Ritchie Bros. launches new equipment financing, warranty and insurance services on July 1

New customer services designed to make the Company's auctions easier and allow customers to bid with more confidence

VANCOUVER, July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc. (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, is announcing the launch of a bundle of new valued-added services for its customers in the U.S., Canada and around the world. These new services, which include detailed equipment information, real-time auction results through www.rbauction.com, equipment financing, powertrain service warranties and property and cargo insurance, will complement and further enhance the wide range of customer services already offered by the Company, including comfortable first-class auction facilities, flexible bidding options, convenient on-site refurbishing services and a 21-language web site.

"At Ritchie Bros., it's all about our customers and we've run our business with that in mind for more than 50 years," said Peter Blake, Chief Executive Officer, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "Our Company's mission is to provide compelling business solutions that enable the world's builders to easily and confidently exchange equipment. We believe with the launch of these new services we have taken another large step in that direction."

Detailed Equipment Information - launched globally July 1, 2011
Beginning July 1, Ritchie Bros. will collect and provide more equipment information online for all of its industrial auctions around the world. Available in 21 languages exclusively through Ritchie Bros.' web site www.rbauction.com, detailed equipment information will include up to 50 high-resolution photographs of each item, allowing customers to clearly see key components of an item, along with a multi-point summary of those components and comments on basic functionality. This new service will enable customers to assess equipment online more efficiently and in greater detail prior to inspecting it at the auction site in person.

For more information on detailed equipment information visit: www.rbauction.com/confidence

Real-time auction results through www.rbauction.com - launched globally July 1, 2011
Beginning July 1, Ritchie Bros. will provide real-time auction results for all customers viewing its auctions online through www.rbauction.com. Customers will instantly be able to see how much items have sold for and will be able to scroll back to see pricing for items they may have missed earlier in the day.

Equipment Financing - launched in the U.S. & Canada on July 1; launching in Europe & remaining global operations in 2012
Ritchie Bros. Financial Services (RBFS) has partnered with leading equipment finance providers to bring fast, convenient, no-obligation financing options to Ritchie Bros. customers. Financing options include equipment loans and lease-to-own programs. Available now in the U.S. and Canada, RBFS plans on rolling out its services to Ritchie Bros. customers in Europe and remaining global operations in 2012.

Powertrain Service Warranties - launched in the U.S. & Canada on July 1; launching in Europe & remaining global operations in 2012
Ritchie Bros. customers are now able to purchase an optional powertrain service warranty for select equipment available at Ritchie Bros. auctions in the U.S. and Canada (excluding equipment sold at on-the-farm agricultural auctions). All warranties are underwritten by AmTrust Group, a subsidiary of AmTrust Financial Services, Inc., a multi-national insurance company. Buyers will be able to purchase a powertrain service warranty for select equipment purchased in Ritchie Bros. auctions held in Europe and the rest of the world in 2012.

On-site Property & Cargo Insurance - launched in the U.S., Canada, Europe & Australia on July 1; launching in remaining global operations in 2012
Ritchie Bros. customers are now able to purchase optional on-site property and cargo insurance for equipment purchased or sold at Ritchie Bros. auctions in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia. On-site property insurance will protect a customer's equipment while it is on a Ritchie Bros. auction site; cargo insurance will protect a customer's equipment while it is in transit to or from a Ritchie Bros. auction site. Both of these insurance products are brokered by Marsh, one of the world's leading insurance brokers and risk advisors.

For more information on equipment financing, powertrain service warranties and/or on-site property and cargo insurance visit: http://www.rbauction.com/services

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. 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.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers