Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies	13. Commitments and Contingencies In accordance with ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, the Company accrues anticipated costs of settlement, damages or other costs to the extent specific losses are probable and estimable. Litigation and Related Contingencies Lawsuits, claims and proceedings of a nature considered normal to its businesses may be pending from time to time against the Company. Third parties might allege that the Company or its collaborators are infringing their patent rights or that the Company is otherwise violating their intellectual property rights. Loss contingency provisions are recorded if the potential loss from any claim, asserted or unasserted, or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated or a range of loss can be determined. These accruals represent management's best estimate of probable loss. Disclosure is also provided when it is reasonably possible that a loss will be incurred or when it is reasonably possible that the amount of a loss will exceed the recorded provision. The Company believes the outcome of pending proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, no material accruals have been recorded for potential contingencies. Governmental Investigations The Company is subject to regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the United States and other countries in which it operates. From time to time, the Company is the subject of governmental investigations often involving regulatory, marketing and other business practices. These governmental investigations may result in the commencement of civil and criminal proceedings, fines, penalties and administrative remedies which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity. In August 2018, the Korea Fair Trade Commission ("KFTC") informed the Company that it is conducting an investigation into the public tender bidding activities of a number of life science instrument companies operating in Korea, including Bruker Korea Co., Ltd. The Company is cooperating fully with the KFTC regarding this matter and is unable to predict the timing or outcome of this investigation at this time. Revenues from Korea represent less than 3% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018. On October 19, 2017, the Company received a notice of investigation and subpoena to produce documents from the Division of Enforcement of the SEC. The subpoena seeks information related to an employee terminated as part of a restructuring and certain matters involving the Company’s policies and accounting practices related to revenue recognition and restructuring activities, as well as related financial reporting, disclosure and compliance matters, since January 1, 2013. The subpoena also seeks information concerning, among other things, the Company’s previously identified material weakness in internal controls over the accounting for income taxes, related financial reporting matters and certain payments for non-employee travel expenses. The Company is producing documents in response to the subpoena and intends to continue to cooperate fully with the SEC’s investigation. Additionally, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, with the assistance of outside counsel, is conducting an internal investigation into practices of certain business partners in China and into the conduct of former employees of the Bruker Optics division in China which raised questions of compliance with laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and/or compliance with the Company’s business policies and code of conduct. The Company has voluntarily disclosed this matter to the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the duration, scope or outcome of these investigations. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, no material accruals have been recorded for potential contingencies related to these matters. Letters of Credit and Guarantees At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had bank guarantees of $120.7 million and $138.8 million, respectively, related primarily to customer advances. These arrangements guarantee the refund of advance payments received from customers in the event that the merchandise is not delivered or warranty obligations are not fulfilled in compliance with the terms of the contract. These guarantees affect the availability of the Company’s lines of credit.

13. Commitments and Contingencies

In accordance with ASC Topic 450, Contingencies, the Company accrues anticipated costs of settlement, damages or other costs to the extent specific losses are probable and estimable.

Litigation and Related Contingencies

Lawsuits, claims and proceedings of a nature considered normal to its businesses may be pending from time to time against the Company. Third parties might allege that the Company or its collaborators are infringing their patent rights or that the Company is otherwise violating their intellectual property rights. Loss contingency provisions are recorded if the potential loss from any claim, asserted or unasserted, or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated or a range of loss can be determined. These accruals represent management's best estimate of probable loss. Disclosure is also provided when it is reasonably possible that a loss will be incurred or when it is reasonably possible that the amount of a loss will exceed the recorded provision. The Company believes the outcome of pending proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, no material accruals have been recorded for potential contingencies.

Governmental Investigations

The Company is subject to regulation by national, state and local government agencies in the United States and other countries in which it operates. From time to time, the Company is the subject of governmental investigations often involving regulatory, marketing and other business practices. These governmental investigations may result in the commencement of civil and criminal proceedings, fines, penalties and administrative remedies which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and/or liquidity.

In August 2018, the Korea Fair Trade Commission ("KFTC") informed the Company that it is conducting an investigation into the public tender bidding activities of a number of life science instrument companies operating in Korea, including Bruker Korea Co., Ltd. The Company is cooperating fully with the KFTC regarding this matter and is unable to predict the timing or outcome of this investigation at this time. Revenues from Korea represent less than 3% of the Company’s consolidated revenue for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.

On October 19, 2017, the Company received a notice of investigation and subpoena to produce documents from the Division of Enforcement of the SEC. The subpoena seeks information related to an employee terminated as part of a restructuring and certain matters involving the Company’s policies and accounting practices related to revenue recognition and restructuring activities, as well as related financial reporting, disclosure and compliance matters, since January 1, 2013. The subpoena also seeks information concerning, among other things, the Company’s previously identified material weakness in internal controls over the accounting for income taxes, related financial reporting matters and certain payments for non-employee travel expenses. The Company is producing documents in response to the subpoena and intends to continue to cooperate fully with the SEC’s investigation. Additionally, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, with the assistance of outside counsel, is conducting an internal investigation into practices of certain business partners in China and into the conduct of former employees of the Bruker Optics division in China which raised questions of compliance with laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and/or compliance with the Company’s business policies and code of conduct. The Company has voluntarily disclosed this matter to the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the duration, scope or outcome of these investigations.

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, no material accruals have been recorded for potential contingencies related to these matters.

Letters of Credit and Guarantees

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had bank guarantees of $120.7 million and $138.8 million, respectively, related primarily to customer advances. These arrangements guarantee the refund of advance payments received from customers in the event that the merchandise is not delivered or warranty obligations are not fulfilled in compliance with the terms of the contract. These guarantees affect the availability of the Company’s lines of credit.