SCHEDULE 13G/A: Ameriprise Financial and Affiliates Disclose Significant Passive Stake in Utz Brands

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its Threadneedle affiliates have filed an amended Schedule 13G, disclosing their beneficial ownership of 7.2% and 6.2% respectively, of Utz Brands, Inc.'s Class A Common Stock as of March 31, 2025.

Summary

• Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (AFI) and its affiliated entities (collectively, "Ameriprise Entities") have filed an Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G regarding their beneficial ownership in Utz Brands, Inc.
• AFI beneficially owns an aggregate of 6,196,575 shares of Utz Brands, Inc. Class A Common Stock, representing 7.2% of the class.
• AFI holds shared voting power over 6,104,556 shares and shared dispositive power over 6,196,575 shares.
• Several UK-based Threadneedle entities, including TAM UK International Holdings Limited, Threadneedle Holdings Limited, TAM UK Holdings Limited, Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Limited, TC Financing Ltd, Threadneedle Asset Management Limited, and Threadneedle Investment Services Limited, each beneficially own 5,313,698 shares, representing 6.2% of the class.
• These Threadneedle entities each hold shared voting power over 5,245,620 shares and shared dispositive power over 5,313,698 shares.
• The filing states that the securities were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of changing or influencing the control of Utz Brands, Inc.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The document is a standard regulatory filing (Schedule 13G) disclosing beneficial ownership. It does not contain financial performance data, strategic updates, or forward-looking statements that would typically influence sentiment positively or negatively. The certification states the shares are held for passive investment purposes.

Positives

• The disclosure indicates a significant, passive investment by a major financial institution (Ameriprise Financial) and its affiliates in Utz Brands, Inc., which can be seen as a vote of confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
• The filing explicitly states that the shares are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of influencing control, suggesting a stable, long-term investment rather than an activist stance.

Future Outlook

This document is a beneficial ownership disclosure and does not contain forward-looking statements or guidance regarding Utz Brands, Inc.'s future performance or outlook.

Industry Context

This filing is a standard regulatory disclosure required when an entity acquires beneficial ownership of more than 5% of a company's voting securities. It indicates a significant institutional investment in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector, specifically in the snack food industry where Utz Brands operates. Such disclosures provide transparency regarding major shareholders, which is crucial for market participants.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• This document does not provide financial results or operational data for comparison.
• It is a disclosure of beneficial ownership, which is a standard regulatory requirement for significant shareholders across all industries.
• There are no specific comparable companies, projects, or results mentioned within this filing to assess against industry standards.

Related Party Transactions

• Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is the parent holding company of the various Threadneedle entities (TAM UK International Holdings Limited, Threadneedle Holdings Limited, TAM UK Holdings Limited, Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Limited, TC Financing Ltd, Threadneedle Asset Management Limited, and Threadneedle Investment Services Limited) that also report beneficial ownership. This parent-subsidiary relationship constitutes a related party structure for the purpose of this consolidated ownership disclosure.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Provides transparency regarding significant institutional ownership in Utz Brands, Inc., which can offer insights into institutional confidence in the company.
• Management: Awareness of significant passive shareholders who are not seeking to influence control.

Key Dates

Keywords

Utz Brands Inc., Ameriprise Financial Inc., Schedule 13G, Beneficial Ownership, Class A Common Stock, SEC Filing, Institutional Investment, Passive Investment, Threadneedle