"We're really excited to be able to bring a live unreserved industrial auction to ConExpo," says Clay Tippett, Marketing Manager for Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. "Videoconferencing technology allows bidders at different locations to participate on an equal basis. Since it's live and real-time, the process is fair for everybody. Bidders can bid in confidence knowing the auction is unreserved and they won't be bidding against the owner."

In December 1997, Ritchie Bros. conducted a similar Videolink Auction. Customers in three cities (Kansas City, MO; Beloit, IL; and St. Paul, MN) were able to bid live on equipment that was located at any of the three locations.

Delegates at ConExpo will be able to register for the Olympia, WA auction for free and will receive a bidding catalog with their own personal bidder number on it. This bidding catalog will be the same as the one distributed in Olympia and will give the ConExpo bidders information about the items being sold including the order that the items will be auctioned. Ritchie Bros. web site will have digital photos of the trucks and equipment in the sale.

Ritchie Bros. will show the Olympia auction on their large, 8-foot video wall in Las Vegas. Bidders can see the items being sold and bid live to a Ritchie Bros. Las Vegas bid catcher who will relay the bids to the auctioneer in Olympia, WA via a dedicated audio line. "This is the best of both worlds," says Tippett. "Now our customers don't need to choose between Olympia and ConExpo. And for those who have never seen a Ritchie Bros. auction, they'll be able to experience one at ConExpo."

Ritchie Bros. is the world's leading auctioneer of industrial equipment, operating through over 50 locations in 14 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. The Company sells, through unreserved public auctions, a broad range of used industrial equipment, including equipment utilized in the construction, transportation, mining, forestry, petroleum and agricultural industries. Ritchie Bros. is a public company; its common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RBA.

RITCHIE BROS. INVITES THE MEDIA TO ATTEND BOOTH #N-2751 AT CONEXPO TO SEE THE LIVE

OLYMPIA, WA AUCTION ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24^TH AND THURSDAY, MARCH 25^TH.

PLEASE ATTEND OUR PRESS CONFERENCE AT OUR CONEXPO BOOTH IN THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER (NORTH HALL) ON THURSDAY, MARCH 25^TH AT 10 AM (PST).

CONTACTS: Clay Tippett, Marketing Manager Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Tel: 1-800-663-8457 or (604) 273-7564 Or