NOTE 1 — BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

Tech Data Corporation (“Tech Data” or the “Company”) is one of the world’s largest wholesale distributors of technology products. The Company serves as an indispensable link in the technology supply chain by bringing products from the world’s leading technology vendors to market, as well as providing customers with advanced logistics capabilities and value-added services. Tech Data’s customers include value-added resellers, direct marketers, retailers and corporate resellers who support the diverse technology needs of end users. The Company is managed in two geographic segments: the Americas and Europe.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Tech Data and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Noncontrolling interest is recognized for the portion of a consolidated joint venture not owned by the Company. The noncontrolling interest of the consolidated joint venture was purchased by the Company during fiscal 2013 (as further discussed in Note 5 - Acquisitions). The Company operates on a fiscal year that ends on January 31.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company prepares its financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized once four criteria are met: (1) the Company must have persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (2) delivery must occur, which generally happens at the point of shipment (this includes the transfer of both title and risk of loss, provided that no significant obligations remain); (3) the price must be fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability must be reasonably assured. Shipping revenue is included in net sales while the related costs, including shipping and handling costs, are included in the cost of products sold. The Company allows its customers to return product for exchange or credit subject to certain limitations. A provision for such returns is recorded at the time of sale based upon historical experience. The Company also has certain fulfillment and extended warranty contracts with certain customers and suppliers whereby the Company assumes an agency relationship in the transaction. In such arrangements where the Company is not the primary obligor, revenues are recognized as the net fee associated with serving as an agent. Taxes imposed by governmental authorities on the Company’s revenue-producing activities with customers, such as sales taxes and value added taxes, are excluded from net sales.

Service revenue associated with configuration, training, fulfillment and other services is recognized when the work is complete and the four criteria discussed above have been met. Service revenues have represented less than 10% of consolidated net sales for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013.

The Company generated approximately 19%, 21% and 21% of consolidated net sales in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, from products purchased from Hewlett-Packard Company and 15%, 13% and 12% of consolidated net sales in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013 respectively, from products purchased from Apple, Inc. There were no other vendors and no customers that accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated net sales in fiscal 2015, 2014 or 2013.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Short-term investments which are highly liquid and have an original maturity of 90 days or less are considered cash equivalents.

Investments

The Company invests in life insurance policies to fund the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan. The life insurance asset recorded by the Company is the amount that would be realized upon the assumed surrender of the policy. This amount is based on the underlying fair value of the invested assets contained within the life insurance policies. The gains and losses are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income within "other expense (income), net."

Accounts Receivable

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. In estimating the required allowance, the Company takes into consideration the overall quality and aging of the receivable portfolio, the large number of customers and their dispersion across wide geographic areas, the existence of credit insurance, specifically identified customer risks, historical write-off experience and the current economic environment. If actual customer performance were to deteriorate to an extent not expected by the Company, additional allowances may be required which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial results. Conversely, if actual customer performance were to improve to an extent not expected by us, a reduction in the allowance may be required which could have a favorable effect on the Company’s consolidated financial results.

Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreements

The Company has uncommitted accounts receivable purchase agreements under which certain accounts receivable may be sold, without recourse, to third-party financial institutions. Under these programs, the Company may sell certain accounts receivable in exchange for cash less a discount, as defined in the agreements. Available capacity under these programs, which the Company uses as a source of working capital funding, is dependent on the level of accounts receivable eligible to be sold into these programs and the financial institutions' willingness to purchase such receivables. In addition, certain of these agreements also require that the Company continue to service, administer and collect the sold accounts receivable. At January 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had a total of $310.9 million and $263.7 million, respectively, of accounts receivable sold to and held by financial institutions under these agreements. During the fiscal years ended January 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, discount fees recorded under these facilities were $4.4 million, $3.4 million, and $2.6 million, respectively, which are included as a component of "other expense (income), net" in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Income.

Inventories

Inventories, consisting entirely of finished goods, are stated at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined on a moving average cost basis, which approximates the first-in, first-out method. Inventory is written down for estimated obsolescence equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value, based upon an aging analysis of the inventory on hand, specifically known inventory-related risks (such as technological obsolescence and the nature of vendor terms surrounding price protection and product returns), foreign currency fluctuations for foreign-sourced product and assumptions about future demand. Market conditions or changes in terms and conditions by the Company’s vendors that are less favorable than those projected by management may require additional inventory write-downs, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial results.

Vendor Incentives

The Company receives incentives from vendors related to cooperative advertising allowances, infrastructure funding, volume rebates and other incentive agreements. These incentives are generally under quarterly, semi-annual or annual agreements with the vendors; however, some of these incentives are negotiated on an ad-hoc basis to support specific programs mutually developed with the vendor. Unrestricted volume rebates and early payment discounts received from vendors are recorded when they are earned as a reduction of inventory and as a reduction of cost of products sold as the related inventory is sold. Vendor incentives for specifically identified cooperative advertising programs and infrastructure funding are recorded when earned as adjustments to product costs or selling, general and administrative expenses, depending on the nature of the program.

Reserves for receivables on vendor programs are recorded for estimated losses resulting from vendors’ inability to pay or rejections of claims by vendors. Should amounts recorded as outstanding receivables from vendors be deemed uncollectible, additional allowances may be required which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial results. Conversely, if amounts recorded as outstanding receivables from vendors were to improve to an extent not expected by us, a reduction in the allowance may be required which could have a favorable effect on the Company’s consolidated financial results.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and property and equipment under capital leases are stated at the present value of the future minimum lease payments determined at the inception of the lease. Depreciation expense includes depreciation of purchased property and equipment and assets recorded under capital leases. Depreciation expense is computed over the shorter of the estimated economic lives or lease periods using the straight-line method, generally as follows:



	Years
Buildings and improvements	15	-	39
Leasehold improvements	3	-	10
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	3	-	10

Expenditures for renewals and improvements that significantly add to productive capacity or extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations when incurred. When assets are sold or retired, the cost of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated and any gain or loss is recognized at such time.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for potential impairment at such time when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is evaluated when the sum of the expected, undiscounted future net cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. Any impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the asset to its carrying value.

Goodwill

The Company performs an annual review for the potential impairment of the carrying value of goodwill, or more frequently if current events and circumstances indicate a possible impairment. An impairment loss is charged to expense in the period identified. This testing includes the determination of each reporting unit’s fair value using market multiples and discounted cash flow modeling. The Company performs its annual review for goodwill impairment as of January 31st of each fiscal year.

Intangible Assets

Included within other assets at both January 31, 2015 and 2014 are certain intangible assets including capitalized software and development costs, as well as customer and vendor relationships, preferred supplier agreements, noncompete agreements and trademarks acquired in connection with various business acquisitions. Such capitalized costs and intangible assets are being amortized over a period of three to ten years.

The Company’s capitalized software has been obtained or developed for internal use only. Development and acquisition costs are capitalized for computer software only when management authorizes and commits to funding a computer software project through the approval of a capital expenditure requisition, and the software project is either for the development of new software, to increase the life of existing software or to add significantly to the functionality of existing software. Once these requirements have been met, capitalization would begin at the point that conceptual formulation, evaluation, design, and testing of possible software project alternatives have been completed. Capitalization ceases when the software project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use.

Costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use that are capitalized include external direct costs of materials and services consumed in developing or obtaining internal-use computer software and payroll and payroll-related costs for the Company’s IT programmers performing software coding and testing activities (including development of data conversion programs) directly associated with the internal-use computer software project. Prepaid maintenance fees associated with a software application are accounted for separately from the related software and amortized over the life of the maintenance agreement. General, administrative, overhead, training, non-development data conversion processes, and maintenance costs, as well as the costs associated with the preliminary project and post-implementation stages are expensed as incurred.

The Company’s accounting policy is to amortize capitalized software costs on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from three to ten years, depending upon the nature of the software, the stability of the hardware platform on which the software is installed, its fit in the Company’s overall strategy, and our experience with similar software. It is the Company’s policy to amortize personal computer-related software, such as spreadsheet and word processing applications, over three years, which reflects the rapid changes in personal computer software. Mainframe software licenses are amortized over five years, which is in line with the longer economic life of mainframe systems compared to personal computer systems. Finally, strategic applications such as customer relationship management and enterprise-wide systems are amortized over seven to ten years based on their strategic fit and the Company’s historical experience with such applications.

Product Warranty

The Company’s vendors generally warrant the products distributed by the Company and allow the Company to return defective products, including those that have been returned to the Company by its customers. The Company typically does not independently warrant the products it distributes; however, in several countries where the Company operates, the Company is responsible for defective product as a matter of law. The time period required by law in certain countries exceeds the warranty period provided by the manufacturer. The Company is obligated to provide warranty protection for sales of certain IT products within the European Union (“EU”) for up to two years as required under the EU directive where vendors have not affirmatively agreed to provide pass-through protection. To date, the Company has not incurred any significant costs for defective products under these legal requirements. The Company does warrant services with regard to products integrated for its customers. A provision for estimated warranty costs is recorded at the time of sale and periodically adjusted to reflect actual experience. To date, the Company has not incurred any significant service warranty costs. Fees charged for products configured by the Company represented less than 10% of net sales for fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013.

Value Added Taxes

The majority of our international operations are subject to a value added tax ("VAT"), which is typically applied to all goods and services purchased and sold. The Company's VAT liability represents VAT that has been recorded on sales to our customers and not yet remitted to the respective governmental authorities and the Company's VAT receivable represents VAT paid on purchases of goods and services that will be collected from future sales to our customers. At January 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company's VAT liability is approximately $197.4 million and $233.9 million, respectively, and is included in "accrued expenses and other liabilities" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company's VAT liability at January 31, 2015 and 2014 excludes $43.7 million and $56.4 million, respectively, included in "accrued expenses and other liabilities" in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet for assessments, including penalties and interest, related to various VAT matters in one of the Company's subsidiaries in Spain as discussed further in Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies. At January 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company's VAT receivable is approximately $37.8 million and $100.0 million, respectively, included in "prepaid expenses and other assets" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the fiscal period that includes the enactment date. Deferred taxes have not been provided on the cumulative undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries or the cumulative translation adjustment related to those investments because such amounts are expected to be reinvested indefinitely.

The Company’s future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries with lower statutory rates, changes in the relative mix of taxable income and taxable loss jurisdictions, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets or liabilities or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof. The Company considers all positive and negative evidence available in determining the potential realization of deferred tax assets, including the scheduled reversal of temporary differences, recent cumulative losses, recent and projected future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. In making this determination, the Company places greater emphasis on recent cumulative losses and recent taxable income due to the inherent lack of subjectivity associated with these factors. In addition, the Company is subject to the periodic examination of its income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes. To the extent the Company were to prevail in matters for which accruals have been established or to be required to pay amounts in excess of such accruals, the Company’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period could be materially affected.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company’s financial instruments which are subject to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and foreign currency exchange contracts. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are deposited and/or invested with various financial institutions globally that are monitored on a regular basis by the Company for credit quality.

The Company sells its products to a large base of value-added resellers, direct marketers, retailers and corporate resellers throughout North America, South America and Europe. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral. The Company has obtained credit insurance, primarily in Europe, which insures a percentage of credit extended by the Company to certain of its customers against possible loss. The Company maintains provisions for estimated credit losses. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales during fiscal years 2015, 2014 or 2013.

The Company also enters into foreign currency exchange contracts. In the event of a failure to honor one of these contracts by one of the banks with which the Company has contracted, the Company believes any loss would be limited in most circumstances to the exchange rate differential from the time the contract was executed until the time the contract was settled. The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts are executed with various financial institutions globally that are monitored on a regular basis by the Company for credit quality.

Foreign Currency Translation and Remeasurement

The assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign subsidiaries for which the local currency is the functional currency are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate in effect at each balance sheet date and income and expense accounts are translated using weighted average exchange rates for each period during the year. Translation gains and losses are reported as components of accumulated other comprehensive income, included within shareholders’ equity. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in the Company's Consolidated Income Statement.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company faces exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company reduces its exposure by creating offsetting positions through the use of derivative financial instruments, in the form of foreign currency forward contracts, in situations where there are not offsetting balances that create an economic hedge. Substantially all of these instruments have terms of 90 days or less. It is the Company’s policy to utilize financial instruments to reduce risk where appropriate and prohibit entering into derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

Derivative financial instruments are marked-to-market each period with gains and losses on these contracts recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income within “cost of products sold” for derivative instruments used to manage the Company’s exposure to foreign denominated accounts receivable and accounts payable and within “other expense (income), net” for derivative instruments used to manage the Company’s exposure to foreign denominated financing transactions. Such mark-to-market gains and losses are recorded in the period in which their value changes, with the offsetting entry for unsettled positions being recorded to either other current assets or other current liabilities.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity (net assets) of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, and is comprised of “net income” and “other comprehensive income.”

The Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income included in total equity is comprised exclusively of changes in the Company’s currency translation adjustment account, including applicable income taxes. Total accumulated other comprehensive income includes $23.0 million of income taxes at January 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records all equity-based incentive grants to employees and non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors in “selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income based on their fair values determined on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation expense, reduced for estimated forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term of the outstanding equity awards. The Company estimates forfeiture rates based on its historical experience.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock is accounted for at cost. The reissuance of shares from treasury stock for exercises of equity-based awards or other corporate purposes is based on the weighted-average purchase price of the shares.

Contingencies

The Company accrues for contingent obligations, including estimated legal costs, when the obligation is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. As facts concerning contingencies become known, the Company reassesses its position and makes appropriate adjustments to the financial statements. Estimates that are particularly sensitive to future changes include those related to tax, legal and other regulatory matters such as imports and exports, the imposition of international governmental controls, changes in the interpretation and enforcement of international laws (particularly related to items such as duty and taxation), and the impact of local economic conditions and practices, which are all subject to change as events evolve and as additional information becomes available during the administrative and litigation process.

Restatement and remediation related expenses

Restatement and remediation related expenses primarily include legal, accounting and third party consulting fees associated with (i) the restatement of certain of the Company's consolidated financial statements and other financial information from fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2013, (ii) the Audit Committee investigation to review the Company's accounting practices, (iii) incremental external audit and supplemental procedures by the Company in connection with the preparation of the Company's financial statements, and (iv) other incremental legal, accounting and consulting fees incurred as a result of the Company's restatement related investigation or in connection with the Company's remediation of material weaknesses and other control deficiencies identified during the restatement. The Company incurred restatement and remediation related expenses of approximately $22.0 million and $53.8 million, respectively, during fiscal year 2015 and 2014, which are recorded in "restatement and remediation related expenses" in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

LCD Settlements

The Company has been a claimant in proceedings seeking damages from certain manufacturers of LCD flat panel displays. During fiscal 2015 and 2014, the Company reached settlement agreements with certain manufacturers in the amount of $5.1 million and $35.5 million, respectively, net of attorney fees and expenses, which are recorded in "LCD settlements" in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standard which clarifies the accounting for the derecognition of certain subsidiaries or groups of assets within a foreign entity or of an investment in a foreign entity. The guidance also requires the accounting for a business combination achieved in stages involving a foreign entity to be treated as a single event. The accounting standard was effective for the Company beginning with the quarter ending April 30, 2014 and is to be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date. The Company will apply the provisions of this accounting standard to all transactions described above prospectively from the date of adoption.

In April 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard which modifies the definition of discontinued operations by limiting discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. This update also requires additional financial statement disclosures about discontinued operations, as well as disposal of an individually significant component of an entity that does not qualify for discontinued operations presentation. The Company adopted this standard in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and will apply the provisions of this accounting standard to all transactions described above prospectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard which will supersede all existing revenue recognition guidance under current GAAP. The new standard requires the recognition of revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers while exercising extensive judgment and use of estimates. The accounting standard is effective for the Company beginning with the quarter ending April 30, 2017 and may be adopted using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently in the process of assessing what impact this new standard may have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the January 31, 2014 and 2013 financial statements to conform to the January 31, 2015 financial statement presentation. These reclassifications did not change previously reported total assets, total liabilities and shareholders' equity or consolidated net income.