Connect with us

Technology

Columbus McKinnon to Combine with Kito Crosby Delivering Compelling Value Creation

Published

1 year ago

on

Business combination materially improves scale and product scope, advancing Columbus McKinnon’s strategy as the holistic provider of intelligent motion solutions in materials handling

Complementary portfolio enhances strategic positioning in attractive verticals and target geographies, delivering an even stronger portfolio of products

Transaction valued at approximately $2.7 billion at a ~8x TTM Adjusted EBITDA multiple post-synergies

Expected to create ~$70 million in annual net cost synergies, improving Adjusted EBITDA Margins1 to greater than 23% and is expected to more than double revenue and triple Adjusted EBITDA1 on a pro-forma combined basis

Significant combined cashflow generation expected to enable de-leveraging to Net Leverage Ratio1 of approximately 3.0x within two years post-closing2

The transaction is expected to be funded with $2.6 billion in committed debt financing and an $0.8 billion perpetual convertible preferred equity investment from CD&R

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Columbus McKinnon Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCO) (“Columbus McKinnon” or the “Company”), a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of intelligent motion solutions for material handling, today announced a definitive agreement under which Columbus McKinnon will acquire Kito Crosby Limited (“Kito Crosby”) from funds managed by leading global investment firm KKR in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.7 billion subject to customary post-closing purchase price adjustments. The Company expects the deal to close later this calendar year, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfactory completion of customary closing conditions.

“This is an important next step in further strengthening Columbus McKinnon’s position as a scaled, holistic provider of intelligent motion solutions in materials handling. We’ve long had a great respect for Kito Crosby’s strong portfolio of offerings. The business that the Kito Crosby management team, led by Robert Desel and Yoshio Kito have built is exceptional, and we look forward to welcoming them to the Columbus McKinnon team,” said David Wilson, President and CEO of Columbus McKinnon. “Through this strategic combination, we’re creating a company that is extremely well-positioned to deliver real-world solutions for customers, with favorable tailwinds from megatrends, including reshoring, infrastructure investment, modernization of aging industrial facilities, and rising automation needs due to labor shortages. This combination also unites two highly talented teams with deep technical expertise, customer-centric cultures and a shared vision for operational excellence focused on safety, productivity and uptime on behalf of our customers.”

Kito Crosby is a global leader in lifting solutions with multiple manufacturing assembly plants and nearly 4,000 employees serving over 50 countries. KKR has owned Kito Crosby since 2013 and in the time had delivered significant value creation, more than doubling revenue, quadrupling the number of employees while reducing injury rates and expanding into new product categories, end markets and geographies. In 2024, Kito Crosby generated $1.1 billion in revenue through its extensive global channel partner network. Together the combined company will be a leader in material handling solutions with greater scale and a strong presence in attractive verticals and target geographies, delivering exceptional innovation and products to customers.

“We have long respected Columbus McKinnon. Our shared values of safety, quality, and a focus on our employees and customers will create value for all stakeholders,” said Robert Desel, Chief Executive Officer of Kito Crosby. “This deal brings together highly complementary, industry-leading brands, products and competencies with strong recurring sales dynamics. With the benefit of additional scale, and shared best practices and technology, we will be better positioned to meet our customers’ needs than ever before, simultaneously creating new opportunities for growth and development for our team members. We could not be more pleased to see these two great teams coming together.”

“Today’s announcement is a testament to the value we and the Kito Crosby team have created by transforming the business through organic initiatives, expanding global reach and pursuing strategic and accretive acquisitions. Kito Crosby is now better able to serve its customers with safety critical equipment than ever before, and the combination with Columbus McKinnon will further position the combined business to best serve all stakeholders. It has been an honor to closely partner with Robert, Yoshio and the whole Kito Crosby team and we believe the company is well positioned for this new chapter,” said Brandon Brahm, Partner at KKR.

As part of the transaction, Columbus McKinnon has partnered with CD&R, a leading private investment firm with deep experience delivering growth and operational improvement in industrials and manufacturing companies. As a result of CD&R’s investment in Columbus McKinnon it is expected that Mike Lamach, Nate Sleeper and Andrew Campelli will join the Company’s Board of Directors upon closing.

“We are excited to partner with Columbus McKinnon, their strong management team and Board, to support this highly strategic acquisition and the Company’s long-term opportunities,” said Michael Lamach, Operating Advisor to CD&R funds and former Executive Chair and CEO of Trane Technologies. “We look forward to working closely with Columbus McKinnon to realize the full potential of this combination and set the stage for the Company’s next phase of growth.”

“We are excited about this business combination and look forward to welcoming Mike, Nate and Andrew to the Board,” added Jerry Colella, Chair of the Board for Columbus McKinnon. “CD&R will bring deep industry knowledge, a strong results orientation and financial expertise to our already strong Board of Directors.”

Attractive Financial Profile to Drive Growth and Deleveraging

The combined company will have a highly attractive financial profile, with meaningfully enhanced scale, increased margins and exceptional cash flow characteristics that are consistent with best-in-class industrial product manufacturers. On a pro-forma basis, the Company is expected to have annual revenue of $2.1 billion, Adjusted EBITDA1 of $486 million and an Adjusted EBITDA Margin1 of 23%, accelerating the achievement of the Company’s fiscal year 2027 financial targets established at its 2022 Investor Day. The transaction is expected to be accretive to the Company’s Adjusted Earnings Per Share1 in the first year3 after closing and grow over time as synergies are achieved. The Company expects to achieve $70 million in annual net cost synergies by year three.

The combined significant cashflow generation will enable the Company to de-lever in the near-term and expects to reduce its Net Leverage Ratio1,2 from approximately 4.8x pro forma Adjusted EBITDA1 post transaction closing to approximately 3.0x within two years post-closing. The Company’s enhanced scale, margin profile and free cash flow provides a strong foundation to continue to return cash to shareholders through its dividend, reinvest in long-term organic growth and, over time, pursue additional acquisitions as it continues to execute on its strategy of building the premier intelligent motion solutions provider.

Transaction Details and Financing

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Columbus McKinnon. Columbus McKinnon intends to fund the acquisition through a combination of committed debt financing of $3.050 billion from J.P. Morgan including a $500 million revolving credit facility and $0.8 billion of perpetual convertible preferred equity investment from CD&R. Terms of the CD&R investment include a 7% coupon, payable in cash or payment-in-kind at Columbus McKinnon’s option, and a conversion price of $37.68, resulting in CD&R as-converted ownership of approximately 40% of the Company following completion of the transaction. CD&R has agreed to a customary lock-up on its shares.

The initial debt financing structure provides flexibility for timely execution of the transaction, which we expect to replace with a permanent financing structure. The Company has a strong track record of quickly de-levering its balance sheet following prior acquisitions.

Advisors

For Columbus McKinnon, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as the financial advisor, and DLA Piper LLP (US) and Hogan Lovells US LLP are acting as legal advisors. Evercore and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as financial advisors for Kito Crosby and KKR, while Kirkland & Ellis LLC is acting as legal advisor. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is acting as legal advisor for CD&R, with Guggenheim Securities LLC acting as its financial advisor.

1 Net Leverage Ratio, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Earnings Per Share are each a non-GAAP financial measure. See the note regarding forward looking non-GAAP financial measure at the end of this release.
2 Net Leverage Ratio is calculated in accordance with the terms and conditions in the Company’s credit agreement and is defined as Net Debt over trailing-twelve month Adjusted EBITDA as defined in the Company’s credit agreement and in accordance with the Company’s previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
3 Adjusted Earnings Per Share is calculated assuming full run-rate annualized net synergies in the first year.

About Columbus McKinnon

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

About Kito Crosby

Kito Crosby is the global leader of the lifting and securement industry it pioneered, and for which it continues to set the quality standard. With global engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and operations, the company provides a broad range of products and solutions for the most demanding applications. Kito Crosby’s people, products, solutions, and service have innovated the lifting and securement industry for more than 250 years. Together we lift and secure the world today, for a safer, stronger, and more productive tomorrow. Our iconic brands include Kito, Crosby, Harrington, Gunnebo Industries, and Peerless.

About CD&R

Founded in 1978, CD&R is a leading private investment firm with a strategy of generating strong investment returns by building more robust and sustainable businesses through the combination of skilled investment experience and deep operating capabilities. In partnership with the management teams of its portfolio companies, CD&R takes a long-term view of value creation and emphasizes positive stewardship and impact. The firm invests in businesses that span a broad range of industries, including industrial, healthcare, consumer, technology and financial services end markets. CD&R is privately owned by its partners and has offices in New York and London. For more information, please visit www.cdr.com and follow the firm’s activities through LinkedIn and @CDRBuilds on X/Twitter.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.

Analyst Conference Call

Columbus McKinnon will host a combined third quarter fiscal 2025 financial results and Kito Crosby acquisition conference call Monday, February 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss the transaction. The conference call and related presentation will be accessible through live webcast on the Company’s investor relations website at investors.cmco.com. A replay of the webcast will also be archived on the Company’s investor relations website through Monday, February 24, 2025.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “illustrative,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “shall,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Columbus McKinnon and Kito Crosby to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, (1) the risk that the cost synergies and any revenue synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer than anticipated to be realized, (2) disruption to the parties’ businesses as a result of the announcement and pendency of the transaction, (3) the risk that the integration of Kito Crosby’s business and operations into Columbus McKinnon will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected, or that Columbus McKinnon is otherwise unable to successfully integrate Kito Crosby’s businesses into its own, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, (4) the ability by each of Columbus McKinnon and Kito Crosby to obtain required governmental approvals of the transaction on the timeline expected, or at all, and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect Columbus McKinnon after the closing of the transaction or adversely affect the expected benefits of the transaction, (5) reputational risk and the reaction of each company’s customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to the transaction, (6) the failure of the closing conditions in the purchase agreement to be satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing the transaction or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the purchase agreement, (7) the dilution caused by the issuance of perpetual convertible preferred equity to CD&R, (8) the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, (9) risks related to management and oversight of the expanded business and operations of Columbus McKinnon following the transaction due to the increased size and complexity of its business, (10) the outcome of any legal or regulatory proceedings that may be currently pending or later instituted against Columbus McKinnon before or after the transaction, or against Kito Crosby, and (11) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions and other factors that may affect future results of Columbus McKinnon and Kito Crosby. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but instead represent our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk factors that are described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 as well as in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on its website at www.sec.gov. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Columbus McKinnon undertakes no duty to update publicly any such forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority.

Forward Looking Non-GAAP Financial Metrics

This press release presents forward looking statements regarding non-GAAP Net Leverage Ratio, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Adjusted Earnings Per Share. The Company is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures, net income, net income margin, and earnings per share because such information is not available, and management cannot reliably predict the necessary components of such GAAP measures without unreasonable effort or expense. In addition, the Company believes that such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results. These non-GAAP financial measures are preliminary estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among others, changes in connection with post-closing adjustments. Any variation between the Company’s actual results and preliminary financial data set forth above may be material. Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures in this press release may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Contacts

Kristine Moser
VP IR and Treasurer
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
704-322-2488
kristy.moser@cmco.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/columbus-mckinnon-to-combine-with-kito-crosby-delivering-compelling-value-creation-302372758.html

SOURCE Columbus McKinnon Corporation

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Marquis Who’s Who Honors Rupin Chothani for Engineering Leadership

Published

39 minutes ago

on

July 23, 2026

By

UNIONDALE, N.Y., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Marquis Who’s Who honors Rupin Chothani for his leadership in engineering and project management. With more than two decades of professional experience to his credit, Mr. Chothani leverages a unique expertise in fire and petrochemical solutions to find success in his field. As project manager, project engineer and proposal manager at Technip Energies N.V., Mr. Chothani ensures effective results.

Drawn to Engineering

Coming from a family of engineers, Mr. Chothani was naturally drawn to the profession. This inclination was reinforced by comprehensive aptitude and attitude tests administered at the age of 14, which highlighted his strengths in engineering and architecture. Ultimately, this direction reinforced his determination to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

By 2003, Mr. Chothani earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Mumbai. After a brief role as a junior manufacturing engineer at Artech Cooling Tower Pvt. Ltd., he completed a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bridgeport in 2006. In addition to these degrees, Mr. Chothani later achieved AutoCAD certification.

Following his graduation in 2006, Mr. Chothani joined CB&I Lummus / ABB Lummus Heat Transfer (now Lummus Technology) as a thermal engineer. Though his work at Lummus Technology lasted only three years, Mr. Chothani was greatly influenced by mentor figures at the company. These mentors, including Ken Catala, Peter Harvard, Chin Dang and Miller Alanath Carter, provided essential guidance.

Building a Family

In December 2008, Mr. Chothani married his wife, Cathy. Along with his son and daughter, his family has contributed richly to his success in engineering and they continue to inspire him to excel. In addition to their support, Mr. Chothani recognizes that there is no alternative to hard work and dedicated learning.

From Lummus Technology to Technip Energies N.V.

Following his work at Lummus Technology, Mr. Chothani worked with Maco Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. By 2011, he joined Complete Heat Transfer Solutions – Environ Energy Systems as a thermal and mechanical engineer. By 2013, Mr. Chothani became a part of Technip Energies N.V. as a furnace mechanical engineer. By 2023, he added to this role and became a project manager, project engineer and proposal manager at the company.

In his current role at Technip Energies N.V., Mr. Chothani is responsible for a variety of essential duties. He manages and executes on engineering projects for ethylene cracking furnaces and heaters, and oversees proprietary technologies. Additionally, he actively coordinates with procurement, logistics, mechanical engineering and process engineering teams to ensure effective results.

Plans for the Future

Moving forward, Mr. Chothani hopes to advance his project management skills, particularly within the firejet industry. At the same time, he aims to share his knowledge of the industry with the next generation of professionals. Outside of his professional ambitions, Mr. Chothani intends to prepare his children to find success, inspiring them and their peers with hands-on experiments and full-day events.

About Marquis Who’s Who®:

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

Marquis Who’s Who
Uniondale, NY
(844) 394 – 6946
info@marquiswhoswho.com
www.marquiswhoswho.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/marquis-whos-who-honors-rupin-chothani-for-engineering-leadership-302833756.html

Continue Reading

Technology

COALITION OF INDEPENDENT INTERNET PROVIDERS ASKS CRTC TO FIX ERRORS IN WHOLESALE FIBRE RATES

Published

39 minutes ago

on

July 23, 2026

By

Coalition of competitive ISPs say current fibre rates make competition impossible and threatens to harm millions of Canadian consumers

CHATHAM, ON, July 23, 2026 /CNW/ — A coalition of independent internet service providers (the Coalition) led by TekSavvy Solutions Inc. (TekSavvy) today applied to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to review and vary Telecom Order 2026-77, which set final wholesale rates for fibre internet services. In that decision, the CRTC approved wholesale rates for fibre internet services that are higher than the retail prices charged by the large carriers. This makes competition impossible, as independent providers are forced to either sell at a loss or set prices above the large carriers, leaving millions of Canadian consumers without competitive options for essential internet services.

The application identifies key errors that led the CRTC to approve severely inflated final wholesale rates, which make it economically impossible for independent providers to compete. The Coalition argues that the CRTC’s incorrect rates negate the very purpose of Canada’s wholesale framework, which is to foster competition in retail broadband markets. Specifically, the Coalition asks the CRTC to make three key changes to Telecom Order 2026-77:

Eliminate one cost factor that is inconsistent with the CRTC’s established costing principles, which artificially increased fibre wholesale rates by an estimated 25% to 30% (the Adjustment Factor).Reduce another element of the costing that is inflated above reasonable levels: The Coalition calls on the CRTC to reduce the markup applied to wholesale fibre services from 30% to 15%, reflecting declining costs, operational efficiencies, and the need to support competition.Correct technical errors relating to certain wholesale fibre speed descriptions.

“Canadians were promised greater competition for fibre internet services, but these rates make competition impossible.” said Andy Kaplan-Myrth, TekSavvy’s Vice President of Regulatory and Carrier Affairs. “The CRTC must correct these errors to ensure its wholesale rates promote broadband competition that challenges the market power of monopoly incumbents, lowers prices, and increases consumer choice.”

About the Coalition

The Coalition consists of competitive telecommunications providers and industry associations advocating for fair wholesale access to fibre networks and a competitive broadband marketplace that delivers affordable, high-quality Internet services to Canadians, including: TekSavvy Solutions Inc., BC Broadband Association (“BCBA”), Canada-Wide Internet Service Providers Association (“CanWISP”), Fibernetics Inc., ISP Telecom Inc., National Capital FreeNet Inc., Novus Entertainment Inc. and Purple Cow Internet Inc.

About TekSavvy Solution Inc.

Based in Chatham, Ontario, TekSavvy is Canada’s largest independent telecom service company. TekSavvy has been proudly delivering award-winning services and fighting for consumers’ rights for nearly 30 years. TekSavvy is committed to providing quality competitive choice and closing Canada’s digital divide.

SOURCE TekSavvy Solutions Inc.

Continue Reading

Technology

Monk Launches Voice Collections, Bringing AI Phone Calls and Callbacks to Accounts Receivable

Published

39 minutes ago

on

July 23, 2026

By

Monk’s collections agent, Julia, can now place outbound collection calls and answer inbound AR questions from a dedicated business number, so finance teams can use the channel that collects best without adding headcount.

Multimedia: Watch Voice Collections in action: https://youtu.be/w09PoN1yACE 

NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Monk, the AI-native accounts receivable platform, today launched Voice Collections. Its collections agent, Julia, can now place outbound collection calls and answer inbound customer questions about invoices and payments from a dedicated phone number for each organization. The feature brings the phone, long the most effective collections channel and the hardest one to scale, into Monk’s Intelligent Collections.

Roughly $10 trillion sits in unpaid invoices worldwide, and the average invoice now takes 59 days to clear (Allianz). Most accounts receivable runs on email, and most of it waits. More than half of B2B invoices in the United States are overdue at any given time, and 92% of businesses are typically paid after their due date (Chaser, 2026). Phone calls recover overdue invoices two to three times better than email (Dunwise), yet 91% of finance teams still rely on email as their main follow-up channel and only 56% use the phone, because calling every overdue account by hand does not scale and a single human dunning call can cost $12 to $18 (HighRadius).

Voice Collections gives teams that coverage. Julia can call on the accounts a playbook flags for phone follow-up, and answer when a customer calls the same number back to ask about an invoice, a payment, or a bank detail. Businesses that follow up on 100% of overdue invoices are 76% more likely to be paid within a week (Chaser), and a voice agent is what makes full coverage possible.

Monk’s collections agent is already proven on the accounts it handles by email. Across Monk’s first 100 customers, Julia reaches customers with a 24% higher response rate than standard dunning and resolves 88.2% of collections with zero human intervention. Voice extends that reach to the phone.

“For years the assumption was that customers would not talk to an AI on the phone,” said George Kurdin, Founder and CEO of Monk. “The evidence now points the other way. People engage with a good voice agent, and in AR the phone was always the channel that collected best. We built Voice Collections so finance teams can finally use it at the scale email gave them.”

That assumption is worth retiring. In a University of Chicago Booth field study of roughly 70,000 interviews, people interviewed by a voice AI agent were 12% more likely to receive an offer, 18% more likely to start, and 17% more likely to still be there after 30 days, and 80% chose the voice AI over a human when given the choice. The setting was recruiting rather than collections, but the finding travels: given a capable voice agent, people lean in rather than hang up. A call also does something email cannot, which is secure a verbal promise to pay in the moment.

Built for finance, with the phone agents kept with strict guardrails

Voice in finance has to be constrained, and Monk designed Voice Collections around that from the start. The agent is read-only on the phone. It answers questions, confirms details, and routes the next step. It will not rewrite an invoice, change a payment status, or accept a sensitive payment change by voice.

The agent is also reference-based. If a caller asks about an invoice, Julia asks for both the company name and the invoice number before looking anything up, and it will not search broadly from a single detail. Every inbound and outbound call is kept in the collection record alongside the email history, so a callback is part of the same thread the team already sees, and anything that needs judgment escalates to a person.

“Voice in finance has to be careful by design,” said Joe Zhou, Co-Founder and CTO of Monk. “Julia will not browse across accounts or move money over the phone. A caller has to bring the company name and invoice number before it confirms anything, and every call lands in the record. In finance a 1% mistake is still unacceptable, so we built for that first and added the reach second.”

Teams run autonomous collections on Monk

Monk runs collections for finance teams at companies like Unify, Pump, Siro, and Elate, and Voice Collections extends what those teams already do by email onto the phone.

“We chose Monk to help automate our collections, a process previously demanding several hours a week of manual, one-off outreach,” said Will Stewart, Head of Finance and BizOps at Unify. “Today, our Monk agent is always running in the background and I have a single dashboard to manage AR from.”

At Pump, which manages volume across more than 1,500 customers, Monk has helped collect over $10 million in recent months.

Voice AI is now infrastructure

The timing reflects how far voice AI has come. It has moved from demo to infrastructure: Vapi has processed more than 1 billion calls, Bland handles over 3.5 million calls a week, and ElevenLabs raised a $500 million round at an $11 billion valuation in early 2026. Monk builds Voice Collections on that foundation and adds the part finance actually needs, which is the AR context, the controls, and the audit trail.

Voice Collections is available now as an opt-in feature. Monk configures the dedicated number and call behavior with each organization before turning it on in Collections. See it in action: https://youtu.be/w09PoN1yACE.

About Monk

Monk is the AI-native accounts receivable platform that helps finance teams turn revenue into cash. Its agent, Julia, runs collections, cash application, and forecasting as one connected system. Monk resolves 88.2% of collections with zero human intervention, reaches customers with a 24% higher response rate than standard dunning, reduces DSO by more than 40%, automatically matches 80% of incoming payments with a full audit trail, and gives finance teams back roughly 26 hours a month. Teams onboard in under a week and see results in their first month. More than $1.5 billion in receivables is managed on the platform, including for customers like Profound and ElevenLabs. Monk has raised $25 million and is based in New York.

Media contact
Kendall Warson
kendall@monk.com
+1 415-827-6585

Sources: Chaser 2026 Accounts Receivable research; Dunwise dunning research; HighRadius collection call cost analysis; University of Chicago Booth field study on AI in recruiting; voice AI figures compiled by Enterprise DNA; Federal Reserve data; Allianz Worldwide DSO survey.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/monk-launches-voice-collections-bringing-ai-phone-calls-and-callbacks-to-accounts-receivable-302833768.html

SOURCE Monk

Continue Reading

Trending