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     <!-- Filer's Name:    The Middleby Corp                 -->
     <!-- Project Name:    NY14108                           -->
     <!-- Attorney Name:   John Lee                          -->
     <TITLE>Form 8K </TITLE>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>UNITED
STATES<BR>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>Washington, D.C. 20549  </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3><B>FORM 8-K</B></FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B>CURRENT REPORT
<BR>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>  </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported):&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>February 28, 2005<!-- DATE --> </b> </FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="4"><B> THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION<!-- Name of Registrant --></B></FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH="33%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><b>Delaware<!-- State--></b></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="34%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><b>1-9973<!-- File No.--></b></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="33%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><b>36-3352497<!-- Irs No.--></b></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>(State or Other Jurisdiction <BR>of Incorporation)</font></td>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>(Commission<BR>File Number) </FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="CENTER"><Font Face="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" Size=2>(IRS Employer<BR> Identification No.) </FONT></TD>
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     <TD WIDTH="70%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><b>1400 Toastmaster Drive, Elgin, Illinois<!-- ADDRESS --></b></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="10%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="20%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;60120<!-- ZIP CODE --></b></FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
     <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(Zip Code)</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><b>(847) 741-3300<!-- TELEPHONE NO. --></b><BR>
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:&nbsp;&nbsp; </FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"><b>N/A<!-- FORMER NAME OR ADDRESS --></b></FONT></TD></TR>
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     <TD WIDTH="600" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>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></TD></TR></TABLE><BR>

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 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </FONT></TD>
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 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </FONT></TD>
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 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act <BR>(17 CFR
240.14d-2(b)) </FONT></TD>
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 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act <BR>(17 CFR
240.13e-4(c)) </FONT></TD>
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<TD WIDTH=12%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B>Item 1.01</B> </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=88%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
<B>Entry Into a Material Agreement.</B></FONT></TD>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On
February 28, 2005, The Middleby Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;) agreed to grant
options under the Company&#146;s 1998 Stock Option Plan to the following
officers of the Company: Mark A. Sieron, Phil D. Dolori, Martin M. Lindsay and Nestor Ibrahim
(collectively, the &#147;Officers,&#148; and each, an &#147;Officer&#148;).
Each of the Officers was granted the number of options (the &#147;Options&#148;)
as set forth below to purchase the Company&#146;s common stock at an exercise price of
$53.93 per share, which was the closing price of the common stock on February 28, 2005.  </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark
A. Sieron: 25,000 Options  </FONT></TD></TR>
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phil
D. Dolori: 25,000 Options </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Martin
M. Lindsay: 10,000 Options
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nestor
Ibrahim: 5,000 Options </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
term of the Options is ten years. The vesting of the Options are subject to and dependent
upon the Company obtaining certain performance targets. If an Officer&#146;s
employment is terminated, the Option may be exercised to the extent that portion of the
Option is vested at the time of termination for a period following the termination date
of one year if the termination was due to death or disability of the Officer
and three months if the termination was for any other reason. The grant of Options remain
subject to each Officer entering into a stock option agreement with the
Company.  </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>SIGNATURES </FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></TD></TR>
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    <TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="48%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">THE
MIDDLEBY CORPORATION<!-- COMPANY --> </FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Dated:</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="39%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2"> March 4, 2005  <!-- DATE--> </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="5%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">By: </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="43%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp;/s/ Timothy J. FitzGerald  <!-- NAME --> </FONT></TD>
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    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD> <HR NOSHADE SIZE="1"> </TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">&nbsp; </FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="48%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Timothy J. FitzGerald<BR>
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MIDDLEBY CORP", "cik": "0000769520", "assigned-sic": "3580", "irs-number": "363352497", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-09973", "film-number": "05662198"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE", "city": "ELGIN", "state": "IL", "zip": "60120", "phone": "8477413300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE", "city": "ELGIN", "state": "IL", "zip": "60120"}}
Form 8K
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
February 28, 2005
THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
1-9973
36-3352497
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1400 Toastmaster Drive, Elgin, Illinois
60120
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
(847) 741-3300
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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:
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01
Entry Into a Material Agreement.
On
February 28, 2005, The Middleby Corporation (the "Company") agreed to grant
options under the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan to the following
officers of the Company: Mark A. Sieron, Phil D. Dolori, Martin M. Lindsay and Nestor Ibrahim
(collectively, the "Officers," and each, an "Officer").
Each of the Officers was granted the number of options (the "Options")
as set forth below to purchase the Company's common stock at an exercise price of
$53.93 per share, which was the closing price of the common stock on February 28, 2005.
Mark
A. Sieron: 25,000 Options
Phil
D. Dolori: 25,000 Options
Martin
M. Lindsay: 10,000 Options
Nestor
Ibrahim: 5,000 Options
The
term of the Options is ten years. The vesting of the Options are subject to and dependent
upon the Company obtaining certain performance targets. If an Officer's
employment is terminated, the Option may be exercised to the extent that portion of the
Option is vested at the time of termination for a period following the termination date
of one year if the termination was due to death or disability of the Officer
and three months if the termination was for any other reason. The grant of Options remain
subject to each Officer entering into a stock option agreement with the
Company.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE
MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
Dated:
March 4, 2005
By:
/s/ Timothy J. FitzGerald
Timothy J. FitzGerald
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer