The group's principal activities are the auction of fine arts, antiques, offering property, decorative art, jewelry and collectibles. The group operates in two segments: auction segment includes purchase and resale of art and other collectibles and the brokering of art and collectible purchases and sales through private treaty sales. Finance segment provides collectors and dealers with financing secured by works of art that the group either has in its possession or permits the borrower to possess. It conducts its financing activities through its wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries. The group operates in North America, Europe and Asia. On 17-Feb-2004, the group discontinued its real estate brokerage business.
