Pacific Avenue Capital Acquires Columbus McKinnon's Power Chain Business

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

Updated: Jan 14 2026

0mins

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners announced that an affiliate has entered into an agreement to acquire Columbus McKinnon Corporation's U.S. based power chain hoist and chain business, including its international sales support functions. The transaction includes Columbus McKinnon's complete portfolio of U.S. based power chain hoist and chain products, as well as its related aftermarket parts and components. This includes a portfolio of highly regarded brands including Lodestar and Lodestar ET, Budgit, Chester, Coffing, Cyclone, CM Puller, Powerstar, Prostar, Valustar, Shopstar, ShopAir, and BatteryStar, with strong positions across industrial, construction, defense, and entertainment end markets. The power chain hoist and chain product platforms primarily serve customers through a broad distributor network across North America, as well as internationally. As it transitions to a standalone business, the Company will operate with a renewed strategic and operational focus, prioritizing its employees and customers in the power chain hoist and chain market. With support from Pacific Avenue, the Company plans to increase investment in product innovation, supply chain resilience, and customer service. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals.

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CMCO

$21.12+Infinity%1D

Analyst Views on CMCO

Wall Street analysts forecast CMCO stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CMCO is 15.00 USD with a low forecast of 15.00 USD and a high forecast of 15.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

1 Analyst Rating

0 Buy

1 Hold

0 Sell

Hold

Current: 20.750

Low

15.00

Averages

15.00

High

15.00

Current: 20.750

Low

15.00

Averages

15.00

High

15.00

DA Davidson

Matt Summerville

Strong Buy

to

Hold

Downgrades

$35

2025-02-11

Reason

DA Davidson

Matt Summerville

Price Target

$35

AI Analysis

2025-02-11

Downgrades

Strong Buy

to

Hold

Reason

Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) announced a definitive agreement under which Columbus McKinnon will acquire Kito Crosby from funds managed by leading global investment firm KKR (KKR) in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.7B subject to customary post-closing purchase price adjustments. The company expects the deal to close later this calendar year, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfactory completion of customary closing conditions. Kito Crosby is a "global leader" in lifting solutions with multiple manufacturing assembly plants and nearly 4,000 employees serving over 50 countries. The combined company will have a highly attractive financial profile, with meaningfully enhanced scale, increased margins and exceptional cash flow characteristics that are consistent with best-in-class industrial product manufacturers. On a pro-forma basis, the company is expected to have annual revenue of $2.1B, Adjusted EBITDA of $486M and an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 23%, accelerating the achievement of the company's fiscal year 2027 financial targets established at its 2022 Investor Day. The transaction is expected to be accretive to the company's Adjusted Earnings Per Share1 in the first year after closing and grow over time as synergies are achieved. The company expects to achieve $70M in annual net cost synergies by year three. The combined significant cashflow generation will enable the company to de-lever in the near-term and expects to reduce its Net Leverage Ratio from approximately 4.8x pro forma Adjusted EBITDA post transaction closing to approximately 3.0x within two years post-closing. The company's enhanced scale, margin profile and free cash flow provides a strong foundation to continue to return cash to shareholders through its dividend, reinvest in long-term organic growth and, over time, pursue additional acquisitions as it continues to execute on its strategy of building the premier intelligent motion solutions provider.

About CMCO

Columbus McKinnon Corporation is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of intelligent motion solutions for material handling. Its key products include hoists, crane components, precision conveyor systems, rigging tools, light rail workstations and digital power and motion control systems. The Company focuses on commercial and industrial applications that require the safety and quality provided by its design and engineering know-how. Its products include a wide variety of electric, air-powered, lever, and hand hoists, hoist trolleys, explosion-protected hoists, winches, and aluminum work stations; alloy and carbon steel chain; forged attachments, such as hooks, shackles, textile slings, clamps, and load binders; mechanical and electromechanical actuators and rotary unions; below-the-hook special purpose lifters; and power and motion control systems, among others. Its target market verticals include manufacturing, transportation, energy and utilities, aerospace, and others.

About the author

Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.