SunOpta Enters Into Agreement to Divest Its Canadian Based Natural Health Products Business; Valued at CDN $14.7M

SunOpta Inc.

today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Canadian natural health products distribution business (operated as Purity Life Natural Health Products) to an affiliate of Banyan Capital Partners ("Banyan"). The transaction, valued at CDN $14,700,000, before transaction costs, is subject to certain conditions and pre-closing matters and is expected to close early in June, 2012. Purity Life Natural Health Products ("Purity") distributes a wide range of natural health products including dietary supplements, vitamins, natural body care and earth friendly household goods throughout Canada, and also manufactures a number of natural health care products. Purity is believed to be the largest stand-alone distributor of these products in Canada. The business formed part of the Company's International Foods Group. Purity has annual revenues of approximately CDN $60 million and contributed positively to SunOpta's first quarter 2012 earnings. The sale is expected to have a modest dilutive effect on earnings per share prior to the redeployment of the funds by the Company. Banyan Capital Partners is an affiliate of Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group ("CC&L Financial Group"), a multi-boutique asset management firm that provides a broad range of distinct and independently managed investment products and services to Canadian individual and institutional investors. CC&L Financial Group and its affiliated companies collectively manage approximately $40 billion in financial assets under management.