DOJ Consent Decree lets Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) proceed with Kito acquisition after U.S. hoist divestiture

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbus McKinnon Corporation reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to a Consent Decree resolving its antitrust review of Columbus McKinnon’s planned acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited, under a previously signed Stock Purchase Agreement to buy all of Kito’s equity.

The Consent Decree requires divestiture of 100% of the equity interests in Royal NY Company Holdings, LLC and the Company’s U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations, as provided in an earlier Equity Purchase Agreement. A related Hold Separate order has been approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and the company has issued a press release describing its entry into the Consent Decree.

Insights

Regulatory and M&A Analyst

DOJ Consent Decree clears Columbus McKinnon’s Kito deal, conditioned on divesting U.S. hoist and chain operations.

Columbus McKinnon has secured a Consent Decree with the DOJ covering its planned acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited. The agreement follows a DOJ complaint and proposed final judgment and formally resolves the antitrust investigation into the transaction.

A key condition is that Columbus McKinnon must complete divestitures under its Equity Purchase Agreement, including 100% of Royal NY Company Holdings, LLC and its U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations. This reshapes the company’s portfolio, shifting certain U.S. operations to a buyer while allowing the Kito acquisition to proceed under court-supervised terms.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has already approved an Asset Preservation and Hold Separate Stipulation and Order, helping maintain the value and independence of affected assets while the divestitures occur. Future company filings may detail how integration of Kito and the required divestitures affect revenue mix and geographic exposure.

COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP false 0001005229 0001005229 2026-02-02 2026-02-02

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

February 2, 2026

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York		001-34362		16-0547600
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

13320 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Suite D		Charlotte NC		28277
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (716) 689-5400

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share		CMCO		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

ITEM 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

As previously disclosed, on February 10, 2025, Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a New York corporation (the “Company”), Kito Crosby Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“Kito”), the equityholders of Kito set forth on the signature pages thereto (each, a “Seller” and collectively, the “Sellers”) and Ascend Overseas Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, solely in its capacity as the representative (as defined therein), entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth therein, the Company will purchase all of the issued and outstanding equity of Kito (the “Acquisition”). As contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Acquisition is subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division (the “DOJ”).

As previously disclosed, on January 13, 2026, the Company entered into an Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Equity Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, Star Hoist Intermediate, LLC and Royal NY Company Holdings, LLC (“Holdings”) providing for the sale of 100% of the equity interests of Holdings and the Company’s U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations.

On January 29, 2026, the DOJ filed a complaint and a proposed final judgment (the “Consent Decree”) as well as an Asset Preservation and Hold Separate Stipulation and Order (the “Hold Separate”) agreed to by the Company and the Sellers with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Hold Separate was subsequently approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on January 31, 2026. The Consent Decree resolves the DOJ’s investigation into the Acquisition and requires the parties to, among other things, carry out the divestitures to be made pursuant to the Equity Purchase Agreement described above.

On February 2, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the Company’s entry into the Consent Decree. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Item 7.01 and the exhibit attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 are being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly stated by specific reference in such filing.

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press Release dated February 2, 2026
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

						COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
Date: February 2, 2026				By:		/s/ Gregory P. Rustowicz
				Name:		Gregory P. Rustowicz
				Title:		Executive Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

FAQ

What DOJ action did Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) announce regarding the Kito acquisition?

Columbus McKinnon announced a DOJ Consent Decree resolving the antitrust review of its planned acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited. The Consent Decree follows a DOJ complaint and proposed final judgment and formally sets the conditions under which the transaction can move forward.

What divestitures are required under the Consent Decree for CMCO?

The Consent Decree requires Columbus McKinnon and related parties to complete divestitures under an existing Equity Purchase Agreement. This includes selling 100% of the equity interests in Royal NY Company Holdings, LLC and transferring U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations to the designated buyer.

How does the Equity Purchase Agreement relate to Columbus McKinnon’s Kito deal?

The Equity Purchase Agreement provides for the sale of Royal NY Company Holdings, LLC and certain U.S. hoist and chain operations. Under the Consent Decree, completing these divestitures is a key condition that helps address DOJ competition concerns tied to Columbus McKinnon’s planned acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited.

What role did the U.S. District Court play in CMCO’s Consent Decree process?

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved an Asset Preservation and Hold Separate Stipulation and Order. This order helps preserve and separate specified assets while the required divestitures proceed under the Consent Decree associated with Columbus McKinnon’s acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited.

What information did Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) furnish with this 8-K filing?

Columbus McKinnon furnished a press release as Exhibit 99.1 describing its entry into the DOJ Consent Decree. The company noted this information is provided under a specific item and is not deemed filed for liability purposes under Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.