Middleby spin-off Midera (NASDAQ: MFP) starts trading as independent
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Midera Food Processing, Inc. has been spun off from The Middleby Corporation and is now an independent public company. Effective at 12:01 a.m. on July 6, 2026, Middleby distributed 100% of Midera’s common stock to its stockholders on a pro rata basis, with each stockholder receiving one Midera share for every one Middleby share held as of June 26, 2026.
Midera will begin trading on Nasdaq under the symbol MFP on July 7, 2026. The company and Middleby entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, Tax Matters Agreement, Employee Matters Agreement, Intellectual Property Matters Agreement and a Transition Services Agreement to govern post-spin operations. Midera installed a full board and executive team, adopted an amended charter and bylaws, and starts life as a stand-alone global food processing technology platform with more than 30 brands and a large installed equipment base.
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Insights
Midera’s 8-K formalizes its spin-off, governance framework, and Nasdaq debut.
Midera Food Processing is now fully separated from The Middleby Corporation, with Middleby distributing all outstanding Midera shares pro rata to its own stockholders on a one-for-one basis. Trading on Nasdaq under MFP begins on July 7, 2026, establishing Midera as an independent public company.
The filing details the core intercompany arrangements: a Separation and Distribution Agreement, Tax Matters Agreement, Employee Matters Agreement, Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, and Transition Services Agreement. These contracts outline how taxes, employees, intellectual property and shared services are handled between the two companies after the spin.
Governance and leadership are also put in place, including an eight-member board chaired by Robert Nerbonne and an executive team led by CEO Mark Salman and CFO Amy Campbell. Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, plus a Code of Conduct, establish the basic corporate framework. Future company filings will provide financial performance data as Midera operates independently.
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
Spin-off financial
Separation and Distribution Agreement financial
Tax Matters Agreement financial
Employee Matters Agreement financial
Transition Services Agreement financial
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation regulatory
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
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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)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Agreements with The Middleby Corporation
On July 6, 2026, The Middleby Corporation (“Middleby”) completed its spin-off of Midera Food Processing, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), into a new, publicly traded company (the “Spin-off”). As a result of the Spin-off, Middleby has no ownership interest in the Company. The Company has entered into the following agreements with Middleby in connection with the Spin-off in order to govern the ongoing relationship between the Company and Middleby after the Spin-off and to facilitate an orderly transition.
Separation and Distribution Agreement
On July 5, 2026, the Company entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement with Middleby (the “Separation Agreement”), that sets forth, among other things, the agreements between the Company and Middleby regarding the principal actions taken in connection with the Spin-off, including those related to the series of internal reorganization transactions that Middleby undertook prior to the Spin-off, pursuant to which the Company holds, through its subsidiaries, Middleby’s food processing business, and the distribution of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company common stock to Middleby’s stockholders pursuant to the Spin-off. It also sets forth other agreements that govern certain aspects of the Company’s relationship with Middleby following the Spin-off. A summary of the Separation Agreement can be found in the Company’s Information Statement included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 22, 2026 (the “Information Statement”), under the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Material Agreements with Middleby—The Separation and Distribution Agreement” which summary is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Separation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Separation Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Tax Matters Agreement
On July 5, 2026, the Company entered into a Tax Matters Agreement with Middleby (the “Tax Matters Agreement”). The Tax Matters Agreement governs the Company’s and Middleby’s respective rights, responsibilities and obligations with respect to tax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings and other matters regarding taxes. The foregoing description of the Tax Matters Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Tax Matters Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Employee Matters Agreement
On July 5, 2026, the Company entered into an Employee Matters Agreement with Middleby (the “Employee Matters Agreement”). The Employee Matters Agreement allocates liabilities and responsibilities relating to employment matters, employee compensation and benefit plans and programs and other related matters and governs certain compensation and employee benefit obligations with respect to the current and former employees and non-employee directors of each of the Company and Middleby, including the terms of equity-based awards granted by Middleby prior to the Spin-off. The Employee Matters Agreement also sets forth the general principles relating to employee matters with respect to both domestic and international employees, including with respect to collective bargaining agreements, allocation of assets and liabilities, workers’ compensation, payroll matters, regulatory filings, paid time off, commencing or continuing participation in employee benefit plans and the sharing of employee information, in each case as it relates to the Spin-off. The foregoing description of the Employee Matters Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employee Matters Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Intellectual Property Matters Agreement
On July 5, 2026, the Company entered into an Intellectual Property Matters Agreement with Middleby (the “Intellectual Property Matters Agreement”). The Intellectual Property Matters Agreement provides for, among other things, intellectual property cross-licenses, intellectual property ownership, sublicensing, prosecution, enforcement and other arrangements. The foregoing description of the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Transition Services Agreement
On July 5, 2026, the Company entered into a Transition Services Agreement with Middleby (the “Transition Services Agreement”). Pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement, the Company and Middleby will each provide specified services, including information technology, payroll and benefits, accounting, finance, compliance and administrative activities, to the other on a transitional basis to help ensure an orderly transition following the Spin-off. The foregoing description of the Transition Services Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Transition Services Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 3.03 | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information set forth in Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.
| Item 5.01 | Changes in Control of Registrant. |
Immediately prior to the consummation of the Spin-off, the Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Middleby. Effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on July 6, 2026, Middleby completed the Spin-off through the distribution by Middleby of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company common stock on a pro rata basis to the holders of Middleby common stock. Each Middleby stockholder received one share of Company common stock for every one share of Middleby common stock held of record as of 4:00 p.m., Central Time, on June 26, 2026.
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Appointment of Directors
Effective as of immediately prior to the consummation of the Spin-off, the following individuals are now serving as members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) in the positions noted below:
| Name | Position | |
| Robert A. Nerbonne | Director and Chair of the Board | |
| Mark M. Salman | Director and Chief Executive Officer | |
| Carlos A. Fernandez Villena | Director | |
| Timothy J. FitzGerald | Director | |
| James T. Glerum, Jr. | Director | |
| Brian M. Jacoby | Director | |
| Cathy L. McCarthy | Director | |
| Janet H. Zelenka | Director |
Biographical information on each member of the Board can be found in the Information Statement under the section entitled “Management—Directors and Executive Officers Following the Spin-Off” which is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.
Also, effective as of immediately prior to the consummation of the Spin-off, the committees of the Board were comprised of the following members:
| Committee | Members | |
| Audit Committee | Janet H. Zelenka (Chair) | |
| Brian M. Jacoby | ||
| James T. Glerum, Jr. | ||
| Cathy L. McCarthy | ||
| Compensation Committee | Brian M. Jacoby (Chair) | |
| Carlos A. Fernandez Villena | ||
| Robert A. Nerbonne | ||
| Janet H. Zelenka | ||
| Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | Cathy L. McCarthy (Chair) Robert A. Nerbonne | |
| James T. Glerum, Jr. | ||
Each of the non-employee directors of the Company will receive compensation for their service as a director or committee member in accordance with plans and programs more fully described in the Information Statement under the heading “Director Compensation” which is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.
There are no arrangements or understandings between any of the individuals listed above and any other person pursuant to which such individuals were selected as directors. There are no transactions involving any of the individuals listed above that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Appointment of Certain Executive Officers
Effective as of immediately prior to the consummation of the Spin-off, the following individuals are now serving as executive officers of the Company in the positions noted below:
| Name | Position | |
| Mark M. Salman |
Chief Executive Officer | |
| Amy A. Campbell |
Chief Financial Officer | |
| Mark S. Bowie |
Chief Operating Officer | |
| Matthew R. Fuchsen |
Chief Strategy Officer |
The plans and programs in which the named executive officers of the Company may participate in at the Company are substantially similar to those plans and programs in which each named executive officer was eligible to participate in at Middleby prior to the Spin-off, as described in the Information Statement under the heading “Executive Compensation” which is incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference. In addition, prior to the Spin-off, Mr. Salman and the Company entered into an employment agreement, the terms of which are further described in the Information Statement under the heading “Executive Compensation”. Further, in connection with the Spin-off and as described in the Information Statement under the heading “Executive Compensation”, the Company adopted, and the sole stockholder of the Company approved, The Midera Food Processing, Inc. 2026 Long-Term Incentive Plan, and the Company adopted the Midera Food Processing, Inc. Value Creation Incentive Plan and the Midera Food Processing, Inc. Executive Severance Plan. Summaries of the material features of these plans can be found in the Information Statement under the section entitled “Executive Compensation” and the foregoing descriptions of these plans (including Mr. Salman’s employment agreement) set forth under this Item 5.02 do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, the full text of the forms of the plans, which are attached to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-43265) initially filed with the SEC on May 4, 2026, as amended by Amendment No. 1 as filed with the SEC on May 27, 2026, as Exhibit 10.5, Exhibit 10.11, Exhibit 10.12 and Exhibit 10.13, and are incorporated into this Item 5.02 by reference.
There are no arrangements or understandings between any of the individuals listed above and any other persons pursuant to which such individuals were appointed to their respective positions. There are also no family relationships between such individuals and any director or executive officer of the Company. There are no transactions involving any of the individuals listed above that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act.
| Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
Effective as of July 2, 2026, the certificate of incorporation, as amended, of the Company was amended and restated (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”). Effective as of July 2, 2026, the bylaws of the Company, as amended, were amended and restated (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”). A description of the material provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws can be found in the Information Statement under the section entitled “Description of Capital Stock” which is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.
The foregoing descriptions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference, and the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and incorporated into this Item 5.03 by reference.
| Item 5.05 | Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics. |
In connection with the Spin-off, the Board adopted a Code of Conduct. A copy of the Company’s Code of Conduct is available under the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at investors.midera.com. Except with respect to the Company’s Code of Conduct, information on the website is not deemed included or incorporated by reference into this Current Report on Form 8-K.
| Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure. |
On July 6, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing, among other things, the consummation of the Spin-off. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information set forth in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is deemed to be “furnished” and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information set forth in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 2.1 | Separation and Distribution Agreement, by and between The Middleby Corporation and Midera Food Processing, Inc., dated as of July 5, 2026. | |
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Midera Food Processing, Inc. (effective as of July 2, 2026). | |
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Midera Food Processing, Inc. (effective as of July 2, 2026). | |
| 10.1 | Tax Matters Agreement, by and between The Middleby Corporation and Midera Food Processing, Inc., dated as of July 5, 2026. | |
| 10.2 | Employee Matters Agreement, by and between The Middleby Corporation and Midera Food Processing, Inc., dated as of July 5, 2026. | |
| 10.3 | Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, by and between The Middleby Corporation and Midera Food Processing, Inc., dated as of July 5, 2026. | |
| 10.4 | Transition Services Agreement, by and between The Middleby Corporation and Midera Food Processing, Inc., dated as of July 5, 2026. | |
| 99.1 | Press Release, dated July 6, 2026, issued by Midera Food Processing, Inc. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |
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.
| MIDERA FOOD PROCESSING, INC. | ||||||
| Date: July 6, 2026 | By: | /s/ Amy A. Campbell | ||||
| Amy A. Campbell | ||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||
Exhibit 99.1
Midera Food Processing Completes Spin-Off, Begins Trading Tomorrow as Independent, Public Company
Leading global pure-play food processing technology platform with proven total line solutions, 30+ established brands and a differentiated growth strategy
Mark Salman, CEO, and seasoned management team bring decades of food processing expertise and a proven acquisition playbook to Midera’s public debut
Midera begins trading tomorrow, July 7, 2026, on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “MFP”
ROSEMONT, Ill.— July 6, 2026 — Midera Food Processing, Inc. (“Midera” or the “Company”), a leading global pure-play food processing technology platform, today announced that its spin-off from The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ: MIDD) (“Middleby”) is complete, and it will begin trading as an independent company under the ticker symbol “MFP,” effective at the market opening tomorrow, July 7, 2026. In connection with Midera’s public debut, the Company will ring the Closing Bell at Nasdaq on July 8, 2026.
Midera has a portfolio of 30+ industry-leading brands, a global equipment and systems installed base of more than 100,000 units, and a track record of delivering results through multiple economic cycles. The Company’s total line solutions play a key role in shaping how the world’s food gets made. Midera’s technological capabilities underpin the production of many of the world’s most widely consumed food categories – protein, bakery, and snack – and its expertise is directly aligned with the structural forces driving global food production.
“As an independent, publicly traded company, Midera enters the market in a strong financial position as we advance our growth strategy and invest in the technologies that will define the future of food production,” said Mark Salman, Chief Executive Officer of Midera. “We have built this platform through more than 30 acquisitions since 2005, developing disciplined capabilities in deal origination, integration and operational improvement. Our total line solutions allow us to do what no one else in the industry can: design, integrate, commission, and support a complete production line across protein, bakery, and snack categories. We look forward to being the partner global food manufacturers rely on as rising demand, labor scarcity, food safety requirements, and sustainability imperatives drive the next wave of investment in food processing technology.”
To complete the spin-off, which was effective as of today at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, Middleby distributed all of the issued and outstanding shares of Midera common stock to Middleby stockholders on the basis of one share of Midera common stock for every one share of Middleby common stock held as of 4:00 p.m. Central Time on June 26, 2026, the record date for the distribution.
Midera’s Experienced Leadership Team and Board of Directors
Midera begins its journey as an independent public company with a proven leadership team that brings decades of collective experience in food processing, industrial technology, and global operations. In addition to Mr. Salman, the executive team consists of Amy Campbell, Chief Financial Officer; Mark Bowie, Chief Operating Officer; and Matthew Fuchsen, Chief Strategy Officer. The Company’s leadership team has strong customer relationships across the protein, bakery, and snack processing markets and a long track record of driving innovation and operational excellence.
The management team is supported by a deep and highly experienced Board of Directors, chaired by Robert Nerbonne, a former director of Middleby and veteran chief executive in the commercial foodservice equipment industry. It also includes Mr. Salman; Carlos Fernandez Villena, former senior executive of JBT Corporation (now JBT Marel) and current Chairman of OptiCept Technologies AB; Timothy FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer of Middleby; James Glerum, Jr., former Vice Chairman, Investment Banking at Citigroup and current director of Amcor plc and Tennant Company; Brian Jacoby, Founding Partner and Head of Research at Garden Investments and former Partner at Trian Fund Management; Cathy McCarthy, President and CEO of Cross Tack Consulting and a former director of Middleby; and Janet Zelenka, former Chief Financial Officer and Chief Information Officer of Stericycle, Inc. and current director of FTI Consulting, IDEAL Industries, and U.S. Venture. Together, the Board brings extensive public company governance, financial, and industry expertise to guide Midera.
About Midera Food Processing
Midera Food Processing provides food processing equipment and automation solutions for industrial protein, bakery, and snack producers, delivering total line solutions from preparation and thermal processing through packaging. With a portfolio of 30+ industry-leading brands reaching customers across six continents, Midera helps food processors produce safer, more consistent products while improving efficiency and reducing waste at scale. Headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, the Company employs approximately 2,800 people worldwide. For more information about Midera, please visit www.midera.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” subject to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations with respect to the Company’s future performance, strategy, growth opportunities and value creation following the completed spin-off from Middleby (the “Spin-off”). The Company cautions investors that such statements are estimates and are highly dependent upon a variety of factors. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The following are some of the important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements: changing market conditions; volatility in earnings resulting from goodwill impairment losses, which may occur irregularly and in varying amounts; variability in financing costs and interest rates; quarterly variations in operating results; dependence on key customers; risks associated with the Company’s foreign operations, including international exposure, political risks affecting international sales, market acceptance and demand for the Company’s products and the Company’s ability to manage the risk associated with the exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; the Company’s ability to protect its trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property; changing market conditions, including inflation; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the impact of announced management and organizational changes; intense competition in the Company’s business including the impact of both new and established global competitors; unfavorable tax law changes and tax authority rulings; cybersecurity attacks and other breaches in security; the continued ability to realize profitable growth through the sourcing and completion of strategic acquisitions; the timely development and market acceptance of the Company’s products; the availability and cost of raw materials; the potential that the Company does not realize all of the expected benefits of the Spin-off; the failure of the Spin-off to qualify for the expected tax treatment; potential adverse effects of the Spin-off, including on the ability of the Company to develop and maintain relationships with personnel, customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business or the Company’s business, financial condition,
results of operations and financial performance; and other risks detailed in the Company’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof and, except as required by federal securities laws and rules and regulations of the SEC, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Investors
investors@midera.com
Media
midera@icrinc.com