Ritchie Bros. large unreserved Houston auction to sell 50 concrete pump trucks in final stages of Pumpco complete dispersal

    Thousands of other items to be sold include construction and
    transportation equipment, oilfield related equipment, cranes, aerial
    platforms and agricultural tractors

HOUSTON, June 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world’s largest industrial auctioneer, is conducting a three-day unreserved public equipment auction at the Company’s permanent auction site in Houston, Texas on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 to Friday, June 12, 2009 starting at 8:00 a.m. each day. More than 2,600 items of agricultural, construction, transportation and aerial and lifting equipment from more than 295 owners, including 50 concrete pump trucks and concrete equipment, will be sold to the highest bidders on auction day with no reserve prices or minimum bids.

The 50 concrete pump trucks and other concrete equipment will be sold on Day 2 (June 11) of the auction as part of a complete dispersal of the former assets of Pumpco Inc., a concrete pumping service company that had operations throughout the Southern and Southeastern United States, including the Houston area. The majority of the concrete pump trucks are mounted on a Mack chassis and manufactured by Putzmeister, Schwing and Concord – three of the largest and most recognized concrete pump manufacturers in the world. Pumpco representatives will be on-site in the yard the weekend prior to the auction to provide concrete pump truck demonstrations to interested bidders.

“The 50 concrete pump trucks are part of a very large selection of construction and transportation equipment we’ll have in the yard for buyers to choose from and bid on,” said Alan McVicker, Regional Manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. “Houston being one of the largest port cities in the world, and our new sale site facility being just minutes from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, gives our buyers and sellers access to first class services.”

Construction equipment and agricultural tractors will be sold on Day 1 (June 10) of the auction and includes: more than 80 crawler tractors; 65 hydraulic excavators; 65 loader backhoes; 55 skid steer loaders; and 30 wheel loaders. In addition to the concrete pump trucks and concrete equipment, aerial and lifting equipment will be sold on Day 2 (June 11) and includes: more than 150 forklifts; 100 boom lifts; 30 rough terrain cranes; and 35 scissor lifts. More than 100 truck tractors, 80 pickup trucks and 75 recreational vehicles and various other transportation items will be sold on Day 3 (June 12). Items will continue to be added to the sale, right through to auction day.

    Auction Details
    ---------------
    -   Location: 15500 Eastex Freeway, Humble, Texas 77396
    -   Sale Site Tel: +1.713.455.5200
    -   Time and date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 to Friday, June 12, 2009
        starting at 8:00 a.m. each day.
    -   Open to the public; registration to bid is free
    -   Interested buyers can register to bid in person or over the internet
        days before the auction. Visit the auction site to register to bid in
        person; photo I.D. is required. Customers can inspect equipment
        during regular business hours leading up to the auction. Concrete
        pump truck demonstrations will be held in the auction yard every day
        starting on June 6, 2009 through to auction day.
    -   Internet bidders must register online before auction day at
        www.rbauction.com; at least 2-3 business days is strongly recommended
        for first-time internet bidders
    -   Equipment details, including photos of equipment and the concrete
        pump trucks, are available on the Ritchie Bros. web site:
        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 38 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.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers