Item 1. Business.
General
Systemax Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is primarily a direct marketer of brand name and private label industrial and business equipment and supplies in North America going to market under the Global banner through a system of branded e-commerce websites and relationship marketers. The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1995. Certain predecessor businesses which now constitute the Company's operations have been in business since 1949. Our headquarters office is located at 11 Harbor Park Drive, Port Washington, New York.
Current operations
The Company sells 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 maintenance, repair and operations (“MRO”) products, which are marketed in North America. Many of these products are manufactured by other companies. Some products are manufactured for us and sold under our brand as a white label product, and some are manufactured to our own design and marketed under the trademarks: Global™, GlobalIndustrial.com™, Nexel™ Paramount™ and Interion™.
See Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K for additional financial information about our business as well as information about our geographic operations.
Accelerating the Customer Experience
The Company's multi-year business strategy is focused on Accelerating our Customers Experience (“ACE”). The ACE initiative, which guides our actions across the business, and specifically in our customer end-to-end purchase, service, and delivery experience, has at its core building of customer loyalty and trust by addressing unique customer needs through a responsive and tailored sales, product, and service experience. We build customer loyalty and trust through personalized and high touch customer interactions that often feature strong one to one relationships. The Company's digital and multi-channel sales model drives customer acquisition and with rigorous vetting we are able to identify opportunities for product category expansion, particularly private label products. Category expansion with our customers drives repeat orders and increases their annual and average spend. We maximize customer satisfaction and loyalty by coupling close customer relationships with product expertise, efficient and competitive fulfillment and delivery and exceptional customer service.
WE CAN SUPPLY THAT™
Products
Our broad product offering and focus on responsiveness to our customers is captured in our promise “We Can Supply That”. We offer our customers a competitive assortment of leading products and services and a sales force with deep product knowledge and expertise. Our go to market strategy also focuses on leveraging our deep product knowledge and experience by seeking to expand our higher margin private label line of Global products by adding additional products and product categories. We have over one million brand name and private label products available through our e-commerce sites and have access to over 1.7 million products in our database. We endeavor to expand and keep current the breadth of our product offerings to fulfill the increasingly wide range of product needs of our customers, and periodically remove certain products from our offering to improve efficiencies or to address vendor or market changes. Sourcing hard to find or non-standard product helps to differentiate our business from our competitors and we believe provides us with a competitive advantage.
Historically the Company has focused on products within the following categories: storage and shelving; material handling; janitorial and maintenance; furniture and office; and workbench and shop desks. We have become a destination and trusted supplier of these products by offering competitive pricing, high service levels, broad and deep product offering, extensive product and sales expertise. Importantly, we have a well-developed and expanding private label product portfolio offering both high quality and attractively priced alternatives to leading national brands. Other emerging or growing categories are becoming a larger portion of our product portfolio; these include HVAC/R and fans, safety and security, outdoor and grounds maintenance, tools and instruments, office and school supplies, plumbing and pumps, packaging and supplies, electrical and lighting, food service and appliances, raw materials and building supplies, motors and power transmission, pneumatics and hydraulics, medical and laboratory equipment, metalworking and cutting tools, vehicle maintenance, and fasteners and
hardware. Within these categories we intend to use the go to market strategy that we successfully employed to grow our legacy core product categories, as discussed below.
Sales and Marketing
We market our products primarily to business customers, which include for-profit businesses, state, local, and private educational organizations and government entities including federal, state, and local municipalities. We have an established multi-faceted direct marketing system and customer life cycle marketing program which tends to begin with customer acquisition via keyword or branding search, supported by strategic account managers, leading e-commerce and account management tools, and deep pre and post sales product expertise which are intended to drive customer retention and penetration and to maximize sales. From time to time we adjust or re-allocate our marketing and advertising spend to best take advantage of changes in market conditions, changes in product mix and/or to drive special sales initiatives and product promotions and in 2020 we implemented various new strategies to further focus our online advertising spend to achieve improved results in both customer acquisition rates as well as customer retention.
Relationship Marketers
Our relationship marketers focus their efforts on our business customers by establishing a personal relationship between such customers and a Systemax account manager. The goal of the relationship marketing sales force is to increase the purchasing productivity of current customers and to actively solicit newly targeted prospects to become customers. With access to the records we maintain, our relationship marketers are prompted with product suggestions to expand customer order values. We also have the ability to provide such customers with electronic data interchange (“EDI”) ordering and customized billing services, customer savings reports and stocking of specialty items specifically requested by these customers. Our relationship marketers’ efforts are supported by e-mail campaigns and periodic catalog mailings, both of which are designed to generate inbound telephone sales, and visits to our interactive websites, which allow customers to purchase products directly online. We believe that the integration of our multiple marketing methods enables us to more thoroughly penetrate our business, educational and government customer base. We believe increased internet exposure leads to more internet-related sales and also generates more inbound telephone sales; just as we believe email campaigns, and to a lesser extent catalog mailings, which feature our websites results in greater internet-related sales.
E-commerce
We currently operate multiple e-commerce sites, including:
We are continually upgrading the capabilities and performance of these websites in our significant markets. In 2019, we launched a new version of our globalindustrial.com website which provides advanced features and self-serve capabilities that increases ease of use, while supplying a premier customer experience. The new website allows customers to conduct more of their order and service-related tasks such as returns, auto reorder, replacement parts and order tracking online. In 2020 we enhanced our website for full ADA/508 compliance, expanded customer self service functions such as SMS notifications, added proactive notifications through Global Assist (order tracking on the web) and added the ability to create quotes and product reviews. In addition we have upgraded the look and functionality of our mobile site.
Our internet sites feature over one million MRO and industrial and general business supplies. Our customers have around-the-clock, online access to purchase products and we have the ability to create targeted promotions for our customers’ interests.
In addition to our own e-commerce websites, we have partnering agreements with several of the largest internet shopping and search engine providers who feature our products on their websites or provide “click-throughs” from their sites directly to ours. These arrangements allow us to expand our customer base at an economical cost.
Signature Campaigns
We implemented periodic strategic marketing campaigns in 2020 including the Restore, Return and Rebound your business campaign addressing customer needs for returning to operations post pandemic and the Ready, Set, Vaccinate campaign
introduced later in 2020 to assist hospitals and other health agency customers prepare for administering vaccines to the public. We expect to continue these periodic campaigns in the future.
Catalogs
As the Company increased its focus on online and e-commerce advertising, marketing and sales activities over the years, its use of hard copy catalogs decreased as compared to earlier periods, but over the last several years, it has distributed a stable number of regular and specialty catalogs, postcards, and other physical mail and anticipates continuing to do so in the near term.
Customer Service, Order Fulfillment and Support
In 2019 we launched several initiatives with our vendors and freight partners, and in our own distribution centers, to improve our customer’s experience such as our Voice of the Customer initiative, involving phone and online surveys to obtain our customer’s input on their experiences with us and our products to ensure we deliver on the promise, to better focus our sales, service and marketing efforts on our customers' needs and to target areas of improvement to enhance the overall customer experience. These efforts continued through 2020, and we further added additional improvements to the experience including offering 24x7 chat supported by both AI chatbots and live chats with our associates.
A growing proportion of our orders are received electronically via internet, extranet, EDI, customer punch out catalog, online chat, or through broadly utilizing vendor and customer portals such as Ariba or Coupa. These E-orders represented over 55% of our transaction count in the second half of 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to over 48% for the year ended December 31, 2019. Manual orders are received by telephone to our inbound call center, direct dial to our inside account management team, placement through one of our field sales representatives, and to a small extent via fax. We generally provide toll-free telephone number access for our customers in countries where it is customary. Certain domestic call centers are linked to provide telephone backup in the event of a disruption in phone service.
The Company utilizes a sourcing strategy encompassing sales of in stock items that are either national brands, private label, or white label products as well as supplementing its stocking strategy with product fulfilled directly by our vendor partners via a drop ship relationship. In stock items tend to be higher in velocity, higher in gross margin, and offer a higher service level to our customers. In stock items are distributed via a network of five large distribution centers in the U.S. located in the Northeast, Midwest, West, Southeast and South Central regions and two additional smaller distribution facilities in Canada. Product deliveries to our customers are made through a nationwide network of common carriers that we contract with directly in order to establish and maintain high service levels and enhance operational efficiencies. We tend to stock items in our distribution center, and invest the requisite working capital in inventory position, after demonstrating sales volume success in the drop ship sales of that item effected through our suppliers. Orders are generally shipped by third-party delivery services and we maintain relationships with thousands of distributors and product vendors in the United States and Canada.
We maintain a database of commonly asked questions for our technical support representatives, enabling them to respond quickly to similar questions. We conduct regular on-site training seminars for our sales representatives to help ensure that they are well trained and informed regarding our latest product offerings.
Suppliers
We purchase substantially all of our 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 related to continuing operations in 2020, 2019 and 2018. Most private label products are manufactured by third parties to our specifications.
Competition and Other Market Factors
Industrial Products
The market for the sale of industrial products in North America is highly fragmented and is characterized by multiple distribution channels such as small dealerships, direct mail distribution, internet-based resellers, large warehouse stores and retail outlets. We face competition from large diversified MRO distributors such as Uline Inc, Grainger Inc., MSC Industrial Direct Inc., Fastenal Inc., and other large retailers, including Amazon. We also face competition from manufacturers’ own sales representatives, who sell industrial equipment directly to customers, and from regional or local distributors. Many purchasers begin sourcing products via search engine or mobile application on desktops, laptops, or mobile devices. In the industrial products market, customer purchasing decisions are primarily based on price, product selection, product availability,
level of service, access to open account terms, and convenience. We believe that direct marketing via sales representatives, the internet and catalogs are effective and convenient distribution methods to reach both our core small and mid-sized customer as well as large enterprises. Further we believe that our customer engagement approach allows for high levels of service to accounts that may purchase high volume capital or durable goods infrequently or that place many small orders for supplies and other consumables that require a wide selection of products. In addition, because the industrial products market is highly fragmented and generally less brand oriented, we believe it is well suited to private label and white label products.
Human Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2020, we employed a total of approximately 1,480 associates, of whom 1,280 were in North America and 200 were in Asia. Approximately 41% of our associates are customer facing including customer service, quota bearing sales representatives, inbound call center representatives, and other pre and post sales management and support. Approximately 37% of our team members are employed within distribution, logistics, and fulfillment areas, while 22% of our associates base works within administrative functions including: IT, Marketing, Product Management, Human Resources, Accounting and Finance, Legal and Risk Management and general administrative and management roles.
Our worldwide workforce is made up of a diverse group of associates. In our most recent U.S. EEO-1 data, the associate demographic breakdown for individuals reporting was 43% female and 57% male and minorities constituted 52% of our workforce. We believe our diversity of associates is one of the Company’s considerable strengths and that our demographics are consistent with or higher than our competitors in the sales and distribution space. Our employees are not subject to collective bargaining agreements. The Company has not experienced work stoppages and we believe relationships with our employees are good.
Environment, Health and Safety: Government Regulation
Employee health and safety is a top priority for the Company, and was a key factor in our safely navigating the pandemic thus far. As an essential business our distribution centers have remained open during the pandemic and our office facilities remained open in locations where social distancing and local regulations permitted. Safety protocols we established to keep our employees safe include:
•Implementing Covid-19 related controls to address social distancing, intense cleaning of common areas, and enhanced use of personal protective equipment.
•Providing face masks, gloves and sanitizing products for employees’ use.
•Limiting all but essential travel for all employees.
•Providing paid time off for employees with suspected and confirmed Covid-19 illness and for contact tracing.
•Restricting access to our facilities to essential visitor personnel.
•Closing Company provided gym spaces.
•Implementing remote work and in office rotation policies to effect social distancing.
Our safety teams and local safety committees, led by our new Director of Environment, Health and Safety, provides oversight, training, education and compliance guidance, as well as workers compensation remediation advice, to our management teams and directly to our workforce. Our EH&S group is also responsible for overseeing product safety and compliance programs and initiative including compliance with various EPA, FDA and hazmat regulations that apply to certain of the products we offer.
Under various national, state and local environmental laws and regulations in North America and Asia, a current or previous owner or operator (including the lessee) of real property may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous substances at such real property. Such laws and regulations often impose liability without regard to fault. We lease all of our facilities. In connection with such leases, we could be held liable for the costs of removal or remedial actions with respect to hazardous substances that escape into the environment. Although we have not been notified of, and are not otherwise aware of, any material real property environmental liability, claims or non-compliance, there can be no assurance that we will not be required to incur remediation or other costs in connection with real property environmental matters in the future.
Seasonality
Seasonality does have some effect on the Company’s sales. Certain product lines are highly seasonal in nature, including HVAC products, snow removal products and outdoor furniture and equipment. In addition, certain customer segment buying
cycles, including those of education and government, may tend to be more seasonal than others. Given these trends, financial results tend to vary quarter to quarter with sales and operating margin in the second and third quarters moderately higher than those in the first and fourth quarters respectively.
Financial Information About Domestic and Foreign Operations
We currently sell substantially all of our products through established sales channels to our customers in North America (primarily the United States and Canada). Approximately 5.9%, 4.8%, and 4.7% of our net sales from continuing operations during 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively were made by our Canadian subsidiary. The following sets forth selected information with respect to our continuing operations net sales and operating income (loss), in those two geographic markets (in millions):
See Item 7, “Management’s Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, for further information with respect to our operations.
Discontinued operations
For information regarding certain discontinued operations and former lines of business, see Item 7, "Management's Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K.
Available Information
We maintain an internet website at www.systemax.com. We file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and make available free of charge on or through this website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, including all amendments to those reports, as well as other SEC Filings as appropriate. These are available as soon as is reasonably practicable after they are filed with the SEC. All reports mentioned above are also available from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). The information on our website is not part of this or any other report we file with, or furnish to, the SEC.
Our Board of Directors has adopted the following corporate governance documents with respect to the Company (the “Corporate Governance Documents”):
•Corporate Ethics Policy for officers, directors and employees
•Charter for the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
•Charter for the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
•Charter for the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors
•Corporate Governance Guidelines and Principles
In accordance with the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, each of the Corporate Governance Documents is available on our Company website (www.systemax.com).
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There are a number of factors and variables described below that may affect our future results of operations and financial condition. Other factors, of which we are currently not aware or that we currently deem immaterial, may also affect our results of operations and financial position.
Risks Related to the Economy and Our Industries
•General economic conditions, including those that can result in decreased customer confidence and spending, could result in our failure to achieve our historical sales growth rates and profit levels. Pandemics, such as the global coronavirus outbreak have and threatens to continue to disrupt global supply chains, including those we rely on in China, which could materially adversely affect our operations.
Both we and our customers are subject to global political, economic and market conditions, including trade and tariff uncertainties, customer inventory levels in the marketplace, borrowing ability, economic conditions in the manufacturing and/or distribution industries, increases in inflation, interest rates, freight costs and energy costs, as well as the impact of natural disasters, military action, the threat of terrorism, and global pandemic or other health crises. Our consolidated results of operations are directly affected by economic conditions in North America, and our supply chain for imported product is affected by conditions in Asia (particularly China).
In this regard, global supply chains and the timely availability of products, particularly products, or product components used in domestic manufacturing, imported from China and other Asian nations have been and could again be materially disrupted by quarantines, factory slowdowns or shutdowns, border closings, and travel restrictions resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. These events have and may continue to result in imported products not being timely received and resultant delayed or lost sales. We depend to a significant extent on products imported from China for our private label lines, and on domestic manufacturers who utilize components imported from Asia. While we have experienced insignificant lost sales due to the coronavirus and are making efforts to secure satisfactory levels of inventory, certain of our vendors have indicated they continue to experience constrained supply and are deferring delivery dates, and there can
be no assurance that our supply chain will not experience further disruptions significant enough to adversely affect our operations.
We may experience a decline in sales as a result of poor economic conditions and the lack of visibility relating to future orders (as well as due to the other risks discussed below). Our results of operations depend upon, among other things, our ability to maintain and increase sales volumes with existing customers, our ability to limit price reductions and manage price increases, our ability to manage freight and shipping costs and maintain our margins, our ability to attract new customers and increase our market share, and the financial condition of our customers. A decline in the economy that adversely affects our customers, causing them to limit or defer their spending or that hampers their ability to pay for products would likely adversely affect our sales, prices and profitability as well. We cannot predict with any certainty whether we will be able to maintain or improve upon historical sales volumes with existing customers, maintain or grow our historical margins, and whether we will be able to attract new customers.
In response to economic and market conditions, from time to time we have undertaken initiatives to reduce our cost structure where appropriate, including workforce reductions. However, these actions may not be sufficient to meet current and future changes in economic and market conditions and allow us to continue to achieve the growth rates and levels of profitability we experienced in the past.
•Adverse weather events or natural disasters, as well as pandemics such as the coronavirus, could negatively affect or disrupt our operations. We may be affected by global climate changes or by legal, regulatory or market responses to such potential change.
Certain areas in which we operate are susceptible to severe weather events, such as hurricanes, winter storms, tornadoes and floods which can impact any of our locations as well as shipping ports and distribution centers. These events, as well as pandemics, have in the past and may in the future disrupt our locations and the supply chains dependent on such shipping ports and distribution centers. In this regard, we experienced product delivery and shipping delays due to the disrupted global product supply chains which affected our ability to timely receive and ship products, which could adversely impact sales.
Our ability to provide efficient distribution of core business products from our or third-party drop ship distribution centers is critical to our business strategy. Disruptions at distribution centers or shipping ports, or the unavailability of employees needed by us or third parties to operate key functions at such locations, has and in the future may affect our ability to both maintain core products in inventory and deliver products to our customers on a timely basis, which may in turn adversely affect our results of operations. We cannot predict whether or to what extent damage caused by these events will affect our operations or the economies in regions where we operate. These adverse events could result in disruption of our operations, our purchasing or distribution capabilities, interruption of our business that exceeds our insurance coverage, our inability to collect from customers and increased operating costs. Our business or results of operations may be adversely affected by these and other negative effects of these events.
•The imposition of tariffs and other trade barriers, as well as retaliatory trade measures, have caused us to raise the prices on certain of our products and seek alternate sources of supply, which could negatively impact our sales or disrupt our operations.
Our industry is subject to risks associated with U.S. and foreign laws relating to importing products, including quotas, duties, tariffs or taxes, as well as other charges or restrictions, which could adversely affect our ability to import products at desired cost or volume levels.
During 2018 the United States enacted three sets of tariffs on a variety of foreign sourced goods. While we experienced minimal impact from the first two tariff lists during 2018, the third list, which went into effect at the end of the third quarter of 2018, imposed tariffs on a broader group of products and impacted a number of the private label products we source directly from China as well as third-party branded products our U.S. suppliers source from China. We strategically increase prices in an effort to offset the incremental costs on certain products and shift certain products to alternative sources where available. Our use of alternate sources of supply, such as utilizing new vendors in additional countries, entails various risks, such as identifying, vetting and managing new business relationships, reliance on new vendors, maintaining quality control over their products, and protecting our intellectual property rights.
These tariffs have increased and will continue to increase our costs of procurement. If the Company is able to adequately review its supply chain and monitor sell prices in the market, and successfully work with suppliers to mitigate costs, the
Company does not expect any material impact on its business from the 2018 tariff actions and continues to believe that any impact from the tariffs currently in effect will be gradual and not material to the business, although there can be no assurance.
Since 2018 the U.S. has been conducting an industry wide anti-dumping investigation of “steel racks” product imported from China. The investigation will likely result in the assessment of anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties assessed against U.S. distributors of these products, such as the Company. While the Company does not believe the outcome of the investigation or any resultant assessments will have a material adverse effect on the Company, there can be no assurance that the fines and duties will not be significant in the period within which they occur.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively or expeditiously mitigate these trade challenges, which could disrupt our operations, negatively impact our sales and would have a material adverse effect on our financial results. However, we do not believe that we will be disproportionately impacted by these costs as compared to our competitors, and we will continue to evaluate marketplace conditions and implement other actions or strategies as the need arises.
Finally, we cannot predict whether additional U.S. and foreign customs quotas, duties (including anti-dumping or countervailing duties), tariffs, taxes or other charges or restrictions, requirements as to where raw materials must be purchased, additional workplace regulations or other restrictions on our imports will be imposed in the future and if so, what effect such actions would have on our costs of operations.
•There is a tight labor market for certain employees we hire, which can impact our growth plans.
Many of our competitors also compete with us for recruiting and retaining talented and experienced employees, particularly in markets where we and they have significant distribution facilities. We have also experienced high levels of turnover in our warehouse/distribution operations, consistent with current market conditions. This aspect of competition is aggravated by the current tight labor market in the U.S. for such jobs. There can be no assurance the Company will be able to timely recruit, train and retain employees sufficient to support its growth strategies or will not have to incur increased compensation costs in order to do so. Our results of operations have been and in the future could be adversely affected by increased costs due to increased competition for employees, higher employee turnover or increased employee benefit costs. In the event of significant numbers of employees having to miss work due to a widespread health situation or pandemic such as the coronavirus, we may not be able to quickly source replacement or temporary workers, which could adversely affect our operations, particularly in our distribution centers.
•Our industry is evolving and consolidating, which could adversely affect our business and financial results.
The MRO and industrial equipment industry are consolidating as customers are increasingly aware of the total costs of fulfillment and of the need to have consistent sources of supply at multiple locations. This consolidation has and will continue to cause the industry to become more competitive as greater economies of scale are achieved by competitors, or as competitors with a new lower cost business models are able to operate with lower prices.
•Volatility in commodity prices may adversely affect gross margins.
Some of our products contain significant amounts of commodity-priced materials, such as steel, copper, petroleum derivatives or rare earth minerals, and are subject to price changes based upon fluctuations in the commodities market. Fluctuations in the price of fuel could affect transportation costs. Our ability to pass on such increases in costs in a timely manner depends on market conditions. The inability to pass along cost increases could result in lower gross margins. In addition, higher prices could impact demand for these products, resulting in lower sales volumes.
•Events such as acts of war or terrorism, natural disasters, data security breaches, changes in law, or large losses could adversely affect our insurance coverage and insurance expense, resulting in an adverse effect on our profitability and financial condition.
We insure for certain property and casualty risks consisting primarily of physical loss to property, business interruptions resulting from property losses, worker’s compensation, comprehensive general liability, and auto liability. Insurance coverage is obtained for catastrophic property and casualty exposures as well as those risks required to be insured by law or contract. Although we believe that our insurance coverage is reasonable, significant events such as acts of war and terrorism, economic conditions, data security breaches, judicial decisions, legislation, natural disasters and large losses could materially affect our insurance obligations and future expense. Furthermore, the occurrence of an uninsured significant event could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.
•Environmental Matters
Under various national, state and local environmental laws and regulations in North America, a current or previous owner or operator (including the lessee) of real property may become liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous substance at such real property. Such laws and regulation often impose liability without regard to fault. We lease all of our facilities. In connection with such leases, we could be held liable for the costs of removal or remedial actions with respect to hazardous substances. Although we have not been notified of, and are not otherwise aware of, any material real property environmental liability, claim or non-compliance, there can be no assurance that we will not be required to incur remediation or other costs in connection with real property environmental matters in the future.
Risks Related to Our Company
•Distribution facilities
Our ability to maintain available capacity in our distribution operations for stocked inventory and to enable on time shipment and deliveries, such as by timely implementing additional distribution resources, whether in the form of expanded or additional temporary and permanent facilities we operate or by outsourcing certain functions to third-party distribution and logistics partners, is critical to our ability to service our growing business. If we do not accurately forecast our future warehousing and distribution center needs, and then timely plan, fund on budget, launch and efficiently operate new distribution resources and facilities when needed, our operations and financial results could be materially adversely impacted. In addition, expanding and/or enhancing our distribution network would have an adverse impact on operating expenses as a percentage of sales, inventory turnover, and working capital requirements in the periods prior to and for some time following the commencement of operations for each such expansion or enhancement.
•We rely on third-party suppliers for most of our products and services. The loss or interruption of these relationships could impact our sales volumes, the levels of inventory we must carry, and/or result in sales delays and/or higher inventory costs from new suppliers.
We purchase a portion of our products from major distributors and directly from large manufacturers who may deliver those products directly to our customers (“drop ship”), as well as from smaller more regional vendors. These drop ship delivery relationships enable us to make available to our customers a wide selection of products without having to maintain large amounts of inventory. The termination or interruption of our relationships with any of these drop ship suppliers could materially adversely affect our business.
We purchase a number of our products, particularly private label and white label products, from vendors located outside of the United States. Raw material costs used in our vendors’ products (steel, tungsten, etc.) and energy costs may increase, which may result in increased production costs for our vendors, which they may seek to pass along to us. Difficulties encountered by one or several of these suppliers could halt or disrupt production and delay completion or cause the cancellation of our orders. Delays or interruptions in the transportation network could result in loss or delay of timely receipt of product required to fulfill customer orders. Our ability to find qualified vendors who meet our standards and supply products in a timely and efficient manner is a significant challenge, especially with respect to goods sourced from outside the U.S. In this regard, in response to the tariffs imposed by the U.S. on goods imported from China, we are seeking alternative sources of supply, such as utilizing new vendors in additional countries, which entails various risks, such as identifying, vetting and managing new business relationships, reliance on these new vendors maintaining quality control over their products, and protecting our intellectual property rights.
Political or financial instability, merchandise quality issues, product safety concerns, trade restrictions, work stoppages, tariffs, foreign currency exchange rates, transportation capacity and costs, inflation, civil unrest, outbreaks of pandemics and other factors are beyond our control. These and other issues affecting our vendors could materially adversely affect our revenue and gross profit.
See also the discussion above for information regarding the risks posed by the spread of the coronavirus on our supply chain and general economic activity.
•We rely on third-party suppliers for shipping and delivery services and managing the logistics of a distribution business can impact our results of operations and margins.
We face certain risks due to our reliance on common carrier delivery services for shipping inventoried merchandise to customers and our reliance on drop ship deliveries directly to customers by our product vendors for products we do not
hold in inventory (such as freight cost increases, timely delivery and customer service, delays due to work stoppages, etc.). We also must effectively manage our ability to maintain available capacity in our distribution operations for stocked inventory and to enable on time shipment and deliveries, such as by timely implementing additional or alternative distribution resources, whether in the form of additional facilities we operate or by outsourcing certain functions to third-party distribution and logistics partners.
Increases in freight and shipping costs charged to us by third parties could adversely affect our margins to the extent the increases cannot be passed along to customers, and factors affecting the shipping and distribution of products imported to the United States by us or our domestic vendors, such as the current shortage in global availability of shipping containers, the current port congestion and global logistical delays and pandemic related labor shortages, have in the past and could in the future adversely affect the timely availability of products, resulting in delayed or lost sales, as well as adversely affecting our margins.
The fuel costs of our independent freight companies have been volatile. Our vendors and independent freight carriers typically look to pass increased costs along to us through price increases. When we are forced to accept these price increases, we may not be able to pass them along to our customers, resulting in lower margins.
•Changes in customer, product, vendor, sourcing or channel sales mix, could cause the gross margin and ultimately operating margins to decline; failure to mitigate these pressures could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.
Our gross margins are dependent on the mix of products we sell, decisions to drop ship rather than stock products in our distribution centers, decisions to offer private label alternatives or branded offerings, price changes by manufacturers, and pricing actions by competitors. In addition, we could be adversely affected by a continuation of our customers’ shift to lower-priced products.
•We rely to a great extent on our information and telecommunications systems, and significant system failures or outages, or our failure to properly evaluate, upgrade or replace our systems, or the failure of our security/safety measures to protect our systems and websites, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We rely on a variety of information and telecommunications systems including internally developed software, third-party purchased software and third-party cloud-based software in order to manage our business, including our customer, vendor, employee, facilities, finance, management and corporate operations. Our success is dependent in large part on the accuracy and proper use of our information systems, including our telecommunications systems, which are utilized in all aspects of our business. To manage our growth, we need to continually evaluate the effectiveness and adequacy of our existing systems and procedures to ensure they are keeping pace with changes in our business. These systems, whether internally developed, purchased or cloud-based may need to be modified, upgraded or replaced from time to time. System modifications, upgrades or replacements involve costs as well as the risk of implementation delays and not operating as intended. We rely on third parties such as telecommunication carriers, internet service providers and our own employees to provide the technology services and expertise on which we depend. There are risks that third parties may incur outages or circumstances where they cannot provide the services we require as intended or that our employees do not have the expertise to remediate system outages or technical problems that may arise. We have experienced some delays and operational problems in implementing new IT systems in the past. We anticipate that we will regularly need to make capital expenditures to upgrade and modify our management information systems, including software and hardware, as we grow and the needs of our business change. We have disaster recovery systems and system backups are routinely done for certain critical systems, but not for every system. The occurrence of a significant system failure, electrical or telecommunications outages or our failure to ensure our IT employees are properly trained and technically proficient, or that our systems are adequate, effective and beneficial to our business, or our failure to expand or successfully implement new systems could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
•Use of Cloud-Based Systems and Infrastructure Provided by Third Parties Present Significant Risks to Our Business.
In 2018, we moved certain of our operating systems and management information systems resources and storage to a leading cloud-based platform operated by a well-known third-party provider of technology services, and we no longer operate or maintain such systems or store related data on our own servers. This managed cloud-based platform is operated on a “infrastructure as a service” (“IAAS”) model. Accordingly, exposure to third-party service outages and data loss, or a failure of the network or loss of connectivity can adversely affect our business. In addition, since the data resides on the cloud, we and our customers are forced to rely on the physical and information security of the vendor to protect their
valuable information. There can be no assurance that the cloud-based systems on which we rely will not experience such outages or failures or that data privacy/information security will not be breached.
•Data and security breaches, and other disruptions in our information technology systems, could compromise confidential or private information and expose us to liability, which could cause our business and reputation to suffer.
Our operations are dependent upon information technology that encompasses all of our major business functions. We use our information systems to, among other things, monitor our supply chain, make purchasing decisions, manage and replenish inventories, coordinate our sales and marketing activities, fill and ship customer orders on a timely basis and to monitor and record our financial transactions and results of operations. These systems also process, transmit and store sensitive electronic data, including employee personal information, supplier and customer records, allow vendors and customers to register on our portals and websites, as applicable, or otherwise allow third parties to communicate or interact with us. In addition, we depend on IT systems of third parties, to, among other things, market and distribute products, to operate our websites, host and manage our services, store data, and process transactions. We may share information with these third parties that participate in certain aspects of our business, and we obtain external auditor certification on the controls and security of any significant outsourced service provider according to the SSAE 18 standard. However, there is always a risk that the confidentiality of data held or accessed by them may be compromised.
In processing our sales orders, we often collect personal information and transmit credit card information of our customers. If there was a security breach resulting in unauthorized access to or use of such information, we could be subject to claims for identity theft, unauthorized purchases and claims alleging misrepresentation of our privacy and data security practices or other related claims. While the Company believes it conforms to appropriate Payment Card Industry (“PCI”) security standards, any breach involving the loss of credit card information may lead to PCI related fines in the millions of dollars. In the event of a severe breach, credit card providers may prevent our accepting of credit cards.
We measure our data security effectiveness through industry accepted methods and remediate significant findings. We maintain and routinely test backup systems and disaster recovery, along with external network security penetration testing by an independent third-party as part of our business continuity preparedness. We also have processes in place to prevent disruptions resulting from the implementation of new software and systems of the latest technology. We have implemented solutions, processes, and procedures to help mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks, such as conducting annual vulnerability testing, and in 2018 engaged consultants to assist us in implementing stronger security measures, identifying remediation initiatives and establishing emergency response plans, but there can be no assurance these efforts will successfully deter future cyber-attacks. Our Board of Directors is responsible for oversight of the activities of our IT department (which reports to our Chief Executive Officer) and receives periodic presentations from our Chief Information Officer that cover, among other things, data security and cyber liability matters.
Although our IT systems are protected through various network security measures, our facilities and systems, and those of our third-party service providers with which we do business, may nevertheless be vulnerable to security breaches, cyber-attacks (any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity or availability of our information resources) vandalism, power outages, natural disasters, computer system failures, telecommunication or network failures, computer viruses, malware, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors or other similar events. From time to time, we have experienced efforts by unknown persons, including “bots”, to access or breach our information systems, and these efforts can be expected to continue in the future. While we have successfully defended against such efforts in the past, there can be no assurance we will be able to protect sensitive data and/or the integrity of the Company's information systems and to defend against such efforts in the future.
Any security breach involving the misappropriation, loss or other unauthorized disclosure of our confidential information or confidential information of our customers, employees, or suppliers, whether by us or by our third-party service providers, could disrupt our business, expose us to risks of litigation (such as customer or third-party claims that their data has been compromised) and liability, result in a loss of assets or cause reputational damage, and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. Any substantial disruption of our systems could impair our ability to process orders, maintain proper levels of inventories, manage customer billings and collections, prepare and present accurate financial statements and related information, and otherwise materially adversely affect our ability to manage our business.
We maintain cyber liability risk insurance, but this insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our losses from any future breaches of our systems, or to cover the cause of the future specific situation/loss at hand. In addition, as privacy and information security laws and standards evolve, we may need to incur significant additional investment in technology and other processes to meet new legal requirements.
•Goodwill and intangible assets may become impaired resulting in a charge to earnings.
The Company has made acquisitions in the past of other businesses and these acquisitions resulted in the recording of significant intangible assets and/or goodwill. We are required to test goodwill and intangible assets annually to determine if the carrying values of these assets are impaired or on a more frequent basis if indicators of impairment exist. If any of our goodwill or intangible assets are determined to be impaired, we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings in the period during which the impairment is discovered. Although the carrying amounts of intangible assets and goodwill are relatively small as of December 31, 2020, to the extent the Company makes acquisitions in the future there could again be material amounts of such assets recorded and subject to future impairment testing.
•Our foreign product procurement operations are subject to risks such as foreign regulatory trade and customs requirements such as the tariffs and duties matters discussed above, and the political and economic conditions of the jurisdictions from which we procure products.
Because we sell products all across North America and procure product from abroad, including from China, we operate internationally and as a result, we are subject to risks associated with doing business globally, such as risks related to the differing legal, political and regulatory requirements and economic conditions of many jurisdictions. Risks inherent to operating internationally include:
•Changes in a country’s economic or political conditions;
•Tariff and trade uncertainties;
•Changes in foreign currency exchange rates;
•Difficulties with staffing and managing international relationships;
•Unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;
•Changes in transportation and shipping costs; and
•Enforcement of intellectual property rights.
The functional currencies of our businesses outside of the U.S. are the local currencies. Changes in exchange rates between these foreign currencies and the U.S. Dollar will affect the recorded levels of our assets, liabilities, net sales, cost of goods sold and operating margins and could result in exchange gains or losses. The primary currencies to which we have exposure are the Canadian Dollar and the India Rupee. Our operating results and profitability may be affected by any volatility in currency exchange rates and our ability to manage effectively our currency transaction and translation risks. For example, we currently have operations located in countries outside the United States, and non-U.S. sales accounted for approximately 5.9% of our net sales from continuing operations during 2020. To the extent the U.S. dollar strengthens against foreign currencies, our foreign revenues and profits will be reduced when translated into U.S. dollars.
•We are exposed to various inventory risks, such as being unable to profitably resell excess or obsolete inventory and/or the loss of product return from our vendors; such events could lower our gross margins or result in inventory write-downs that would reduce reported future earnings.
Our inventory is subject to risk due to changes in market demand for particular products. If we fail to manage our inventory of older products we may have excess or obsolete inventory. We may have limited rights to return purchases to certain suppliers. The elimination of purchase return privileges could lower our gross margin or result in inventory write-downs.
We also take advantage of attractive product pricing by making opportunistic bulk inventory purchases; any resulting excess and/or obsolete inventory that we are not able to re-sell could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. Any inability to make such bulk inventory purchases may significantly impact our sales and profitability.
•Concentration of Ownership and Control Limits Stockholders Ability to Influence Corporate Actions.
Richard Leeds, Robert Leeds, and Bruce Leeds (each are brothers and directors and executive officers of the Company), together with trusts for the benefit of certain members of their respective families and other entities controlled by them, control approximately 67.2% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Due to such holdings, the Leeds brothers together with these trusts and entities are able to determine the outcome of virtually all matters submitted to stockholders for approval, including the election of directors, the appointment of management, amendment of our articles of incorporation, significant corporate transactions (such as a merger or other sale of our company or our assets), the payments of dividends on our common stock and the entering into of extraordinary transactions. Further, as a "controlled
company" under NYSE rules, the Company has elected to opt-out of certain New York Stock Exchange listing standards that, among other things, require listed companies to have a majority of independent directors on their board of directors; the Company does however currently have an independent Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
General Risk Factors
•We may encounter difficulties with acquisitions and other strategic transactions which could harm our business.
We expect to pursue acquisitions and other strategic transactions that we believe will either expand or complement our business in new or existing markets or further enhance the value and offerings we are able to provide to our existing or future potential customers.
Acquisitions and other strategic transactions involve numerous risks and challenges, including the following:
•diversion of management’s attention from the normal operation of our business;
•potential loss of key associates and customers of the acquired companies;
•difficulties managing and integrating operations in geographically dispersed locations;
•the potential for deficiencies in internal controls at acquired companies;
•increases in our expenses and working capital requirements, which reduce our return on invested capital;
•lack of experience operating in the geographic market or industry sector of the acquired business; and
•exposure to unanticipated liabilities of acquired companies.
To integrate acquired businesses, we must implement our management information systems, operating systems and internal controls, and assimilate and manage the personnel of the acquired operations. The difficulties of this integration may be further complicated by geographic distances. The integration of acquired businesses may not be successful and could result in disruption to other parts of our business.
•Our business is dependent on certain key personnel, including the recent engagement of new senior executives.
Our business depends largely on the efforts and abilities of certain key senior management employees. The loss of the services of one or more of such key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
•We are subject to litigation risk due to the nature of our business, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and business.
From time to time, we are involved in lawsuits or other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. These include patent, trademark or other intellectual property matters, employment law matters, states sales tax claims on internet/e-commerce transactions, product liability, commercial disputes, consumer sales practices, or other matters. In addition, as a public company we could from time to time face claims relating to corporate or securities law matters. The defense and/or outcome of such lawsuits or proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our business. See “Legal Proceedings”.
•Our profitability can be adversely affected by changes in our income tax exposure due to changes in tax rates or laws, changes in our effective tax rate due to changes in the mix of earnings among different countries, restrictions on utilization of tax benefits and changes in valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities.
Changes in our income tax expense due to changes in the mix of U.S. and non-U.S. revenues and profitability, changes in tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could affect our profitability. We are subject to income taxes in the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. Our effective tax rate has been in the past and could be in the future adversely affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, restrictions on utilization of tax benefits, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in tax laws or by material audit assessments.
The carrying value of our deferred tax assets is dependent on our ability to generate future taxable income in those jurisdictions. In the case of where several years of losses occur in a jurisdiction, there is a risk that the Company would need to reserve its deferred tax assets which would likely result in a material tax expense being recorded in the period that such reserve is established. Similarly, in the case where a reserve against deferred tax assets has previously been established, successive years of profitability would require the reversal of deferred tax asset reserves which would likely
result in a material tax benefit in the period that the reserve is deemed to be no longer necessary. In addition, the amount of income taxes we pay is subject to audit in our various jurisdictions and a material assessment by a tax authority could affect our profitability.
•We exited our France business in 2018 and our NATG business in 2015 and could incur costs in excess of our estimated exit expenses.
The Company has completed the wind-down activities related to the sale of the France business, but may incur additional charges related to statutory tax and other indemnities given at closing. The Company has substantially completed the wind-down activities related to the NATG business, although certain NATG activities related to sublet facilities, settling accounts payable and other contingent liabilities continue. The Company expects that total additional NATG exit costs incurred during 2021 or later may aggregate up to $0.5 million, which will be presented in discontinued operations. There can be no assurance the Company will be able to timely exit its existing NATG lease commitments at currently recorded cost levels. Failure to achieve these expectations will result in increased cash exit costs for the Company.
•Changes in accounting standards or practices, as well as new accounting pronouncements or interpretations, may require us to account for and report our financial results in a different manner in the future, which may be less favorable than the manner used historically.
A change in accounting standards or practices can have a significant effect on our reported results of operations. New accounting pronouncements and interpretations of existing accounting rules and practices have occurred and may occur in the future. Changes to existing rules may adversely affect our reported financial results.
•Risk of Thin Trading and Volatility of our Common Stock Could Impact Stockholder Value
Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE and is thinly traded. Volatility of thinly traded stocks is typically higher than the volatility of more liquid stocks with higher trading volumes. The trading of relatively small quantities of shares of common stock by our stockholders may disproportionately influence the price of those shares in either direction. This may result in volatility in our stock price and could exacerbate the other volatility-inducing factors described below. The market price of our common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations as a result of being thinly traded.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties.
We operate our business from numerous facilities in North America and Asia. These facilities include our headquarters location, administrative offices, telephone call centers and distribution centers. Certain facilities handle multiple functions. All of our facilities are leased.
North America
As of December 31, 2020, we have seven operational distribution centers in North America which aggregate approximately 2.5 million square feet.
Our headquarters, administrative offices and call centers aggregate approximately 192,000 square feet.
The Company has one B2B call center and one warehouse from its discontinued NATG business that are sublet. These properties aggregate to approximately 0.4 million square feet.
Asia
As of December 31, 2020, we leased two administrative offices in Asia aggregating approximately 9,100 square feet.
Please refer to Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information about leased properties.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The Company and its subsidiaries are from time to time involved in various lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings which may include commercial, employment, tax, customs and trade, customer, vendor, personal injury, creditors rights and health and safety law matters, which are handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. In addition, the Company is from time to time subjected to various assertions, claims, proceedings and requests for damages and/or indemnification concerning sales channel practices and intellectual property matters, including patent infringement suits involving technologies that are incorporated in a broad spectrum of products the Company sells or that are incorporated in the Company’s e-commerce sales channels, as well as trademark/copyright infringement claims. The Company is also audited by (or has initiated voluntary disclosure agreements with) various U.S. Federal and state authorities, as well as Canadian authorities, concerning potential income tax, sales tax and/or "unclaimed property" liabilities. These matters are in various stages of investigation, negotiation and/or litigation. The Company's former NATG subsidiaries are also being audited by an entity representing 28 states seeking recovery of “unclaimed property” and has received separate demands from 20 states requesting payments of their claimed amounts. The Company has complied with the unclaimed property audit, has provided requested information and has corresponded with the states regarding possible further discussions. The Company intends to vigorously defend these matters and believes it has strong defenses.
Although the Company does not expect, based on currently available information, that the outcome in any of these matters, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations, the ultimate outcome is inherently unpredictable. Therefore, judgments could be rendered or settlements entered, that could adversely affect the Company’s operating results or cash flows in a particular period. The Company regularly assesses all of its litigation and threatened litigation as to the probability of ultimately incurring a liability and records its best estimate of the ultimate loss in situations where it assesses the likelihood of loss as probable and estimable. In this regard, the Company establishes accrual estimates for its various lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability incurred at the date of the financial statements and the loss can be reasonably estimated. At December 31, 2020 the Company has established accruals for certain of its various lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings based upon estimates of the most likely outcome in a range of loss or the minimum amounts in a range of loss if no amount within a range is a more likely estimate. The Company does not believe that at December 31, 2020 any reasonably possible losses in excess of the amounts accrued would be material to the financial statements.
Item 4.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Systemax's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol “SYX.” The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales price for the common stock and the dividends declared per share for each quarter during 2020 and 2019.
On December 31, 2020, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $35.89 per share. As of December 31, 2020, we had 165 shareholders of record.
In February 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular cash dividend of $0.16 per share to common stock shareholders of record at the close of business on March 8, 2021, payable on March 15, 2021.
Depending in part upon profitability, the strength of our balance sheet, our cash position and the need to retain cash for the development and expansion of our business, we anticipate continuing a regular quarterly dividend in the future, subject to availability limitations under our credit facilities. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Note 9 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements”.
Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans and a performance graph relating to the Company’s common stock is set forth in the Company’s Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated by reference herein.
Purchases of Equity Securities
In July 2018, the Company's Board of Director's approved a share repurchase program with a repurchase authorization of up to two million shares of the Company's common stock. Under the share repurchase program, the Company is authorized to purchase shares from time to time through open market purchases, tender offerings or negotiated purchases, subject to market conditions and other factors. During 2020, the Company repurchased 392,337 common shares for $7.2 million under its share repurchase authorization. The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the program total approximately 1,375,000.
Item 6.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The following selected financial information is qualified by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained elsewhere in this report. The selected statement of operations data, excluding discontinued operations, for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018 and the selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements which are included elsewhere in this report. The selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and the selected statement of operations data for fiscal years 2017 and 2016 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company which are not included in this report.
The results of operations shown here have been adjusted to reflect the presentation of the ETG and NATG discontinued operations (See Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Overview
Systemax Inc., through its subsidiaries, is primarily a direct marketer of brand name and private label industrial and business equipment and supplies in North America going to market through a system of branded e-commerce websites and relationship marketers.
As the coronavirus has become widespread in the United States, it has lead to health screenings, domestic quarantines, government mandated business, school and government agency shutdowns and lower domestic economic activity and productivity. The resultant lower demand for certain of our core products and other product lines was mitigated by stronger sales of pandemic and safety related supplies.
Continuing Operations
The Company sells 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 maintenance, repair and operational (“MRO”) products, which are marketed in North America. Many of these products are manufactured by other companies. Some products are manufactured for us and sold under our brand as a white label product, and some are manufactured to our own design and marketed under the trademarks: Global™, GlobalIndustrial.com™, Nexel™ Paramount™ and Interion™.
Discontinued Operations
The Company's discontinued operations include the results of the France business sold in August 2018, the SARL Businesses sold in March 2017 and the NATG business sold in December 2015 (see Note 1 and Note 6).
Operating Conditions
The North American industrial products market is highly fragmented and we compete against numerous competitors in multiple distribution channels. Industrial products distribution is working capital intensive, requiring us to incur significant costs associated with the warehousing of many products, including the costs of maintaining inventory, leasing warehouse space, inventory management systems, and employing personnel to perform the associated tasks. We supplement our on-hand product
availability by maintaining relationships with major distributors and manufacturers, utilizing a combination of stock and drop-shipment fulfillment.
The primary component of our operating expenses historically has been employee-related costs, which includes items such as wages, commissions, bonuses, employee benefits and equity-based compensation, as well as marketing expenses, primarily comprised of digital marketing spend, and occupancy related charges associated with our leased distribution and call center facilities. We continually assess our operations to ensure that they are efficient, aligned with market conditions and responsive to customer needs.
In the discussion of our results of operations, constant currency refers to the adjustment of the results of our foreign operations to exclude the effects of period to period fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
The discussion of our results of operations and financial condition that follows will provide information that will assist in understanding our financial statements, the factors that we believe may affect our future results and financial condition as well as information about how certain accounting policies and estimates affect the consolidated financial statements.
The Company has elected to omit discussion of the earliest year presented, December 31, 2018, in MD&A. This discussion can be found in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed on March 12, 2020.
Business Outlook
As we look to 2021, the Company is focused on the continued execution of our customer centric strategy, building on our financial performance and expanding our higher margin private label line of Global products by adding additional products and product categories. The strategy guides our actions across the business and specifically in our customer end-to-end purchase, service and delivery experience. In the year ahead, we will be making further investments in: automation and technology in our customer service stack; our e-commerce shopping experience to provide a seamless shopping journey filled with educational content and solutions offerings; our distribution centers to increase timeliness, quality and accuracy in customer order fulfillment, while driving labor productivity and sales force productivity and automation, which will continue to allow our managed sales force to proactively provide our customers the solutions they need in order to operate their businesses. These actions will enhance our end-to-end customer experience, drive the further evolution of our e-commerce platform and strengthen our competitive position. Accordingly, we expect our capital expenditures in 2021 to be in the range of $5.0 to $7.0 million.
Highlights from 2020
The following discussion of our results of operations and financial condition will provide information that will assist in understanding our financial statements and information about how certain accounting principles and estimates affect the consolidated financial statements. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included herein.
•Consolidated sales increased 8.7% to $1.0 billion compared to $946.9 million in the prior year.
•On a Non-GAAP*, average daily sales, constant currency basis, sales increased 7.0% compared to prior year.
•Consolidated operating income increased 27.2% to $84.1 million compared to $66.1 million last year.
•Net income per diluted share from continuing operations increased 27.3% to $1.68 compared to $1.32 in the prior year.
*Non-GAAP, average daily sales, constant currency is calculated based upon the number of selling days in each period, with Canadian sales converted to US Dollars using the prior year’s average exchange rate.
Results of Operations
Key Performance Indicators (in millions):
SYSTEMAX INC.
Consolidated Summary Results(1) - Unaudited
(In millions)
**Non-GAAP, average daily sales, constant currency is calculated based upon the number of selling days in each period, with Canadian sales converted to US Dollars using the prior year's average exchange rate.
Management’s discussion and analysis that follows will include current operations and discontinued operations.
NET SALES
The Company's net sales increased 8.7% to over $1.0 billion compared to $946.9 million as the Company's performance continued to benefit from investments in our private label offerings, significant growth in pandemic related supplies and equipment and a return to growth from our core product offerings in the second half of the year despite the challenging macro environment. Net sales from our Canada business grew 33.6%, 34.8% on a constant currency basis, compared to prior year. U.S. revenue increased 7.4% compared to prior year. On a constant currency basis, average daily sales increased 7.0% compared to prior year. There were 257 selling days in 2020 compared to 253 selling days in 2019. The Company expects that there will be challenging impacts in early in 2021 associated with disruptions in the supply chain, including container shortages, high levels of port congestion, and disruption to the domestic less-than-truckload ("LTL") carrier network due to severe winter storms across much of the U.S.
GROSS MARGIN
Gross margin is dependent on variables such as product mix including sourcing and category, competition, pricing strategy, vendor volume rebates, free freight and freight discounting arrangements, inventory valuation and obsolescence and other variables, any or all of which may result in fluctuations in gross margin. The Company expects to see continued margin variability due to the current economic environment, freight pricing fluctuations, changes in mix as a result of our customer's strong demand of personal protective equipment ("PPE") and other related products, significant price fluctuations of PPE based upon market availability and historical seasonality.
Gross margin was 34.7% compared to 34.4% in the prior year primarily driven by improvements in price rationalization, as well as a product mix shift to in stock and private label products and the higher margins these sourcing channels provide as compared to nationally branded products fulfilled through a drop ship model. The Company did experience a number of margin pressures during the fourth quarter related to freight promotions, increased parcel shipping costs associated with an extended peak season and ocean freight costs. We expect these costs to continue into the first quarter of 2021, and will also incur, what we believe to be temporary additional freight costs as we transition to a new third party logistics partner in an effort to further improve service levels and our customers' experience.
SELLING, DISTRIBUTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (“SD&A”), EXCLUDING SPECIAL GAINS AND CHARGES
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses totaled $272.8 million and $260.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
SD&A costs as a percentage of sales improved in 2020 compared to 2019 by 100 basis points. This improved SD&A leverage reflects our continued optimization in marketing spend, as well as fixed cost leverage as sales volume grew. Significant cost savings were generated from lower net advertising spend of approximately $7.7 million and lower net catalog and trade shows costs of approximately $1.8 million. Offsetting these decreased costs was increased salary and related costs of approximately $13.9 million, of which $7.0 million related to variable bonus and commission expense, which is directly attributable to the Company's financial performance in the current year. Additional increased costs related to consulting expenses of approximately $3.2 million primarily related to our customer centric strategy initiatives, increased facility costs of approximately $2.2 million, and additional credit card fees of approximately $1.5 million.
CONTINUING OPERATIONS SPECIAL GAINS AND CHARGES
The Company did not incur any special charges within continuing operations during 2020. During the third quarter of 2019 and for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company's former German branch recorded special gains of approximately $0.8 million related to a buyout for its outstanding lease obligation.
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS SPECIAL GAINS AND CHARGES
The Company's discontinued operations include the results of the France business sold in August 2018, the SARL Businesses sold in March 2017 and the NATG businesses sold in December 2015 (see Note 1 and Note 6).
Total special gains included in discontinued operations totaled $1.4 million and $0.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company's NATG discontinued operations recorded approximately $1.9 million in restitution
receipts offset by $0.5 million of professional fees during 2020. There were no special charges (gains) recorded in discontinued operations in 2019.
OPERATING MARGIN
The Company's operating margin increase of 120 basis points in 2020 compared to 2019 was driven by improved gross margin that resulted from the product mix shift to in stock and private label products, efficiencies in our marketing efforts, improved leverage within our fixed cost structure given our higher sales volume, as well as the benefit of the reduction in force action implemented in April 2020.
Consolidated operating margin was impacted by special gains of $0.0 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
INTEREST AND OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE, NET
Interest and other (income) expense, net from continuing operations was $0.1 million for 2020 and $0.0 million in 2019.
INCOME TAXES
The Company recorded net tax expense in continuing operations for 2020 of $19.9 million, or 23.7%, and a net tax expense in discontinued operations of $0.5 million. Tax expense from continuing operations was primarily the result of pretax income in the U.S. and India operations, including tax expense for certain U.S. states. The tax rate was benefited by pre-tax income in Canada of approximately $3.2 million as the Company has full valuation allowances against the deferred tax assets, including net operating losses, of its Canadian subsidiary and taxable income is fully offset by these net operating losses. Tax expense from continuing operations was also benefited by approximately $0.6 million of stock option exercises and dividend equivalent payments. Non-deductible expenses, including executive compensation, was approximately $0.7 million. Tax expense in discontinued operations is attributed to pretax income recorded in the discontinued NATG business.
The Company recorded net tax expense in continuing operations for 2019 of $16.1 million, or 24.4%, and a net tax benefit in discontinued operations of $0.6 million. Tax expense from continuing operations was primarily the result of pretax income in the U.S. and was benefited by approximately $0.5 million of stock option exercises and approximately $0.2 million from dividend equivalent payments. Non-deductible expense, including executive compensation, was approximately $0.8 million. Tax benefit in discontinued operations is primarily attributed to pretax losses incurred in the discontinued NATG business.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Selected liquidity data (in millions):
Historical Cash Flows
Our primary liquidity needs are to support working capital requirements in our business, funding recently declared and any future dividends, funding capital expenditures, continuing investment in upgrading and expanding our technological capabilities and information technology infrastructure specifically related to our e-commerce shopping experience, and sales force productivity and automation, continuing investment in upgrading and expanding our distribution footprint, and funding acquisitions. We rely principally upon operating cash flows to meet these needs. We currently believe that current cash on hand and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund our working capital and other cash requirements for at least the next twelve months. We believe our current capital structure and cash resources are adequate for our internal growth initiatives. To the extent our growth initiatives expand, including major acquisitions, we would seek to raise additional capital. We believe that, if needed, we can access public or private funding alternatives to raise additional capital.
Our working capital decreased $67.1 million primarily related to the $2.00 per share special dividend declared, totaling $75.5 million, of which $75.1 million was paid in December 2020, increased accounts payable balances and accrued expenses and other current liabilities balances offset by increased accounts receivable and inventory balances. Our inventory balance increase is primarily associated with strategic investment in personal protective equipment items in response to continuing demand for Covid-19 related safety products, as well as increased stocking levels of certain core products which turned slower in 2020 given lower demand due to business and government shutdowns, but has shown continued recovery in the last quarter of 2020. Accounts receivable days outstanding were 37.4 in 2020 compared to 35.9 in 2019. Inventory turns were 5.3 in 2020 compared to 5.9 in 2019 and accounts payable days outstanding were 68.3 in 2020 compared to 68.7 in 2019. We expect that future accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable balances will fluctuate with net sales and the product mix of our net sales.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $67.3 million attributable to cash generated from net income adjusted by other non-cash items which provided $73.6 million in 2020 compared to $61.2 million provided by these items in 2019. This increase is primarily related to the higher net income from continuing operations in 2020 compared to 2019. Partially offsetting this increase are the changes in our working capital accounts, which used $6.3 million in cash compared to $9.1 million provided in 2019, primarily the result of changes in the inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities and non-current liabilities balances in 2020. Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations was $0.9 million in 2020 and net cash used in discontinued operations in 2019 was $1.9 million.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations totaled $2.7 million and $6.9 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively. In 2020, investing activities primarily related to leasehold improvements, warehouse machinery and equipment, molds and computer equipment. In 2019, investing activities were primarily related to the new Texas distribution center other warehouse projects including wire decking, in-rack sprinkler systems, video security systems and warehouse lighting. Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations was zero for 2020 and 2019.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $138.8 million and $259.6 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively. In 2020, net cash used in financing activities primarily related to the special dividend of $2.00 per share declared in December 2020, the $1.00 per share special dividend declared in February 2020 and the regular quarterly dividends of $0.14 per share, which totaled approximately $134.3 million. Also, during 2020, the Company purchased treasury shares totaling approximately $7.2 million.
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock from stock option exercises, net of payments for payroll taxes through shares withheld, totaled $1.9 million and proceeds from the issuance of common stock from our employee stock purchase plan totaled $0.8 million. In 2019, cash used in financing activities was primarily related to the payment of the special dividend declared in December 2018 of $243.5 million and regularly quarterly dividends that totaled approximately $18.1 million. Proceeds from stock option exercises, net of payments for payroll taxes through shares withheld, totaled $1.2 million and proceeds from the issuance of common stock from our employee stock purchase plan totaled $0.8 million.
The Company maintains a $75.0 million secured revolving credit facility with one financial institution which has a five-year term, maturing on October 28, 2021 and provides for borrowings in the United States. The Company expects to renew this facility before its expiration in 2021. The credit agreement contains certain operating, financial and other covenants, including limits on annual levels of capital expenditures, availability tests related to payments of dividends and stock repurchases and fixed charge coverage tests related to acquisitions. The revolving credit agreement requires that a minimum level of availability be maintained. If such availability is not maintained, the Company will be required to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined). The borrowings under the agreement are subject to borrowing base limitations of up to 85% of eligible accounts receivable and the inventory advance rate computed as the lesser of 60% or 85% of the net orderly liquidation value (“NOLV”). Borrowings are secured by substantially all of the Borrower’s assets, as defined, including all accounts receivable, inventory and certain other assets, subject to limited exceptions, including the exclusion of certain foreign assets from the collateral. The interest rate under the amended and restated facility is computed at applicable market rates based on the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”), the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“NYFRB”) or the Prime Rate, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin varies based on borrowing base availability. As of December 31, 2020, eligible collateral under the credit agreement was $75.0 million, total availability and excess availability was $72.6 million and there were no outstanding borrowings. The Company has restricted cash collateralizing letters of credit outstanding of $1.6 million at December 31, 2020 recorded within Other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of the credit agreement in place as of December 31, 2020.
Levels of earnings and cash flows are dependent on factors such as consolidated gross margin and selling, distribution and administrative costs, product mix and relative levels of domestic and foreign sales. Unusual gains or expense items, such as special (gains) charges and settlements, may impact earnings and are separately disclosed. We expect that past performance may not be indicative of future performance due to the competitive nature of our business segments where the need to adjust prices to gain or hold market share is prevalent.
Macroeconomic conditions, such as business and consumer sentiment, may affect our revenues, cash flows or financial condition. However, we do not believe that there is a direct correlation between any specific macroeconomic indicator and our revenues, cash flows or financial condition. We are not currently interest rate sensitive, as we have minimal debt.
The expenses, capital expenditures and exit activities described above will require significant levels of liquidity, which we believe can be adequately funded from our currently available cash resources and borrowing under our current credit facility. In 2021 we anticipate capital expenditures in the range of $5.0 to $7.0 million, though at this time we are not contractually committed to incur these expenditures.
In the past we have engaged in opportunistic acquisitions, choosing to pay the purchase price in cash, and may do so in the future as favorable situations arise. However, a deep and prolonged period of reduced business spending could adversely impact our cash resources and force us to either forego future acquisition opportunities or to pay the purchase price using debt, which could have an adverse effect on our earnings. We believe that our cash balances and future cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fund our working capital and other cash requirements for at least the next twelve months.
We maintain our cash and cash equivalents in money market funds or their equivalent that have maturities of less than three months and in non-interest bearing accounts that partially offset banking fees. As of December 31, 2020, we had no investments with maturities of greater than three months. Accordingly, we do not believe that our cash balances have significant exposure to interest rate risk. At December 31, 2020 cash balances held in foreign subsidiaries totaled approximately $3.4 million. These balances are held in local country banks and are held primarily to support local working capital needs. The Company had in excess of $93 million of liquidity (cash, restricted cash and an undrawn line of credit) in the U.S. as of December 31, 2020. This facility expires in October 2021, however the Company expects to renew this facility before its expiration in 2021.
We are obligated under non-cancelable operating leases for the rental of most of our facilities and certain of our equipment which expires at various dates through 2032. We have sublease agreements for unused space we lease in the United States. In the event the sub lessee is unable to fulfill its obligations, we would be responsible for rents due under the leases.
Following is a summary of our contractual obligations for future principal payments on our non-cancelable operating leases and minimum payments on our other purchase obligations as of December 31, 2020 (in millions):
See Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail related to operating lease obligations.
Our purchase and other obligations consist primarily of product purchase commitments, certain employment agreements and service agreements.
We are party to certain litigation, the outcome of which we believe, based on discussions with legal counsel, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Tax contingencies are related to uncertain tax positions taken on income tax returns that may result in additional tax, interest and penalties being paid to taxing authorities. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had no material uncertain tax positions.
Discontinued Operations
The Company's discontinued operations include the results of the France business sold in August 2018, the SARL Businesses sold in March 2017 and the NATG business sold in December 2015 (see Note 1 and Note 6).
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not created, and are not party to, any special-purpose or off-balance sheet entities for the purpose of raising capital, incurring debt or operating our business. We do not have any arrangements or relationships with entities that are not consolidated into the financial statements that are reasonably likely to materially affect our liquidity or the availability of capital resources.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K. Certain accounting policies require the application of significant judgment by management in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. By their nature, these judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those estimates. These judgments are based on historical experience, observation of trends in the industry, information provided by customers, forecasts of future economic conditions and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. Management believes that full consideration has been given to all relevant circumstances that we may be subject to, and the consolidated financial statements of the Company accurately reflect management's best estimate of the consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows of the Company for the years presented. We identify below a number of policies that entail significant judgments or estimates, the assumptions and/or judgments used to determine those estimates and the potential effects on reported financial results if actual results differ materially from these estimates.
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 ("ROU") 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’s lease portfolio consists primarily of operating leases which expire at various dates through 2032.
The ROU assets and corresponding lease liabilities are recorded based upon the net present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted using interest rates determined by utilizing such factors as the Company's current credit facility terms, the length of the remaining term of the lease, 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 currently 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.
Revenue Recognition
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 a 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, 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 returns 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
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.
Our estimates for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 have not been materially different than our actual experience. While bad debt allowances have been within expectations, there can be no assurance that we will continue to experience the same allowance rate we have in the past particularly if business or economic conditions change or actual results deviate from historical trends.
Inventory Valuation
We value our inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value; cost being determined on the first-in, first-out method. Excess and obsolete or unmarketable merchandise are written down based on historical experience, assumptions about future product demand and market conditions. If market conditions are less favorable than projected or if technological developments result in accelerated obsolescence, additional write-downs may be required. While obsolescence and resultant markdowns have been within expectations, there can be no guarantee that we will continue to experience the same level of markdowns we have in the past. 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.
Our inventory reserve estimates for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 have not been materially different than our actual experience. However, if in the future our estimates are materially different than our actual experience we could have a material loss adjustment.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Our business acquisition activity results in the recording of goodwill and intangible assets as part of the purchase price allocation process. We apply the provisions of relevant accounting guidance in our valuation of goodwill, trademarks, domain names, client lists and other intangible assets. Relevant accounting guidance requires that goodwill and indefinite lived intangibles be reviewed at least annually for impairment or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist.
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.
We have approximately, in aggregate, $7.0 million in goodwill and intangible assets at December 31, 2020. We do not believe it is reasonably likely that the estimates or assumptions used to determine whether any of our remaining goodwill or intangible
assets are impaired will change materially in the future. However, there can be no assurances that we will not incur impairment charges that are material in the future.
Long-lived Assets
Management exercises judgment in evaluating our long-lived assets for impairment and in their depreciation and amortization methods and lives including evaluating undiscounted cash flows. The impairment analysis for long-lived assets requires management to make judgments about useful lives and to estimate fair values of long-lived assets. It may also require us to estimate future cash flows of related assets using a discounted cash flow model. Our estimates of future cash flows involve assumptions concerning future operating performance and economic conditions. While we believe that our estimates of future cash flows are reasonable, different assumptions regarding such cash flows could materially affect our evaluations. We have not made any material changes to our long-lived assets policy in the past four years and we do not anticipate making any material changes to this policy in the future.
We do not believe it is reasonably likely that the estimates and assumptions used to determine long lived asset impairment will vary materially in the future. However, if our estimates are materially different than our actual experience we could have a material gain or loss adjustment.
Income Taxes
We are subject to taxation from federal, state and foreign jurisdictions and the determination of our tax provision is complex and requires significant management judgment.
We conduct operations in numerous U.S. states and several foreign locations. Our effective tax rate depends upon the geographic distribution of our pre-tax income or losses among locations with varying tax rates and rules. As the geographic mix of our pre-tax results among various tax jurisdictions changes, the effective tax rate may vary from period to period. We are also subject to periodic examination from domestic and foreign tax authorities regarding the amount of taxes due. These examinations include questions regarding the timing and amount of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. We establish as needed, and periodically reevaluate, an estimated income tax reserve on our consolidated balance sheet to provide for the possibility of adverse outcomes in income tax proceedings. While management believes that we have identified all reasonably identifiable exposures and whether or not a reserve is appropriate, it is possible that additional exposures exist and/or that exposures may be settled at amounts different than the amounts reserved. The determination of deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowances that might be necessary requires management to make significant judgments concerning the ability to realize net deferred tax assets. The realization of our net deferred tax assets is significantly dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. In estimating future taxable income there are judgments and uncertainties related to the development of forecasts of future results that may not be reliable. Significant management judgment is also necessary to evaluate the operating environment and economic conditions that exist to develop a forecast for a reporting unit. Where management has determined that it is more likely than not that some portion or the entire deferred tax asset will not be realized, we have provided a valuation allowance. If the realization of those deferred tax assets in the future is considered more likely than not, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would increase net income in the period such determination is made. We have not made any material changes to our income tax policy in the past four years and we do not anticipate making any material changes to this policy in the near future.
We do not believe it is reasonably likely that the estimates or assumptions used to determine our deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances will change materially in the future. However, if our estimates are materially different than our actual experience we could have a material gain or loss adjustment.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For information about recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplemental Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are exposed to market risks, which include changes in U.S. and international interest rates as well as changes in currency exchange rates (principally Canadian Dollars) as measured against the U.S. Dollar and each other.
The translation of the financial statements of our operations located outside of the United States is impacted by movements in foreign currency exchange rates. Changes in currency exchange rates as measured against the U.S. dollar may positively or negatively affect income statement, balance sheet and cash flows as expressed in U.S. dollars. Sales would have fluctuated by approximately $6.1 million and pretax income would have fluctuated by approximately $0.4 million if average foreign exchange rates changed by 10% in 2020. We may enter into foreign currency options or forward exchange contracts aimed at limiting in part the impact of certain currency fluctuations, but as of December 31, 2020 we had no outstanding forward exchange contracts.
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our variable rate debt. Our variable rate debt consists of short-term borrowings under our credit facilities. As of December 31, 2020, there were no outstanding balances under our variable rate credit facility. A hypothetical change in average interest rates of one percentage point is not expected to have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows over the next fiscal year.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The information required by Item 8 of Part II is incorporated herein by reference to the Consolidated Financial Statements filed with this report; see Item 15 of Part IV.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2020. Based upon this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Inherent Limitations of Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the Company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Company’s management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s internal controls will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of internal controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. Also, any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls in future periods are subject to the risk that those internal controls may become inadequate because of changes in business conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, a copy of which is included herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ending December 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Systemax Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Systemax Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Systemax Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the 2020 consolidated financial statements of the Company and our report dated March 18, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Item 9B.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by Item 10 of Part III is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”).
Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by Item 11 of Part III is hereby incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required by item 12 of Part III is hereby incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by Item 13 of Part III is hereby incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required by Item 14 of Part III is hereby incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
*Exhibit is a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Systemax Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Systemax Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 18, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.
Measurement of Inventory Valuation Reserves
Description of
the Matter
As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s net inventory balance was $132.3 million. As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, management records inventory at the lower of its cost or net realizable value. The valuation of inventory requires management to make assumptions and judgments about the recoverability of the inventory, which includes the consideration of shrinkage and slow-moving or obsolete inventory. To establish the inventory valuation reserves the Company considers factors such as historical demand trends, market conditions, inventory levels, historical write-off information and assumptions regarding future demand and direct selling costs.
Auditing management’s inventory valuation reserves was complex as auditor judgment was necessary in evaluating the amounts that should be reserved based on the assumptions described above.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the inventory reserve process, including controls over the inputs and assumptions described above, that are used in management’s calculation.
Our audit procedures to test the adequacy of the inventory valuation reserve included, among others, evaluating the appropriateness of management’s inputs to the inventory valuation reserve calculation, including testing the completeness and accuracy of the data used in management’s calculation such as historical write-off activity, direct selling costs, inventory levels and sales history for each product. We compared actual write-off activity in recent years to the inventory valuation reserve estimated by the Company in prior years. We also tested, the mathematical accuracy of the Company’s reserve calculation, performed inquiries of the Company’s management and obtained documentation to evaluate the Company’s estimate.
SYSTEMAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except for share data)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
SYSTEMAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share data)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
SYSTEMAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in millions)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
SYSTEMAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
SYSTEMAX INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions, except share data in thousands)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
SYSTEMAX INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Systemax Inc., through its operating subsidiaries, is primarily a direct marketer of brand name and private label industrial and business equipment and supplies in North America going to market through a system of branded e-commerce websites and relationship marketers. As previously disclosed, in August 2018 the Company sold its France-based IT business. With the completion of the sale, Systemax operates and is internally managed in one reportable business segment. The Company sells 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 maintenance, repair and operations ("MRO"), markets the Company has served since 1949. Because of the large number of products and product categories the Company offers, providing information on the amount of revenue derived from transactions with external customers for each product or groupings of products is impractical.
Included in discontinued operations is the Company's former France-based IT value added reseller business sold in August 2018, the SARL Businesses sold in March 2017 and the Company's former North American Products Group ("NATG) business sold in December 2015. The France business and SARL Businesses were reported within the Company's former European Technology Products Group ("ETG") segment and the NATG business was reported within the Company's former NATG segment.
The sale of these businesses met the “strategic shift with major impact” criteria as defined under Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which requires disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. Under ASU 2014-08, in order for a disposal to qualify for discontinued operations presentation in the financial statements, the disposal must be a “strategic shift” with a major impact for the reporting entity. If the entity meets this threshold, and other requirements, only the components that were in operation at the time of disposal are presented as discontinued operations. Therefore, the prior year results of the France business, SARL Businesses and NATG are included in discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
The Company sold its France business, in 2018, and recorded a pre-tax book gain of approximately $178.9 million. Net sales of the France business, included within discontinued operations, totaled $352.0 million in 2018. Net gain from the sale of the France business and eight months of operating activity, included within discontinued operations, totaled $175.8 million in 2018.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, net income included in discontinued operation from the discontinued SARL Businesses totaled $0.2 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, net income from the discontinued NATG business totaled $1.3 million and for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, net losses from the discontinued NATG business totaled $1.5 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
During 2018 the Company's recorded a net gain of $3.1 million, in continuing operations, related to the settlement of state audits previously disclosed in its 2013 Form 10-K filing offset by an impairment charge resulting from the decision to impair the trade and domain names of C&H Distributors, which was recorded within selling, distribution and administrative expenses.
Related Party Transactions
During 2020, the Company made inventory purchases of approximately $3.2 million from an entity owned by immediate family members of the Company's Executive Chairman. Amounts outstanding at December 31, 2020 were de minimis and are recorded in Accounts payable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. These transactions were carried out on an arm's length basis and with prior approval of the Company's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 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 - 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 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 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 - 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 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - The Company recognizes shipping and handling costs in cost of sales.
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.
Net advertising expenses were $60.3 million, $69.8 million and $70.4 million during 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations within continuing and discontinued operations. Of the previously mentioned amounts, the Company's discontinued operations net advertising expenses totaled $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $1.1 million during 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company utilizes advertising programs to drive traffic to its websites, support vendors, including catalogs, internet and magazine advertising, and receives payments and credits from vendors, including consideration pursuant to volume incentive programs and cooperative marketing programs. The Company accounts for consideration from vendors as a reduction of cost of sales unless certain conditions are met showing that the funds are used for specific, incremental, identifiable costs, in which case the consideration is accounted for as a reduction in the related expense category, such as advertising expense.
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 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.
For the calculation of net income per share-basic from continuing operations, net income available to common shareholders was $63.3 million, $49.7 million and $49.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the calculation of net income per share-diluted from continuing operations, net income available to common shareholders was $63.3 million, $49.7 million and $49.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the calculation of net income per share-basic from discontinued operations, net income (loss) available to common shareholders was $1.3 million, $(1.5) million and $174.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the calculation of net income per share-diluted from discontinued operations, net income (loss) available to common shareholders was $1.3 million, $(1.5) million and $175.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Basic shares outstanding were 37.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and 37.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The weighted average number of stock options outstanding included in the computation of diluted earnings per share was 0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The weighted average number of stock options outstanding included in the computation of diluted earnings per share was 0.5 million and the weighted average number of restricted stock awards included in the computation of diluted earnings per share was 0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The weighted average number of stock options outstanding excluded from the computation of diluted income per share was 0.5 million shares, 0.4 million shares and a de minimis number of shares for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, due to their antidilutive effect.
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. Aggregate expense to the Company for contributions to the plan was approximately $1.4 million, $1.1 million and $1.2 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
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 - 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
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.
3.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 and notes and other receivables 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.
The following is a rollforward of the allowances for credit losses related to the Company's receivables for the year ended December 31, 2020:
*$5.6 million of reserves related to notes and other receivables originated in 2016 and this balance was written off in the second quarter of 2020.
4.LEASES
The Company has operating and finance leases for office and warehouse facilities, headquarters, call centers, machinery and certain computer and communications 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’s lease portfolio consists primarily of operating leases which expire at various dates through 2032.
The Company's operating lease costs, included in continuing operations, was $13.1 million, $12.0 million and $11.4 million, for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Information relating to operating leases for continuing and discontinued operations as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows (in millions):
The Company currently leases its headquarters office facility from an entity owned by the Company’s principal shareholders. Total expense recorded to related parties was $1.0 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The Company has sublease agreements for certain unused facilities related to continuing and discontinued operations. These sublease agreements expire in February 2022 and August 2023 with options to extend the terms of the lease included in one of the agreements. Total sublease income of $1.7 million, $1.9 million and $0.2 million was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Future rent streams related to sublease agreements of $1.3 million to be collected in less than one year and $0.5 million to be collected between one and three years,
5.REVENUE
Disaggregation of Revenues
The Company believes its presentation of revenue by geography most reasonably depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the Company's revenue and cash flows are affected by economic and industry factors, including fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. and Canada. The following table presents the Company's revenue, from continuing operations, by geography for the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (in millions):
6. DISPOSITIONS AND SPECIAL GAINS AND CHARGES
The Company's discontinued operations include the results of the France business sold in August 2018, the SARL Businesses sold in March 2017 and the NATG business sold in December 2015 (see Note 1).
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, special charges (gains) included in discontinued operations were $1.4 million income, $0.0 million and $178.3 million income, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company's NATG discontinued operations recorded approximately $1.9 million in restitution receipts offset by approximately $0.5 million of professional fees.
On August 31, 2018, the Company closed on the sale of its France-based IT value added reseller business. The Company recorded a pre-tax book gain on the sale of the France business, of approximately $178.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company's NATG discontinued operations recorded special charges of approximately $0.6 million. The Company recorded lease reserve adjustments related to its previously exited leased facilities for the discontinued NATG business of approximately $1.7 million and additional legal and professional fees of $0.1 million for ongoing restitution proceedings. Offsetting these expenses were approximately $1.0 million in restitution receipts and $0.2 million in vendor settlement receipts from the discontinued NATG business.
The Company has completed the wind-down activities related to the sale of the France business, but may incur additional charges related to statutory tax and other indemnities given at closing. The Company has substantially completed the wind-down activities related to the NATG business, although certain NATG activities related to sublet facilities, settling accounts payable and other contingent liabilities continue. The Company expects that total additional exit charges related to discontinued operations after this quarter may aggregate up to $0.5 million.
Results of discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
The Company has not incurred any special charges in 2020 in continuing operations. In the third quarter of 2019, within continuing operations, the Company's former German branch recorded special gains of approximately $0.8 million related to a buyout for its outstanding lease obligation. The Company recorded special charges of $0.8 million in 2018, within continuing operations, related to updating lease reserves adjustments related to its discontinued NATG outstanding business lease obligations.
The following table details liabilities related to the exit costs of the sold businesses that remain for 2020 (in millions):
The following table details liabilities related to the exit costs of the sold businesses for 2019 (in millions):
7. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLES
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets:
The following table provides information related to the carrying value of goodwill (in millions):
The following table provides information related to the carrying value of indefinite lived intangibles as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (in millions):
Definite-lived intangible assets:
The following table summarizes information related to definite-lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 (in millions):
The following table summarizes information related to definite-lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2019 (in millions):
The aggregate amortization expense for these intangibles was approximately $0.2 million in 2020. The estimated amortization for future years ending December 31 is as follows (in millions):
8. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following (in millions):
Depreciation charged to continuing operations for property, plant and equipment including capital leases in 2020, 2019, and 2018 was $3.9 million, $3.9 million and $3.5 million, respectively and is reported within selling, distribution and administrative expenses. During 2020, the Company disposed of property, plant and equipment of approximately $10.5 million and accumulated depreciation of $10.5 million.
9. CREDIT FACILITIES
The Company maintains a $75 million secured revolving credit facility with one financial institution, which has a five-year term, maturing on October 28, 2021 and provides for borrowings in the United States. The Company expects to renew this facility before its expiration in 2021. The credit agreement contains certain operating, financial and other covenants, including limits on annual levels of capital expenditures, availability tests related to payments of dividends and stock repurchases and fixed charge coverage tests related to acquisitions. The revolving credit agreement requires that a minimum level of availability be maintained. If such availability is not maintained, the Company will be required to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined). The borrowings under the agreement are subject to borrowing base limitations of up to 85% of eligible accounts receivable and the inventory advance rate computed as the lesser of 60% or 85% of the net orderly liquidation value (“NOLV”). Borrowings are secured by substantially all of the borrower’s assets, as defined, including all accounts, accounts receivable, inventory and certain other assets, subject to limited exceptions, including the exclusion of certain foreign assets from the collateral. The interest rate under the amended and restated facility is computed at applicable market rates based on the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”), the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“NYFRB”) or the Prime Rate, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin varies based on borrowing base availability. As of December 31, 2020, eligible collateral under the credit agreement was $75.0 million, total availability and excess availability was $72.6 million and there were no outstanding borrowings. The Company has restricted cash collateralizing letters of credit outstanding of $1.6 million at December 31, 2020 recorded within Other assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company was in compliance with all of the covenants of the credit agreement in place as of December 31, 2020.
10. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in millions):
11. STOCK REPURCHASES
In 2018, the Company's Board of Director's approved a share repurchase program with a repurchase authorization of up to two million shares of the Company's common stock. Under the share repurchase program, the Company is authorized to purchase shares from time to time through open market purchases, tender offerings or negotiated purchases, subject to market conditions and other factors. In 2020, the Company repurchased 392,337 common shares for approximately $7.2 million. Also, in 2018, the Company repurchased 232,550 common shares for approximately $9.1 million. The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the Plan was approximately 1,375,000 at December 31, 2020.
12. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
The Company currently has two equity compensation plan which reserves shares of common stock for issuance to key employees, directors, consultants and advisors to the Company. The following is a description of these plans:
The 2010 Long-term Stock Incentive Plan (“2010 Plan”) - This plan was adopted in April 2010 and allows the Company to issue incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock based awards authorized by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Options and awards issued under this plan expire ten years after the options and awards are granted. The maximum number of shares granted per type of award to any individual may not exceed 1,500,000 in any calendar year. Restricted stock grants and common stock awards reduce stock options otherwise available for future grant. Awards for a maximum of 7,500,000 shares may be granted under this plan. A total of 661,024 options and 153,516 restricted stock units were outstanding under this plan as of December 31, 2020.
The 2020 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan (“2020 Omnibus Plan”) - This plan was adopted in June 2020 and allows the Company to issue incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance awards and other stock based awards authorized by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Options and awards issued under this plan expire ten years after the options and awards are granted. The maximum number of shares granted per type of award to any individual may not exceed 1,500,000 in any calendar year (or $10.0 million in the case of cash performance awards). Restricted stock grants and common stock awards reduce stock options otherwise available for future grant. Awards for a maximum of 7,500,000 shares may be granted under this plan. A total of 10,244 restricted stock units were outstanding under this plan as of December 31, 2020.
Shares issued under our share-based compensation plans are usually issued from shares of our common stock held in the treasury.
Compensation cost related to non-qualified stock options recognized in continuing operations (selling, distribution and administrative expenses) for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $1.8 million, $3.3 million, and $0.3 million respectively. In the first quarter of 2019, the Company repriced approximately 0.6 million shares of outstanding stock options and recorded approximately $0.6 million of related compensation expense and for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded $0.7 million of related compensation expense. France discontinued operations compensation cost related to non-qualified stock options was $0.4 million in 2018, primarily related to the acceleration of stock options due to the sale of the France business of approximately $0.3 million. The related future income tax benefits recognized for 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $0.4 million, $0.7 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
Stock Options
The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted in 2020, 2019 and 2018:
The following table summarizes information concerning outstanding and exercisable options:
The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $3.9 million in 2020 and $3.4 million in 2019 and $9.5 million in 2018.
The following table summarizes information about options vested and exercisable or non-vested that are expected to vest (non-vested outstanding less expected forfeitures) at December 31, 2020:
The aggregate intrinsic value in the tables above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the closing stock price on the last day of trading in 2020 and the exercise price) that would have been received by the option holders had all options been exercised on December 31, 2020. This value will change based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock.
The following table reflects the activity for all unvested stock options during 2020:
At December 31, 2020, there was approximately $1.6 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.36 years. The total fair value of stock options vested during 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $2.5 million, $4.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
The following table reflects the activity for restricted stock awards, excluding the restricted stock issued to Directors (in millions, except shares data):
Share-based compensation expense reported within continuing operations for restricted stock issued to Directors was $0.2 million in 2020 and 2019 and $0.1 million in 2018 and is recorded within selling, distribution and administrative expenses. A total of 17,600 restricted stock units, 10,244 from the 2020 Omnibus Plan and 7,356 from the 2010 Plan, are outstanding to the Directors as of December 31, 2020.
At December 31, 2020, there was approximately $1.7 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the unvested RSU's, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.47 years.
Compensation expense related to RSU and performance RSU's reported within continuing operations was approximately $2.5 million, $1.8 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and is recorded within selling, distribution and administrative expenses.
The following table reflects the activity for all unvested restricted stock during 2020:
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan - This plan was approved by the Company's stockholders in December 2018 and a reserve of 500,000 shares of common stock has been established under this plan. The Company adopted this plan, the terms of which allow for eligible employees (as defined in the 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan) to participate in the purchase, during each six month purchase period, up to a maximum of 10,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a purchase price equal to 85% of the closing price at either the start date or the end date of the stock purchase period, whichever is lower. Compensation expense related to this plan of approximately $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 and $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 is recognized in selling, distribution and administrative expenses. As of December 31, 2020, approximately 406,144 shares remain reserved for issuance under this plan. Employees purchased approximately 49,627 shares of common stock during fiscal year 2020 at an average per share price of $16.85. During fiscal year 2019, employees purchased approximately 44,229 shares of common stock at an average per share price of $17.61.
13. INCOME TAX
The following table summarizes our U.S. and foreign components of income from continuing operations before income taxes (in millions):
The following table summarizes the (benefit) provision for income taxes from continuing operations (in millions):
Tax expense (benefit) from discontinued operations was $0.5 million, $(0.6) million and $23.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Income taxes are accrued and paid by each foreign entity in accordance with applicable local regulations.
A reconciliation of the difference between the income tax expense and the computed income tax expense from continuing operations based on the Federal statutory corporate rate is as follows (in millions):
The deferred tax assets and liabilities are comprised of the following (in millions):
During 2020 the Company utilized approximately $4.1 million in state NOL carryforwards to reduce the current year tax expense. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has foreign NOLs of $7.9 million which expire through 2033 and foreign tax credit carryforwards of $1.1 million expiring in years through 2028. The Company has recorded valuation allowances of approximately $15.2 million, including valuations against state net operating loss carryforwards of $5.8 million, foreign NOLs of $7.9 million, $0.4 million against the deductibility of foreign temporary tax differences and $1.1 million against foreign tax carryforwards. Valuation allowances have been recorded against these assets as the Company believes it is more likely than not that these NOLs, temporary differences and foreign tax credits will not be utilized in the near future.
The Company has not provided for federal income taxes applicable to the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiary in India and Canada of approximately $3.7 million as of December 31, 2020, since these earnings are considered permanently reinvested in the subsidiaries. The Company's permanent reinvestment assertion has not changed following the enactment of the TCJA. If the Company ceases to be permanently reinvested in its foreign subsidiaries, the Company may be subject to foreign withholding and other taxes on undistributed earnings and may need to record a deferred tax liability for any outside basis difference in its investments in its foreign subsidiaries.
Under the TCJA each U.S. shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC") must include in its gross taxable income in any tax year the aggregate net GILTI, or net income, of its CFCs. In 2020 the Company has included in taxable income the net income of its subsidiaries in the Netherlands, India, and Canada. The Company has elected to treat GILTI expense as a period cost when incurred.
The Company is routinely audited by federal, state and foreign tax authorities with respect to its income taxes. The Company regularly reviews and evaluates the likelihood of audit assessments. The Company’s federal income tax returns have been audited through 2013. The Company has not signed any consent to extend the statute of limitations for any subsequent years. The Company’s significant state tax returns have been audited through 2009. The Company considers its significant tax jurisdictions in foreign locations to be Canada and India.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company had no uncertain tax positions. Interest and penalties, if any, are recorded in income tax expense. There were no accrued interest or penalty charges related to unrecognized tax benefits recorded in income tax expense in 2020, 2019 or 2018.
14. COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER MATTERS
The Company and its subsidiaries are from time to time involved in various lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings which may include commercial, employment, tax, customs and trade, customer, vendor, personal injury, creditors rights and health and safety law matters, which are handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. In addition, the Company is from time to time subjected to various assertions, claims, proceedings and requests for damages and/or indemnification concerning sales channel practices and intellectual property matters, including patent infringement suits involving technologies that are incorporated in a broad spectrum of products the Company sells or that are incorporated in the Company’s e-commerce sales channels, as well as trademark/copyright infringement claims. The Company is also audited by (or has initiated voluntary disclosure agreements with) various U.S. Federal and state authorities, as well as Canadian authorities, concerning potential income tax, sales tax and/or "unclaimed property" liabilities. These matters are in various stages of investigation, negotiation and/or litigation. The Company's NATG subsidiaries are being audited by an entity representing 28 states seeking recovery of “unclaimed property” and has received separate demands from 20 states requesting payments of their claimed amounts. The Company has complied with the unclaimed property audit, has provided requested information and has corresponded with the states regarding possible further discussions. The Company intends to vigorously defend these matters and believes it has strong defenses.
Although the Company does not expect, based on currently available information, that the outcome in any of these matters, individually or collectively, will have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations, the ultimate outcome is inherently unpredictable. Therefore, judgments could be rendered or settlements entered, that could adversely affect the Company’s operating results or cash flows in a particular period. The Company regularly assesses all of its litigation and threatened litigation as to the probability of ultimately incurring a liability, and records its best estimate of the ultimate loss in situations where it assesses the likelihood of loss as probable and estimable. In this regard, the Company establishes accrual estimates for its various lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability incurred at the date of the financial statements and the loss can be reasonably estimated. At December 31, 2020 the Company has established accruals for certain of its various lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings based upon estimates of the most likely outcome in a range of loss or the minimum amounts in a range of loss if no amount within a range is a more likely estimate. The Company does not believe that at December 31, 2020 any reasonably possible losses in excess of the amounts accrued would be material to the financial statements.
15. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
In February 2021, the Company recorded approximately $15.0 million in restitution receipts and also recorded approximately $3.0 million of professional fees related to the ongoing restitution proceedings. These items will be recorded in Discontinued Operations in the first quarter of 2021.
16. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Quarterly financial data, excluding discontinued operations, is as follows (in millions, except for per share amounts):
SYSTEMAX INC.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
For the years ended December:
(in millions)