UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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
163086101
December 31, 2020
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
|
|