Advisory firms recommend Ritchie Bros. shareholders vote against IAA deal

Mar 6, 2023 | 10:36 AM

VANCOUVER — A report by Institutional Shareholder Services recommends shareholders of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc. vote against the company’s deal to buy automotive salvage company IAA Inc.

The proxy advisory services firm says it believes the potential risks associated with the deal appear to outweigh the potential upside articulated by the Ritchie Bros. board.

Ritchie Bros. is offering US$12.80 per share in cash and 0.5252 of a Ritchie Bros. share for each IAA share. It also plans to pay a special one-time dividend of US$1.08 per share to its own shareholders, contingent on the deal closing. 

The company has said it disagrees with the ISS report and another from proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis that also recommends shareholders vote against the deal.