Sotheby’s Q3 Earnings are out and the big news is the rise in private sales and finance revenues. Net auction sales are down 16% ytd.

• Total Revenues Increase 18% in the Third Quarter

• Private Sale Commission Revenues Increase 50% in the Quarter

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, Sotheby’s net income declined $57.7 million, or 58%, when compared to the prior year. This decrease is primarily due to lower auction commission revenues resulting from a $433.5 million, or 16%, reduction in Net Auction Sales, compared to a 2011 period with an historically unprecedented level of single owner sales. The decline in year-to-date auction commission revenues is partially offset by an $8.2 million, or 17%, increase in private sale commission revenues and a $6.4 million decrease in Dealer Segment inventory writedowns, as well as $4.5 million of charges recorded in 2011 from restructuring actions to streamline Sotheby’s European selling operations.

						Nine Months Ended
						September 30,		September 30,
						2012		2011
Revenues:
Auction and related revenues						$ 447,272		$ 516,841
Finance revenues						12,727		9,022
Dealer revenues						11,887		16,848
License fee revenues						4,539		4,119
Other revenues						944		757
Total revenues						477,369		547,587