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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001157523-08-003924.txt : 20080508
<SEC-HEADER>0001157523-08-003924.hdr.sgml : 20080508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080507200802
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001157523-08-003924
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080507
ITEM INFORMATION:		Results of Operations and Financial Condition
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080508
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080507

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MIDDLEBY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000769520
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REFRIGERATION & SERVICE INDUSTRY MACHINERY [3580]
		IRS NUMBER:				363352497
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09973
		FILM NUMBER:		08811731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ELGIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60120
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477413300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE
		CITY:			ELGIN
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60120
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a5679807.htm
<DESCRIPTION>THE MIDDLEBY CORP. 8-K
<TEXT>
<html>
  <head>
    <title></title>
<!--Copyright 2008 Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company.-->
<!--All rights reserved www.businesswire.com-->
  </head>
  <body style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
    <hr style="width: 100%; height: 3.0 pt; color: #000000; text-align: center">


    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt">UNITED STATES</font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><br style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"></font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt">SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Washington,
      D.C. 20549</font><br><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>FORM
      8-K</b></font><br><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>CURRENT
      REPORT</b></font><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>
      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b></font><br><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Date
      of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </font><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt"><b>May
      7, 2008</b></font><br><br><font style="font-size: 18pt"><b>THE MIDDLEBY
      CORPORATION</b></font><br><font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">(Exact
      Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</font><br><br>
    </p>
    <table style="margin-bottom: 10.0px; width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 33%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>Delaware</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; width: 34%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>1-9973</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; width: 33%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>36-3352497</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 33%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            (State or Other Jurisdiction
          </p>
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            of Incorporation)
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 34%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            (Commission File Number)
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 33%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            (IRS Employer
          </p>
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Identification No.)
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    <table style="margin-bottom: 10.0px; width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 40%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>1400 Toastmaster Drive, Elgin, Illinois</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 30%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; width: 30%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>60120</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 40%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">(Address
          of Principal Executive Offices)</font>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 30%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 30%; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">(Zip
          Code)</font>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <b>(847) 741-3300</b><br>(<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Registrant&#8217;s
      telephone number, including area code)</font><br><br><b>N/A</b><br>(<font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Former
      Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</font><br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">

    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Check the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
      simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
      of the following provisions:</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 10pt">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Written
      communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
      230.425)</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 10pt">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Soliciting
      material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 10pt">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14d-2(b))</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-family: Arial Unicode MS; font-size: 10pt">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Pre-commencement
      communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.13e-4(c))</font>
    </p>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt"><b>Item
      2.02&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Results of Operations and Financial Condition.</b></font><br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">
      On May 7, 2008, The Middleby Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) issued a press
      release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 29,
      2008. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and
      incorporated herein by reference.<br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">
      The information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of this Current Report
      on Form 8-K (including the exhibit hereto) shall not be considered
      &quot;filed&quot; under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall
      it be incorporated by reference into future filings by the Company under
      the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange
      Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Company expressly sets forth in such
      future filing that such information is to be considered &quot;filed&quot; or
      incorporated by reference therein.<br>
    </p>
    <p style="white-space: nowrap">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt"><b>Item
      9.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Financial Statements and Exhibits.</b></font><br>
    </p>
    <table style="margin-bottom: 10.0px; width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="width: 87%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>(c) &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits.</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 87%">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>Exhibit No.</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 87%; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>Description</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 87%">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Exhibit 99.1
        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 87%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          The Middleby Corporation press release dated May 7, 2008
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    <p style="white-space: nowrap">

    </p>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">SIGNATURES</font>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">Pursuant to
      the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
      registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
      undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font>
    </p>
    <table style="margin-bottom: 10.0px; width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 7%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 43%">

        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 7%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 43%">

        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 7%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 43%">

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; width: 7%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Dated:
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; width: 43%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          May 7, 2008
        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; width: 4%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          By:
        </td>
        <td style="width: 46%; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            /s/ Timothy J. FitzGerald
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 7%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 43%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 4%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 46%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Timothy J. FitzGerald
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 7%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 43%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 4%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 46%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Vice President and
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 7%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 43%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 4%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 46%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Chief Financial Officer
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    <p>

    </p>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt"><b><u>Exhibit
      Index</u></b></font>
    </p>
    <table style="margin-bottom: 10.0px; width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>Exhibit No.</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="width: 87%; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b>Description</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 87%">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Exhibit 99.1
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 87%; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            The Middleby Corporation press release dated May 7, 2008
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
  </body>
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     PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
     "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">-->
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>a5679807ex99_1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>
<html>
  <head>
    <title></title>
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  <body style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: Times New Roman">
    <p style="text-align: right">
      <b>Exhibit 99.1</b>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt"><b>The
      Middleby Corporation Reports Record First Quarter Results</b></font>
    </p>
    <p>
      ELGIN, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD), a
      leading worldwide manufacturer of restaurant and foodservice cooking
      equipment, today reported record net sales and earnings for the first
      quarter ended March 29, 2008. Net earnings for the first quarter were
      $13,181,000 or $0.77 per share on net sales of $160,883,000 as compared
      to the prior year first quarter net earnings of $10,720,000 or $0.64 per
      share on net sales of $105,695,000.
    </p>
    <p>
      <b><u>2008 First Quarter Financial Highlights</u></b>
    </p>
    <ul>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        The company completed the acquisition of New Star Holdings, Inc.
        (&#8220;Star&#8221;) on December 30, 2007, a leading manufacturer of light duty
        cooking equipment. As previously announced, Star has annualized
        revenues of approximately $100 million. The results of Star are
        reflected in the financial results of the 2008 first quarter.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        The company also recently completed the acquisitions of Giga Grandi
        Cucine S.r.l. (&#8220;Giga&#8221;) on April 22, 2008 and FriFri aro SA (&#8220;FriFri&#8221;)
        on April 23, 2008. Giga is a leading European manufacturer of ranges,
        ovens and steam cooking equipment with approximately $25 million in
        revenues. FriFri is a leading European supplier of frying systems with
        approximately $10 million in annual revenues. The acquisition of Giga
        and FriFri were completed subsequent to the first quarter and
        therefore are not reflected in the reported financial results for the
        quarter.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Earnings per share increased 20% to $0.77 from $0.64. Net earnings for
        the quarter included pretax expense of $1.5 million associated with
        acquisition accounting adjustments for Star to adjust inventories to
        fair market value. This adjustment reduced net earnings by $0.9
        million or $0.05 per diluted share. Excluding this adjustment earnings
        per diluted share would have increased 28% to $0.82 per diluted share.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Net sales rose 52% in the first quarter. The net sales increase
        reflects the impact of the acquisitions, which accounted for all of
        the sales growth in the first quarter. Excluding the impact of
        acquisitions, sales were flat as compared to the prior year first
        quarter and were comprised of a 2% increase in commercial foodservice
        equipment sales, offset in part by a 16% reduction in sales at the
        food processing equipment group. Sales in the first quarter for both
        segments slowed as a result of delayed purchases as a result of
        economic conditions. Sales of the food processing group also reflect
        the normal quarterly variations which occur as a result of the timing
        of large orders.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Operating income increased by 38.3% to $26,016,000 from $18,806,000.
        The increase in operating profits reflects the impact of acquisitions
        completed over the past year. Operating income as a percentage of
        sales declined from 17.8% to 16.1%, reflecting the $1.5 million impact
        of acquisition accounting adjustments at Star, and lower margins at
        the newly acquired companies as these operations continue to be
        integrated within Middleby. Excluding the impact of acquisitions,
        operating income increased to 17.9%, reflecting operating improvements
        offset in part by increased material costs. Depreciation and
        amortization included in the 2008 first quarter operating income
        amounted to $3.5 million, an increase of $2.2 million as compared to
        the first quarter of 2007. Depreciation and amortization associated
        with the Star acquisition amounted to $1.7 million in the 2008 first
        quarter, accounting for the majority of the increase from the prior
        year period.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Net interest expense increased to $3,703,000 in the first quarter as
        compared to $1,244,000 in the prior year quarter due to increased
        levels of debt to fund acquisition activities.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Total debt at the end of the 2008 first quarter amounted to
        $272,657,000 as compared to $96,197,000 at the end of the 2007. Net
        borrowings were increased during the first three months to fund the
        acquisition of Star for $188.4 million. Subsequent to end of the first
        quarter, the company also funded the acquisitions of Giga and FriFri
        for a combined purchase price of approximately $23.5 million.
      </li>
    </ul>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 10pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>
      Selim A. Bassoul Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, &#8220;We were
      pleased to report a record first quarter despite a challenging business
      environment, which resulted in the deferral of purchases by some of our
      customers. We continued to expand profit margins of our base business
      during the quarter on flat sales despite rising steel and other material
      costs.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      Mr. Bassoul commented, &#8220;We were pleased with the progress made at Star
      in the first quarter. We have made progress implementing a variety of
      purchasing, manufacturing, and cost reduction initiatives focused on
      improving the profitability at this operation, the benefits which should
      begin to be reflected in the second half of the year. We anticipate this
      acquisition will be accretive to earnings in the second half of the
      year.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      Mr. Bassoul continued, &#8220;The results of businesses acquired in fiscal
      2007, including Jade Range, MP Equipment, Carter Hoffmann, and Wells
      Bloomfield, all continue to improve. Operating profit from these
      acquisitions has more than doubled from the time of acquisition and each
      one of these acquisitions was accretive to the 2008 first quarter
      earnings.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      Mr. Bassoul further added, &#8220;We are excited about the new additions of
      Giga and FriFri to our portfolio of leading brands in foodservice. Giga
      and FriFri provide Middleby with a stronger international presence and,
      along with our Houno combi-oven line from Denmark, provide Middleby with
      complete product line of European cooking equipment to compliment our
      North American based products. We believe this will allow us to continue
      to accelerate our growth and penetration of the international markets
      and we plan to continue to build upon our global platform.&#8221;
    </p>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>
      <b><u>Conference Call</u></b>
    </p>
    <p>
      A conference call will be held at 10:00 a.m. Central time on Thursday,
      May 8 and can be accessed by dialing (800) 367-5339 and providing
      conference code 46330268 or through the investor relations section of
      The Middleby Corporation website at <u>www.middleby.com</u>. A digital
      replay of the call will be available approximately one half hour after
      its completion and can be accessed by calling (800) 642-1687 and
      providing code 46330268. A transcript of the call will also be posted to
      the company's website.
    </p>
    <p>
      Statements in this press release or otherwise attributable to the
      Company regarding the Company's business which are not historical fact
      are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
      provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
      Company cautions investors that such statements are estimates of future
      performance and are highly dependent upon a variety of important factors
      that could cause actual results to differ materially from such
      statements. Such factors include variability in financing costs;
      quarterly variations in operating results; dependence on key customers;
      international exposure; foreign exchange and political risks affecting
      international sales; changing market conditions; the impact of
      competitive products and pricing; the timely development and market
      acceptance of the Company's products; the availability and cost of raw
      materials; and other risks detailed herein and from time-to-time in the
      Company's SEC filings.
    </p>
    <p>
      The Middleby Corporation is a global leader in the foodservice equipment
      industry. The company develops, manufactures, markets and services a
      broad line of equipment used for commercial food cooking, preparation
      and processing. The company's leading equipment brands serving the
      commercial foodservice industry include Blodgett&#174;, Blodgett Combi&#174;,
      Blodgett Range&#174;, Bloomfield&#174;, Carter Hoffmann&#174;, CTX&#174;, frifri&#174;, Giga&#174;,
      Houno&#174;, Jade&#174;, MagiKitch'n&#174;, Middleby Marshall&#174;, Nu-Vu&#174;, Pitco
      Frialator&#174;, Southbend&#174;, Toastmaster&#174; and Wells&#174;. The company&#8217;s leading
      equipment brands serving the food processing industry include Alkar&#174;, MP
      Equipment&#174;, and RapidPak&#174;. The Middleby Corporation was recognized by
      Business Week as one of the Top 100 Hot Growth Companies of 2007, by
      Crain&#8217;s Chicago Business as one of the Fastest 50 Growth Companies in
      2007, and by Forbes as one of the Best Small Companies in 2006.
    </p>
    <p>
      For more information about The Middleby Corporation and the company
      brands, please visit <u>www.middleby.com</u>.
    </p>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <table style="margin-bottom: 10.0px; width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 8pt" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="7" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="7" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b><u>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS</u></b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="7" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>(Amounts in 000's, Except Per Share Information)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="7" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>(Unaudited)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="7" style="text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="6" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Three Months Ended
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          1<sup>st</sup> Qtr, 2008
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          1<sup>st</sup> Qtr, 2007
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Net sales
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          160,883
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          105,695
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Cost of sales
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          101,981
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          64,590
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Gross profit
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          58,902
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          41,105
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Selling &amp; distribution expenses
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,245
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          11,116
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          General &amp; administrative expenses
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,641
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          11,183
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Income from operations
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          26,016
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          18,806
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Interest expense and deferred
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          financing amortization, net
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3,703
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          1,244
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Other (income), net
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          387
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (107
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Earnings before income taxes
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          21,926
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          17,669
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Provision for income taxes
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          8,745
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,949
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Net earnings
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          13,181
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          10,720
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Net earnings per share:
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Basic
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.82
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.69
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Diluted
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.77
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          0.64
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            Weighted average number shares:
          </p>
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Basic
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,055
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          15,510
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="3">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Diluted
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          17,170
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,740
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; width: 100%">
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: left">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div style="page-break-after: always">
        <div style="text-align: center">

        </div>
        <div style="text-align: center">
          <hr style="color: black; height: 1.5pt">

        </div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <div style="text-align: right">

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <table style="margin-bottom: 10.0px; width: 100%; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 8pt" cellspacing="0">
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="6" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="6" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px">
            <b><u>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</u></b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="6" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>(Amounts in 000's)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="6" style="text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          <b>(Unaudited)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Mar. 29, 2008
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Dec. 29, 2007
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 5.0px" valign="top">
          ASSETS
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Cash and cash equivalents
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          5,518
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,463
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Accounts receivable, net
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          83,928
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          73,090
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Inventories, net
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          81,513
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          66,438
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Prepaid expenses and other
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          12,571
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          10,341
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Prepaid taxes
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,159
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          17,986
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Current deferred tax assets
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          15,630
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,643
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Total current assets
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          215,319
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          191,961
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Property, plant and equipment, net
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          45,883
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          36,774
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Goodwill
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          211,612
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          109,814
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Other intangibles
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          125,686
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          52,522
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Deferred tax assets
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          5,800
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,929
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Other assets
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,526
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3,079
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Total assets
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          606,826
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          411,079
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS&#8217; EQUITY
        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Current maturities of long-term debt
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,661
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,683
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Accounts payable
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          36,904
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          26,576
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Accrued expenses
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          84,607
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          95,581
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Total current liabilities
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          124,172
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          124,840
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Long-term debt
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          269,996
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          93,514
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Other non-current liabilities
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          15,472
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          9,813
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 0.0px" valign="top">
          Stockholders&#8217; equity
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          197,186
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          182,912
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; text-align: left; padding-left: 20.0px" valign="top">
          Total liabilities and stockholders&#8217; equity
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          606,826
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $
        </td>
        <td style="white-space: nowrap; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; padding-left: 0.0px; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          411,079
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p>
      CONTACT:<br>The Middleby Corporation<br>Darcy Bretz, Investor and Public
      Relations,<br>(847) 429-7756<br>or<br>Tim Fitzgerald, Chief Financial
      Officer,<br>(847) 429-7744
    </p>
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