1.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Systemax Inc. is primarily a direct marketer of brand name and private label products. During 2015, the Company’s operations were organized in three reportable business segments — Industrial Products Group (“IPG”), EMEA Technology Products Group (“EMEA”) and what was the largest business in terms of revenue, North America Technology Products Group (“NATG”). EMEA and NATG were aggregated in prior years. Smaller business operations and corporate functions are aggregated and reported as an additional segment – Corporate and Other (“Corporate”).

On December 1, 2015, the Company sold the business operations and certain assets and liabilities of the NATG business to PCM, Inc. (“PCM”) for approximately $14 million (See Note 2). As a result, the operations of NATG are now reported both within continuing operations and as discontinued operations in this Form 10-K. The Company follows the guidance 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 enity. If the entity meets this threshold, only the components that were in operation at the time of disposal are presented as discontinued operations. The sale of the NATG business in December 2015 had a major impact on the Company and therefore met the strategic shift criteria. The NATG components in operaton at the time of the sale were the B2B and Ecommerce businesses and the three remaining retail stores. Accordingly these components and the results of operations have been adjusted in the accompanying financial statements to reflect the presentation of the discontinued operations.

As part of the March 31, 2015 announcement of restructuring the business the Company closed 31 retail stores and a warehouse during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. The Company assessed the disposal group under ASU 2014-08 and concluded the closure of the disposal group to be a "strategic shift". However, this strategic shift was not determined to be a "major" strategic shift based on the portion of the consolidated business that the disposal group represented. Accordingly this disposal group, which includes all the operations that were ceased prior to the December 2015 sale to PCM is not presented in the accompanying financial statements as discontinued operations and remains in continuing operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and prior periods. Pretax losses for this disposal group were $39.0 million, $17.9 million and $26.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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.

Reclassifications — Certain prior year amounts were reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

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. Fiscal quarters will typically include 13 weeks, but the fourth quarter will include 14 weeks in a 53 week fiscal year. For clarity of presentation herein, all fiscal quarters are referred to as if they ended on the traditional calendar month. The full year of 2015 included 53 weeks compared to 2014 and 2013 which 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 doubtful accounts, sales return returns and allowances, inventory reserves, allowances for cooperative advertising, vendor drop shipments, the carrying value of long‑lived assets (including goodwill and intangible assets), the carrying value, capitalization and amortization of software development costs, the provision for income taxes and related deferred tax accounts, certain accrued liabilities, revenue recognition, contingencies, sub-rental lease 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 numerous 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 — The Company considers amounts held in money market accounts and other short-term investments, including overnight bank deposits, with an original maturity date of three months or less to be cash. Cash overdrafts are classified in accounts payable.

Inventories — Inventories consist primarily of finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined by using the first-in, first-out method except in certain locations in Europe and retail locations where an average cost is used.

Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Furniture, fixtures and equipment, including equipment under capital leases, are depreciated using the straight-line or accelerated method over their estimated useful lives ranging from three to ten years. Buildings are depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 30 to 50 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful lives or the term of the respective leases.

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 3 years. The Company capitalizes costs incurred during the application development stage. Costs related to minor upgrades, minor enhancements and maintenance activities are expensed as incurred.

Evaluation of Long-lived Assets — Long lived assets are assets used in the Company’s operations and include, definite-lived intangible assets leasehold improvements, warehouse and retail store fixtures 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. As a result of negative cash flows in its now discontinued NATG operations and its EMEA operations in Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden, and a forecast for continued use of cash in 2015, the Company conducted an evaluation of the long-lived assets in those operations and concluded that those assets were impaired. Accordingly an impairment charge of approximately $1.4 million, pre-tax, was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015. In 2014, NATG operations recorded an impairment charge of $10.0 million, pre-tax, after the Company conducted an evaluation of its long-lived assets and determined that those assets were impaired.

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

Goodwill and Intangible Assets — Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquired assets over the fair value of assets acquired. The Company performs a qualitative assessment of goodwill and non-amortizing intangibles to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the qualitative assessment shows that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, the company is not required to complete the annual two step goodwill impairment test. If a quantitative analysis is required to be performed for goodwill, the fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill has been assigned is determined using a discounted cash flow model. A discounted cash flow model is also used to determine fair value of indefinite-lived intangibles using projected cash flows of the intangible. Unobservable inputs related to these discounted cash flow models include projected sales growth, same store sales growth, gross margin percentages, new business opportunities, working capital requirements, capital expenditures and growth in selling, general and administrative 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 bases 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.

The Company recognizes and measures uncertain tax positions using a two‑step approach. The first step is to evaluate the tax position taken or expected to be taken by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained in an audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. Significant judgment is required to evaluate uncertain tax positions. The Company evaluates its uncertain tax positions on a regular basis. Its evaluations are based on a number of factors, including changes in facts and circumstances, changes in tax law, correspondence with tax authorities during the course of audit and effective settlement of audit issues. The Company’s policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable — The Company recognizes sales of products, including shipping revenue, when persuasive evidence of an order arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Generally, these criteria are met at the time the product is received by the customers when title and risk of loss have transferred except in our Industrial Products segment where title and risk pass at time of shipment. Allowances for estimated subsequent customer returns, rebates and sales incentives are provided when revenues are recorded. Revenues exclude sales tax collected. The Company evaluates collectability of accounts receivable based on numerous factors, including past transaction history with customers and their credit rating and provides a reserve for accounts that are potentially uncollectible. Trade receivables are generally written off once all collection efforts have been exhausted. Accounts receivable are shown in the consolidated balance sheets net of allowances for doubtful collections and subsequent customer returns.

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 period of catalog distribution during which the benefits are expected, generally one to four months.

Net advertising expenses were $74.4 million, $68.1 million and $60.1 million during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Of the previously mentioned amounts, NATG operations net advertising expenses totaled $7.5 million, $10.7 million and $14.1 million during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company utilizes advertising programs to 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. The amount of vendor consideration recorded as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $20.2 million, $38.8 million and $45.9 million during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Of the previously mentioned amounts, NATG operations vendor consideration recorded as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $12.1 million, $24.9 million and $28.3 million, respectively.

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 used historical volatility in its estimate of expected volatility. The expected life represents the period of time (in years) for which the options granted are expected to be outstanding. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve. Stock-based compensation expense includes an estimate for forfeitures and is recognized over the expected term of the award.

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share – Net income 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.

Basic and diluted net loss per share was the same for each period presented as the inclusion of all potential shares of common stock of the Company outstanding would have been anti‑dilutive. The weighted average number of stock options and restricted stock awards outstanding excluded from the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share was 1.0 million shares, 0.8 million shares and 1.3 million shares for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, 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 such plans was approximately $0.9 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively and of these amounts, NATG operations expense was $0.4 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million in each of 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Fair Value Measurements - Financial instruments consist primarily of investments in cash, trade accounts receivable, debt and accounts payable. The Company estimates the fair value of financial instruments based on interest rates available to the Company. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the carrying amounts of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. Cash is classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s debt is considered to be representative of its fair value because of its variable interest rate. The weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowings was 4.3%, 4.3%, and 4.3% in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

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

Significant Concentrations - 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 our products and components directly from manufacturers and large wholesale distributors. Two vendors accounted for 10% or more of our purchases in 2015 and 2014: one vendor accounted for 12.2% and 12.6%, respectively; another vendor accounted for 10.9% and 11.6%, respectively. In 2013, one vendor accounted for 13.9% of our purchases. Excluding NATG operations, no vendor accounted for 10% or more of our purchases in 2015, 2014 or 2013.

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 May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), to achieve a consistent application of revenue recognition within the U.S., resulting in a single revenue model to be applied by reporting companies under GAAP. Under the new model, recognition of revenue occurs when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, the revised guidance requires that reporting companies disclose the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The revised guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the quarter ending March 31, 2018; early adoption is allowed. The revised guidance is required to be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying it recognized at the date of initial application. The Company is currently evaluating the transition method that will be elected and the potential effect the revised guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, Business Combinations - Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (Topic 805). ASU 2015-16 requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. ASU 2015-16 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted, and is to be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by eliminating the separate classification of deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and noncurrent amounts in the consolidated balance sheet. The amendments in the update require that all deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheet. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has early adopted this standard in the fourth quarter of 2015 on a retrospective basis. Prior periods have been retrospectively adjusted. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2015-17, the Company reclassified $1.7 million of net current deferred tax assets and $1.9 million of noncurrent deferred tax liabilities in the 2014 balance sheet.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires a lessee, in most leases, to initially recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect of adopting this pronouncement.