AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 14, 1997
    
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-35397
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                         ------------------------------
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 2
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-2
    
 
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
                                     UNDER
 
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         ------------------------------
 
                            THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
 
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
                              
           DELAWARE                 36-3352497
 (State or other jurisdiction    (I.R.S. Employer
              of                  Identification
incorporation or organization)         No.)
2850 W. GOLF ROAD, SUITE 405 ROLLING MEADOWS, ILLINOIS 60008 (847) 758-3880 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices) JOHN J. HASTINGS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 2850 W. GOLF ROAD, SUITE 405 ROLLING MEADOWS, ILLINOIS 60008 (847) 758-3880 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) ------------------------------ Copies to: NATHANIEL SACK DONALD H. MESSINGER RUSSELL J. HERRON THOMPSON HINE & FLORY LLP D'ANCONA & PFLAUM 3900 KEY CENTER 30 NORTH LASALLE STREET, SUITE 2900 127 PUBLIC SQUARE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60602 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114-1216 (312) 580-2000 (216) 566-5500 (312) 580-0923 (FACSIMILE) (216) 566-5800 (FACSIMILE) ------------------------------ APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective. ------------------------------ If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. / / If the Registrant elects to deliver its latest annual report to security holders, or a complete and legible facsimile thereof, pursuant to Item 11(a)(1) of this Form, check the following box. / / If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / / If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / / If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. / / ------------------------------ THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION. The following table sets forth the various expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts. All of the amounts shown are estimated except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, the Nasdaq National Market System filing fee and the NASD filing fee. All of such expenses will be paid by the Registrant. SEC registration fee............................................ $ 8,243 Nasdaq National Market System filing fee........................ 17,500 NASD filing fee................................................. 3,220 Printing and engraving expenses................................. 100,000 Legal fees and expenses......................................... 75,000 Accounting fees and expenses.................................... 50,000 Transfer agent and registrar fees............................... 2,500 Miscellaneous................................................... 43,537 ---------- Total....................................................... $ 300,000 ---------- ----------
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("Delaware GCL") empowers a corporation, subject to certain limitations, to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and certain settlements) actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any suit or proceeding to which they are a party, so long as they acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, so long as they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct to have been unlawful. Such indemnification may extend to certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Registrant shall indemnify its directors and such of its officers, employees and agents as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware GCL. Section 102 of the Delaware GCL permits a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting a director's liability to a corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty. The enabling statute provides, however, that liability for breaches of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, or knowing violation of the law, and the unlawful purchase or redemption of stock or payment of unlawful dividends or the receipt of improper personal benefits cannot be eliminated or limited in this manner. The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision which eliminates, to the fullest extent permitted, director liability for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty. The Registrant has purchased liability coverage for its officers and directors insuring such officers and directors against losses arising from any wrongful act in his or her capacity as an officer or director. The form of Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1 hereto provides for the indemnification of the Registrant, its directors and officers and each person who controls the Registrant within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, by the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. Indemnification provisions are also contained in the warrant incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.2 hereto and the employment agreement incorporated by reference as Exhibit 10.13 hereto. II-1 ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Form of Underwriting Agreement* 3.1 Unofficial Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Middleby Corporation (as amended to August 23, 1996), incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q/A, Amendment No. 1, Exhibit 3(i), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed on August 23, 1996 3.2 Unofficial Amended and Restated Bylaws of The Middleby Corporation (as amended to August 23, 1996), incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q/A, Amendment No. 1, Exhibit 3(ii), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed on August 23, 1996 4.1 Certificate of Designations dated October 30, 1987, and specimen stock certificate relating to the Company's Preferred Stock, incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit (4), for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1988, filed on March 15, 1989 4.2 Warrant to purchase common stock of The Middleby Corporation dated January 10, 1995, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit (4) (d), for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994, filed on March 31, 1995 5 Opinion of D'Ancona & Pflaum* 10.1 Loan and Security Agreement dated January 9, 1995, by and among Middleby Marshall Inc. and Asbury Associates, Inc., as Borrowers, certain lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Sanwa Business Credit Corporation, as Agent and Lender, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit (4) (b), for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994, filed on March 31, 1995 10.2 First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (4)(b)(i), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed on August 13, 1996 10.3 Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of December 26, 1996, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit 4(b)(ii), for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 10.4 Third Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of January 22, 1997, incorporated by reference to Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit 4(b)(iii), for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 10.5 Note Agreement dated as of January 1, 1995, among Middleby Marshall Inc. and Asbury Associates, Inc. as Obligors, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit (4) (c), for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994, filed on March 31, 1995 10.6 Amendment No. 1 to Note Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (4)(c)(i), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed August 13, 1996 10.7 Amendment No. 2 to Note Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (4)(c)(ii), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed on August 13, 1996
- ------------------------ *Previously filed II-2
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.8 Amendment No. 3 to Note Agreement, dated as of August 15, 1996, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit 4(c)(iii), for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 10.9 "Second Amendment" (Amendment No. 4) to Note Agreement, dated as of January 15, 1997, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit 4(c)(iv), for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 10.10 Intercreditor Agreement dated as of January 10, 1995, by and among Sanwa Business Credit Corporation, as Agent, the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, as the Senior Noteholder, and First Security Bank of Utah, National Association, as Security Trustee and collateral Agent, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit (4) (e), for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994, filed on March 31, 1995 10.11 Amendment No. 1 to Intercreditor Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (4)(e)(i), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed on August 13, 1996 10.12 Amendment No. 2 to Intercreditor Agreement, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (4)(e)(ii), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed on August 13, 1996 10.13 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of William F. Whitman, Jr., dated January 1, 1995, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (10) (iii) (a), for the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 1995 10.14 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of David P. Riley, dated January 1, 1995, incorporated by reference to the Company's 10-Q, Exhibit (10) (iii) (b) for the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 1995 10.15 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of independent directors adopted as of January 1, 1995, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (10) (iii) (c), for the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 1995 10.16 The Middleby Corporation Amended and Restated 1989 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (10)(iii)(d), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed on August 13, 1996 10.17 1993 Performance Bonus Plan (Corporate Vice Presidents) incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit 10 (iii) (g), for the fiscal year ended January 1, 1994, filed on March 31, 1994 10.18 1996 Management Incentive Plan (Corporate Vice Presidents), incorporated by reference to Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit 10 (iii) (f), for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 1996, filed on August 13, 1996 10.19 Description of Supplemental Retirement Program, incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit 10 (c), for the fiscal quarter ended July 3, 1993, filed on August 25, 1993 10.20 The Middleby Corporation Stock Ownership Plan, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit (10) (iii) (m), for the fiscal year ended January 1, 1994, filed on March 31, 1994 10.21 Amendment to The Middleby Corporation Stock Ownership Plan dated as of January 1, 1994; incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K, Exhibit (10) (iii) (n), for the fiscal year ended December 31,1994, filed on March 31, 1995
II-3
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.22 Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Company's Cherry Hill, New Jersey facility, with attached lease, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-Q, Exhibit (10)(iii)(j), for the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 1996, filed on November 12, 1996 10.23 Asset Purchase Agreement among Middleby Marshall Inc., Victory Refrigeration Company and Victory Acquisition Group dated December 27, 1996, incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K dated January 23, 1997, Exhibit (10)(iii)(k), filed on February 7, 1997 23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP** 23.2 Consent of D'Ancona & Pflaum (included in Exhibit 5)* 24 Powers of Attorney (included on Page II-5)*
- ------------------------ *Previously filed **Filed by this Amendment ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions (see response to Item 15 above), or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in said Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. II-4 SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-2 and has duly caused this amendment to registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Rolling Meadows, State of Illinois on October 14, 1997. THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION (REGISTRANT) By: /s/ JOHN J. HASTINGS ----------------------------------------- John J. Hastings EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TREASURER AND SECRETARY (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER)
KNOW ALL PEOPLE BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned directors and officers of The Middleby Corporation, a Delaware corporation, which is filing a registration statement on Form S-2 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, hereby constitute and appoint David P. Riley, John J. Hastings and William F. Whitman, Jr., and each of them, each as their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign such Registration Statement and any or all pre-effective and post-effective amendments to the registration statement, including a Prospectus or an amended Prospectus therein and any subsequent registration statement for the same offering that may be filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all other documents in connection therewith to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all interests and purposes as each of them might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. II-5 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment to registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. SIGNATURE TITLE DATE - ------------------------------ -------------------------- ------------------- President, Chief Executive /s/ DAVID P. RILEY* Officer and Director - ------------------------------ (Principal Executive October 14, 1997 David P. Riley Officer) Executive Vice President, /s/ JOHN J. HASTINGS Chief Financial Officer, - ------------------------------ Treasurer and Secretary October 14, 1997 John J. Hastings (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ WILLIAM F. WHITMAN, JR.* Chairman of the Board and - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 William F. Whitman, Jr. /s/ ROBERT R. HENRY* - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 Robert R. Henry /s/ A. DON LUMMUS* - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 A. Don Lummus /s/ JOHN R. MILLER, III* - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 John R. Miller, III /s/ PHILIP G. PUTNAM* - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 Philip G. Putnam /s/ SABIN C. STREETER* - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 Sabin C. Streeter /s/ JOSEPH G. TOMPKINS* - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 Joseph G. Tompkins /s/ LAURA B. WHITMAN* - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 Laura B. Whitman /s/ ROBERT L. YOHE* - ------------------------------ Director October 14, 1997 Robert L. Yohe *By: /s/ JOHN J. HASTINGS - ------------------------------ John J. Hastings ATTORNEY-IN-FACT II-6 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - --------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our report
and to all references to our Firm included in or made a part of this
Registration Statement.
 
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
October 14, 1997