COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP
10-K, 1997-06-27
CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY & EQUIP
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 10-K

[X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
    of 1934

                    For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997

[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934


                        For the transition period from to

                         Commission file number 0-27618

                          COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           New York                                      16-0547600
(State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  incorporation or organization)

140 John James Audubon Parkway, Amherst, N.Y.               14228-1197
  (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (716) 689-5400

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
         Title of each class          Name of each exchange on which registered
  Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value                NASDAQ National Market

Securities pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:
                                                     None
                                                 (Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X   No   

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K (ss.229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will
not be contained,  to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information  statements  incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K [ ].

The  aggregate  market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of the
registrant as of May 31, 1997 was $185,471,640.

The  number  of  shares  of common  stock  outstanding  as of May 31,  1997 was:
13,755,858 shares.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the proxy statement for the annual  shareholders  meeting to be held
August 18, 1997 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.



<PAGE>



                          COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                         1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K
                                     PART I
                                     ------

Item 1.   Business.
- -------   ---------

               Overview

     The Company,  established in 1875, designs,  manufactures and distributes a
broad range of material handling,  lifting and positioning  products,  which the
Company sells in an increasing number of domestic and international markets. The
Company's   products  are  sold  to  distributors   and  end-users  for  various
applications in the general manufacturing, overhead crane, mining, construction,
transportation,  entertainment, power generation, waste management, agriculture,
marine,  logging and medical  markets.  The Company  also sells to the  consumer
market through hardware and farm equipment distributors,  mass merchandisers and
rental  outlets.  In fiscal 1997, the Company's  total sales were  approximately
$359.4  million,  of which  commercial  sales and consumer  sales  accounted for
approximately $332.7 million and $26.7 million, respectively.

     Through  innovative  design and  selective  acquisitions,  the  Company has
expanded its product lines to include  specialized  hoists for the entertainment
industry,  operator-controlled  manipulators  for  a  variety  of  manufacturing
applications,  patient  lifters  sold to health  care  providers,  scissor  lift
tables, actuators, rotary unions and mechanical jacks. The Company believes that
the demand for its products has  increased in recent years and will  continue to
increase in the future as a result of trends in a broad array of industries that
have enabled the Company to expand into new product areas and markets.
These trends include:

     Productivity  enhancement.  In recent  years  employers  have  responded to
competitive  pressures by seeking to maximize  productivity and efficiency.  The
Company's  hoists and other lifting and  positioning  products allow loads to be
lifted and placed  quickly,  precisely,  with little  effort,  and with  reduced
personnel requirements.

     Safety  regulations  and  concerns.  Driven by federal and state  workplace
safety  regulations such as the Occupational  Safety and Health Act ("OSHA") and
the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act and by the general  competitive  need to
reduce  costs,  such as health  insurance  premiums  and  workers'  compensation
expenses  and by  insurance  concerns,  employers  seek  safer  ways to lift and
position  loads.  The Company's  lifting and  positioning  products enable these
tasks to be performed with reduced risk of personal injury.

     Workforce diversity.  The percentages of women,  disabled and older persons
in the work force are  continuing to grow, as are the number of workplace  tasks
traditionally  performed by men that are now  performed by women.  The Company's
products  enable many workplace  tasks to be performed  safely,  efficiently and
with less physical stress. The Company believes that increasing diversity in the
workforce will continue to increase demand for its products.

     The Company  believes  that new  competitors  entering its various  markets
would face a number of obstacles.  The Company has a large installed base of its
products  in  place  in  a  wide  variety  of  settings,  favorable  brand  name
recognition, an active service-after-sale network through which end-users



                                      -2-

<PAGE>



purchase parts and service and an established  network of distributors with many
of whom the Company has preferred supplier status.

     The  Company  was  incorporated  under the laws of the State of New York in
1929.  Its  executive  offices  are located at 140 John James  Audubon  Parkway,
Amherst, New York 14228-1197, and its telephone number is (716) 689-5400.


Recent Acquisitions

     Over the last ten years, the Company has acquired eight (8) operations:

o    In  1989,  the  Company  acquired  Positech  Corporation,  a  publicly-held
     designer and  manufacturer of manipulators.  This acquisition  expanded the
     Company's  product  lines to include  manipulators,  which are  designed to
     safely lift, grab and position  loads,  and expanded its markets for hoists
     and lifters.

o    In February 1994, the Company purchased the assets of Durbin-Durco, Inc., a
     manufacturer of load securement equipment and attachments. This acquisition
     provided the Company with metal stamping  capabilities and a broad range of
     complementary products.

o    In December 1994, the Company purchased the assets of the Conco division of
     McGill Industries,  Inc., a manufacturer of manipulators.  This acquisition
     enhanced the Company's existing product line of manipulators.

o    In January  1995,  the Company  purchased  certain  assets of Cady Lifters,
     Inc.,  a  manufacturer  of  "below  the  hook"  lifters.  Cady had 30 years
     experience in lifter  technology.  Cady pallet lifters,  crane forks, steel
     coil lifters and C-hooks are used to help move heavy loads.

o    In October 1995,  the Company  purchased the remaining  equity  interest in
     Endor, a Mexican  manufacturer of hoists.  The Company had been a 49% owner
     of this company since 1979.  This  acquisition  provides the Company with a
     manufacturing  presence  in  Mexico  and  greater  access  to  the  Mexican
     marketplace for all of its products.

o    In November 1995, the Company acquired  Lift-Tech,  which is engaged in the
     manufacture and distribution of hoists and crane components, including wire
     rope  and  air-powered  hoists.   Lift-Tech's  products   complemented  the
     Company's  existing product lines,  thereby enabling the Company to offer a
     broad product line to the marketplace.

o    In October  1996,  the Company  acquired  the  majority of the  outstanding
     common equity of Spreckels  Industries,  Inc.  ("Spreckels") through a cash
     tender offer.  In January 1997, the Company  acquired the remaining  common
     equity  of  Spreckels   and  effected  a  merger.   Spreckels,   which  has
     subsequently  changed its name to Yale Industrial  Products,  Inc.("Yale"),
     manufactures  a variety  of lifting  and  positioning  products,  including
     hoists and scissor lifts;  industrial  components such as actuators,  jacks
     and rotary unions; and circuit protection devices. This acquisition further
     complemented the Company's  product line and also provided the Company with
     international  operations  and  distribution  facilities  in Europe,  South
     Africa and China.


                                      -3-

<PAGE>

o    In  December  1996,  the  Company  acquired  Lister  Bolt  &  Chain,   Ltd.
     ("Lister"),  which is engaged in the manufacture of cement kiln, anchor and
     buoy chain and mining bolts.  This  transaction  complemented the Company's
     line of chain products and provided the Company with access to new markets,
     particularly in the international marketplace.

Products and Services

     The Company primarily  designs,  manufactures and distributes a broad range
of material handling,  lifting and positioning products for various applications
in industry and for consumer use.

     Hoists.  The Company  manufactures  a variety of  hand-operated  hoists and
lever tools,  air-powered hoists,  electric chain hoists, and electric wire rope
hoists.  Load  capacities for the Company's  hoist product lines range from less
than one ton to 30 tons.  These  products  are sold under its  Budgit,  Chester,
Coffing,  Cyclone, Little Mule, Lodestar,  Meteor, Puller,  Shaw-Box,  Valustar,
Yale and other recognized trademarks. The Company's hoists are sold for use in a
variety  of  general  industrial  applications,  as  well  as  for  use  in  the
entertainment, consumer, rental, health care and other emerging product markets.

     The Company also offers a line of custom-designed,  below-the-hook tooling.
Below-the-hook  tooling is  specialized  lifting  apparatus used in a variety of
lifting activities  performed in conjunction with hoist and chain  applications.
Lift-Tech's  principal  products,  which  include  electric  wire  rope  hoists,
air-powered hoists, and chain hoists,  generally  complement the Company's other
product offerings. The Company also supplies hoist trolleys,  driven manually or
by electric motors, for the industrial, consumer and OEM markets.

     Sales of hoists accounted for approximately  58% of the Company's  revenues
in fiscal 1997.

     Chain.  The  Company   manufactures  alloy  chain  for  various  industrial
applications.  Federal  regulations  in the United States favor the use of alloy
chain,  which the Company first  developed,  for overhead  lifting  applications
because of its strength and wear characteristics.  A line of the Company's alloy
chain is sold  under the  Herc-Alloy  brand  name for use in  overhead  lifting,
pulling and restraining  applications.  The Company also sells  specialized load
chain for use in  hoists.  Three  grades  and  multiple  sizes of  carbon  steel
welded-link chain are sold by the Company in the industrial and consumer markets
for various load securement and other non-overhead  lifting  applications.  As a
result of the  acquisition  of Lister,  the Company now also  manufactures  kiln
chain sold primarily to the cement and lime kiln manufacturing market and anchor
and buoy chain sold primarily to the United States and Canadian governments.

     The Company  also designs and  manufactures  its own chain making and chain
repair equipment.

     Sales of chain represented  approximately 15% of the Company's  revenues in
fiscal 1997.

     Forged  Products.  The Company  manufactures  a complete  line of alloy and
carbon steel forgings,  including hooks, shackles,  hitch pins, master links and
loadbinders.  These  forgings are used in virtually  all types of chain and wire
rope rigging applications in a variety of industries,  including transportation,
mining, railroad, construction, marine, logging, petrochemical and agriculture.

     The Company also  manufactures  carbon  steel forged and stamped  products,
such as loadbinders,  hooks,  shackles and other securement devices, for sale to
the industrial, consumer and logging


                                      -4-

<PAGE>


markets   through   industrial   distributors,   hardware   distributors,   mass
merchandiser outlets and original equipment manufacturers.

     Sales of forged  products  were  approximately  15% of Company  revenues in
fiscal 1997.

     Industrial  Components.  The Company,  through the Duff-Norton  division of
Yale,  designs and  manufactures  industrial  components  such as mechanical and
electromechanical  actuators,  mechanical  jacks  and  rotary  unions  for  sale
domestically  and abroad.  Actuators are linear motion devices used in a variety
of industries,  including the paper, steel and aerospace industries.  Mechanical
jacks are  heavy  duty  lifting  devices  whose  uses  include  the  repair  and
maintenance of railroad  tracks,  locomotives and industrial  machinery.  Rotary
unions are piping devices which  introduce  heating or cooling  liquids into the
interiors of rotating  drums in  industrial  processes  in the paper,  textiles,
rubber, plastics, printing and machine tool industries.

     Sales  of  industrial  components  represented   approximately  5%  of  the
Company's revenues in fiscal 1997.

     Manipulators.   The   Company   manufactures   a  line   of   sophisticated
operator-controlled manipulators. These products are articulated mechanical arms
with  specialized end tooling designed to perform  lifting,  rotating,  turning,
tilting,  reaching and positioning tasks in a manufacturing  process.  Utilizing
various models and size  configurations,  the Company can offer  custom-designed
hydraulic,   pneumatic,   and  electric  manipulators  for  a  wide  variety  of
applications  where  the  user  requires  multi-axial  movement  in a  harsh  or
repetitive environment.  The Company also has the capability to manufacture more
sophisticated,  semi-robotic  manipulators  for specialized,  repetitive  motion
applications and has manufactured simple pick and place robots.

     Sales of manipulators  represented  approximately 2% of Company revenues in
fiscal 1997.

     Scissor Lifts. The American Lifts division of Yale  manufactures  hydraulic
scissor  lift  tables and other  engineered  lifting  products.  These  products
enhance  workplace  ergonomics  and  are  sold  primarily  to  customers  in the
manufacturing, construction, general industrial and air cargo industries.

     Sales  of  scissor  lifts  and  engineered  lifting  products   represented
approximately 2% of the Company's revenues in fiscal 1997.

     Tire Shredders. The Company manufactures a line of tire shredders,  capable
of reducing  tires of up to 48 inch  diameter to 2 inch or 1 inch square  chips.
Tire  shredding  allows for a broad range of recovery and  recycling  functions,
including  the use of  granulated  rubber  from chips in  pavement  and in waste
management  systems,  and as fuel in boilers and cement  kilns.  Steel in belted
tires also can be recovered and recycled,  further  reducing waste from disposal
of worn tires. In addition,  tire shredding  reduces required landfill space. As
more uses are  developed  for tire  chips and  granulated  rubber,  the  Company
believes that the market for its tire shredders will grow.

     Sales of tire shredders  accounted for approximately 2% of Company revenues
in fiscal 1997.

     Circuit  Protection  Devices.  The  Mechanical  Products  division  of Yale
develops  circuit  protection  devices  for  various  aerospace  and  commercial
applications.  Circuit  protection devices are sold to manufacturers of private,
commercial and military  aircraft,  as well as NASA. In addition,  they are also
sold to original equipment manufacturers, electrical distributors 


                                      -5-

<PAGE>

and for use in medical equipment, motor vehicles and other electrical components
and equipment.

     Sales of circuit  protection  devices  represented  approximately 2% of the
Company's revenues in fiscal 1997.


Sales and Marketing

     The Company supports its commercial and consumer sales through  independent
sales forces and through independent  manufacturing agents worldwide,  including
over 125 factory-trained  salespersons who sell hoists,  chain, forged products,
manipulators, lift-tables, rotary unions, actuators, jacks, circuit breakers and
related  material  handling  accessories.  Sales are supported  through over 150
independent  manufacturers  representatives.  Commercial  and consumer sales are
further supported by over 140  Company-trained  customer service  correspondents
and sales application engineers.

     The Company  promotes its products by  advertising in trade journals and by
participating in more than 50 trade shows each year throughout the United States
and abroad.  Trade shows are central to promotion of the Company's products and,
in certain cases,  for actual sale of the Company's  products,  particularly  to
hardware distributors. Shows in which the Company participates range from global
events held in Hanover,  Germany  ("Hanover Fair"),  Cologne,  Germany ("Cologne
Show")  and  Chicago,  Illinois  ("International  Machine  Tool  Show") to local
"markets"  and  "open  houses"  put on by  individual  hardware  and  industrial
distributors.  The Company also attends  specialty shows for the  entertainment,
rental,  safety,  environmental  recycling and health care  markets,  as well as
general  purpose  industrial  and consumer  hardware  shows.  In fiscal 1997 the
Company participated in trade shows in Canada, Mexico, Germany,  England, Japan,
Singapore,  Malaysia,  Greece,  South Africa,  China and Peru, as well as in the
United States.

     The Company's  communication program encompasses  advertisements in leading
trade journals as well as producing and  distributing  high quality  information
catalogs. On-site distributors and end-user training programs are held worldwide
to promote and reinforce the attributes of the Company's  products.  The Company
has   two   Web   sites   on   the    Internet    (http://www.cmworks.com    and
http://www.Industry.net/cm).

     The  Company  supports  its  product  distribution  by running  cooperative
"pull-through"  advertising in over 60 vertical trade  magazines and directories
targeted to the theatrical, international,  consumer, medical, tire shredder and
crane builder markets. The Company has separate ads for chain, hoists, forgings,
lifters, manipulators,  lift tables, actuators, hydraulic jacks, tire shredders,
mobility systems and hardware programs.


Distribution and Markets

     Commercial  Distribution.  In fiscal 1997,  commercial  sales of industrial
products  totalled  approximately  $332.7  million  or 93% of total  sales.  The
Company  supports  industrial  products  sales  to  distribution   channels  and
end-users with a direct sales force of approximately 125 salespersons worldwide.
Commercial  distribution  channels include  industrial  wholesale  distributors,
rigging


                                      -6-

<PAGE>

shops,  crane builders,  catalog  distributors,  material handling  specialists,
entertainment equipment distributors,  service-after-sale distributors and other
general and specialty distributors.

     General Distribution Channels:

o    Industrial distributors sell a variety of products for maintenance, repair,
     operation and  production  ("MROP")  applications  through their own direct
     sales force.

o    Rigging  shops are  distributors  who are experts in the rigging,  lifting,
     positioning and load securement  areas of material  handling.  Most rigging
     shops  manufacture and distribute chain, wire rope and synthetic slings and
     distribute  off-the-shelf  hoists and attachments,  chain slings,  and sell
     off-the-shelf products.

o    Crane  builders  design,  build and install  overhead  crane and light-rail
     systems for general  industry and sell a wide variety of hoists and lifting
     attachments.

     Specialty Distribution Channels:

o    Catalog distributors market a variety of maintenance, repair, operation and
     production  supplies  and material  handling  products  either  exclusively
     through  catalogs,  or through a  combination  of catalog sales and a field
     sales force. The customer base of catalog distributors, which traditionally
     included  smaller  industrial  companies  and  consumers,  has  expanded to
     include large industrial accounts and integrated suppliers.

o    Material handling  distributors  design and assemble systems  incorporating
     hoists,  overhead rail systems,  trolleys, lift tables,  manipulators,  air
     balancers, jib arms and other products.

o    Entertainment  equipment  distributors design, supply and install a variety
     of material handling equipment for concerts,  theaters,  ice shows,  sports
     arenas, convention centers and discos.

     Service-After-Sale Distribution Channel:

o    Service-after-sale  distributors include over 150 repair parts distribution
     centers,  13 chain  repair  service  stations  and over 300 hoist and other
     product  service and repair  stations  worldwide.  This service  network is
     designed  for  easy  parts  and  service  access  for the  Company's  large
     installed base of hoists and related equipment.

     Other Sales Channels:

o    Original  equipment   manufacturers  supply  various  component  parts  for
     industrial  manufacturers  as well as private  branding  and  packaging  of
     traditional  Company products for material  handling and lifting.  Sales in
     this area have grown with the addition of the Mechanical  Products division
     of Yale which manufactures  industrial and commercial circuit breakers, and
     with  Duff-Norton  division of Yale which  manufactures  rotary  unions and
     actuators.

o    Government  sales are sold direct by the Company and have expanded with the
     acquisition of Lister which manufactures anchor, buoy and mooring chain for
     the American and Canadian Navy and Coast Guard.


                                      -7-

<PAGE>

     Consumer Distribution.  The Company's consumer sales,  consisting primarily
of carbon  steel  chain and  assemblies,  forged  attachments  and  hand-powered
hoists,  were  approximately  $26.7 million or 7% of total sales in fiscal 1997.
Distribution of these products is primarily comprised of five channels: hardware
distribution  (such as Servistar,  Distribution  America and Ace Hardware);  one
step retailers (such as Menards and Canadian Tire);  trucking and transportation
distributors  (such as Trail Mobile and  Fruehauf);  farm hardware  distributors
(such as Case and TSC); and the newly targeted rental sales distributors.


Customer Service and Training

     The Company maintains  well-trained customer service departments for all of
its sales  divisions,  and  regularly  schedules  product and  service  training
schools for all customer  service  representatives  and field sales  forces.  In
addition, training schools for distribution, service stations, and end-users are
held on a regular  basis at most of the  Company's  facilities as well as in the
field.  The Company has more than 300 service  stations  worldwide  that provide
local and regional  repair,  warranty and general service work for  distribution
and end-users.  End-user trainees  attending various training schools maintained
by the Company include General Motors, Dupont, 3M, GTE, Cummins Engines, General
Electric and many other large industrial manufacturers.

     The  Company  also  provides a variety  of  collateral  material  in video,
cassette,  CD-ROM, slide and literature format addressing such relevant material
handling  topics as the care,  use and  inspection  of chains  and  hoists,  and
overhead lifting and positioning safety.

     The  Company  also  sponsors  seven  separate  advisory  boards  made up of
representatives  of its  primary  distributors  and  service-after-sale  network
members who are  invited to  participate  in  discussions  focused on  improving
products  and  service.   These  boards  enable  the  Company  and  its  primary
distributors  to exchange  product and market  information  relevant to industry
trends.


Competition

     The markets in which the Company  operates are highly  competitive  and the
Company faces  competition  from a number of different  manufacturers in each of
its product  areas and  geographic  markets,  domestic and foreign.  The Company
competes in the sale of hoists with Demag,  Kito-Harrington,  Ingersoll-Rand and
P&H; in chain and  attachments  with Cooper  Tools,  Peerless  Chain Company and
American  Chain and Cable  Company;  in forged  products  with the Crosby Group,
Chicago  Hardware  and Cooper  Tools;  and in actuators  and rotary  unions with
Deublin and Joyce-Dayton. The principal competitive factors affecting the market
for the Company's  products include  performance,  functionality,  price,  brand
recognition,  customer service and support and product availability. Some of the
Company's  competitors  have  greater  financial  and other  resources  than the
Company.


Production

     The  Company   emphasizes   efficient,   safe  production  in  all  of  its
manufacturing  operations.  Seven of the Company's manufacturing facilities have
been certified as ISO 9000 qualified, and all


                                      -8-

<PAGE>

of the  others  are  preparing  for  qualification  review.  At  several  of its
facilities,   the  Company  employs  continuous  flow  manufacturing  analytical
techniques to support manufacturing process improvements.


Employees

     At May 31,  1997,  the  Company  had 3,479  employees,  2,973 in the United
States,  237  in  Canada,  118  in  Mexico,  26 in  China  and  125  in  Europe.
Approximately  1,225 of the  Company's  employees are  represented  under eleven
separate  collective  bargaining  agreements  which  terminate at various  times
between January 31, 1998 and June 1, 2001.

     During the past five years,  the only  interruption  or  curtailment of the
Company's  business  due to labor  dispute  was a 29-day  work  stoppage  at the
Cobourg,  Ontario  plant in fiscal 1994,  and a five-day work stoppage at a Yale
plant in Charlotte, North Carolina in fiscal 1997. The Company believes that its
relationship  with its employees is good. In support of this  relationship,  the
Company has maintained an Employee Stock Ownership Plan since 1988 and also uses
incentive-based   compensation   programs  that  are  linked  to  the  Company's
profitability.


Backlog

     The Company's backlog of orders at March 31, 1997 was  approximately  $58.9
million. The Company's orders for standard products are generally shipped within
one week. Orders for products that are manufactured to customer's specifications
are  generally  shipped  within four weeks.  Accordingly,  the Company  does not
believe that the amount of its backlog  orders is a reliable  indication  of its
future sales.


Environmental and Other Governmental Regulation

     Like many  manufacturing  companies,  the  Company  is  subject  to various
federal, state and local laws relating to the protection of the environment.  To
address  the  requirements  of such laws,  the  Company  has adopted a corporate
environmental  protection  policy which  provides that all  facilities  owned or
leased by the Company shall,  and all employees of the Company have the duty to,
comply with all applicable  environmental  regulatory standards, and the Company
has initiated an  environmental  auditing  program for its  facilities to ensure
compliance  with such  regulatory  standards.  The Company has also  established
managerial responsibilities and internal communication channels for dealing with
environmental  compliance  issues that may arise in the course of its  business.
Because  of the  complexity  and  changing  nature of  environmental  regulatory
standards, it is possible that situations will arise from time-to-time requiring
the Company to incur  expenditures in order to ensure  environmental  regulatory
compliance.  However, the Company is not aware of any environmental condition or
any operation at any of its facilities, either individually or in the aggregate,
which would cause expenditures that would result in a material adverse effect on
the Company's results of operations or financial condition and, accordingly, has
not budgeted any material capital expenditures for environmental  compliance for
fiscal 1998.

     Certain  federal and state laws,  sometimes  referred to as Superfund laws,
require certain companies to remediate, or clean up, sites that are contaminated
by hazardous substances. This

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

applies to sites  owned or operated  by a company,  as well as certain  off-site
areas for  which a company  may be  jointly  and  severally  liable  with  other
companies or persons.  The required remedial activities are usually performed in
the context of administrative  or judicial  enforcement  proceedings  brought by
regulatory  authorities.  The Company is involved in one judicial  environmental
enforcement  proceeding  regarding a site that it neither  owns nor operates but
with regard to which it has been  identified by a governmental  authority as one
of several potentially  responsible  parties ("PRPs").  The Company has recently
been involved in seven administrative enforcement proceedings in connection with
the  remediation  of certain  facilities,  two of which it owns and operates and
five of which it neither owns nor operates but with regard to which it is one of
several  identified  PRPs.  The  Company  has been and is  cooperating  with the
regulatory authorities in connection with these environmental proceedings.  From
the  perspective of the Company,  with the exception of the three  environmental
administrative  proceedings  discussed  below,  these matters have been, and are
expected to continue to be, minor  matters not requiring  substantial  effort or
expenditure on the part of the Company.

     The  first  environmental  administrative  proceeding  is one in which  the
Company has completed a site remediation  project at its manufacturing  facility
located in Tonawanda, New York ("Tonawanda Site") under a consent order with the
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ("NYSDEC"). The presence
of certain  contaminants in the soil and nearby stream sediments resulted in the
listing of the Tonawanda Site on NYSDEC's  registry of inactive  hazardous waste
disposal sites ("Registry").  The costs of the remediation of approximately $7.0
million have been paid in full by the Company, and NYSDEC has approved the final
engineering  report  and  certification  submitted  by the  Company's  technical
consultant.  The Tonawanda Site has officially been removed from the Registry as
of June 1996.

     The  second  environmental  administrative  proceeding  is one in which the
Company has been identified by NYSDEC,  along with other companies,  as a PRP at
the Frontier  Chemical Site in Pendleton,  New York  ("Pendleton  Site"), a site
listed on NYSDEC's  Registry.  From 1958 to 1977,  the  Pendleton  Site had been
operated as a  commercial  waste  treatment  and  disposal  facility by Frontier
Chemical Waste Process, Inc. ("Frontier").  The Company sent waste pickle liquor
generated at its facility in Tonawanda,  New York to the  Pendleton  Site during
the period from  approximately  1969 to 1977,  and the Company is  participating
with other PRPs in conducting  the  remediation  of the  Pendleton  site under a
consent  order with  NYSDEC.  The  approved  remedial  action plan  consisted of
excavation,   consolidation   and   encapsulation   at  the  Pendleton  Site  of
contaminated  sediments  and  soils,  as  well as  pumping  and,  to the  extent
necessary,  treating  impacted  groundwater.  As a result of a  negotiated  cost
allocation among the participating PRPs, the Company has paid its pro rata share
of the  remediation  costs and accrued its share of the ongoing  operations  and
maintenance  costs.  As of March  31,  1997,  the  Company  has paid or  accrued
approximately $1.1 million in remediation and ongoing operations and maintenance
costs associated with the Pendleton Site. The participating PRPs have identified
and commenced a cost recovery  action against a number of other parties who sent
hazardous substances to the Pendleton site and who, in the view of participating
PRPs, should bear their pro rata shares of the site remediation costs. If any of
the currently  nonparticipating parties identified by the participating PRPs pay
their pro rata shares of the  remediation  costs,  then the  Company's  share of
total site remediation costs will decrease.  The Company also believes that some
or all of its  costs  associated  with  the  Pendleton  Site may be  covered  by
policies of liability insurance  purchased by the Company.  All of the Company's
liability  insurance  carriers have been notified of this  occurrence  and, with
certain  exceptions,  all have denied  coverage in connection with the Pendleton
Site. The Company is in the process of negotiating a settlement  with one of its
insurance  carriers  for a portion  of the past and  anticipated  future  costs.


                                      -10-

<PAGE>

However,  there can be no assurance  that any of the  Company's  past or present
insurers will pay any portion of the Company's pro rata share of the remediation
costs for the Pendleton Site.

     The  third  environmental  administrative  proceeding  involves  Mechanical
Products,  Inc., a subsidiary  of Yale ("MPI").  In 1987,  MPI  discovered  that
groundwater and certain soils at and near its Jackson,  Michigan plant contained
certain organic chemical  compounds in  concentrations  above those permitted by
applicable law. MPI conducted an extensive investigation of the site and entered
into an Administrative Order by Consent with the State of Michigan Department of
Natural  Resources which provides for further  investigation and the development
and  implementation  of a plan for  remedial  action.  Since 1991,  MPI has been
engaged in efforts to investigate  and remediate the impacted areas. As of March
31,  1997,  the  Company  has paid or  accrued  approximately  $ 5.0  million in
remediation and ongoing  operations and maintenance  costs  associated with this
site.

     For all of the  currently  known  environmental  matters,  the  Company has
accrued a total of approximately  $5.35 million as of March 31, 1997,  which, in
the  opinion  of the  Company's  management,  is  sufficient  to deal  with such
matters.  Further,  the Company's  management  believes  that the  environmental
matters known to, or anticipated by, the Company should not,  individually or in
the  aggregate,  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  cash flow,
results of operations or financial condition. However, there can be no assurance
that   potential   liabilities   and   expenditures   associated   with  unknown
environmental   matters,   unanticipated   events,  or  future  compliance  with
environmental  laws and regulations  will not have a material  adverse effect on
the Company.

     The  Company's  operations  are  also  governed  by  many  other  laws  and
regulations,  including  those  relating to workplace  safety and worker health,
principally OSHA and regulations thereunder.  The Company believes that it is in
material  compliance  with these laws and  regulations and does not believe that
future  compliance with such laws and regulations  will have a material  adverse
effect on its cash flow, results of operations or financial condition.



Item 2.   Properties.
- -------   -----------

         The Company maintains its corporate  headquarters in Amherst,  New York
and conducts its  principal  manufacturing  and  distribution  operations at the
following facilities:

       Location                  Utilization         Square Footage   Owned or
                                                                      Leased

United States:

Amherst, NY               Headquarters                    52,000(a)   Leased(b)

Muskegon, MI              Hoist manufacturing               500,000   Owned

Forrest City, AR          Hoist manufacturing               257,000   Leased

Charlotte, NC             Industrial component              250,000   Leased
                          manufacturing

Tonawanda, NY             Patient lifter,                187,630(c)   Owned
                          manipulator and forged
                          product manufacturing
                          and warehouse


                                      -11-

<PAGE>

Wadesboro, NC             Hoist manufacturing               180,000   Owned

Lexington, TN             Chain manufacturing               153,230   Owned

Cedar Rapids, IA          Forging                           100,000   Owned

Reform, AL                Stamping factory                   99,760   Owned

Damascus, VA              Hoist manufacturing                87,400   Owned

Abingdon, VA              Hoist manufacturing                87,000   Owned

Chattanooga, TN           Forging                            77,000   Owned

Greensburg, IN            Scissor lift                       60,000   Owned
                          manufacturing

Jackson, MI               Circuit device                     53,000   Owned
                          manufacturing

Hollywood, MD             Circuit device                     53,000   Owned
                          manufacturing

Laurens, IA               Manipulator                        50,350   Owned
                          manufacturing

Lisbon, OH                Hoist manufacturing                37,000   Owned

Chattanooga, TN           Forging                            33,000   Owned

Sarasota, FL              Tire shredder                      24,954   Owned
                          manufacturing

Blaine, WA                Chain manufacturing                15,800   Owned

Romeoville, IL            Chain warehouse                    12,800   Leased

Ontario, CA               Chain warehouse                    12,600   Leased

Woodland, CA              Hoist warehouse                    10,000   Leased

Houston, TX               Chain warehouse                     7,800   Leased

Milwaukie, OR             Warehouse                           7,500   Leased

Atlanta, GA               Chain warehouse                     6,679   Leased

Edmonton, Alberta         Distribution center                 3,150   Leased

Seattle, WA               Chain warehouse           Space as needed   Leased

International:

Cobourg, Ontario,         Chain and hoist                   125,016   Owned
Canada                    manufacturing

Santiago                  Hoist manufacturing                85,000   Owned
Tianguistenco,
 Mexico D.F.

Richmond, British         Chain manufacturing                56,000   Owned
Columbia, Canada

Velbert, Germany          Hoist manufacturing                54,000   Leased

Hangzhou, China           Textile strapping                  20,000   Leased
                          manufacturing

Cambridge, Ontario,       Warehouse                          11,200   Leased
Canada


                                      -12-

<PAGE>

Rotterdam,                Distribution center       Space as needed   Leased
Netherlands
================================================================================

- ----------

(a)  Approximately 26,000 square feet of the building are sublet through
     June 30, 1998.
(b)  Title  to  the  property  is  vested  in the  Town  of  Amherst  Industrial
     Development Agency pursuant to an Industrial  Development Bond transaction.
     The Company has the right and  obligation  to purchase  the property at the
     expiration of the lease term for $1.00.
(c)  Approximately  15,000  square feet of this  facility  are subject to leases
     which expire at various times through 1998.

     The  Company  also leases a number of sales  offices  and minor  warehouses
located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and South Africa.

     The Company  believes that its properties have been adequately  maintained,
are in generally good  condition and are suitable for the Company's  business as
presently  conducted.  The Company  believes  its  existing  facilities  provide
sufficient  production  capacity for its present  needs and for its  anticipated
needs in the  foreseeable  future.  The  Company  also  believes  that  upon the
expiration of its current leases, it either will be able to secure renewal terms
or enter into leases for alternative locations at market terms.


Item 3.   Legal Proceedings.
- -------   ------------------

     From  time to time,  the  Company  is named a  defendant  in legal  actions
arising out of the normal course of business.  The Company is not a party to any
pending legal  proceeding  the resolution of which the management of the Company
believes will have a material adverse effect on the Company's cash flow, results
of operations or financial  condition or to any other pending legal  proceedings
other than ordinary,  routine litigation incidental to its business. The Company
maintains  liability insurance against risks arising out of the normal course of
business.

     On November 18, 1996, an action entitled Miliken & Company vs.  Duff-Norton
Company,  Inc. and Industrial  Distribution  Group,  Inc. d/b/a Dixie Industrial
Supply Company was commenced in the Superior Court of Troup County,  Georgia. In
its complaint in this action,  the plaintiff alleges that a rotary union coupler
manufactured by a subsidiary of Yale failed, causing a fire resulting in alleged
damages to the plaintiff's carpet manufacturing facility and equipment in excess
of $500 million.  This action has been turned over to the Company's  insurer and
is in the early stages of discovery.

     The Company has denied all of the  material  allegations  contained  in the
complaint and has asserted certain affirmative  defenses.  Based upon the advice
of its counsel,  the Company believes it has meritorious  defenses to the causes
of action  specified  in the  complaint  and intends to  vigorously  defend this
action.


Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
- -------   ----------------------------------------------------

     Not applicable.




                                      -13-

<PAGE>


                                     PART II

Item 5.   Market for the Company's Common Stock and Related Security Holder
- -------   -----------------------------------------------------------------
          Matters.
          --------

     The  Company's  Common  Stock is  listed  on the  National  Association  of
Securities   Dealers  Automated   Quotation  System  -  National  Market  System
("NASDAQ") under the trading symbol "CMCO".  The following table sets forth, for
the fiscal periods indicated,  the high and low closing sale prices per share of
the Company's Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ.


                                      Fiscal 1997            Fiscal 1996
                                    ----------------       ----------------
                                     Low       High         Low       High
                                    ------    ------       ------    ------
     1st Quarter                    15-1/4    16-3/4         --        --
     2nd Quarter                    13-7/8    15-5/8         --        --
     3rd Quarter                    14-1/4    16-5/8         --        --
     4th Quarter                    15-1/4    18-3/8       15-1/8    16-5/8

     As of March 31,  1997,  there were 149  holders of record of the  Company's
Common Stock.  Over 2,000 additional shareholders  hold  shares of the Company's
Common Stock in "street name".

     The Company  declared  total cash dividends on its common stock of $.27 per
share and $.236 per share in fiscal 1997 and 1996, respectively.





                                      -14-

<PAGE>
          
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data
- -------   -----------------------

The selected  financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction  with
the  audited  consolidated  financial  statements  of the  Company and the notes
thereto included  elsewhere.  Refer to the "Description of Business and Business
Acquisitions"  note  to the  consolidated  financial  statements  regarding  the
unaudited pro forma information  presented,  which reflects the Yale, Lister and
Lift-Tech  acquisitions  and related  borrowings,  and also the  initial  public
offering as if they occurred on April 1, 1995,  which is the beginning of fiscal
1996.

                               1997       1996       1995       1994       1993
                             ---------------------------------------------------
                              (In thousands, except per share data)
Income Statement Data:
Net sales                  $ 359,424  $ 209,837  $ 172,330  $ 142,313  $ 128,338
Gross profit                 107,437     60,326     47,838     38,786     35,118
Unusual charges (a)                -        672      1,598      2,055         26
Income from operations
   before amortization        50,251     26,593     18,876     12,798     12,480
Income from operations        45,054     25,802     18,276     12,420     12,173
Interest and debt expense     11,930      5,292      2,352      2,126      2,464
Income before income
   taxes, minority interest,
   extraordinary charge,
   and cumulative effect
   of accounting change       34,292     21,644     16,396     10,665      9,975
Extraordinary charge
   for early debt
   extinguishment             (3,198)         -          -          -          -
Cumulative effect of
   accounting change               -          -          -      1,001          -
Net income                    15,154     12,987     10,504      7,029      6,272

Net income per common
   share (b)                    1.15       1.69       1.48       0.99       0.87
Cash dividend declared per
   common share (b)        $    0.27   $   0.24  $    0.21   $   0.18   $   0.18


Pro Forma Income Statement Data:
Income before income taxes,
   minority interest, and
   extraordinary charge      $31,133    $21,231
Net income                    11,415      9,903
Net income per share, both
   primary and fully diluted:
   Income before extra-
     ordinary charge            1.11       0.75
   Net income                $  0.86    $  0.75
Weighted average common

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

   shares assumed
   outstanding,
     - primary                13,215     13,188
     - fully diluted          13,216     13,188

                                                   March 31,
                               1997       1996       1995       1994       1993
                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                             (In thousands)
Balance Sheet Data:
Current assets              $204,371   $ 99,003   $ 63,649   $ 63,269   $ 58,231
Total assets                 548,245    188,734     97,822     93,378     83,026
Current liabilities:
   Notes payable to
     banks and current
     portion of long-
     term debt                23,906      3,081      8,169     15,154      8,899
   Other                      64,091     31,464     23,374     22,969     18,944
                             ---------------------------------------------------
                              87,997     34,545     31,543     38,123     27,843
Long-term debt               263,944      8,298     18,973     16,726     20,492
Shareholders' equity        $150,156   $137,622   $ 40,850   $ 32,464   $ 27,131


(a)  Unusual charges  consist of $672,  $1,598,  $264, and $26 of  environmental
     remediation  costs in 1996 through 1992,  respectively,  and also $1,791 of
     goodwill write-off in 1994.

(b)  Reflects a 17 to 1 stock split of the common stock effected on
     February 15, 1996.


                                      -16-

<PAGE>

Item 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
- -------   ---------------------------------------------------------------
          Results of Operations.
          ---------------------

Results of Operations
Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995
Sales  growth  during the periods  was due  primarily  to the October  1996 Yale
acquisition  and the November 1995  Lift-Tech  acquisition  as well as increased
volume in nearly all distribution channels. Sales in 1997 increased $149,587,000
or 71.3% over 1996, and sales in 1996 increased  $37,507,000 or 21.8% over 1995.
The 1997  sales  include  $88.3  million  in Yale  sales  and $81.5  million  in
Lift-Tech  sales;  the 1996 sales include $29.6 million in Lift-Tech  sales.  In
addition,  during this period the Company  introduced  list price  increases  of
approximately 4% between November and January of each year affecting many of its
hoist, chain and forged products sold in its domestic commercial markets.  Sales
in the commercial  and the consumer  distribution  channels were as follows,  in
thousands of dollars and with percentage changes for each market group:

                                          Fiscal years ended
                                          ------------------
                                  1997           1996            1995
                                  ----           ----            ----
                                   (In thousands, except percentages)
Commercial sales
    Domestic                  $ 267,426      $ 152,245       $  126,388
    International                65,302         31,995           19,736
                                -------        -------          -------
                                332,728        184,240          146,124
Consumer sales
    Domestic                     24,022         23,282           24,136
    International                 2,674          2,315            2,070
                                -------         ------          -------
                                 26,696         25,597           26,206
                                -------         ------          -------
Consolidated net sales        $ 359,424      $ 209,837       $  172,330
                                =======        =======          =======

                                     Change                   Change
                                  1997 vs 1996            1996 vs 1995
                                  ------------            ------------
                                Amount      %            Amount       %
                              ---------   -----         --------    -----
Commercial sales
    Domestic                  $ 115,181    75.7        $  25,857     20.5
    International                33,307   104.1           12,259     62.1
                              ---------                 --------
                                148,488    80.6           38,116     26.1
Consumer sales
    Domestic                        740     3.2             (854)    (3.5)
    International                   359    15.5              245     11.8
                              ---------                 --------
                                  1,099     4.3             (609)    (2.3)
                              ---------                 --------
Consolidated net sales        $ 149,587    71.3         $ 37,507     21.8
                              =========                 ========

The 75.7% growth in domestic  commercial  sales in 1997 resulted almost entirely
from the Yale and Lift-Tech acquisitions. The Company also experienced increased
sales volume primarily in the specialty  distributors  marketing channel,  which
consists of catalog  houses,  entertainment  product  distributors  and material
handling  specialists.  The 104.1% growth in  international  commercial sales in
1997 resulted  almost  entirely from the addition of the European  operations of
Yale, and also from the Company's existing Canadian  operations.  Consumer sales
have been strongest in the Company's Canadian markets.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

The 20.5%  growth in  domestic  commercial  sales  during 1996  resulted  almost
entirely from the  acquisition of Lift-Tech.  The 62.1% growth in  international
commercial  sales in 1996 included a 37.0% increase from  operations  other than
Lift-Tech.  These increases resulted principally from increased demand in Canada
by industrial wholesale  distributors,  and in Europe, South America and Asia by
industrial  wholesale  distributors  and  entertainment  equipment  distributors
caused by improving  economies in these regions.  In addition,  the Company also
believes  that  it  increased  its  market  share  in  many  of  these  regions,
particularly  in sales to general  distributors in Canada and sales of hoists to
the  European  entertainment  industry.  The growth also  included  10.5% due to
higher sales of tire shredders internationally.  Exclusive of the tire shredders
and Lift-Tech, international commercial sales grew 26.5% in fiscal 1996.

The Company believes that the decrease in its domestic  consumer sales in fiscal
1996 reflects reduced consumer activity in the U.S. economy, particularly in the
second and third quarters.

The Company's gross profit margin was approximately  29.9%,  28.7% and 27.8% for
1997, 1996, and 1995, respectively.  The increase in gross profit margin in each
of the periods  resulted from the effects of the Company's cost control  efforts
and the economies of scale resulting from increasing production levels. The 1997
improvement was offset by approximately $1.5 million of corporate-wide incentive
compensation.

Selling  expenses  increased to $32,550,000  in fiscal 1997 from  $19,120,000 in
1996,  and from  $15,915,000  in 1995.  The 1997  expenses  were impacted by the
addition of Yale and the full year of Lift-Tech  sales;  the 1996  expenses were
impacted by the addition of Lift-Tech sales. However, it should be noted that as
a percentage of  consolidated  net sales,  selling  expenses were 9.1%, 9.1% and
9.2% in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Sales per employee increased
to $134,400 in 1997 from $113,200 in 1995.

General and administrative expenses increased to $24,636,000 in fiscal 1997 from
$13,941,000 in fiscal 1996, and from $11,449,000 in 1995. The 1997 expenses were
impacted by the addition of Yale and the full year of Lift-Tech activities;  the
1996  expenses  were  impacted by the  addition of  Lift-Tech  activities.  As a
percentage of consolidated net sales,  general and administrative  expenses were
6.9%, 6.6% and 6.6% in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. In fiscal 1997,
these expenses included  approximately  $1,200,000 of  corporate-wide  incentive
compensation.

Amortization  of intangibles  increased  $4,406,000 in fiscal 1997 to $5,197,000
due to the goodwill  resulting  from the Yale and  Lift-Tech  acquisitions;  the
$191,000  increase  in  1996  was  also  due to the  partial  year  of  goodwill
amortization resulting from the acquisition of Lift-Tech.

Environmental  remediation  costs were $672,000 in fiscal 1996 and $1,598,000 in
1995.  The 1996  costs  resulted  primarily  from the  Pendleton,  New York site
remediation,  which is  complete.  The 1995 costs  included  approximately  $1.4
million for the Tonawanda plant site remediation which has also been completed.

Interest and debt expense  increased by $6,638,000 to $11,930,000 in fiscal 1997
from  $5,292,000 in 1996 and by $2,940,000  from  $2,352,000 in 1995. The fiscal
1997 and 1996 increases were due to the financing  required to complete the Yale
and Lift-Tech acquisitions,  respectively. The 1996 financing was repaid in full
with the proceeds from the Company's initial public offering. As a percentage of

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

consolidated  net sales,  interest and debt  expense was 3.3%,  2.5% and 1.4% in
fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

Interest and other income increased by $34,000 to $1,168,000 in fiscal 1997 from
$1,134,000  in 1996,  and by $662,000  from  $472,000 in fiscal  1995.  The 1997
income reflects increases in the investment return on marketable securities held
for  settlement  of a portion of the  Company's  general and products  liability
claims.  The fiscal 1996 increase is primarily due to a $625,000 gain recognized
upon the sale of an uncontrolled foreign subsidiary.

Income taxes as a percentage of pre-tax  accounting income were 45.5%, 40.0% and
35.9% in fiscal  1997,  1996 and 1995,  respectively.  The fiscal  1997 and 1996
percentages reflect the effect of non-deductible goodwill amortization resulting
from the Yale and Lift-Tech acquisitions. The lower rate in fiscal 1995 reflects
the  use  of  all  remaining  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  by one of the
Company's subsidiaries.

The minority  interest share of Yale earnings of $323,000 resulted from the fact
that the Company  acquired 72% of the outstanding Yale shares on a fully diluted
basis in October 1996 and the remainder in January 1997.

The extraordinary  charge for early debt  extinguishment of $3,198,000  resulted
from the tender in  December  1996 for 11.5%  acquired  Yale  notes.  The charge
consisted  of  redemption  premiums,  costs to exercise  the tender  offer,  and
write-off  of  previously  incurred  deferred  financing  costs,  and  is net of
$2,133,000 of tax benefit.

As a result of the above, net income  increased  $2,167,000 or 16.7% in 1997 and
$2,483,000  or 23.6%  in 1996.  This is  based  on net  income  of  $15,154,000,
$12,987,000  and  $10,504,000  or  4.2%,  6.2%  and  6.1%  as  a  percentage  of
consolidated net sales in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company believes that its cash on hand, cash flows,  and borrowing  capacity
under its  revolving  credit  facility  will be  sufficient  to fund its ongoing
operations,  budgeted capital  expenditures,  and business  acquisitions for the
next twelve months.

In  October  1996,  primarily  to  finance  the Yale  acquisition,  the  Company
refinanced  and  modified  its then  existing  credit  facilities.  The existing
revolving  lines of credit were  replaced with a $125 million  revolving  credit
facility  bearing  interest at varying  Eurodollar rates based on LIBOR plus 250
basis points.  The Company also obtained $125 million and $75 million term loans
bearing  interest  at varying  Eurodollar  rates based on LIBOR plus 250 and 300
basis  points,  respectively.  These new credit  facilities  are  secured by all
equipment, inventory, receivables,  subsidiary stock (limited to 65% for foreign
subsidiaries) and intellectual property. To manage its exposure to interest rate
fluctuations, the Company has interest rate swaps and caps.

Net cash provided by operating  activities  increased to  $28,886,000  in fiscal
1997 from  $18,338,000 in 1996 and  $15,529,000 in fiscal 1995. The  $10,548,000
increase in net cash  provided by operating  activities  in fiscal 1997 resulted
primarily from  depreciation  and  amortization  of $6,057,000,  deferred income
taxes of $3,920,000 and an extraordinary charge for early debt extinguishment of
$3,198,000. The $2,809,000 increase in net cash provided by operating activities
in fiscal 1996 resulted primarily from improved operating results of $2,483,000.
Operating assets net of liabilities increased $5,905,000 in fiscal 1997 compared
to a $1,027,000 increase in 1996 and $160,000 decrease in 1995.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

Net cash used in investing  activities  increased to $222,382,000 in fiscal 1997
from  $73,721,000 in 1996 and $8,083,000 in 1995. The  $148,661,000  increase in
net cash used in  investing  activities  in fiscal 1997  compared to fiscal 1996
includes  $202,644,000  and  $7,464,000  for the Yale and  Lister  acquisitions,
respectively.  The $65,692,000 increase in net cash used in investing activities
in fiscal 1996 compared to fiscal 1995 was primarily due to the  acquisition  of
Lift-Tech for  $62,950,000,  acquisition of the remaining 51% interest in Endor,
and a $1,640,000 increase in capital expenditures.

Capital  Expenditures
In addition to keeping its current equipment and plants properly maintained, the
Company is committed to replacing, enhancing, and upgrading its property, plant,
and  equipment  to reduce  production  costs,  increase  flexibility  to respond
effectively to market fluctuations and changes, meet environmental requirements,
enhance safety, and promote  ergonomically  correct work stations.  Consolidated
capital expenditures for fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995 were $9,392,000,  $6,988,000
and  $5,348,000,  respectively,  excluding  those  capital  assets  acquired  in
conjunction with business acquisitions.

Inflation and Other Market Conditions
The  Company's  costs are affected by inflation  in the U.S.  economy,  and to a
lesser extent, in foreign economies including those of Europe,  Canada,  Mexico,
and the Pacific  Rim.  The Company  does not believe  that  inflation  has had a
material effect on results of operations over the periods  presented  because of
low inflation  levels over the period and because the Company has generally been
able to pass on rising costs through  price  increases.  However,  in the future
there can be no assurance  that the  Company's  business will not be affected by
inflation or that it will be able to pass on cost increases.

Seasonality and Quarterly Results
Lower than average orders and shipments  during the December holiday period have
a slight effect on the Company. In addition, quarterly results may be materially
affected by the timing of large  customer  orders,  by periods of high  vacation
concentrations,  and by  acquisitions  and the magnitude of  acquisition  costs.
Therefore,  the  operating  results for any  particular  fiscal  quarter are not
necessarily  indicative of results for any subsequent  fiscal quarter or for the
full fiscal year.

Effects of New Accounting Pronouncements
The Company has elected to follow  Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting  for  Stock  Issued to  Employees"  (APB 25) in  accounting  for its
employee stock options and has presented the disclosures required by FAS No. 123
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Accordingly, there has been no impact
on the financial statements. In fiscal 1998, the Company will adopt FAS No. 128,
"Earnings  per Share"  which is not  expected  to have a material  effect on the
financial statements.



                                      -20-
<PAGE>


Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
- -------   --------------------------------------------


                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                         Columbus McKinnon Corporation

Audited Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 1997:


                                                             Page No.
                                                             --------

     Report of Independent Auditors.............................22

     Consolidated Balance Sheets................................23

     Consolidated Statements of Income..........................24

     Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity............25

     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows......................27

     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................28





                                      -21-


<PAGE>



                         Report of Independent Auditors



Board of Directors
Columbus McKinnon Corporation


We have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Columbus
McKinnon Corporation as of March 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated
statements of income, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended March 31, 1997. Our audits also included the financial
statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 14(a). These financial statements
and  schedule  are  the   responsibility  of  the  Company's   management.   Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects,  the consolidated financial position of Columbus McKinnon
Corporation  at March 31,  1997 and 1996,  and the  consolidated  results of its
operations  and its cash flows for each of the three  years in the period  ended
March 31, 1997, in conformity  with generally  accepted  accounting  principles.
Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule,  when considered
in relation to the basic financial  statements taken as a whole,  present fairly
in all material respects the information set forth therein.



                                                      /s/Ernst & Young LLP



Buffalo, New York
May 12, 1997










                                      -22-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                                                  March 31,
                                                              1997         1996
                                                            -------------------
                                                               (In thousands)
Assets
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                               $  8,907   $  10,171
   Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for
     doubtful accounts ($1,884 and $917 respectively)        74,446      38,741
   Inventories                                               94,409      48,303
   Net assets held for sale                                  14,971           -
   Prepaid expenses                                          13,638       1,788
                                                            -------------------
Total current assets                                        206,371      99,003
Net property, plant, and equipment                           63,942      30,909
Goodwill and other intangibles, net                         250,062      42,951
Marketable securities                                        13,590      11,174
Deferred taxes on income                                      8,935       2,881
Other assets                                                  5,345       1,816
                                                            -------------------
Total assets                                              $ 548,245   $ 188,734
                                                            ===================
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities:
   Notes payable to banks                                 $   1,562   $   1,635
   Trade accounts payable                                    28,330      15,661
   Accrued liabilities                                       35,761      15,803
   Current portion of long-term debt                         22,344       1,446
                                                            -------------------
Total current liabilities                                    87,997      34,545
Long-term debt, less current portion                        263,944       8,298
Other non-current liabilities                                46,148       8,269
                                                            -------------------
Total liabilities                                           398,089      51,112
                                                            -------------------
Shareholders' equity:
   Class A voting common stock; 50,000,000 shares
     authorized; 13,748,358 and 13,731,669 shares issued        137         137
   Additional paid-in capital                                95,254      94,283
   Retained earnings                                         60,999      49,386
   ESOP debt guarantee;  426,508 and 532,109 shares          (4,201)     (5,238)
   Unearned restricted stock;  134,550 and 136,850 shares      (821)       (836)
   Net unrealized investment gains                            1,040         722
   Minimum pension liability adjustment                        (541)       (430)
   Foreign currency translation adjustment                   (1,711)       (402)
                                                            -------------------
Total shareholders' equity                                  150,156     137,622
                                                            -------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                $ 548,245   $ 188,734
                                                            ===================
See accompanying notes.

                                      -23-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME


                                                   Year Ended March 31,
                                             1997           1996          1995
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           (In thousands, except per share data)

Net sales                               $  359,424      $ 209,837     $ 172,330
Cost of products sold                      251,987        149,511       124,492
                                           ------------------------------------
Gross profit                               107,437         60,326        47,838

Selling expenses                            32,550         19,120        15,915
General and administrative expenses         24,636         13,941        11,449
Amortization of intangibles                  5,197            791           600
Environmental remediation costs                  -            672         1,598
                                           ------------------------------------ 
                                            62,383         34,524        29,562
                                           ------------------------------------
Income from operations                      45,054         25,802        18,276

Interest and debt expense                   11,930          5,292         2,352
Interest and other income                    1,168          1,134           472
                                           ------------------------------------
Income before income taxes, minority
   interest and extraordinary charge        34,292         21,644        16,396
Income tax expense                          15,617          8,657         5,892
                                           ------------------------------------
Income before minority interest and
   extraordinary charge                     18,675         12,987        10,504
Minority interest                             (323)             -             -
                                           ------------------------------------
Income before extraordinary charge          18,352         12,987        10,504
Extraordinary charge for early debt
   extinguishment                           (3,198)             -             -
                                           ------------------------------------
Net income                              $   15,154      $  12,987     $  10,504
                                           ====================================

Earnings per share data, both
   primary and fully diluted:
  Income before extraordinary charge
   for debt extinguishment              $     1.39      $    1.69     $    1.48
  Extraordinary charge for debt
   extinguishment                            (0.24)             -             -
                                           ------------------------------------
  Net income                            $     1.15      $    1.69     $    1.48
                                           ====================================
See accompanying notes.


                                      -24-
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                                              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
                                                 SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 
                                    (In  thousands, except share and per share data)


                            Preferred    Common     Addi-                                    Net     Minimum    Foreign
                             Stock at     Stock     tional              ESOP    Unearned  Unrealized  Pension   Currency   Treasury
                            Redemption    ($.01    Paid-in  Retained    Debt   Restricted Investment Liability Translation  Stock
                              Value     par value) Capital  Earnings Guarantee   Stock       Gains  Adjustment  Adjustment  At Cost
                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>      
Balance at March 31, 1994      $  100    $  72     $ 5,662  $ 29,418   $ (893)   $ (131)   $  156    $ (114)    $(485)     $ (1,321)
Earned 86,139 ESOP shares           -        -           -         -      614         -         -         -         -             -
Sale of 609,144 common
   shares to ESOP                   -        6       5,995         -   (6,000)        -         -         -         -             -
Repurchase of 23,800 common
   shares held by ESOP              -        -           -         -        -         -         -         -         -          (250)
Repurchase of 124,899
   common shares                    -        -           -         -        -         -         -         -         -        (1,310)
Restricted common stock
   granted, 105,400 shares          -        -         219         -        -    (1,014)        -         -         -           803
Earned portion of restricted
   stock                            -        -           -         -        -       187         -         -         -             -
Net income 1995                     -        -           -    10,504        -         -         -         -         -             -
Net unrealized gain on
   investments                      -        -           -         -        -         -       117         -         -             -
Change in minimum pension
   liability adjustment             -        -           -         -        -         -         -        52         -             -
Change in foreign currency
   translation adjustment           -        -           -         -        -         -         -         -       (58)            -
Preferred dividends declared
   $100 per share                   -        -           -       (10)       -         -         -         -         -             -
Common dividends declared
   $0.21 per share                  -        -           -    (1,469)       -         -         -         -         -             -
                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at March 31, 1995         100       78      11,876    38,443   (6,279)     (958)      273       (62)     (543)       (2,078)
Earned 122,816 ESOP shares          -        -         222         -    1,041         -         -         -         -             -
Issued 108,375 common
   shares for purchase of
   affiliated company               -        -         319         -        -        -          -         -         -         1,056
Repurchase of 24,582 common
   shares held by ESOP              -        -           -         -        -        -          -         -         -          (312)
Restricted common stock
   canceled, 17,000 shares          -        -           9         -        -       45          -         -         -          (127)
Restricted common stock
   granted, 14,450 shares           -        -          44         -        -     (183)         -         -         -           139
Earned portion of restricted
   stock                            -        -           -         -        -      260          -         -         -             -
Restricted stock market
   value adjustment                 -        -          45         -        -        -          -         -         -             -
Sold 850 common shares              -        -           3         -        -        -          -         -         -             9
Exchanged 850 common shares
   to retire preferred shares    (100)       -           2         -        -        -          -         -         -             9
Canceled treasury shares            -        -      (1,304)        -        -        -          -         -         -         1,304
Issued 6,037,500 common
   shares under initial
   public offering                  -       59      83,067         -        -        -          -         -         -             -
Net income 1996                     -        -           -    12,987        -        -          -         -         -             -
Net unrealized gain on
   investments                      -        -           -         -        -        -        449         -         -             -
Change in minimum pension
   liability adjustment             -        -           -         -        -        -          -      (368)        -             -
Change in foreign currency
   translation adjustment           -        -           -         -        -        -          -         -       141             -
Preferred dividends declared
   $75 per share                    -        -           -        (7)       -        -          -         -         -             -
Common dividends declared
   $0.236 per share                 -        -           -    (2,037)       -        -          -         -         -             -
                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at March 31, 1996           -      137      94,283    49,386   (5,238)    (836)       722      (430)     (402)            -
                          ==========================================================================================================
</TABLE>
                                      -25-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                                                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
                                                        SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY  
                                        (In  thousands, except share and per share data)


                            Preferred    Common     Addi-                                    Net      Minimum    Foreign
                             Stock at     Stock     tional              ESOP    Unearned  Unrealized  Pension    Currency   Treasury
                            Redemption    ($.01    Paid-in  Retained    Debt   Restricted Investment Liability  Translation   Stock
                              Value     par value) Capital  Earnings  Guarantee   Stock     Gains    Adjustment  Adjustment  At Cost
                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>          <C>     <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>         <C>       <C>           <C> 
Balance at March 31, 1996           -       137     94,283     49,386   (5,238)    (836)      722       (430)       (402)         -
Earned 105,601 ESOP shares          -         -        665          -    1,037        -         -          -           -          -
Restricted common stock
   granted, 19,800 shares;
   net of 3,111 shares
   canceled                         -         -        289         -         -     (280)        -          -           -          -
Earned portion of restricted
   stock                            -         -         17         -         -      295         -          -           -          -
Net income 1997                     -         -          -    15,154         -        -         -          -           -          -
Net unrealized gain on
   investments                      -         -          -         -         -        -       318          -           -          -
Change in minimum pension
   liability adjustment             -         -          -         -         -        -         -       (111)          -          -
Change in foreign currency
   translation adjustment           -         -          -         -         -        -         -          -      (1,309)         -
Common dividends declared 
   $0.27 per share                  -         -          -    (3,541)        -        -         -          -           -          -
                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at March 31, 1997    $      -     $ 137   $ 95,254  $ 60,999  $ (4,201)  $ (821)  $ 1,040     $ (541)   $ (1,711)     $   -
                          ==========================================================================================================
See accompanying notes.


</TABLE>

                                      -26-

<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


                                                        Year ended March 31,
                                                   1997        1996       1995
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                           (In thousands)
Operating activities:
Net income                                     $  15,154   $  12,987  $  10,504
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
   cash provided by operating activities:
     Extraordinary charge for early debt
         extinguishment                             3,198           -         -
     Minority interest                                323           -         -
     Depreciation and amortization                 11,285       5,228     3,285
     Deferred income taxes                          4,816         896     1,434
     Other                                             15         254       146
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities
     net of effects from businesses purchased:
         Trade accounts receivable                 (3,320)        567      (961)
         Inventories                               (2,177)     (2,365)    2,728
         Prepaid expenses                          (1,721)      1,373      (173)
         Other assets                                (949)        682       117
         Trade accounts payable                      (586)       (913)      298
         Accrued and non-current liabilities        2,848        (371)   (1,849)
                                                  ------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities          28,886      18,338    15,529
                                                  ------------------------------
Investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities, net             (2,098)     (1,806)   (1,334)
Capital expenditures                               (9,392)     (6,988)   (5,348)
Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired     (210,108)    (64,927)   (1,401)
Net assets held for sale                             (784)          -         -
                                                  ------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities            (222,382)    (73,721)   (8,083)
                                                  ------------------------------
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net             -      83,126         -
Net (payments) borrowings under
   revolving line-of-credit agreements             81,293      (2,956)   (7,103)
Repayment of debt                                 (78,528)    (62,944)   (3,635)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt          200,000      50,000     6,000
Deferred financing costs incurred                 (10,000)     (1,405)      (21)
Dividends paid                                     (4,390)     (1,688)   (1,348)
Repurchase of stock                                     -        (391)   (1,553)
Reduction of ESOP debt guarantee                   (1,596)      1,041       614
                                                  ------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in)
   financing activities                           186,779      64,783    (7,046)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash            (1,078)        384       (57)
                                                  ------------------------------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents            (7,795)      9,784       343
Cash and cash equivalents at
   beginning of year                               16,702         387        44
                                                  ------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year       $    8,907  $   10,171 $     387
                                                  ==============================
Supplementary cash flows data:
   Interest paid                               $    8,683  $    5,256 $   2,439
   Income taxes paid                           $   14,993  $    5,555 $   7,587

See accompanying notes.
                                      -27-
<PAGE>


                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.   Description of Business and Business Acquisitions

Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  (the Company)  manufacturers  and sells hoists,
chain, forgings,  operator-controlled  manipulators,  scissor lifts,  mechanical
jacks, rotating joints, actuators, circuit protection devices and tire shredders
primarily within the material handling industry.  Approximately 78% of sales are
to customers in the United States.

On October 17, 1996, through a tender offer, the Company acquired  approximately
72% of the outstanding stock (on a fully diluted basis) of Spreckels Industries,
Inc., now known as Yale Industrial Products,  Inc. ("Yale"), a manufacturer of a
wide range of industrial products,  including hoists, scissor lifts,  mechanical
jacks, rotating joints,  actuators and circuit protection devices. On January 3,
1997 the Company acquired the remaining  outstanding shares,  effected a merger,
and has  accounted  for the  acquisition  as a  purchase.  The total cost of the
acquisition was approximately  $270 million,  consisting of $200 million of cash
and $70 million of acquired Yale debt.

The  consolidated  statement  of income and the  consolidated  statement of cash
flows for the year ended March 31, 1997 include Yale activity  since its October
17 acquisition by the Company.  The minority  interest share of Yale's  earnings
since acquisition through January 3, 1997 has been appropriately segregated from
consolidated net income.

Included with the Yale acquired assets were real estate properties and equipment
retained from Yale's April 19, 1996 sale of two of its subsidiaries in unrelated
businesses.  These  assets held for sale are  expected to be sold in fiscal 1998
and have been  recorded  at their  estimated  realizable  values net of disposal
costs,  separately  reflected on the consolidated balance sheet and amounting to
$14,971,000 as of March 31, 1997.

On December  19, 1996,  the Company  acquired  all of the  outstanding  stock of
Lister Bolt & Chain Ltd. and of Lister Chain & Forge,  Inc.  (together  known as
"Lister"),  a  chain  and  forgings  manufacturer,  and  has  accounted  for the
acquisition as a purchase.  The total cost of the acquisition was  approximately
$7 million of cash, which was financed by the Company's revolving debt facility.
The  consolidated  statement  of income and the  consolidated  statement of cash
flows for the year  ended  March 31,  1997  include  Lister  activity  since its
December 19 acquisition by the Company.









                                      -28-


<PAGE>


                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1.   Description of Business and Business Acquisitions (continued)

On November 1, 1995, the Company  acquired all of the  outstanding  stock of LTI
Holdings, Inc., parent company of Lift-Tech International, Inc. ("Lift-Tech"), a
hoist  manufacturer,  and has accounted for the  acquisition as a purchase.  The
total cost of the acquisition was approximately  $63 million,  consisting of $43
million in cash and $20 million for the refinancing of Lift-Tech bank debt.

The consolidated  statement of income and  consolidated  statement of cash flows
for the year ended March 31, 1996 include Lift-Tech  activity since its November
1, 1995 acquisition by the Company.

The following table presents pro forma summary information, which is not covered
by the report of  independent  auditors,  for the years ended March 31, 1997 and
1996, as if the Yale, Lister and Lift-Tech  acquisitions and related borrowings,
and also the initial  public  offering had occurred as of April 1, 1995 which is
the beginning of fiscal 1996.  The pro forma net income for the year ended March
31,  1996,  as if the  Yale,  Lister  and  Lift-Tech  acquisitions  and  related
borrowings (but not the initial public  offering)  occurred as of April 1, 1995,
is $5,280,000.  The pro forma information is provided for informational purposes
only. It is based on historical information and does not necessarily reflect the
actual  results that would have  occurred nor is it  necessarily  indicative  of
future results of operations of the combined enterprise:

                                                  Year Ended March 31,
                                                 1997                 1996
                                             --------------------------------
                                          (In thousands, except per share data)

   Pro forma:
     Net sales                                $ 470,325            $ 449,309
     Income from operations                      54,862               46,188
     Income before extraordinary charge          14,613                9,903
     Net income                                  11,415                9,903

     Earnings per share, both
       primary and fully diluted:
     Income before extraordinary charge            1.11                 0.75
     Extraordinary charge                         (0.25)                   -
     Net income                                    0.86                 0.75


                                      -29-


<PAGE>


                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


2.   Accounting Principles and Practices

Consolidation

These consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of the Company and
its domestic and foreign subsidiaries; all significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated.

Foreign Currency Translations

The Company  translates  foreign currency  financial  statements as described in
Financial  Accounting  Standards  (FAS) No. 52. Under this method,  all items of
income and expense are  translated at average  exchange  rates for the year. All
assets and  liabilities are translated at the year-end  exchange rate.  Gains or
losses on translations  are accumulated in the  shareholders'  equity section of
the balance sheet.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of
contingent  assets  and  liabilities  at the date of the  financial  statements.
Estimates  also  affect the  reported  amounts of revenue and  expenses.  Actual
results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition and Concentration of Credit Risk

Sales are recorded when products are shipped to a customer. The Company performs
ongoing credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition,  but generally
does not  require  collateral  to  support  customer  receivables.  The  Company
established an allowance for doubtful  accounts  based upon factors  surrounding
the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends and other factors.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers as cash equivalents all highly liquid  investments with an
original maturity of three months or less.

Inventories

Inventories  are valued at the lower of cost or market.  Costs of  approximately
60% of inventories  have been  determined  using the LIFO  (last-in,  first-out)
method.  Costs  of  other  inventories  have  been  determined  using  the  FIFO
(first-in, first-out) method. FIFO cost approximates replacement cost.

                                      -30-


<PAGE>


                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


2.   Accounting Principles and Practices (continued)

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property,  plant,  and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated  principally
using the  straight-line  method over their  respective  estimated  useful lives
(buildings and building equipment - 15 to 40 years;  machinery and equipment - 3
to 18 years). When depreciable assets are retired, or otherwise disposed of, the
cost and related accumulated  depreciation are removed from the accounts and any
resulting gain or loss is reflected in operating results.

Goodwill

It is the Company's policy to account for goodwill and other  intangible  assets
at the lower of amortized cost, or fair value if indicators of impairment exist.

As a result of the Lift-Tech, Yale and Lister acquisitions, the Company recorded
approximately   $42   million,   $200   million  and  $2  million  of  goodwill,
respectively, which is being amortized on a straight-line basis over twenty five
years. At March 31, 1997 and 1996  accumulated  amortization  was $5,644,000 and
$689,000, respectively.

Marketable Securities

All of the  Company's  investments,  which  consist  of  equity  securities  and
corporate   and    governmental    obligations,    have   been   classified   as
available-for-sale  securities  and are therefore  recorded at their fair values
with the  unrealized  gains  and  losses,  net of tax,  reported  in a  separate
component of  shareholders'  equity.  Estimated fair value is based on published
trading values at the balance sheet dates. The amortized cost of debt securities
is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity.
The cost of  securities  sold is based on the  specific  identification  method.
Interest  and  dividend  income are included in interest and other income on the
consolidated statements of income.

The  marketable  securities  are  carried  as  long-term  assets  since they are
retained for the settlement of a portion of the Company's  general liability and
products liability insurance claims filed through CM Insurance Company,  Inc., a
wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary.


                                      -31-


<PAGE>


                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


2.   Accounting Principles and Practices (continued)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of interest  rate swap and cap  agreements is the amount that the
Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements, based on quoted market
prices and considering current interest rates and remaining maturities.

Research and Development

Research  and  development  costs as defined  in FAS No. 2, for the years  ended
March  31,  1997,  1996  and  1995  were  $1,283,000,   $662,000  and  $491,000,
respectively.


3.     Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following:
                                                       March 31,
                                                  1997           1996
                                              ---------------------------
                                                     (In thousands)
At cost - FIFO basis:
   Raw materials                             $   35,815      $   24,596
   Work-in-process                               17,206          11,533
   Finished goods                                44,344          15,180
                                              ---------------------------  
                                                 97,365          51,309
LIFO cost less than FIFO cost                    (2,956)         (3,006)
                                              ---------------------------
Net inventories                              $   94,409      $   48,303
                                              ===========================


4.     Marketable Securities

Marketable  securities  are  retained  for the  settlement  of a portion  of the
Company's  general  liability  and  products  liability  insurance  claims filed
through CM Insurance  Company,  Inc.  (see Notes 2 and 12).  The  following is a
summary of available-for-sale securities at March 31, 1997:







                                      -32-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


4.     Marketable Securities (continued)


                                   Cost       Gross        Gross      Estimated
                                            Unrealized   Unrealized      Fair
                                              Gains        Losses        Value
                                 -----------------------------------------------

                                                (In thousands)

Government securities           $ 9,039       $   74        $ 75        $ 9,038

U. S. corporate securities          738            7           3            742
                                 -----------------------------------------------
  Total debt securities           9,777           81          78          9,780

Equity securities                 2,213        1,600           3          3,810
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                $11,990       $1,681        $ 81        $13,590
                                 ===============================================

The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities at March 31, 1996:

                                   Cost       Gross        Gross      Estimated
                                            Unrealized   Unrealized      Fair
                                              Gains        Losses        Value
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                 (In thousands)

Government securities           $ 7,346       $  104        $ 54        $ 7,396

U. S. corporate securities          100           10           -            110
                                 -----------------------------------------------

  Total debt securities           7,446          114          54          7,506

Equity securities                 2,617        1,059           8          3,668
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                $10,063       $1,173        $ 62        $11,174
                                 ===============================================

The  amortized  cost and estimated  fair value of debt and equity  securities at
March 31, 1997, by contractual maturity, are shown below:
                                                                      Estimated
                                                                        Fair
                                                  Cost                  Value
                                             -----------------------------------
                                              (In thousands)

   Due in one year or less                  $     1,358            $     1,352
   Due after one year through three years         1,705                  1,693
   Due after three years                          6,714                  6,735
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                  9,777                  9,780
   Equity securities                              2,213                  3,810
                                             -----------------------------------
                                            $    11,990            $    13,590
                                             ===================================



                                      -33-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


4.   Marketable Securities (continued)

Net  unrealized  gains  included in the balance sheet amounted to $1,600,000 and
$1,111,000 at March 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The amounts, net of related
income taxes of $560,000 and $389,000 at March 31, 1997 and 1996,  respectively,
are reflected as a separate component of equity.


5.   Property, Plant, and Equipment

Consolidated  property,  plant,  and  equipment of the Company  consisted of the
following:

                                                                March 31,
                                                            1997          1996
                                                         -----------------------
                                                             (In thousands)

   Land and land improvements                           $  2,892       $  1,740
   Buildings                                              14,986          7,834
   Machinery, equipment, and leasehold improvements       65,431         34,767
   Construction in progress                                3,003          2,224
                                                         -----------------------
                                                          86,312         46,565
   Less accumulated depreciation                          22,370         15,656
                                                         -----------------------
   Net property, plant, and equipment                   $ 63,942       $ 30,909
                                                         =======================

6.   Accrued Liabilities and Other Non-current Liabilities

Consolidated accrued liabilities of the Company included the following:

                                                                March 31,
                                                            1997          1996
                                                         -----------------------
                                                             (In thousands)

       Accrued payroll                                  $ 12,298       $  5,487
       Accrued pension cost                                5,583          3,088
       Accrued interest                                    3,211            149
       Income taxes payable                                2,875          2,061
       Other accrued liabilities                          11,794          5,018
                                                         -----------------------
                                                        $ 35,761       $ 15,803
                                                         =======================


                                      -34-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


6.   Accrued Liabilities and Other Non-current Liabilities (continued)

Consolidated   other  non-current   liabilities  of  the  Company  included  the
following:

                                                                 March 31,
                                                            1997          1996
                                                          ----------------------
                                                              (In thousands)

       Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation     $ 17,057      $      -
       Accrued general and product liability costs         11,874         7,110
       Other non-current liabilities                       17,217         1,159
                                                          ----------------------
                                                         $ 46,148      $  8,269
                                                          ======================

7.   Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt

Consolidated notes payable and long-term debt payable to banks (except as noted)
of the Company consisted of the following:

                                                                 March 31,
                                                            1997          1996
                                                        -----------------------
                                                           (In thousands)
Term Loan A payable in quarterly  installments
  of $5,000,000 through March 1998, $6,250,000 
  through March 1999,  $6,875,000 through  
  March 2001 and $10,000,000 through September 2001
  plus interest payable at varying Eurodollar rates
  based on LIBOR plus 250 basis points 
  (8.12% at March 31, 1997).                          $ 120,000      $    -

Term Loan B payable in quarterly installments of
  $250,000 through March 2001, $187,500 through 
  March 2002, $8,750,000 through March 2003, and 
  $17,500,000 through September 2003 plus interest
  payable at varying Eurodollar rates based on LIBOR
  plus 300 basis points (8.62% at March 31, 1997).       74,750           -


                                      -35-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


7.   Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt (continued)

                                                              March 31,
                                                        1997            1996
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                           (In thousands)
Revolving Credit Facility with availability up to
  $125 million,  due October 17, 1999 with interest
  payable at varying Eurodollar rates based on LIBOR
  plus 250 basis points.                              $  83,000           $  -

Industrial Development Revenue Bonds payable
  annually at $625,000 through 1999, $620,000
  thereafter through 2001, $315,000 in 2002, and 
  $52,000 in 2003 in quarterly sinking fund 
  installments plus interest payable at varying
  effective rates (3.81% and 3.78% at
  March 31, 1997 and 1996).                               2,857           3,482

Employee Stock  Ownership Plan term loans payable 
  in quarterly  installments  of $148,000 plus an
  annual minimum of $23,000 through July 1999 and
  $3,156,000 in October 1999 plus interest payable
  at prime plus 1% or a Eurodollar rate plus 250 
  basis points (8.06% and 9.25% at March 31, 1997
  and 1996).                                              4,682           5,591

Other                                                       999             671
                                                       -------------------------
Total                                                   286,288           9,744
Less current portion                                     22,344           1,446
                                                       -------------------------
                                                      $ 263,944         $ 8,298
                                                       =========================

The Term Loan A, Term Loan B, and Revolving  Credit  Facility are secured by all
equipment, inventory, receivables,  subsidiary stock (limited to 65% for foreign
subsidiaries)  and intellectual  property.  The  corresponding  credit agreement
places  certain debt covenant  restrictions  on the Company  including,  but not
limited to, maximum cash dividends of $5.5 million in fiscal 1998 and $6 million
thereafter.


                                      -36-

<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


7.   Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt (continued)

To manage its exposure to interest rate  fluctuations,  the Company has interest
rate swaps with a notional  amount of $22  million  through  January 2, 1999 and
$3.5 million  from January 2, 1999 through July 2, 2000,  both based on LIBOR at
5.9025%.  In order to comply with its credit  agreements,  the Company  also has
LIBOR-based  interest rate caps on $40 million of debt through December 16, 1998
and on an additional  $49.5 million of debt through  December 16, 1999 at 9% and
10%,  respectively.  Net payments or receipts  under the swap and cap agreements
are recorded as  adjustments  to interest  expense.  The carrying  amount of the
Company's debt instruments approximates the fair values.

The Industrial Development Revenue Bonds are held by institutional investors and
are guaranteed by a bank letter of credit (IDRB letter of credit).  The Employee
Stock  Ownership  Plan term loans (ESOP loans) are guaranteed by the Company and
are  collateralized  by an equivalent  number of shares of Company common stock.
The IDRB letter of credit and the ESOP loans are not further collateralized.

The  principal  payments  expected  to be made as of March 31, 1997 on the above
long-term  debt, for the next five annual  periods  subsequent  thereto,  are as
follows (dollars in thousands):

         1998                          $      22,344
         1999                                 27,418
         2000                                115,640
         2001                                 29,178
         2002                                 21,656

In December 1996, the Company  tendered to purchase the outstanding  Yale Senior
Secured  Notes at a premium and redeemed  $69,480,000  of the  $70,000,000  face
value which was outstanding.  The Company  recorded an  extraordinary  charge of
$5,331,000 ($3,198,000 net of taxes),  consisting of redemption premiums,  costs
to exercise the tender offer, and write-off of deferred  financing costs related
to early retirement of debt. The debt extinguishment was funded by the Company's
revolving credit facility.

As of March 31,  1997,  the Company had  letters of credit  outstanding  of $6.4
million, including those issued as security for the IDRBs as referred to above.



                                      -37-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


8.     Retirement Plans

Most  domestic  employees of the Company,  excluding  Lift-Tech and Lister union
employees,  are covered under defined benefit retirement plans and most domestic
non-union  employees,  excluding Yale and Lister  employees,  are included in an
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (See Note 9). Benefits under the plans vary, based
on formulas  applied to career earnings,  compensation for a period  immediately
prior  to  retirement,   compensation  at  the  date  benefits  are  earned,  or
pre-established benefit rates.

The Company's funding policy with respect to the plans is to contribute annually
at least the minimum amount required by the Employee  Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 (ERISA).

At March 31,  1997,  six of the Yale plans had market  values of plan  assets in
excess of the  accumulated  benefits of those  respective  plans;  the Company's
remaining plans had accumulated  benefits in excess of plan assets. At March 31,
1996,  all of the  Company's  plans had  accumulated  benefits in excess of plan
assets.  The  following  table sets forth the plans'  funded  status and amounts
recognized in the Company's balance sheets:

                                                        March 31,
                                            1997          1997           1996
                                         ------------------------   -----------
                                         Plans with    Plans with    Plans with
                                          Assets in    Accumulated  Accumulated
                                          Excess of    Benefits in   Benefits in
                                         Accumulated    Excess of     Excess of
                                           Benefits      Assets         Assets
                                         -----------   ----------    -----------
                                                      (In thousands)
Actuarial present value of obligations:
  Accumulated benefit obligation, vested  $ (24,551)     $ (26,825)  $ (12,646)
  Accumulated benefit obligation,
    non-vested                               (1,190)          (766)       (574)
                                           -------------------------------------
  Accumulated benefit obligation          $ (25,741)     $ (27,591)  $ (13,220)
                                           =====================================

  Projected benefit obligation            $ (32,150)     $ (30,172)  $ (14,913)
  Plan assets at fair value                  30,861         23,986      11,226
                                           -------------------------------------
  Plan assets less than
    projected benefit obligation             (1,289)        (6,186)     (3,687)
  Unrecognized transition assets                  -           (142)       (170)
  Unrecognized net loss from past
    experience different from that
    assumed                                     958          1,356       1,502
  Unrecognized prior service cost               300          1,286         932
  Adjustment required to recognize 
    additional minimum liability                  -         (1,772)     (1,683)
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                (31)        (5,458)     (3,106)
  Income tax effect of
    accrued pension cost                          -            (94)         18
                                           -------------------------------------
  Accrued pension cost included in
    accrued liabilities                   $     (31)     $  (5,552)  $  (3,088)
                                           =====================================
                                      
                                      -38-
<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


8.     Retirement Plans (continued)

Net periodic pension cost included the following components:

                                                  Year Ended March 31,
                                           1997           1996          1995
                                         --------------------------------------
                                                     (In thousands)
Service costs-benefits earned during
   the period                          $  2,354        $ 1,129       $ 1,078
Interest cost on projected benefit
   obligation                             2,744          1,011           831
Actual return on plan assets             (2,966)        (1,439)         (653)
Net amortization                            475            759           125
Income tax effect of accrued
   pension costs                           (192)          (175)         (166)
                                         -------------------------------------- 
Net periodic pension cost               $ 2,415        $ 1,285       $ 1,215
                                         ======================================

The  weighted-average  discount rate used in determining  the actuarial  present
value of the projected  benefit  obligation of all of the defined  benefit plans
was 8 percent  for the years  ended  March 31, 1997 and 1996 and 8.5 percent for
the year ended March 31, 1995.  Plan assets  consist of equities,  corporate and
government securities,  and fixed income annuity contracts. The weighted-average
expected  long-term  rate of  return  on plan  assets  used in  determining  the
expected return on plan assets  included in net periodic  pension cost was 8.875
percent.  Future average  compensation  increases are assumed to be 5.25 percent
per year.

9.     Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Beginning  April 1, 1994,  the Company  prospectively  adopted the provisions of
AICPA  Statement of Position  93-6,  "Employers'  Accounting  for Employee Stock
Ownership  Plans." SOP 93-6 requires that  compensation  expense for ESOP shares
acquired  after  1992 and not  committed  to be  released  before  April 1, 1994
(609,144 shares, referred to as the "New ESOP shares"), be measured based on the
fair value of those shares when  committed to be released to  employees,  rather
than based on their original cost. Also, dividends on those New ESOP shares that
have not been allocated or committed to be released to ESOP participants are not
reflected as a reduction of retained earnings. Rather, since those dividends are
used for debt service, a charge to compensation expense is recorded. As a result
of such changes, net income in the year ended March 31, 1995 has been reduced by
$36,000. In addition, under the SOP the average number of ESOP shares considered
outstanding  for  earnings per share  purposes in fiscal 1995 was 258,638  lower
because  unallocated  New ESOP shares are  excluded  from the  calculation.  The
combination  of these two factors caused a net increase in earnings per share of
$0.05 in 1995.  These new rules have not been applied to the ESOP shares  issued
prior to 1993, referred to as the "Old ESOP shares".

                                      -39-
<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


9.     Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) (continued)

The obligation of the ESOP to repay borrowings  incurred  previously to purchase
shares of the Company's  common stock is  guaranteed by the Company;  the unpaid
balance of such  borrowings,  therefore,  has been reflected in the accompanying
consolidated  balance sheet as a liability.  An amount equivalent to the cost of
the collateralized  common stock and representing deferred employee benefits has
been recorded as a deduction from shareholders' equity.

Substantially all of the Company's domestic non-union employees,  excluding Yale
and Lister  employees,  are participants in the ESOP.  Contributions to the plan
result from the release of  collateralized  shares as debt service  payments are
made.  Compensation expense amounting to $1,704,000,  $1,120,000 and $487,000 in
fiscal 1997,  1996 and 1995,  respectively,  is recorded  based on the guarantee
release  of the New ESOP  shares  at  their  fair  market  value.  Dividends  on
allocated  New ESOP shares are recorded as a reduction of retained  earnings and
are applied toward debt service.

At March 31,  1997,  618,071 and 180,457 of Old ESOP shares and New ESOP shares,
respectively,  and at March 31, 1996,  641,818 and 77,035 of Old ESOP shares and
New ESOP shares,  respectively,  were  allocated or available to be allocated to
participants'  accounts.  At March 31,  1997,  426,508 of New ESOP shares and at
March 31,  1996,  532,109  of New ESOP  shares  were  pledged as  collateral  to
guarantee the ESOP term loans.

The fair  market  value of unearned  ESOP  shares at March 31, 1997  amounted to
$7,570,000.

Regarding the debt associated  with the Old ESOP shares,  $14,000 and $46,000 of
interest was incurred during fiscal 1996 and 1995, respectively. Associated with
that same debt,  ESOP  contributions  amounted to $406,000 and  $487,000,  which
included $117,000 and $127,000 of dividends which were used for debt service for
fiscal 1996 and 1995, respectively.


10.    Postretirement Benefit Obligation

The  Company  sponsors  defined  benefit  postretirement  health care plans that
provide medical and life insurance  coverage to Yale domestic retirees and their
dependents.  The Company pays the majority of the medical costs for retirees and
their spouses who are under age 65. For retirees and  dependents of retirees who
retired  prior  to  January  1,  1989,  and  are  age 65 or  over,  the  Company
contributes  100% toward the American  Association of Retired  Persons  ("AARP")
premium  frozen at the 1992 level.  For retirees and  dependents of retirees who
retired after January 1, 1989, the Company  contributes $35 per month toward the
AARP premium. The life insurance plan is noncontributory.


                                      -40-
<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


10.    Postretirement Benefit Obligation (continued)

The Company's  postretirement health benefit plans are not funded. In accordance
with FAS No. 106 "Employers'  Accounting for Postretirement  Benefits Other Than
Pensions,"  the  following  table  sets forth the  plans'  combined  accumulated
postretirement  health benefit obligation  recognized in the Company's March 31,
1997 balance sheet (in thousands):

       Current retirees                              $   10,211
       Employees eligible to retire                       2,159
       Active employees not eligible to retire            4,687
                                                      ---------
         Total accumulated postretirement
         benefit obligation, included in other
         non-current liabilities                     $   17,057
                                                      =========

Net periodic  postretirement  benefit cost included the following components for
the year ended March 31, 1997,  since the October 17, 1996 Yale  acquisition (in
thousands):

       Service cost - benefits attributed to     
         service during the period                   $      187
       Interest cost                                        609
                                                      ---------
         Net periodic postretirement benefit cost    $      796
                                                      =========

For measurement  purposes, a 7.5% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost
of  postretirement  medical benefits was assumed at the beginning of the period;
the rate was assumed to decrease 0.5% per year to 5.5% by 2000. A 1% increase in
this  annual  trend rate would have  increased  the  accumulated  postretirement
benefit obligation at March 31, 1997 by $1,009,000 with a corresponding increase
in the 1997 postretirement benefit expense of $57,000. The discount rate used in
determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was 8.0% for 1997.








                                      -41-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


11.    Common Stock, Earnings per Share and Stock Plans

Common Stock

Effective  February 22, 1996, the Company issued  6,037,500 shares of its common
stock at $15.00  per share in an  initial  public  offering.  Proceeds  from the
offering,  net of commissions and other related expenses totaling  approximately
$7.5 million, were approximately $83.1 million. The proceeds were primarily used
to reduce the Company's outstanding indebtedness, a significant portion of which
arose from the Lift-Tech acquisition.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share were based on the following:

                                                Year Ended March 31,
                                           1997         1996          1995
                                        -------------------------------------

   Weighted-average common stock
     outstanding                        13,210,001    7,662,310     7,089,240
   Common stock equivalents-primary          5,200            -             -
   Common stock equivalents-fully
     diluted                                 5,634            -             -

The weighted-average  common stock outstanding shown above is net of unallocated
New ESOP shares (see Note 9).

Beginning December 31, 1997, the Company will be required to comply with FAS No.
128,  "Earnings per Share,"  which is not expected to have a material  effect on
the Company's financial statements.

Stock Plans

The Company has elected to follow  Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting  for  Stock  Issued to  Employees"  (APB 25) in  accounting  for its
employee stock options  because,  as discussed below, the alternative fair value
accounting  provided  for  under  FAS  No.  123,   "Accounting  for  Stock-Based
Compensation,"  requires use of option  valuation models that were not developed
for use in valuing  employee stock  options.  Under APB 25, because the exercise
price of the Company's  employee  stock  options  equals the market price of the
underlying stock on the grant date, no compensation expense is recognized.


                                      -42-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


11.    Common Stock, Earnings per Share and Stock Plans (continued)

Stock Plans (continued)

The Company maintains two stock option plans, a Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan
("Non-Qualified Plan") and an Incentive Stock Option Plan ("Incentive Plan"). At
March 31, 1997,  250,000  shares and  1,050,000  shares were  reserved for grant
under  the  Non-Qualified  Plan and  Incentive  Plan,  respectively.  Under  the
Non-Qualified  Plan,  options may be granted to officers and other key employees
of the Company as well as to  non-employee  directors and advisors.  The Company
has not granted any options under the Non-Qualified  Plan. Options granted under
the Incentive Plan become exercisable over a four-year period at the rate of 25%
per year  commencing one year from the date of grant at an exercise price of not
less  than  100% of the fair  market  value of the  common  stock on the date of
grant.  Any option granted under this plan may be exercised not earlier than one
year and not later than ten years from the date such option is  granted.  During
1997,  the Company  granted  200,000  options at an exercise price of $15.50 per
share  which was the  market  value on the  grant  date,  representing  the only
options  outstanding at March 31, 1997. Those options become exercisable January
1, 1998 and expire January 1, 2007.

Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is required by
FAS No. 123, and has been  determined  as if the Company had  accounted  for its
employee stock options under the fair value method of that  Statement.  The fair
value for those options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes
option pricing model with the following weighted-average  assumptions for fiscal
1997: risk-free interest rate of 5.5%, dividend yield of 1.8%, volatility factor
of the  expected  market  price of the  Company's  common  stock of .245,  and a
weighted-average expected life of the option of 4 years.

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the
fair value of traded  options which have no vesting  restrictions  and are fully
transferable.  In addition,  option valuation models require the input of highly
subjective  assumptions  including the expected stock price volatility.  Because
the  Company's  employee  stock  options  have   characteristics   significantly
different from those of traded  options,  and because  changes in the subjective
input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's
opinion,  the  existing  models do not  necessarily  provide a  reliable  single
measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.



                                      -43-


<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


11.    Common Stock, Earnings per Share and Stock Plans (continued)

Stock Plans (continued)

For purposes of pro forma  disclosures,  the estimated fair value of the options
is amortized to expense over the options'  vesting  period.  The  Company's  pro
forma  information  for the year ended  March 31, 1997  follows  (in  thousands,
except for earnings per share data):

   Pro forma net income                      $    15,127

   Pro forma earnings per share, both
     primary and fully diluted                      1.14

The Company  maintains  a  Restricted  Stock  Plan,  under which the Company has
reserved 80,200 shares at March 31, 1997. During fiscal 1997, 19,800 shares were
issued under the Restricted  Stock Plan at a purchase price of $0.01 - $1.00 per
share. The weighted-average  grant-date market value of those shares granted was
$14.74. Grantees who remain continuously employed with the Company become vested
in their shares five years after the date of the grant.





                                      -44-

<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12.    Loss Contingencies

General and Product  Liability - $8,262,000  of the accrued  general and product
liability costs which are included in other non-current liabilities at March 31,
1997 ($7,110,000 at March 31, 1996) are the actuarial present value of estimated
reserves based on an amount  determined  from loss reports and individual  cases
filed with the  Company  and an  amount,  based on past  experience,  for losses
incurred  but  not  reported.   The  accrual  in  these  consolidated  financial
statements was determined by applying a discount  factor based on interest rates
customarily  used  in  the  insurance  industry,  of  6.63%  to  8.42%,  to  the
undiscounted  reserves of $11,154,000 and $9,373,000 at March 31, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.  This liability is funded by investments in marketable  securities
(see Notes 2 and 4).

Yale is self-insured  for product  liability  claims up to a maximum of $500,000
per occurrence and maintains product liability insurance with a $100 million cap
per  occurrence.  The Company has been  advised that a customer has alleged that
one of Yale's products was the cause of a fire which occurred in January 1995 at
a manufacturing facility, resulting in losses in excess of Yale's policy limits.
A formal  complaint  has been filed  seeking  damages in excess of $500 million.
However, it is the opinion of management that there was no manufacturing  defect
and that the claim will in all likelihood be settled within the Company's policy
limits.

13.    Income Taxes

The following is a  reconciliation  of the difference  between the effective tax
rate and the statutory federal tax rate:
                                                   Year Ended March 31,
                                                1997        1996        1995
                                              --------------------------------
                                                      (In thousands)

Computed statutory provision                 $ 12,002    $  7,575    $  5,639
State income taxes net of federal benefit       1,700         743         561
Nondeductible goodwill amortization             1,961           -           -
Other                                             (46)        339        (308)
                                              --------------------------------
Actual tax provision                         $ 15,617    $  8,657    $  5,892
                                              ================================

The provision for income tax expense consisted of the following:

                                                    Year Ended March 31,
                                                1997        1996        1995
                                               -------------------------------
                                                      (In thousands)
Current income tax expense:
   Federal taxes                             $  8,399    $  6,336    $  3,801
   State taxes                                  1,124         975         657
   Foreign                                      1,278         450           -
Deferred income tax expense:
   Domestic                                     4,736         627         977
   Foreign                                         80         269         457
                                              --------------------------------
                                             $ 15,617    $  8,657    $  5,892
                                              ================================

                                      -45-
<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


13.    Income Taxes (continued)

The Company  applies the  liability  method of  accounting  for income  taxes as
required by FAS Statement No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes."

The gross  composition of the net current  deferred tax asset  (liability) is as
follows:

                                                                March 31,
                                                            1997          1996
                                                         -----------------------
                                                             (In thousands)

         Inventory                                      $  (5,177)   $   (2,721)
         Bad debt allowance                                   440           449
         Accrued vacation and incentive costs               2,157           997
         Other                                              3,122           931
                                                         -----------------------
           Net current deferred tax asset (liability)   $     542    $     (344)
                                                         =======================

The gross composition of the net non-current deferred tax asset is as follows:

                                                                March 31,
                                                            1997          1996
                                                         -----------------------
                                                             (In thousands)

         Insurance reserves                             $  11,711    $    2,804
         Property, plant, and equipment                    (8,010)       (1,687)
         Other                                              5,234         1,764
                                                         -----------------------
           Net non-current deferred tax asset           $   8,935    $    2,881
                                                         =======================

Income before income taxes,  minority interest and extraordinary charge includes
foreign  subsidiary net income of $3,650,000,  $1,188,000 and $1,162,000 for the
years ended March 31, 1997,  1996, and 1995  respectively.  United States income
taxes have not been  provided on unremitted  earnings of the  Company's  foreign
subsidiaries as such earnings are considered to be permanently reinvested.






                                      -46-

<PAGE>

                          COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


14.    Rental Expense and Lease Commitments

Rental expense for the years ended March 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $2,805,000,
$1,668,000 and $1,535,000,  respectively. The following amounts represent future
minimum payment commitments as of March 31, 1997 under non-cancelable  operating
leases extending beyond one year (in thousands):

Year ended                                 Vehicles and
 March 31,         Real Property             Equipment              Total
- -----------        -------------           ------------          ----------
1998                $   1,514              $   1,534             $   3,048
1999                    1,545                  1,358                 2,903
2000                    1,477                    994                 2,471
2001                    1,430                    737                 2,167
2002                    1,417                    278                 1,695

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
15.    Foreign Operations

                                 United                                             Elimin-     Consoli-
                                 States        Canada     Europe      Mexico         ations        dated
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                (In thousands)
<S>                            <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>           
Year ended March 31, 1997
Sales to unaffiliated
   customers                   $ 313,705    $  27,951   $  14,146    $  3,622      $       -    $ 359,424
Transfers between
   geographic areas               10,411          547           -           -        (10,958)           -
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net sales                $ 324,116    $  28,498   $  14,146    $  3,622      $ (10,958)   $ 359,424
                                ==========================================================================

Income from operations         $  41,190    $   1,955   $   1,548    $    361      $       -    $  45,054
Net income                        13,073        1,129         730         222              -       15,154
Identifiable and total assets    457,501       26,191      61,696       2,857              -      548,245
Total liabilities                382,762        4,600       9,949         778              -      398,089

Year ended March 31, 1996
Sales to unaffiliated
   customers                   $ 191,178   $   18,659   $       -     $       -    $       -    $ 209,837
Transfers between
   geographic areas                5,453        1,278           -             -       (6,731)           -
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net sales                $ 196,631   $   19,937   $       -     $       -    $  (6,731)   $ 209,837
                                ==========================================================================

Income from operations         $  24,451   $    1,351   $       -     $       -    $       -    $  25,802
Net income                        12,489          498           -             -            -       12,987
Identifiable and total assets    177,055       11,679           -             -            -      188,734
Total liabilities                 47,233        3,879           -             -            -       51,112
</TABLE>

                                      -47-
<PAGE>


                                           COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION
                                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
15.    Foreign Operations (continued)

                                 United                                             Elimin-     Consoli-
                                 States        Canada     Europe      Mexico         ations        dated
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                (In thousands)
<S>                            <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>       
Year ended March 31, 1995
Sales to unaffiliated
   customers                   $ 158,906    $  13,424   $       -    $      -      $       -    $ 172,330
Transfers between
   geographic areas                3,853        3,327           -           -         (7,180)           -
                               ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net sales                $ 162,759    $  16,751   $       -    $      -      $  (7,180)   $ 172,330
                               ============================================================================

Income from operations         $  16,942    $   1,334   $       -    $      -      $       -    $  18,276
Net income                         9,799          705           -           -              -       10,504
Identifiable and total assets     88,227        9,595           -           -              -       97,822
Total liabilities                 52,979        3,993           -           -              -       56,972

</TABLE>

U.S.   operations'  sales  to  unaffiliated   customers   include   $23,075,000,
$15,074,000  and $8,464,000  for the years ended March 31, 1997,  1996 and 1995,
respectively,  for export.  Transfers  between  geographic areas are recorded at
amounts generally above cost and in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the respective governing tax authorities.



                                      -48-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Schedule II - Valuation and qualifying  accounts
March 31, 1997,  1996 and 1995
Dollars in thousands

                                                                    Additions
                                                             -----------------------
                                                                         Charged to
                                               Balance at    Charged to    Other                          Balance at
                                              Beginning of   Costs and    Accounts -     Deductions -       End of
                 Description                    Period        Expenses    Describe       Describe           period
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>              <C>       
Year ended March 31, 1997:
 Deducted from asset accounts:
     Allowance for doubtful accounts            $   917       $   905      $ 1,189 (4)    $ 1,127 (1)      $  1,884
     Slow-moving and obsolete inventory           2,467           325        1,770 (4)      1,206 (2)         3,356
     Reserve against non-current receivable         600                                                         600
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total                                   $ 3,984       $ 1,230      $ 2,959        $ 2,333          $  5,840
====================================================================================================================

Reserves on balance sheet:
     Accrued general & product liability costs  $ 7,110       $ 1,775      $ 3,806 (4)    $   718 (3)      $ 11,973
====================================================================================================================

Year ended March 31, 1996:
 Deducted from asset accounts:
     Allowance for doubtful accounts            $   537       $   358      $   289 (4)    $   267 (1)      $    917
     Slow-moving obsolete inventory               1,815           487          370 (4)        205 (2)         2,467
     Reserve against non-current receivable           0           600                                           600
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total                                   $ 2,352       $ 1,445      $   659        $   472          $  3,984
====================================================================================================================

Reserves on balance sheet:
     Accrued general & product liability costs  $ 5,758       $ 1,555                     $   203 (3)      $  7,110
====================================================================================================================
Year ended March 31, 1995:
 Deducted from asset accounts:
     Allowance for doubtful accounts            $   495       $   511                     $   469 (1)      $    537
     Slow-moving and obsolete inventory           1,603           946                         734 (2)         1,815
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                                    $ 2,098       $ 1,457                     $ 1,203          $  2,352
====================================================================================================================

Reserves on balance sheet:
      Accrued general & product liability costs $ 4,833       $ 1,210                     $   285 (3)      $  5,758
====================================================================================================================


(1)               Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries
(2)               Obsolete inventory disposals
(3)               Insurance claims and expenses paid
(4)               Reserves at date of acquisition of subsidiaries


</TABLE>

                                      -49

<PAGE>


Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
- -------   ---------------------------------------------------------------
          Financial Disclosure.
          ---------------------

     None.



                                    PART III

Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.
- --------  ---------------------------------------------------

     The  information   regarding   Directors  and  Executive  Officers  of  the
Registrant will be included in a Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission
prior to July 29, 1997.


Item 11.  Executive Compensation
- --------  ----------------------

     The  information  regarding  Executive  Compensation  will be included in a
Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission prior to July 29, 1997.


Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
- --------  --------------------------------------------------------------

     The information  regarding  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and  Management  will be  included  in a Proxy  Statement  to be filed  with the
Commission prior to July 29, 1997.


Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
- --------  ----------------------------------------------

     The information  regarding Certain  Relationships and Related  Transactions
will be included in a Proxy  Statement to be filed with the Commission  prior to
July 29, 1997.



                                      -50-

<PAGE>



                                                      PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.
- --------  -----------------------------------------------------------------

(a)(1)    Financial Statements:
          ---------------------

          The following consolidated  financial  statements of Columbus McKinnon
          Corporation are included in Item 8:

          Reference                                                    Page No.
          ---------                                                    --------

                  Report of Independent Auditors                          22

                  Consolidated balance sheets - March 31, 1997
                  and 1996                                                23

                  Consolidated statements of income - Years
                  ended March 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995                     24

                  Consolidated statements of shareholders' equity
                  Years ended March 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995               25

                  Consolidated statements of cash flows - Years
                  ended March 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995                     27

                  Notes to consolidated financial statements              28


(a)(2)    Financial Statement Schedule:                                Page No.
          -----------------------------                                --------

                  Report of Independent Auditors                          22

                  Schedule II - Valuation and qualifying accounts         49

                  All  other  schedules  for  which  provision  is  made  in the
                  applicable   accounting   regulation  of  the  Securities  and
                  Exchange   Commission  are  not  required  under  the  related
                  instructions  or are  inapplicable  and  therefore  have  been
                  omitted.


                                      -51-

<PAGE>

(a)(3)            Exhibits:

Exhibit
Number
- -------

 2.1     Agreement  and Plan of Merger  dated  August 24,  1996  among  Columbus
         McKinnon   Corporation,   L  Acquisition   Corporation   and  Spreckels
         Industries,  Inc. (known as Yale International,  Inc.) (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit (c)(1) to the Company's  Tender Offer Statement on
         Schedule 14D-1 dated August 30, 1996.)

 2.2     Offer to Purchase by L Acquisition  Corporation  dated August 30, 1997,
         as  revised  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  (a)(1)  to  the
         Company's  Tender Offer  Statement  on Schedule  14D-1 dated August 30,
         1997, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated September 18, 1996, Amendment
         No. 2 dated September 27, 1996,  Amendment No. 3 dated October 4, 1996,
         Amendment No. 4 dated October 9, 1996 Amendment No. 5 dated October 13,
         1996 and Amendment No. 6 dated October 17, 1996.)

 3.1     Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.  (incorporated
         by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement No.
         33-80687 on Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

 3.2     Amended  By-Laws  of the  Registrant.  (incorporated  by  reference  to
         Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's  Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on
         Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

 4.1     Specimen  Common  Share  Certificate.  (incorporated  by  reference  to
         Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's  Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on
         Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.1     Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Columbus McKinnon Corporation and
         all of the shareholders of LTI Holdings,  Inc., dated as of November 1,
         1995.  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  10.1 to the  Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)

10.2     Amended and Restated Term Loan Agreement by and among Fleet Bank of New
         York, Columbus McKinnon Corporation and Kenneth G. McCreadie,  Peter A.
         Grant and Robert L.  Montgomery,  Jr., as Trustees  under the  Columbus
         McKinnon  Corporation  Employee Stock Ownership Trust Agreement,  dated
         March 31,  1993.  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  10.2 to the
         Company's  Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687  on  Form  S-1  dated
         December 21, 1995)

10.3     Amendment  No. 1 to Amended and  Restated  Term Loan  Agreement,  dated
         March 31, 1993, by and among Fleet Bank of New York,  Columbus McKinnon
         Corporation  and  Kenneth  G.  McCreadie,  Peter A. Grant and Robert L.
         Montgomery,  Jr. as trustees  under the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation
         Employee  Stock  Ownership  Trust  Agreement,  dated  October 27, 1994.
         (incorporated   by  reference   to  Exhibit   10.3  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No. 33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)


                                      -52-

<PAGE>


10.4     Amendment  No. 2 to Amended and  Restated  Term Loan  Agreement  by and
         among  Fleet  Bank,  Columbus  McKinnon   Corporation  and  Kenneth  G.
         McCreadie,  Peter A.  Grant and  Robert L.  Montgomery,  Jr.  under the
         Columbus McKinnon Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Trust Agreement,
         dated November 2, 1995.  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to
         the Company's  Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated
         December 21, 1995)

10.5     Loan  Agreement by and among  Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee
         Stock Ownership Trust, Columbus McKinnon Corporation and Marine Midland
         Bank,  dated  October 27, 1994.  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
         10.5 to the Company's  Registration Statement No. 33-80687 on Form S-1
         dated December 21, 1995)

10.6     Agreement by and among  Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee Stock
         Ownership Trust, Columbus McKinnon Corporation and Marine Midland Bank,
         dated November 2, 1995.  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to
         the  Company's  Registration  Statement No. 33-80687 on Form S-1 dated
         December 21, 1995)

10.7     Credit  Agreement  between  Marine  Midland  Bank,  N.A.  and  Columbus
         McKinnon Corporation,  dated March 31, 1993. (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-80687 on
         Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.8     Amendment  No. 1 to Credit  Agreement,  dated March 31,  1993,  between
         Marine  Midland Bank, as successor by  conversion  from Marine  Midland
         Bank, N.A. and Columbus McKinnon  Corporation,  dated January 26, 1994.
         (incorporated   by  reference   to  Exhibit   10.8  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)

10.9     Amendment  No. 2 to Credit  Agreement,  dated March 31,  1993,  between
         Marine  Midland  Bank as successor by  conversion  from Marine  Midland
         Bank, N.A. and Columbus McKinnon  Corporation,  dated October 27, 1994.
         (incorporated   by  reference   to  Exhibit   10.9  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)

10.10    Agreement  between  Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  and Marine Midland
         Bank,  dated  November 2, 1995.  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
         10.10 to the Company's  Registration Statement No. 33-80687 on Form S-1
         dated December 21, 1995)

10.11    Series Loan  Agreement,  dated as of November 1, 1993,  between City of
         Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Columbus McKinnon Corporation.  (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's  Registration Statement No.
         33-80687 on Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.12    Series Letter of Credit Reimbursement  Agreement between Marine Midland
         Bank, N.A. and Columbus McKinnon  Corporation,  dated as of November 1,
         1993.  (incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit  10.12 to the  Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)


                                      -53-

<PAGE>


10.13    Series Lease,  dated as of November 1, 1993,  between Issuer as Lessor:
         Town of Amherst  Industrial  Development  Agency and Company as Lessee:
         Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation.  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
         10.13 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-80687 on Form S-1
         dated December 21, 1995)

10.14    Series Letter of Credit Reimbursement  Agreement between Marine Midland
         Bank, N.A. and Columbus McKinnon  Corporation,  dated as of November 1,
         1993.  (incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit  10.14 to the  Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)

10.15    Agreement  between  Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  and Marine Midland
         Bank,  dated  November 2, 1995.  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
         10.15 to the Company's  Registration Statement No. 33-80687 on Form S-1
         dated December 21, 1995)

10.16    Credit  Agreement,  dated as of  November  2, 1995,  by and among Fleet
         Bank, Marine Midland Bank, Fleet Bank, as Administrative  Agent, Marine
         Midland Bank, as Collateral Agent, and Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation.
         (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.16  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)

10.17    Lease Agreement between Warehouse  Associates of Texas, as lessor,  and
         Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation,  as lessee,  dated  February  8, 1994.
         (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.17  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)

10.18    Real Estate Lease between C.M. Realty Company,  as lessor, and Columbus
         McKinnon Corporation,  as lessee, dated April 5, 1993. (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's  Registration Statement No.
         33-80687 on Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.19    Lease between Grub & Ellis Industrial Properties Fund II as lessor, and
         Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation,   as  lessee,  dated  June  19,  1992.
         (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.19  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated  December  21,
         1995)

10.20    Second  Amendment to Lease by and between Adaya Asset  Archibald,  L.P.
         (as  transferee  of  Crow-Eaves-Ontario  #1  Limited  Partnership),  as
         Landlord,  and Columbus  McKinnon,  as Tenant,  dated October 27, 1994;
         Amendment  to Lease  Agreement  by and  between  Crow-Eaves-Ontario  #1
         Limited  Partnership,  dated  October 1, 1989;  Lease  Agreement by and
         between  Crow-Eaves-Ontario  Limited  Partnership and Columbus McKinnon
         Corporation.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.20  to  the
         Company's  Registration  Statement  No.  33-  80687 on Form  S-1  dated
         December 21, 1995)

10.21    Lease dated September 10, 1986 between Lift-Tech International Cranes &
         Hoists,  Inc.  as  lessee  and  638037  Ontario  Limited,  as lessor as
         assigned to Lift-Tech  International Cranes & Hoists Ltd. by Assignment
         of Lease dated April 1, 1991.  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
         10.21 to the Company's  Registration Statement No. 33-80687 on Form S-1
         dated December 21, 1995)



                                      -54-
<PAGE>

10.22    Lease  between  Atlanta   Structures  L.P.,  as  lessor  and  Lift-Tech
         International,  Inc., as lessee, dated September 1, 1995. (incorporated
         by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company's  Registration  Statement
         No. 33-80687 on Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.23*   Columbus McKinnon Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan Restatement
         Effective April 1, 1989. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to
         the Company's  Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S-1 dated
         December 21, 1995)

10.24*   Amendment No. 1 to the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee  Stock
         Ownership Plan as Amended and Restated as of April 1, 1989, dated March
         2, 1995.  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S- 1 dated  December 21,
         1995)

10.25*   Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  Personal  Retirement Account Plan Trust
         Agreement,  dated April 1, 1987.  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
         10.25 to the Company's  Registration Statement No. 33-80687 on Form S-1
         dated December 21, 1995)

10.26*   Amendment No. 1 to the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee  Stock
         Ownership  Trust  Agreement  (formerly  known as the Columbus  McKinnon
         Corporation Personal Retirement Account Plan Trust Agreement) effective
         November 1, 1988.  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  10.26 to the
         Company's  Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687  on  Form  S-1  dated
         December 21, 1995)

10.27*   Columbus  McKinnon   Corporation  1995  Incentive  Stock  Option  Plan.
         (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.27  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S- 1 dated  December 21,
         1995)

10.28*   Columbus McKinnon Corporation  Restricted Stock Plan.  (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Company's  Registration Statement No.
         33-80687 on Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.29*   Columbus  McKinnon   Corporation   Non-Qualified   Stock  Option  Plan.
         (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.29  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S- 1 dated  December 21,
         1995)

10.30*   Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Thrift [401(k) Plan] 1989  Restatement
         Effective January 1, 1989.  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30
         to the Company's  Registration Statement No. 33-80687 on Form S-1 dated
         December 21, 1995)

10.31*   Amendment No. 1 to Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  Thrift [401(k)] Plan
         1989 Restatement Effective January 1, 1989.  (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 10.31 to the Company's  Registration  Statement No. 33-80687
         on Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.32*   Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Thrift  [401(k)] Plan Trust  Agreement
         Restatement  Effective  August 9, 1994.  (incorporated  by reference to
         Exhibit 10.32 to the Company's  Registration  Statement No. 33-80687 on
         Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)


                                      -55-

<PAGE>

10.33*   Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Monthly  Retirement  Benefit  Plan Tax
         Reform Restatement Effective April 1, 1989.  (incorporated by reference
         to Exhibit 10.33 to the Company's  Registration  Statement No. 33-80687
         on Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.34*   Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  Monthly  Retirement  Benefit Plan Trust
         Agreement effective as of April 1, 1987.  (incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 10.34 to the Company's  Registration  Statement No. 33-80687 on
         Form S-1 dated December 21, 1995)

10.35*   Columbus McKinnon Corporation  Executive Incentive  Compensation Plan -
         Fiscal  1996.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.35  to the
         Company's  Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form  S-1  dated
         December 21, 1995)

10.36*   Columbus McKinnon Corporation  Description of Corporate Incentive Plan.
         (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.36  to  the   Company's
         Registration  Statement  No.  33-80687 on Form S- 1 dated  December 21,
         1995)

10.37*   Amendment No. 1 to the Columbus McKinnon Corporation Monthly Retirement
         Benefit Plan, dated March 27, 1996.

10.38*   Amendment No. 2 to the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee  Stock
         Ownership Plan, dated October 17, 1995.

10.39*   Amendment No. 3 to the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee  Stock
         Ownership Plan, dated March 27, 1996.(E-10.39)

10.40*   Amendment No. 2 to the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Thrift [401(k)]
         Plan, dated March 27, 1996.(E-10.40)

10.41*   Amendment No. 4 of the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee  Stock
         Ownership  Plan as Amended  and  Restated  as of April 1,  1989,  dated
         September  30, 1996  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
         Company's  quarterly report on form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
         September 30, 1996.)

10.42    Credit  Agreement  dated as of August 5, 1996 by and among  Fleet Bank,
         Marine Midland Bank, Fleet Bank, as  Administrative  Agent and Columbus
         McKinnon Corporation  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
         Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
         June 30, 1996.)

11.1**   Columbus McKinnon Computation of Earnings per Share.

21.1**   Subsidiaries of the Registrant.

23.1**   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.


                                      -56-

<PAGE>


99.1**   Form 11-K Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  Employee Stock Ownership Plan
         Annual Report for the year ended March 31, 1997.

- --------------
*  Indicates a management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.
** Filed herewith

(b)      Reports on Form 8-K:

         On January  9, 1997,  the  Company  filed a current  Report on form 8-K
         dated January 9, 1997  announcing the completion of its  acquisition of
         Spreckels Industries, Inc. through a subsidiary merger.



                                      -57-

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                          COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION

Dated:  June 27, 1997     By: /s/ Herbert P. Ladds, Jr.
                                  Herbert P. Ladds, Jr.
                                  President and Chief Executive Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following  persons on behalf of the  registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Signature                       Title                                 Date
- ---------                       -----                                 ----

/s/ Herbert P. Ladds, Jr.       President, Chief Executive        June 27, 1997
    Herbert P. Ladds, Jr.       Officer and Director



/s/ Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.   Executive Vice President,         June 27, 1997
    Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.   Chief Financial Officer,
                                Chief Accounting Officer
                                and Director



/s/ Edward W. Duffy             Chairman of the Board of          June 27, 1997
    Edward W. Duffy             Directors



/s/ Randolph A. Marks           Director                          June 27, 1997
    Randolph A. Marks



/s/ L. David Black              Director                          June 27, 1997
    L. David Black



                                      -58-



EXHIBIT 11.1
COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE


                                              Year Ended March 31,
                                    -------------------------------------------
                                      1997             1996           1995
Primary:                            -------------------------------------------
Weighted average common
     shares outstanding             13,210,001       7,656,067       7,077,588
Weighted average shares issued (1)           -          67,036         124,525 
Weighted average shares issued
     which can be repurchased (2)            -         (60,793)       (112,873)
Common Stock Equivalents (stock
     options)                            5,200               -               -
                                    ------------------------------------------
       Total                        13,215,201       7,662,310       7,089,240
                                    ==========================================

Net income applicable to
     common shareholders           $15,154,000     $12,979,500      $10,494,000
Net income per common
     share (primary)                      1.15            1.69             1.48



                                              Year Ended March 31,
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                      1997             1996           1995
Primary:                            ------------------------------------------
Weighted average common
     shares outstanding             13,210,001       7,656,067       7,077,588
Weighted average shares issued (1)           -          67,036         124,525 
Weighted average shares issued
     which can be repurchased (2)            -         (60,793)       (112,873)
Common Stock Equivalents
     (stock options)                     5,634               -               -
                                    ------------------------------------------
       Total                        13,215,635       7,662,310       7,089,240
                                    ==========================================

Net income applicable to
     common shareholders           $15,154,000     $12,979,500      $10,494,000
Net income per common
     share (fully diluted)                1.15            1.69             1.48

- -----------------------------------

(1) Includes  shares  issued  since  December  20,  1994 (one year  prior to the
    initial filing of the IPO registration  statement) at $12.69 per share which
    is less than the initial public offering price of $15 deemed outstanding for
    all periods presented in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 83.

(2) Represents  the number of shares  assumed to be  purchased at $14 per share,
    the IPO mid-point price, with proceeds from the shares issued in 1996.


                                      -59-



                        Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No, 333-3212) pertaining to the Columbus McKinnon Corporation 1995 Incentive
Stock Option Plan, the Columbus McKinnon Corporation  Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plan, the Columbus McKinnon Corporation  Restricted Stock Plan, and the Columbus
McKinnon Corporation  Employee Stock Ownership Plan Restatement  Effective April
1, 1989 of Columbus McKinnon  Corporation of our report dated May 12, 1997, with
respect  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  financial  statement
schedule of Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  included in this Annual Report (Form
10-K) for the year ended March 31, 1997.

                                         /s/Ernst & Young LLP



Buffalo, New York
June 27, 1997




                                      -60-





EXHIBIT 21.1

                              Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                                Subsidiaries of the Registrant


Columbus McKinnon Limited (Canada)
Columbus McKinnon Finance Corporation (Canada)
Endor S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
CM Insurance Company, Inc. (US)
Audubon Export, Inc. (FSC) (US)
Yale Industrial Products, Inc. (US)
Mechanical Products, Inc. (US)
Minitec Corporation (US)
Yale Industrial Products, Ltd. (UK)
Egyptian-American Crane Co. (joint venture) (Egypt)
Duff-Norton Asia Pacific Pty. Ltd. (Singapore)
Kunming Duff-Norton Machinery Co. Ltd. (joint venture) (China)
Yale Industrial Products GmbH (Germany)
Yale Industrial Products Asia (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (Thailand)
Manutention Connection (France)
Yale Industrial Products Pty. Ltd. (South Africa)
Yale Industrial Products GmbH (Austria)
Hangzhou (LILA) Lifting and Lashing Co. Ltd. (China)








                                      -61-





EXHIBIT 99.1








                        Financial Statements and Schedule

                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                       Years ended March 31, 1997 and 1996
                       with Report of Independent Auditors








                                      -62-

<PAGE>


                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549
                                    FORM 11-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

                    For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997

[ ] TRANSITION  REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE ACT
                           OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]

                  For the transition period from        to 

                    Commission file number


A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of
the issuer named below:

                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan
                       Restatement Effective April 1, 1989

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of
its principal executive office:

                          COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                         140 John James Audubon Parkway
                             Amherst, NY 14228-1197


                                      -63-

<PAGE>










                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                        Financial Statements and Schedule

                       Years ended March 31, 1997 and 1996





                                    Contents


Report of Independent Auditors ...........................................65

Financial Statements

Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits......................66
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits ..........67
Notes to Financial Statements.............................................68

Schedule

Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes................75







                                      -64-


<PAGE>







                         Report of Independent Auditors

The Pension Committee
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
   Employee Stock Ownership Plan

We have audited the  accompanying  statements  of net assets  available for plan
benefits of the Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee  Stock  Ownership Plan
(ESOP) as of March 31, 1997 and 1996,  and the related  statements of changes in
net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the ESOP's  management.  Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the net assets available for plan benefits of the ESOP at
March 31, 1997 and 1996,  and the changes in its net assets  available  for plan
benefits  for the years  then  ended,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.

Our audits  were made for the  purpose  of  forming an opinion on the  financial
statements  taken as a whole.  The  accompanying  supplemental  schedule of plan
assets  held for  investment  purposes  as of March 31,  1997 is  presented  for
purposes of complying with the Department of Labor's Rules and  Regulations  for
Reporting and Disclosure  under the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of
1974, and is not a required part of the financial  statements.  The supplemental
schedule has been subjected to the auditing  procedures  applied in our audit of
the 1997  financial  statements  and, in our  opinion,  is fairly  stated in all
material respects in relation to the 1997 financial statements taken as a whole.


                                     /s/  Ernst & Young LLP

May 21, 1997


                                      -65-

<PAGE>



                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

              Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits


                                                              March 31
                                                         1997          1996
                                                      ------------------------
Assets
Cash                                                $         50  $         50
Investments:
  Columbus McKinnon Corporation common
   stock at market:
     Allocated (cost  - $5,417,940 in 1997,
       and $4,539,103 in 1996)                        14,173,872    11,501,648
     Unallocated (cost - $4,201,084 in 1997,
       $5,241,274 in 1996; held in suspense account)   7,570,482     8,513,744
                                                      ------------------------
                                                      21,744,354    20,015,392
  Stable asset fund at market                             72,644        58,302
Employer contribution receivable                          18,985         7,413
Interest receivable                                        1,970         1,189
                                                      ------------------------
Total assets                                       $  21,838,003  $ 20,082,346
                                                      ========================

Liabilities and net assets
   available for plan benefits
Exempt loans payable                               $   4,681,950  $  5,590,675
Accrued interest payable                                  18,985         7,413
                                                      ------------------------
Total liabilities                                      4,700,935     5,598,088

Net assets available for plan benefits:
   Allocated                                          14,248,536    11,561,189
   Unallocated                                         2,888,532     2,923,069
                                                      ------------------------
Total net assets available for plan benefits          17,137,068    14,484,258
                                                      ------------------------
Total liabilities and net assets available
 for plan benefits                                 $  21,838,003  $ 20,082,346
                                                      ========================

See accompanying notes.



                                      -66-

<PAGE>





                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

         Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits

         
                                                        Year ended March 31
                                                       1997             1996
                                                   ----------------------------
Additions:
   Employer contributions                     $     1,081,335    $    1,023,118
   Dividend income                                    331,507           304,176
   Interest income                                      2,737             2,518
                                                   ----------------------------
Total additions                                     1,415,579         1,329,812

Deductions:
   Participant termination payments                   414,376           313,318
   Interest expense on exempt loans payable           489,335           550,799
   Administrative expense                               2,868             2,091
                                                   ----------------------------
Total deductions                                      906,579           866,208

Net appreciation in fair
   value of investments                             2,143,810         4,140,685
                                                   ----------------------------
Net increase in assets available
   for plan benefits                                2,652,810         4,604,289

Net assets available for plan benefits:
Beginning of year                                  14,484,258         9,879,969
                                                   ----------------------------
End of year                                   $    17,137,068    $   14,484,258
                                                   ============================

See accompanying notes.

                                      -67-



<PAGE>





                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                             March 31, 1997 and 1996


1.     Description of the Plan and Major Plan Provisions

The Columbus  McKinnon  Corporation  Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan (ESOP),  a
defined  contribution  plan,  was  established  as  a  result  of  amending  the
previously  existing Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  Personal Retirement Account
Plan (PRA Plan),  effective  November 1, 1988. The PRA Plan was restated and its
assets became part of the ESOP. The ESOP is an employee stock ownership plan and
a stock  bonus plan  within  the  meanings  of the  applicable  sections  of the
Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended.  It is also an eligible  individual
account plan as defined in the  applicable  section of the  Employee  Retirement
Income  Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).  The plan was amended  effective  April 1,
1989 to incorporate the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and subsequent  legislation,  and
to extend  coverage  to all hourly  non-union  employees  of  Columbus  McKinnon
Corporation  (the  Company).  Effective  April 1,  1996 the  plan  includes  the
employees  of  Lift-Tech  International,  Inc.  The plan was  amended  effective
February 23, 1996 and October 1, 1996 to incorporate  valuation and distribution
procedures as required for a public entity.  A summary of the ESOP's  provisions
follows.  Refer to the ESOP document or the summary plan description (SPD) for a
complete description of provisions.

Participation

Substantially all of the Company's domestic non-union  employees are eligible to
participate in the ESOP,  excluding  domestic employees of companies acquired in
fiscal 1997.

Participant Age

Eligible  employees  must  have  attained  age  21 and  completed  one  year  of
eligibility service to be a participant.

Vesting of Participants

A participant will be fully vested and will have a  non-forfeitable  interest in
the  participant's  account  balance  upon  completion  of five years of vesting
service,  excluding  any service  rendered  prior to the calendar  year in which
he/she attained age 18, or upon attainment of normal retirement age while in the
employ of the Company or any affiliated  company.  For  participants  with prior
employment with the Company in an ineligible classification or with an affiliate
of the  Company,  such  employment  shall  be  included  in the  calculation  of
eligibility service.


                                      -68-

<PAGE>



                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


1.     Description of the Plan and Major Plan Provisions (continued)

Retirement and Termination of Employment

Upon a vested  participant's  termination,  the value of his/her account will be
distributed  if the  value  of the  account  is  less  than  $3,500  or,  at the
participant's  option,  either  immediately  or  at  any  valuation  date  until
retirement,  as provided in the ESOP. A retiree may elect to defer  distribution
up to 69 1/2 years of age, where at the following valuation date distribution is
mandatory.  During 1995, $313,318 was payable to vested participants who elected
immediate  distribution  upon their  termination.  This  resulted in the sale of
1,445.70 shares in 1996 of common stock held by the ESOP back to the Company for
$311,915.  Valuation dates for share distribution are September 30 and March 31.
During 1996,  $406,359 was  distributed  to vested  participants  in the form of
stock certificates (25,857 shares).  This resulted in the sale of 11 shares held
by the ESOP back to the Company for $172 as a result of  fractional  shares.  At
March 31,  1997,  $34,990  ($32,924  at March 31,  1996) is included in the ESOP
assets  for  deferred   distribution  to  terminated   participants  upon  their
retirement.

Forfeiture  of a  non-vested  interest  shall  occur  in the  fifth  consecutive
calendar  year  following a break in service.  The  forfeited  accounts  will be
allocated among the accounts of active participants. At March 31, 1997, the ESOP
assets include $161,569 of undistributed  forfeited  accounts  ($80,403 at March
31, 1996).

Allocation to Participant Accounts

As of each valuation date (March 31), each participant  account is appropriately
adjusted to reflect any  contributions or stock to be allocated as of such date,
the income of the trust fund  during the period and the  increase or decrease in
the fair market value of the trust fund during the period.  The allocation  will
be based on the  fraction,  the numerator of which is the  participant's  annual
earnings for the  preceding  calendar year and the  denominator  of which is the
aggregate annual earnings for such calendar year of all participants entitled to
an allocation.




                                      -69-

<PAGE>



                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


2.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Investments

The ESOP's investment in Columbus McKinnon  Corporation  common stock is at fair
market value as of March 31, 1997 and 1996 based on quoted  market  prices.  The
investment  in the  Stable  Asset  Fund is also  reported  at  market  value  as
determined by open trading.

Contributions

The Company  will  contribute  to the ESOP such amount as its Board of Directors
shall determine. Each participant (a) who is actively employed as an employee on
the  allocation  date  (December  31) and who has earned at least 1,000 hours of
service as an employee in the calendar  year ending on the  allocation  date, or
(b) who  terminates  employment  on or after  January 1 during a plan year after
attaining age 60 and completing at least five years of eligibility  service,  or
(c) who dies on or after  January 1 during a plan year,  after  attaining age 60
and completing at least five years of eligibility service,  shall be entitled to
share in the contributions made for such plan year.  Contributions shall be made
in cash or in shares of stock as determined by the Company, and need not be made
out of current or accumulated earnings and profits.

Dividends

Dividends  paid on stock  allocated  to a  participant's  stock  account will be
allocated to the  participant's  nonstock  account.  The pension  committee  may
direct that such dividends shall be either (a) paid directly to the participant,
former  participant,  or beneficiary  within 90 days after the close of the plan
year in which such  dividend  was paid,  or (b) applied as payment on the exempt
loans. Dividends paid on unallocated stock held by the trustee and acquired with
the proceeds of an exempt loan shall be held by the trustee until the end of the
plan year in which it was paid,  and then,  along with any interest or earnings,
be applied as payment on the exempt loans which shall trigger a release of stock
from the suspense account.

ESOP Termination

The Company intends to continue the ESOP indefinitely, but reserves the right to
terminate it at any time. If the ESOP is terminated,  each participant  shall be
fully and nonforfeitably vested in his interest in the ESOP trust fund.



                                      -70-

<PAGE>



                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


2.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of
contingent  assets  and  liabilities  at the date of the  financial  statements.
Estimates  also  affect the  reported  amounts of revenue and  expenses.  Actual
results could differ from those estimates.


3.     Employer Contributions

The employer  contribution  to the ESOP for the March 31, 1997 plan year end was
$1,081,335  ($1,023,118  in 1996).  This  includes  interest on the exempt loans
payable  April 1,  1997;  therefore,  a  contribution  receivable  from the ESOP
sponsor in the amount of $18,985 has been  recognized  at March 31, 1997 ($7,413
at March  31,  1996  for  interest  due  April 1,  1996).  Participants  are not
permitted to make contributions to the ESOP.


4.     Exempt Loans Payable

On December 13, 1988,  the ESOP entered into a term note agreement in the amount
of  $3,600,000  (repaid  in full in January  1996).  Employer  contributions  of
$292,319 and $13,646 were applied to principal  and interest,  respectively,  in
1996.  Dividend and interest income of $113,189 was also applied to principal in
1996.

On December 13, 1988,  the ESOP  purchased  611,524  shares  (referred to as the
"Old" ESOP shares) of common stock of the Company with the debt proceeds,  which
were  recorded by the trustee in the suspense  account.  Such stock ceases to be
collateral  and is  released  from the  suspense  account as the exempt  loan is
repaid.  In each year prior to full payment of the loan, the number of shares of
stock  released  will  equal the  number of shares of stock  held as  collateral
immediately  before the  release  for such plan year  multiplied  by the release
fraction.




                                      -71-

<PAGE>



                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


4.     Exempt Loans Payable (continued)

On October 27, 1994, the ESOP obtained  $6,000,000 of new debt  ($2,000,000 from
Marine Midland Bank and $4,000,000  from Fleet Bank).  The Fleet loan is payable
in quarterly  installments  of $103,000  through July 1999,  and  $2,435,083  in
October  1999,  plus  interest  at prime plus 1% (9.5% at March 31,  1997).  The
Marine  loan is  payable in  quarterly  installments  of $45,000  plus an annual
minimum of $22,917  through July 1999,  and  $1,014,842  in October  1999,  plus
interest at prime plus 1% (9.5% at March 31, 1997).  Employer  contributions  of
$592,000  ($412,000 Fleet and $180,000 Marine) and $489,335  ($339,279 Fleet and
$150,055 Marine) in 1997, and $180,000 (Marine) and $537,153 ($367,854 Fleet and
$169,299  Marine) in 1996 were applied to principal and interest,  respectively.
Dividend and interest income of $316,725 ($211,394 Fleet and $105,331 Marine) in
1997 and  $147,948  ($98,666  Fleet and  $49,282  Marine) in 1996 was applied to
principal. The loans, which are guaranteed by the Company, are collateralized by
an  equivalent  number of shares of common  stock  recorded by the trustees in a
suspense account.

On October 27, 1994, the ESOP purchased 609,144 shares (referred to as the "New"
ESOP shares) of common stock of the Company with the debt  proceeds,  which were
recorded  by the  trustee  in the  suspense  account.  Such  stock  ceases to be
collateral  and is  released  from the  suspense  account as the exempt  loan is
repaid.  In each year prior to full payment of the loan, the number of shares of
stock  released  will  equal the  number of shares of stock  held as  collateral
immediately  before the  release  for such plan year  multiplied  by the release
fraction.

The  numerator of the release  fraction is the amount of principal  and interest
payments  made toward the loan during the plan year and the  denominator  is the
sum of the numerator plus the principal and interest  payments to be made on the
loan in the future,  using the interest  rate  applicable at the end of the plan
year.  Shares of stock released from the suspense  account for a plan year shall
be held in the trust on an  unallocated  basis  until  allocated  by the pension
committee  as of the  last  day of that  plan  year.  That  allocation  shall be
consistent  with  the  method  for  allocating  contributions  to  participants'
accounts,  which is based on a fraction of each  participant's  annual  earnings
during the preceding  calendar year to the total earnings of those  participants
during such calendar  year.  The  allocation of shares  released  resulting from
dividends  on  participants'  allocated  shares,  however,  was  based  upon the
fraction of each participant's allocated shares to the total number of allocated
shares.





                                      -72-

<PAGE>



                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


4.     Exempt Loan Payable (continued)

As of March  31,  1997,  426,506  shares  were held as  collateral  for the loan
(532,109  shares  were held as  collateral  as of March 31,  1996);  105,603 New
shares were released from the suspense account during 1997 (58,667 and 64,149 of
the Old and New shares, respectively, were released from the suspense account in
1996). These shares were allocated to participant accounts as of March 31, 1997.


5.     Tax Status

The ESOP is qualified  under  Section  401(a) of the  Internal  Revenue Code and
therefore is exempt from Federal income taxes under provisions of Section 501(a)
of the Code.  The plan has  received a  determination  letter from the  Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) concurring with this qualification dated October 23, 1995,
and effective for the amendments  adopted on March 2, 1995. A new  determination
letter is currently  pending with the IRS for the amendments  adopted during the
year.  The ESOP is required to operate in  conformity  with the Code to maintain
its qualification.  Management is not aware of any course of action or series of
events  that have  occurred  that might  adversely  affect the ESOP's  qualified
status.









                                      -73-

<PAGE>



                                    Schedule







                                      -74-

<PAGE>


                          Columbus McKinnon Corporation
                          Employee Stock Ownership Plan

           Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes

                                 March 31, 1997


Identity of Issue     Description of Investment      Cost        Current Value
- -----------------     -------------------------  -----------------------------  
Columbus McKinnon
   Corporation        Employer Common Stock,
                        1,225,045 shares         $  9,619,024    $  21,744,354

Fleet Investment
   Services           Stable Asset Fund          $     72,644    $      72,644





                                      -75-

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934,  the trustees (or other  persons who  administer  the employee  benefit
plan)  have duly  caused  this  annual  report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
                                        EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
                                        RESTATEMENT EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 1989




                                  By    /s/ Timothy R. Harvey
                                        Timothy R. Harvey, Trustee


                                        /s/ Karen L. Howard
                                        Karen L. Howard, Trustee


                                        /s/ Robert L. Montgomery, Jr.
                                        Robert L. Montgomery, Jr., Trustee


                                        /s/ Ivan E. Shawvan
                                        Ivan E. Shawvan, Trustee


Date:  June 27, 1997



                                      -76-

<PAGE>

                         Consent of Independent Auditors



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No. 333-3212) pertaining to the Columbus McKinnon Corporation 1995 Incentive
Stock Option Plan, the Columbus McKinnon Corporation  Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plan, the Columbus McKinnon Corporation  Restricted Stock Plan, and the Columbus
McKinnon Corporation  Employee Stock Ownership Plan Restatement  Effective April
1, 1989 of Columbus McKinnon  Corporation of our report dated May 21, 1997, with
respect to the  financial  statements  and  schedule  of the  Columbus  McKinnon
Corporation  Employee Stock  Ownership Plan included in this Annual Report (Form
11-K) for the year ended March 31, 1997.


                                        /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Buffalo, New York
June 27, 1997


                                      -77-



<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM SEC
FORM 10-K AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                      0001005229   
<NAME>                  COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPORATION        
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                               8,907
<SECURITIES>                                             0     
<RECEIVABLES>                                       76,330
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,884
<INVENTORY>                                         94,409
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   206,371
<PP&E>                                              86,312
<DEPRECIATION>                                      22,370
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     548,245
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               87,997
<BONDS>                                                  0
                                    0
                                              0
<COMMON>                                               137
<OTHER-SE>                                         150,019
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       548,245
<SALES>                                            359,424
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   359,424
<CGS>                                              251,987
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      251,987
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    62,383
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  11,930
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     34,292
<INCOME-TAX>                                        15,617
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 18,352
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     (3,198)
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        15,154
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.15
                           

</TABLE>


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