Ritchie Bros. to sell 2,100 items in multi-million dollar unreserved public
auction next week in Toronto

Late model trucks, hundreds of trailers and heavy equipment to be sold with no minimums

TORONTO, May 3 /CNW/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE andTSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, is conducting a multi-million dollar unreserved public equipment auction at its permanent auction site in Toronto, Ontario next week from May 11 - 12, 2010. More than 2,100 items from 300 owners will be sold during the two-day auction. Every item will be sold unreserved to the highest bidder - regardless of price - with no minimum bids or reserve prices.

"With a strong showing of local bidder support in our first auction of 2010, we've got a larger selection of equipment to sell in our second auction. Local customers are placing their trust in our auction methods and consigning their equipment with us. Items continue to be added to the sale daily," said Brian Dykstra, Regional Manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "Our second auction will be a great opportunity for the local community to purchase equipment at the price they want to pay. The line-up of equipment will appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers - there will definitely be something for everyone."

Day One of the auction will see construction equipment sold. Highlights include a 2001 Link-Belt LT208H Series II 80 ton crawler crane and a 2005 Roadtec Shuttle Buggy 2500C asphalt paver. More than 25 crawler tractors will also be sold, including a 2008 CAT D6T LGP, 20 hydraulic excavators, 20 skid steer loaders, 15 wheel loaders and 15 motor graders.

More than 1,100 transportation equipment items, including over 100 late model truck tractors and 500 trailers will be sold on Day 2 (May 12) of the auction. Other transportation items include more than 240 truck tractors, 75 van trucks and 65 dump trucks.

The Company's last Toronto auction was held on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 and more than 1,800 equipment items were sold. More than 2,700 on-site and online bidders participated from 30 countries, including 34 US states and all 10 Canadian provinces.

    
    Auction details:
    ----------------
    -   Location: 3 Manchester Court, Bolton, ON
    -   Toronto auction site phone: [phone] or toll free
        1-800-357-0659
    -   Time and date: Tuesday, May 11 to Wednesday, May 12, 2010 starting at
        8:00 a.m. (EST) each day
    -   Open to the public; registration to bid is free
    -   Interested buyers can register to bid in person or over the internet
        days before the auction. Visit the auction site to register to bid in
        person; photo I.D. is required. Customers can inspect equipment
        during regular business hours leading up to the auction
    -   Internet bidders must register online before auction day at
        www.rbauction.com; at least 2-3 business days is recommended for
        first-time internet bidders
    -   Equipment details, including photos, are available on the Ritchie
        Bros. website: www.rbauction,com
    

About Ritchie Bros.

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE andTSX: RBA) is the world's largest industrial auctioneer, selling more equipment to on-site and online bidders than any other company in the world. The Company has over 110 locations in more than 25 countries, including 41 auction sites worldwide. Ritchie Bros. sells, through unreserved public auctions, a broad range of used and unused industrial assets, including equipment, trucks and other assets utilized in the construction, transportation, agricultural, material handling, mining, forestry, petroleum and marine industries. The Company maintains a web site at www.rbauction.com and sponsors an equipment wiki at www.RitchieWiki.com.

ATT MEDIA: Photos and other media resources are available for use at http://www.rbauction.com/web/rba/media. Kim Schulz will be on site during the auction to conduct media tours.

Members of the public and the media can follow us on Twitter @RitchieBros

For further information: Kim Schulz, Manager, Corporate Communications, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Cell: [phone] or email [email protected]; Or Brian Dykstra, Regional Manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Toronto (Bolton) auction site, tel: [phone]