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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6 (e) (2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11 (c) or Section 240.14a-12 |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held June 12, 2025
To the Stockholders of SPAR Group, Inc.:
The 2025Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the " 2025 Annual Meeting ") of SPAR Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (" SGRP " or the " Corporation "), will be held virtually on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM (noon), Eastern Time. You are invited to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting virtually or by proxy (but not in person). The 2025 Annual Meeting is being held for the following purposes:
1. To reelect seven (7) Directors of SGRP to serve on SGRP's Board of Directors (the " Board ") during the ensuing year and until their respective successors have been duly elected and seated on the Board, which candidates are Mr. William H. Bartels, Mr. John Bode, Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., Mr. James R. Gillis, Ms. Linda Houston, Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos, and Mr. Michael R. Matacunas. See Proposal 1 , below;
2. To ratify, on an advisory basis, the use of BDO USA, P.C., as the independent registered accounting firm for the Corporation and its subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 2025 ;
3. To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement ( i.e ., "Say on Pay");
4. To select, on an advisory basis, whether the Corporation should request an advisory vote from its stockholders respecting compensation of the Named Executive Officers every one (1), two (2) or three (3) years
(i.e.
, "Say on Frequency"); and
5. To consider, ratify and approve the Board of Directors' adoption of the 2025 Stock Compensation Plan (See Proposal 5 , below).
The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice. Only the stockholders of record at the close of business on April 25, 2025 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2025 Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, below) has been completed prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s shares will be delisted from public trading on Nasdaq, the Corporation will no longer file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the persons who were stockholders on the Record Date will not be entitled to vote at such a meeting, and Highwire may decide to not have such a meeting.
The mailing of this Notice and the 2025 Proxy Statement also includes: (i) a copy of SGRP’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC ") on form 10-K on May 16, 2025 (the " 2024 Annual Report "); and (ii) a composite ( i.e. , combined) copy of SGRP's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed in two (2) parts with the SEC on Form 10-K on April 1, 2024, and Form 10-K/A amendment on April 30, 2024 (collectively, the " 2023 Annual Report "); each together with a letter to stockholders from Michael R. Matacunas, SGRP's President and Chief Executive Officer, and certain summary tables and corporate directory information not filed with the SEC. However, the 2024 Annual Report, the composite 2023 Annual Report, and such letter, tables and directories are not, and should not be considered to be, part of the attached Proxy Statement or other proxy soliciting materials. The mailed 2024 Annual Report and the composite copy of the 2023 Annual Report does not contain the filed exhibits.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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/s/ Antonio Calisto Pato |
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Antonio Calisto Pato Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
May 23, 2025
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON JUNE 12, 2025 : THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER SGRP FILINGS WITH THE SEC ARE AVAILABLE AT https://investors.sparinc.com/sec-filings . YOU ARE URGED TO VOTE UPON THE MATTERS PRESENTED AND TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, OR CAST YOUR PROXY VOTES BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, AS PROVIDED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. PROXIES ARE REVOCABLE AT ANY TIME AND THE EXECUTION OF YOUR PROXY WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ARE VIRTUALLY PRESENT AT THE MEETING. REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF PROXY MATERIALS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO MR. ANTONIO CALISTO PATO, SECRETARY, TREASURER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AT THE OFFICES OF THE CORPORATION: SPAR GROUP, INC., 1910 OPDYKE COURT, AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN 48326 .
SPAR GROUP, INC.
1910 Opdyke Court
Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326
PROXY STATEMENT
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To Be Held on June 12, 2025
GENERAL INFORMATION
This Proxy Statement (this " Proxy Statement ") is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the " Board ") of SPAR Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (" SGRP " or the " Corporation ", and together with its subsidiaries, " SPAR ", " SPAR Group " or the " Company "), for use at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the " 2025 Annual Meeting ") to be held virtually on June 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM (noon), Eastern Time. However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, below) has been completed prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s shares will be delisted from public trading on Nasdaq, the Corporation will no longer file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC "), the persons who were stockholders on the Record Date will not be entitled to vote at such a meeting, and Highwire may decide to not have such a meeting.
This Proxy Statement and the form of proxy to be utilized at the 2025 Annual Meeting were mailed or delivered to the stockholders of SGRP on or about May 23, 2025, which mailing also included: (i) a copy of SGRP’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on form 10-K on May 16, 2025 (the " 2024 Annual Report "); and (ii) a composite ( i.e. , combined) copy of SGRP's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed in two (2) parts with the SEC on Form 10-K on April 1, 2024, and Form 10-K/A amendment on April 30, 2024 (collectively, the " 2023 Annual Report "); each together with a letter to stockholders from Michael R. Matacunas, SGRP's President and Chief Executive Officer, and certain summary tables and corporate directory information not filed with the SEC. However, the 2024 Annual Report, the composite 2023 Annual Report, and such letter, tables and directories are not, and should not be considered to be, part of the attached Proxy Statement or other proxy soliciting materials. The mailed 2024 Annual Report and the composite copy of the 2023 Annual Report does not contain the filed exhibits. All SEC filings by SGRP are available on SGRP's website at https://investors.sparinc.com/sec-filings .
Information Regarding Virtual Attendance at 2025 Annual Meeting
This Proxy Statement concerns the 2025 Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually and not in person. Please follow the instructions on the notice or proxy card that you received. Further details and frequently asked questions regarding the 2025 Annual Meeting are available on the Company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.sparinc.com .
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED
The 2025 Annual Meeting has been called to: (1) reelect seven (7) Directors of SGRP to serve on SGRP's Board of Directors (the " Board ") during the ensuing year and until their respective successors have been duly elected and seated on the Board, which candidates are Mr. William H. Bartels, Mr. John Bode, Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., Mr. James R. Gillis, Ms. Linda Houston, Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos, and Mr. Michael R. Matacunas (the votes for Messrs. Bartels, Brown, Lazaretos, and Matacunas are effectively advisory votes as explained in Proposal 1 below); (2) ratify, on an advisory basis, the use of BDO USA, P.C., as the independent registered accounting firm for the Corporation and its subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 2025 (See Proposal 2 , below); (3) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement ( i.e ., "Say on Pay") (See Proposal 3 and Summary Compensation Table and related narratives, tables and disclosures , below); (4) select, on an advisory basis, whether the Corporation should request an advisory vote from its stockholders respecting compensation of the Named Executive Officers every one (1), two (2) or three (3) years ( i.e. , "Say on Frequency") (See Proposal 4 , below); and (5) consider, ratify and approve the Board of Directors' adoption of the 2025 Stock Compensation Plan (See Proposal 5 , below).
Potential Going Private Transaction
As previously announced, on August 30, 2024, the Corporation entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the " Merger Agreement "), with Highwire Capital, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (" Highwire "), and Highwire Merger Co. I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Highwire (" Merger Sub "). In the cash merger and other transactions contemplated under the Merger Agreement (the " Merger Transaction "), the Merger Sub will merge into the Corporation following payment and the closing of the transaction, Highwire will acquire all of the stock of the Corporation for $2.50 per fully diluted share in cash, representing an aggregate purchase price of $58,000,000 (subject to certain adjustments). Upon the closing of the Merger Transaction, all outstanding stock options, restricted stock units and phantom stock units will vest and their holders will receive comparable compensation net of exercise prices (if any).
The Board established a special committee consisting solely of independent directors (the " Special Committee ") to, among other things, evaluate the advisability and fairness of strategic alternatives to the Corporation and its stockholders (including unaffiliated stockholders of the Corporation). They eventually received, negotiated and approved the letter of intent from Highwire ( i.e. "LOI") previously announced on June 5, 2024, which led to the negotiation of the Merger Agreement.
The Special Committee and Board unanimously: (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (" Merger Transaction ") are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders; (ii) determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders to enter into the Merger Transaction; (iii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by the Corporation of the Merger Transactions; and (iv) recommend that the stockholders of the Corporation approve the Merger Transaction.
On October 2, 2024, the Corporation filed with the SEC and mailed to its stockholders its definitive Proxy Statement (the " Special Proxy Statement ") containing notification of the special meeting of SGRP's stockholders on October 25, 2024, to approve the Merger Agreement and the related transactions, which SGRP's stockholders approved at that meeting. See the Special Proxy Statement for a summary of the Merger Agreement and proposed Merger Transaction.
The parties to the Merger Agreement are working to finalize the closing of the Merger Transaction . The Merger Agreement may be terminated by either the Corporation or Highwire if the Merger Transaction is not consummated on or before May 30, 2025.
Upon the closing of the Merger Transaction, Highwire will be the sole shareholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s shares will be delisted from public trading on Nasdaq, the Corporation will no longer file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the persons who were stockholders on the Record Date will not be entitled to vote at such a meeting, and Highwire may decide to not have such a meeting.
RECORD DATE AND VOTING
The Board has fixed the close of business on April 25, 2025, as the record date (the " Record Date ") for the determination of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at the 2025 Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. However, if the Merger Transaction has been completed prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above), Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the persons who were stockholders on the Record Date, will not be entitled to vote at such a meeting, and Highwire may decide to not have such a meeting. As of the Record Date, there were 23,449,701 shares outstanding of SGRP's common stock, $0.01 par value (the " Common Stock "). On the Record Date, no shares of SGRP’s Series "B" Preferred Stock (the " Series B Preferred Stock ") were outstanding. See Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities -- The Company's Capital Stock Generally in the 2024 Annual Report.
QUORUM AND VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Each stockholder of record is entitled to one (1) vote for each share of Common Stock on any matter coming before the 2025 Annual Meeting. However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s shares will be delisted from public trading on Nasdaq, the Corporation will no longer file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the persons who were stockholders on the Record Date will not be entitled to vote at such a meeting, and Highwire may decide to not have such a meeting.
The holders of record of at least one-half of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote at the 2025 Annual Meeting (11,724,851 shares) must be present at the 2025 Annual Meeting, (virtually or by proxy) and will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Shares of Common Stock entitled to vote and represented by properly executed, returned and unrevoked proxies, including shares with respect to which specific votes are withheld or inconclusive or abstentions, including "broker non-votes" (as discussed below), will be considered present at the 2025 Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum.
Brokers holding shares of Common Stock for beneficial owners in "street name" must vote those shares according to any specific instructions they receive from the beneficial owner of the shares. However, brokers have discretionary authority to vote on "routine" proposals, ( e.g. , the vote to ratify the selection of the independent registered accounting firm), which means that a broker may vote on behalf of a beneficial owner for such "routine" proposals in the broker's discretion if the beneficial owner does not provide specific instructions to the broker. Under applicable rules, if you hold your shares through a broker and do not instruct your broker how to vote with respect to each of the proposals to be voted on at the Annual Shareholders' Meeting, your broker may not vote with respect to any “ non-routine ” proposals. Proposals 1, 3, 4 and 5 are considered “ non-routine ” meaning that your broker may not vote your shares in the absence of your voting instruction. However, Proposal 2 is considered a “ routine ” proposal, meaning that your broker may vote your shares in the absence of your voting instruction.
To the greatest extent permitted by applicable law and SGRP's By-Laws (to the extent not inconsistent with applicable law): (i) proxies with no specific voting instructions on a matter (including broker non-votes and unchecked boxes) will be voted by the proxy agent as provided below (and when then voted are not considered Inconclusive Votes as defined below); (ii) inconclusive votes ( i.e. , multiple boxes checked, and the like) respecting any candidate or matter are not counted as votes "FOR" or "AGAINST" (each an " Inconclusive Vote "); (iii) Abstentions and Inconclusive Votes are considered a vote but not counted as votes cast with respect to any matter; and (iv) and consequently Inconclusive Votes and abstentions will have no effect on the vote on such matter. Inconclusive Votes and abstentions do not affect any director removal since an affirmative majority of stockholder shares is required.
A majority of votes must be cast "FOR" a nominee at the 2025 Annual Meeting virtually or by proxy for the election of each nominee to serve as a director. Accordingly, any director receiving a majority of "AGAINST" votes is denied reelection and has agreed to immediately retire when his or her successor has been duly elected and seated on the Board in the Resignation Agreement subject to and retaining all his rights under the 2022 By-Laws and each applicable agreement or law against SGRP or any related person. See Proposal 1 and Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement, below. However, this is effectively an advisory vote respecting any nominee for a Contractually Dedicated Seat since such nominee has a contractual right to be on the Board (subject to the direction and discretion of the applicable Nominating Rights Holder). See Proposal 1, Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement, and Contractually Dedicated Seats, below. Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos, Mr. William H. Bartels and Mr. Michael R. Matacunas are nominees for Contractually Dedicated Seats and have been nominated by the applicable Nominating Rights Holder. Abstentions and Inconclusive Votes are not considered votes cast with respect to this matter, and consequently, will have no effect on the vote on this matter.
SGRP stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes. If there were cumulative voting, in a field of more than seven (7) nominees, the seven (7) nominees receiving the most votes would be elected as directors.
The affirmative vote ( i.e. , "FOR") of a majority of votes cast at the 2025 Annual Meeting virtually or by proxy is required to ratify, on an advisory basis, the selection of BDO USA, P.C. as SGRP's independent registered accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025 . Abstentions and Inconclusive Votes are not considered votes cast with respect to this matter, and consequently, will have no effect on the vote on this matter.
The affirmative vote ( i.e. , "FOR") of a majority of votes cast at the 2025 Annual Meeting virtually or by proxy is required to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the SGRP's Named Executive Officers (See Summary Compensation Table and related narratives, tables and disclosures , below). Abstentions and Inconclusive Votes are not considered votes cast with respect to this matter, and consequently, will have no effect on the vote on this matter.
With respect to the vote on the frequency that SGRP holds the advisory vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, the alternative ( i.e. , "one", "two" or "three" years) receiving the greatest number of votes virtually or by proxy shall be deemed approved on an advisory basis. Abstentions and Inconclusive Votes are not considered votes cast with respect to this matter, and consequently, will have no effect on the vote on this matter.
The affirmative vote ( i.e. , "FOR") of a majority of votes cast at the 2025 Annual Meeting in person or by proxy is required to ratify and approve the Board's adoption of the 2025 Stock Compensation Plan. Abstentions and Inconclusive Votes are not considered votes cast with respect to this matter, and consequently, will have no effect on the vote on this matter.
To the greatest extent permitted by applicable law and SGRP's By-Laws (to the extent not inconsistent with applicable law), all proxies that are properly completed, signed and returned (or registered, completed, authenticated and submitted if by telephone or internet) prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting will be voted in accordance with the specific directions made thereon or, in the absence of directions: (a) for the reelection of all nominees named herein to serve as directors (See Proposal 1 , below); (b) in favor of the proposal to ratify, on an advisory basis, the appointment of BDO USA, P.C. as the Company's independent registered accounting firm (See Proposal 2 , below); (c) in favor of the proposal to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in "Executive Compensation" below (See Proposal 3 , below); (d) in favor of "One Year" respecting the proposal to select, on an advisory basis, whether the Corporation should obtain an advisory vote from its stockholders respecting executive compensation every one (1), two (2) or three (3) years (See Proposal 4 , below); and (e) in favor of the proposal to ratify and approve the Board of Directors' adoption of the 2025 Stock Compensation Plan.
Management does not intend to bring before the 2025 Annual Meeting any matters other than those specifically described above and knows of no other matters to come before the 2025 Annual Meeting. If any other matters or motions come before the 2025 Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of Proxy to vote Proxies in accordance with their judgment on those matters or motions to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law, including any matter dealing with the conduct of the 2025 Annual Meeting. Proxies may be revoked at any time prior to their exercise: (1) by written notification to the Secretary of SGRP at SGRP's principal executive offices located at 1910 Opdyke Court, Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326; (2) by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date; or (3) by the stockholder virtually attending the 2025 Annual Meeting and voting his or her shares electronically.
PROXY STATEMENT PROPOSALS
YOU HAVE A VOTE, WE ARE ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY, AND YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SEND US A PROXY
WITH RESPECT TO THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED UPON AT THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING
The stockholders of the Corporation are being asked to consider the following proposals at the 2025 Annual Meeting. However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s shares will be delisted from public trading on Nasdaq, the Corporation will no longer file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the persons who were stockholders on the Record Date will not be entitled to vote at such a meeting, and Highwire may decide to not have such a meeting.
PROPOSAL 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
1. Seven (7) Directors are nominees to be elected at the 2025 Annual Meeting to serve on SGRP’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors have been duly qualified, elected and seated on the Board. The nominees for reelection as a Director are Mr. William H. Bartels, Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., Mr. John Bode, Mr. James R. Gillis, Ms. Linda Houston, Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos, and Mr. Michael R. Matacunas. For clarity, although votes for Messrs. Bartels, Brown, Lazaretos, and Matacunas are not technically advisory votes, the effect is similar because each is running for a “Contractually Dedicated Seat” as described below.
Four (4) of the Board seats are considered “Contractually Dedicated Seats” since each of the respective nominees for such Contractually Dedicated Seat has a contractual right to be on the Board. The stockholder who has a contractual right to designate a nominee to any of the Contractually Dedicated Seats is referred to as a “Nominating Rights Holder”. Upon nomination by a Nominating Rights Holder to a Contractually Dedicated Seat, the Board shall take all actions as are reasonably necessary to elect such nominees to the Board. Upon the nomination by their respective Nominating Rights Holders: (i) Mr. William H. Bartels is a nominee for the Bartels Board Seat; (ii) Mr. James R. Brown, Sr. and Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos are nominees for the Brown Board Seats; and (iii) Mr. Michael R. Matacunas is a nominee for the CEO Board Seat. See Contractually Dedicated Seats, below.
If any nominee for such Contractually Dedicated Seat is not elected to the Board at the 2025 Annual Meeting, the Board intends to immediately appoint such nominee to the relevant Contractually Dedicated Seat if that is the wish of the applicable Nominating Rights Holder. Given the nature of the Contractually Dedicated Seats and the Board’s intention, such stockholder vote at the 2025 Annual Meeting is essentially an advisory vote respecting any nominee for a Contractually Dedicated Seat since such person is a nominee the applicable Nominating Rights Holder has a contractual right to nominate the person to be on the Board (at the discretion of the applicable Nominating Rights Holder). See Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement and Contractually Dedicated Seats , below.
In the absence of instructions to the contrary, proxies covering shares of Common Stock will be voted in favor of the election of each of the nominees.
Each nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement as a nominee for Director and has agreed to serve as a Director of SGRP if elected. In the event that any nominee for election as Director should become unavailable to serve, it is intended that votes will be cast, pursuant to the enclosed proxy, for such substitute nominee as may be nominated by SGRP. Management has no present knowledge that any of the persons named will be unable to serve.
Except for the CIC Agreement (See Board Size, Quorum and Voting, Director Nominations: Experience, Integrity, Diversity and other Criteria , Director Independence and Contractually Dedicated Seats , below), no arrangement or understanding exists between any nominee and any other person or persons pursuant to which any nominee was or is to be selected as a Director or nominee. Except as set forth below, none of the nominees has any family relationship to any other nominee or to any executive officer of the Corporation. However, Mr. Michael R. Matacunas is an Executive and Officer of SGRP, Mr. William H. Bartels is an affiliate, related party and significant stockholder and one of the founders of SGRP, and Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., is the brother of Mr. Robert G. Brown, who is an affiliate, related party and significant stockholder and one of the founders of SGRP.
Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement
As provided in the 2022 By-Laws pursuant to the Settlement (See 2022 By-Laws , below), each Director has signed and delivered to the Corporation a written irrevocable Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement Under Sections 3.08 and 3.11 of the 2022 By-Laws (each a " Resignation Letter "), which supersedes each earlier such letter agreement and constitutes an irrevocable resignation for purposes of DGCL Section 141(b). Pursuant to the Resignation Letter, the departing Director shall be deemed to have retired for all purposes (including all plans and other benefits, but excluding indemnification, and severance, contractual, legal and related rights). A Director’s Resignation Letter shall be immediately effective as and when, and effective upon, the occurrence of any of the Departure Conditions (as defined and limited in the Resignation Letter), which include (without limitation): (i) the occurrence of the next Annual Meeting of SGRP's stockholders if at such meeting either such Director is not a candidate or such Director is not elected; (ii) the Board by at least 70% voting in favor (with such Director not voting) determines in its discretion determines that such Director has not complied in any material respect with the Corporation's then applicable policies, codes, by-laws or charters or with Nasdaq Stock Market (" Nasdaq "), Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC ") or other applicable rules, regulations or law, which may be based (without any further inquiry) on any finding by Nasdaq, the SEC or any other competent authority; (iii) the Board by at least 70% voting in favor (with such Director not voting) determines that such Director’s performance is negatively impacting the performance of the Board; or (iv) if such Director is serving in a Contractually Dedicated Seat and the applicable Nominating Rights Holder in writing directs such Director’s removal or designates someone else to serve as a director of the Corporation in one of his Contractually Dedicated Seats. " Contractually Dedicated Seat " and " Nominating Rights Holder " shall have the meanings assigned to them below in this Proxy Statement.
Accordingly, that retirement for any Director (other than one nominated for a Contractually Dedicated Seat unless the applicable Nominating Rights Holder agrees) could be triggered if a majority of the votes are "no", and a majority of the voting stockholders have the power to together vote "no" and effectively remove any Director. In addition, as noted above, Directors or nominees for Contractually Dedicated Seats have included in their Resignation Letter a Departure Condition consisting of SGRP's receipt of written notice from the applicable Nominating Rights Holder of the appointment of someone else to such person's Contractually Dedicated Seat. See Contractually Dedicated Seats , below. In his or her Resignation Letter, each Director has expressly reserved every claim or right under the By-Laws or any applicable agreement or rule, regulation or other law against SGRP or any related person, including (without limitation) any claim arising under or related to any Departure Condition.
A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE " FOR " EACH OF THE NOMINEES IDENTIFIED ABOVE (PROPOSAL 1).
PROPOSAL 2 -- RATIFICATION, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE USE OF
BDO USA, P.C. AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE
CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2025
Although from time to time they consider and evaluate alternatives, the Audit Committee and the Board currently plan on using BDO USA, P.C. (" BDO "), an independent registered accounting firm, as the Company's independent registered accounting firm to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for its year ending December 31, 2025, subject to the Audit Committee's review of the final terms of BDO's engagement and plans for their audit of the Company's business in the United States and Canada. In the past, BDO has audited certain foreign subsidiaries of SGRP through BDO's affiliates in those countries. The Company has disposed of most of its foreign operating joint venture subsidiaries as described in the 2024 Annual Report and other SEC reports. A resolution will be submitted to stockholders at the 2025 Annual Meeting for the ratification of such use on an advisory ( i.e. , non-binding) basis. Stockholder ratification of the use of BDO or anyone else for non-audit services is not required and will not be sought (on an advisory basis or otherwise).
BDO has served as the Company's independent registered accounting firm since October 2013.
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed to SGRP for professional accounting services by BDO USA, P.C., including the audit of the Company's annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, are set forth in the table below (amounts in thousands):
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2024 |
2023 |
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Audit fees |
$ | 782 | $ | 962 | ||||
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Audit-related fees |
30 | 30 | ||||||
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Tax fees |
11 | 190 | ||||||
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$ | 823 | $ | 1,182 | ||||
For purposes of the preceding table professional fees are classified as follows:
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Audit fees — These are fees for professional services performed for the audit of our annual financial statements and the required review of quarterly financial statements and other procedures performed by the independent registered accounting firm in order for them to be able to form an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements. These fees also cover services that are normally provided by independent registered accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. |
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Audit-related fees — These are fees for assurance and related services that traditionally are performed by independent registered accounting firm that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the financial statements. Audit related fees in the above table represent fees for the audit of the Corporation's 401(k). |
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Tax fees — These are fees for all professional services performed by professional staff in our independent registered accounting firm's tax division, except those services related to the audit of the Company's financial statements. These include fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice, including federal, state and local issues. Services may also include assistance with tax audits and appeals before the IRS and similar state and local agencies, as well as federal, state and local tax issues related to due diligence. BDO did not do the 2024 tax compliance, so the tax fees were reduced in 2024. |
Since the Audit Committee's formation in 2003, as required by applicable law and Nasdaq rules, each audit-related or tax or other non-audit service performed by the Company's independent registered accounting firm either: (i) was approved in advance on a case-by-case basis by SGRP's Audit Committee; or (ii) fit within a pre-approved "basket" of audit-related or tax and other non-audit services of limited amount, scope and duration established in advance by SGRP's Audit Committee. In connection with the standards for independence of the Company's independent registered accounting firm promulgated by the SEC, the Audit Committee considers (among other things) whether the provision of such services would be compatible with maintaining the independence of the Company's registered independent accounting firm.
Anticipated Attendance by BDO USA, LLP at the 2025 Annual Meeting
BDO has indicated to the Corporation that it intends to have representatives in attendance, virtually, during the 2025 Annual Meeting.
Advisory Vote
A resolution will be submitted to stockholders at the 2025 Annual Meeting for the ratification, on an advisory basis, of the Corporation's use of BDO as the Company's independent registered accounting firm to audit the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the 2025 Annual Meeting in person or by proxy will be required to adopt this resolution. Proxies solicited by the Board will be voted in favor of ratification unless stockholders specify otherwise. Abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on this proposal. We do not expect any broker non-votes on this proposal because brokers have discretion under applicable rules to vote uninstructed shares on this proposal. In any event, broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
Accordingly, the Corporation will ask its stockholders to vote on the following resolution at the 2025 Annual Meeting:
"RESOLVED, that the Corporation's stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the Corporation's use of BDO as the Company's independent registered accounting firm to audit the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2025."
If the advisory resolution ratifying BDO as the Company's independent registered accounting firm is adopted by the stockholders, the Audit Committee and Board nevertheless retain the discretion to select a different independent registered accounting firm should they subsequently conclude that doing so is in the Company's best interests. Any such future selection need not be submitted to a vote of stockholders.
If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment, on an advisory basis, of BDO, or if BDO should decline to act or otherwise become incapable of acting, or if BDO's engagement with SGRP is discontinued in the Corporation's discretion, SGRP's Audit Committee will appoint another independent registered accounting firm to act as the Company's independent registered accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025 (which may nevertheless be BDO should the Audit Committee subsequently conclude that BDO's appointment is in the Company's best interests).
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS EACH BELIEVE THAT THE USE OF BDO USA, P.C. AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2025, IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS, AND EACH RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE ON AN ADVISORY BASIS "FOR" APPROVAL THEREOF. PROXIES WILL BE VOTED FOR THIS PROPOSAL UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY INDICATED (PROPOSAL 2).
PROPOSAL 3 -- ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the " Dodd-Frank Act ") added Section 14A to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the " Exchange Act "), which requires that the Corporation provide its stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a nonbinding advisory basis, the compensation of the Corporation's Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (See Summary Compensation Table and related narratives, tables and disclosures , below). For clarity, the Named Executive Officers are Michael R. Matacunas, the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, Antonio Calisto Pato, the Corporation's Chief Financial Officer, Kori G. Belzer, the Corporation's Global Chief Operating Officer, Ron Lutz, the Corporation's Global Chief Commercial Officer, and William Linnane, the Corporation's Global Strategy Growth Officer, and the term does not include any of the other persons listed below in Executive Compensation (See Summary Compensation Table and related narratives, tables and disclosures , below) .
Compensation Policy
The Corporation believes that its compensation packages should: (i) attract and retain quality directors, executives and employees; (ii) provide total compensation competitive with similar companies; (iii) reward and reinforce the attainment of the Corporation's performance objectives; and (iv) align the interests of its directors, executives and employees with those of its stockholders (the " Corporation's Compensation Objectives "). To endeavor to meet the Corporation's Compensation Objectives, the Compensation Committee oversees the existing and proposed compensation plans, policies and practices of the Corporation, reviews and approves all director and executive officer compensation, and recommends to the Board all director and executive officer compensation for approval.
The Corporation believes that the interests of its executives should be closely aligned with those of its stockholders. The Corporation's executive compensation program has three primary elements, which are fixed base salaries, annual performance-based bonuses and long-term equity-based incentive awards. In balancing these elements, the Corporation endeavors to strike an appropriate balance among the Corporation's annual performance, its long-term growth objectives, its ability to attract and retain qualified executive officers and the expense of such compensation. The Corporation believes it should compensate executives for their individual work and achievements, which it endeavors to do through the salaries and individual discretionary bonuses described below. In addition, the Corporation rewards executives for their contributions to the Corporation's achievement of short-term business objectives and operational and performance goals, through the annual cash and stock-based incentive bonuses described below. Grants of phantom stock units have been and may be granted as incentives for each executive to make long-term contributions to the value of the Corporation. In addition, restricted stock units (“ RSUs ”), stock options and other stock-based awards have been granted under the Corporation’s prior stock-based Compensation Plans and may be granted under the Corporation's proposed under the 2025 Plan (as such Plan is defined and described below) as incentives for each executive to make long-term contributions to the value of the Corporation. The Corporation considers all elements of compensation when determining the total salaries and incentives for its executives, but once determined for a particular year, such elements are generally independent of each other ( e.g. , salary will not be affected by the size of bonuses or value of stock-based awards).
Determining Compensation
Each year the Compensation Committee receives compensation recommendations for base salary, bonuses and possible phantom stock awards and stock-based plan awards for its non-CEO Named Executive Officers from the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer and carefully reviews and (to the extent they deem appropriate) adjusts them before approving them. These recommendations are developed by management through employee evaluations, development of business goals and input from its executives. The Corporation also provides a stock purchase plan, 401(k) plan, healthcare plan and certain other benefits to all of the Company's employees (including its executives). The Corporation believes that it pays competitive compensation packages that allow it to attract and retain quality executives.
In setting base salaries, the Corporation considers individual performance (including the satisfaction of duties and accomplishment of previously established short-term and long-term objectives) and various subjective criteria (including initiative, dedication, growth, leadership and contributions to overall department and corporate performance).
The Corporation's Named Executive Officers are eligible for annual cash and stock-based award bonuses based upon their individual performance, and the Corporation's achievements of certain specific operating results. During or before the beginning of each year, the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, with the review of the Compensation Committee, establishes bonus criteria for each of those officers based principally on the Corporation's achievement of specific performance goals during the year. The type of goal, thresholds and awards may vary among the executives based on their specific area of expertise and responsibilities. However, each goal is specifically designed with the goal of generating additional profit, increasing revenue or otherwise increasing stockholder value. Ranges are generally specified for the goals with corresponding cash and stock-based award bonuses specified for achievement. If a specified level for a goal is achieved, as determined by the Corporation and reviewed by the Compensation Committee, the applicable executives are entitled to the corresponding cash and stock-based award bonuses. All Named Executive Officer bonus plans are recommended by the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board.
Please see "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION" (including the Summary Compensation Table and related narratives, tables and disclosures , below) below for the compensation and benefits received by the Corporation's Named Executive Officers during 2022. 2024 (the " Named Executive Officer Compensation ").
Advisory Vote
In Proposal 3, the Corporation is asking its stockholders to approve (on an advisory basis) the Named Executive Officer Compensation described below. The vote on Proposal 3 is advisory, which means that the vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers is not binding on the Corporation, the Board or its Compensation Committee. The vote on this proposal is not intended to address any specific element of compensation, but rather relates to the overall compensation paid to the Corporation's Named Executive Officers in 2024, as described in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. To the extent there is a significant vote against the Corporation's Named Executive Officer Compensation, as described in this Proxy Statement, the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address the Corporation's stockholders' concerns.
Accordingly, the Corporation asks its stockholders to vote on the following resolution at the 2025 Annual Meeting:
"RESOLVED, that the Corporation's stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Summary Compensation Table and related narratives, tables and disclosures and the other related tables and disclosure."
A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE EACH RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE ON AN ADVISORY BASIS "FOR" THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY'S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT (PROPOSAL 3).
PROPOSAL 4 -- ADVISORY VOTE ON WHETHER THE CORPORATION
SHOULD REQUEST AN ADVISORY VOTE FROM ITS STOCKHOLDERS RESPECTING
COMPENSATION OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS EVERY ONE (1), TWO (2) OR THREE (3) YEARS
As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, Section 14A of the Exchange Act requires that the Corporation provide its stockholders with the opportunity to vote, on a nonbinding advisory basis, for their preference as to how frequently they vote in the future on the compensation of the Corporation's Named Executive Officers as disclosed in accordance with the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. Although it is not required to do so, the Corporation currently intends to hold this "frequency vote" every year.
The Corporation's stockholders may indicate whether they would prefer to conduct future advisory votes on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers once every one (1), two (2), or three (3) years. Stockholders also may abstain from casting a vote on this proposal.
The Board has determined that an annual advisory vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers will permit the Corporation's stockholders to provide direct input each year on the Corporation's executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, which is consistent with the Corporation's efforts to engage in an ongoing dialogue with its stockholders on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers.
This vote is advisory, which means that this frequency vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers is not binding on the Corporation, the Board or its Compensation Committee. The Corporation recognizes that the stockholders may have different views as to the best approach for the Corporation, and therefore the Corporation looks forward to hearing from the stockholders as to their preference on the frequency that the Corporation should hold an advisory vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers.
The Board and its Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the frequency vote. However, when considering the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers, the Board and its Compensation Committee may decide that it is in the best interests of the Corporation's stockholders and the Corporation to hold an advisory vote on the compensation of the Named Executive Officers more or less frequently than the frequency receiving the most votes cast by the Corporation's stockholders.
Stockholders may cast a vote on the preferred voting frequency by selecting the option of one (1) year, two (2) years or three (3) years (or abstain) when voting in response to the resolution set forth below.
The proxy card provides stockholders with the opportunity to choose among four (4) options (to hold the compensation vote every one (1), two (2) or three (3) years, or to abstain from voting) and, therefore, stockholders will not be voting to approve or disapprove the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEE EACH RECOMMENDS THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE ON AN ADVISORY BASIS FOR "ONE (1) YEAR" AS THE PREFERRED FREQUENCY FOR THE OPTION OF HOLDING THE ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (PROPOSAL 4).
PROPOSAL 5 -- RATIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE ADOPTION OF THE 2025 STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN
The Board is requesting that the stockholders of the Corporation consider, ratify and approve the Board of Directors' adoption of the 2025 Stock Compensation Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
At the 2025 Annual Meeting, the Corporation's stockholders will be asked to ratify and approve the adoption of the Corporation's 2025 Stock Compensation Plan (the " 2025 Plan "). Following the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board on May 6, 2025, authorized and approved the 2025 Plan to be submitted to the Corporation's stockholders for ratification and approval. If ratified and approved by the Corporation's stockholders, the 2025 Plan will become effective as of the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders (the " 2025 Plan Effective Date "), and will apply to all awards based on the Corporation’s Common Stock granted thereunder (the " Awards "). The approval of the 2025 Plan by the Corporation's stockholders will require the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast at the 2025 Annual Meeting provided that a quorum is present. The 2025 Plan is briefly summarized below, but these descriptions are subject to and qualified in their entirety by the full text of the 2025 Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 1 to and is incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the 2025 Plan.
As of the Record Date, there were options outstanding under the Corporation’s Prior Plans to purchase 674,250 shares of Common Stock, and there were inducement options outstanding to purchase 630,000 shares of Common Stock and restricted stock units outstanding to acquire 57,143 shares of Common Stock. RSUs can be issued from time to time under Michael R. Matacunas’ inducement grant (See Inducement Stock Based Award Summary, below). All of the Corporation’s Prior Plans have expired (except insofar as they continue to govern awards outstanding thereunder), and no awards can be issued under any of the Corporation’s Prior Plans.
Summary of the 2025 Stock Compensation Plan
The 2025 Plan is substantially similar to the 2018 Plan except for removing certain awards rarely used by the Corporation, for its initial term ending May 31, 2028, resetting the maximum award shares available to 2,000,000 under the 2025 Plan, changing the term of the Awards and certain vesting terms, removing a reload of forfeited shares to the maximum award shares and removing the ability of the Board in its discretion to favorably reprice the awards (although certain adjustments in price and quantity must still be made in the case of Extraordinary Events and changes in applicable law).
The 2025 Plan and information regarding stock options and restricted stock units granted thereunder are summarized below, but these descriptions are subject to and are qualified in their entirety by the full text of the 2025 Plan, which is attached as Exhibit 1 to and incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.
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The 2025 Plan was established following Board approval through May 31, 2028, subject to and effective upon Stockholder approval. |
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2,000,000 shares are available under the 2025 Plan to grant directors, officers, employees and consultants pursuant to any combination of non-qualified stock options for the purchase of the Corporation’s Common Stock (each a " NQSO ") and restricted stock units settleable at the Corporation’s option in cash or its Common Stock (each a " RSU "). The number of shares available under the 2025 Plan will not be reduced or otherwise affected by any awards outstanding under the Corporation’s Prior Plans or by any inducement awards of options or restricted stock units, or by bonus plans, phantom stock awards, or other incentive plans, options, or awards. As of the Record Date, there were seven (7) Directors of the Corporation and approximately 249 officers, employees and consultants of the Company eligible for Awards under the 2025 Plan. |
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The 2025 Plan is administrated by "Administrators" (CEO and CFO by default) and the Compensation Committee, but the approval of the Compensation Committee is required to grant Awards and generally to amend Awards and the 2025 Plan and the approval of the Board may be required to grant certain Awards and to make certain amendments to the extent required by the Charter, Nasdaq Rules and applicable law. |
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Under the 2025 Plan, Administrators are required to make recommendations to the Compensation Committee for approval, and where Board approval is required (see above), the Compensation Committee must first approve and then recommend to the Board. |
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Under the 2025 Plan: |
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NQSO Awards to officers, employees and consultants vest over two (2) to three (3) years, as specified in the Award, with three (3) years as the default. |
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RSU Awards to officers, employees and consultants vest over one (1) to three (3) years, as specified in the Award, with three (3) years as the default. |
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Director NQSO and RSU grants vest in one (1) to two (2) years, as specified in the Award, with one (1) year as the default. |
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Under the 2025 Plan (and similar to the 2018 Plan), all Awards vest in full and continue in accordance with their terms if upon the Retirement, death or Disability of the Awardee. |
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If the Awardee is terminated or leaves (other than due to Retirement, death or Disability), then unless otherwise provided in the Awardee’s severance, departure or other agreement, all unvested Awards terminate and has three (3) months to exercise vested Awards, but all Awards are forfeited if termination is for Cause. |
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The 2025 Plan permits the exchange of an RSU Award for an outstanding phantom stock unit (each a " PSU ") on substantially equivalent terms if either the PSU contract permits such an exchange or the PSU holder agrees to such an exchange. |
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Under the 2025 Plan (and similar to the 2018 Plan), certain customary Extraordinary Events still require mandatory price or quantity adjustments. |
No Awards can be granted under the 2025 Plan until it is approved by the Corporation's stockholders, and no Awards can be granted after the 2025 Plan expires on May 31, 2028.
Purpose of the 2025 Stock Compensation Plan
The purpose of the 2025 Plan (upon its approval) is to promote the interests of the Corporation and its stockholders by providing stock-based incentives to certain employees, directors, officers and consultants. Under the 2025 Plan, the mutuality of interest between those participants and the Corporation is strengthened because they have a proprietary interest in pursuing the Corporation's long-term growth and financial success. In addition, by allowing participation in the Corporation's success, the Corporation is better able to attract, retain and reward quality employees, directors, officers and consultants. In selecting the participants to whom Awards may be granted, consideration is given to factors such as employment position, duties and responsibilities, ability, productivity, length of service, morale, interest in the Corporation and recommendations of supervisors.
Participants receive Awards in return for the past and future rendering of services and are not required to pay the Corporation for such Awards (except for applicable tax withholding when due and any exercise price in the case of Options) or purchase price (if any) established by the Compensation Committee in the applicable Contract.
Awards Under The 2025 Stock Compensation Plan
Future Participants in the 2025 Plan (upon its approval) and the amounts, vesting, duration and other terms of their future Awards must be made in accordance with the 2025 Plan and will be determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion except that the approval of the Board may be required to grant certain Awards and to make certain amendments to the extent required by the Charter, Nasdaq Rules and applicable law. Because no such determinations have yet been made, it is not possible to state the specific terms of any individual Awards that may be issued under the 2025 Plan or the names or positions of or respective amounts of the grant to any individual who may participate. All Awards will be subject to any restrictions in the 2025 Plan and the Code. The terms may be different for the same or similar Awards or Participants.
The grant date for an Award is generally the date the Award is approved by the Compensation Committee. However, the Compensation Committee may (in its discretion) specify a later grant date in its approval, which it may do in order to (among other things) coordinate the grant date with a new employee's start date or permit public dissemination of a pending earnings press release. Each Award granted under the 2025 Plan will be evidenced by a Contract in a form approved by the Compensation Committee and executed by the Corporation and the Participant receiving the Award. Each Contract will contain the terms, provisions and conditions pertaining to the applicable Award, including (as applicable) a stock option exercise price. RSUs do not require payment of any exercise price.
The Board and Compensation Committee have recommended ratification and adoption of the 2025 Plan to continue that important tool in equity-based compensation. See EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, DIRECTORS AND OTHER INFORMATION - Stock Based Compensation Plans , below.
A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE " FOR " THE RATIFICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE 2025 STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN (PROPOSAL 5).
NO STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
No stockholder proposals or Director nominations were duly submitted to or duly received by the Corporation on a timely basis. Accordingly, the Corporation will not consider any proposals or nominations from any stockholder at the 2025 Annual Meeting. However, Robert G. Brown's request for the nominations of James R. Brown, Sr. and Panagiotis Lazaretos was made pursuant to the CIC Agreement, and they have been included as Director nominations at the 2025 Annual Meeting (see Contractually Dedicated Seats , below.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors of the Corporation
The Board is responsible for overseeing the management, policies and direction of the Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the " Company "), both directly and through its committees (See Corporate Governance ", below). The members of the Board and referenced Committees as of December 31, 2024, were as set forth below: Mr. James R. Gillis joined the Board on August 10, 2023, and Mr. John Bode and Ms. Linda Houston joined the Board on October 1, 2023. They and Mr. Michael R. Matacunas and Mr. William H. Bartels were all reelected at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders on November 9, 2023.
Although they were not Directors at the end of 2024, pursuant to Mr. Robert G. Brown's rights under the CIC Agreement (see Change of Control, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement , below), on December 23, 2024, Mr. Robert G. Brown requested that Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., and Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos be nominated for election as Directors (see Contractually Designated Seats , below). Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., and Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos each then signed the Director Resignation Letter required under the 2022 By-Laws, and on May 6, 2025, the Board appointed each of them to fill the Brown Board Seats to act as Directors through the 2025 Annual Meeting, effective immediately, and (through later Board action) to be candidates for re-election to the Brown Board Seats at the 2025 Annual Meeting (see Proposal 1 , above).
However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, and Highwire may at any time, and from time to time, change the composition of the Board.
| Name | Age | Position with SGRP |
| William H. Bartels (1) | 80 | Director |
| John Bode (2) (3) | 50 | Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee, and a member of the Compensation Committee, Governance Committee and Special Committee |
| James R. Gillis (2) (4) | 71 | Director and Chairman of the Board, the Chairman of the Special Committee, and a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee |
| Linda Houston (2) (5) | 67 | Director and Chairman of the Compensation Committee and Chairman of the Governance Committee, and a member of the Audit Committee and Special Committee |
| Michael R. Matacunas | 57 | Chief Executive Officer, President and Director |
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Qualified as an independent Director for general purposes under Nasdaq rules. Mr. Bartels served on the Special Committee through February, 2024. |
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Qualified as an independent Director for general purposes under Nasdaq rules and qualified as a Super Independent Director under and as defined in SGRP's 2022 By-Laws. See Contractually Dedicated Seats and 2022 By-Laws , below. |
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On October 1, 2023, Mr. John Bode was appointed to the Board, and on October 4, 2023, he was appointed to the Audit Committee, Governance Committee, and Special Committee, and appointed Chairman of the Audit Committee. On March 28, 2024, he was appointed to the Compensation Committee. |
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On August 10, 2023, Mr. James R. Gillis was appointed to the Board, Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Governance Committee, and Special Committee, and became Chairman of the Governance Committee which he remained until October 3, 2023. On September 1, 2023, he was appointed Chairman of the Compensation Committee which he remained until November 9, 2023. On October 4, 2023, he was appointed the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Special Committee, both of which he remains. |
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On October 1, 2023, Ms. Linda Houston was appointed to the Board, and on October 4, 2023, she was appointed to the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Governance Committee, and Special Committee, and was appointed Chairman of the Governance Committee. On November 9, 2023, she was appointed the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. |
William H. Bartels has served as Director of SGRP since July 8, 1999. As one (1) of the two (2) founders of the Company, he was responsible for sales, marketing and developing client relationships across the globe for more than 40 years. He was also responsible for marketing/sales for the SPARLINE technology and its related consulting business for evaluating trade promotion spending and strategies for top tier CPG companies, domestic and international. He gained industry-wide recognition as reported through numerous industry publications and guest speeches at major industry conferences, while also negotiating partnerships with research companies in the U.K. and Australia for using the SPARLINE system. Prior to July 8, 1999, Mr. Bartels served as Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Senior Vice President of the SPAR Marketing Companies, since 1967. He retired as an employee of the Company on January 1, 2020. He sits in one of the Contractually Dedicated Seats ( i.e., the Bartels Board Seat) and nominated himself for re-election to that seat pursuant to the CIC Agreement. See Change of Control, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement and Contractually Dedicated Seats , below.
John Bode joined the Board of SGRP in October 2023 and currently is a member of the Audit Committee (and is its Chairman), the Compensation Committee, the Governance Committee, and the Special Committee [on Strategic Alternatives]. Mr. Bode was named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Transformation Officer of Postmedia Network Canada Corp. effective October 6, 2023. Postmedia is a leading Canadian news media company. Additionally, Mr. Bode owns and operates a boutique strategic consultancy focused primarily on media. From 2018 to 2022, he was the EVP, Chief Operating Officer of Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC, which is the largest full-service distributor of books to retailers in North America. From 2013 to 2015, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Tribune Publishing Company. Mr. Bode began his career in 1996 as a CPA with BDO Seidman, LLP. He currently serves multiple public, private and charitable boards including McClatchy, Zevra Pharmaceutical, FISION Corporation and Veterans Ventures. Mr. Bode served on the board of Proficient Alpha Acquisition Corp. which ended when the acquisition of the Lion Group was completed in 2020. He earned his degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.
James R. Gillis joined the Board of SGRP in August 2023, was appointed Chairman of the Board on October 4, 2023 and currently is a member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee (and is its Chairman), the Governance Committee, and the Special Committee [on Strategic Alternatives] (and is its Chairman). Mr. Gillis is currently the CEO of Gillis Associates, Inc., an MA advisory firm that helps buyers and sellers in complex transactions. From 1993 to 2011, he was the CEO of Source Interlink Companies, Inc. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Gillis was Managing Partner of Aders, Wilcox, Gillis Group, a global developer of trade relationships serving major brand marketers and retailers worldwide. He currently serves on the boards of American Stock Transfer Trust Company, LLC (AST), and Travelport Worldwide LTD, and is an advisor to Siris Capital Group and Platinum Equity. Mr. Gillis has served on the boards and committees of multiple companies including Source Interlink, Park City Group, and Globe Communications. He attended Nova University in Fort Lauderdale.
Linda Houston joined the Board of SGRP in October 2023 and currently is a member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee (and is its Chairman), the Governance Committee (and is its Chairman), and the Special Committee [on Strategic Alternatives]. Ms. Houston is currently an Affiliate for Bates Consulting Group providing expert witness testimony on wealth management. She is also a Consultant for LGH Consulting LLC, an independent consulting firm that consults wealth management teams and trust departments. From 2011 to 2017, she was the Managing Director/Division Executive, and the Head of Global Wealth and Investment Management Diversity and Inclusion (DI) Council for Bank of American/Merrill Lynch. From 1999 to 2011, Ms. Houston held positions, also at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, as New Jersey Regional Managing Director (2010-2011), National Marketing and Sales Manager (2008-2009) and Managing Director/Marketing Executive (1999-2008). She serves on the board of Virginia National Bank, Florida Oceanographic, Community Foundation of Martin and St. Lucie Counties, Sailfish Point Foundation, Alvin Ailey Dance Company and Baruch College Zicklin School of Business. Ms. Houston earned her Bachelors of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University. She completed the Women's Executive Business Leadership Program at Harvard Business School and the Women's Executive Leadership Development Program at Keenan Flagler School of Business University of North Carolina.
Michael R. Matacunas serves as the Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director of SGRP and has held such positions since his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of SGRP on February 16, 2021. He is a Fortune 500 veteran with more than 30 years of relevant leadership experience. He has worked in public and private companies, developed and led international business growth, driven exceptional operational results and built world-class teams. Mr. Matacunas was previously the Chief Administrative Officer at Dollar Tree, Inc., where he helped lead the successful multi-billion-dollar acquisition and integration of Family Dollar Stores, including, among other things, merchandising, sourcing, operational and executive improvements. Prior to this, Mr. Matacunas was CEO of a successful retail professional services business that transformed leading global retailers, wholesalers and consumer packaged goods companies. Mike's experience also includes strategy, consulting and world-wide roles at leading technology companies, including IBM and Manhattan Associates. Mr. Matacunas earned a BA in Economics from Boston University and an MBA from the College of William Mary Mason School of Business. He sits in one of the Contractually Dedicated Seats ( i.e., the CEO Board Seat"). See Contractually Dedicated Seats , below.
Additional Directors on May 6, 2025, and Candidates for Re-Election to the Brown Board Seats
James R. Brown, Sr., age 78, re-joined the Board on May 6, 2025, filling one of the two Brown Board Seats as the designee and the representative of Mr. Robert G. Brown (see Contractually Designated Seats , below). Mr. James R. Brown, Sr. is the brother of Mr. Robert G. Brown, and Mr. Robert G. Brown is an affiliate, related party and significant stockholder and one of the founders of SGRP. Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., first joined the Board of SGRP in January 2021 and retired from the Board and its Committees on January 25, 2022, in connection with the CIC Agreement (see Change of Control, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement , below). Following his retirement from the SGRP Board, James R. Brown, Sr. contracted to be a paid advisor to the Corporation, which agreement expired the following year. He retired in 2015 from his position as Labor Counsel for the Public Massachusetts Community College System. James R. Brown Sr. received a BS in Finance and an MBA from Boston University. Mr. Brown received a JD from New England Law-Boston.
Panagiotis Lazaretos, age 53, re-joined the Board on May 6, 2025, filling the other Brown Board Seat as the designee and the representative of Mr. Robert G. Brown (see Contractually Designated Seats , below). Mr. Lazaretos first joined the SGRP Board on December 10, 2019, and retired from the Board and its Committees on January 25, 2022, in connection with the CIC Agreement (see Change of Control, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement , below). Mr. Lazaretos served as a paid consultant to the Corporation following his retirement through July 31, 2023, pursuant to a Consulting Agreement with his company, Thenablers, Ltd. Mr. Lazaretos received a BS in Computer Science from the State University of New York.
Executives and Officers of the Corporation
Set forth in the table below are the names, ages and offices held by all Executives and Officers of the Corporation as of December 31, 2024. Antonio Calisto Pato joined SGRP and became Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer on February 27, 2023. For biographical information regarding Michael R. Matacunas, See the Board of Directors of the Corporation , above. However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, and Highwire may at any time, and from time to time, change the composition of the Executives and Officers of the Corporation.
|
Name |
Age |
Position with SPAR Group, Inc. (1) (2) |
| Michael R. Matacunas | 57 | Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director |
| Antonio Calisto Pato (3) | 46 | Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer |
|
Kori G. Belzer |
59 |
Global Chief Operating Officer |
|
William Linnane |
50 |
Global Strategy and Growth Officer |
|
Ron Lutz |
65 |
Global Chief Commercial Officer |
|
(1) |
Under the Corporation's 2022 By-Laws and the resolutions of the Board, each of the named individuals have been designated as both an "Executive" and an "Officer" of the Corporation except as otherwise noted below. An Executive is generally an executive officer of the Corporation and part of its senior management. |
|
(2) |
Each named individual is an "at will" employee of the Company. Each has a potential severance payment under a Change of Control Severance Agreement. See Potential Severance Payments upon a Change-In-Control and Termination , below. |
|
(3) |
Mr. Antonio Calisto Pato joined SGRP and became its Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer on February 27, 2023. |
Antonio Calisto Pato joined SGRP and became its Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer on February 27, 2023. He has leadership experience in business, finance and international and strategy, tax and operational expertise. Most recently, Mr. Calisto Pato held CFO roles and directed all aspects of finance, accounting, treasury and tax as CFO for Earth Shoes and interim CFO for Street Trend. Prior to these roles, he held increasing leadership positions at Chiquita Brands International from 2011 to 2021. Mr. Calisto Pato also held financial and business leadership roles at Cemex in Switzerland and PWC in Luxembourg. He speaks four languages (including those principally used in the Company's Brazilian and Mexican offices) and successfully earned a combined 5-year undergraduate and law degree in Portugal, and went on to complete his post-graduate degree in Tax from the Lisbon Business School. Mr. Calisto Pato also completed a Master of Advanced Studies in International Tax Law in the Netherlands at Leiden University and completed his MBA from the University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School at Chapel Hill, NC.
Kori G. Belzer became the Global Chief Operating Officer of SGRP in July 2021 and has served as Chief Operating Officer of SGRP since January 1, 2004. From August 7, 2020, through February 21, 2021, she also served as acting Chief Executive Officer of SGRP. From 2000 through 2003, Ms. Belzer served as the Chief Operating Officer of SPAR Administrative Services, Inc. (then known as SPAR Management Services, Inc.) (" SAS "), and SPAR Business Services, Inc. (then known as SPAR Marketing Services, Inc.), each an affiliate of SGRP (See Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons , below). From 1997 to 2000, Ms. Belzer served as Vice President Operations of SAS and as Regional Director of SAS from 1995 to 1997. Prior to 1995, she served as Client Services Manager for SPAR/Servco, Inc.
William Linnane joined SGRP in July 2021 as its Chief Strategy and Growth Officer. He is an internationally experienced business, merchandising, retail, and finance leader with more than 20 years of relevant leadership experience. He has worked in the US, in Europe and in Australia; leading multi-billion-dollar businesses and driving exceptional operational results with different market conditions. He was recently the CEO of a successful advisory and investment firm focused on MA and retail restructurings. Prior to that, Mr. Linnane was President of Kmart's Pharmacy, Drugstore and Grocery businesses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Chief Merchant at a leading book retailer in Europe, and led the Beverage, Candy and Snacks business for Tesco in the UK, working with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Mars, Mondelez and others to drive branded growth opportunities via merchandising and other initiatives, including digital strategies. Mr. Linnane is a qualified accountant and started his career in finance working in the UK and Ireland at Kingfisher PLC (LSE: KGFL) and Tesco PLC (LSE:TSCO). He has strong experience in strategy, finance, operations, merchandising, sourcing, and leadership roles. Mr. Linnane holds an MA in Economics from Trinity College, University of Dublin.
Ron Lutz joined SGRP joined SGRP in July 2021 as its Chief Global Commercial Officer. He built a 35-year executive career guiding Fortune 100 companies and private organizations in the retail customer experience space. He has led retail organizations through transformational growth, change management and market expansions. Throughout his career he has held responsibilities in the areas of sales, operations, strategy, marketing, omni-channel customer experience development, international expansion, and acquisitions. Most recently, Ron was consulting as an international strategic retail advisor. Prior to this, he was the Chief Client Officer at a private retail services and solutions company. With his extensive background in the industry, Ron has served in the capacity and/or held titles such as Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Customer Officer, VP Customer Experience Deployment, VP New Store – Remerchandising, VP Enterprise Print /Fixtures, and VP Store Service Solutions. Earlier in his career, he served as a Vice President with Lowe's Companies (NYSE: LOW), where he led the deployment of an omni-channel customer experience solution across 2,000+ North American retail store locations. He also had responsibility for new store development in emerging markets and store renovations across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Board Structure, Leadership and Risk Oversight
The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board ") is responsible for overseeing the Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the " Company "), both directly and through its committees (as described below), pursuant to the authority conferred by the Corporation's 2022 By-Laws, charters and policies and by applicable law. The Board's responsibilities include (without limitation) the appointment and oversight of the Company's Chief Executive Officer. The Board also provides oversight of risks that could affect the Company, both directly and through its committees with respect to the most significant risks facing the Company (including material operational or financial risks). Pursuant to their respective charters, the Board has established and delegated various oversight and other responsibilities to the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee, as such committees are defined and more fully described below under the headings "Audit Committee", "Compensation Committee" and "Governance Committee".
However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s 2022 By-Laws will be replaced by the By-Laws attached to the Merger Agreement, and Highwire may at any time, and from time to time, change the By-Laws, Committee Charters, and codes and policies of the Corporation. This Proxy Statement only describes the Corporation’s current 2022 By-Laws, Committee Charters and codes and policies.
The Board is comprised of Independent Directors, Super Independent Directors (See Board Size, Quorum and Voting , Director Nominations: Experience, Integrity, Diversity and other Criteria, Director Independence, Contractually Dedicated Seats, and 2022 By Laws , below) and Non- Independent Directors. The Governance Committee is generally responsible for determining and recommending to the full Board whether a Director satisfies the applicable Nasdaq independent requirements or the more comprehensive super-independence requirements established in the 2022 By-Laws, although the Board has the authority to act and has acted on its own. The super-independence requirement establishes specific criteria to ensure a Director is unaffiliated with any specific significant stockholder or any related party. In addition, the Board has established the position of Chairman of the Board, which is a non-executive position, and Chief Executive Officer (who is also President). Per the 2022 By-Laws, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and Chairman of any Committee must each be a Super Independent Director. However, in the absence of a Chairman of the Board, the CEO acts as Chairman of the Board under the 2022 By-Laws. The Board believes these definitions and criteria ensure a strong, experienced and independent Board to provide oversight on behalf of all stockholders.
To assist the Board and its Committees in their respective oversight roles, the Company's Chief Executive Officer brings members of the Company's management from various business or administrative areas into meetings of the Board or applicable Committee from time to time to make presentations, answer questions and provide insight to the members, including insights into areas of potential risk. Each Committee endeavors to satisfy its responsibilities through: (i) its receipt and review of regular reports directly from officers responsible for oversight of particular risks within the Company; (ii) direct communications by the Committee or its Chairman with the Corporation's senior management; (iii) independent registered public accounting firm (in the case of the Audit Committee) and counsel respecting such matters and related risks; (iv) its executive sessions; (v) its reports (generally through its Chairman) to the full Board respecting the Committee's considerations; and (vi) if applicable, its recommendations to the Board and such actions regarding such matters and risks as deemed appropriate.
Risk oversight is conducted primarily through the Audit Committee, but also is conducted through the Compensation Committee or Governance Committee, as applicable, and the Board as a whole. The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing the accounting, auditing and financial reporting and disclosure principles, policies, practices and controls of the Company and regularly considers (among other things) financial, reporting, internal control, related party, cybersecurity, legal and other issues and related risks and uncertainties material to the Company. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the performance and compensation of the executives, director compensation and the other compensation, equity incentive, related policies, and material benefits of the Company. The Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing the finding, vetting and nomination of directors and committee members for the Board and senior Executives for SGRP, and for overseeing the content and application of the Ethics Code, corporate documents and governance policies and practices, although the Board has the authority to act and may act and from time to time has acted on its own.
Each of the Committee charters requires the Board to determine that each of its members satisfy applicable Nasdaq requirements for the respective Committee and be free from any relationship which may interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member. The 2022 By-Laws also require that the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chairman of each Committee and at least two (2) members of each Committee be a Super Independent Director (See Board Size, Quorum and Voting , and Director Nominations: Experience, Integrity, Diversity and other Criteria, Director Independence and Contractually Dedicated Seats, below).
Board Meetings
The Board meets regularly to receive and discuss operating and financial reports presented by management of SGRP and its advisors. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Board held thirteen (13) meetings. Each incumbent Director is required to attend 75% of the board meetings. In 2024, all then current members attended at least 75% of the meetings.
Board Size, Quorum and Voting
Under the 2022 By-Laws: the current Board size is fixed at seven (7) directors as of January 25, 2022; the Chairman and at least three (3) of the Board members must be Super Independent Directors (as defined therein), and the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chairman of each Committee and at least two (2) members of each Committee must be a Super Independent Director. (See Director Independence and Contractually Dedicated Seats , below).
The Board size can only be changed from time to time by amending the 2022 By-Laws, which requires the approval of at least 70% of the directors then in office, including a majority of the Super Independent Directors.
Board meetings require an attendance quorum of at least 70% of its members, including a majority of the Super Independent Directors.
Under the 2022 By-Laws, except as noted below: each director is entitled to one (1) vote; and the vote of the majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.
However, in the event the Board:
|
(i) |
Includes two (2) Super Independent Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, the director with the least tenure on the Board who is not a Super- Independent Director (other than the Chief Executive Officer) shall lose the right to vote on any matters that come before the Board; |
|
(ii) |
Includes one (1) Super Independent Director and the Chief Executive Officer, then two (2) of the then-serving directors who have the least tenure on the Board and are not Super Independent Directors (other than the Chief Executive Officer) shall lose the right to vote on any matters that come before the Board; or |
|
(iii) |
Includes no Super Independent Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, all of the then-serving directors who are not Super Independent Directors (other than the Chief Executive Officer) shall lose the right to vote on any matters that come before the Board. |
In addition, Section 3.12 of the 2022 By-Laws requires that certain actions by the Board be approved by a super-majority of the Board consisting of at least 70% of the directors then in office, including a majority of the Super Independent Directors. Those super-majority actions include any amendment to the 2022 By-Laws, any Committee Charter, or SGRP's Ethics Code, and the issuance of more than 250,000 shares of SGRP's Common Stock or any right to acquire them (See Director Nominations: Experience, Integrity, Diversity and other Criteria and Director Independence, below).
Board Committees
From time to time the Board may establish permanent standing committees and temporary special committees to assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities, and may delegate Board power and authority pursuant to charters approved by the Board. Under the 2022 By-Laws (see below), a "super majority" vote of at least 70% of all SGRP directors is now required for any new committee, change in any committee charter, or certain other actions (meaning any such Board action brought before a Board consisting of seven directors can be blocked by any three (3) directors), and an absolute majority of the Board is now required for the appointment to or removal of any director from any committee (meaning any such Board action brought before a Board consisting of seven directors can be blocked by any four (4) directors). Currently, SGRP has three (3) permanent standing committees; the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Governance Committee; and one (1) temporary committee - - the Special Committee. An audit committee is required by Nasdaq, the SEC, and applicable law. While SGRP is not similarly required to have either a compensation committee or governance committee, certain responsibilities assigned to these committees in their respective charters are required to be fulfilled by independent directors by Nasdaq Rules or SEC Rules.
Each of the Committee charters requires the Board to determine that each of its members satisfy applicable Nasdaq requirements for such a Committee and be free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member. (See Board Size, Quorum and Voting , above, and Director Nominations: Experience, Integrity, Diversity and other Criteria, Director Independence, and 2022 By-Laws , below).
The standing committees of the Board are the Audit Committee of the Board (the " Audit Committee "), the Compensation Committee of the Board (the " Compensation Committee "), and the Governance Committee of the Board (the " Governance Committee "), as provided in the Corporation's 2022 By-Laws and their respective Committee Charters (See Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters , below). Those Committees are each discussed below.
In June 2022, the Board created the Special Committee for Strategic Alternatives to assist the Board in pursuing strategic transactions and other strategic alternatives (the " Special Committee "), which is a temporary (rather than a standing) committee that will continue at the discretion of the Board. The initial members of the Special Committee were Mr. William H. Bartels, Mr. Michael Wager (who passed away on July 8, 2023) and Mr. Sean M. Whelan (who resigned effective September 30, 2023). Mr. James R. Gillis was added to it the Committee in August 2023, and in October 2023, Mr. John Bode and Ms. Linda Houston became members and Mr. James R. Gillis was made Chairman of the Special Committee. In February, 2024, Mr. William H. Bartels resigned from the Special Committee.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities respecting the accounting, auditing and financial reporting and disclosure principles, policies, practices and controls of the Company, the integrity of the Company's consolidated financial statements, the audits of the financial statements of the Company and the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and disclosure. The specific functions and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in the written Amended and Restated Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of SPAR Group, Inc., dated (as of) May 18, 2004 (the " Audit Charter "), approved and recommended by the Audit Committee and Governance Committee and adopted by the Board on May 18, 2004. The Audit Committee also is given specific functions and responsibilities by and is subject to Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (" Sarbanes-Oxley "), and other applicable laws, which are reflected in the Audit Charter. You can obtain and review a current copy of the Audit Charter on the Company's web site (www.sparinc.com), on which it is posted and available to stockholders and the public under the Investor Relations tab and Corporate Governance sub-tab. The Audit Charter was amended and restated to reflect the evolution of the Audit Committee's expanding responsibilities, the adoption of Sarbanes-Oxley, and changes in Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules, securities laws and other applicable laws pertaining to all audit committees. The Audit Committee reviews and reassesses the Audit Charter annually and recommends any needed changes to the Board for approval.
The Audit Committee (among other things and as more fully provided in the Audit Charter) is tasked with the following:
|
(a) |
Serves as an independent and objective party to monitor the Company's financial reporting process and internal accounting and disclosure control system and their adequacy and effectiveness; | |
|
(b) |
Is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of any registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services for the Company; |
|
|
(c) |
Resolves disagreements between the Company's senior management and the Company's independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting; | |
|
(d) |
Communicates directly with the Company's independent registered public accounting firm; | |
|
(e) |
Reviews and appraises the audit efforts of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, including the plans for and scope of the audit, the audit procedures to be utilized and results of the audit; | |
|
(f) |
Provides an open avenue of communication among the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, the Company's financial and senior management and the Board; | |
|
(g) |
Reviews and approves, in advance, all non-audit services to be performed by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm, either individually or through policies and procedures for particular types of services to be performed within specified periods; | |
|
(h) |
Reviews the performance, qualifications and independence of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm; | |
|
(i) |
Reviews the financial reports and other financial information provided by SGRP to any governmental body or the public; |
|
|
(j) |
Encourages continuous improvement of, and fosters adherence to, the Company's accounting controls, disclosure controls, risk management and similar policies, procedures and practices at all levels; | |
|
(k) |
Reviews and approves the overall fairness to the Company of all material related-party transactions; and | |
|
(l) |
Reviews and oversees risks material to the Company, including those addressed in the Ethics Code and other internal codes, policies and guidelines, internal controls, and those respecting related party relationships, cybersecurity, legal and other issues and uncertainties (which the Audit Committee has been doing informally pending the amendment of the Audit Charter to specifically include this responsibility); and | |
| (m) | May retain independent counsel, accountants or others to assist it in the conduct of an investigation or such other action as the Audit Committee may otherwise determine as necessary to carry out its duties under its Charter and applicable law, the fees and expenses of all of which will be paid by the Corporation. |
The 2022 By-Laws require that the Chairman and at least two (2) of the members of the Audit Committee be Super Independent Directors. As of December 31, 2024, the Audit Committee consisted of Mr. John Bode, its Chairman, and Mr. James R. Gillis and Ms. Linda Houston, each of whom has been determined by the Governance Committee and the Board to meet the independence requirements for Audit Committee members under Nasdaq Rules and SEC Rules, and to be a Super Independent Director satisfying the stricter requirements of the 2022 By-Laws. See Director Independence , below . Mr. John Bode, Mr. James R. Gillis and Ms. Linda Houston are each qualified to be the “financial expert” for the Audit Committee as required by Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules and other applicable law.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Audit Committee met five (5) times. All then current members attended at least 75% of the meetings.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities respecting the compensation of the Named Executive Officers (See Compensation Table , below) and the other related policies of the Company, through which the Company endeavors to attract, motivate and retain the executive talent needed to optimize stockholder value in a competitive environment while facilitating the business strategies and long-range plans of the Company. The specific functions and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee are set forth in the written Charter of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of SPAR Group, Inc., dated (as of) May 18, 2004, and amended through August 12, 2020 (the " Compensation Charter "), approved and recommended by the Compensation Committee and Governance Committee and adopted by the Board on May 18, 2004, and amended on August 12, 2020. The Compensation Committee also is given specific functions and responsibilities by and is subject to Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules, Sarbanes-Oxley and other applicable laws. You can obtain and review a current copy of the Compensation Charter on the Company's web site (www.sparinc.com), on which it is posted and available to stockholders and the public under the Investor Relations tab and Corporate Governance sub-tab. The Compensation Charter was adopted to reflect the evolution of the Compensation Committee's informal responsibilities, the adoption of Sarbanes- Oxley, and changes in Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules, securities laws and other applicable laws pertaining to compensation committees. The Compensation Committee reviews and reassesses the Compensation Charter annually and recommends any needed changes to the Board for approval.
The Compensation Committee (among other things and as more fully provided in the Compensation Charter) is tasked with the following, although the approval or determination of the Board may be required to establish certain compensation, grant certain Awards, and to make certain amendments to the extent required by the Charter, Nasdaq Rules and applicable law, and the Board has the authority to act on such matters (without Compensation Committee recommendation) and has acted on its own:
|
(a) |
Reviews the existing and proposed compensation plans, policies and practices of the Company (as required), and reviews and recommends any desirable changes or additions to any such plan, policy or practice (as required), all in order to: (i) attract and retain quality directors, executives and employees; (ii) provide total compensation competitive with similar companies; (iii) reward and reinforce the attainment of the Company's performance objectives; and (iv) align the interests of SGRP's directors and the Company's executives and employees with those of SGRP's stockholders (the " Company's Compensation Objectives "); |
|
(b) |
Reviews the Company's existing and proposed Compensation Objectives from time to time, and makes recommendations to the Board respecting any changes therein (as required); |
|
(c) |
Reviews the performance of and establishment of the compensation for the Company's Named Executive Officers, and makes recommendations to the Board respecting any changes therein (as required); |
|
(d) |
Oversees the Company's equity awards, employee stock purchase plan and other benefit plans and severance policies, makes recommendations to the Board respecting any stock compensation plans (as required), and reviews and recommends (as required) or approves, as applicable, any necessary or desirable changes or additions to any such plan, policy or practice; and |
|
(e) |
May retain independent counsel, accountants or others to assist it in the conduct of an investigation or such other action as the Compensation Committee may otherwise determine as necessary to carry out its duties under its Charter and applicable law, the fees and expenses of all of which will be paid by the Corporation. |
As of December 31, 2024, the Compensation Committee consisted of Ms. Linda Houston, its Chairman, and Mr. John Bode and Mr. James R. Gillis, each of whom has been determined by the Governance Committee and the Board to meet the independence requirements for Compensation Committee members under Nasdaq Rules and SEC Rules, and to be a Super Independent Director satisfying the stricter requirements of the 2022 By-Laws. See Director Independence , below .
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Compensation Committee met two (2) times. All then current members attended at least 75% of the meetings.
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities respecting the nomination of directors and committee members for the Board and the corporate documents and governance policies and practices of the Corporation. The specific functions and responsibilities of the Governance Committee are set forth in the written Charter of the Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of SPAR Group, Inc., Dated (as of) May 18, 2004 (the " Governance Charter "), approved and recommended by the Governance Committee and adopted by the Board on May 18, 2004, and amended on March 18, 2021. The Governance Committee also is given specific functions and responsibilities by and is subject to the Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules, Sarbanes-Oxley, and other applicable laws, which are reflected in the Governance Charter. You can obtain and review a current copy of the Governance Charter on the Company's web site (www.sparinc.com), on which it is posted and available to stockholders and the public under the Investor Relations tab and Corporate Governance sub-tab. The Governance Charter was adopted to reflect the evolution of the Governance Committee's informal responsibilities, the adoption of Sarbanes-Oxley, and changes in Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules, securities laws, and other applicable laws pertaining to governance committees. The Governance Committee reviews and reassesses the Governance Charter, Nomination Policy and Ethics Code (as such terms are defined below), as well as the 2022 By-Laws of the Corporation and the other Committee Charters, annually and recommends any needed changes to the Board for approval.
The Governance Committee (among other things and as more fully provided in the Governance Charter) is tasked with the following, although the Board has the authority to act on such matters and has acted on its own:
|
(a) |
Oversees the identification, vetting and nomination of candidates for directors of SGRP and the selection of committee members, reviews their qualifications (including outside director independence) and recommends any proposed nominees to the Board (but see Contractually Dedicated Seats , below); |
|
(b) |
Oversees SGRP's organizational documents and policies and practices on corporate governance and recommends any proposed changes to the Board for approval; |
|
(c) |
Oversees the Ethics Code and other internal codes, policies and guidelines and monitors the Corporation's enforcement of them and incorporation of them into the Corporation's culture and business practices; and |
|
(d) |
May retain independent counsel, accountants or others to assist it in the conduct of an investigation or such other action as the Governance Committee may otherwise determine as necessary to carry out its duties under its Charter and applicable law, the fees and expenses of all of which will be paid by the Corporation. |
The 2022 By-Laws require that the Chairman and at least two (2) of the members of the Governance Committee be Super Independent Directors. As of December 31, 2024, the Governance Committee consisted of Ms. Linda Houston, its Chairman, and Mr. John Bode and Mr. James R. Gillis, each of whom had been determined by the Governance Committee and the Board to meet the independence requirements for Governance Committee members under Nasdaq Rules and SEC Rules and to be a Super Independent Director satisfying the stricter requirements of the 2022 By-Laws. See Board Size, Quorum and Voting , above, Director Independence and 2022 By-Laws , below.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Governance Committee met three (3) times. All then current members attended at least 75% of the meetings.
Director Nominations: Experience, Integrity, Diversity and other Criteria
The Governance Committee oversees the identification, vetting and nomination of candidates for directors and the selection of committee members, the review of their qualifications (including outside director independence), and recommends any proposed nominees to the Board in accordance with the Governance Charter and with the SPAR Group, Inc. Statement of Policy Regarding Director Qualifications and Nominations dated as of May 18, 2004 (the " Nomination Policy "), as approved and recommended by the Governance Committee and adopted by the Board on May 18, 2004. You can obtain and review a current copy of this policy on the Company's web site (www.sparinc.com), on which it is posted and available to stockholders and the public under the Investor Relations tab and Corporate Governance sub-tab.
The Nomination Policy, applicable law and exchange rules require that a majority of the directors satisfy the independence requirements under the applicable Nasdaq Rules and SEC Rules and Delaware law. Each of the Committee charters requires the Board to determine that each of the members satisfy applicable Nasdaq requirements for such a Committee and be free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member. The By- Laws also require that the Chairman of the Board, at least three (3) Board members and the Chairman and at least two (2) members of each Committee be a Super- Independent Director. See Board Size, Quorum and Voting , above, Director Independence, Contractually Dedicated Seats, and 2022 By-Laws , below.
The Nomination Policy identifies numerous characteristics believed important by the Board for any nominee for director and provides that each nominee for director should possess as many of them as practicable. These desirable characteristics include (among other things) the highest professional and personal ethics and integrity, sufficient time and attention to devote to Board and Committee duties and responsibilities, strong relevant business and industry knowledge and contacts, and business and financial sophistication, common sense and wisdom, the contribution to the diversity of perspectives in the Board and its Committees, and the ability to make informed judgments on a wide range of issues, the ability and willingness to exercise and express independent judgments, and the apparent ability and willingness to meet or exceed the Board's performance expectations. The Nomination Policy specifically recognizes the desirability of ethnic, racial, gender and geographic diversity for the Board but does not specify any metrics for evaluating potential candidates in that regard. However, the Governance Committee takes all relevant factors (including such diversity) into account when identifying and evaluating candidates for Board membership.
Performance expectations for each director have also been established by the Board in the Nomination Policy, including (among other things) the director's regular preparation for, attendance at and participation in all meetings (including appropriate questioning), support and advice to management in his areas of expertise, maintenance of focus on the Board's agenda, understanding the business, finances, plans and strategies of Company, professional and collegial interaction, acting in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders, and compliance with the Company's Ethics Code.
Candidates for vacant positions on the Board may be suggested to the Governance Committee from time to time by its members or by officers or other directors of the Corporation. The Governance Committee from time to time also has used and may use recruiting firms to consider as director candidates. But see Contractually Dedicated Seats , below. The Governance Committee generally will consider recommending the re-nomination of incumbent directors in accordance with the Nomination Policy, provided that they continue to satisfy the applicable personal characteristic criteria and performance expectations. The Nomination Policy reflects the Board's belief that qualified incumbent directors are generally uniquely positioned to provide stockholders the benefit of continuity of leadership and seasoned judgment gained through experience as a director of SGRP, and that the value of these benefits may outweigh many other factors. However, the Governance Committee is not required to recommend to the Board the nomination of any eligible incumbent director for re-election (See Contractually Dedicated Seats and Stockholder Communications - Submission of Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations , below).
Each nominee for director was required to complete and submit a Directors' and Officers' Questionnaire as part of the process for making director nominations and preparation of this Proxy Statement.
In considering the potential director nominee slate (including incumbent directors) to recommend to the Board, the Nomination Policy directs the Governance Committee or the Board to take into account: (i) the benefits of incumbency, as noted above; (ii) any perceived needs of Board, any Committee or the Company at the time for business contacts, skills or experience or other particular desirable personal characteristics; (iii) the collegiality of Board members; (iv) the need for independent directors or financial experts under that Policy or applicable law for the Board or its Committees; (v) any other requirements of applicable law or exchange rules; and (vi) the desirability of ethnic, racial, gender and geographic diversity. The Governance Committee or the Board will consider proposed nominees from any source, including those properly submitted by stockholders (See Contractually Dedicated Seats, and Stockholder Communications - Submission of Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations , below).
At least three (3) of the seven (7) directors on the Board must be Super Independent Directors as defined in the 2022 By-Laws. All of the non-Super Independent Director positions must be filled pursuant to contracts with SGRP. See Director Independence and Contractually Dedicated Seats , below .
Director Independence
Nasdaq requires that at least a majority of the Board satisfy the general independence requirements for independent directors of the Board under Nasdaq Rules (which include that each is free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment as a member). The Board has determined that all members of the Board satisfy those general requirements other than Mr. Michael R. Matacunas, SGRP's CEO (who is a non-independent director because he is a SGRP employee) and James R. Brown, Sr. and Panagiotis Lazaretos (who were SGRP paid consultants following their previous Board retirements). Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules, the Audit Committee Charter and the Compensation Committee Charter set higher independence standards for such Committees.
At least three (3) of the seven (7) directors on the Board must be Super Independent Directors as defined in the 2022 By-Laws, which is a higher degree of independence than required by Nasdaq. Section 3.13 of the 2022 By-Laws defines a Super Independent Director as a person who satisfies all applicable independence requirements of Nasdaq and a set of stricter criteria defined within the By-Laws to ensure independence of the Board. See 2022 By-Laws , below.
The Board previously determined that Mr. William H. Bartels satisfies the general independence requirements for independent directors of the Board under Nasdaq Rules and SEC Rules.
The Board appointed to serve on the Board and its Committees Mr. James R. Gillis in August 2023, and Mr. John Bode and Ms. Linda Houston in October 2023, and the Board determined that each of them satisfies the independence requirements for the Audit Committee and the other Committees and the general independence requirements for independent directors of the Board under Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules and the Committee Charters, that each of them has the financial acumen and is qualified to be the "financial expert" for the Audit Committee as required by Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules and other applicable law, and that each of them is a Super Independent Director satisfying the stricter requirements of the 2022 By-Laws.
These determinations are made by the Board (generally with the recommendation of the Governance Committee) based on the applicable facts and circumstances, including the disclosures in the prior Directors' and Officers' Questionnaires, and the requirements under Nasdaq Rules, SEC Rules, the Committee Charters and the 2022 By-Laws.
Contractually Dedicated Seats
The nominations for four (4) of the seven (7) Board seats must comply with and satisfy SGRP's contractual requirements (each a " Contractually Dedicated Seat "), and the nominations for the other three (3) of the seven (7) Board seats must each be a Super Independent Director under the 2022 By-Laws.
During the term of the CIC Agreement, Mr. Robert G. Brown has the right to nominate for election to the Board two (2) directors (which for convenience will be referred to herein as the " Brown Board Seats "), which may include Mr. Robert G. Brown, and the CIC Agreement gives him the right to replace those directors from time to time; provided that the Brown Board Seats are limited to one (1) director when the Board has not less than four (4) nor more than six (6) members. Mr. Robert G. Brown did not exercise his rights to nominate any candidates for election to the Board pursuant to the CIC Agreement at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Corporation's stockholders on November 9, 2023 (the " 2023 Annual Meeting "). Accordingly, two (2) Director Board seats became vacant at the 2023 Annual Meeting and remained vacant since then. Since the 2023 Annual Meeting, Mr. Robert G. Brown nominated two (2) individuals for the Brown Board seats, but both declined to sign the Director Resignation Letter required under the 2022 By-Laws and were not ultimately nominated or approved by the Board. See Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement , below. Pursuant to his letter dated December 23, 2024, Mr. Robert G. Brown requested that Mr. James R. Brown, Sr. and Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos be nominated for election as Directors, and each has signed the Director Resignation Letter required under the 2022 By-Laws. See Proposal 1 , above. On May 6, 2025, the Board acted on those nominations by Mr. Robert G. Brown by appointing Mr. James R. Brown, Sr., and Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos to the Board to fill the Brown Board Seats to act as Directors through the 2025 Annual Meeting, effective immediately, and (through later Board action) to be candidates for re-election to the Brown Board Seats at the 2025 Annual Meeting (see Proposal 1, above).
The Corporation's Chief Executive Officer is (and his predecessors were) entitled pursuant to his agreements with the Corporation to have a seat on the Board as a director (the " CEO Board Seat ") for so long as he holds that office, which the Board may change with a change in SGRP's CEO (subject to their respective contractual rights). The CEO Board Seat is currently held by Mr. Michael R. Matacunas, and the Board has nominated him for re-election to the Board at the 2025 Annual Meeting to the CEO Board Seat.
The Brown Board Seats, the Bartels Board Seat, and the CEO Board Seat are each a Contractually Dedicated Seat subject to the applicable nomination rights of the applicable holder (the " Nominating Rights Holder "), which means Mr. Robert G. Brown in the case of the Brown Board Seats, Mr. William H. Bartels in the case of the Bartels Board Seat, and the Board in the case of the CEO Board Seat.
Each Director, and nominee for Contractually Dedicated Seats, has signed a letter agreement with SGRP resigning and retiring from the Board in the event (among other things) the applicable Nominating Rights Holder notifies SGRP in writing of the appointment of someone else to his or its Contractually Dedicated Seat. See Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement , in Proposal 1, above.
Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement
As provided in the 2022 By-Laws pursuant to the Settlement (See 2022 By-Laws , below), each Director has signed and delivered to the Corporation an updated written irrevocable Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement Under Sections 3.08 and 3.11 of the By-Laws (each a " Res ig nation Letter "), which has been approved by the Board and supersedes each earlier such letter agreement or form. The Resignation Letter constitutes an irrevocable resignation for purposes of DGCL Section 141(b).
Upon, the occurrence of any of the Departure Conditions (as defined and limited in the Resignation Letter), the affected Director shall be deemed to have immediately retired for all purposes (including all plans and other benefits, but excluding indemnification, and severance, contractual, legal and related rights).
The Departure Conditions (as defined and limited in the Resignation Letter) include (without limitation):
|
(i) |
the occurrence of the next Annual Meeting of SGRP's stockholders if at such meeting either the affected Director is not a candidate or is not elected; |
|
(ii) |
the Board by at least 70% voting in favor determines in its discretion that the affected Director has not complied in any material respect with the Corporation's then applicable policies, codes, by-laws or charters or with Nasdaq, SEC or other applicable rules, regulations or law, which may be based (without any further inquiry) on any finding by Nasdaq, the SEC or any other competent authority; |
|
(iii) |
the Board by at least 70% voting in favor determines that the affected Director's performance is negatively impacting the performance of the Board; or |
|
(iv) |
if the affected Director is serving in a Contractually Dedicated Seat and the applicable Nominating Rights Holder in writing directs the affected Director's removal or designates someone else to serve as a director of the Corporation in one of his Contractually Dedicated Seats. See Contractually Dedicated Seats , above. |
The affected Director's resignation and retirement in this letter agreement will not occur unless and until a successor has been duly elected or appointed and seated on the Board with the affected Director's resignation and retirement occurring concurrently with such appointment and seating (which may be subject to each affected Director’s resignation and retirement); p rovided , however , that if the affected Director is resigning and retiring due to a majority vote of the Board under Departure Condition (ii) or (iii) above, then the affected Director's resignation and retirement is effective immediately following the Board's vote. Accordingly, that retirement for any Director (other than one nominated for a Contractually Dedicated Seat) if a majority of the votes at the Annual Meeting for the affected Director are "no". Accordingly, a majority of the stockholders casting votes respecting any affected Director have the power to together vote "no" and effectively remove any affected Director. See Contractually Dedicated Seats , above.
In his or her Resignation Letter, each Director has expressly reserved every claim or right under the By-Laws or any applicable agreement or rule, regulation or other law against SGRP or any related person, including (without limitation) any claim arising under or related to any Departure Condition.
2022 By-Laws
On January 25, 2022, the Board adopted and approved amendments to SGRP's then existing Amended 2022 By-Laws in connection with the entry into the CIC Agreement (the " Amendments ", and as amended, the " 2022 By-Laws "). The Amendments include the following:
|
(i) |
The Amendment established in the 2022 By-Laws a new category of Super Independent Directors that are individuals both independent under Nasdaq rules and free from specified affiliate, family and certain other relationships with Mr. Robert G. Brown and Mr. William H. Bartels, as more fully defined in the 2022 By-Laws. |
| (ii) | The size of the Board is set at seven (7) directors, which shall include at least three (3) Super Independent Directors, (See Board Size, Quorum and Voting , and Contractually Dedicated Seats , above). |
|
(iii) |
The 2022 By-Laws now require 70% (or five (5) of seven (7)) of the directors, including a majority of Super Independent Directors to establish quorum, set the annual meeting agenda, issue or sell more than 250,000 shares of common stock (other than through stockholder approved plans) or any preferred stock, declare dividends, amend SGRP's certificate of incorporation, the 2022 By-Laws, any committee charter or SGRP's Ethics Code (See Board Size, Quorum and Voting and Director Independence , above). |
|
(iv) |
The threshold for the stockholders to amend the 2022 By-Laws is increased from a majority to 75% of the outstanding stock of the Corporation. |
|
(v) |
Officers are allowed to adjourn shareholder meetings at their discretion. |
|
(vi) |
The 2022 By-Laws establish voting rules to maintain "super" independence if there are less than three (3) Super Independent Directors (effectively reducing the votes held by certain other directors - See Board Size, Quorum and Voting , above). |
|
(vii) |
The 2022 By-Laws establish that only Super Independent Directors can be the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of a committee. |
|
(viii) |
The Chairman no longer automatically holds the position of Chief Executive Officer upon a vacancy. |
|
(ix) |
On or before December 31, 2026, the threshold to call a special meeting of the Corporation is increased from 20% to 75% of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote. On or after January 1, 2027, the threshold to call a special meeting of the Corporation is decreased from 75% to 25% of the outstanding stock of the Corporation. |
The 2022 By-Laws continue to require that each candidate for director sign a written irrevocable letter of resignation and retirement effective upon such person failing to be re-elected by the required majority stockholder vote. See Resignation and Retirement Letter Agreement , in Proposal 1, above.
The foregoing description is only a summary of the Amendments and is qualified in its entirety by reference to a copy of 2022 By-Laws, which is incorporated by reference into the 2024 Annual Report as Exhibit 3.3 hereto. The 2022 By-Laws also can be viewed at https://investors.sparinc.com/corporate-governance .
However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s 2022 By-Laws will be replaced by the By-Laws attached to the Merger Agreement, and Highwire may at any time, and from time to time, change the By-Laws, Committee Charters, and codes and policies of the Corporation. This Proxy Statement only describes the Corporation’s current 2022 By-Laws, Committee Charters and codes and policies.
Significant Stockholder Governance Limitations
In consideration and as part of the CIC Agreement, the Majority Stockholders agreed that they and their affiliates will not directly or indirectly take any of the listed actions (the " Covered Matters ") during the term of the CIC Agreement respecting their SGRP Shares (including voting, consents, proxies or other corporate actions), alone or in conjunction with other stockholders of the Corporation, unless any of the matters are the subject of a vote at a meeting of the Corporation's stockholders called by the Board. The term of the CIC Agreement and the restrictions respecting the Covered Matters end on January 25, 2027. However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Majority Stockholders will no longer be stockholders of the Corporation, the CIC Agreement will end in accordance with the terms and the majority stockholders will no longer have any rights or obligations under the CIC Agreement.
The Covered Matters include taking or attempting any of the following:
|
(i) |
Action by written stockholder consent; |
|
(ii) |
Submission of any stockholder proposals in advance of any annual or special stockholders meeting of the Corporation; |
|
(iii) |
Stockholder call for any special meetings of the Corporation's stockholders; |
|
(iv) |
Continuation or commencement of any legal claims against the Company; |
|
(v) |
Changing the size of the Board; |
|
(vi) |
Appointing or removing any director or officer of the Corporation, except as expressly permitted in the CIC Agreement; |
|
(vii) |
Amending the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or 2022 By-Laws; or |
|
(viii) |
Entering any agreement, arrangement or understanding (written or otherwise) with any other Person in an effort to take any action in furtherance of the foregoing. |
The foregoing description is only a summary of the CIC Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to a copy of the CIC Agreement, which is incorporated by reference into the 2024 Annual Report as Exhibit 10.24.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
The Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, eliminates the liability of all directors to the Corporation and its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duties as directors to the maximum extent such liability can be eliminated or limited under the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the " DGCL "), which applies to the Corporation as a Delaware corporation. The DGCL permits a certificate of incorporation to include a provision eliminating such personal liability of its directors, and such elimination is effective under the DGCL, except that such liability currently may not be eliminated or limited under the DGCL: (i) for any breach of their duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
The 2022 By-Laws (unchanged in this regard by the latest restatement) provide that the Corporation must indemnify each of its current and former directors, executive officers and other designated persons (including those serving its affiliates in such capacities at the Corporation's request), and may in the Board's discretion indemnify the other current and former officers, employees and other agents of the Company, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding against them in such capacity to the fullest extent permitted by DGCL. The 2022 By-Laws also provide that the Corporation must advance the expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by any director in defending any such action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition, subject to such person's agreement to the extent required by the DGCL under the circumstances to reimburse the Corporation if such person is not entitled to indemnification. The 2022 By-Laws and these mandatory indemnification provisions were approved and recommended by the Governance Committee and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in order to conform to the current practices of most public companies and to attract and maintain quality candidates for its directors and management, and are included in the 2022 By-Laws is (see above). A current copy of the 2022 By-Laws is posted and available to stockholders and the public on the Corporation's web site ( www.sparinc.com ).
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that the Corporation (as a Delaware corporation) has the power to indemnify under various circumstances anyone who is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or (at its request) another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, which includes indemnification against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), but only if: (i) such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; (ii) in the case of any criminal action or proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; and (iii) in the case of any suit by or in the right of the Corporation in which the person is adjudged to be liable to the Corporation, the applicable court determines such person is nevertheless fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnification under the circumstances. Section 145 of the DGCL also permits the Corporation to pay or advance the expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by any such person in defending any such action, suit or proceeding, and requires that the Corporation indemnify such person for such unpaid expenses upon a successful defense of such action, suit or proceeding.
The Company maintains director and officer liability insurance that (subject to deductibles, maximums and exceptions) covers most liabilities arising out of the acts or omissions of any officer, director, employee or other covered person, both for the benefit of the Company and the direct benefit of its directors and officers, regardless of whether the 2022 By-Laws or DGCL Section 145 would permit indemnification of the matters covered by such insurance. The 2022 By-Laws (and DGCL Section 145) expressly permit the Corporation to secure such insurance and expressly provide that their respective indemnification provisions are not exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled, including such insurance.
There is no pending action, suit or proceeding involving any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company in such capacity in which advancement or indemnification may be required or permitted.
Ethics Codes
SGRP has adopted codes of ethical conduct applicable to all of its directors, officers and employees, as approved and recommended by the Governance Committee and Audit Committee and adopted by the Board, in accordance with Nasdaq Rules and SEC Rules. These codes of conduct (collectively, the " Ethics Code ") consist of: (1) the SPAR Group Code of Ethical Conduct for its Directors, Executives, Officers, Employees, Consultants and other Representatives Amended and Restated (as of) March 15, 2018 (the " Restated Ethical Code "); and (2) Statement of Policy Regarding Personal Securities Transactions in SGRP Stock and Non-Public Information, as amended and restated on May 1, 2004, and as further amended through March 10, 2011. Both Committees were involved because general authority over the Ethics Codes shifted from the Audit Committee to the Governance Committee with the adoption of the committee charters on May 18, 2004. However, the Audit Committee retained the express duty to oversee, review and approve internal codes (including the Ethics Code), policies and guidelines, internal controls, related party relationships (the overall fairness of all material related-party transactions), cybersecurity, legal and other issues and uncertainties material to the Company. You can obtain and review current copies of such code and policy on the Company's web site (www.sparinc.com), which are posted and available to stockholders and the public under the Investor Relations tab and Corporate Governance sub-tab.
The Ethics Code is intended to promote and reward honest, ethical, respectful and professional conduct by each director, executive, officer, employee, consultant and other representative of any of SGRP and its subsidiaries (together with SGRP, the " Company ") and each other Covered Person (as defined in the Ethics Code) in his or her position with the Company anywhere in the world, including (among other things) serving each customer, dealing with each vendor and treating each other with integrity and respect, and behaving honestly, ethically and professionally with each customer, each vendor, each other and the Company. Article II of the Ethics Code specifically prohibits various forms of self-dealing (including dealing with relatives) and collusion and Article V of the Ethics Code generally prohibits each " Covered Person " (including SGRP's officers and directors) from using or disclosing the Confidential Information of the Company or any of its customers or vendors, seeking or accepting anything of value from any competitor, customer, vendor, or other person relating to doing business with the Company, or engaging in any business activity that conflicts with his or her duties to the Company, and directs each " Covered Person " to avoid any activity or interest that is inconsistent with the best interests of the SPAR Group, in each case except for any " Approved Activity " (as such terms are defined in the Ethics Code). Examples of violations include (among other things) having any ownership interest in, acting as a director or officer of or otherwise personally benefiting from business with any competitor, customer or vendor of the Company other than pursuant to any Approved Activity. Approved Activities include (among other things) any contract with an affiliated person (each an " Approved Affiliate Contract ") or anything else disclosed to and approved by SGRP's Audit Committee, as well as the ownership, board, executive and other positions held in and services and other contributions to affiliates of SGRP and its subsidiaries by certain directors, officers or employees of SGRP, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective family members. The Company's senior management is generally responsible for monitoring compliance with the Ethics Code and establishing and maintaining compliance systems, including those related to the oversight and approval of conflicting relationships and transactions, subject to the review and oversight of SGRP's Governance Committee as provided in Part I Sections 2, 3, 11 and 12 of the Governance Committee's Charter, and SGRP's Audit Committee as provided in Part IV Section 15 of the Audit Committee's Charter.
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVES AND DIRECTORS
Executive Compensation Summary
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth all compensation for services rendered to the Company in all capacities for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (but See - Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons, below), by: (i) the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer; and (ii) each of the other persons named below, which include the two (2) most highly compensated Executives or other Officers of the Company. " Named Executive Officers " shall mean each of the individuals listed below. The Company does not have any Non-Equity Incentive Compensation Plans other than as part of its individual Incentive Bonus Plans, any pension plans or any non-qualified deferred compensation plans, and accordingly those columns have been omitted.
Effective as of February 22, 2021, SGRP appointed Mr. Michael R. Matacunas as its Chief Executive Officer and President and as a Director of SGRP. Mr. Antonio Calisto Pato joined SGRP and became Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer on February 27, 2023. Effective July 13, 2021, SGRP appointed Mr. Ron Lutz as its Global Chief Commercial Officer and Mr. William Linnane as its Global Strategy Growth Officer of SGRP. On July 13, 2021, Ms. Kori G. Belzer was named Global Chief Operating Officer with expanded responsibilities over global operations and results.
|
Name and Principal Positions |
Year |
Salary ($ ) |
Bonus ($) (1) |
Option and RSU Compensation ($) (2 ) |
All Other Compensation ($) (3 ) |
Total ($) |
| Michael R. Matacunas | 2024 | 700,000 | 1,462,800 | 173,529 | 4,800 | 2,341,129 |
| Chief Executive Officer, President and Director | 2023 | 627,083 | 432,668 | 125,281 | 4,800 | 1,189,832 |
| Antonio Calisto Pato (4) | 2024 | 342,708 | 288,244 | 0 | 4,800 | 635,752 |
| Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary | 2023 | 264,815 | 0 | 0 | 4,000 | 268,815 |
|
Kori Belzer |
2024 |
350,000 |
319,797 | 61,709 | 4,800 | 736,306 |
|
Global Chief Operating Officer |
2023 |
342,708 |
135,192 | 9,780 |
4,800 |
492,480 |
|
William Linnane |
2024 |
340,000 |
310,430 | 0 | 4,800 | 655,230 |
|
Global Strategy Growth Officer |
2023 | 332,708 | 130,796 | 0 | 4,800 | 468,304 |
|
Ron Lutz |
2024 |
340,000 |
314,765 | 0 | 4,800 | 659,565 |
|
Global Chief Commercial Officer |
2023 | 332,708 | 131,741 | 0 | 4,800 | 469,249 |
|
(1) |
These are the cash bonuses paid in the referenced year (2024 or 2023) respecting performance in the preceding year. Cash bonuses include payments under phantom stock awards. See 2023 and 2022 Deferred Compensation Agreements , below. |
| (2) | These are not cash amounts actually paid to or received by the Named Executive or Officer. These are the amounts included in and reported as part of the Named Executive Officer's taxable income for the referenced year respecting his or her restricted stock unit vesting or stock option exercises, which also are "compensation expenses" recognized by the Corporation under generally accepted accounting principles computed in accordance with ASC-718- 10, which may include the vesting of restricted stock units or the exercise of stock option awards. In addition, these amounts may not include the fair values for any equity awards used and included in the Chief Executive Office (PEO) Pay Versus Performance Table, below. |
|
(3) |
"Other Compensation" primarily represents allowances for automobiles, cell phone and internet service. |
|
(4) |
Mr. Antonio Calisto Pato joined SGRP and became Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer on February 27, 2023. |
Narrative to Summary Compensation Table
Compensation Elements
As indicated in the Summary Compensation Table above, in addition to base salary, we provide the following compensation and benefits to our Named Executive Officers:
|
● |
Cash Bonuses . Annually, the Company enters into bonus plans with key management and administrators based on specified goals. The bonuses noted in the above table that were paid in 2024 were in fact earned in 2023; and the bonuses noted in the above table that were paid in 2022 were in fact earned in 2021. |
|
● |
Stock and Cash Awards . The Corporation from time to time grants our Named Executive Officers: (i) awards of restricted stock units (" RSU s"), which on vesting are payable in stock or cash (at the Corporation's option); or (ii) when RSUs are not available under a stockholder approved plan, awards of phantom stock units (" PSU s"), which on vesting are payable only in cash. RSUs and PSUs are granted using the fair market value on the date of grant and vest either over one year or three years from the date of grant, provided that the recipient remains employed through the vesting date. However, the Corporation may choose to grant awards of PSUs even when RSUs are available. See 2024 and 2023 Deferred Compensation Agreements , below. |
|
● |
Retirement Benefits . The only retirement plan the Company maintains in the United States is its 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, which is a tax-qualified defined contribution plan that is available to all of its eligible employees, including the Named Executive Officers. Although it is not required to do so, the Corporation makes discretionary contributions to plan participants from time to time. The Corporation contributed to that plan in 2021 and 2022, which contributions were shared proportionally by all the participants in the plan. The amounts that the Corporation contributed to each of the Named Executive Officers is included in the " All Other Compensation " column above. The Corporation does not maintain any defined benefit pension plans, supplemental retirement plans, or nonqualified deferred compensation plans. However, See Bartels' Retirement and Discussion of Directors' Compensation, below . |
|
● |
Other Benefits and Perquisites . Other than providing car allowances and paying for life and long-term disability benefits, each as described in footnote (2) to the Summary Compensation Table above, the Corporation does not provide any perquisites or other benefits to its Named Executive Officers. The Corporation provides standard healthcare benefits to its eligible employees, including the Named Executive Officers. |
Chief Executive Officer (PEO) Pay Versus Performance Table
|
Year |
Summary Compensation Table Total for
Michael R.
(1) (3) |
Summary Compensation Table Total for Kori G. Belzer (1) (2) |
Compensation Actually
Michael R.
(1) (3) |
Compensation
Kori G. Belzer (1) (2) |
Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs (1) (4) |
Average Compensation Actually Paid (3) to Non-PEO NEOs (1) (4) |
Total
Shareholder
(5) |
Company’s Net Income |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | $ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
$ | 2,687,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | $ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
2022 |
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
2021 |
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| (1) | Amount includes non-cash compensation respecting certain stock-based awards adjusted for changes in equity award values. |
| (2) | Ms. Kori Belzer was acting Chief Executive Officer of SGRP through February, 2021. |
| (3) | Mr. Michael R. Matacunas became Chief Executive Office of SGRP on February 22, 2021. |
| (4) | The dollar amounts reported in column (f) represent the average of the amounts reported for the Company’s named executive officers (NEOs) as a group (other than the PEO) in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table in each applicable year. The names of each of the NEOs included for these purposes in each applicable year are as follows: (i) this average was computed using a total of four (4) NEOs for 2023 and 2024, which were Ms. Kori Belzer, Mr. Antonio Calisto Pato, Ms. Fay DeVriese (1 month), Mr. William Linnane and Mr. Ron Lutz, because Mr. Calisto Pato and Ms. DeVriese did not overlap; (ii) for 2022, Ms. Kori Belzer, Ms. Fay DeVriese, Mr. William Linnane and Mr. Ron Lutz (for a total of four (4) NEOs); and (iii) for 2021, Ms. Kori Belzer (10 months), Mr. Steven J. Adolph (4 months), Ms. Fay DeVriese, Mr. William Linnane (6.5 months), Mr. Ron Lutz (6.5 months) and Mr. Gerard Marrone (5.5 months). |
| (5) | Reflects the cumulative shareholder return over relevant fiscal year, computed in accordance with SEC rules, assuming an investment of $100 in the Company's common shares at a price per share equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on the last day trading day before the commencement of the earliest applicable fiscal year and the measurement end point of the closing price of the Company's common stock on the last trading day in the applicable fiscal year. The closing price of the Company's common stock on the last business day of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 was respectively, $1.23, $1.30, $1.01, and $1.94 per share. |
Potential Severance Payments upon a Change-In-Control and Termination
In order to retain and motivate certain highly qualified executives in the event of a " Change-in-Contro l", the Corporation entered into separate Change of Control Severance Agreements (each a " COCSA ") with Messrs. Michael R. Matacunas, Antonio Calisto Pato, William Linnane, Ron Lutz and Ms. Kori Belzer.
Each COCSA provides that the applicable executive will receive a lump sum severance payment if both: (1) a " Chan g e in Control " (a " CIC ") occurs (including SGRP becoming the subsidiary of another); and (2) within the " Protected Period " the executive is terminated other than in a " Termination For Cause ". In addition, severance may be payable if the applicable executive leaves for " Good Reason ", including certain changes in duties and compensation or the Corporation ceases to be an independent company following a Change in Control, or the departure of SGRP's current CEO (but only in the case of other executives). The Protected Period is equal to the Term or 24 months from the then most recent Change in Control. The term is 36 months and automatically extends daily for another day unless the Corporation gives notice of non-renewal (in which case the Term ends on the third anniversary of such notice). The COCSA severance payment is equal to the sum of: (i) two (2) (for Mr. Matacunas); (ii) one and one half (1.5) (for Ms. Belzer) or one (1) (for others) times the executive's annual salary; plus (iii) the maximum bonus paid to such executive in either of the last two (2) years.
2024, 2023 and 2022 Deferred Compensation Agreements
The Corporation prepared a 2022 Stock Compensation Plan that would have included Awards for NQSOs and RSUs (as defined below), but that plan was never submitted to its shareholders for approval. However, the Board had previously approved, for certain key executives, incentive stock-based awards for 2023 and 2022 using RSUs or cash. Since there were no plan based RSUs available, those executives instead received deferred compensation in the form of Phantom Stock Units ("PSUs"), which correspond to an equal number of shares of the Corporation's Common Stock (" SGRP Shares "). The number of PSUs received equals the dollar value of the incentive award divided by the per share market price of SGRP shares on the date of award. Each PSU represents the right of the grantee to receive cash payments based on the fair market value of SGRP Shares at the time of vesting, but not to receive SGRP Shares themselves. The number of the Grantee's PSUs will be automatically adjusted to reflect the specified events respecting the SGRP Shares as provided in the applicable Phantom Stock Agreement. The PSUs do not possess the rights of common stockholders of the Corporation, including any voting or dividend rights, and cannot be exercised or traded for SGRP Shares. Due to the cash settlement feature, the PSUs are classified as liabilities in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
Effective as of March 24, 2022 (the " 2022 Grant Date "), the Corporation issued an award of 111,111 PSUs to each of its Executives: Kori G. Belzer; William Linnane; and Ron Lutz. Vesting will occur in three tranches of one-third each over the three (3) year period following the 2022 Grant Date, provided that: (i) the Grantee is an employee of the Company at the time; and (ii) the Corporation achieved 90% of the agreed upon financial target for 2022.As of December 31, 2023, the Company had determined that the 2022 performance target had not been met and the first tranche of those PSUs did not vest. The Board approved in October 2023 that the second and third tranches of those PSUs will respectively vest on the second and third anniversary of the 2022 Grant Date with no additional vesting criteria.
Effective as of April 3, 2023 (the " 2023 Grant Date "), the Corporation granted an award of 181,818 PSUs to each its Executives: Kori G. Belzer; William Linnane; and Ron Lutz. None of those PSUs were vested as of the 2023 Grant Date. The PSUs granted and issued to each such Grantee shall vest over the three-year period following the Grant Date provided that the Grantee is an employee of the Company on the applicable vesting date; and the first tranche of those PSUs was to have vested upon the achievement by the Company of 70% or greater of the budgeted 2023 Global EBIT. If the first-year criteria is achieved, the second and third tranches will respectively vest on the second and third anniversary of the 2023 Grant Date with no additional vesting criteria. As of March 31, 2024, the Company determined that the 2023 performance target had been met, the first tranche of those PSUs had vested, and the second and third tranches of those PSUs will respectively vest on the second and third anniversary of the 2023 Grant Date with no additional vesting criteria.
Effective as of the 2023 Grant Date, the Corporation also granted an award of 378,788 PSUs to Michael R. Matacunas, the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation. None of those PSUs were vested as of the 2023 Grant Date. All of the PSUs granted and issued to him will vest over a one-year period following the 2023 Grant Date provided that the Grantee is an employee of the Company on April 3, 2024, upon the achievement by the Company of 70% or greater of the budgeted 2023 Global EBIT. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had determined that the 2023 performance target had been met, and all of those PSUs have vested.
Effective as of the 2023 Grant Date, the Corporation also granted an award of 75,758 PSUs to Antonio Calisto Pato, the Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of the Corporation. None of those PSUs were vested as of the 2023 Grant Date. All of the PSUs granted and issued to him will vest over the one-year period following the 2023 Grant Date provided that the Grantee is an employee of the Company on April 3, 2024, upon the achievement by the Company of 70% or greater of the budgeted 2023 Global EBIT. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had determined that the 2023 performance target had been met, and all of those PSUs have vested.
The Corporation did not grant any PSU awards in 2024.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth unexercised options, unvested stock options and certain related information for each Named Executive Officer outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
Outstanding Stock Option Awards
|
Name |
Grant Date |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable at 12/31/24 (# ) |
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Not Exercisable at 12/31/24 (# ) |
Option Exercise Price ($) |
Option Expiration Date |
|
Kori Belzer |
-- |
0 |
0 |
$ 0 |
-- |
| Antonio Calisto Pato | -- | 0 | 0 | $ 0 | -- |
| William Linnane | -- | 0 | 0 | $ 0 | -- |
| Ron Lutz | -- | 0 | 0 | $ 0 | -- |
| Michael R. Matacunas | 02/22/21 | 630,000 | 0 | $ 1.90 | 02/22/31 |
Compensation of Directors
The following table sets forth all compensation costs of the Corporation for services rendered to it by its directors (other than any Named Executive Officer), and certain other amounts that may have been received by or allocated to them, for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Corporation has not given restricted stock unit awards to its directors and does not have pension plans or non-qualified deferred compensation plans for its directors, so those columns have been omitted.
|
Name |
Year |
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($ ) |
RSU and Option Awards ($)(1 ) |
All Other Compensation ($ ) |
Total ($) |
|
William H. Bartels (2) |
2024 |
$130,000 | $0 |
$50,000 |
$180,000 |
| John Bode (3) |
2024 |
$140,000 |
$0 | $0 |
$140,000 |
|
James R. Gillis (4) |
2024 |
$165,000 |
$0 |
$0 | $165,000 |
| Linda Houston (5) | 2024 | $145,000 | $0 | $0 | $145,000 |
|
(1) |
These are not amounts actually paid to or received by the named director. These are "compensation expenses" for restricted stock unit or stock option awards recognized by the Corporation under generally accepted accounting principles computed in accordance with ASC- 718-10. |
|
(2) |
Mr. William H. Bartels' compensation does not include the cash payments made to him respecting his retirement as an officer of SGRP as of January 1, 2020, consisting in 2022 of $100,000 and $15,588 for reimbursement of certain health insurance costs. The compensation of Mr. William H. Bartels also does not include the cash payments or the value of the Preferred Stock received by Mr. William H. Bartels and his affiliates as stockholders under the CIC Agreement. See Change of Control, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement , below. |
|
(3) |
John Bode joined the Board in October 2023. |
|
(4) |
James R. Gillis joined the Board in August 2023. |
|
(5) |
Linda Houston joined the Board in October 2023. |
Discussion of Directors' Compensation
The Compensation Committee recommends to the Board and the Board approves the compensation of directors pursuant to SGRP's Director Compensation Plan for its outside ( i.e., non-employee) Directors (" NED "), as approved and amended by the Board from time to time (the " Directors Compensation Plan "), as well as the compensation for SGRP's executives. The Directors Compensation Plan was last modified and approved by the Board on April 11, 2023, effective April 1, 2023.
Under the current Directors Compensation Plan: (a) each NED is entitled to receive annual director's fees of $130,000; (b) the Corporation's Chairman is entitled to receive $35,000 annually in addition to such NED annual fee (for a total annual fee of $165,000 per annum); and (c) in addition to such NED annual fee, each applicable Committee Chairman is entitled to receive for chairing the applicable Committee: (i) an additional $10,000 per annum fee in the case of the Audit Committee; and (ii) an additional $7,500 per annum fee in the case of the Chairman of each of the Governance and Compensation Committees.
All Directors' Fees are payable quarterly in cash, but the Board may decide to pay a portion of the annual director's fees if and when RSUs become available under a stockholder-approved Stock Compensation Plan.
Independent Directors will be reimbursed for all reasonable documented expenses incurred during the course of their duties.
There is no additional compensation for committee participation, phone meetings, or other Board activities.
Bartels' Retirement and Director Compensation
Mr. William H. Bartels retired as an employee of the Company as of January 1, 2020. However, he continues to serve as a member of SPAR's Board. Mr. William H. Bartels is also one of the founders and affiliate and a significant stockholder of SGRP.
Effective as of January 18, 2020, SPAR's Governance Committee proposed and unanimously approved retirement benefits for the five-year period commencing January 1, 2020, and ending December 31, 2024 (the " Five-Year Period "), for Mr. William H. Bartels. The aggregate value of benefits payable to Mr. William H. Bartels is approximately $220,558 per year and a total of $1,102,790 for the Five-Year Period (excluding increases in director's compensation since 2020). The Company recognized $700,000 of retirement benefits during the year ended December 31, 2020, representing the present value of the future Retirement Compensation, Supplemental Fees and Medical Benefits payments due Mr. William H. Bartels. As of December 31, 2024, no retirement benefits remain outstanding. See Discussion of Directors' Compensation , above.
Compensation Plans
Inducement Stock Based Award Summary
On February 27, 2023, as an inducement to Mr. Antonio Calisto Pato to become the Corporation's Chief Financial Officer, the Corporation granted to Mr. Calisto Pato an RSU Award having a fair market value of $150,000 to be granted on the last trading day at the end of the week following the beginning of his employment and vesting in one (1) year. On March 10, 2024, the RSUs vested. On April 9, 2024, SGRP elected to issue Common Stock in a letter to Mr. Calisto Pato, giving rise to Mr. Calisto Pato’s right to receive such Common Stock but no exercise price or other payment for such shares was required.
On February 22, 2021, Mr. Michael R. Matacunas received an inducement award for RSUs approved by SGRP's Board of Directors that provides for the issuance of $100,000 of RSUs respecting shares in SGRP’s Common Stock for a period of 10 years, which are issuable on May 15 of each year.
Under the RSU inducement award, on May 15, 2022, Mr. Matacunas received a new issuance of RSUs for 89,286 shares based on the closing price of $1.12 per share on that date, and on May 15, 2023, those RSUs vested and Mr. Matacunas would have received 89,286 shares of SGRP's Common Stock, a net of 56,563 shares after tax withholdings.
Under the RSU inducement award, on May 15, 2023, Mr. Matacunas received a new issuance of RSUs for 98,039 shares based on the closing price of $1.02 per share on that date, and on May 15, 2024, those RSUs vested and Mr. Matacunas would have received 98,039 shares of SGRP’s Common Stock, a net of 54,959 shares after tax withholdings.
Under the RSU inducement award, Mr. Matacunas received a new issuance of RSUs for 57,143 shares on May 15, 2024, that will vest on May 15, 2025. The RSUs are based on a closing price of $1.75 per share on the date of issuance. Upon vesting, the Corporation may settle (in its discretion) the RSUs in cash or shares.
Subject to certain conditions (including Mr. Michael R. Matacunas' continued employment by the Issuer at such time), those RSUs (and each of the anniversary issuances) under that RSU inducement award are scheduled to automatically vest one (1) year after their May 15 issuance and convert and become payable either (at the option of SGRP) in cash or shares of the SGRP's Common Stock issued directly from the Issuer, but no exercise price or other payment for such shares is required.
On February 22, 2021, Mr. Michael R. Matacunas received an inducement award of options to purchase 630,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $1.90 per share (which was the market price on February 22, 2021, the date the options were issued). Subject to certain conditions (including Mr. Michael R. Matacunas' continued employment by the Issuer at such time), those options automatically vested in one (1) year (i.e. on February 22, 2022), and became exercisable at the option of the Reporting Person, which requires notice and payment of $1.90 per share to SGRP to effect such exercise. The options automatically expire on February 22, 2031.
2025, 2020, 2018 and 2008 Plans
See Proposal 5 for a description of the Corporation’s proposed 2025 Stock Compensation Plan (the " 2025 Plan "). No new awards were granted in 2024 or 2023 under the Corporation’s prior Stock Compensation Plans (the " Prior Plans "), including the Corporation’s: 2020 Stock Compensation Plan (the " 2020 Plan "); 2018 Stock Compensation Plan (the " 2018 Plan "); or 2008 Stock Compensation Plan (the " 2008 Plan "). The 2020 Plan automatically terminated on the 31 st of May in the year following stockholder approval and the other prior plans automatically terminated following stockholder approval of the succeeding plans.
Share Based Compensation
As of December 31, 2024, the Company has outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock units granted under its 2020 Plan, 2018 Stock Compensation Plan, and the 2008 Stock Compensation Plan, which generally permitted stock-based awards under terms determined by the Company’s board of directors. Stock options and RSUs generally provided for vesting over service periods of one (1) to four (4) years, with option exercise prices generally equal to fair market value on the date of grant.
During 2024, and as of December 31, 2024, no further shares were available under those plans for future awards. The Company also granted stock options and restricted stock units as inducements under contracts with selected executives.
See Proposal 5 for a description of the Corporation’s proposed 2025 Plan.
2008 Plan Summary
2008 Plan Stock option award activity for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is summarized below for the periods presented:
|
Weighted- |
||||||||||||||||
|
Weighted- |
Average |
Aggregate |
||||||||||||||
|
Average |
Remaining |
Intrinsic |
||||||||||||||
|
Exercise |
Contractual |
Value |
||||||||||||||
|
Option Awards |
Shares |
Price |
Term (Years) |
(thousands) |
||||||||||||
|
Outstanding at January 1, 2023 |
513,000 |
$1.63 |
2.16 |
$68 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Granted |
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Exercised/cancelled |
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Forfeited or expired |
(291,100 | ) | 2.10 | -- | -- | |||||||||||
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 |
222,000 |
$1.01 |
3.27 |
$12 |
||||||||||||
|
Granted |
-- |
-- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Exercised |
(79,000 | ) | 0.97 | -- | 98 | |||||||||||
|
Forfeited or expired |
(56,000 | ) | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2024 |
87,000 |
$1.01 |
2.66 |
$73 |
||||||||||||
|
Exercisable at December 31, 2024 |
87,000 |
$1.01 |
2.66 |
$73 |
||||||||||||
The Company recognized no stock-based compensation expense relating to stock option awards during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 for the 2008 plan. The total intrinsic value of shares exercised in 2024 was $98,000. The recognized tax benefit on stock-based compensation expense related to stock options during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, was $0.
2018 Plan Summary
2018 Plan Stock option award activity for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are summarized below:
|
Weighted- |
||||||||||||||||
|
Weighted- |
Average |
Aggregate |
||||||||||||||
|
Average |
Remaining |
Intrinsic |
||||||||||||||
|
Exercise |
Contractual |
Value |
||||||||||||||
|
Option Awards |
Shares |
Price |
Term (Years) |
(thousands) |
||||||||||||
|
Outstanding at January 1, 2023 |
145,000 |
$0.94 |
|
5.79 |
$52 |
|||||||||||
|
Granted |
-- |
-- | -- | -- |
|
|||||||||||
|
Exercised/cancelled |
-- |
-- |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
|||||||||
|
Forfeited or expired |
-- | -- |
|
-- | -- | |||||||||||
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 |
145,000 |
$0.94 |
|
4.79 |
|
$26 |
|
|||||||||
|
Granted |
-- |
-- |
|
-- |
|
-- |
|
|||||||||
|
Exercised |
(75,000 | ) | 0.99 | -- |
|
90 |
|
|||||||||
|
Forfeited or expired |
(30,000 | ) | -- |
|
-- | -- |
|
|||||||||
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2024 |
40,000 |
$0.93 |
|
3.80 |
$40 |
|
||||||||||
|
Exercisable at December 31, 2024 |
40,000 |
$0.93 |
|
3.80 |
|
$26 |
|
|||||||||
The Company recognized no stock-based compensation expense relating to stock option awards during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 under the 2018 plan. The total intrinsic value of shares exercised in 2024 was $90,000. The recognized tax benefit on stock-based compensation expense related to stock options during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, was $0.
2020 Plan Summary
2020 Plan Stock option award activity for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are summarized below:
|
Weighted- |
||||||||||||||||
|
Weighted- |
Average |
Aggregate |
||||||||||||||
|
Average |
Remaining |
Intrinsic |
||||||||||||||
|
Exercise |
Contractual |
Value |
||||||||||||||
|
Option Awards |
Shares |
Price |
Term (Years) |
(thousands) |
||||||||||||
|
Outstanding at January 1, 2023 |
375,000 |
$1.55 |
3.10 |
|
$-- |
|
||||||||||
|
Granted |
-- |
-- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Exercised/cancelled |
-- |
-- | -- | -- |
|
|||||||||||
|
Forfeited or expired |
(20,000 | ) | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 |
355,000 |
$1.55 |
2.10 |
$-- |
||||||||||||
|
Granted |
-- |
-- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Exercised |
(22,500 |
) | 1.55 | -- | 17 |
|
||||||||||
|
Forfeited or expired |
(220,000 | ) | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2024 |
112,500 |
$1.55 |
1.10 |
$44 |
|
|||||||||||
|
Exercisable at December 31, 2024 |
78,750 |
$1.55 |
1.10 |
$31 |
|
|||||||||||
The Company recognized $19,500 and $47,000 in stock-based compensation expense relating to stock option awards during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The total intrinsic value of shares exercised in 2024 was $17,000.
As of December 31, 2024, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options was $2,200, which will be recognized by the end of 2025. The recognized tax benefit on stock-based compensation expense related to stock options during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, was $5,800 and $12,000.
CEO Inducement Award Summary
CEO Inducement Award stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are summarized below:
|
Weighted- |
||||||||||||||||
|
Weighted- |
Average |
Aggregate |
||||||||||||||
|
Average |
Remaining |
Intrinsic |
||||||||||||||
|
Exercise |
Contractual |
Value |
||||||||||||||
|
Option Awards |
Shares |
Price |
Term (Years) |
(thousands) |
||||||||||||
|
Outstanding at January 1, 2023 |
630,000 |
$1.90 |
8.15 |
$-- |
||||||||||||
|
Granted |
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Exercised/cancelled |
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Forfeited or expired |
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2023 |
630,000 |
$1.90 |
7.15 |
$-- |
||||||||||||
|
Granted |
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Exercised |
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Forfeited or expired |
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2024 |
630,000 |
$1.90 |
6.15 |
$25 |
||||||||||||
|
Exercisable at December 31, 2024 |
630,000 |
$1.90 |
6.15 |
$25 |
||||||||||||
The Company recognized $0 in stock-based compensation expense relating to stock option awards during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. The recognized tax benefit on stock-based compensation expense related to stock options during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, was $0.
As of December 31, 2024, there was no unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to stock options granted under the CEO Inducement Plan.
CEO Inducement Award RSU Summary
The following table summarizes the activity for Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) CEO awards during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
|
Weighted- |
||||||||
|
Average |
||||||||
|
Grant Date |
||||||||
|
Fair Value |
||||||||
|
Shares |
per Share |
|||||||
|
Unvested at January 1, 2023 |
89,286 |
$1.12 |
||||||
|
Vested During 2023 |
89,286 |
1.12 |
|
|||||
| After Vesting and Tax Common Shares Issued During 2023 | 56,563 | -- | ||||||
| Granted During 2023 | 98,039 | 1.02 | ||||||
|
Forfeited During 2023 |
0 |
0 |
|
|||||
|
Unvested at December 31, 2023 |
98,039 |
$1.02 |
||||||
|
Vested During 2024 |
98,039 | 1.02 |
|
|||||
| After Vesting and Tax Common Shares Issued During 2024 | 54,959 | -- | ||||||
|
Granted During 2024 |
57,143 |
1.75 | ||||||
|
Forfeited During 2024 |
0 |
0 |
|
|||||
|
Unvested at December 31, 2024 |
57,143 |
$1.75 |
|
|||||
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized approximately $100,172.05 and $99,828.00, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the total fair value of RSUs vested was $173,529.00 and $91,072.00 respectively.
As of December 31, 2024, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested RSUs awards was $62,841.69.
Share-Based Compensation Expense
Share-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $137,000 and $297,000, respectively.
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
In 2001, SGRP adopted its 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the " ESP Plan "), which replaced its earlier existing plan, and its 2001 Consultant Stock Purchase Plan (the " CSP Plan "). These plans were each effective as of June 1, 2001. The ESP Plan allows employees of the Company, and the CSP Plan allows employees of the affiliates of the Company to purchase SGRP's Common Stock from SGRP without having to pay any brokerage commissions. On August 8, 2002, the Board approved a 15% discount for employee purchases of Common Stock under the ESP Plan.
Audit and Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Board's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee or Governance Committee was at any time during the year ended December 31, 2024, or at any other time an officer or employee of the Company. No executive officer of the Company or Board member (including any member of SGRP's Board, Audit Committee, Compensation Committee or Governance Committee) serves as a member of the board of directors, audit, compensation or governance committee of any other entity affiliated with or related to the Corporation. In addition, except for positions with subsidiaries of the Corporation, and except for Mr. William H. Bartels is a Director of the Corporation, Mr. Robert G. Brown is a former Director of the Corporation, and Mr. William H. Bartels and Mr. Robert G. Brown each are founders and affiliates of the Corporation and serve and have served as directors and officers of certain of SGRP’s affiliates (which are not owned by, under the control of or consolidated with the Corporation), including SBS, IGC, Infotech and SAS (See Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons , below).
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of SGRP's Common Stock as of December 31, 2024, by: (i) each person who is known by SGRP to own beneficially more than 5% of SGRP's Common Stock; (ii) each of SGRP's directors; and (iii) each of the Named Executive Officers in the Summary Compensation Table. Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, the persons named in the table, based on information provided by such persons, have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable.
|
Title of Class |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
See Note # |
Percentage |
|
Common Shares |
Robert G. Brown |
6,502,916 |
(1) (2) |
27.24% |
|
Common Shares |
William H. Bartels |
4,709,837 | (1) (3) |
19.73% |
|
Common Shares |
Michael R. Matacunas |
756,915 | (1) (4) |
3.17% |
| Common Shares | Antonio Calisto Pato | 117,188 | (1) | * |
|
Common Shares |
Kori G. Belzer |
33,222 |
(1) (4) |
* |
|
Common Shares |
William Linnane |
17,909 |
(1) |
* |
|
Common Shares |
Ronald Lutz |
17,678 | (1) |
* |
|
Common Shares |
All Executives, Directors and Others Listed Above |
12,155,665 |
- |
50.92% |
| Common Shares | Outstanding Shares | 23,446,444 | - | - |
* Less than 1%
|
(1) |
The address of such owners is c/o SPAR Group, Inc. 1910 Opdyke Court, Auburn Hills, Michigan 48326. |
|
(2) |
Robert G. Brown is not an Executive or Director of SGRP, but he is a founder, affiliate and significant stockholder of SGRP. Mr. Brown’s shares include shares owned by his Companies Innovative Global Technologies LLC, and SPAR Business Services, Inc. and various trusts for the benefit of Mr. Brown and his children. |
|
(3) |
William H. Bartels’ shares include $600,000 SGRP shares donated to charity that remain beneficially owned by Mr. Bartels. |
|
(4) |
Mr. Michael R. Matacunas' beneficial ownership includes 630,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options, which are already vested, but require a payment to SGRP of $1.90 per share and related tax withholdings to exercise the options and receive the shares. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (" Section 16(a) ") requires SGRP's directors and certain of its officers and persons who own more than 10% of SGRP's Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in their ownership of SGRP's Common Stock with the Commission. Insiders are required by Commission regulations to furnish SGRP with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. The following is a report of late Section 16(a) filings by the current officers and directors of SGRP (collectively, " Insiders ").
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by it for the year ended December 31, 2024 (" 2024 "), filings by certain Insiders during or for 2024, or written representations from such Insiders for 2024, SGRP believes that its Insiders complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements for such year, with the exception that: (i) one (1) Form 4 was filed late by Mr. William H. Bartels; (ii) one (1) Form 4 was filed late by Mr. Robert G. Brown; (iii) two (2) Form 4s were filed late by Ms. Kori G. Belzer; and (iv) one (1) Form 4 was filed late by Mr. Antonio Calisto Pato.
All such Section 16(a) filing requirements have since been completed by each of the above referenced Insiders.
SPAR's policy respecting approval of transactions with related persons, promoters and control persons is contained in the Ethics Code (See Ethics Code, above) The Company's senior management is generally responsible for monitoring compliance with the Ethics Code and establishing and maintaining compliance systems, including those related to the oversight and approval of conflicting relationships and transactions, subject to the review and oversight of SGRP's Governance Committee as provided in Part I Sections 2, 3, 11 and 12 of the Governance Committee's Charter, and SGRP's Audit Committee as provided in Part IV Section 15 of the Audit Committee's Charter. The Governance Committee and Audit Committee each consist solely of independent directors and Super Independent Directors. The 2022 By-Laws require that the Chairman of each such Committee and at least two (2) of its members must be Super Independent Directors (See Board Size, Quorum and Voting and 2022 By-Laws, above.
SPAR's Audit Committee has the specific duty and responsibility to review and approve the overall fairness to the Company and terms of all material related- party transactions and payments. The Audit Committee reviews all related party transactions, in accordance with the Audit Committee Charter, the Ethics Code, the Nasdaq rules and other applicable law to ensure that the overall economic and other terms will be (or continue to be) no less favorable to the Company than would be the case in an arms-length contract with an unrelated provider of similar services ( i.e. , its overall fairness to the Company, including pricing, payments to related parties and the ability to provide services at comparable performance levels).
Change of Control, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement
The Change of Control, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement (the " CIC Agreement ") became effective on January 28, 2022, when signed by the Company and Mr. Robert G. Brown, (" Mr. Brown "), Mr. William H. Bartels, (" Mr. Bartels "), SPAR Administrative Services, Inc., (" SAS "), and SPAR Business Services, Inc. (“ SBS ”). Mr. Brown, Mr. Bartels, SAS and SBS may be referred to collectively as the " Majori ty Stockholders ". The CIC Agreement was approved by the Board of Directors of SGRP (the " Board ").
Mr. Robert G. Brown and Mr. William H. Bartels each are founders and significant stockholders of SGRP, and thus each is a related party and affiliate of SGRP. Mr. William H. Bartels also is a director of SGRP. Mr. Robert G. Brown and Mr. William H. Bartels also each have separate contractual rights to nominate directors for the Board. See Change of Control, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement , below.
SBS, SPAR InfoTech, Inc. (" Infotech "), Innovative Global Technologies LLC (" IGC "), and SAS, are related parties and affiliates of SGRP, but are not under the control or part of the Company. SBS is a related party and affiliate of SGRP because it is owned by SBS LLC, which in turn is beneficially owned by Mr. Robert G. Brown. Infotech and IGC each is a related party and affiliate because it is owned principally by Mr. Robert G. Brown. SAS is a related party and affiliate of SGRP because it is owned principally by Mr. William H. Bartels and prior to December 2023 also owned in part by entities owned by affiliates of Mr. Robert G. Brown.
Pursuant to the CIC Agreement, the Corporation issued to the Majority Stockholders 2,000,000 restricted shares of Series B Preferred Stock, which automatically converted into 3,000,000 SGRP Shares pursuant to the 1:1.5 conversion ratio set forth in the Preferred Designation and the CIC Agreement as they vested through November 10, 2023. All of the corresponding SGRP Shares had been issued or were in the process of being issued by December 31, 2023. The Series B Preferred Stock shares were valued at $3,690,000 in total, based on the SGRP stock price on December 31, 2021 of $1.23 per share for the 3,000,000 SGRP shares issuable upon vesting and conversion.
Pursuant to the CIC Agreement, all actions, claims and demands between the Majority Stockholders and the Company were resolved; and the Majority Stockholders and their affiliates during the five-year term of the CIC Agreement have agreed to give up their rights to do any of the following: (i) act or attempt to act by written consent; (ii) submit or attempt to submit any stockholder proposals in advance of any annual or special stockholders meeting of the Corporation; (iii) call or attempt to call any special meetings of the Corporation's stockholders; (iv) continue or commence or attempt to continue or commence any legal claims against the Company; (v) change or attempt to change the size of the Board; (vi) appoint or remove or attempt to appoint or remove any director or officer of the Corporation, except as expressly permitted with in the CIC Agreement; (vii) amend or attempt to amend the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or 2022 By-Laws; and (viii) enter or attempt to enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any other person in an effort to take any of those actions. The term of the CIC Agreement and those restrictions end on January 25, 2027. See Significant Stockholder Governance Limitations , above.
The execution of the CIC Agreement was conditional upon making the changes to and restatement of the Corporation's 2022 By-Laws, which were approved by the Board and became effective on January 25, 2022 (the " 2022 By-Laws "). See 2022 By-Laws , above. For the current Board composition and corporate, governance, see Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance , Board Size, Quorum and Voting , Director Nominations: Experience, Integrity, Diversity and other Criteria, Director Independence, Contractually Dedicated Seats, and 2022 By-Laws , above.
Panagiotis Lazaretos Consulting Agreement
On January 27, 2022, the Corporation entered into a consulting agreement with Thenablers, Ltd. effective February 1, 2022 (the " Lazaretos Consulting Agreemen t"). Thenablers, Ltd. is wholly owned by Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos, a retired director of the Corporation. Following Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos' retirement as a director on January 25, 2022, Thenablers, Ltd. agreed to provide the consulting services of Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos to the Corporation regarding global sales and new markets' expansion. The Lazaretos Consulting Agreement cannot be terminated by the consent of either party for the first twelve (12) months, and automatically expires on January 31, 2024. As compensation for its services, Thenablers, Ltd. is entitled to receive: (i) base compensation at a rate of $10,000 per month for the term of the Consulting Agreement; (ii) incentive-based compensation as calculated in Exhibit A of the Lazaretos Consulting Agreement; and (iii) the outstanding options granted to Mr. Panagiotis Lazaretos on February 4, 2022 will continue to be outstanding and vest according to their terms under the agreement. As permitted by that agreement, on February 2, 2023, the Corporation gave notice that it was terminating that agreement effective July 31, 2023.
Other Domestic Related Party Transactions
On December 1, 2021, the Corporation entered into the Agreement for Marketing and Advertising Services (the " WB Agreement ") with WB Marketing, Inc. (the " Agent ", and together with the Company, the " Parties "). The Agent is an entity owned and controlled by Mrs. Jean Matacunas who is the wife of President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael R. Matacunas. Mr. Matacunas is also a minority owner of the Agent. The service fees paid to WB Marketing for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, were $104,000 and $103,000, respectively.
Prior to December 31, 2023, National Merchandising Services, LLC (" NMS "), was a consolidated domestic subsidiary of the Company owned jointly by SGRP and by National Merchandising of America, Inc. (" NMA "). Mr. Edward Burdekin was the Chief Executive Officer and President and a director of NMS and also an executive officer and director of NMA. Ms. Andrea Burdekin, Mr. Burdekin's wife, was the sole stockholder and also a director of both NMA and NMS. NMA was a related party of the Company but is not under the control of or consolidated with the Company. Mr. Burdekin's wife also owns National Remodel Setup Services, LLC (" NRSS "). During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, NRSS provided substantially all of the domestic merchandising specialist field force used by NMS. For those services, NMS reimbursed NRSS certain costs for providing those services plus a premium ranging from 4.0% to 10.0% of certain costs. NMS also leased office space from Mr. Burdekin's personal property. In December 2023, the Company sold its ownership interest in NMS.
On December 22, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement with National Retail Remodel Services (the "Buyer") to sell its 51% ownership interest in National Merchandising Services, LLC ("NMS") to the Buyer for total consideration of $1,441,004. The transaction closed on December 31, 2023. Per the agreement, the purchase price is due from the Buyer as follows: (1) a payment of $700,000 due immediately to the escrow agent upon closing, releasable to the Company in January 2024; (2) $523,000 in the form of the Buyer's promissory note due and payable on January 31, 2024; and (3) a payment of up to $209,004 contingent upon collection of an outstanding receivable. The $700,000 and $523,000 portions of consideration for this transaction are recorded in "Other Receivables" at December 31, 2023 and were received in the first quarter of 2024. The Company’s December 31, 2023, financial results include a loss on this sale of approximately $427,000, primarily reflecting the write-off of remaining goodwill related to NMS. As of December 31st, 2024, payment upon collection of the outstanding receivables has not been made and attempts to collect are ongoing. The Company has not included the receivables related to this collection on its balance sheet.
International Joint Venture Transactions with Related Parties
Agreement to sell the Company ’ s ownership interest in its South African Joint Venture
Prior to March 31, 2024, SGRP Meridian Proprietary Limited (" Meridian ") was a consolidated international subsidiary of the Company and was owned 51% by the Company and 49% by Friedshelf (Pty) Ltd., Lindicom Proprietary Limited, and Lindicom Empowerment Holdings Proprietary Limited (" Local Owners "). On February 7, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its 51% ownership interest in Meridian to the Local Owners for 180,700,000 South African Rand, 80% of which would be paid upon closing.
The closing conditions under that agreement were satisfied in all material respects by March 31, 2024. and on April 29, the Company received 144,560,000 South African Rand from the Local Buyers (or approximately $7.7 million). The remaining purchase price of approximately $1.9 million is recorded as other receivable on the balance sheet and will be paid on December 31, 2025, and its payment is secured by an irrevocable unconditional guarantee from Investec Bank Limited. The Company has also licensed certain technology (including SPARView) and trademarks to Meridian in connection with the sale. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $7.2 million on this transaction, which is presented within “(Gain) / Loss on sale of business” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. The company has no continuing involvement in Meridian.
Agreement to sell the Company ’ s ownership interest in its Chinese Joint Venture
On February 23, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its 51% ownership interest in SPAR (Shanghai) Marketing Management Co., Ltd. to Shanghai Jingbo Enterprise Consulting Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Wedone Marketing Management Co. Ltd. The total price paid to the Company is $200,000. The sale was completed in April 2024. The Company has recognized a loss of $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2024 as a result of this transaction, which is presented within “(Gain) / Loss on sale of business” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. The company has no continuing involvement in SPAR (Shanghai) Marketing Management Co., Ltd.
Agreement to sell the Company ’ s Brazilian subsidiary that owns its interest in its Brazilian Joint Venture
On March 26, 2024, the Company signed a share purchase agreement with JK Consultoria Empresarial Ltda. ("JKC") for JKC to acquire the Company's Brazilian holding company (which in turn owns the Company's 51 percent interest in its Brazilian joint venture subsidiary) for BRL 58.9 million or approximately $11.8 million. Closing of the sale occurred in June 2024. The Company has recognized a loss of $1.6 million in the second quarter of 2024 as a result of this transaction, which is presented within “(Gain) / Loss on sale of business” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. The company has no continuing involvement in the Brazilian Joint Venture.
Agreement to sell SPAR's 100% ownership interest in SPAR Japan
On July 23, 2024, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its 100% ownership interest in SPAR Japan for $500,000. The sale closed on August 30, 2024. The Company has recognized a loss of $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2024 as a result of this transaction, which is presented within “(Gain) / Loss on sale of business” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. The company has no continuing involvement in SPAR Japan.
Agreement to sell SPAR's 51% ownership interest in its Indian Joint Venture
On August 31, 2024, the Company closed on an agreement to sell its 51% ownership interest in its Indian Joint venture for $500,000. The sale closed on September 25, 2024. The Company has recognized a loss of $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2024 as a result of this transaction, which is presented within “(Gain) / Loss on sale of business” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. The company has no continuing involvement in the Indian Joint Venture.
Agreement to sell SPAR's 51% ownership interest in its Mexican Joint Venture
On December 19, 2024, the Company closed on an agreement to sell its 51% ownership interest in its Mexican Joint venture for $417,000. The sale closed on December 19, 2024. The Company has recognized a loss of $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 as a result of this transaction, which is presented within “(Gain) / Loss on sale of business” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income. The company has no continuing involvement in the Mexican Joint Venture.
Summary of Certain Related Party Transactions
The following costs of affiliates were charged to the Company (in thousands):
|
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||
|
2024 |
2023 |
|||||||
|
Services provided by affiliates: |
||||||||
|
National Remodel Setup Services (NSSS) (1) |
$-- |
$5,173 |
|
|||||
|
Consulting and administrative services (RJ Holdings) (2) |
161 | 472 | ||||||
|
Office lease expenses (RJ Holdings) (2) |
4 | 8 | ||||||
|
Consulting and administrative fees (SPARFACTS) (2) |
-- | 112 | ||||||
|
Other (2) |
50 | 178 | ||||||
|
Total services provided by affiliates |
$215 |
$5,943 |
|
|||||
|
Due to affiliates consists of the following (in thousands): |
December 31, |
|||||||
|
2024 |
2023 |
|||||||
|
Loans from local investors:(3) |
||||||||
|
China |
$-- |
|
$2,316 |
|
||||
|
Mexico |
-- | 623 | ||||||
|
Resource Plus |
-- | 266 | ||||||
|
Total due to affiliates |
$-- |
$3,205 |
|
|||||
| (1) | Represent loans from the local investors into the Company's subsidiaries (representing their proportionate share of working capital loans). The loans have no payment terms and are due on demand. |
| (2) | These expenses are reflected in "Selling, general, and administrative expense" expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. |
| (3) | Represent loans from the local investors into the Company's subsidiaries (representing their proportionate share of working capital loans). The loans have no payment terms and are due on demand. |
Other Related Party Transactions and Arrangements
SBS, Infotech and SAS are related parties and affiliates of SGRP, but are not under the control or part of the consolidated Company. See Change of Controls, Voting and Restricted Stock Agreement , above.
In July 1999 SPAR Marketing Force, Inc., (" SMF "), a subsidiary of SGRP, and SBS and Infotech entered into a perpetual software ownership agreement providing that each party independently owned an undivided share of and has the right to unilaterally license and exploit certain portions of the Company's proprietary scheduling, tracking, coordination, reporting and expense software are co-owned with SBS and Infotech and each entered into a non-exclusive royalty-free license from the Company to use certain "SPAR" trademarks in the United States. SAS used the "SPAR" name through the SBS License until SAS' dissolution in December 2023.
Director Independence
See Board Size, Quorum and Voting and Director Nominations: Experience, Integrity, Diversity and other Criteria , Director Independence, Contractually Dedicated Seats , and 2022 By-Laws , above.
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The following is the Audit Committee's report submitted to the Board.
Report
Management is responsible for the Company's internal controls and the financial reporting process (as more fully described below). BDO USA, P.C. (" BDO "), the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company, is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and issuing a report thereon. The Audit Committee's responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management of the Company and BDO the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and, for the years then ended, (the " Consolidated Financial Statements "), as included in the Company's 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2025 the " 2024 Annual Report ").
In addition, the Audit Committee has also received from and discussed with BDO the matters required to be discussed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 1301 (Communications with Audit Committees) and Rule 2-07 of SEC Regulation S-X.
The Audit Committee received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from BDO required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding communication with the Audit Committee concerning independence. The Audit Committee has discussed BDO's independence from the Company with BDO. The Audit Committee also discussed with management of the Company and BDO such other matters and received such assurances from them, as the Audit Committee deemed appropriate.
Based on the foregoing review and discussions and a review of the report of BDO with respect to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and relying thereon, the Audit Committee has recommended to the Company's Board of Directors that the Consolidated Financial Statements be included in the Company's 2022 Annual Report.
For the period that began on January 1, 2024, and ended December 31, 2024, the Audit Committee consisted of Mr. John Bode (Chairman), and Mr. James R. Gillis and Ms. Linda Houston.
|
AUDIT COMMITTEE |
|
|
|
John Bode, its Chairman, and James R. Gillis and Linda Houston |
NO OTHER BUSINESS
In accordance with SGRP's 2022 By-Laws, no proposals or matters other than those specifically described above are permitted to come before the 2025 Annual Meeting. If any other matters or motions are attempted to be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting, they will be ruled out of order and denied. It is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of Proxy to vote Proxies in accordance with their judgment on those matters or motions to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law, including any matter dealing with the conduct of the 2023 Annual Meeting.
STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
Communications with SGRP and the Directors
Generally, a stockholder who has a question or concern regarding the business or affairs of SGRP should contact the Chief Financial Officer of SGRP. However, if a stockholder would like to address any such question directly to the Board, to a particular Committee, or to any individual director(s), the stockholder may do so by sending his or her question(s) in writing addressed to such group or person(s), SPAR Group, Inc., 1910 Opdyke Court, Auburn Hills, MI 48326, and marked " Stockholder Communication ".
SGRP has a policy of generally responding in writing to each bona fide, non-frivolous, written communication from an individual stockholder. This policy is reflected in the SPAR Group, Inc. Statement of Policy Respecting Stockholder Communications with Directors dated as of May 18, 2004, approved and recommended by the Governance Committee and adopted by the Board on May 18, 2004. You can obtain and review a current copy of this policy on the Company's web site (www.sparinc.com), on which it is posted and available to stockholders and the public under the Investor Relations tab and Corporate Governance sub-tab.
In addition, questions may be asked of any director before the Special Meeting and all of SGRP's directors are expected to attend the Special Meeting. Additionally, the Corporation believes its directors should attend all possible meetings of the Board and its committees and stockholders, but has not specified any required minimum attendance.
Submission of Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for 2026 Annual Meetings (if applicable)
For any business, nominee or proposal to be properly brought before any annual meeting by a stockholder (acting in his or her capacity as stockholder), the 2022 By-Laws require that such stockholder must give timely written notice thereof by physical delivery to the Secretary of SGRP. Any stockholder who wishes to present any business, nominee or proposal for action at the 2026 Annual Meeting of SGRP stockholders (the " 2026 Annual Meeting ") must notify SGRP by no later than March 14, 2026. Such stockholder's notice shall be in the form and contain the substance required under the 2022 By-Laws (as summarized below) and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, notices of stockholder proposals and nominations submitted after March 14, 2026, or that do not conform to the requirements of the 2022 By-Laws and/or Rule 14a-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as applicable, will be considered untimely or incomplete, respectively, and thus such matters will not be brought before the 2026 Annual Meeting.
For any proposal to be properly included in the SGRP Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting, proposals must be submitted no later than the close of business on the 120 th day prior to the 1 st anniversary of the filing of this 2025 Proxy Statement with the SEC.. However, if the date of the 2026 Annual meeting has changed by more than 30 days from the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting, then proposals must be received within a reasonable time before the Corporation begins to print and send its proxy materials for the 2026 Annual Meeting. Accordingly, notice of stockholder proposals that do not conform to the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will be considered untimely or incomplete, respectively, and thus such matters will not be included in the SGRP Proxy Statement for the 2026 Annual Meeting.
Any notice or proposal should be sent to the Corporation at 1910 Opdyke Court Auburn Hills, MI 48326, Attention: SGRP Secretary and follow the procedures of the 2022 By-Laws and applicable SEC Rules. The 2022 By-Laws provide that a stockholder's notice to the SGRP Secretary must set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before any Annual Meeting (including the 2026 Annual Meeting): (i) a brief description of the business, nominee or proposal desired to be brought before the applicable Annual Meeting and the reasons for considering the same at the applicable Annual Meeting; (ii) the name and address, as they appear on SGRP's books, of the stockholder proposing such business and any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such proposal; (iii) the class and number of shares of SGRP's stock which are beneficially owned by the stockholder on the date of such stockholder notice and by any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such proposal on the date of such stockholder notice; and (iv) any financial interest of such stockholder (or any affiliate or family member of such stockholder), whether current or at any time within the past three (3) years, in such business, nominee or proposal. In addition, if the notice is a nomination of a candidate for director, the stockholder's notice also must contain: (A) the proposed nominee's name and qualifications, including five-year employment history with employer names and a description of the employer's business, whether such individual can read and understand basic financial statements, and board memberships (if any); (B) the reason for such recommendation; (C) the number of shares of stock of SGRP that are beneficially owned by such nominee; (D) a description of any business or other relationship, whether current or at any time within the past three (3) years, between such nominee (or any affiliate or family member of such nominee) and either the Company, any of its directors or officers, its auditor, or any of its customers or vendors; and (E) a description of any financial or other relationship, whether current or at any time within the past three (3) years, between the stockholder (or any affiliate or family member of such stockholder) and such nominee (or any affiliate or family member of such nominee).
If it is determined by the Governance Committee or the presiding officer of the 2026 Annual Meeting that a stockholder proposal was submitted after March 14, 2026, or otherwise was not made in accordance with the terms of the 2022 By-Laws or the applicable SEC Rules or is not under the circumstances required to be considered thereunder, such proposal will not be acted upon at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s shares will be delisted from public trading on Nasdaq, the Corporation will no longer file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the persons who were stockholders on the Record Date will not be entitled to nominate any person for Director or propose the adoption of any business or matter at any annual meeting, and Highwire may decide to not have any annual meeting.
Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations Submitted for the 2025 Annual Meeting
Substantially similar rules and procedure were described in SGRP's 2024 Proxy Statement for submission of such proposals for the 2025 Annual Meeting. If it is determined by the Governance Committee or the presiding officer of the 2025 Annual Meeting that a stockholder proposal was submitted after December 15, 2024, or otherwise was not made in accordance with the terms of the 2022 By-Laws or the applicable SEC Rules or is not under the circumstances required to be considered thereunder, such proposal will not be acted upon at the 2025 Annual Meeting.
However, if the Merger Transaction (See Potential Going Private Transaction, above) has been completed prior to the 2025 Annual Meeting, Highwire will be the sole stockholder of record of the Corporation, the Corporation’s shares will be delisted from public trading on Nasdaq, the Corporation will no longer file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the persons who were stockholders on the Record Date will not be entitled to nominate any person for Director or propose the adoption of any business or matter at the 2025 Annual Meeting, and Highwire may decide to not have the 2025 Annual Meeting.
HOUSEHOLDING
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (such as a broker, bank or other agent) to implement a delivery procedure called “householding.” Under this procedure, multiple stockholders who reside at the same address may receive a single copy of our proxy materials, including this proxy statement and other proxy materials, unless the affected stockholder has provided us with contrary instructions. This procedure provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies.
SGRP and some brokers, banks or other agents may be householding our proxy materials, including this proxy statement. A single set of this proxy statement and other proxy materials will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker, bank or other agent that it will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If you did not respond that you did not want to participate in householding, you were deemed to have consented to the process. Registered stockholders may revoke their consent at any time by contacting SGRP’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., toll-free at (800) 564-6253. Holders through banks or brokers or other agents must notify such agents.
Upon written or oral request, SGRP will promptly deliver a separate copy of the proxy statement and other proxy materials to any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of any of those documents was delivered. To receive a separate copy of the proxy statement and other proxy materials, you may send a written request to 1910 Opdyke Court Auburn Hills, MI 48326, Attention: Secretary or call (248) 364-7727. In addition, if you are receiving multiple copies of the proxy statement and other proxy material, you can request householding by contacting SGRP's Secretary in the same manner.
DELIVERY OF PROXY MATERIALS TO HOUSEHOLDS
Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, services that deliver the Company's communications to stockholders that hold their stock through a bank, broker or other holder of record may deliver to multiple stockholders sharing the same address a single copy of any Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and/or a printed version of the 2024 Annual Report to stockholders and this Proxy Statement. Upon oral or written request, the Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of the above materials to any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the document was delivered. Stockholders sharing an address may also request delivery in the future of a single copy of such documents if they are currently receiving multiple copies of such documents. Stockholder may notify SGRP of their requests by writing to: SPAR Group, Inc., 1910 Opdyke Court, Auburn Hills, MI 48326, Attn: Antonio Calisto Pato, Chief Financial Officer.
QA/Information Regarding Virtual Attendance at the 2025 Annual Meeting
Further details and frequently asked questions regarding the 2025 Annual Meeting are available on the Company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.sparinc.com/ and SGRP's SEC filings are available at https://investors.sparinc.com/sec-filings .
OTHER REPORTS
A COPY OF THE SGRP’S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024, AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“ SEC ”) ON MAY 16, 2025 (THE " 2024 ANNUAL REPORT "), SGRPs QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 WHEN FILED WITH THE SEC, AND THE CURRENT REPORTS ON FORM 8-K FILED WITH THE SEC AFTER JANUARY 1, 2025, AS WELL AS ALL OF SGRP’S EARLIER REPORTS AND STATEMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, ARE AVAILABLE AT HTTPS://INVESTORS.SPARINC.COM/SEC-FILINGS .
SGRP WILL PROVIDE EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS DELIVERED, UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF SUCH PERSON AND BY FIRST CLASS MAIL OR OTHER EQUALLY PROMPT MEANS WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY OF RECEIPT OF SUCH REQUEST, A COPY OF ANY AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT (EXCLUDING ALL EXHIBITS NOT EXPLICITLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN). REQUESTS FOR COPIES OF THE 2024 ANNUAL REPORT MUST BE SENT TO SPAR GROUP, INC., 1910 OPDYKE COURT, AUBURN HILLS, MI 48326, ATTN: ANTONIO CALISTO PATO, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
THE 2024 ANNUAL REPORT, THE STOCKHOLDER LETTER, SUMMARY TABLES AND CORPORATE DIRECTORIES, THE QUARTERLY REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q, AND THE CURRENT REPORTS ON FORM 8-K REFERENCED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT ARE NOT PART OF SGRP'S SOLICITING MATERIAL AND SUCH STOCKHOLDER LETTER SUMMARY TABLES AND CORPORATE DIRECTORIES HAVE NOT BEEN FILED WITH THE SEC.
PROXIES AND SOLICITATION
The proxy accompanying this Proxy Statement is solicited on behalf of the SGRP's Board of Directors. Proxies for the 2025 Annual Meeting are being solicited by mail directly and through brokerage and banking institutions. SGRP will pay all expenses in connection with the solicitation of proxies. In addition to the use of mails, proxies may be solicited by directors, officers and regular employees of SGRP (who will not be specifically compensated for such services) personally or by telephone. SGRP will reimburse banks, brokers, custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for any reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.
All stockholders are urged to complete, sign and promptly return the enclosed proxy card.
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/s/ Antonio Calisto Pato |
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Antonio Calisto Pato |
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Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer |
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Auburn Hills, Michigan
May 23, 2025
