Ritchie Bros. to acquire leading parts and service technology company SmartEquip

Rhea-AI Summary

Ritchie Bros (NYSE: RBA) announces the acquisition of SmartEquip for approximately US$175 million, enhancing its customer service lifecycle management. This strategic move aims to provide integrated parts procurement and improve service support for fleet assets. SmartEquip, with a transaction volume of about $1 billion annually, will continue to operate independently. The partnership is expected to deepen inventory management system connectivity and streamline digital solutions for Ritchie Bros. This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including antitrust approvals.

Positive

• Acquisition of SmartEquip enhances customer experience and service lifecycle management.
• Expected to accelerate Ritchie Bros' transition to a marketplace offering insights and services.
• SmartEquip's integration will deepen inventory management system connectivity.

Negative

• The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals, which could delay completion.
• Integration challenges may arise, impacting operational efficiency.

Innovative technology platform allows customers to manage the equipment service lifecycle and conduct fully integrated parts procurement with OEMs and dealers

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE: RBA) and (TSX: RBA) ("Ritchie Bros." or the "Company") and SmartEquip today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Ritchie Bros. will acquire SmartEquip for approximately US$175 million. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including, among other conditions, the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

"This acquisition furthers our goal of providing the best experience for our customers as we continue our transition from a traditional auctioneer to a marketplace for insights, services, and transaction solutions for commercial assets," said Ann Fandozzi, Chief Executive Officer, Ritchie Bros. "SmartEquip will enable us to offer asset-specific, full-lifecycle parts and service support on behalf of our dealer and OEM partners to our buyers."

SmartEquip is a multi-manufacturer platform that provides customers with real-time service and diagnostic support, dynamically customized, via serial number, to each asset in their fleet, as well as enabling the electronic procurement of parts from OEMs and their dealers. The company supports approximately $1 billion in annual transaction volume with more than 600 OEM brands, on behalf of fleet locations across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. SmartEquip has 60 employees and will continue to operate as a standalone business and maintain its physical presence in Norwalk, CT for the foreseeable future.

"Ritchie Bros. is a perfect partner for us, with over 60 years of experience and a global footprint," said Bryan Rich, SmartEquip's Executive Chairman. "Through their global customer base, this merger will accelerate SmartEquip's ability to support its rapidly growing footprint across our joint global marketplaces and engaged customer base. At closing, the existing SmartEquip team, including all senior management, will transition over and participate in the next growth stage of the SmartEquip network."

Under the terms of the transaction, Ritchie Bros. will acquire 100% of the equity of SmartEquip for approximately US$175 million subject to adjustment.

Strategic Rationale for the Acquisition:

• Enables Better Customer and Partner Experience – the combination of SmartEquip and Ritchie Bros. will enable and accelerate adoption of parts and service sales on behalf of our dealer and OEM partners by providing a seamless experience for end users
• Accelerates the Execution of our Strategy – This highly complementary acquisition builds on Ritchie Bros.' vision of becoming a trusted global marketplace for insights, services and transaction solutions for commercial assets
• Deepens IMS Connectivity – SmartEquip will deepen IMS (inventory management system) connectivity and will further enable digital solutions at scale around inspections and ancillary services, while enabling better optimization of search and advertising revenue streams

Advisors:
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Ritchie Bros. and Dorsey & Whitney LLP and Dechert LLP are serving as legal advisors. Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is serving as financial advisor to SmartEquip and Robinson+Cole, LLP is serving as legal advisor.

About Ritchie Bros.:
Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance^® equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The Company's suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media. 

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including, in particular, statements regarding the ability of Ritchie Bros. to satisfy the conditions in the SmartEquip acquisition agreement and consummate the transaction on the anticipated timeline, or at all, the terms and conditions of the proposed SmartEquip transaction, the benefits and synergies of the SmartEquip transaction, future opportunities for the combined businesses of Ritchie Bros. and SmartEquip, future financial and operational results and any other statements regarding events or developments that Ritchie Bros. believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan, "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or statements that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Ritchie Bros.' control, including risks and uncertainties related to: general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which Ritchie Bros. and SmartEquip operate; obtaining regulatory approvals in connection with the SmartEquip transaction; each of Ritchie Bros.' and SmartEquip 's ability to satisfy the acquisition agreement conditions and consummate the transaction on the anticipated timetable, or at all; Ritchie Bros.' ability to successfully integrate SmartEquip 's operations and employees with Ritchie Bros.' existing business; the ability to realize anticipated growth and synergies in the SmartEquip transaction; the maintenance of important business relationships; the effects of the SmartEquip transaction on relationships with employees, customers, other business partners or governmental entities; transaction costs; deterioration of or instability in the economy, the markets we serve or the financial markets generally; as well as the risks and uncertainties set forth in Ritchie Bros.' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and Ritchie Bros.' Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, each of which are available on the SEC, SEDAR, and Ritchie Bros.' website. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Ritchie Bros.' forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Ritchie Bros. does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable securities legislation. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

FAQ

What is Ritchie Bros' plan for acquiring SmartEquip?

Ritchie Bros aims to enhance its customer service lifecycle management and parts procurement through the acquisition of SmartEquip.

How much is Ritchie Bros paying for SmartEquip?

Ritchie Bros will acquire SmartEquip for approximately US$175 million.

What are the strategic benefits of the SmartEquip acquisition for Ritchie Bros?

The acquisition will improve customer experience, accelerate Ritchie Bros' marketplace transition, and enhance inventory management system connectivity.

When is the SmartEquip acquisition expected to be completed?

Completion is subject to customary closing conditions, including antitrust approvals, and the timeline is not specified.

What is SmartEquip's annual transaction volume?

SmartEquip supports approximately $1 billion in annual transaction volume.