Ritchie Bros. to hold more than 65 unreserved agricultural auctions in Canada

More than 4,200 agricultural items will be sold, including 455 tractors, 153 combines, 132 headers, 123 air drills, 117 swathers, plus 124 parcels of real estate and livestock

VANCOUVER, March 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest auctioneer of farm, construction and other equipment, will conduct more than 65 unreserved public agricultural auctions in Canada. Five auctions feature equipment from multiple sellers—Saskatoon, SK (March 19, 2013); Montreal, QC (March 20 & 21); Lethbridge, AB (March 28); Regina, SK (April 2) and Grande Prairie, AB (April 10 & 11). Ritchie Bros. will also conduct more than 60 on-the-farm auctions from B.C. to Manitoba. Bids can be placed in the unreserved public auctions on-site, online in real time at rbauction.com or by proxy.

"The spring auction season is an important time for our customers working in the agriculture industry—they need quality equipment to put to work immediately—and that's exactly what our auctions provide," said Simon Wallan, Vice President, Sales, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "Our customers know what equipment they need and because we conduct auctions across Canada and around the world we have a huge selection of agricultural equipment to choose from—and we're still accepting consignments. All of our auctions are open to the public and every item will sell on auction day to the highest bidder, regardless of price—with no minimum bids or reserve prices."

Five large, unreserved public agricultural auctions:

• Ritchie Bros.' SASKATOON, SK auction site (March 19) - More than 1,450 equipment items including 48 ag tractors, 14 combines, 11 headers and more.
• Ritchie Bros.'MONTREAL, QC auction site (March 20 & 21) - More than 2,700 equipment items including 27 ag tractors, as well as combines, headers and more.
• LETHBRIDGE, AB (March 28) - More than 500 equipment items including 23 ag tractors, 21 combines, livestock equipment and more.
• Ritchie Bros.' REGINA, SK auction site (April 2) - More than 450 equipment items including 28 ag tractors, 11 combines, as well as headers, swathers and more.
• Ritchie Bros.' GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB auction site (April 10 & 11) - More than 825 equipment items including 17 ag tractors, 12 balers, 10 headers and more.

More than sixty on-the-farm auction events from B.C. to Manitoba:
Starting March 23, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will take its full-service, professional auctions from farm-to-farm all across Western and Central Canada with more than 60 on-the-farm auctions. With each auction, Ritchie Bros. will set up on an owner's farm and sell their equipment—some of these auctions also include livestock and real estate (farmland, recreational, residential and grazing lease).

One of these on-the-farm auctions takes place on Monday, April 8 in Provost, AB, where Ritchie Bros. will conduct a complete farm dispersal of late-model agricultural equipment for Brian and Donna Stempfle. Highlights from the auction include a 2010 John Deere 9630 4WD tractor, a 2010 Premier M150 35-ft swather, a 2008 John Deere 9870 STS combine and more.

"By working with Ritchie Bros., I have a great opportunity to sell my equipment and make the transition to semi-retirement," said Brian Stempfle. "Through hard work, their professionalism and the availability to bid at the auction in-person, as well as online, Ritchie Bros. allows me to reach a global audience—and with the unreserved auction policy, everyone knows they'll have a fair chance to own the equipment they are hoping to buy."

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.

About Ritchie Bros.
Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is the world's largest seller of used equipment for the construction, transportation, agricultural, material handling, energy, mining, forestry,  marine and other industries. Ritchie Bros. offers compelling solutions that make it easy for the world's builders to buy and sell equipment with confidence. The Company conducts hundreds of unreserved public auctions each year, selling more equipment to on-site and online bidders than any other company in the world (rbauction.com).  The Company also operates an online marketplace through Ritchie Bros. EquipmentOne (EquipmentOne.com) and a range of value-added services, including equipment financing for customers through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services (rbauctionfinance.com). The Company has over 110 locations in more than 25 countries, including 45 auction sites worldwide.

ATTENTION MEDIA: Photos and other media resources are available for use at http://www.rbauction.com/media. Members of the public and the media can follow Ritchie Bros. on Twitter @RitchieBros.

SOURCE: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers