Item 1. Security and Issuer
This Schedule 13D (this Schedule 13D) relates to the common stock, par value U.S. $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), of
The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer), with its principal executive offices located at 1201 Dowdell Lane, Saint Helena, California 94574, United States.
Item 2. Identity and Background
(a), (f)
This Schedule 13D is being jointly filed by each of the following persons pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act):
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(i) |
Marlee Buyer, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Marlee Buyer), by virtue of its entry into the
Voting Agreements described below; |
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(ii) |
Butterfly UGP II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Butterfly UGP II);
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(iii) |
Adam Waglay, an individual and citizen of the United States, is joint manager of Butterfly UGP II; and
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(iv) |
Dustin Beck, an individual and citizen of the United States, is joint manager of Butterfly UGP II.
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Each of Marlee Buyer, Butterfly UGP II, Adam Waglay and Dustin Beck are sometimes referred to herein, individually, as
a Reporting Person and, collectively, as the Reporting Persons.
(b) The address of the principal office of the Reporting Persons
is c/o Butterfly Equity LP (Butterfly), 9595 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 510, Beverly Hills, California 90212. Information with respect to each Reporting Person is given solely by such Reporting Person and no Reporting Person assumes
responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information furnished by another Reporting Person.
(c) The principal business of Marlee
Buyer is to enter into the agreements related to the Merger described below. The principal business of Butterfly UGP II consists of performing the functions of, and serving as, the general partner of Butterfly Equity II GP, LP and doing all things
necessary and incidental thereto. The principal occupation of Messrs. Waglay and Beck is serving as the Co-Founders and Co-Chief Executive Officers of Butterfly,
a Los Angeles-based private equity management firm.
(d) (e)
During the past five years, none of the Reporting Persons has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors) or was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which such person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
Item 3. Source and
Amount of Funds or Other Consideration
The information contained in or incorporated into Item 4 of this Schedule 13D is hereby
incorporated by reference into this Item 3.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
The Reporting Persons purchased the Common Stock reported hereunder for investment purposes but have continuously evaluated the Issuers
businesses, results of operations, and prospects.
On October 6, 2024, the Issuer entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
Merger Agreement), by and among the Issuer, Marlee Buyer and Marlee Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Marlee Buyer (Merger Sub), pursuant to which Merger Sub will be merged
with and into the Issuer (the Merger), with the Issuer surviving the Merger. As described in the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time), each share of Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of Common Stock that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, are (i) held in the treasury of the Issuer or owned by the Issuer or any direct or indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of the Issuer, (ii) owned by Marlee Buyer, Merger Sub or any direct or