In Midst of 2Q Results Ritchie Bros. Names New CEO

August 18, 2004 - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Vancouver, British Columbia, announced gross auction sales for the first half of 2004 were $932.4 million, a 16 percent increase over the first half of 2003. This is the highest grossing sales for the first half of the year in the company's history.