Mr. Jim Rotlisberger reports

RITCHIE BROS. BREAKS MULTIPLE RECORDS AT CA$83 MILLION EDMONTON, AB AUCTION LAST WEEK

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc. sold more than $83-million (over $75-million (U.S.)) of heavy equipment and trucks in Edmonton, Alta., on Sept. 10 to 12, 2014. This auction set multiple company records for the month of September, including record gross auction proceeds, on-line sales (approximately $44-million or over $39-million (U.S.)) and number of lots sold (approximately 6,400). Ritchie Bros. also surpassed $1-billion in annual on-line sales for 2014 last week, nearly a month earlier than when the company hit that same mark in 2013.

"This was our largest September sale ever. The record-breaking amount of equipment last week attracted record auction attendance for this time of year, both on site and on-line," said Jim Rotlisberger, regional sales manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "The cold weather decided to arrive a little early in Alberta this year, but that definitely didn't keep the bidders away. Bidding was very active throughout all three days, which resulted in great returns for our sellers and our highest gross auction proceeds ever for a single auction in September."

More than 7,300 bidders from 48 countries, including all Canadian provinces and territories, as well as 45 U.S. states, registered to bid in person or on-line for the auction. More than $52-million (over $47-million (U.S.)) of equipment and trucks was purchased by Alberta buyers, while participants from outside the province purchased over $31-million (over $28-million (U.S.)) for 37 per cent of total gross auction proceeds. More than 4,300 of the bidders in the auction participated on-line and purchased close to $44-million (over $39-million (U.S.)) of equipment.

Equipment in the auction was sold for nearly 900 sellers, including close to 100 items for Vastco Energy Group Ltd., an oil field hauling and rig moving company based in Nisku, Alta.

"We recently purchased this oil field hauling company and sold a lot of surplus equipment in this auction to rightsize and optimize our operations," said Bryan Winters, president of Vastco Energy Group. "We sell with Ritchie Bros. because they get us excellent returns on our equipment. The power of their advertising is second to none. Last week Ritchie Bros. did an excellent job selling our equipment; we would absolutely sell with them again."

The Edmonton September auction featured a record-setting number of equipment items and trucks, including over 170 truck tractors, over 95 compactors, 80 excavators, over 50 loaders, over 40 bulldozers, 30 articulated dump trucks, over 25 agricultural tractors and more. One specific sale highlight is that four Caterpillar 657G motor scrapers sold for a combined $3.6-million ($920,000 each) to an on-line buyer from Texas.

Auction quick facts: Edmonton, Alta., Sept. 10 to 12, 2014:

Total gross auction proceeds:  Over $83-million (over $75-million (U.S.))

Amount sold to on-line bidders:  Approximately $44-million (over $39-million (U.S.))

Total registered bidders (on-site and on-line total):  Over 7,300

Unique registered on-line bidders:  Over 4,300

Total number of buyers:  Over 2,300

Total number of on-line buyers:  Approximately 1,400

Number of lots sold:  Approximately 6,400

Number of sellers:  Approximately 900

The Ritchie Bros. auction calendar currently features more than 95 unreserved public auctions around the world, including the company's next unreserved public auction in Edmonton, Alta., which is scheduled for Oct. 28 to 30, 2014. Visit the company's website for a complete list of coming auctions.