Simpson Thacher represented SunOpta Inc. (“SunOpta”) in connection with the financing of its approximately $444 million acquisition of Sunrise Holdings (Delaware), Inc. (“Sunrise Growers”). The financing transactions included a $100 million public offering of SunOpta’s common shares and a new $330 million second lien secured loan facility of SunOpta’s subsidiary SunOpta Foods Inc. The equity offering closed on September 30, 2015, and the loan and acquisition closed on October 9, 2015.
SunOpta is a leading global company focused on organic, non-genetically modified ("non-GMO") and specialty foods. SunOpta specializes in the sourcing, processing and packaging of organic and non-GMO food products, integrated from seed through packaged products, with a focus on strategic vertically integrated business models. Sunrise Growers is the leading processor of conventional and organic frozen fruit in the United States.
The Simpson Thacher team includes Ed Tolley, John Ericson, Jonathan Ozner, Teresa Chen, Benjamin Heriaud, Deborah Gruen and Benjamin Lubarsky (Capital Markets); Brian Steinhardt, Jennifer Albrecht and Nelli Zaltsman (Banking and Credit); Jonathan Cantor and Jodi Sackel (Tax); Andrew Blau and Jennifer Pepin (Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits); Mardi Merjian (Real Estate); Timothy Mulvihill and Louise Kruger (Environmental); Marcela Robledo and Aditi Sherikar (IP); Jonathan Pall (UCC); and Jennie Getsin (FINRA).