Manitex International, Inc. Signs Exclusive Operating Agreement for CVS Ferrari Container Handling Business

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill., June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Manitex International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MNTX), a leading provider of engineered lifting solutions including boom truck and rough terrain cranes, rough terrain forklifts, specialized trailers and special mission oriented vehicles, today announced that its newly formed Italian subsidiary, CVS Ferrari, SRL, had entered into an agreement to operate, on an exclusive rental basis, the business of CVS Ferrari. CVS Ferrari is located near Milan, Italy and designs and manufactures a range of reach stackers and associated lifting equipment for the global container handling market, sold through a broad dealer network. CVS Ferrari had 2008 annual sales of 71.8 million Euros prior to the recent economic downturn.  The rental agreement has been filed with the Italian Court and commences July 1. The Court filing also includes an exclusive option to purchase the business at the conclusion of the Italian insolvency process, "Concordato Preventivo". The option and the remaining terms of the arrangement are pending Court approval.

The Company initially plans to rent the operations of CVS in Italy, and then acquire the business following approval by the CVS creditors' meeting under the "Concordato Preventivo" process in Italy. The rental period could extend for up to two years, but a shorter period is anticipated.  As of the agreement date, CVS has a backlog of orders of approximately $10 million for delivery during 2010.

About Manitex International, Inc.

Manitex International, Inc. is a leading provider of engineered lifting solutions including cranes, rough terrain forklifts, indoor electric forklifts and special mission oriented vehicles, including parts support. Our Manitex subsidiary manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of boom trucks and sign cranes through a national and international dealership network. Our boom trucks and crane products are primarily used in industrial projects, energy exploration and infrastructure development, including roads, bridges, and commercial construction. Our Crane and Machinery division is a Chicago based distributor of cranes including Terex truck and rough terrain cranes, Fuchs material handlers and our own Manitex product line. Crane and Machinery provides after market service in its local market as well as being a leading distributor of OEM crane parts, supplying parts to customers throughout the United States and internationally. Our Manitex Liftking subsidiary is a provider of material handling equipment including the Noble straight-mast rough terrain forklift product line, Lowry high capacity cushion tired forklift and Schaeff electric indoor forklifts as well as specialized carriers, heavy material handling transporters and steel mill equipment. Manitex Liftking's rough terrain forklifts are used in both commercial and military applications. In July 2009, we acquired through a stock purchase, Badger Equipment Company, a Winona, Minnesota-based manufacturer of specialized rough terrain cranes and material handling products and on December 31, 2009 we acquired the operating assets of Load King Trailers, an Elk Point, South Dakota manufacturer of specialized engineered trailers and hauling systems.

Forward-Looking Statement

Safe Harbor Statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature which express the beliefs and expectations of management including statements regarding the Company's expected results of operations or liquidity; statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operational results and future economic performance; and statements of management's goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.  In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "continuing," "ongoing," "expect," "we believe," "we intend," "may," "will," "should," "could," and similar expressions. Such statements are based on current plans, estimates and expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors and additional information are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and statements in this release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE Manitex International, Inc.