COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☒ Definitive Proxy Statement

☐ Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a–12

Columbus McKinnon Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

☒ No fee required

☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

☐ Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR & CEO

It was also a year of significant strategic advancement. We completed the Kito Crosby acquisition, a transformational milestone that positions Columbus McKinnon as a global leader in intelligent motion solutions for material handling. On day one, we established a blended organizational structure that brought together the strengths, capabilities and cultures of both companies. We also took decisive steps to simplify our portfolio with the divestiture of our legacy U.S. power chain hoist and chain businesses, enabling us to focus on our new portfolio and higher‑growth, higher‑margin opportunities aligned with our long‑term strategy.

Importantly, we are making solid early progress on our integration objectives. Our teams are executing with urgency and discipline, capturing synergies, aligning systems and processes and building a unified operating model that will accelerate value creation. The combination of Kito Crosby and Columbus McKinnon is already enhancing our scale, expanding our global reach and strengthening our ability to serve customers with differentiated solutions.

Our performance this year reflects the momentum building throughout the enterprise. We delivered 20% order growth and 24% net sales growth year-over-year, demonstrating the power of our strategy and the hard work of our teams. These results were supported by continued progress in operational excellence, commercial effectiveness and customer experience initiatives that are improving our competitiveness and strengthening our foundation for sustainable growth. As we look ahead, we are encouraged by our prospects for Fiscal Year 2027. We remain focused on driving profitable growth, advancing our strategy, accelerating debt repayment and delivering compelling returns for our shareholders.

The Board remains highly engaged and focused on effective oversight of the company’s strategy, risk management and corporate governance, including stewarding the Company through this transformational time. Our Directors bring a variety of global perspectives, relevant backgrounds and deep industry experience, ensuring robust discussions and thoughtful decision-making while advancing the Company’s strategy and protecting shareholder interests. Following the Kito Crosby acquisition, we have three new Director nominees, Michael Lamach, Nate Sleeper and Andrew Campelli, who add a breadth of experience in times of transformational growth as well as deep manufacturing and industrial expertise to our already strong Board.

The long-term value creation potential of our combined business remains clear, and we expect that global megatrends, including onshoring, scarcity of labor and investment into infrastructure and defense will be tailwinds to growth. We remain confident and focused on what we can control – base business performance and creating substantial value through the integration of Kito Crosby. Our integration objectives are progressing as anticipated and we expect to see continued growth, margin expansion and cash flow, enabling de-leveraging over time. We remain excited about the future and committed to delivering profitable growth and increased shareholder value through ongoing improvements in operational performance, customer experience and employee engagement.

On behalf of the Board and our global team, thank you for your continued confidence and partnership. We are energized by the opportunities ahead and committed to building a stronger, more innovative and more valuable Columbus McKinnon.

NOTICE OF 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS:

We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Columbus McKinnon on Friday, August 14, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting will be held via live audio webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CMCO2026 to address the following items of business.

ITEMS OF BUSINESS:

Consistent with our practice in recent years, the Board has decided to hold the Annual Meeting virtually, with no physical location. We believe that this is the right choice for Columbus McKinnon as it provides expanded shareholder access, regardless of the size of the Annual Meeting or resources available to shareholders, improves communication, and allows the participants to attend the Annual Meeting conveniently from any location at no additional cost. The Company has endeavored to provide shareholders attending the Annual Meeting with the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would at an in-person meeting.

To attend the virtual Annual Meeting, vote, submit questions, or view the list of registered shareholders during the virtual Annual Meeting, shareholders of record will be required to visit the meeting website listed above and login using their 16-digit control number included on your Notice (as defined below), proxy card, or voting instructions form. Prior registration is required to attend and participate in the virtual Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CMCO2026. Upon completing your registration, you will receive further instructions via email, including your unique links that will allow you to access, submit questions, and vote at the virtual Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will only be held virtually, and you will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

ii

2026 Proxy Statement

Notice of 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") rules allow companies to furnish proxy materials to their shareholders over the Internet. As a result, most of our shareholders will receive in the mail a notice regarding the availability of the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting on the Internet (the "Notice") instead of paper copies of those materials. The Notice contains instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet and instructions on how shareholders can receive paper copies of the proxy materials, including a proxy or voting instruction form. This process expedites shareholders’ receipt of proxy materials and lowers the costs of the Annual Meeting.

WHO CAN VOTE

Shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 22, 2026 (the "Record Date") or hold a legal proxy for the Annual Meeting provided by your broker, bank, or nominee as of the Record Date, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Shareholders as of the Record Date are entitled to vote on all matters listed above. For each matter presented for vote, holders of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share (our “common stock”) have one vote for each share on each matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting, and holders of our Series A Cumulated Convertible Participating Preferred Shares, par value $1.00 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), will vote for each matter presented for vote at the Annual Meeting on an as-converted to common stock basis as of the Record Date, subject to a cap of 45% of the collective voting power of the total outstanding common stock, Preferred Shares, and any other outstanding security entitled to vote with the holders of our common stock, calculated as provided for in the Investment Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2025 (the "Investment Agreement") with the CD&R Investors and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund XII, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (solely for the purpose of limited provisions therein). The holders of our common stock and Preferred Shares will vote together as a single class on each matter presented for vote at the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date of June 22, 2026, we had 28,832,399 shares of our common stock outstanding, and the holders of the 800,000 Preferred Shares outstanding as of the Record Date will be entitled to an aggregate of 21,466,737 votes.

HOW TO VOTE

You may vote your shares in advance of the Annual Meeting via the Internet, by telephone, by mail, or during the Annual Meeting. If you vote via the Internet, by telephone or plan to vote electronically during the Annual Meeting, you do not need to mail in a proxy card.

Beneficial owners should review the proxy materials and their voting instruction form or Notice for how to vote in advance of, and how to participate in, the Annual Meeting. Specifically, if you are a beneficial owner and your voting instruction form or the Notice does not indicate that you may vote the shares through the www.proxyvote.com website, you should contact your bank, broker or other nominee (preferably at least 5 days before the Annual Meeting) and obtain a “legal proxy” (which will contain a 16-digit control number that will allow you to attend, participate in or vote at the Annual Meeting). When accessing our Annual Meeting, please allow ample time for online check-in, as the Annual Meeting is expected to begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on Friday, August 14, 2026.

Notice of 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Banks, brokers and other nominees may not vote on your shares on all matters in the absence of specific voting instructions from you, as outlined in the "Voting Standards" section herein. Please contact your bank, broker or other nominee directly if you have questions about how to provide such voting instructions. A shareholder who executes a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by giving written notice to the Secretary at 13320 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Suite D, Charlotte, NC 28277, by appearing at the virtual Annual Meeting and voting their shares or by submitting another duly executed proxy bearing a later date.

QUORUM

In order for business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting, a quorum must be present at the Annual Meeting. Under our Amended and Restated Bylaws (our “By-Laws”), the holders of a majority of the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. Abstentions, broker non-votes and withheld votes will be counted in determining the existence of a quorum but are not counted in the votes cast and will have no effect on the outcome of any proposal as described in the "Voting Standards" section herein. Proxy cards that are executed and returned without any designated voting direction will be voted in the manner stated on the proxy card.

Your vote is important. Regardless of whether or not you plan to participate in the Annual Meeting, we kindly request that you vote as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to your participation at the Annual Meeting.

Alan S. Korman

SVP, General Counsel, Corp. Development and Secretary

June 26, 2026

iv

2026 Proxy Statement

VOTING STANDARDS

Voting Standards

The voting results of the Annual Meeting will be published no later than four business days after the Annual Meeting on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, which will be available in the Investor Relations section of our website at investors.cmco.com. If a proxy card is submitted and no voting instructions are given, the person or persons designated will vote the shares “FOR” the election of the Director nominees, “FOR” the advisory vote on executive compensation, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP and “FOR” the LTIP Proposal. As provided for in the Investment Agreement and subject to the terms thereof, at each meeting of the shareholders of the Company, the CD&R Investors have agreed to vote their Preferred Shares and any shares of common stock beneficially owned in favor of each director nominated and recommended by the Board and against any shareholder nominations for director that are not approved and recommended by the Board.

Our management does not presently know of any matters to be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting other than the matters described in the Notice of Annual Meeting. However, if other matters are presented, the accompanying proxy card confers upon the person or persons entitled to vote the shares represented by the proxy, discretionary authority to vote such shares in respect of any such other matter in accordance with their best judgment.

vi

2026 Proxy Statement

TABLE OF CONTENTS