<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001193125-23-271886
<TYPE>SC 14D9/A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<FILING-DATE>20231107
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20231107
<SUBJECT-COMPANY>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Hostess Brands, Inc.
<CIK>0001644406
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2050
<IRS-NUMBER>000000000
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>SC 14D9/A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>005-88982
<FILM-NUMBER>231381435
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7905 QUIVIRA ROAD
<CITY>LENEXA
<STATE>KS
<ZIP>66215
<PHONE>816-701-4600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7905 QUIVIRA ROAD
<CITY>LENEXA
<STATE>KS
<ZIP>66215
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>Gores Holdings, Inc.
<DATE-CHANGED>20150608
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</SUBJECT-COMPANY>
<FILED-BY>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Hostess Brands, Inc.
<CIK>0001644406
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2050
<IRS-NUMBER>000000000
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>SC 14D9/A
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7905 QUIVIRA ROAD
<CITY>LENEXA
<STATE>KS
<ZIP>66215
<PHONE>816-701-4600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>7905 QUIVIRA ROAD
<CITY>LENEXA
<STATE>KS
<ZIP>66215
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>Gores Holdings, Inc.
<DATE-CHANGED>20150608
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILED-BY>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>SC 14D9/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d570556dsc14d9a.htm
<DESCRIPTION>SC 14D9/A
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>SC 14D9/A</TITLE>
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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SCHEDULE <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9</FONT></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Amendment No.&nbsp;3) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNDER SECTION 14(D)(4) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>HOSTESS BRANDS, INC. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Name of Subject Company) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>HOSTESS
BRANDS, INC. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Name of Persons Filing Statement) </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Class&nbsp;A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Title of Class&nbsp;of Securities) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>44109J106 </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(CUSIP Number
of Class&nbsp;of Securities) </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Jolyn J. Sebree </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Hostess Brands, Inc. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>7905 Quivira Road </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Lenexa, Kansas 66215 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(816) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">701-4600</FONT></B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Name, address, and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>on behalf of the persons filing statement) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><I>With a copy to: </I></B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Howard Kenny </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Morgan,
Lewis&nbsp;&amp; Bockius LLP </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>101 Park Avenue </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>New York, New York 10178 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Telephone: (212) <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">309-6000</FONT></B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a
tender offer. </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Amendment No.&nbsp;3 to the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9</FONT> (this &#147;Amendment&#148;) amends and supplements the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9</FONT> filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
&#147;SEC&#148;) on October&nbsp;10, 2023, as amended by Amendment No.&nbsp;1 to the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9</FONT> filed with the SEC on October&nbsp;24, 2023 and Amendment No.&nbsp;2
to the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9</FONT> filed with the SEC on October&nbsp;30, 2023 (as it may be further amended and supplemented from time to time, the &#147;Schedule <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9&#148;),</FONT> and relates to the exchange offer by SSF Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (&#147;Purchaser&#148;) and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of The J. M. Smucker Company, an Ohio corporation
(&#147;Smucker&#148;), to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of Class&nbsp;A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the &#147;Company Common Stock&#148;), of Hostess Brands, Inc. (referred to herein as the &#147;Company,&#148;
&#147;Hostess Brands,&#148; &#147;we,&#148; &#147;us,&#148; and &#147;our&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Capitalized terms used in this Amendment but not defined herein shall
have the respective meaning given to such terms in the Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9.</FONT> The information set forth in the Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9</FONT> remains unchanged and is incorporated herein by
reference, except that such information is hereby amended and/or supplemented to the extent specifically provided herein. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">For clarity, new text is
highlighted with <B><U>bold</U></B><B>,</B><B><U> underlined text</U></B><B> </B>and deleted text is highlighted with <STRIKE>crossed out text</STRIKE>. </P>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;2.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Identity and Background of Filing Person </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>The following language is added to or deleted from (as applicable) the third and fourth sentences of the sixth paragraph (which begins on page 2) of
subsection &#147;(b) Exchange Offer&#148; of Item 2 of the Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9:</FONT> </I></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;The Offer <B><U>was
initially scheduled to expire at </U></B><STRIKE>will expire at the Expiration Date. The term &#147;Expiration Date&#148; means</STRIKE> one minute past 11:59 P.M., Eastern Time, on November&nbsp;6, 2023<B><U>. On November&nbsp;7, 2023, Purchaser
extended the expiration of the Offer until 12:00 Noon, Eastern Time, on November&nbsp;7, 2023 (the &#147;Expiration Date&#148;</U></B>, unless the expiration of the Offer is extended to a subsequent date and time in accordance with the terms of the
Merger Agreement, in which case the term &#147;Expiration Date&#148; means such subsequent time and date).&#148; </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Additional Information </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>The following language is added to or deleted from (as applicable) the second bullet point of the third paragraph (which is on page 60) of subsection
&#147;(g) Where You Can Find More Information&#148; of Item 8 of the Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9:</FONT> </I></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#147;&#149;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Quarterly Reports on <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;10-Q&nbsp;for</FONT> the quarters ended
March&nbsp;31, 2023<B><U>, </U></B><STRIKE>and </STRIKE><B></B>June&nbsp;30, 2023, <B><U>and September&nbsp;30, 2023, </U></B>as filed with the SEC on May&nbsp;9, 2023<B><U>, </U></B><STRIKE>and </STRIKE>August&nbsp;8, 2023,<U> </U><B><U>and
November&nbsp;7, 2023, </U></B>respectively;&#148; </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;9.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Exhibits </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Item 9 of the Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9</FONT> is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following exhibit to the Exhibit Index
(which begins on page 61): </I></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#147;<B><U>(a)(5)(S)</U></B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B><U>Press Release issued by The J. M. Smucker Company, dated November&nbsp;7, 2023 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit&nbsp;(a)(5)(K) to the Schedule TO).</U></B>&#148; </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. </P>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Dated: November&nbsp;7, 2023</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">Hostess Brands, Inc.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">/s/ Andrew P. Callahan</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Name: Andrew P. Callahan</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom">Title: President and Chief Executive officer</TD></TR>
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