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Sotheby’s Reports 2018 Third Quarter Financial Results
For the three months ended
For the nine months ended
“We are pleased with the results from our seasonally light quarter,” said
Highlights
- Seasonally quiet third quarter results are impacted by the exceptional Modern and Contemporary Evening Sale at the start of our Hong Kong Sales week. Third quarter 2018 Net Auction Sales accounted for only 9% of the Net Auction Sales volume in the trailing twelve month period.
- Consolidated Sales – which combine Aggregate Auction Sales, Private Sales and sales from Inventory – increased 7% to
$588 million in the third quarter of 2018, and 20% to$4.0 billion in the first nine months of 2018.
- Private sales grew 10% in the third quarter of 2018 to
$133 million , and 49% in the first nine months of 2018 to$675 million .
- Adjusted Expenses* rose only 2% for the third quarter of 2018 compared to increases of 13% in the first quarter and 8% in the second quarter – a result of slowing expense growth.
- Comparison of third quarter 2018 results to the prior period are adversely effected by the reversal of a tax reserve that favorably impacted per share calculations by
$0.14 per share in the third quarter of 2017.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 v. 2017 Financial Highlights (in thousands of dollars, except per share data) |
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Variance | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Three months ended September 30, | 2018 | 2017 | $ / % | % | |||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues (a) | $119,161 | $180,008 | $(60,847 | ) | (34 | %) | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to Sotheby's | $(27,838 | ) | $(23,479 | ) | $(4,359 | ) | (19 | %) | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted Net Loss (b) | $(20,822 | ) | $(23,479 | ) | $2,657 | 11 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Diluted loss per share | $(0.55 | ) | $(0.45 | ) | $(0.10 | ) | (22 | %) | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted Diluted Loss Per Share (b) | $(0.41 | ) | $(0.45 | ) | $0.04 | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Statistical Metrics: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Aggregate Auction Sales (c) | $449,044 | $347,338 | $101,706 | 29 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Net Auction Sales (d) | $373,152 | $286,722 | $86,430 | 30 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Private Sales (e) | $132,752 | $120,304 | $12,448 | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated Sales (f) | $588,294 | $549,143 | $39,151 | 7 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 v. 2017 Financial Highlights (in thousands of dollars, except per share data) |
||||||||||||||
Variance | ||||||||||||||
Nine months ended September 30, | 2018 | 2017 | $ / % | % | ||||||||||
Total revenues (a) | $660,593 | $719,176 | $(58,583 | ) | (8 | %) | ||||||||
Net income attributable to Sotheby's | $22,922 | $42,087 | $(19,165 | ) | (46 | %) | ||||||||
Adjusted Net Income (b) | $42,191 | $42,630 | $(439 | ) | (1 | %) | ||||||||
Diluted earnings per share | $0.43 | $0.78 | $(0.35 | ) | (45 | %) | ||||||||
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (b) | $0.80 | $0.79 | $0.01 | 1 | % | |||||||||
Statistical Metrics: | ||||||||||||||
Aggregate Auction Sales (c) | $3,303,255 | $2,754,567 | $548,688 | 20 | % | |||||||||
Net Auction Sales (d) | $2,771,953 | $2,304,956 | $466,997 | 20 | % | |||||||||
Private Sales (e) | $675,400 | $454,114 | $221,286 | 49 | % | |||||||||
Consolidated Sales (f) | $4,041,495 | $3,381,496 | $659,999 | 20 | % |
(a) | Total revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 have been updated to reflect the retrospective adoption of a new accounting standard that became effective on January 1, 2018. See Note 1 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018. |
(b) | See Appendix B for a description of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP amounts. |
(c) | Represents the total hammer (sale) price of property sold at auction plus buyer’s premium, excluding amounts related to the sale of our inventory at auction, which are reported within inventory sales. |
(d) | Represents the total hammer (sale) price of property sold at auction, excluding amounts related to the sale of our inventory at auction, which are reported within inventory sales. |
(e) | Represents the total purchase price of property sold in private sales that we have brokered, including our commissions. |
(f) | Represents the sum of Aggregate Auction Sales, Private Sales, and inventory sales. |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
*Adjusted Expenses, Adjusted Net (Loss) Income and Adjusted Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share are non-GAAP financial measures. See Appendix B for a description of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP amounts.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” (as such term is defined in Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) relating to future events and the financial performance of Sotheby’s. Such statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties, resulting in the possibility that the actual events or performances will differ materially from such predictions. Major factors, which Sotheby’s believes could cause the actual results to differ materially from the predicted results in the “forward-looking statements” include, but are not limited to, the overall strength of the global economy and financial markets, political conditions in various countries, competition with other auction houses and art dealers, the amount and quality of property available for consignment and the marketability at auction of such property. Please refer to our most recently filed Form 10-K for a complete list of Risk Factors.
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APPENDIX A | ||||||||||||||||
SOTHEBY’S CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (Thousands of dollars, except per share data) |
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Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, 2018 |
September 30, 2017 |
September 30, 2018 |
September 30, 2017 |
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Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
Agency commissions and fees | $ | 96,721 | $ | 81,264 | $ | 553,126 | $ | 494,297 | ||||||||
Inventory sales | 6,498 | 81,501 | 62,840 | 172,815 | ||||||||||||
Finance | 11,423 | 11,697 | 30,945 | 37,823 | ||||||||||||
Other | 4,519 | 5,546 | 13,682 | 14,241 | ||||||||||||
Total revenues | 119,161 | 180,008 | 660,593 | 719,176 | ||||||||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Agency direct costs | 19,622 | 18,935 | 114,344 | 95,066 | ||||||||||||
Cost of inventory sales | 6,322 | 78,734 | 64,731 | 172,396 | ||||||||||||
Cost of finance revenues | — | 6,054 | 4,056 | 16,169 | ||||||||||||
Marketing | 4,824 | 5,933 | 16,822 | 17,795 | ||||||||||||
Salaries and related | 67,274 | 63,218 | 242,711 | 217,308 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative | 42,291 | 42,483 | 131,775 | 124,796 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 5,714 | 5,707 | 20,157 | 16,767 | ||||||||||||
Voluntary separation incentive programs, net | — | — | — | (162 | ) | |||||||||||
Restructuring charges | 3,781 | — | 5,927 | — | ||||||||||||
Total expenses | 149,828 | 221,064 | 600,523 | 660,135 | ||||||||||||
Operating (loss) income | (30,667 | ) | (41,056 | ) | 60,070 | 59,041 | ||||||||||
Interest income | 502 | 278 | 1,349 | 902 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | (10,084 | ) | (8,067 | ) | (28,291 | ) | (23,172 | ) | ||||||||
Write-off of credit facility fees | — | — | (3,982 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Extinguishment of debt | — | — | (10,855 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Non-operating income | 3,172 | 3,130 | 7,045 | 6,118 | ||||||||||||
(Loss) income before taxes | (37,077 | ) | (45,715 | ) | 25,336 | 42,889 | ||||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | (7,759 | ) | (21,328 | ) | 5,943 | 2,848 | ||||||||||
Equity in earnings of investees | 1,476 | 901 | 3,516 | 2,034 | ||||||||||||
Net (loss) income | (27,842 | ) | (23,486 | ) | 22,909 | 42,075 | ||||||||||
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | (4 | ) | (7 | ) | (13 | ) | (12 | ) | ||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to Sotheby’s | $ | (27,838 | ) | $ | (23,479 | ) | $ | 22,922 | $ | 42,087 | ||||||
Basic (loss) earnings per share – Sotheby’s common shareholders | $ | (0.55 | ) | $ | (0.45 | ) | $ | 0.44 | $ | 0.79 | ||||||
Diluted (loss) earnings per share – Sotheby’s common shareholders | $ | (0.55 | ) | $ | (0.45 | ) | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.78 | ||||||
APPENDIX B
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
GAAP refers to generally accepted accounting principles in
(i) | Restructuring charges; |
(ii) | Charges related to contractual severance agreements entered into with certain former employees; |
(iii) | Accelerated depreciation charges related to certain fixed assets that have been removed from service in connection with enhancements being made to the York Property; |
(iv) | Net credits associated with a series of regional voluntary separation incentive programs that were implemented in 2015; |
(v) | The loss incurred in connection with the extinguishment of our 2022 Senior Notes in the first quarter of 2018; |
(vi) | The write-off of unamortized credit facility fees related to our previous credit agreement, which was refinanced in the second quarter of 2018; |
(vii) | The charge resulting from the concurrent amendments to the York Property Mortgage and the related interest rate collar in the second quarter of 2017; |
(viii) | The net charge associated with the effective settlement of an income tax audit; and |
(ix) | Adjustments made to the net income tax expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017 upon the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. |
We caution users of our financial statements that amounts presented in accordance with these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies because not all companies and analysts calculate such measures in the same manner.
The following is a reconciliation of total expenses to Adjusted Expenses for the three and nine months ended
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Total expenses | $ | 149,828 | $ | 221,064 | $ | 600,523 | $ | 660,135 | ||||||||
Subtract: Agency direct costs | 19,622 | 18,935 | 114,344 | 95,066 | ||||||||||||
Subtract: Cost of inventory sales | 6,322 | 78,734 | 64,731 | 172,396 | ||||||||||||
Subtract: Cost of finance revenues | — | 6,054 | 4,056 | 16,169 | ||||||||||||
Subtract: Restructuring charges | 3,781 | — | 5,927 | — | ||||||||||||
Subtract: Contractual severance agreement charges | — | — | 2,625 | — | ||||||||||||
Subtract: Accelerated depreciation charges | — | — | 3,123 | — | ||||||||||||
Subtract: Voluntary separation incentive program credits, net | — | — | — | (162 | ) | |||||||||||
Adjusted Expenses | $ | 120,103 | $ | 117,341 | $ | 405,717 | $ | 376,666 | ||||||||
Variance versus prior period - $ | $ | 2,762 | $ | 29,051 | ||||||||||||
Variance versus prior period - % | 2 | % | 8 | % |
The following is a reconciliation of net (loss) income attributable to
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to Sotheby's | $ | (27,838 | ) | $ | (23,479 | ) | $ | 22,922 | $ | 42,087 | ||||||
Add: Restructuring charges, net of tax of ($930), $0, ($1,462), and $0 | 2,851 | — | 4,465 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Contractual severance agreement charges, net of tax of $0, $0, ($627), and $0 | — | — | 1,998 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Accelerated depreciation charges, net of tax of $0, $0, ($775), and $0 | — | — | 2,348 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Voluntary separation incentive programs credits (net), net of tax of $0, $0, $0, and $63 | — | — | — | (99 | ) | |||||||||||
Add: Extinguishment of debt, net of tax of $0, $0, ($2,692), and $0 | — | — | 8,163 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Write-off of credit facility fees, net of tax of $0, $0, ($922), and $0 | — | — | 3,060 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Charge related to interest rate collar amendment, net of tax of $0, $0, $0, and ($398) | — | — | — | 642 | ||||||||||||
Add: Net charge associated with the effective settlement of an income tax audit | 7,062 | — | 7,062 | — | ||||||||||||
Subtract: Adjustments to amounts recorded upon the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act | 2,897 | — | 7,827 | — | ||||||||||||
Adjusted Net (Loss) Income | $ | (20,822 | ) | $ | (23,479 | ) | $ | 42,191 | $ | 42,630 | ||||||
Variance versus prior period - $ | $ | 2,657 | $ | (439 | ) | |||||||||||
Variance versus prior period - % | 11 | % | (1 | %) |
The income tax effect of each line item in the reconciliation of net (loss) income attributable to
The following is a reconciliation of diluted (loss) earnings per share to Adjusted Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share for the three and nine months ended
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
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2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | |||||||||||||
Diluted (loss) earnings per share | $ | (0.55 | ) | $ | (0.45 | ) | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.78 | ||||||
Add: Restructuring charges, per share | 0.06 | — | 0.09 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Contractual severance agreement charges, per share | — | — | 0.04 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Accelerated depreciation charges, per share | — | — | 0.04 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Voluntary separation incentive program credits (net), per share | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Extinguishment of debt, per share | — | — | 0.15 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Write-off of credit facility fees, per share | — | — | 0.06 | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Charge related to interest rate collar amendment, per share | — | — | — | 0.01 | ||||||||||||
Add: Net charge associated with the effective settlement of an income tax audit, per share | 0.14 | — | 0.14 | — | ||||||||||||
Subtract: Adjustments made to amounts recorded upon the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, per share | 0.06 | — | 0.15 | — | ||||||||||||
Adjusted Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share | $ | (0.41 | ) | $ | (0.45 | ) | $ | 0.80 | $ | 0.79 | ||||||
Variance versus prior period - $ | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.01 | ||||||||||||
Variance versus prior period - % | 9 | % | 1 | % |
Lauren Gioia |Jennifer Park |Dan Abernethy | Lauren.Gioia@Sothebys.com | Jennifer.Park@Sothebys.com | Dan.Abernethy@Sothebys.com +1 212 606 7176
Source: Sotheby's