Ritchie Bros. to conduct more than 60 agricultural auctions in one month

Five large agriculture auctions and more than 60 on-the-farm auctions from B.C. to Ontario this spring

VANCOUVER, March 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE andTSX: RBA), the world's largest auctioneer of farm, construction and other heavy equipment, will conduct five, large, unreserved agricultural auctions in Lethbridge, AB (March 27); London, ON (March 28); Regina, SK (March 29); Grande Prairie, AB (April 10) and Saskatoon, SK (April 18). The Company will also conduct more than 60 on-the-farm auctions from Fort St. John, BC to Ottawa, ON in one month (from end of March to end of April). Bids can be made in the unreserved public auctions on-site, online in real time at www.rbauction.com or by proxy.

"The spring agricultural auction season is a very busy and important time for our ag customers who need quality equipment to put to work immediately," said Simon Wallan, Vice President, Sales, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "Our customers know exactly what equipment they need and because we conduct auctions across the country and around the world we have the largest selection of agricultural equipment to choose from—and we're still accepting consignments every day. In our current inventory right now we have more than 700 ag tractors, 250 combines, 175 sprayers, 125 swathers and lots more. And, as with all our auctions, every piece will sell on auction day to the highest bidder, regardless of price—with no minimum bids or reserve prices."

Five large agricultural auction events:
LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA - On March 27, Ritchie Bros. will sell more than 550 agricultural equipment items at an unreserved public auction in Lethbridge, AB. The Company will sell more than 20 combines—including five late-model Case IH 8010 combines and a 2008 New Holland CX8080 combine—as well as a great selection of sprayers, seeders and more.

LONDON, ONTARIO - On March 28, Ritchie Bros. will conduct an unreserved public auction in London, ON. The auction features close to 350 equipment items to-date, including a 2010 John Deere 9670STS combine, as well as headers, balers and more.

REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN - One day later, at a Ritchie Bros. unreserved public auction in Regina, SK on March 29, the Company will sell more than 650 equipment items, including more than 30 agricultural tractors, 25 sprayers and 30 air drills—including two 2011 Seedhawk 8412 84-foot air drills.

GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTA - On April 10, Ritchie Bros. will sell six parcels of farmland and more than 800 agricultural and other equipment items at its permanent auction site in Grande Prairie, AB. Equipment highlights include agricultural tractors, sprayers, combines and more.

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN - The Company will also celebrate the completion of its recently-expanded facilities and larger auction yard at its permanent auction site in Saskatoon, SK with a grand re-opening auction on April 18. The unreserved public auction already features more than 1,000 equipment items, including more than 60 combines, 50 headers, 30 balers, 30 sprayers and much more. 

Consignments are still being accepted for all five of these upcoming auctions; anyone interested in selling their equipment can contact: +1.403.327.4933 (for Lethbridge, AB); +1.519.425.4321 (for London, ON); +1.306.776.2397 (for Regina, SK); +1.780.538.1100 (for Grande Prairie, AB); or +1.306.933.9333 (for Saskatoon, SK).

Sixty on-the-farm auction events from B.C. to Ontario
Starting March 27, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will take its auctions from farm-to-farm all across Western and Central Canada with more than 60 on-the-farm auctions. With each auction, the Company will set up on an owner's farm and sell his equipment—some of these auctions also include farmland and livestock.

One of these on-the-farm auctions takes place on Wednesday, April 4 in Rosetown, SK. As a partnership dispersal for Winny Bros. Farms in Rosetown, SK, the auction features a great selection of late-model tractors and combines, as well as headers, swathers, sprayers, spreaders and more.

"Ritchie Bros. provides me the best opportunity to get my equipment out to the world, as well as to buyers from the Western Prairie provinces," said Jim Winny, co-owner of Winny Bros. Farms. "All the equipment I will be selling is one- or two-owner gear that has been cared for and well-serviced. So, thankfully, with the advertising and internet bidding Ritchie Bros. provides, I expect to see people bidding on my equipment from across Canada and the globe."

For complete details on all upcoming Ritchie Bros. agricultural auctions, including detailed equipment information and high-resolution photos of equipment being sold, visit the Company's website at www.rbauction.com.

General auction details:

• Every auction is open to the public; registration to bid is free; a refundable bid deposit may be required
• How to register and bid:
• In person at the auction site or on-the-farm location
• Online at rbauction.com - register in advance and bid online in real time on auction day; a refundable bid deposit may be required; first-time online bidders should register several days in advance of the auction
• By proxy - phone the auction site to place a proxy bid

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. Ritchie Bros. offers services that enable the world's builders to easily and confidently exchange equipment. The Company conducts hundreds of unreserved public auctions each year, selling a broad range of used and unused equipment, trucks and other assets utilized in the construction, transportation, agricultural, material handling, mining, forestry, petroleum and marine industries. Ritchie Bros. has over 110 locations in more than 25 countries, including 43 auction sites worldwide. The Company maintains a web site at www.rbauction.com and sponsors an equipment wiki at www.RitchieWiki.com.

ATTENTION MEDIA: Members of the public and the media can follow Ritchie Bros. on Twitter @RitchieBros.

Kim Schulz, Manager, Corporate Communications, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
Phone: [phone] or email [email protected]

Or

Simon Wallan, Vice President, Sales, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
Phone: [phone] or email [email protected]