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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Principles of Consolidation 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 2020 included 53 weeks while 2019 and 2018 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 credit losses, 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 and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents — 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.
Restricted cash Restricted cash — The Company has restricted cash collateralizing letters of credit outstanding of $1.6 million, which are recorded in Other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts included in restricted cash represent those required to be set aside by a contractual agreement with an insurer for the payment of workers' compensation claims.
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. The Company estimates the net realizable value of its inventory by considering factors such as inventory levels, historical write-off information, historical and current demand trends, market conditions, estimated direct selling costs and physical condition of the inventory as well as credits that we may obtain for returned merchandise.
Leases Leases — 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 Operating lease right-of-use assets representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and Operating lease liabilities representing the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The Company elected to adopt the available package of practical expedients. The ROU assets and corresponding liabilities are recorded based upon the net present value of the lease payments, discounted using interest rates determined by utilizing such factors as the Company's current credit facility terms, length of the lease term, the Company's expected debt credit rating and comparable company term loan yields. Certain leases may include options to extend the lease, however, the Company is not including any impact of such options in the valuation of its ROU assets or liabilities as they are not probable of being extended. The Company's lease agreements do not contain residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants. The Company has sublease agreements for certain unused facilities. The Company’s lease portfolio consists primarily of operating leases which expire at various dates through 2032. See Note 4 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 years to fifteen years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful lives or the term of the respective leases. During 2020, the Company disposed of property, plant and equipment of approximately $10.5 million and accumulated depreciation of $10.5 million.

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 three 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.
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 — 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, 2020.

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. The total accrued sales returns liability was approximately $1.9 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019,
respectively, and was recorded as a refund liability in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for Credit Losses - On January 1, 2020 the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326). The Company's trade accounts receivable are subject to this standard. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

The Company’s trade accounts receivable is one portfolio comprised of commercial businesses operating in the U.S. and to a much lesser extent, Canada. The Company develops its allowances for credit losses, which represent an estimate of expected losses over the remaining contractual life of its receivables, considering customer financial condition, historical loss experience with its customers, current market economic conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions when appropriate. When the Company becomes aware of a customer's inability to meet its financial obligation, a specific reserve is recorded to reduce the receivable to the expected amount to be collected. For the balance of its trade receivables, the Company uses a loss rate method to estimate its credit loss reserve. Historical loss experience rates are calculated using receivable write offs over a trailing twelve-month period and comparing that to the average receivable balances over the same period. That rate is applied to the current accounts receivable portfolio, excluding accounts that have been specifically reserved. Any write offs incurred are recorded against the established reserves.

The Company grants credit to commercial business customers using an electronic application process that evaluates the customer's detailed credit report, reference responses, availability under credit facilities, existing liens, tenure of management and business history, among other factors. Credit terms are typically net 30 days payment required with larger businesses eligible for up to net 90 day terms, if qualified.
Shipping and Handling Costs Shipping and Handling Costs — The Company recognizes shipping and handling costs in cost of sales.
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 fiscal year during which the benefits are expected.
Stock Based Compensation
Stock Based Compensation — 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.

The fair value of the restricted stock and performance restricted stock is the closing stock price on the NYSE of the Company's common stock on the date of grant or the closing stock price of the Company's common stock on the last business day prior to the grant date. Upon delivery, a portion of the RSU award may be withheld to satisfy the statutory withholding taxes. The remaining RSU's/PRSU's will be settled in shares of the Company's common stock after the vesting period and on the prescribed delivery date. These RSUs/PRSU's have none of the rights as other shares of common stock, other than rights to cash dividends, until common stock is distributed.
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 — On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820). The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position of results of operations.

Fair value accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value standards establish the fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in valuation techniques. There are three levels to the fair value hierarchy (Level 1 is the highest priority and Level 3 is the lowest priority):
Level 1 -Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 -Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 -Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity

Financial instruments consist primarily of investments in cash, trade accounts receivable, debt and accounts payable. The Company determines the fair value of financial instruments based on interest rates available to the Company. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, 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 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.

The weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowings was 4.4% in 2020, 6.2% in 2019 and 5.7% in 2018.
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.The Company purchases substantially all of its products and components directly from both large and small manufacturers as well as large wholesale distributors.  No supplier accounted for 10% or more of our product purchases for continuing operations in 2020, 2019 and 2018. Most private label products are manufactured by third parties to our specifications.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
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 does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.


In October 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-10, Codification Improvements. This ASU amends a variety of topics in the Codification to improve consistency and clarify the guidance. The effective date of this ASU is for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020. 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.