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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001157523-09-001919.txt : 20090305
<SEC-HEADER>0001157523-09-001919.hdr.sgml : 20090305
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090305165716
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001157523-09-001919
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090304
ITEM INFORMATION:		Results of Operations and Financial Condition
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090305
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090305

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:		09659444

	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>a5910566.htm
<DESCRIPTION>THE MIDDLEBY CORP. 8-K
<TEXT>
<html>
  <head>
    <title></title>
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  <body style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">
    <hr style="width: 100%; height: 3.0 pt; color: #000000; text-align: center">


    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times New Roman">UNITED STATES</font><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><br style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 14pt"></font><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times New Roman">SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Washington,
      D.C. 20549</font><br><br><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>FORM
      8-K</b></font><br><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>CURRENT
      REPORT</b></font><br><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>
      Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b></font><br><br><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Date
      of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>March
      4, 2009</b></font><br><br><font style="font-size: 18pt"><b>THE MIDDLEBY
      CORPORATION</b></font><br><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Exact
      Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</font><br><br>
    </p>
    <div style="text-align:center">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto; font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Delaware</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; width: 34%; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>1-9973</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; width: 33%; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>36-3352497</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (State or Other Jurisdiction
          </p>
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            of Incorporation)
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 34%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (Commission File Number)
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 33%" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            (IRS Employer
          </p>
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Identification No.)
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 40%" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>1400 Toastmaster Drive, Elgin, Illinois</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 30%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; width: 30%; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>60120</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 40%" valign="bottom">
          <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Address
          of Principal Executive Offices)</font>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 30%">

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center; width: 30%" valign="bottom">
          <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">(Zip
          Code)</font>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <br>
      <b>(847) 741-3300</b><br>(<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Registrant&#8217;s
      telephone number, including area code)</font><br><br><b>N/A</b><br>(<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Former
      Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</font><br>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: left">
      <br>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">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-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Written
      communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
      230.425)</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">Soliciting
      material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)</font>
    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">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-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial Unicode MS">&#8414;</font>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">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; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

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

    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><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 March 4, 2009, The Middleby Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) issued a
      press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended
      January 3, 2009. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit
      99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
    </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.
    </p>
    <p>

    </p>
    <p>
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>Item
      9.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Financial Statements and Exhibits.</b></font><br>
    </p>
    <div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 88%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>(c)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Exhibits.</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 88%">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; width: 10%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Exhibit No.</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; width: 88%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Description</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 88%">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 10%" valign="top">
          Exhibit 99.1
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 88%" valign="top">
          The Middleby Corporation press release dated March 4, 2009
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p style="text-align: left">

    </p>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

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

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">SIGNATURES</font>
    </p>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">
      <font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman">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>
    <p style="text-indent: 30.0px; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt">
      <br>
      <br>

    </p>
    <div style="text-align:center">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto; font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td colspan="3" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

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

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 5%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Dated:
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 45%" valign="top">
          March 4, 2009
        </td>
        <td style="width: 3%">

        </td>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 4%" valign="top">
          By:
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; width: 43%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            /s/ Timothy J. FitzGerald
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

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

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

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 43%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Timothy J. FitzGerald
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

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

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

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 43%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Vice President and
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 5%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 45%">

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

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

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 43%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Chief Financial Officer
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>

    </p>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

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

    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <u><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>Exhibit
      Index</b></font></u>
    </p>
    <div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 10pt">
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; width: 10%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Exhibit No.</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; width: 88%" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Description</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="width: 10%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="width: 88%">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 10%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Exhibit 99.1
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="width: 2%">

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left; width: 88%" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            The Middleby Corporation press release dated March 4, 2009
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
  </body>
</html>
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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>a5910566ex99_1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
<TEXT>
<html>
  <head>
    <title></title>
<!--Copyright 2008 Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company.-->
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  </head>
  <body style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 8pt">
    <p style="text-align: right">
      <b>Exhibit 99.1</b>
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: center">
      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Times New Roman"><b>The
      Middleby Corporation Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results</b></font>
    </p>
    <p>
      ELGIN, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 2009--The Middleby Corporation
      (NASDAQ: MIDD), a leading worldwide manufacturer of restaurant and
      foodservice cooking equipment, today reported record net sales and
      earnings for the fourth quarter ended January 3, 2009. Net earnings for
      the fourth quarter were $17,313,000 or $1.04 per share on net sales of
      $151,020,000 as compared to the prior year fourth quarter net earnings
      of $15,256,000 or $0.89 per share on net sales of $145,533,000.
    </p>
    <p>
      Net earnings for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2009 were $63,901,000
      or $3.75 per share on net sales of $651,888,000 as compared to net
      earnings of $52,614,000 or $3.11 per share on net sales of $500,472,000
      in the prior fiscal year.
    </p>
    <p>
      <u><b>2008 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Highlights</b></u>
    </p>
    <ul>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        During 2008, Middleby completed three strategic acquisitions,
        including New Star International, Inc. on December 31, 2007, FriFri on
        April 22, 2008, and Giga Grand Cucine S.r.l. on April 23, 2008. The
        financial results of these acquisitions are reflected in the 2008
        statements of earnings and balance sheets from the date of acquisition.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        On January 5, 2009, subsequent to Middleby&#8217;s 2008 fiscal year end, the
        company also completed the acquisition of TurboChef Technologies, Inc.
        for $116.3 million in cash and 1,539,668 shares of Middleby common
        stock. The impact of this acquisition is not reflected in the 2008
        statements of earnings and balance sheets.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Earnings per share increased 17% to $1.04 in the fourth quarter of
        2008 as compared to $0.89 in the fourth quarter of 2007. For the full
        year, earnings per share increased 21% to $3.75 in 2008 from $3.11 in
        2007.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Net sales rose 3.8% in the fourth quarter and 30.3% in the 2008 fiscal
        year reflecting the impact of acquisitions. Excluding the impact of
        acquisitions, sales declined 14.4% during the fourth quarter and 4.6%
        for the full year. Sales of the Commercial Foodservice Group declined
        11.5% for the fourth quarter and 2.6% for the year, while sales of the
        Food Processing Group declined 29.3% for the quarter and 16.7% for the
        full year. Sales at both the commercial foodservice segment and food
        processing segment were impacted by the economic slowdown which
        occurred late in the third quarter of 2008.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Operating income increased by 9.7% to $30,157,000 from $27,501,000 for
        the quarter and by 28.7% to $119,618,000 from $92,933,000 for the year.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Depreciation and amortization amounted to $2.1 million in the 2008
        fourth quarter and $12.4 million for the entire year as compared to
        $1.5 million in the 2007 fourth quarter and $6.4 million for the 2007
        full year. Increased expense for fiscal 2008 reflects amortization and
        depreciation associated with the recent acquisitions.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Net interest expense and deferred financing costs amounted to
        $3,072,000 in the fourth quarter and $12,982,000 for the entire year
        as compared to $2,512,000 in the prior year fourth quarter and
        $6,650,000 in the 2007 full year. Increased interest expense reflects
        higher levels of debt to fund acquisition activities.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Total debt at the end of the 2008 fourth quarter amounted to
        $234,700,000 as compared to $257,653,000 at the end of the third
        quarter 2008 and $96,197,000 at the end of the 2007. Net borrowings
        were increased during the year by $204,693,000 to fund acquisition
        related activities, including the purchase of Star, Giga and Frifri.
        The Company also repurchased $12,359,000 its common stock during the
        third quarter of 2008.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        Immediately subsequent to year end, the company completed its
        acquisition of TurboChef Technologies. Year-end debt on a pro-forma
        basis reflecting the TurboChef acquisition would have amounted to
        approximately $369,004,000. The TurboChef transaction was funded under
        the Company&#8217;s $497,500,000 senior revolving credit facility. The
        senior revolving credit facility matures in December 2012.
      </li>
      <li style="margin-bottom: 10.0px">
        The senior revolving credit facility requires, among other things, the
        company maintain a leverage ratio of less than 3.5x and a minimum
        fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25x. On a pro-forma basis,
        immediately after giving effect to the TurboChef transaction, the
        company&#8217;s leverage ratio was approximately 2.25x and the fixed charge
        coverage ratio was approximately 8.0x.
      </li>
    </ul>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <p>
      Selim A. Bassoul Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, &#8220;We are
      pleased to report record fourth quarter and 2008 results despite the
      challenging environment. Business conditions were difficult during the
      fourth quarter due to the general economic situation. However, we were
      able to lessen this impact with cost reduction measures and improved
      profitability from recent acquisitions.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      Mr. Bassoul continued, &#8220;In 2009, we expect the business environment to
      continue to be difficult. We have taken, and continue to further
      implement measures, to reduce our costs to adjust our business to lower
      business volumes in the near-term. Additionally, we anticipate continued
      reduced costs of steel would benefit the second quarter and second half
      of the year. We are continuing to focus on acquisition integration
      initiatives and other strategic measures which will improve long-term
      profitability of the company. In addition to cost related synergies, we
      are implementing measures to better leverage our infrastructure across
      the brands to increase our product penetration in existing customer
      accounts, while at the same time better control our selling and
      distribution costs.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      Mr. Bassoul added, &#8220;We are excited about our most recent acquisition of
      TurboChef. TurboChef is the leader in the speed cook category of the
      commercial foodservice segment and compliments Middleby&#8217;s portfolio of
      leading brands and innovative technologies in commercial cooking. We are
      in process of improving the profitability of this business unit,
      including initiatives to reduce redundant corporate overhead expenses
      and reorganization of the residential business to bring costs in line
      with the current revenues. Additionally, cost reduction initiatives to
      realize synergies in the commercial oven business are underway. Despite
      the more difficult business environment we believe we are on target to
      achieve our expected profit objectives and anticipate that this
      acquisition will be accretive to earnings in 2010.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      Bassoul further commented, &#8220;We continue to focus on our new product
      initiatives, which should help offset reduced demand levels in the first
      half. We are rolling out our Blodgett hydrovection oven with a major
      restaurant chain customer and have several other products on test.
      Products such as the TurboChef I-Series ovens, the Middleby Marshall
      Mini-WOW! Conveyor Oven and the Pitco Rocket Fryer we believe will gain
      momentum during the year.&#8221;
    </p>
    <p>
      <u><b>Conference Call</b></u>
    </p>
    <p>
      A conference call will be held at 10:00 a.m. Central time on Thursday,
      March 5 and can be accessed by dialing (866) 439-4712 and providing
      conference code 554461# 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 and providing code#. 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 style="text-align: left">
      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;,
      Holman&#174;, Houno&#174;, Jade&#174;, Lang&#174;, MagiKitch'n&#174;, Middleby Marshall&#174;, Nu-Vu&#174;,
      Pitco Frialator&#174;, Southbend&#174;, Star&#174;, Toastmaster&#174;, TurboChef&#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 and 2008, by Crain&#8217;s Chicago Business
      as one of the Fastest 50 Growth Companies in 2007 and 2008, and by
      Forbes as one of the Best Small Companies in 2007 and 2008.
    </p>
    <p style="text-align: left">
      For more information about The Middleby Corporation and the company
      brands, please visit <u>www.middleby.com</u>.
    </p>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 8pt">
      <tr>
        <td colspan="10" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="top">
          <b>THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="10" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <u><b>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS</b></u>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="10" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="top">
          <b>(Amounts in 000&#8217;s, Except Per Share Information)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="10" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="top">
          <b>(Unaudited)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="10" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="10" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="4" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Three Months Ended</b>
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="4" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <b>Fiscal Year Ended</b>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            4<sup>th</sup> Qtr, 2008
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            4<sup>th</sup> Qtr, 2007
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            2008
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td colspan="2" style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            2007
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Net sales
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 151,020
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 145,533
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 651,888
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 500,472
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Cost of sales
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          93,525
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          90,555
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          403,746
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          308,107
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Gross profit
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          57,495
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          54,978
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          248,142
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          192,365
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Selling &amp; distribution expenses
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          13,850
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          14,194
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          63,593
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          50,769
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          General &amp; administrative expenses
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          13,488
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          13,283
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          64,931
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          48,663
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Income from operations
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          30,157
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          27,501
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          119,618
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          92,933
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          financing amortization, net
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          3,072
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,512
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          12,982
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          6,650
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Other (income), net
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          616
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (643
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,414
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          (1,696
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: left; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          )
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Earnings before income taxes
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          26,469
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          25,632
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          104,222
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          87,979
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Provision for income taxes
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          9,156
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          10,376
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          40,321
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          35,365
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Net earnings
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 17,313
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 15,256
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 63,901
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 52,614
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Basic
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            $ 1.08
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            $ 0.96
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 4.00
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 3.35
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Diluted
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            $ 1.04
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            $ 0.89
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 3.75
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 3.11
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            Weighted average number shares:
          </p>
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Basic
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          15,958
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            15,881
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          15,978
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          15,694
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td colspan="2">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Diluted
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,690
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            17,180
          </p>
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          17,030
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          16,938
        </td>
        <td style="border-bottom: double black 2.25pt">
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-right: 0pt; width: 100%; text-indent: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt">
      <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="height: 1.5pt; color: black">

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

        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align:left">
    <table cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Times New Roman; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 10.0px; font-size: 8pt">
      <tr>
        <td colspan="4" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="top">
          <b>THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="4" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="top">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            <u><b>CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</b></u>
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="4" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="top">
          <b>(Amounts in 000&#8217;s)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="4" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: center" valign="top">
          <b>(Unaudited)</b>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td colspan="4" style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right" valign="bottom">
          <p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px">
            &#160;
          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: center" valign="bottom">
          Jan 3, 2009
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Cash and cash equivalents
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 6,144
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 7,463
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Accounts receivable, net
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          85,969
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          73,090
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Inventories, net
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          91,551
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          66,438
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Prepaid expenses and other
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,646
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          17,986
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Current deferred tax assets
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          18,387
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          11,095
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Total current assets
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          209,697
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          186,413
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Property, plant and equipment, net
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          44,757
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Goodwill
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          266,663
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          134,800
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Other intangibles
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          125,501
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          52,581
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Other assets
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          7,880
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Total assets
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 654,498
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 413,647
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Current maturities of long-term debt
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 6,377
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 2,683
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Accounts payable
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          32,543
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          26,576
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Accrued expenses
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          102,579
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          95,581
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Total current liabilities
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          141,499
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Long-term debt
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          228,323
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          93,514
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Long-term deferred tax liability
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          33,687
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          2,568
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Other non-current liabilities
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          23,029
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 2.0px; padding-left: 0.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Stockholders&#8217; equity
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          227,960
        </td>
        <td>

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

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td>
          &#160;
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td style="padding-bottom: 4.0px; padding-left: 20.0px; text-align: left" valign="top">
          Total liabilities and stockholders&#8217; equity
        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 654,498
        </td>
        <td>

        </td>
        <td style="padding-left: 0.0px; border-bottom: double black 2.25pt; text-align: right; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.0px" valign="bottom">
          $ 413,647
        </td>
      </tr>
    </table>
    </div>
    <p>

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