Ritchie Bros. Completes Acquisition of SmartEquip

Nov. 2, 2021 - Ritchie Bros. has completed its acquisition of SmartEquip, an innovative technology platform that supports customers' management of the equipment lifecycle and integrates parts procurement with both OEMs and dealers.

"This acquisition expands our solution set and furthers our goal of providing the best customer experience as we transition from a traditional auctioneer to a global marketplace for insights, services, and transaction solutions," said Ann Fandozzi, chief executive officer, Ritchie Bros. "SmartEquip will enable us to offer asset-specific, full-lifecycle parts and service support to customers on behalf of our dealer and OEM partners."

SmartEquip is a multi-manufacturer platform that provides customers with real-time service and diagnostic support, customized by serial number, to each asset in their fleet. It also enables electronic procurement of parts from OEMs and their dealers.

The company supports about $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. They all will continue to operate as a standalone business and maintain its physical presence in Norwalk, Connecticut for the foreseeable future.

"Ritchie Bros. is a perfect partner for us, and our team is very excited to take the next growth step together," said Bryan Rich, SmartEquip's executive chairman. "Through Ritchie Bros.' global customer base, this merger will accelerate SmartEquip's ability to support its rapidly growing footprint across our joint global marketplaces and customer base. We can't wait to get started."

In the transaction, Ritchie Bros. has acquired 100% of the equity of SmartEquip for about US$175 million, subject to adjustment.