NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2026-- 26North Partners LP (“26North”) and The Middleby Corporation (“Middleby”) (NASDAQ: MIDD) announced that affiliates of 26North completed an acquisition of a controlling interest in Middleby’s Residential Kitchen business. Middleby will retain a significant non-controlling ownership stake as part of the joint venture. Upon closing, the business has been rebranded as Composition Brands, marking its next chapter as an independent platform of iconic premium and ultra-luxury residential kitchen and outdoor living brands.

Composition Brands is home to a curated collection of category-defining names, including Viking, AGA, Rangemaster, La Cornue, Lynx and U-Line. The new identity reflects a portfolio united by craftsmanship, thoughtful design and dependable performance, while preserving the individuality and heritage that have defined these brands for generations.

“Alongside the management team and Middleby, we’ve started the work needed to ensure Composition reaches its full potential as a standalone company,” said 26North Partner and Head of Private Equity Mark Weinberg. “Our focus is straightforward: support these market-leading brands with the resources, operating rigor and long-term perspective to strengthen performance and customer experience over time.”

Since signing the transaction, 26North has worked closely with Middleby and the Composition Brands leadership team through an extensive transition and planning process focused on continuity for employees, partners and customers, while establishing a strong foundation for the company’s next phase of ambitious growth.

Composition Brands will continue supporting partners across the residential ecosystem, including dealers, designers, architects and homeowners, with products and experiences shaped by design leadership, attentive service and uncompromising quality.

“Operating as an agile, independent company sets a higher standard for excellence,” said Composition Brands’ Chief Executive Officer Brody Connolly. “We can move faster to strengthen product performance, accelerate innovation and build shared capabilities that elevate every brand in the portfolio. That clarity of purpose will help us shape the next generation of luxury residential kitchens and outdoor living.”

About 26North

26North Partners LP is an integrated, multi-asset-class investment platform founded by Josh Harris that provides investment advice and opportunities to its clients across private equity, credit, insurance and reinsurance strategies.

The 26North team brings decades of experience managing third-party capital to help clients achieve their financial goals while making a lasting impact on the communities in which they operate.

Since launching in 2022, 26North has grown to over $32 billion in assets under management.

About Composition Brands

Composition Brands is an independent residential kitchen and outdoor living platform, home to a curated portfolio of premium and ultra-luxury brands. The company’s portfolio includes Viking, AGA, Rangemaster, La Cornue, Lynx and U-Line.

Composition Brands is committed to the long-term stewardship of distinctive brands defined by craftsmanship, thoughtful design and dependable performance, and to supporting partners across its ecosystem, including dealers, designers, architects, and homeowners. For more information on Composition Brands, please visit https://compositionbrands.com/.

About Middleby

The Middleby Corporation is a global leader in the foodservice industry. The company develops and manufactures a broad line of solutions used in commercial foodservice and food processing. Middleby showcases its advanced solutions in the Middleby Innovation Kitchens for commercial foodservice, industrial baking and protein Innovation Centers for food processing solutions. For more information about Middleby, please visit www.middleby.com.

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For 26North
Cristina Alesci
Managing Director
917 692 2110
calesci@26n.com

For The Middleby Corporation:
Investors:
Rebecca Ellin
SVP of Investor Strategy and Corporate Development
rellin@middleby.com

Media:
Darcy Bretz
VP of Corporate Communications
dbretz@middleby.com

Kate Schneiderman
Managing Director
ICR
Kate.Schneiderman@icrinc.com

Source: 26North Partners LP