More than 60 Caterpillar D11 crawler tractors featured in this week's Ritchie Bros. Grand Opening auction in North Carolina

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First time in the world more than 60 D11 crawler tractors are sold in a single day.

Big opportunity for mining industry: selection of equipment for the September 26 and 27, 2012 public auction includes 85+ crawler tractors, 55+ rock trucks, 40+ wheel loaders, 40+ underground mining equipment items and more!

RALEIGH-DURHAM, NC, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE: RBA) (TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, will conduct a massive mining and earthmoving equipment auction on September 27, 2012 during the Company's two-day Grand Opening auction (September 26 & 27) at its new permanent auction site in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. More than 1,700 heavy equipment items are currently featured in this week's Raleigh-Durham Grand Opening auction, including more than 300 pieces of mining and earthmoving equipment being sold on Day Two (September 27). Mining and earthmoving equipment highlights include: more than 60 Caterpillar D11 crawler tractors, more than 45 Caterpillar 777 rock trucks, more than 40 wheel loaders, more than 40 underground mining equipment items and more—selections so large that they're rarely seen in the heavy equipment industry in a single sale. Every item will be sold to the highest bidder with no minimum bids or reserve prices.

"We have an unprecedented number of D11s featured in this week's grand opening auction. In fact, this is more D11s than we've sold in the past four years of unreserved industrial auctions combined," said John Fairley, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "There is still plenty of time to register for this massive auction. You can even register to bid online and in real time from your location. We are very excited to be holding the grand opening of our new facilities here in Raleigh-Durham with this huge equipment auction. And, as with all of our auctions, each item will sell to the highest bidder, regardless of price—with no minimum bids or reserve prices."

Day One of the auction (September 26) features a large selection of heavy construction, agricultural, lifting and transportation equipment. On the morning of Day One, Company officials will be joined by local dignitaries who will cut the official Grand Opening ribbon during a mid-morning ceremony in the main auction theater. The new 110±-acre site, with 45 acres currently developed, is conveniently located along I-85 at exit 189—approximately 30 minutes north of Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The main auction building is made up of a registration area, a 505-seat main auction theater and a 280-seat Virtual Ramp theater.

Day Two of the auction (September 27), which is set to take place one day after the completion of MINExpo International 2012 in Las Vegas, features the largest selection of Caterpillar D11s ever sold in one place. In addition to the huge fleet of earthmovers, the auction also features a large selection of underground mining equipment, including shuttle cars, underground load centers, scoop trams, rock dusters and more. Bidders can register and bid in one of four ways: live and in person at the Company's Raleigh-Durham, NC auction site; via simulcast and in person at the Company's Las Vegas, NV auction site; online in real time at www.rbauction.com; or by proxy.

More than 60 D11s in a single sale is a rare find
Companies looking for brand new equipment may have to face a wait time before acquiring a machine to put to work. For those who are in the market for a brand new D11, the queue is long due to demand for mining equipment in various regions around the world. This week's auction features a huge selection of well-maintained equipment that can be ready to put to work the following day after the auction.

"This is the largest selection of D11s ever found at any sale, public or private, anywhere in the world. If you belong to the heavy equipment industry, you'll want to be here. And if you belong to the mining industry, you need to be here to be part of a historic sale," added Mr. Fairley.

General auction details — Raleigh-Durham, NC (September 26 & 27, 2012):

• The 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 Ritchie Bros. Raleigh-Durham, NC auction site (800 Business Park Dr., Butner, NC 27509).
• Mining equipment will be sold on Day 2 of a two-day auction (Sep. 26 & 27, 2012).
• Site phone: +1.704.873.6633
• In person at the Ritchie Bros. Las Vegas, NV auction site (10500 Clark Petersen Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89165).
• Take part in a live auction simulcast on Sept. 27 — one day after the completion of MINExpo International 2012.
• Site phone: +1.702.644.2468
• Online at rbauction.com
• Create a free account and register to bid online and in real time.
• By proxy
• Call the Raleigh-Durham, NC auction site to place your proxy bid over the phone.
• Equipment is located and available to inspect at various mine sites in Kentucky and West Virginia
• Phone +1.704.873.6633 to make an inspection appointment. For more information about this auction, go to www.rbauction.com/bigiron.

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 44 auction sites worldwide. The Company maintains a web site at www.rbauction.com and sponsors an equipment wiki at www.RitchieWiki.com.

ATTENTION MEDIA:

• The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be taking place on Day One of the auction (September 26, 2012) in the main auction theater at approximately 10:30 a.m. Photo opportunity available during the ceremony.
• 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