Ritchie Bros. to sell fleet of tow trucks in Las Vegas unreserved auction

November 3, 2009

    More than 1,300 items - including world's largest crawler tractor - to be
    sold to the highest bidders on auction day

LAS VEGAS, NV, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, will conduct a large, multi-million dollar unreserved public auction at its Las Vegas auction site on Friday, November 6, 2009 starting at 7:00 a.m. More than 1,300 equipment items and trucks from close to 160 owners will be sold unreserved to the highest bidders on auction day, regardless of price.

Items to be sold on auction day include 13 tow trucks and 11 rollback trucks as part of a complete dispersal of close to 40 equipment items for Northstar Towing.

"It's a very unique opportunity for Ritchie Bros. to sell an entire fleet of tow trucks in an auction," says Jim Rotlisberger, Regional Manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "These tow trucks have been very well-maintained by the owner who is now ready to retire from the business." Tow trucks being sold include a 2004 Peterbilt 379 60-ton tow truck and a 2005 Peterbilt 378 16-ton tow truck.

The unreserved auction in Las Vegas on November 6th will also feature two other complete dispersals for American Asphalt and Grading Co. and Pipes Paving Inc. American Asphalt and Grading Co. is selling more than 100 equipment items from its grading division, including more than 15 motor scrapers, 10 service and fuel & lube trucks, rollers, shop tools, water towers and a Komatsu D575A-the largest crawler tractor in the world. Pipes Paving Inc. is selling close to 80 equipment items including crawler tractors, wheel loaders, water trucks and motor graders.

The auction will also feature a large selection of transportation equipment: more than 45 pickup trucks and 40 truck tractors, more than 40 water trucks, 20 flatbed trucks and an assortment of bottom dump and end dump trailers. Every item will be sold with no minimum bids or reserve prices. Interested buyers can inspect, test and compare equipment in the Las Vegas yard during business hours this week.

    Auction details:
    ----------------
    -   Location: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Las Vegas auction site, 10500
        Clark Petersen Blvd, Las Vegas, NV
    -   Las Vegas auction site tel: +1.702.644.2468 Las Vegas auction site
        fax: +1.702.644.2375
    -   Auction start time and date: Friday, November 6, 2009 at 7:00 a.m.
    -   Open to the public; registration to bid is free
    -   Visit the auction site to register to bid in person; photo I.D. is
        required. First-time bidders from the U.S. and Canada must place a
        refundable US$1,000 deposit when they register. Customers can
        inspect, test and compare equipment during regular business hours
        this week, and on auction day
    -   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.
    -   Phone the auction site to place a proxy bid. Phone: +1.702.644.2468
    -   Equipment details, including photos, are available at
        www.rbauction.com

About Ritchie Bros.

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: 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 39 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.

ATTENTION MEDIA: Photos of the late model tow trucks and the Komatsu D575A are available for your use at www.rbauction.com/media or by calling Kim Schulz at the contact number below.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers