Columbus McKinnon(US:CMCO) Prnewswire·2026-01-14 14:17Core Viewpoint - Columbus McKinnon Corporation has announced a definitive agreement to sell its U.S. power chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations for $210 million, with a potential earn-out of $25 million, to Pacific Avenue Capital Partners, aiming to simplify its portfolio and reduce debt while progressing towards the acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited [1][2][3]. Divestiture Details - The divestiture involves operations based in Damascus, Virginia, and Lexington, Tennessee, and is expected to close in the first quarter of calendar year 2026 [1]. - Cash proceeds of approximately $160 million are anticipated to be used for debt reduction related to the acquisition of Kito Crosby, aligning with the company's capital allocation priority [2]. Strategic Rationale - The divestiture is seen as a means to simplify the company's portfolio and reduce product redundancies with Kito Crosby, enhancing the combined business's customer value proposition [3][4]. - The acquisition of Kito Crosby is expected to create significant scale and capabilities, improving service across diverse markets [4][5]. Financial Outlook - The company expects to achieve $70 million in annual net run rate cost synergies post-acquisition, contributing to a projected Adjusted EBITDA margin in the mid-20% range [5][9]. - Following the acquisition and divestiture, the company anticipates combined net sales of approximately $2.00 billion to $2.05 billion and Adjusted EBITDA between $440 million and $460 million for fiscal 2026 [9]. Regulatory Process - Columbus McKinnon is actively working with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to facilitate the acquisition's closure within the expected timeline [4][6]. Future Capital Allocation - The primary focus for capital allocation post-transaction will be on debt reduction, with expectations to achieve a Net Leverage Ratio below 4.0x by the end of fiscal 2028 [8][9].