Edgar Filing: MIDDLEBY CORP

Ownership Submission

FORM 4

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^*

BASSOUL SELIM A

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MIDDLEBY CORP [MIDD]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

__X__ Director	_____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below)	_____ Other (specify below)
CEO, Chairman, President

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

C/O THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION, 1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/29/2009

(Street)

ELGIN, IL 60120

4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	12/29/2009		D⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾		39,714 ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾	D	$ 0 ⁽¹⁾	780,906	D
Common Stocl	12/29/2009		D⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾		72,600 ⁽¹⁾ ⁽³⁾	D	$ 0 ⁽¹⁾	708,306	D
Common Stock	12/29/2009		D⁽¹⁾⁽⁴⁾		45,000 ⁽¹⁾ ⁽⁴⁾	D	$ 0 ⁽¹⁾	663,306	D
Common Stock	12/29/2009		A⁽⁵⁾		157,314 ⁽⁵⁾	A	$ 0 ⁽⁵⁾	820,620	D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)

Code

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
BASSOUL SELIM A C/O THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION 1400 TOASTMASTER DRIVE ELGIN, IL 60120	X		CEO, Chairman, President

Signatures

Selim A. Bassoul		12/31/2009
^**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	(1) The Board of Directors of the Company approved the cancellation of the unvested portion of Performance Stock first scheduled to vest at specified common stock prices of the Company on January 1, 2009, January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2011 pursuant to Restricted Stock Agreements with the Reporting Person.
(2)	(2) The cancelled shares relate to a portion of the Performance Stock award granted to the Reporting Person for a total of 139,000 shares on March 8, 2007. The Performance Stock was scheduled to vest in seven increments annually beginning January 1, 2008 with the final vesting period on January 1, 2014. Vesting was contingent on the 30 day avg. for the Company's common stock as follows: 2008 tranche - $62.50; 2009 tranche - $70; 2010 tranche - $77.50; 2011 tranche - $87.50; 2012 tranche - $100, 2013 tranche - $100, and 2014 tranche $100. To date, the 2008 tranche has vested. As a result of the cancellation, the 2009, 2010 and 2011 tranches have been cancelled.
(3)	(3) The cancelled shares relate to a portion of the Performance Stock award granted to the Reporting Person for a total of 121,000 shares on May 7, 2007. The Performance Stock was scheduled to vest in 20% increments annually beginning January 1, 2008 with the final vesting period on January 1, 2012. Vesting was contingent on the 30 day avg. for the Company's common stock as follows: 2008 tranche - $62.50; 2009 tranche - $70; 2010 tranche - $77.50; 2011 tranche - $87.50; and 2012 tranche - $100. As a result of the cancellation, the 2009, 2010 and 2011 tranches have been cancelled.
(4)	(4) The cancelled shares relate to a portion of the Performance Stock award granted to the Reporting Person for a total of 90,000 shares on May 8, 2008. The Performance Stock was scheduled to vest in 25% increments annually beginning January 1, 2009 with the final vesting period on January 1, 2012. Vesting was contingent on the 30 day avg. for the Company's common stock as follows: 2009 tranche - $61.23; 2010 tranche - $67.35; 2011 tranche - $74.08; 2012 tranche - $81.49. As a result of the cancellation, the 2009, 2010 and 2011 tranches have been cancelled.
(5)	(5) Transaction represents grant of Restricted Stock, which vests in two equal tranches, each subject to performance and time-based vesting requirements. Tranche 1 vests on March 15, 2011 if the Company has achieved a Return on Equity (as defined in the award agreement) of 10% for the fiscal 2010 period. Tranche 2 vests on January 1, 2012 (as measured on March 10, 2011) if the Company has achieved a Return on Equity of 12% for the same fiscal 2010 period. If the fiscal 2010 Return on Equity criteria is not met (as measured on March 10, 2011), the Restricted Stock will vest, on March 15, 2012, based on achievement of the same Return on Equity criteria for the fiscal 2011 period. If the Return on Equity criteria are not met for the fiscal 2010 or 2011 period, the Restricted Stock will be forfeited.

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