Sec Form 13D Filing - Engaged Capital LLC filing for SunOpta Inc. (STKL) - 2022-08-18

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. 7)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)

 

August 16, 2022

(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).

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				CAYMAN ISLANDS
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							8,993,651
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							8,993,651
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				8,993,651
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				8.0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A, LP

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☐

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

WC

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

DELAWARE

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

300,000

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

- 0 -

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

300,000

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

300,000

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

Less than 1%

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

PN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Special Situation Fund, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				- 0 -
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							8,993,651
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							8,993,651
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				8,993,651
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				8.0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				CAYMAN ISLANDS
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							8,993,651
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							8,993,651
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				8,993,651
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				8.0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				CO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital, LLC
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							10,047,781
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							10,047,781
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				10,047,781
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				8.8%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				OO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							10,047,781
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							10,047,781
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				10,047,781
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				8.8%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				OO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Glenn W. Welling
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				USA
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							10,047,781
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							10,047,781
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				10,047,781
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				8.8%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

 

The following constitutes Amendment No. 7 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 7”). This Amendment No. 7 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

Item 2.

Identity and Background.

Item 2 is hereby amended to add the following:

Engaged Capital Special Situation no longer beneficially owns any Shares and shall cease to be a Reporting Person immediately upon the filling of this Amendment No. 7. The remaining Reporting Persons will continue filing statements on Schedule 13D with respect to their beneficial ownership of securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. Each of the remaining Reporting Persons is party to the Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6.

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

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 3,753,651 Shares directly owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master is approximately $18,019,166, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 294,130 Shares directly held in the Engaged Capital Account is approximately $1,938,317, 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.

Purpose of Transaction.

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 one of the largest positions in Engaged Capital’s portfolio.

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

Items 5(a) – (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 107,725,647 Shares outstanding as of August 5, 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 August 11, 2022.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Flagship Master directly beneficially owned 8,993,651 Shares, including 5,240,000 Shares issuable upon the conversion of 13,100 shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, constituting approximately 8.0% 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 8,993,651 Shares directly beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, constituting approximately 8.0% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A directly beneficially owned 300,000 Shares, consisting of 300,000 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, Engaged Capital Special Situation did not beneficially own any Shares.

As of the date hereof, 754,130 Shares were directly beneficially held in the Engaged Capital Account, including 460,000 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 10,047,781 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 8.8% of the Shares outstanding. Engaged Holdings, as the managing member of Engaged Capital, may be deemed to beneficially own the 10,047,781 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 8.8% 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 10,047,781 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 8.8% 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.

(b)       By virtue of their respective positions with Engaged Capital Flagship Master, each of Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital Offshore, Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling may be deemed to have sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares reported beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master.

By virtue of their respective positions with Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A, each of Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling may be deemed to have sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares reported beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A.

By virtue of their respective positions with the Engaged Capital Account, each of Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling may be deemed to have sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares beneficially held in the Engaged Capital Account.

Pursuant to the Voting Trust Agreement (as defined and described in Amendment No. 4 to the Schedule 13D), 6,000,000 Special Voting Shares (as defined and described in Amendment No. 4 to the Schedule 13D) were issued to and deposited with Engaged Holdings, as trustee for, and on behalf of, the Engaged Investors (as defined and described in Amendment No. 4 to the Schedule 13D), which entitle the holder thereof to one vote per Special Voting Share on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Shares, voting together as a single class, subject to certain exceptions.

(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.

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

Item 6 is hereby amended to add the following:

On August 18, 2022, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons who will remain Reporting Persons subsequent to this Amendment No. 7 agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. A copy of this agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:

99.1

Joint Filing Agreement, dated August 18, 2022.

 

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: August 18, 2022

 

	Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Co-Invest IV-A, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Special Situation Fund, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd.
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Director

 

 

	Engaged Capital, LLC
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Sole Member

 

 

	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
	Glenn W. Welling

 

 

SCHEDULE B

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

Nature of the Transaction

Securities Purchased/(Sold)

Price ($)

Date of Purchase/Sale

 

ENGAGED CAPITAL FLAGSHIP MASTER FUND, LP

 

Sale of Common Stock	(67,249)	11.0304	08/16/2022
Sale of Common Stock	(397,531)	10.7080	08/17/2022
Sale of Common Stock	(993,695)	10.4338	08/18/2022

 

 

ENGAGED CAPITAL, LLC
(Through the Engaged Capital Account)

 

Sale of Common Stock	(478,204)	11.0304	08/16/2022
Sale of Common Stock	(30,149)	10.7080	08/17/2022
Sale of Common Stock	(77,310)	10.4338	08/18/2022