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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): March 1, 2016

THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(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 2.02.       Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On March 1, 2016, The Middleby Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended January 2, 2016. A copy of that press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

The information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (including the exhibit hereto) shall not be considered "filed" 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 "filed" or incorporated by reference therein.

Item 9.01.       Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)       Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

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.

Exhibit Index

Exhibit 99.1

The Middleby Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

ELGIN, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2016--The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ: MIDD), a leading worldwide manufacturer of equipment for the commercial foodservice, food processing, and residential kitchen industries, today reported net sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year ended January 2, 2016. Net earnings for the fourth quarter were $50,287,000 or $0.88 diluted earnings per share on net sales of $534,707,000 as compared to the prior year fourth quarter net earnings of $51,749,000 or $0.91 diluted earnings per share on net sales of $434,995,000. Net earnings for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016 were $191,610,000 or $3.36 diluted earnings per share on net sales of $1,826,598,000 as compared to net earnings of $193,312,000 or $3.40 diluted earnings per share on net sales of $1,636,538,000 in the prior year.

2015 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Highlights

• Net sales increased 22.9% in the fourth quarter and 11.6% for the full fiscal year of 2015 over the comparative prior year periods. Sales related to recent acquisitions added 28.5% in the fourth quarter and 14.1% for the year offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates on foreign sales translated into U.S. Dollars, which reduced net sales by approximately 2.8% during the fourth quarter and 3.0% during the full fiscal year of 2015. Excluding the impact of acquisitions and foreign exchange, sales decreased 2.8% during the fourth quarter and 0.4% for the full year.
• Net sales at the company’s Commercial Foodservice Equipment Group decreased 0.5% in the fourth quarter and increased 7.7% for the full fiscal year of 2015 over the comparative 2014 periods. During fiscal 2014, the company completed the acquisition of Concordia. During fiscal 2015, the company completed the acquisitions of Desmon, Goldstein Eswood, Marsal and Induc. Excluding the impact of these acquisitions, sales decreased 4.4% in the fourth quarter, or 1.6% on a constant currency basis and increased 3.6%, or 6.3% on a constant currency basis for the full year. The fourth quarter of 2015 was comprised of a thirteen week period in comparison to fourteen weeks in the prior year quarter, resulting in comparatively lower sales.
• Net sales at the company’s Food Processing Equipment Group decreased 0.3% in the fourth quarter and 7.8% for the full fiscal year of 2015 as compared to 2014. During fiscal 2014, the company completed the acquisition of PES. During fiscal 2015, the company completed the acquisition of Thurne. Excluding the impact of these acquisitions, sales decreased by 4.0% in the fourth quarter, or increased 0.5% on a constant currency basis and decreased 13.7% for the full year, or 8.3% on a constant currency basis. Despite the decline in sales, the backlog at this segment increased from $67.7 million at the end of 2014 to $108.5 million at the end of 2015.
• Net sales at the company’s Residential Kitchen Equipment Group increased 139.8% in the fourth quarter and 49.7% for the full fiscal year of 2015 as compared to 2014. During fiscal 2014, the company completed the acquisition of U-Line. During fiscal 2015, the company completed the acquisitions of AGA and Lynx. Excluding the impact of these acquisitions, sales decreased by 11.9% in the fourth quarter, or 10.9% on a constant currency basis and decreased 12.7% for the full year, or 11.6% on a constant currency basis. The decline in revenues reflects lower sales at Viking due in part to disruption from recent product recalls.
• Gross profit in the fourth quarter increased to $198.9 million from $169.1 million, reflecting the impact of higher sales volumes, offset by the impact of foreign exchange rates. The gross margin rate decreased from 38.9% to 37.2%. For the full fiscal year of 2015, gross profit increased to $706.5 million from $640.6 million and the gross margin rate decreased from 39.1% to 38.7%. The gross margin rate for both the quarter and year were impacted by lower gross margins at the recent acquisition of AGA. Excluding the impact of AGA the gross margin rate would have increased to 39.9% for the 2015 fourth quarter and 39.5% for the year, reflecting improved margins at the Food Processing Equipment Group and Residential Kitchen Equipment Group associated with the benefit of continued integration initiatives.
• Operating income decreased to $72.6 million from $82.3 million in the prior year quarter and increased for the full fiscal year of 2015 to $302.6 million from $300.4 million in the prior year. Operating income included $16.9 million of restructuring costs in the fourth quarter and $28.8 million for the full year primarily associated with cost reduction initiatives related to AGA and integration of the Viking Distributors acquired in 2013 and 2014. Additionally, the prior year operating income included a $6.5 million gain from a settlement related to a patent infringement litigation.
• Non-cash expenses during the fourth quarter of 2015 amounted to $24.0 million, including $11.7 million of depreciation, $8.1 million of intangible amortization and $4.2 million of share based compensation. Non-cash expenses for the full fiscal year of 2015 amounted to $68.8 million including $25.5 million of depreciation, $27.4 million of intangible amortization and $15.9 million of share based compensation.
• The provision for income taxes in the fourth quarter amounted to $19.1 million at a 27.5% effective rate in comparison to $25.0 million at a 32.6% effective rate in the prior year quarter. For the full fiscal year of 2015, the provision for income taxes amounted to $89.6 million at a 31.9% effective rate in comparison to $87.5 million at a 31.2% effective rate in the prior year.
• Net earnings per share amounted to $0.88 in the fourth quarter as compared to $0.91 in the prior year quarter and $3.36 for the full year in 2015 as compared to $3.40 in 2014. The AGA acquisition, inclusive of restructuring charges, was dilutive to earnings per share by $(0.28) in the fourth quarter and $(0.27) for the full year.
• Operating cash flows amounted to $82.0 million during the fourth quarter and $249.6 million for the full fiscal year of 2015. In comparison, operating cash flows for the full year increased from $233.9 million in the prior year.
• Total debt at the end of 2015 fiscal fourth quarter amounted to $766.1 million as compared to $754.9 million at the end of the third quarter and $598.2 million at the end of fiscal 2014. The increase in debt from the prior year reflects funding of $348.6 million of acquisition investments during 2015.

Selim A. Bassoul Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We realized solid sales growth at the Commercial Foodservice Equipment Group in 2015 as we continued to increase our business with chain restaurant customers adopting our new and innovative technologies. We also continued to realize growth in international markets despite challenging market and currency conditions. Profitability within this segment continued to remain strong, while integrating four businesses acquired in 2015. These acquisitions of Desmon, Marsal, Goldstein and Induc, further added to our portfolio of leading brands, our lineup of innovative technologies, and our global footprint.”

“We realized strong order rates at the Food Processing Equipment Group during the year and the backlog increased by approximately 60% in comparison to the prior year end. We continue to see strong demand for our innovative equipment solutions and a continued pipeline of projects moving into 2016. We made significant improvement in profitability at this segment over the past two years with EBITDA margin exceeding 25% in 2015 and now comparable to those of the foodservice segment,” said Mr. Bassoul.

Mr. Bassoul added, “At our Residential Kitchen Equipment Group, we continue to face the impact of a recent product recall that was inherited from the previous ownership of Viking. Despite this continuing impact, we remain excited about the prospects of the new product introductions we have launched in 2014 and 2015. We have redesigned every product line, including the development of a complete new offering of refrigeration, and have made significant investments to enhance product quality and service. We are starting to regain the confidence of builders and Viking is again being specified into new construction projects. We received excellent response to the new Viking product lineup at the recent Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (“KBIS”) and received the People’s Choice Award. We also continued to implement profit improvements within this segment, including the integration efforts related to the residential distribution operations acquired in 2013 and 2014.”

Mr. Bassoul, concluded “The recent acquisition of AGA Rangemaster Group plc and its related portfolio of premium residential brands, including AGA, Rangemaster, La Cornue, Marvel, Mercury, Falcon, Rayburn, Stanley, Grange and Fired Earth has been very positive. This acquisition significantly expands the scope of our Residential Kitchen Equipment Group. We are pleased with the initial progress of integration efforts in connection with AGA. Fourth quarter restructuring charges reflect the costs associated with initiatives to reduce expenses and improve efficiencies at this acquired business. We expect these costs savings to largely benefit the second half of 2016 and are anticipated to exceed $20 million annually.”

Conference Call

A conference call will be held at 10:00 a.m. Central time on March 2, 2016 and can be accessed by dialing (888) 391-6937 and providing conference code 58225073# or through the investor relations section of The Middleby Corporation website at www.middleby.com. An audio replay of the call will be available approximately one half hour after its completion and can be accessed by calling (855) 859-2056 and providing code 58225073#.

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.

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 in the commercial foodservice, food processing, and residential kitchen equipment industries. The company's leading equipment brands serving the commercial foodservice industry include Anets®, Beech®, Blodgett®, Blodgett Combi®, Blodgett Range®, Bloomfield®, Britannia®, Carter-Hoffmann®, Celfrost®, Concordia®, CookTek®, CTX®, Desmon®, Doyon®, Eswood®, FriFri®, Giga®, Goldstein®, Holman®, Houno®, IMC®, Induc®, Jade®, Lang®, Lincat®, MagiKitch'n®, Market Forge®, Marsal®, Middleby Marshall®, MPC©, Nieco®, Nu-Vu®, PerfectFry®, Pitco Frialator®, Southbend®, Star®, Toastmaster®, TurboChef®, Wells® and Wunder-Bar®. The company’s leading equipment brands serving the food processing industry include Alkar®, Armor Inox®, Auto-Bake®, Baker Thermal Solutions®, Cozzini®, Danfotech®, Drake®, Maurer-Atmos®, MP Equipment®, RapidPak®, Spooner Vicars®, Stewart Systems® and Thurne®. The company’s leading equipment brands serving the residential kitchen industry include AGA®, AGA Cookshop®, Brigade®, Divertimenti®, Falcon®, Fired Earth®, Grange®, Heartland®, La Cornue®, Leisure Sinks®, Lynx®, Marvel®, Mercury®, Rangemaster®, Rayburn®, Redfyre®, Sedona®, Stanley®, Turbochef®, U-Line® and Viking®.

The Middleby Corporation was named a Fortune Magazine’s Fastest Growing Company in 2014 and 2015. For more information about The Middleby Corporation and the company brands, please visit www.middleby.com.

CONTACT:
The Middleby Corporation
Darcy Bretz, (847) 429-7756
Investor and Public Relations
or
Tim FitzGerald, (847) 429-7744
Chief Financial Officer