Columbus McKinnon Reports Continued Sales Growth and Gross Margin Expansion in Q1 FY25; Reaffirms FY25 Guidance

Columbus McKinnon Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCO) ("Columbus McKinnon" or the "Company"), a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of intelligent motion solutions for material handling, today announced financial results for its fiscal year 2025 first quarter, which ended June 30, 2024.

First Quarter 2025 Highlights (compared with prior-year period, except where otherwise noted)

• Net sales increased 2% to $239.7 million with strength in precision conveyance
• Backlog increased 4% from the prior quarter with book-to-bill ratio of 1.05x
• Gross margin increased 30 bps to 37.1%; Adjusted Gross Margin¹ increased 110 bps to 38.0%
• Net income of $8.6 million or 3.6% of sales including $2.6 million² of costs for factory simplification as we transition manufacturing to our Monterrey, MX facility
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased 2% to $37.5 million with Adjusted EBITDA Margin¹ of 15.6%
• Net cash used for operating activities improved $6.5 million from the prior year
• Increased financial flexibility with Q1 FY25 debt repayment of $20 million; Expect FY25 debt repayment of $60 million

“We executed solidly in the first quarter delivering continued sales growth and gross margin expansion while advancing our longer-term strategic objectives,” said David J. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our commercial and operational initiatives are positively impacting the business enabling new customer wins, growth in attractive vertical markets and an encouraging funnel of promising business opportunities.”

“Earlier this month, we initiated the next phase of our footprint simplification plan and began consolidating an additional production facility into our Monterrey manufacturing center of excellence,” continued Wilson. “While the restructuring actions associated with this plan are expected to impact sales and margin in the second quarter, the impacts were contemplated in the full-year guidance we provided last quarter. Importantly, these actions will advance our operational and margin expansion efforts and enhance shareholder value over time.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Sales

For the quarter, net sales increased $4.2 million, or 1.8%. montratec^® contributed $2.7 million for the months of April and May 2024 as acquired revenue.³ In the U.S., sales were up $0.2 million, or 0.1%. Price improvement of $0.9 million and $0.2 million of contribution from the acquisition of montratec helped to offset $0.9 million in lower volume. Sales outside the U.S. increased $4.0 million, or 4.0%, driven by $2.5 million of sales related to the acquisition of montratec and $2.6 million of price improvement offset by $0.5 million of lower volume. Unfavorable foreign currency translation was $0.6 million.

First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Operating Results

Adjusted EPS¹ excludes, among other adjustments, amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions. The Company believes this better represents its inherent earnings power and cash generation capability.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Guidance

The Company is issuing the following guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, ending September 30, 2024:

Second quarter 2025 guidance assumes approximately $9 million of interest expense, $8 million of amortization, an effective tax rate of 25% and 29.2 million diluted average shares outstanding. The Company’s second quarter fiscal 2025 guidance reflects the expected effect of the consolidation of North American linear motion production into the new Monterrey, MX manufacturing center of excellence.

The Company is reaffirming the following guidance for the fiscal year 2025, ending March 31, 2025:

Fiscal 2025 guidance assumes approximately $33 million of interest expense, $30 million of amortization, an effective tax rate of 25% and 29.4 million diluted average shares outstanding.

Teleconference/Webcast

Columbus McKinnon will host a conference call today at 10:00 AM Eastern Time to discuss the Company's financial results and strategy. The conference call will be accessible through live webcast and via phone by dialing 201-493-6780. The webcast, earnings release and earnings presentation will be available at the Company's investor relations website at investors.cmco.com. A replay of the webcast will also be archived on the Company's investor relations website and available via phone by dialing 412-317-6671 and enter the conference ID number 13747096 through Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

About Columbus McKinnon

Columbus McKinnon is a leading worldwide designer, manufacturer and marketer of intelligent motion solutions that move the world forward and improve lives by efficiently and ergonomically moving, lifting, positioning, and securing materials. Key products include hoists, crane components, precision conveyor systems, rigging tools, light rail workstations, and digital power and motion control systems. The Company is focused on commercial and industrial applications that require the safety and quality provided by its superior design and engineering know-how. Comprehensive information on Columbus McKinnon is available at www.cmco.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "anticipate," “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “illustrative,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “shall,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this document, including, but are not limited to, statements relating to: (i) our strategy, outlook and growth prospects, including our second quarter and fiscal year 2025 net sales and Adjusted EPS, and our fiscal year 2025 net leverage ratio and capital expenditure guidance; (ii) our operational and financial targets and capital distribution policy; (iii) general economic trend and trends in the industry and markets; (iv) the risk and costs associated with the integration of, and our ability to integrate acquisitions successfully to achieve synergies; (v) the amount of debt to be paid down by the Company during fiscal 2025 and the expected amount of interest expense savings from the March 2024 Term Loan B repricing; (vi) the estimated costs and benefits related to the consolidation of the Company’s North American linear motion operations in Charlotte, North Carolina to its manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico (vii) the proper application of generally accepted accounting principles, which are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgements; and (viii) the competitive environment in which we operate; are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but instead represent our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk factors that are described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 as well as in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on its website at www.sec.gov. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Columbus McKinnon undertakes no duty to update publicly any such forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority.

Financial tables follow.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The following information provides definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company has provided this non-GAAP financial information, which is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as information supplemental and in addition to the financial measures presented in this earnings release that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release. The non-GAAP financial measures in this earnings release may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Adjusted Gross Profit is defined as gross profit as reported, adjusted for certain items. Adjusted Gross Margin is defined as Adjusted Gross Profit divided by net sales. Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Margin are not measures determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable with Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Margin as used by other companies. Nevertheless, Columbus McKinnon believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Margin, are important for investors and other readers of the Company’s financial statements and assists in understanding the comparison of the current quarter’s gross profit and gross profit margin to the historical periods' gross profit, as well as facilitates a more meaningful comparison of the Company’s gross profit and gross profit margin to that of other companies.

Adjusted Operating Income is defined as income from operations as reported, adjusted for certain items. Adjusted Operating Margin is defined as Adjusted Operating Income divided by net sales. Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin are not measures determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable with Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin as used by other companies. Nevertheless, Columbus McKinnon believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin, are important for investors and other readers of the Company’s financial statements and assists in understanding the comparison of the current quarter’s income from operations to the historical periods' income from operations and operating margin, as well as facilitates a more meaningful comparison of the Company’s income from operations and operating margin to that of other companies.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are defined as net income and diluted EPS as reported, adjusted for certain items, including amortization of intangibles, and also adjusted for a normalized tax rate. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are not measures determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable with the measures used by other companies. Nevertheless, Columbus McKinnon believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS, are important for investors and other readers of the Company’s financial statements and assists in understanding the comparison of the current quarter’s net income and diluted EPS to the historical periods' net income and diluted EPS, as well as facilitates a more meaningful comparison of the Company’s net income and diluted EPS to that of other companies. The Company believes that presenting Adjusted EPS provides a better understanding of its earnings power inclusive of adjusting for the non-cash amortization of intangible assets, reflecting the Company’s strategy to grow through acquisitions as well as organically.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and other adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are not measures determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable with Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin as used by other companies. Nevertheless, Columbus McKinnon believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, are important for investors and other readers of the Company’s financial statements.

Net Debt is defined in the credit agreement as total debt plus standby letters of credit, net of cash and cash equivalents. Net Leverage Ratio is defined as Net Debt divided by the Credit Agreement Trailing Twelve Month Adjusted EBITDA. Credit Agreement Trailing Twelve Month Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income adjusted for interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, and other adjustments. Net Debt, Net Leverage Ratio and Credit Agreement Trailing Twelve Month Adjusted EBITDA are not measures determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable with the measures as used by other companies. Nevertheless, the Company believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures, such as Net Debt, Net Leverage Ratio and Credit Agreement Trailing Twelve Month Adjusted EBITDA are important for investors and other readers of the Company’s financial statements.

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