<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001193125-23-272301
<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>231382969
</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>
</HEAD>
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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:10pt; 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;4) </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>Jeannette L. Knudsen </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Chief Legal Officer 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:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Steven A. Rosenblum, Esq. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Ronald C. Chen, Esq. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen&nbsp;&amp; Katz </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>51 West 52nd Street </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 10019 </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">403-1000</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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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<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>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
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<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Amendment No.&nbsp;4 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, 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, and Amendment No. 3 to the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed with the SEC on
November 7, 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>
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<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" 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:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><I>Item 8 of the Schedule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14D-9</FONT> is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following paragraphs under a new
subsection entitled &#147;(i) Final Results of the Offer and Completion of the Merger&#148; immediately after the subsection entitled &#147;(h) Legal Proceedings&#148; (beginning on page 60): </I></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">&#147;<B>(i) Final Results of the Offer and Completion of the Merger.</B> </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">At 12:00 Noon, Eastern Time, on November&nbsp;7, 2023, the Offer expired as scheduled and was not extended. Computershare Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity
as depositary and exchange agent for the Offer, advised that, as of the expiration of the Offer, a total of 69,250,307 shares of Company Common Stock were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, representing 52.10% of the
issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as of the Expiration Date, and an additional 22,117,606 shares of Company Common Stock were tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures, representing approximately an additional 16.64% of
the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as of the Expiration Date. This number of shares of Company Common Stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn satisfied the Minimum Condition. As each condition to the Offer was
satisfied or waived, Purchaser irrevocably accepted for exchange all shares of Company Common Stock that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On November&nbsp;7, 2023, following consummation of the Offer, Purchaser merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving
corporation. The Merger was completed pursuant to Section&nbsp;251(h) of the DGCL, with no vote of the Company&#146;s stockholders required to consummate the Merger. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Also on November&nbsp;7, 2023, the Company notified The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (&#147;Nasdaq&#148;) of the consummation of the Merger and all shares of
Company Common Stock ceased trading on Nasdaq, and the Company requested that Nasdaq file with the SEC a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration on Form 25 to effect the delisting of all shares of Company Common Stock from Nasdaq
and the deregistration of such shares under Section&nbsp;12(b) of the Exchange Act.&#148; </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" 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:12pt; 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 information: </I></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="87%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>Exhibit&nbsp;No.</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"><B>Description</B></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(a)(5)(T)</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Press Release issued by The J. M. Smucker Company, dated November&nbsp;7, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(5)(L) to the Schedule TO).</TD></TR>
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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>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</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 HEIGHT="16"></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Jeannette L. Knudsen</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Name: Jeannette L. Knudsen</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Title: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary</TD></TR>
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