SEC Form SC 13D/A filed by SunOpta Inc. (Amendment)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No. 9)¹

SunOpta Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Shares, no par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

8676EP108

(CUSIP Number)

GLENN W. WELLING

ENGAGED CAPITAL, LLC

610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250

Newport Beach, California 92660

(949) 734-7900

STEVE WOLOSKY

RYAN NEBEL

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

January 10, 2023

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

The following constitutes Amendment No. 9 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 9”). This Amendment No. 9 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

Item 3 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

The securities purchased by each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A and held in the Engaged Capital Account were purchased with working capital (which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business). The aggregate purchase price of the 436,051 Shares directly owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master is approximately $1,347,061, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 33,713 Shares directly held in the Engaged Capital Account is approximately $222,169, including brokerage commissions.

Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (as defined and described in Amendment No. 3 to the Schedule 13D), on April 24, 2020, SunOpta Foods Inc., a subsidiary of the Issuer, issued (i) 13,100 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock (as defined and described in Amendment No. 3 to the Schedule 13D) to Engaged Capital Flagship Master for $13,100,000, (ii) 750 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock to Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A for $750,000 and (iii) 1,150 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock to the Engaged Capital Account for $1,150,000.

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

The sales of Shares reported herein were undertaken for the purposes of effectuating a portfolio rebalancing and are not an indication of the Reporting Persons’ view on the future prospects of the Issuer. The Issuer remains a significant position in Engaged Capital’s portfolio.

Items 5(a) and (c) are hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

(a)       The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 107,866,566 Shares outstanding as of November 4, 2022, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2022.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Flagship Master directly beneficially owned 5,754,069 Shares, including 5,318,018 Shares issuable upon the conversion of 13,100 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, constituting approximately 5.1% of the Shares outstanding. Each of Engaged Capital Fund and Engaged Capital Offshore, as feeder funds of Engaged Capital Flagship Master, may be deemed to beneficially own the 5,754,069 Shares directly beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, constituting approximately 5.1% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A directly beneficially owned 304,467 Shares, consisting of 304,467 Shares issuable upon the conversion of 750 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, 500,562 Shares were directly beneficially held in the Engaged Capital Account, including 466,849 Shares issuable upon the conversion of 1,150 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

Engaged Capital, as the general partner and investment adviser of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A and the investment adviser of the Engaged Capital Account, may be deemed to beneficially own the 6,559,098 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A and beneficially held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.8% of the Shares outstanding. Engaged Holdings, as the managing member of Engaged Capital, may be deemed to beneficially own the 6,559,098 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A and beneficially held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.8% of the Shares outstanding. Mr. Welling, as the Founder and CIO of Engaged Capital and sole member of Engaged Holdings, may be deemed to beneficially own the 6,559,098 Shares beneficially owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A and beneficially held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.8% of the Shares outstanding.

The filing of this Schedule 13D shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Persons are, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the beneficial owners of any securities of the Issuer that he or it does not directly own. Each of the Reporting Persons specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein that he or it does not directly own.

(c)       Schedule B annexed hereto lists all transactions in securities of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons during the past 60 days. All of such transactions were effected in the open market unless otherwise noted therein.

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: January 12, 2023

SCHEDULE B

Transactions in the Securities of the Issuer During the Past 60 Days

ENGAGED CAPITAL FLAGSHIP MASTER FUND, LP

ENGAGED CAPITAL, LLC
(Through the Engaged Capital Account)