Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
S-1/A - S-1/A - Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. | g26721a3sv1za.htm |
EX-1.1 - EX-1.1 - Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. | g26721a3exv1w1.htm |
EX-10.13 - EX-10.13 - Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. | g26721a3exv10w13.htm |
EX-10.22 - EX-10.22 - Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. | g26721a3exv10w22.htm |
EX-10.24 - EX-10.24 - Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. | g26721a3exv10w24.htm |
EX-10.23 - EX-10.23 - Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. | g26721a3exv10w23.htm |
EX-23.1 - EX-23.1 - Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. | g26721a3exv23w1.htm |
Exhibit 5.1
150 Third Avenue South, Suite 2800
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 742-6200
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 742-6200
July __, 2011
The Chefs Warehouse, Inc.
100 East Ridge Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
100 East Ridge Road
Ridgefield, CT 06877
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-173445)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Registration No. 333-173445), as amended (the Registration Statement), filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act)
by The Chefs Warehouse, Inc. (the Company), which will be formed upon the filing of (i) a
certificate of conversion by Chefs Warehouse Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
and (ii) a certificate of incorporation of the Company with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, in connection with the registration under the Act of 9,200,000 shares of the Companys
common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Shares), of which up to 4,666,667 Shares will be
issued and sold by the Company and up to 4,533,333 Shares (including up to 1,200,000 Shares
issuable upon exercise of an over-allotment option granted by the Selling Stockholders (as defined
below)) will be sold by certain selling stockholders (the Selling Stockholders). We understand
that the Shares are to be sold to the underwriters for resale to the public as described in the
Registration Statement and pursuant to an underwriting agreement, substantially in the form filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to be entered into by and among the Company, the
Selling Stockholders and the underwriters named herein (the Underwriting Agreement).
We are acting as counsel for the Company and the Selling Stockholders in connection with the
sale by the Company and the Selling Stockholders of the Shares. In connection with this opinion,
we have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in
our judgment are necessary or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth.
In all such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original documents and
the conformity to such original documents of all copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or
photostatic copies, and as to certificates of public officials, we have assumed the same to have
been properly given and to be accurate. As to matters of fact material to this opinion, we have
relied upon statements and representations of representatives of the Company and public officials.
In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have assumed that the conversion of Chefs
Warehouse Holdings, LLC to the Company as described in the Registration Statement, pursuant to
which (i) Chefs Warehouse Holdings, LLC shall have been converted into a corporation incorporated
under the laws of the State of Delaware and (ii) the units of membership interest owned by the
members of Chefs Warehouse Holdings, LLC immediately prior to the effective time of such
conversion shall have been converted into shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of the
Company will be consummated on substantially the terms described in the Registration Statement.
This opinion is limited in all respects to the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the applicable provisions of the
Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting those laws currently in
effect), and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any
effect which such laws may have on
The Chefs Warehouse, Inc.
July ___, 2011
Page 2
July ___, 2011
Page 2
the opinions expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the
matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly
stated herein.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set
forth herein, we are of the opinion that, (i) when the conversion of Chefs Warehouse Holdings, LLC
into the Company has become effective as set forth in the certificate of conversion to be filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the certificate of incorporation of the
Company has become effective following its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware; (ii) the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission; (iii) the
shares of the Companys common stock issuable in connection with the conversion of Chefs Warehouse
Holdings, LLC into the Company have been issued on substantially the terms described in the
Registration Statement; and (iv) the Shares are issued and delivered against receipt of payment
therefore as contemplated by the Registration Statement, (1) the Shares to be issued and sold by
the Company will have been duly authorized and, when such Shares are issued and paid for in
accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and (2) the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders will have been duly
authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement
and to the reference to us under the caption Legal Matters in the prospectus forming a part of
the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,