Ritchie Bros. has received the go-ahead from the U.S. Department of Justice to complete its $758.8 million acquisition of online auctioneer IronPlanet.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ritchie Bros., a leading industrial auctioneer, put up more than 10,000 pieces of equipment for bid here, including hundreds of heavy- and medium-duty trucks.

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Ritchie Bros. auction here Feb. 20-24 is scheduled to be the company’s biggest of the year, putting up for bid 10,092 pieces of industrial-based equipment arrayed side-by-side across more than 200 acres and including hundreds of Class 8 and medium-duty trucks, company executives said.

Industrial auctioneer Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc. and IronPlanet, an online equipment marketplace, have entered into an agreement under which Ritchie Bros. will acquire IronPlanet for about $758.5 million.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is set to hold its largest Canadian auction next week, and the downturn in the energy sector is playing a significant role in adding equipment to the auction block, according to Ritchie and Canadian industry officials.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers reported its fourth-quarter earnings declined but its revenue rose 6% from a year ago.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers reported third-quarter net income declined from a year ago on higher expenses, as gross auction proceeds rose 12%.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers’ second-quarter profit increased from a year ago in part on favorable tax rate and strong sales in Canada, according to a company statement.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers said its first-quarter profit increased from a year ago in part on favorable tax rate and foreign exchange gains.