15 Recent Activist Investor Campaigns

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8. The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD)

Value of Stake: N/A

Garden Investments Activist Campaign Initiated: January 2025

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A

The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) is a speciality industrial machinery company that designs manufactures, markets, and services commercial restaurants, food processing, and residential kitchen equipment. Garden Investments, a hedge fund founded by Ed Garden, has built a 5% stake in the company and started to push for changes aimed at boosting the stock’s value.

The hedge fund wants The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) to focus on its core commercial food service segment even as it continues to review other parts of the business, including the residential segment. In addition, the manufacturer of equipment and commercial food service has already budged into pressure and agreed to board changes. The company has already confirmed the appointment of Julie Bowerman and Ed Garden to its board as part of a management shakeup.

Additionally, The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) has agreed to spin off its food processing business as one of the ways of unlocking hidden value. Early in the year, the company confirmed it was considering strategic options, including a sell-off of its food processing and residential kitchen segment business units.

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