COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP 8-K

What Happened

• Columbus McKinnon Corporation announced it entered into a Consent Decree with the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division resolving the DOJ’s review of its proposed acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited (the “Acquisition”).
• Key prior agreements: the Stock Purchase Agreement for the Kito acquisition was signed on February 10, 2025. Separately, on January 13, 2026 the company entered an Equity Purchase Agreement to sell 100% of the equity interests in Star Hoist Intermediate, LLC and Royal NY Company Holdings, LLC (its U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations).
• Timeline of DOJ actions: the DOJ filed a complaint and proposed final judgment (the Consent Decree) and an Asset Preservation and Hold Separate Stipulation and Order on January 29, 2026; the Hold Separate was approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on January 31, 2026. Columbus McKinnon issued a press release about the Consent Decree on February 2, 2026.

Key Details

• Parties: Columbus McKinnon Corp, Kito Crosby Limited, the Sellers of Kito, and Ascend Overseas Limited (representative); divestiture buyer structures involve Star Hoist Intermediate, LLC and Royal NY Company Holdings, LLC.
• Agreements/dates: Stock Purchase Agreement (Feb 10, 2025); Equity Purchase Agreement (Jan 13, 2026); DOJ complaint and proposed final judgment (Jan 29, 2026); Hold Separate approved (Jan 31, 2026); press release filed (Feb 2, 2026).
• Required action: The Consent Decree resolves the DOJ’s investigation and requires the parties to carry out the divestitures set forth in the Equity Purchase Agreement.

Why It Matters

• The Consent Decree clears the main regulatory obstacle to completing the Kito acquisition, but completion is conditioned on carrying out required divestitures of Columbus McKinnon’s U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations.
• For investors, this reduces regulatory uncertainty around the acquisition while confirming the company will divest specific U.S. assets as part of the remedy—material to Columbus McKinnon’s business mix and potential financial outcomes once transactions are completed.