Sotheby's Reports 2011 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

• Full Year Revenues Increase 7% to $831.8 million
• Full Year Net Income Improves 7% to $171.4 million
• Full Year Private Sales Achieve Record $814.6 million
• Sotheby's to Offer One of the World's Most Famous Masterpieces -- Edvard Munch's The Scream -- on May 2^nd in New York

NEW YORK, Feb. 29, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sotheby's (NYSE:BID) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011.

In 2011, Sotheby's generated the best financial results in its 268-year history, apart from its record year in 2007. Sotheby's strong financial performance was driven by a $57.5 million, or 7%, increase in revenues attributable to growth in both auction and private sale commission revenues. Offsetting the growth in revenues was a higher level of operating expenses due in part to increased staff levels and their associated compensation costs, a higher level of direct costs of services consistent with the volume and composition of auction sales and the cost of investments in Sotheby's strategic initiatives, principally related to the growth of its business in China and enhancing its information technology and online offerings.

Full year results were favorably impacted by a tax benefit of $13.6 million, or $0.20 per share, recognized in 2011 associated with the reversal of a valuation allowance against certain of Sotheby's deferred tax assets, and a pre-tax $7.6 million decrease in net interest expense. Including these factors, net income for 2011 is $171.4 million, a $10.5 million, or 7%, increase from the prior year; diluted earnings per share is $2.46, a $0.12, or 5%, increase from 2010.

Net income for the fourth quarter is $71.5 million, compared to $96.2 million in the prior period. This decrease is largely attributable to a decline in auction and related revenues which totaled $274.9 million, $35.6 million, or 11%, lower than the prior period. This is primarily due to an $85.2 million, or 5%, decline in net auction sales over the period resulting from a $171.0 million, or 46%, decrease in single-owner sales during the quarter, as well as a significant decrease in auction commission margin. The decline in auction revenues is partially offset by a decrease in salaries and related costs, attributable to a lower level of incentive compensation expense in the quarter.

"Sotheby's had great success last year, handling masterpieces, innovating in new markets and building trust based relationships with clients globally and our 2011 financial results reflected those efforts. They are near the best we have ever delivered," said Bill Ruprecht, President and Chief Executive Officer.  

Mr. Ruprecht continued: "Consolidated sales¹ in 2011 were an excellent $5.8 billion, as healthy bidding continued around the world for great works of art. Private sales, an increasingly important part of Sotheby's business, totaled a record $814.6 million, a 65% increase. We ended the year with a very strong balance sheet and we are continuing to invest in our business, including bolstering our information technology and online offerings in order to enhance our service to clients.

"We are also further expanding our high-growth business in China as well as other 'new' markets," said Mr. Ruprecht. "Impressively, and for the first time ever, Sotheby's consolidated sales¹ in Asia reached $1 billion in 2011.  We have now reached the point where the three geographic engines driving our auction business – the Americas, Europe, and Asia – are contributing to our success in roughly equal proportions. This has allowed us to realize a more diversified revenue stream, even as we remain focused on commission margins and cost discipline across our global organization."

Year to Date 2012 Sales

In January 2012, in New York, Sotheby's Old Masters Paintings sale totaled $62.1 million, above the pre-sale low estimate of $60.7 million. Highlighting the sale were Canaletto's View of the Churches of the Redentore and San Giacomo from the Estate of Lady Forte that sold for $5.7 million (pre-sale estimate of $5/7 million) and Lucas Cranach the Elder's portrait Lucretia that brought $5.1 million (pre-sale estimate of $4/6 million). 

Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern Art sales in London earlier this month totaled $152.9 million, above the pre-sale low estimate of $150.3 million. The evening sale was led by Claude Monet's previously unseen painting of 1885 L'Entreé de Giverny en Hiver, which brought $13.1 million and, as was announced during the auction, Gustav Klimt's rare 1901 landscape Seeufer mit Birken sold privately during the course of the sale for $9.0 million. Surrealist paintings drew strong interest in the evening sale with fourteen Surrealist paintings bringing a combined total of $25.6 million, highlighted by Giorgio de Chirico's Ettore e Andromaca, which sold for $4.5 million.

Also in London earlier this month, Sotheby's Contemporary Art sales brought $103.7 million, above the pre-sale high estimate of $103.0 million. Highlighting the evening sale was Gerhard Richter's Abstraktes Bild (numbered 768-4), which brought $7.6 million, exceeding the pre-sale estimate of $4.7/6.3 million.

Upcoming Sales

Edvard Munch's masterpiece The Scream will lead Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale on May 2^nd. This world-renowned work from 1895 is one of the most instantly recognizable images in both art history and popular culture and is the only one of four versions that is still in private hands. It is being sold by Norwegian businessman Petter Olsen, whose father was a friend, neighbor and patron of Munch. The price could exceed $80 million.

Also on offer in New York in May is Roy Lichtenstein's iconic Sleeping Girl from 1964 – one of the high-points of the artist's comic book-inspired paintings and an icon of Post-War American art, with paintings from this series featured in the collections of major institutions throughout the world. Sleeping Girl, which has been in the same private collection for almost fifty years, will be offered in the evening sale of Contemporary Art on May 9^th and has a pre-sale estimate of $30/40 million.

Beginning on March 31^st, Sotheby's Hong Kong will be holding its spring series of sales which are estimated to bring in excess of $233 million, combined. Of particular note, Sotheby's will offer a Song dynasty washer from the fabled Ru kilns (pre-sale estimate of $7.7/10.3 million) and the third installment of the Meiyintang Collection of Imperial Chinese Porcelains, which includes a Superb Blue and White 'Bird' Charger from the Ming Dynasty, Yongle Period and a Blue and White Anhua Stembowl with Dragons Among Waves Mark and Period of Xuande (each with a pre-sale estimate of $6.4/10.3 million). A dazzling 8.01-carat Emerald-cut Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond and Diamond Ring (pre-sale estimate of $11.5/14 million) will be the star of the exceptional jewels on offer.

The Collection of Suzanne Saperstein will be offered in a dedicated sale on April 19^th in New York. Carefully assembled over the course of two decades and housed in her celebrated Beverly Hills estate Fleur de Lys, Ms. Saperstein's impressive collection comprises mainly 18^th-century French furniture and decorative arts, with important examples by some of the most celebrated cabinetmakers of the era. The total sale has a pre-sale estimate in excess of $12 million.

One of the most important historic diamonds ever to come to auction will be sold by Sotheby's Geneva on May 15^th. Passed down through four royal families – the Crown of France, the Crown of England, the House of Orange and the House of Prussia, the modified pear double rose-cut diamond has a pre-sale estimate of $2/4 million.

¹Defined as the sum of Aggregate Auction Sales, Private Sales and Dealer revenues. Aggregate Auction Sales represent the hammer (sale) price of property sold at auction plus buyer's premium and Private Sales represent the total purchase price of property sold in private sales brokered by Sotheby's.

Note: Estimates do not include buyer's premium. Sale totals for auctions discussed in this release include buyer's premium. 

About Sotheby's

Sotheby's is a global company that engages in art auction, private sales and art-related financing activities. The Company operates in 40 countries, with principal salesrooms located in New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris. The Company also regularly conducts auctions in six other salesrooms around the world. Sotheby's is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BID. 

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) relating to future events and the financial performance of the Company. 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 the Company 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 international economy and financial markets, political conditions in various nations, competition with other auctioneers and art dealers, the success of our risk reduction and margin improvement efforts, the amount of quality property being consigned to art auction houses and the marketability at auction of such property. Please refer to our most recently filed Form 10-Q (and/or 10-K) for a complete list of Risk Factors. 

Financial Tables Follow

All Sotheby's Press Releases and SEC filings are available on our web site at www.sothebys.com. In addition, an outline of the conference call will be available at http://investor.shareholder.com/bid/events.cfm.

Sotheby's earnings conference call will take place on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 4:30 PM EST. Domestic callers should dial: 888-371-8897 and international callers should dial: 970-315-0479. The call reservation number is 44755401. 

To listen to the conference call via web cast, please go to http://investor.shareholder.com/bid/events.cfm

You will need Windows Media Player or Real Player to access the call. Please download either of these programs before the call begins. The web cast will be available for replay for two weeks after the call.