged by the Independent Field Vendor and located, scheduled, deployed and administered domestically through the services of local, regional, district and other personnel (each a "Field Administrator").  The inability to identify, engage and successfully administer its domestic field services through qualified Field Specialists and Field Administrators could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or conditions), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

A significant portion of the services of the Field Specialists provided to the Company are supplied by the Independent Field Vendor.  It is possible that the appropriateness of the treatment of those Field Specialists as independent contractors by the Independent Field Vendor will be periodically subject to legal review or challenge by various states and others.  The Company in its discretion may review and decide each request by its Independent Field Vendor for reimbursement of its legal defense expenses on a case-by-case basis, including the relative costs and benefits to the Company of doing so, but such Independent Field Vendor has agreed that the Company has no obligation to do so. 

To the Company's knowledge, its Independent Field Vendor is not involved in any material proceeding involving its independent contractors.  However: (i) if the Company approves its reimbursement of any material legal defense costs of the Independent Field Vendor; or (ii) if the Company somehow becomes liable for any legal expenses incurred by the Independent Field Vendor, any related party or any third party in defending any claim or satisfying any judgment against such parties; or (iii) if the Company somehow becomes liable through any judicial determination for any judgment against the Independent Field Vendor, the Independent Field Administrator, or any related party or other vendor or service provider (in whole or in part); or (iv) if any such proceeding or matter causes: (A) any decrease in the Independent Field Administrator's or the Independent Field Vendor's performance (quality or otherwise); (B) any inability by the Independent Field Administrator or the Independent Field Vendor to execute the services for the Company or to continue with its present business model; or (C) any increase in the Company's use of employees (rather than independent contractors) as its domestic Field Specialists; then any of the foregoing, in whole or in part, could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, 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.

Additionally, the Company believes that its business model of executing a significant portion of its services domestically (other than in California, where the Company is using its own employees) through independent contractors provided by others is equally effective but inherently less costly than doing so with employees, both under applicable tax and employment laws and otherwise.  However, the Company continues to reevaluate its business model of using third party independent contractors as Field Specialists outside of California in light of changing client requirements and legal and regulatory environments. 

We rely on our systems and third-party vendors.

The Company relies on its proprietary systems for (among other things) the scheduling, tracking, coordination and reporting of its merchandising and marketing services.  In addition to proprietary software and applications of the Company, the systems use and rely upon software (including operating system, office, exchange, data base and server programs) licensed and hardware purchased or leased from third parties and telecommunication services provided by third parties, which third-party software, hardware and telecommunication services may not continue to be available at all or (if available) with the necessary access, uptime, speeds or bandwidth, at reasonable prices or on commercially reasonable terms.  Any defect, error or other performance failure in such third-party software, hardware or service also could result in a defect, error or performance failure in our client services.  Systems can experience excess traffic and related inefficiencies, from increased demand or otherwise, as well as increased cyberattacks by hackers and other saboteurs.  To the extent that systems experience increased demands on current capacity and for additional capacity from (among other things) an increase in the numbers of users, frequency or duration of use, bandwidth requirements of software, applications and users (including the increasing demand from the Company's clients for data-intensive as-serviced pictures from the Field Specialists), or cyberattacks, there can be no assurance that the Company's technological systems and third-party software, hardware and telecommunication providers will continue to be able to support the demands placed on them by such increased demand or negative events.

The Company relies on third-party vendors to provide its telecommunication network access and other services used in its business, and the Company has no control over such third-party providers. Additionally, a cybersecurity breach that results in unauthorized access to sensitive consumer or corporate information contained in these systems may adversely affect the Company's reputation and lead to claims against it. Such claims could include identity theft or other similar fraud-related claims and claims related to violations of applicable data privacy laws. Any system failure, accident or security breach could result in disruptions to the Company's operations. To the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss or damage to the Company's data, or results in inappropriate disclosure of confidential information, it could cause significant damage to the Company's reputation, affect its relationships with its customers, lead to claims against it and ultimately harm its business. In addition, the Company may be required to incur significant costs to protect against damage caused by these disruptions or security breaches in the future.

Any such software, hardware or service unavailability or unreasonable pricing or terms, defect, error or other performance failure in such third-party software, hardware or service, increased capacity demands, disruption in services, security breach or protective measures could increase the Company's costs of operation and reduce its efficiency and performance, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition, whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Our stock is subject to volatility and general market risk.

The market price of SGRP Common Stock has historically experienced and may continue to experience significant volatility. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the sale price of SGRP Common Stock fluctuated from $0.55 to $1.35 per share. The Company believes that its Common Stock is subject to wide price fluctuations due to (among other things) the following:

If the Company issues (other than at fair market value for cash) or the Majority Stockholders sell a large number of shares of SGRP Common Stock, or if the market perceives such an issuance or sale is likely or imminent, the market price of SGRP Common Stock could decline and that decline could be significant.

The Company also has repurchased SGRP Common Stock from time to time, and currently has in place a Repurchase Program (as defined and described in Item 5 - Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities, below). Those repurchases could adversely affect the market liquidity of the SGRP Common Stock.

In addition, the volatility in the market price of SGRP Common Stock could lead to class action securities litigation that could in turn impose substantial costs on the Company, divert management's attention and resources from the day-to-day operations of the Company's business and harm the Company's stock price, the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

As a small company with stock price volatility, our stock may be de-listed from NASDAQ.

SGRP received a notification letter from Nasdaq dated April 23, 2020 (the "Nasdaq Bid Price Deficiency Letter"), stating that SGRP had failed to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share for shares of the SGRP Common Stock for the prior 30 consecutive business days preceding the Nasdaq Bid Price Deficiency Letter (i.e., March 11, 2020 – April 22, 2020) as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the "Bid Price Rule"). The Nasdaq Bid Price Deficiency Letter provided that SGRP had until December 28, 2020 as a grace period to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule by maintaining a closing bid price of $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days. On December 28, 2020, Nasdaq sent SGRP a letter stating in part that SGRP had regained compliance during the extended grace period with Nasdaq's minimum Bid Price Rule and that such matter was closed.                             

There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to comply in the future with Nasdaq's Board Independence Rule, Audit Committee Composition Rule, Bid Price Rule or other Nasdaq continued listing requirements. See Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders and Potential Voting Control and Conflicts, above. If the Company fails to satisfy the applicable continued listing requirement again in the future, Nasdaq may commence delisting procedures against the Company (during which the Company may have additional time of up to six months to appeal and correct its non-compliance).  If the SGRP Common Stock shares were ultimately delisted by Nasdaq, trading of the SGRP Common Stock could be limited to "over-the-counter" trades and the market liquidity of the SGRP Common Stock could be adversely affected, which could result in a decrease in the market price of the SGRP Common Stock due to (among other things) the potential for increased spreads between bids and asks, lower trading volumes and reporting delays in over-the-counter trades and the negative implications and perceptions that could arise from such a delisting.  See also Item 9B -- Other Information -- Failure to Maintain a Majority of Independent Directors on the Board, below.

In addition to the foregoing, if the SGRP Common Stock is delisted from Nasdaq and is traded on the over-the-counter market, the "penny stock" rules, if applicable, could adversely affect the market price of the SGRP Common Stock and increase the transaction costs to sell those shares. The SEC has adopted specific rules regulating "penny stock", including additional risk disclosure requirements by broker dealers. If applicable in the future, the penny stock rules may also restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell the SGRP Common Stock and may adversely affect the ability of investors to sell their shares.

We have inherent risk of failure to maintain effective internal controls.

Establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosures are necessary for the Company to provide reliable financial and other reporting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted and applicable securities and other law in the United States. Because of its inherent limitations, internal controls over financial and other reporting are not intended to provide absolute assurance that the Company could prevent or detect a misstatement of its financial statements or other reports or fraud. Any failure to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial and disclosure reporting could limit the Company's ability to report its financial results and file its other reports accurately and timely or to detect and prevent fraud. A significant financial or disclosure reporting failure or material weakness in internal control over financial or other reporting could cause a loss of investor confidence and a decline in the market price of the SGRP Common Stock. See also Risks of Having Material Local Investors and Local Executives in International and Domestic Subsidiaries, below.

Our business is dependent on client payments, business performance and broad economic shifts, and we may be at risk of liquidity constraints and not satisfying all of our credit facility covenants.

Our business and cash flow can be adversely affected by adverse changes in our client payments, our business performance and broad economic shifts.  There can be no assurances that in the future the Company will not violate covenants of its current or future credit facilities; and if it does violate them, that the Company's lenders will waive any violations of such covenants affecting the Company's ability to maintain adequate lines of credit or sufficient availability under its lines of credit. Accordingly, minimal profitability by the Company, additional one-time charges, and changes in the composition and quality of its borrowing base, as well as any failure to maintain sufficient availability or lines of credit from the Company's lenders (which may involve their subjective judgement), could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition, whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Our business and stock liquidity and market value could be adversely affected if we settle outstanding litigation by making payments or issuing common stock.

The timing, size and success of litigation settlement efforts and any associated capital commitments cannot be readily predicted. Future litigation settlements may be financed by issuing shares of the SGRP Common Stock, cash, or a combination thereof. If the SGRP Common Stock does not maintain a sufficient market value, or if potential litigants are otherwise unwilling to accept the SGRP Common Stock as part of the consideration for the settlement of their litigation, the Company may be required to obtain additional capital through debt or equity financings. To the extent the SGRP Common Stock is used for all or a portion of the consideration to be paid for legal settlements, dilution may be experienced by existing stockholders.  In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the additional financing it may need for litigation settlements on terms that the Company deems acceptable. Failure to obtain such capital would materially and adversely affect the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.  There also can be no assurance that the other parties in any settlement will abide by the terms or any settlement or any related releases.  See SBS Bankruptcy, Settlement and March 2020 Claim in Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Commitments and Contingencies, below.

We no longer have contracts with former affiliated companies SPAR Business Services and SPAR Administrative Services, but they continue to make payment demands and may be subject to litigation that attempts to include the Company as a defendant.

The Company formally engaged SPAR Business Services, Inc. ("SBS"), the Company's affiliate, and SBS provided substantially all of the services of the Field Specialists to the Company prior to SBS' termination by the Company in July 2018.  Additionally, the Company formerly engaged SPAR Administrative Services, Inc. ("SAS"), an affiliate of SBS, to provide Field Administrator services.  SBS is beneficially owned by Robert. G. Brown and prior to the SBS Chapter 11 also was owned in part by William H. Bartels.  SAS is beneficially owned by William H. Bartels and family members of Robert. G. Brown.  See Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 10 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Related Party Transactions - Domestic Related Party Services and Disputes, below.

The appropriateness of SBS' treatment of its Field Specialists as independent contractors had been periodically subject to legal review or challenge (both currently and historically) by various states and others.  The Company is not obligated or liable, and the Company has not otherwise agreed and does not currently intend, to reimburse SBS for any judgment or any other amount in any such legal review, challenge or other proceeding against or involving SBS.  

Even though SBS was solely responsible for its operations, methods and legal compliance, in connection with any proceedings against SBS, SBS has claimed, continues to claim and may additionally claim that the Company is somehow liable for the defense of and any judgment or similar amount imposed against SBS (even though released) or its current or former owners and pursue that claim with litigation. The Company does not believe there is any basis for such claims and would defend them vigorously. There can be no assurance that plaintiffs or someone else will not claim that the Company is liable (under applicable law, through reimbursement or indemnification, or otherwise) for any such judgment or similar amount imposed against SBS, or that the Company will be able to defend successfully any claim.  Any imposition of liability on the Company for any such amount 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, legal costs, 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.  

Our Majority Stockholders have made claims against the Company that may result in future judgements against the Company.

The Company's Directors and Majority Stockholders, Mr. William H. Bartels and Mr. Robert G. Brown and their companies are and have been involved in a number of material adverse claims and actions against the Company and have engaged or have threatened to engage in legal proceedings against the Company, which may result in future judgments or settlements adverse to the Company.  On March 17, 2020, Mr. Bartels delivered to the Company a list of claims that he and Mr. Brown believe the Company owes them, which totaled approximately $3 million (net of their own "anticipated" reduction).  The Company has rejected those unfounded and unsubstantiated claims, and believes it was released from all such claims by SBS in the SBS Chapter 11 Case and SBS Releases.  See Note 10 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Related Party Transactions - Domestic Related Party Services, SBS Bankruptcy, Settlement and March 2020 Claim, and March 2020 Claim, below, and Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, Infotech Litigation and Settlement, below.  While the Company believes that no such amount is owed, the ultimate result of this dispute cannot be known at this time. 

Our significant stockholders may take unilateral actions.

The Company's co-founders, Mr. Robert G. Brown and Mr. William H. Bartels, are significant stockholders and Directors of SGRP. Mr. Robert G. Brown and certain of his related parties together beneficially own approximately 28.9% (or approximately 6.1 million shares) of the SGRP Common Stock, Mr. Bartels and certain of his related parties together beneficially owning approximately 24.9% (or approximately 5.3 million shares) of the SGRP Common Stock, and Mr. Brown and Mr. Bartels together beneficially own approximately 53.8% of the SGRP Shares. Those amounts were calculated using their respective individual beneficial ownership and the total outstanding ownership (approximately 21.1 million shares) of the SGRP Common Stock on a non-diluted basis at December 31, 2020. 

Mr. Brown and his related parties have required special stockholder meetings at the Company's expense and together with Mr. Bartels and his related parties have taken unilateral action several times bypassing the Board and its independent directors and other stockholder to (among other things) change the Company's By-Laws and add directors.  If Messrs. Brown and Bartels and their related parties act again together as a group they have, and under certain circumstances if Mr. Brown and his related parties act alone he has, the ability to control (or significantly influence in the case of Mr. Brown acting alone) the election or removal of directors, the approval or disapproval of acquisitions, mergers, employee benefit plans, amendments to the Company's charter and/or bylaws, changes in Board size and all other matters that must or could be approved by the Company's stockholders.

Mr. Robert G. Brown and Mr. Bartels continue to have significant influence and leverage over the Company's business, corporate governance and other significant actions, including those involving stockholder approvals.  The interests of the Majority Stockholders (such as changing Board composition and potentially weakening its independence, obtaining related party payments previously denied by the Company and Audit Committee and obtaining new retirement benefits for Mr. Brown previously denied by the Company and Compensation Committee) may be materially different  from time to time from, and potentially in conflict with, the interests of other stockholders, and ownership concentration could cause, delay or prevent a change in the Company's control or otherwise discourage the Company's potential acquisition by another person, any of which could cause the market price of the SGRP Common Stock to decline and that decline could be significant.

Additionally, acting as a group, Mr. Brown and Mr. Bartels and their related parties could remove all or any part of the current Board by voting "remove" in any special stockholders meeting, or by voting "no" for targeted incumbents in any annual stockholders meeting or by executing more written consents. With fewer or no independent directors on the Board, Mr. Brown and Mr. Bartels could eventually be able to pay themselves without any effective restriction or accountability. 

There can be no assurance that the Majority Stockholders will refrain from together taking any further unilateral action through their written consents, requiring special meetings, coordinated votes as directors or stockholders, or otherwise. If such actions by the Majority Stockholders continue in the future, the Company must continue do devote significant management time and legal and financial resources, which would otherwise be spent on the Company's day-to-day business operations, to respond to and attempt to resolve the frequent claims, responses and actions by the Majority Stockholders (individually and on behalf of SBS, SAS and Infotech), which have been increasing in frequency and intensity. In addition, such actions by the Majority Stockholders, or the by their Board at their urging, could lead to class action securities litigation that in turn could impose substantial costs on the Company, divert management's attention and resources from the day-to-day operations of the Company's business or its performance or condition.  If the Majority Stockholders together continue to take such unilateral actions without restriction (see Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements -  Commitments and Contingencies -- Legal Matters – Delaware Litigations Settlement, below), it could have a material adverse effect the Company's stock price or on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, 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.

Our international local investors and local executives may act in a way that is inconsistent with our direction.

The Company's international model is to join forces with Local Investors (as defined below) having merchandising service expertise and combine their knowledge of the local market with the Company's proprietary software and expertise in the merchandising business. The Company also has begun to use this model in the United States (see Item 1 – Business - The Company's Domestic and International Segments, above). As a result, each of the Company's international subsidiaries (other than Canada and Japan) and National Merchandising Services, LLC (NMS) and Resource Plus Inc. (RPI) domestically are owned in material part by an entity in the local country where the international or domestic subsidiary resides and that entity is not otherwise affiliated with the Company (e.g., the "Local Investor"). The agreements between the Company and the Local Investor in the respective international or domestic subsidiaries specify, among other things, the equity, programming and support services the Company is required to provide and the equity, credit support, certain services and management support that the Local Investor is required to provide to the international or domestic subsidiary. Certain of those subsidiaries also may be procuring field merchandising execution through affiliates of the applicable Local Investors. The Local Investor or its principal generally is the Chief Executive Officer of the international or domestic subsidiary for an open-ended term and has considerable autonomy and authority over its operations. The Local Investors also may wish to conduct the subsidiary's business differently than desired by the Company. In the event of any disagreement or other dispute in the business relationships between the Company and Local Investor, the Local Investor may have one or more conflicts of interest with respect to the relationship and could cause the applicable international or domestic subsidiary to operate or otherwise act in a way that is not consistent with the Company's instructions or best interests.  Using Local Investors in an acquisition has risks.  

The agreements generally have unlimited contract terms and parties generally do not have the right to unilaterally withdraw. However, a non-defaulting party has the right to terminate such agreement upon the other party's default, receipt of notice and failure to cure within a specified period (generally 60 days internationally or 30 days domestically). In addition, either party, at any time after the end of a specified period (usually between three and five years), may: (1) sell all or part of its equity interest in the international subsidiary to a third party by providing a written notice to the other party of such intentions (in which case the other party has the right of first refusal and may purchase the equity in the international subsidiary of the offering party under the same terms and conditions) (a "Right of First Refusal"); or (2) offer to purchase the equity of the other party (in which case the other party generally has 120 days to either accept or reject the offer or to reverse the transaction and actually purchase the offering party's equity in the international subsidiary under the same terms and conditions) (a "Buy/Sell Right").

The Company believes its relationships with the Local Investors in its international subsidiaries remain good.  Most of the Company's respective international subsidiary contracts are either at or near the end of the applicable periods during which either of the parties may trigger the Right of First Refusal and Buy/Sell Right provisions described above. Both the Company and such Local Investors, as part of their ongoing relationship, are or will be assessing appropriate action as described above.

There can be no assurance that the Company could (if necessary under the circumstances) successfully: (i) enforce its legal remedies and stop a Local Investor's principals from leaving the local subsidiary and establishing a competing business; (ii) replace equity, credit support, management, field merchandiser and other services currently provided by any Local Investor in sufficient time to perform its client obligations; or (iii) provide these services and or equity in the event the Local Stockholder were to sell its stock or reduce any support to the Company's subsidiary in the applicable country.  Any cancellation, other nonperformance or material change under the subsidiary agreements with Local Investors could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

We have inherent risks operating international businesses.

The Company operates in 10 countries around the world. There can be no assurances that the respective business environments will remain favorable. In the future, the Company's international operations and sales may be affected by the following risks, which may adversely affect United States companies doing business in foreign countries:

If any developments should occur with respect to any of those international risks and materially and adversely affect the Company's applicable international subsidiary, such developments could have a material adverse effect on the Company or its performance or condition (including its affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, performance, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results, risks, trends or condition), whether actual or as planned, intended, anticipated, estimated or otherwise expected.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

The Company does not own any real property. The Company leases certain office space and storage facilities for its corporate headquarters, divisions and subsidiaries under various operating leases, which expire at various dates during the next six years. These leases generally require the Company to pay rents at market rates, subject to periodic adjustments, plus other charges, including utilities, real estate taxes and common area maintenance. The Company believes its relationships with its landlords to be generally good. However, as these leased facilities generally are used for offices and storage, the Company believes that other leased spaces could be readily found and utilized on similar terms should the need arise.

The Company relocated its corporate headquarters from New York to its existing regional office in Auburn Hills, Michigan in September of 2020.  The Company also maintains its data processing center in Southfield, Michigan and its warehouse in Auburn Hills, Michigan, under an extended operating lease expiring October 31, 2025. 

The following is a list of the headquarter locations for the Company and its domestic and international subsidiaries:

Item 3. 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, resolution of these matters is not anticipated to have a material adverse effect on the Company or its estimated or desired affiliates, assets, business, clients, capital, cash flow, credit, expenses, financial condition, income, legal costs, liabilities, liquidity, locations, marketing, operations, prospects, sales, strategies, taxation or other achievement, results or condition.

For a discussion of certain claims by and legal proceedings involving Robert G. Brown and William H Bartels (directors and majority stockholders of SGRP), see Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Matters, and Note 10 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Related Party Transactions, Domestic Related Party Services, below.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company's Capital Stock Generally

SGRP's Certificate of Incorporation authorizes it to issue 47,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.01 per share (the "SGRP Common Stock"), which all have the same voting, dividend and liquidation rights. SGRP Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "SGRP". On December 31, 2020, there were 21,122,312 shares of SGRP Common Stock outstanding in the aggregate (which does not include Treasury Shares), and 12.8 million shares (or approximately 59.9%) of SGRP Common Stock beneficially owned by non-affiliates of the Company in the aggregate on a non-diluted basis (i.e., SGRP's public float). See Item IA - Risk Factors - Risks Related to the Company's Significant Stockholders: Potential Voting Control and Conflicts, above, and Item 12 – Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters, below.

SGRP's Certificate of Incorporation also 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 SGRP's Board of Directors may establish in its discretion from time to time. SGRP 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 "Series A Preferred Stock"), which preferred shares 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. 554,402 shares of Series A preferred stock were previously issued, reacquired and retired. After such retirement, 2,445,598 shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain authorized and available for issuance. At December 31, 2020, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. SGRP can change or cancel the authorized Series A Preferred Stock, and to the extent it reduces such authorization without issuance, it can create other series of Preferred Stock with potentially different dividends, preferences and other terms. The holders of SGRP Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock vote together for directors and other matters, other than matters pertaining only to the Series A Preferred Stock (such as amending SGRP's Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock) where only the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote.

Market Information

SGRP's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "SGRP".  As of December 31, 2020, there were approximately 154 stockholders of record.

Dividends

The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future. The Company currently intends to retain future earnings to finance its operations and fund the growth of the business. Any payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company and will depend upon, among other things, the Company's earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions in respect to the payment of dividends and other factors that the Company's Board of Directors deems relevant.

Equity Compensation

Information regarding the Company's equity compensation plans may be found in Item 12 of this Annual Report, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Stock Repurchase Program

On December 22, 2020, the Board of Directors of SGRP (the "Board"), authorized SGRP to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of its SGRP Shares pursuant to the 2021 Stock Repurchase Program (the "2021 Stock Repurchase Program"), which repurchases would be made from time to time over a one-year period in the open market and through privately-negotiated transactions, subject to cash availability and general market and other conditions.

SGRP's 2021 Stock Repurchase Program will be financed out of internally generated corporate funds. Shares acquired would be available later for issuance upon the exercise of stock options through its 2020 Stock Compensation Plan (if approved at the January Special Meeting of Stockholders) and other outstanding options and for other corporate purposes. SPAR Group may terminate or limit the 2021 Stock Repurchase Program at any time, and SPAR Group may never repurchase any SGRP Shares.

A double blackout period began on December 10, 2020, under the SPAR Group Statement of Policy Regarding Personal Securities Transactions in SGRP Stock and Non-Public Information Dated, Adopted and Effective as of May 1, 2004, and As Further Amended Through March 10, 2011, as amended (the "SGRP's Trading Policy").  Conforming with its predecessors, the 2021 Stock Repurchase Program provides that purchases under it will comply with SGRP's Trading Policy, and accordingly any such market repurchases will not occur (if at all) until the current double blackout period ends following public disclosure of SGRP's results for 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 (which quarterly report is due by mid-May 2021).

SGRP Common Stock Issuances

During 2020, the Company issued 20,067 new shares of SGRP Common Stock in support of its requirement to satisfy employee exercised stock option grants under its existing registered stock compensation and stock purchase plans (See Note 11 – Stock Based Compensation). In 2019, SGRP issued 317,852 new shares of SGRP Common Stock in support of its requirement to satisfy employee exercised stock option grants under its existing registered stock compensation and stock purchase plans (See Note 11 – Stock Based Compensation).

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Not applicable.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contains forward-looking statements within the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, made or respecting by SPAR Group, Inc. ("SGRP") and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, the "SPAR Group" or the "Company"). See FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS preceding Part I, above. There also are "forward-looking statements" contained elsewhere in this Annual Report, the Proxy Statement, and the other applicable SEC Reports filed with the SEC from time to time under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other Securities Laws (as all such terms are defined in FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, preceding Part I, above).

All forward-looking statements and other information attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly subject to and qualified by all of the risks, uncertainties, cautions, circumstances and other factors ("Risks") facing the Company, including the Risks and other information described in Item IA - Risk Factors, above, or elsewhere in this Annual Report, the Proxy Statement or any other applicable SEC Report.

The Company does not intend, assume any obligation, or promise to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statement, Risk or 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.

Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant loss of life, disrupted businesses and restricted travel worldwide, causing significant economic disruption and uncertainty.  This disruption and uncertainty has and continues to have an adverse impact on our business, operations and financial results.  For fiscal 2020, our total revenues declined 8.8% in U.S. dollars, compared to a 10.3% increase in 2019.  The effects of the pandemic have been more impactful to our international business than our domestic business.  Our 2020 International revenue decreased 14.7% compared to an 8.7% increase in 2019.  Our 2020 Domestic revenue increased 1.5% compared to a 13.3% increase in 2019. 

While our revenue declined year over year, our 2020 net income increased by 38.6%.  While we could not plan for the pandemic as 2020 began, we took quick action and worked closely with our clients to manage our resources, expenses and capital to achieve a strong net income result.  We are proud of this achievement and the focus of our teams in light of the broad economic market impact of the pandemic across the globe.

While the pandemic continues to impact the markets we serve, we did experience a strong fourth quarter domestically as this market appears to be emerging more quickly than our international markets from the pandemic.  Our fourth quarter domestic revenue increased 11.9% compared to our international revenue that decreased 8.7% compared to the fourth quarter prior year.  In total, our fourth quarter revenue decreased 2.8% compared to an increase of 7.1% in 2019. 

Our fourth quarter net income increased 425% over 2019 reflecting a strong performance and commitment to execution.  While we are pleased with this result, we have continued to see pressure on both the domestic and international gross profit margins.  The international gross profit margin for the fourth quarter was 20.2% compared to 20.2% in 2019.  The domestic profit margin for the fourth quarter was 17.8% versus 18.6%.  The gross profit margin results were primarily attributable to wage pressures and an unfavorable mix in lower grow margin project work. 

Critical Accounting Estimates

The Company's critical accounting policies, including the assumptions and judgements underlying them, are disclosed in Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. These policies have been consistently applied in all material respects and address such matters as revenue recognition, doubtful accounts and credit risks, internal use software development costs, asset impairment recognition, consolidation of subsidiaries and other companies. While the estimates and judgements associated with the application of these policies may be affected by different assumptions or conditions, the Company believes the estimates and judgements associated with the reported amounts are appropriate under the circumstances.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate that the carrying amounts of the Company's property and equipment and intangible assets subjected to amortization may not be recoverable. When indicators of potential impairment exist, the Company assesses the recoverability of the assets by estimating whether the Company will recover its carrying value through the undiscounted future cash flows generated by the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Based on this analysis, if the Company does not believe that it will be able to recover the carrying value of the asset, the Company records an impairment loss to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset. If any assumptions, projections or estimates regarding any asset change in the future, the Company may have to record an impairment to reduce the net book value of such individual asset.

Accounting for Joint Venture Subsidiaries

For the Company's less than wholly owned subsidiaries, the Company first analyzes to determine if a joint venture subsidiary is a variable interest entity (a "VIE") in accordance with ASC 810, and if so, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary requiring consolidation. A VIE is an entity that has: (i) insufficient equity to permit it to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support; or (ii) equity holders that lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. VIEs are consolidated by the primary beneficiary, which is the entity that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that potentially could be significant to the entity. Variable interests in a VIE are contractual, ownership, or other financial interests in a VIE that change with changes in the fair value of the VIE's net assets. The Company continuously re-assesses at each level of the joint venture whether the entity is: (i) a VIE; and (ii) if the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. If it was determined that an entity in which the Company holds an interest qualified as a VIE and the Company was the primary beneficiary, it would be consolidated.

Based on the Company's analysis for each of its 51% owned joint ventures, the Company has determined that each is a VIE and that Company is the primary beneficiary of that VIE.  In addition to its controlling interest, the Company controls the proprietary information technology that is used at and is significant to each joint venture and the Company has the ability to control other key decisions.  Accordingly, the Company has the power to direct key activities and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant and consolidates each joint venture under the VIE rules and reflects the 49% interests in the Company's consolidated financial statements as non-controlling interests.  The Company records these non-controlling interests at their initial fair value, adjusting the basis prospectively for their share of the respective consolidated investments' net income or loss or equity contributions and distributions.  These non-controlling interests are not redeemable by the equity holders and are presented as part of permanent equity.  Income and losses are allocated to the non-controlling interest holder based on its economic ownership percentage. 

Revenue Recognition

The Company's services are provided to its clients under contracts or agreements. The Company bills its clients based upon service fee arrangements. Revenues under service fee arrangements are recognized when the service is performed. Customer deposits, which are considered advances on future work, are recorded as revenue in the period services are provided.

The Company records revenue from contracts with its customers through the execution of a Master Service Agreement ("MSA") that are effectuated through individual Statements of Work ("SOW" and with the applicable MSA collectively a "Contract"). The MSAs generally define the financial, service, and communication obligations between the client and SPAR while the SOWs state the project objective, scope of work, time frame, rate and driver in which SPAR will be paid.  Only when the MSA and SOW are combined as a Contract can all five revenue standard criteria be met.  The Company integrates a series of tasks promised within these Contracts into a bundle of services that represent the combined performance obligation of Merchandising Services.  Such Merchandising Services are performed over the duration of the SOW. Most Merchandising Services are performed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Revenue from Merchandising Services are recognized as the services are performed based on a rate-per-driver basis (per hour, store visit or unit stocked) with services delivered as they are consumed.

All of the Company's Contracts with customers have a duration of one year or less, with over 90% being completed in less than 30 days, and revenue is recognized as services are performed. Given the nature of the Company's business, how the Contracts are structured and how the Company is compensated, the Company has elected the right-to-invoice practical expedients method allowed under the revenue standard.

Doubtful Accounts and Credit Risks

The Company continually monitors the collectability of its accounts receivable based upon current client credit information and financial condition. Balances that are deemed to be uncollectible after the Company has attempted reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the bad debt allowance and a credit to accounts receivable. Accounts receivable balances, net of any applicable reserves or allowances, are stated at the amount that management expects to collect from the outstanding balances. The Company provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a charge to earnings and a credit to bad debt allowance based in part on management's assessment of the current status of individual accounts. Based on management's assessment, the Company established an allowance for doubtful accounts of $563,000 and $438,000 at December 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Bad debt expense was $330,000 and $83,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Internal Use Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes certain costs associated with its internally developed software. Specifically, the Company capitalizes the costs of materials and services incurred in developing or obtaining internal use software. These costs include (but are not limited to) the cost to purchase software, the cost to write program code, payroll and related benefits and travel expenses for those employees who are directly involved with and who devote time to the Company's software development projects. Capitalized software development costs are amortized over three years on a straight-line basis.

The Company capitalized approximately $1.0 million of costs related to software developed for internal use in both 2020 and 2019, and recognized approximately $1.2 and $1.3 million of amortization of capitalized software for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth selected financial data and such data as a percentage of net revenues for the years indicated (dollars in millions).

Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019

Net Revenues

Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020, were $230.5 million compared to $252.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of $22.4 million or 8.8%.  Domestic contributed an increase of $1.4 million and the international segment contributed a decrease of $23.8 million year over year.

Domestic net revenues totaled $92.1 million and $90.7 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase of $1.4 million or 1.5% is primarily attributable to project growth.

International net revenues totaled $138.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $162.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of $23.8 million or 14.7%. The decrease in 2020 international net revenues was primarily due to foreign exchange impact as well as decreased revenue in Australia, Canada, and Japan.  See Note 12 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Segment Information, below.

Cost of Revenues

The Company's cost of revenues consists of its in-store labor and field management wages, related benefits, travel and other direct labor-related expenses and was 80.4% of net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 80.5% of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Domestic cost of revenue as a percent of net revenue was 78.5% and 76.5% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in cost was due to the labor mix and project work.

International cost of revenue as a percent of net revenue was 81.6% and 82.8% for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  The international cost of revenue percentage decrease of 1.2% percentage point was primarily due to margin improvements in Mexico, India, and Brazil.

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 $33.3 million and approximately $36.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  Due to COVID-19 impact, all countries have managed discretionary spending diligently throughout the year of 2020.

Domestic selling, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately $16.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to approximately $16.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.  

International selling, general and administrative expenses totaled approximately $17.1 million and $20.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense totaled approximately $2.1 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Interest Expense

The Company's interest expense was $690,000 and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The international segment contributed $40,000 to the decrease in the Company's 2020 interest expense primarily due to borrowing requirements from the Company's subsidiary in Brazil of $146,000 and change of allocation of business segment of $202,000.  In the domestic segment, 2020 interest expense decreased by approximately $650,000 compared to 2019 primarily due to change of allocation of business segment; excluding allocation, the expense increased by $164,000 due to financing rate increases.

Other Income

Other income was $242,000 and $266,000 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Income Tax 

The income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $312,000 and $3.6 million, respectively.  The decrease is from a Brazil tax provision adjustment.

Non-Controlling Interest

Net operating profits from the non-controlling interests, relating to the Company's 51% owned subsidiaries, resulted in a reduction of net income attributable to the Company of $5.6 million and $3.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Net Income

The Company reported a net income attributable to the Company of $9.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, or $0.16 per basic share, compared to a net income of $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, or $0.11 per diluted share, based on basic shares outstanding of 21.1 million at December 31, 2020, and 20.9 million at December 31, 2019.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had pre-tax net income before taxes of $9.3 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $8.8 million and $6.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to cash impacting earnings and a decrease in accounts receivable, partially offset by decreases in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

Net cash used in investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, was $1.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The net cash used in investing activities during 2020 was attributable to fixed asset purchases.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 was approximately $0.1 million compared to $2.0 million used in financing activities in 2019. Net cash provided by financing activities during 2020 was primarily due to net borrowing on lines of credit.

The above activity and the impact of foreign exchange rate changes resulted in an increase in cash and cash equivalents for the year ended December 31, 2020 of approximately $5.5 million.

At December 31, 2020, the Company had net working capital of $25.8 million, as compared to net working capital of $17.4 million at December 31, 2019. The Company's current ratio was 1.6 and 1.4 at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Credit Facilities 

The Company is a party to various domestic and international credit facilities. See Note 4 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements – Credit Facilities.

These various domestic and international credit facilities require compliance with their respective financial covenants. During 2020, the Company was in compliance with all other financial covenants.

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, a significant reduction in business from such clients, or a negative economic downturn resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 virus, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, cash resources and ongoing ability to fund operations.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 

See Item 15 – Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the registrant, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Management has designed such internal control over financial reporting by the Company to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").

The Company's management has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting using the "Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)" created by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") framework. Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2020.

Management's Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer have each reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of December 31, 2020, as required by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(b) and Rule 15d-15(b). Based on that evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have each concluded that the Company's current disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports it files, or submits under the Exchange Act were recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Controls

There have been no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the Company's quarter ended December 31,2020 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information 

Failure to Maintain a Majority of Independent Directors on the Board

The Board and the Governance Committee have determined that the Board should always have a majority of independent directors as required by applicable Nasdaq and SEC rules.  SGRP's Statement of Policy Regarding Director Qualifications and Nominations dated as of May 18, 2004, requires that (among other things) a majority of the directors of the Board, and all of the members of its Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee, be independent directors as required by applicable Nasdaq and SEC rules.  Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1) requires a majority of the board of directors of a listed company to consist of independent directors, as defined in Rule 5605(a)(2) (together, the "Board Independence Rules").

At the time of his appointment, Mr. Lazaretos was classified as non-independent and caused SGRP to fail to comply with the Nasdaq's Board Independence Rule.  On December 31, 2019, SGRP received a notification letter from Nasdaq (the "Nasdaq Board Independence Deficiency Letter"), stating that SGRP was no longer in compliance with the Board Independence Rule as a result of Mr. Lazaretos being added to the Board pursuant to the Written Consents of the Majority Stockholders. See SGRP's Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on January 31, 2020 and January 7, 2020. See also SGRP's Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on January 31, 2020, September 16, 2019, August 23, 2019 and August 12, 2019.

On January 23, 2020, the Governance Committee re-evaluated the independence of Mr. Lazaretos and Mr. Mayer, which included their re-evaluation of information previously provided. Accordingly, the Governance Committee believes that the Board now has a majority of independent directors and satisfies Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1) and has advised Nasdaq of the above in a letter on February 4, 2020.  The Governance Committee has also evaluated the independence of Mr. Peter Brown and concluded his independence status with the exception of Brazil and related-party matters.

The Governance Committee has not yet evaluated the independence of Robert G. Brown. However, Robert G. Brown is the uncle of Mr. Peter Brown, and is a significant stockholder of SGRP, a member of a 13D control group, and SGRP's former Chairman and Director. Since there is no presumption of independence under Nasdaq Rules or the Charter of the Governance Committee, Mr. Robert G. Brown will be considered non-independent until determined otherwise by the Governance Committee.

The nine-member Board currently has five independent directors (Arthur H. Baer, Igor Novgorodtsev, Jeffrey A. Mayer, Panagiotis ("Panos") N. Lazaretos and Peter W. Brown) and four non-independent directors (Mike Matacunas, William H. Bartels, Robert G. Brown and James R. Brown, Sr.). Such independent directors constitute a majority of the directors on the Board, which the Company believes satisfies Nasdaq's Board Independence Rules. See SGRP's Current Report on Form 8-K respecting such compliance as filed with the SEC on September 16, 2019 for details respecting Arthur Baer's appointment as an independent director, and for details respecting the re-determination of Peter W. Brown (except for Related Party Matters, see Note 10 Related Party Transaction - Re-determining Independence of Peter W. Brown, below.  The Board has one remaining vacancy after the retirement on August 1, 2020 of Arthur B. Drogue and R. Eric McCarthey as independent directors from the Board, the resignation as of August 7, 2020 of Christiaan M. Olivier as a director of SGRP and the Company's President and CEO, the election on January 19, 2021 of James R. Brown, Sr. as a director of SGRP by stockholders at their special meeting, and the appointment on February 4, 2021 of Mike Matacunas as a director of SGRP and the Company's President and CEO.  

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions "The Board of Directors of the Corporation", "Executives and Officers of the Corporation", "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Corporate Governance" in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 13, 2021, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2021, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2020 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the sections in such Proxy Statement entitled "PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", "PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT THE CORPORATION HOLDS THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", and "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

Item 11. Executive Compensation 

Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management", "Executive Compensation, Directors and Other Information", "Executive Compensation, Equity Awards and Options", and "Compensation Plans", in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 13, 2021, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2021, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2020 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the sections in such Proxy Statement entitled "PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", "PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT THE CORPORATION HOLDS THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", and "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 

Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management", "Executive Compensation, Equity Awards and Options", and "Compensation Plans" in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 13, 2021, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2021, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2020 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the sections in such Proxy Statement entitled "PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", "PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT THE CORPORATION HOLDS THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", and "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 

Reference is made to the information set forth under the caption "Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons" in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 13, 2021, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2021, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2020 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the sections in such Proxy Statement entitled "PROPOSAL 3 - ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", "PROPOSAL 4 - ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT THE CORPORATION HOLDS THE ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION", and "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Reference is made to the information set forth under the caption "PROPOSAL 2 - RATIFICATION, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BDO USA, LLP AS THE COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS" in SGRP's definitive Proxy Statement respecting its Annual Meeting of Stockholders currently scheduled to be held on May 13, 2021, as and when filed with the SEC (which SGRP plans to file pursuant to Regulation 14A in April of 2021, but not later than 120 days after the end of the Company's 2020 fiscal year), which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report. For clarity (and without limitation), information appearing in the section "REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

1.     Index to Financial Statements filed as part of this report:

2.     Financial Statement Schedule

* 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.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

None.

SIGNATURES 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

KNOW ALL THESE PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Fay DeVriese and Kori G. Belzer and each of them, jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, for her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorneys-in-fact or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of The Directors and Stockholders

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Auburn Hills, Michigan

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SPAR Group, Inc. (the "Company") and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and subsidiaries at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements; and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Release of income tax valuation allowance

As more fully described in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the net change in the valuation allowance for income taxes for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 was $2.2 million. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management determined there was sufficient positive evidence that it was more likely than not that the Brazilian net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards and other related deferred tax assets would be realized and therefore, released the valuation allowance against the Brazilian deferred tax assets during the year ended December 31, 2020.  The Brazilian entity is treated as a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") under U.S. tax law.

We identified management’s judgments related to the determination of the realizability of deferred tax assets recorded in Brazil as a critical audit matter due to significant judgments related to: (i) evaluating the positive and negative evidence available in the determination of the amount of deferred tax assets that were more-likely-than-not to be realized in the future, (ii) complex international tax laws and regulations, and (iii) evaluating whether sufficient projected future taxable income will be generated to support the full valuation allowance release. Auditing these judgments involved especially challenging auditor judgment due to the nature and extent of audit evidence and effort required to address these matters, including the extent of specialized skills or knowledge needed.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.

Troy, Michigan

March 31, 2021

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

See accompanying notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

(In thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Equity

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements.

SPAR Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements