16. Other current assets



As at December 31,		2018		2017
Advances against auction contracts	$	15,558	$	7,336
Assets held for sale		15,051		584
Prepaid expenses and deposits		18,446		19,690
	$	49,055	$	27,610

Advances against auction contracts

Advances against auction contracts arise when the Company pays owners, in advance, a portion of the expected gross auction proceeds from the sale of the related assets at future auctions. The Company‘s policy is to limit the amount of advances to a percentage of the estimated gross auction proceeds from the sale of the related assets, and before advancing funds, require proof of owner‘s title to and equity in the assets, as well as receive delivery of the assets and title documents at a specified auction site, by a specified date and in a specified condition of repair.

Advances against auction contracts are generally secured by the assets to which they relate, as the Company requires owners to provide promissory notes and security instruments registering the Company as a charge against the asset. Advances against auction contracts are usually settled within two weeks of the date of sale, as they are netted against the associated auction proceeds payable to the owner.

Assets held for sale



Balance, December 31, 2016	$	632
Site preparation costs		25
Reclassified from property, plant and equipment		411
Disposal		(484)
Balance, December 31, 2017		584
Reclassified from property, plant and equipment		20,610
Disposal		(6,143)
Balance, December 31, 2018	$	15,051

As at December 31, 2018, the Company’s assets held for sale consisted of two excess auction sites located in the United States. Management made the strategic decision to sell these properties to maximize the Company’s return on invested capital. The estimated sales proceeds are expected to be in excess of the current book value. The properties have been actively marketed for sale, and management expects the sales to be completed within 12 months of December 31, 2018. This property belongs to the A&M reportable segment.

As at December 31, 2017, the Company’s assets held for sale consisted of excess auction sites located in the United States. Management made the strategic decision to sell this excess acreage to maximize the Company’s return on invested capital.

16. Other current assets (continued)

Assets held for sale (continued)

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company sold excess auction site acreage in Prince George, Canada and Albuquerque, United States for net proceeds of $7,071,000 resulting in gains of $1,439,000 (2017: $602,000 gain related to the sale of property locate in Orlando, United States, and Truro, Canada; 2016: $493,000 gain related to the sale of property located in Denver, United States)