Schedule 13G


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13G
 
 
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 09)*
 
Chef's Warehouse 

(Name of Issuer)
 
Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)
 
163086101

(CUSIP Number)
 
December 31, 2020

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
 
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
 
     x  Rule 13d-1(b)
 
     o  Rule 13d-1(c)
 
     o  Rule 13d-1(d)
 
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
 
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
 


 
 

 
 
CUSIP No.  163086101      
 
      
1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
 KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
95-4575414
   
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 (a)   o
 (b)   o
   
3 SEC USE ONLY
  
  
   
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
  
 A California Limited Liability Company
    
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY  OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
  
 901,916
   
6 SHARED VOTING POWER
  
 2,970,694
   
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
  
 901,916
   
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
  
 2,970,694
   
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
  
 3,872,610
   
10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
  
 o
   
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
  
 10.25%
   
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
  
 IA
 

FOOTNOTES
  
 
 
 

 
 
CUSIP No.  163086101      
 
      
1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
 Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.
04-2453743
   
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 (a)   o
 (b)   o
   
3 SEC USE ONLY
  
  
   
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
  
 Massachusetts
    
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY  OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
  
 0
   
6 SHARED VOTING POWER
  
 2,970,694
   
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
  
 0
   
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
  
 2,970,694
   
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
  
 2,970,694
   
10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
  
 o
   
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
  
 7.87%
   
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
  
 IA
 

FOOTNOTES
  
 The amounts reported on this page are also included in the amounts reported by Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC on this Schedule 13G.
 
 

 
 
CUSIP No.  163086101      
 
      
1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
 Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund
   
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 (a)   o
 (b)   o
   
3 SEC USE ONLY
  
  
   
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
  
 Delaware
    
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY  OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
  
 0
   
6 SHARED VOTING POWER
  
 2,808,023
   
7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
  
 0
   
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
  
 2,808,023
   
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
  
 2,808,023
   
10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
  
 o
   
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
  
 7.43%
   
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
  
 IV
 

FOOTNOTES
  
 The amounts reported on this page are also included in the amounts reported by Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. on this Schedule 13G.
 
 

 
 
Item 1.

 
(a)
Name of Issuer
 
 
Chef's Warehouse, Inc.

 
(b)
Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices
 
 
100 East Ridge Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877

Item 2.

 
(a)
Name of Person Filing
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund

 
(b)
Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC
1800 Avenue of the Stars, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.
One Financial Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund
101 Munson Street, Greenfield, MA 01301

 
(c)
Citizenship
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC: A California Limited Liability Company
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.: Massachusetts
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund: Delaware

 
(d)
Title of Class of Securities
 
 
Common Stock

 
(e)
CUSIP Number
 
 
163086101

 
Item 3.
If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

 
(a)
o
Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

 
(b)
o
Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 
(c)
o
Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

 
(d)
x
Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8).

 
(e)
x
An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

 
(f)
o
An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

 
(g)
o
A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

 
(h)
o
A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

 
(i)
o
A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

 
(j)
o
A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

 
(k)
o
A group, in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:

 
 
 

 
 
Item 4.
Ownership.
 
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

 
(a)
Amount beneficially owned:
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC: 3,872,610
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.: 2,970,694
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund: 2,808,023

 
(b)
Percent of class:
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC: 10.25%
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.: 7.87%
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund: 7.43%

 
(c)
Number of shares as to which the person has:

 
(i)
Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
 
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC: 901,916
 
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.: 0
 
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund: 0

 
(ii)
Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
 
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC: 2,970,694
 
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.: 2,970,694
 
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund: 2,808,023

 
(iii)
Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
 
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC: 901,916
 
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.: 0
 
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund: 0

 
(iv)
Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
 
 
 
(1)
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC: 2,970,694
 
 
 
(2)
Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc.: 2,970,694
 
 
 
(3)
Virtus Equity Trust, on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund: 2,808,023

Item 5.
Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
 
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following o .
 
N/A
 
Item 6.
Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
 
With respect to securities owned by a registered investment company included in this filing, only the custodian for such investment company, has the right to receive dividends paid with respect to, and proceeds from the sale of, such securities. No other person is known to have such right, except that the shareholders of such investment company participate proportionately in any dividends and distributions so paid
 
Item 7.
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company
 
N/A
 
Item 8.
Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
 
N/A
 
Item 9.
Notice of Dissolution of Group
 
N/A
 
 
 

 
 
 
Item 10.
Certification
  
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under §240.14a-11.
 
 

SIGNATURE

After reasonable 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.
 
 
 Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC
 
    
Date: February 12, 2021
By:
/s/  Michael Shoemaker 
   Name: Michael Shoemaker 
   Title:  Chief Compliance Officer 
    
 
 
 
 Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc
 
    
Date: February 12, 2021
By:
/s/  Kevin Carr 
   Name: Kevin Carr 
   Title:  Vice President and Clerk 
    
 
 
 
 Virtus Equity Trust on behalf of Virtus KAR Small Cap Growth Fund
 
    
Date: February 12, 2021
By:
/s/  Kevin Carr 
   Name: Kevin Carr 
   Title:  Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary 
    
 
Footnotes:

Attention:
Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)
 
 



AGREEMENT
JOINT FILING OF SCHEDULE 13G
Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC (an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940), and Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. (an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) and Virtus Equity Trust (on behalf of Virtus KAR Small-Cap Growth Fund), a Delaware statutory trust, hereby agree to file jointly the statement on Schedule 13G to which this Agreement is attached, and any amendments thereto which may be deemed necessary, pursuant to Regulation 13D-G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
It is understood and agreed that each of the parties hereto is responsible for the timely filing of such statement and any amendments thereto, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning such party contained therein, but such party is not responsible for the completeness or accuracy of information concerning the other party unless such party knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
It is understood and agreed that a copy of this Agreement shall be attached as an exhibit to the statement on Schedule 13G, and any amendments thereto, filed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
Dated: February 11, 2021
KAYNE ANDERSON RUDNICK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
 
By:
 
/s/ Michael Shoemaker
 
 
Michael Shoemaker
 
 
Chief Compliance Officer

VIRTUS INVESTMENT ADVISERS, INC.
     
   
By:
 
/s/ Kevin J. Carr
 
 
Kevin J. Carr
 
 
Vice President and Clerk
 
VIRTUS EQUITY TRUST, on behalf of
VIRTUS KAR SMALL-CAP GROWTH FUND
   
By:
 
/s/ Kevin J. Carr
 
 
Kevin J. Carr
 
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Counsel and Secretary