Middleby (MIDD) risk factors, FY2025 10-K

Other

1. 01Current and future economic conditions could materially adversely affect the company’s business and financial performance57% rewritten
2. 02The company is subject to currency fluctuations and other risks from its operations outside the United States

Business and Operational Risks

1. 03The company now has and may continue to have a significant amount of indebtedness. At January 3, 2026, the company had $2.2 billion of borrowings and $4.5 million in letters of credit outstandingNew
2. 04The company’s Credit Facility (as defined below) limits its ability to conduct business, which could negatively affect the company’s ability to finance future capital needs and engage in other business activities28% rewritten
3. 05These restrictive covenants, among others, could negatively affect the company’s ability to finance its future capital needs, engage in other business activities or withstand a future downturn in the company’s business or the economy23% rewritten
4. 06Fluctuations in interest rates could adversely affect the company's results of operations and financial position
5. 07The company has a significant amount of goodwill and indefinite life intangibles, which have in the past, and could in the future, become impaired and require us to record significant impairment chargesNew
6. 08The company's defined benefit pension plans are subject to financial market risks that could adversely affect the company's results of operations and cash flows
7. 09The company faces intense competition in the commercial foodservice and food processing equipment industries and failure to successfully compete could impact the company’s results of operations and cash flows
8. 10The company is subject to risks associated with developing products and technologies, which could delay product introductions and result in significant expenditures27% rewritten
9. 11The company depends on key customers for a material portion of its revenues. As a result, changes in the purchasing patterns or loss of one or more key customers could adversely impact the company’s operating results
10. 12Price increases in some materials and disruptions in supply could affect the company’s profitability
11. 13The company faces risks related to health epidemics and other widespread outbreaks of contagious disease, which could significantly disrupt its operations and impact its operating results
12. 14The company may be the subject of product liability claims or product recalls, and it may be unable to obtain or maintain insurance adequate to cover potential liabilities
13. 15An increase in warranty expenses could adversely affect the company’s financial performance
14. 16The company’s financial performance is subject to significant fluctuations
15. 17The company may be unable to manage its growth

Strategic and Organizational Risks

1. 18The company’s acquisition, investment and alliance strategy involves risks. If the company is unable to effectively manage these risks, its business will be materially harmed
2. 19The company may not be able to successfully integrate any operations, personnel, services or products that it has acquired or may acquire in the future37% rewritten
3. 20An inability to identify or complete future acquisitions could adversely affect future growth
4. 21Expansion of the company’s international operations involves special challenges that it may not be able to meet. The company’s failure to meet these challenges could adversely affect its business, financial condition and operating results
5. 22In addition, the company is and will be required to comply with the laws and regulations of foreign governmental and regulatory authorities of each country in which the company conducts business
6. 23The impact of future transactions on the company’s common stock is uncertain
7. 24We are pursuing a plan separate our Food Processing business through a spin-off into an independent publicly traded company. The proposed spin-off may not be completed on the timeline currently contemplated or at all and may not achieve the intended benefits
8. 25The company’s business could suffer in the event of a work stoppage by its unionized labor force27% rewritten
9. 26The company depends significantly on its key personnel

Technology and Cybersecurity Risks

1. 27The company may not be able to adequately protect its intellectual property rights, which may materially harm its business
2. 28Any infringement by the company of a third party's patent rights could result in litigation and adversely affect its ability to provide, or could increase the cost of providing, the company’s products and services
3. 29The company is subject to information technology system failures, network disruptions, cybersecurity attacks and breaches in data security, which may materially adversely affect the company’s operations, financial condition and operating results

Tax, Legal and Regulatory Risks

1. 30The company may be subject to litigation, tax, and other legal compliance risks
2. 31The company’s reputation, ability to do business, and results of operations may be impaired by the improper conduct of any of its employees, agents, or business partners
3. 32The company is subject to potential liability under environmental laws
4. 33We are subject to risks associated with climate change legislation, regulation and international accords. In addition, failure to achieve or demonstrate progress towards our climate goals may expose us to liability and reputational harm
5. 34Unfavorable tax law changes and tax authority rulings may adversely affect financial results56% rewritten
6. 35The trading price of the company's common stock has been volatile, and investors in the company's common stock may experience substantial losses