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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Principles of Consolidation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Systemax Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Systemax”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year — The Company’s fiscal year ends at midnight on the Saturday closest to December 31. For clarity of presentation herein, all fiscal years are referred to as if they ended on December 31. The fiscal year is divided into four fiscal quarters that each end at midnight on a Saturday. For clarity of presentation herein, all fiscal quarters are referred to as if they ended on the traditional calendar month. The full year of 2019, 2018 and 2017 included 52 weeks.

Use of Estimates In Financial Statements

Use of Estimates in Financial Statements — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current business factors, and various other assumptions that the Company believes are necessary to consider to form a basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities, the recorded amounts of revenue and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company is subject to uncertainties such as the impact of future events, economic and political factors, and changes in the Company’s business environment, therefore, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Changes in estimates are made when circumstances warrant. Such changes in estimates and refinements in estimation methodologies are reflected in reported results of operations; if material, the effects of changes in estimates are disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Significant estimates and assumptions by management affect the allowance for doubtful accounts, product returns liabilities, inventory reserves, allowances for cooperative advertising, the carrying value of long‑lived assets (including goodwill and intangible assets), the provision for income taxes and related deferred tax accounts, certain accrued liabilities, revenue recognition, contingencies, sublease income, litigation and related legal accruals and the value attributed to employee stock options and other stock‑based awards.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation — The Company has operations in foreign countries. The functional currency of each foreign country is the local currency. The financial statements of the Company’s foreign entities are translated into U.S. dollars, the reporting currency, using year-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities, year to date average exchange rates for the statement of operations items and historical rates for equity accounts. Translation gains or losses are recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

Cash

Cash — The Company considers amounts held in money market accounts and other short-term investments, including overnight bank deposits, with an original maturity date of three months or less to be cash. Cash overdrafts are classified in accounts payable.

Inventories

Inventories — Inventories consist primarily of finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by using the first-in, first-out method.

Leases

Leases — On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, "Leases" (Topic 842). This ASU requires all companies to record their operating and finance leases that meet certain criteria under the standard as Right of Use ("ROU") assets with the corresponding lease obligations recorded as short term and long term liabilities. The Company adopted this standard utilizing the modified retrospective transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption of the new leasing standard without restating prior periods. There was no cumulative-effect adjustment made to opening retained earnings upon adoption of this ASU. Additionally, the Company elected to adopt the available package of practical expedients under the transition guidance.

The Company has operating and finance leases for office and warehouse facilities, headquarters and call centers and certain computer, communications equipment and machinery and equipment which provide the right to use the underlying assets in exchange for agreed upon lease payments, determined by the payment schedule contained in each lease. The Company determines if an arrangement is an operating or finance lease at the inception of the lease. The Company has elected not to apply recognition requirements to leases with terms of one year or less. All other leases are recorded on the balance sheet, with ROU assets representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities representing the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The Company’s lease portfolio consists primarily of operating leases which expire at various dates through 2032. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line or accelerated method over their estimated useful lives ranging from three to fifteen years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful lives or the term of the respective leases. In 2019 the Company reclassified approximately $4.2 million of its warehouse racking equipment, which had previously been reported under leasehold improvements, to other equipment.

Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and improvements are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations in the period realized.

Internal-Use Software

Internal-Use Software — Internal‑use software is included in fixed assets and is amortized on a straight‑line basis over 3 years. The Company capitalizes costs incurred during the application development stage. Costs related to minor upgrades, minor enhancements and maintenance activities are expensed as incurred.

Evaluation of Long-lived Assets

Evaluation of Long-lived Assets — Long-lived assets are assets used in the Company’s operations and include definite-lived intangible assets, leasehold improvements, warehouse and similar property used to generate sales and cash flows. Long-lived assets are tested for impairment utilizing a recoverability test. The recoverability test compares the carrying value of an asset group to the undiscounted cash flows directly attributable to the asset group over the life of the primary asset. If the undiscounted cash flows of an asset group is less than the carrying value of the asset group, the fair value of the asset group is then measured. If the fair value is also determined to be less than the carrying value of the asset group, the asset group is impaired.

Business Combinations

Business Combinations — The Company accounts for its business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the acquisition date fair values of the assets transferred and liabilities assumed by the Company to the sellers and equity instruments issued. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets and liabilities acquired or assumed are measured separately at their fair values as of the acquisition date. The excess of (i) the total costs of acquisition over (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree is recorded as goodwill.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets — Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquired assets over the fair value of assets acquired. The Company operates in one reporting unit and in the fourth quarter of each year performs a quantitative assessment of its goodwill by comparing the Company's fair market value, or market capitalization, to the carrying value of the Company, including goodwill, to determine if impairment exists. Any excess of the carrying amount over fair value would be charged to impairment expense.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes — The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial reporting carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis and tax credit carry forwards and net operating loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

The Company assesses the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and a valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely than not expected to be realized.

In accordance with the guidance for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes the Company recognizes the tax benefits from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit of an uncertain tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured as the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement with the tax authority. To the extent we prevail in matters for which accruals have been established or are required to pay amounts in excess of accruals, our effective tax rate in a given financial statement period could be affected.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable — In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which amends the guidance for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers to transfer goods and services. The new standard was required to be adopted using either a full-retrospective or a modified-retrospective approach. The Company adopted the new standard using the modified-retrospective approach on January 1, 2018. There was no material impact to total revenues in our consolidated statements of operations, accounting policies, business processes or internal controls as a result of this adoption. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.

Revenue from Contract with Customer

Shipping and Handling Costs — The Company recognizes shipping and handling costs in cost of sales.

The Company’s revenue generated by its operating subsidiaries is comprised of sales of a wide array of industrial and general business hard goods and supplies and to a lesser extent products that would fall into the generally recognizable category of MRO products. The Company also has revenues from related activities, such as freight and, to a lesser extent, services.

The Company recognizes revenue from contracts with its customers utilizing the following steps:


•	Identifying the contract with the customer


•	Identifying the performance obligations under the contract


•	Determine the transaction price


•	Allocate transaction price to performance obligations, if necessary


•	Recognizing revenue as performance obligations are satisfied

The Company's invoice, and the terms and conditions of sale contained therein, constitutes the evidence of an arrangement and is the contract with the customer. The performance obligations are generally delivery of the products listed on the invoice and the transaction price for each product is listed. Allocation of transaction price is generally not needed. Performance obligations are satisfied, and revenue is recognized upon the shipment of goods from one of the Company’s distribution centers or drop shippers for most contracts or in certain cases revenue will be recognized upon delivery and acceptance by the customer. Customer acceptance occurs when the customer accepts the shipment. The Company's standard terms, provided on its invoices as well as on its websites, are included in communications with the customer and have standard payment terms of 30 days. Certain customers may have extended payment terms that have been pre-approved by the Company's credit department, but generally none extend longer than 120 days.

Provisions for sales returns and allowances are estimated based on historical data and are recorded concurrently with the recognition of revenue. These provisions are reviewed and adjusted periodically by the Company. Revenue is presented net of sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to government authorities. Revenue is reduced for any early payment discounts or volume incentive rebates offered to customers.

The Company’s revenue is shown as “Net sales” in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and is measured as the determined transaction price, net of any variable consideration consisting primarily of rights to return product. The Company has elected to treat shipping and handling revenues as activities to fulfill its performance obligation. Billings for freight and shipping and handling are recorded in net sales and costs of freight and shipping and handling are recorded in cost of sales in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company will record a contract liability in cases where customers pay in advance of the Company satisfying its performance obligation. The Company did not have any material unsatisfied performance obligations or liabilities as of December 31, 2019.

The Company offers customers rights to return product within a certain time, usually 30 days. The Company estimates its sales returns liability quarterly based upon its historical return rates as a percentage of historical sales for the trailing twelve-month period.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs — Expenditures for internet, television, local radio and newspaper advertising are expensed in the period the advertising takes place. Catalog preparation, printing and postage expenditures are amortized over the period of catalog distribution during which the benefits are expected, generally one to four months.

Stock Based Compensation

Stock Based Compensation — In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted after adoption of ASU 2014-09. The Company adopted this standard beginning January 1, 2019 and its adoption did not materially impact the Company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Scope of Modification Accounting, which clarified when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as modifications. In the first quarter of 2019, the Company repriced approximately 0.6 million of outstanding stock options and recorded approximately $0.6 million of related compensation expense. For the year ended December 31, 2019, total related compensation expense was $0.7 million. Due to the sale of the France business in August 2018, the Company accelerated the vesting of certain stock options and recorded additional compensation expense of approximately $0.3 million, which was recorded within discontinued operations.

The fair value of employee share options is recognized in expense over the vesting period of the options, using the graded attribution method. The fair value of employee share options is determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company has calculated its dividend yield by dividing the annualized regular quarterly dividend by the current stock price at grant date. The Company has used historical volatility in its estimate of expected volatility. The expected life represents the period of time (in years) for which the options granted are expected to be outstanding. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve. Stock-based compensation expense includes an estimate for forfeitures and is recognized over the expected term of the award.

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share — Net income per common share - basic is calculated based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the respective periods presented using the two-class method of computing earnings per share. The two-class method was used as the Company has outstanding restricted stock with rights to dividend participation for unvested shares. Net income per common share - diluted was calculated based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and included the equivalent shares for dilutive options outstanding during the respective periods, including unvested options. The dilutive effect of outstanding options and restricted stock issued by the Company is reflected in net income per share - diluted using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, options will only have a dilutive effect when the average market price of common stock during the period exceeds the exercise price of the options.

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans — The Company’s U.S. subsidiaries participate in a defined contribution 401(k) plan covering substantially all U.S. employees. Employees may invest 1% or more of their eligible compensation, limited to maximum amounts as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company provides a matching contribution to the plan, determined as a percentage of the employees’ contributions.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements — Financial instruments consist primarily of investments in cash, trade accounts receivable, debt and accounts payable. The Company estimates the fair value of financial instruments based on interest rates available to the Company. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the carrying amounts of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. Cash is classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s debt is considered to be representative of its fair value because of its variable interest rate. The weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowings was 6.2% in 2019, 5.7% in 2018 and 4.7% in 2017.

The fair value of goodwill, non-amortizing intangibles and long-lived assets is measured in connection with the Company’s annual impairment testing as discussed above.

Significant Concentrations

Significant Concentrations — Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and accounts receivable. The Company’s excess cash balances are invested with money center banks. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers and their geographic dispersion comprising the Company’s customer base. The Company also performs on-going credit evaluations and maintains allowances for potential losses as warranted.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Public companies in the United States are subject to the accounting and reporting requirements of various authorities, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These authorities issue numerous pronouncements, most of which are not applicable to the Company’s current or reasonably foreseeable operating structure. Below are the new authoritative pronouncements that management believes are relevant to Company’s current operations.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This ASU clarifies and simplifies accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions for intraperiod tax allocation principles and the methodology for calculating income tax rates in an interim period, among other updates. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this ASU effective January 1, 2021. The Company is evaluating the effect of the adoption of this pronouncement.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurements, which eliminates, adds or modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Entities will no longer be required to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, but will be required to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted to adopt either the entire standard or only the provisions that eliminate or modify the requirements. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract, which requires a customer in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract to follow the internal-use software guidance in Accounting Standards Codification 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to defer and recognize as an asset. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment which eliminates the second step from the goodwill impairment test. An entity should perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, but the loss cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted this standard on January 1, 2019. There was no material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations upon adoption of this standard.

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments as modified by subsequently issued ASU's 2018-19, 2019-04, 2019-05 and 2019-11. This ASU requires estimating all expected credit losses for certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables, held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this ASU effective January 1, 2020. The Company's trade accounts receivables are subject to this standard. The Company has completed its evaluation of the impact of adopting this standard and has concluded that it will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.