US DOJ Antitrust Lawsuit: Columbus McKinnon Required to Divest Electric Chain Hoist and Chain Businesses
Source: U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division | Date: January 29, 2026
Figure : Product reference image—CM Lodestar electric chain hoist. Used to illustrate the category of equipment covered in the news; this does not represent the list of divested assets.
Image source: Ergonomic Partners
During the review of the aforementioned acquisition, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice determined that Columbus McKinnon and Kito Crosby are two major manufacturers competing directly against each other in the U.S. markets for electric chain hoists and overhead lifting chains. Electric chain hoists—which use motors to drive chains for lifting, lowering, and positioning heavy loads—can operate independently or be integrated into small overhead crane systems and are widely relied upon across industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy, construction, and logistics. Overhead lifting chains are manufactured entirely from forged alloy steel and must meet U.S. ASTM strength standards to ensure lifting safety. The Department of Justice concluded that, absent remedial measures, the acquisition could lead to price increases, reduced product quality, and slowed innovation in this market segment, thereby harming the interests of U.S. customers.
To address this, the Antitrust Division filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the transaction while simultaneously submitting a proposed settlement agreement that includes a plan to divest two manufacturing facilities. Abigail Slater, a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, stated that the settlement offers a structural solution, ensuring that U.S. customers and relevant industries continue to benefit from competition among key suppliers in this critical equipment sector. Under the plan, Columbus McKinnon is required to sell its electric chain hoist and chain manufacturing operations located in Damascus, Virginia, and Lexington, Tennessee, to the U.S. industrial manufacturing firm Pacific Avenue Capital Partners; the latter is expected to retain the core employees of the divested operations.
Background data disclosed in Department of Justice documents indicate that Columbus McKinnon’s revenue for 2024 was approximately $1 billion, while Kito Crosby—headquartered in Arlington, Texas—generated approximately $1.1 billion in revenue during the same period. In accordance with the U.S. Tunney Act, the settlement agreement and the competitive impact statement will be published in the Federal Register; the public may submit written comments within 60 days of publication, and the federal district court will ultimately rule on whether the agreement serves the public interest.
Original news source: Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice
