Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Contingencies

Contingencies

27.   Contingencies

Legal and other claims

The Company is subject to legal and other claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Management does not believe that the results of these claims will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet or consolidated income statement.

Guarantee contracts

In the normal course of business, the Company will in certain situations guarantee to a consignor a minimum level of proceeds in connection with the sale at auction of that consignor’s equipment.

At December 31, 2019, there were $63,612,000 of assets guaranteed under contract, of which 39% is expected to be sold prior to March 31, 2020 with the remainder to be sold by June 30, 2020 (December 31, 2018: $41,461,000 of which 51% was expected to be sold prior to the end of March 31, 2019 with the remainder to be sold by May 31, 2020).

The outstanding guarantee amounts are undiscounted and before estimated proceeds from sale at auction.