1.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Systemax Inc. is primarily a direct marketer of brand name and private label products. Since the December 2015 sale of the North American Technology Group (“NATG”) business, the Company has operated and is internally managed in two reportable segments - Industrial Products Group (“IPG”) and EMEA Technology Products Group (“EMEA”). Smaller business operations and corporate functions are aggregated and reported as an additional segment – Corporate and Other (“Corporate”). As previously disclosed in December 2015, the Company sold certain assets and liabilities of its NATG business and at that time began the wind-down of the remaining business. This wind-down is substantially complete although the Company has continued with collecting accounts receivable, settling accounts payable, marketing remaining leased facilities, as well as, settling remaining lease obligations and other contingencies during the current year.

As disclosed in its Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2015, the Company announced a restructuring of its NATG business in March 2015. The NATG segment sold products categorized as Information and Communications Technology (“ICT”) and Consumer Electronics (“CE”) products. These products included computers, computer supplies and consumer electronics which were marketed in North America. The Company followed the guidance under Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which required 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, 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 operation at the time of the sale were the B2B and Ecommerce businesses and three remaining retail stores. Accordingly, these components and the results of operations have been adjusted in the accompanying financial statements to reflect their presentation in discontinued operations.

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 2016 included 52 weeks compared to 2015 which had 53 weeks and 2014 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 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 net realizable 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 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.

In 2016, an impairment charge of approximately $1.7 million was recorded in the EMEA operations in the United Kingdom as a result of negative cash flows in the business. In 2015, as a result of negative cash flows in the discontinued NATG operations and the EMEA operations in Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden, 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 was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015. In 2014, NATG operations recorded an impairment charge of $10.0 million 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.

In December 2016, the Company conducted an evaluation of the intangible assets in its EMEA and IPG segments and concluded that assets were impaired in the United Kingdom and Mexico operations and an impairment charge of approximately $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively, was recorded in the fourth quarter.

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.

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 $71.4 million, $74.4 million and $68.1 million during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Of the previously mentioned amounts, NATG operations net advertising expenses totaled $1.5 million, $7.5 million and $10.7 million during 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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 $6.4 million, $20.2 million and $38.8 million during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Of the previously mentioned amounts, NATG operations vendor consideration for 2016 was $0.9 million in costs due to vendor balance reconciliations. For 2015 and 2014, NATG operations vendor consideration was recorded as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses of $12.1 million and $24.9 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 1.3 million shares, 1.0 million shares and 0.8 million shares for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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 $0.4 million in 2016 and $0.9 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively and of these amounts, NATG operations expense was $0.0 million, $0.4 million and $0.5 million in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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, 2016 and 2015, 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 4.7%, 4.3%, and 4.3% in 2016, 2015 and 2014, 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% of more of our purchases in 2016: one vendor accounted for 15.2% and another vendor accounted for 13.8%. 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. Excluding NATG operations, no vendor accounted for 10% or more of our purchases in 2015 or 2014.

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 FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to clarify the principles of recognizing revenue and create common revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. Following the FASB’s finalization of a one year deferral of this standard, the ASU is now effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2016. This ASU can be adopted either retrospectively to each reporting period presented or as a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of the adoption. The standard supersedes existing revenue recognition guidance and replaces it with a five step revenue model with a core principle that an entity recognizes revenue to reflect the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations

The Company intends to adopt the new guidance on January 1, 2018, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings under the modified retrospective approach. Currently, the Company recognizes revenue when title passes to customers. The Company’s implementation of this ASU includes the evaluation of its customer agreements to identify terms or conditions that could be considered a performance obligation such that, if material to the terms of the contract, consideration would be allocated to the performance obligation and could accelerate or defer the timing of recognizing revenue. The Company also continues to evaluate the presentation of its principal versus agent arrangements.

The Company’s evaluation of the new guidance is not yet complete; however, based on the nature of the Company’s primary revenue sources and current policies, the Company does not expect a significant change in the timing and presentation of recognizing its revenue.

In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, Inventory - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330) ("ASU No. 2015-11"). ASU No. 2015-11 requires an entity to measure inventory within the scope of the update at the lower of cost and net realizable value, and defines net realizable value as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Effective January 1, 2016, the company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2015-11 on a prospective basis. The adoption of the provisions of ASU No. 2015-11 did not materially impact the company's consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern. This guidance addresses management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Management’s evaluation should be based on relevant conditions and events that are known and reasonably knowable at the date that the financial statements are issued. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this guidance in the fourth quarter of 2016 and based on the management assessment, there are no conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. As a result, the adoption of this standard had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 related to leases that outlines a comprehensive lease accounting model and supersedes the current lease guidance. The new guidance requires lessees to recognize lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets for all leases with lease terms of greater than 12 months. It also changes the definition of a lease and expands the disclosure requirements of lease arrangements. The new guidance must be adopted using the modified retrospective approach and will be effective for the Company starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which modifies certain accounting aspects for share-based payments to employees including, among other elements, the accounting for income taxes and forfeitures, as well as classifications in the statement of cash flows. This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The new guidance will be effective for the Company starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Early adoption is permitted in any annual or interim period. The company does not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2016-19 to materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial position or result of operations.