Kirkland Advises Oaktree Capital on $85 Million Investment in SunOpta

Kirkland & Ellis LLP counseled Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a leading global alternative investment management firm, on its $85 million investment in SunOpta Inc. (Nasdaq: STKL) (TSX: SOY), a leading global company focused on organic, non-genetically modified and specialty foods.  Oaktree is an experienced investor in the consumer and retail industry, with a track record of driving growth in complex consumer businesses, including AdvancePierre Foods, Campofrío Food Group and Diamond Foods.  Oaktree’s investment in SunOpta will be in the form of exchangeable preferred shares.  Proceeds from the investment have been used to reduce SunOpta’s second lien debt and to increase financial flexibility.  The full release is available here.

The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Dennis Myers, Hamed Meshki and Wayne Williams and included corporate partner Craig Garvey and associates Kevin Behseresht, Alexander Schwartz, Dilveer Vahali and Anthony Gin; debt finance partners David Nemecek and Nisha Kanchanapoomi; tax partners Russell Light and Brett Willis; executive compensation partner Michael Krasnovsky and associate Kate Coverdale; international trade partner Mario Mancuso and associate Diego Ortega; litigation partner William Pruitt; environmental transactions partner Paul Tanaka and associate Michael Mahoney; real estate partner Roberto Miceli and associate Margaret Cremin; technology & IP transactions partner Matthew Lovell and associates Ashley Eisenberg and Adine Mitrani; employee benefits partner Matthew Antinossi and associate Scott Vail; labor and employment partner Edward Holzwanger and associate Evangelia Podaras; and antitrust partner Ellen Jakovic.