UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 3 )*

Essendant Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

296689102

(CUSIP Number)

Mr. Richard S. Pzena

Pzena Investment Management, LLC

320 Park Avenue, 8^th Floor

New York, NY 10022

(212) 355-1600

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

January 10, 2019

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. ☒

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*	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 disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on 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).

SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP No.

Page 2 of 4

(1)	Names of reporting persons Pzena Investment Management, LLC
(2)	Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (see instructions) (a) ☐ (b) ☐
(3)	SEC use only
(4)	Source of funds (see instructions) OO
(5)	Check if disclosure of legal proceedings is required pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
(6)	Citizenship or place of organization Delaware
Number of		(7)	Sole voting power 2,399,042
shares beneficially owned by		(8)	Shared voting power 0
each reporting person		(9)	Sole dispositive power 2,707,014
with:		(10)	Shared dispositive power 0
(11)	Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 2,707,014
(12)	Check if the aggregate amount in Row (11) excludes certain shares (see instructions) ☐
(13)	Percent of class represented by amount in Row (11) 7.19%
(14)	Type of reporting person (see instructions) IA

This statement constitutes Amendment No. 3 to the Schedule 13D relating to the common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Essendant Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and hereby amends the Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 17, 2018 (the “Schedule 13D Amendment No 2”).

________________________________________________________________________________

Item 5 is hereby amended in its entirety as follows:

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

Number Percentage of

Reporting Person of Shares Shares

(a) Pzena Investment Management, LLC 2,707,014 7.19%

(b) PIM currently exercises voting authority over shares of Common Stock in the accounts of PIM clients that have delegated proxy voting authority to PIM. Such voting authority may be withdrawn by PIM clients at any time.

Sole Power to vote or direct the vote:

Pzena Investment Management, LLC 2,399,042

Shared Power to vote or direct the vote:

Pzena Investment Management, LLC 0

Sole Power to dispose or to direct the disposition:

Pzena Investment Management, LLC 2,707,014

Shared Power to dispose or to direct the disposition:

Pzena Investment Management, LLC 0

(c) The following table sets forth the Reporting Person transactions in the shares of the Common Stock during the last 60 days:

Pzena Investment Management, LLC

All transactions listed in the schedule below were done at PIM’s discretion for PIM’s clients.

Number of Average Transaction

Date Shares Price Per Share Effected

11/19/18 54,508 12.69 Open Market Sale

11/20/18 21,265 12.69 Open Market Sale

11/27/18 55,298 12.71 Open Market Sale

11/29/18 100,746 12.70 Open Market Sale

11/30/18 243,503 12.66 Open Market Sale

12/03/18 57,895 12.66 Open Market Sale

12/04/18 120,870 12.66 Open Market Sale

12/06/18 3,701 12.65 Open Market Sale

12/07/18 1,200 12.65 Open Market Sale

12/10/18 45,124 12.65 Open Market Sale

12/14/18 358,404 12.60 Open Market Sale

12/17/18 3,171 12.46 Open Market Sale

12/19/18 25,806 12.35 Open Market Sale

12/24/18 3,777 11.97 Open Market Sale

12/28/18 1,126 12.42 Open Market Sale

01/03/19 98,246 12.67 Open Market Sale

01/04/19 123,876 12.65 Open Market Sale

01/07/19 62,593 12.65 Open Market Sale

01/08/19 13,802 12.65 Open Market Sale

01/09/19 185,498 12.62 Open Market Sale

01/10/19 87,798 12.64 Open Market Sale

(d) PIM, an investment advisor registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, pursuant to investment advisory contracts with its clients has dispositive power over the shares of the Common Stock in the PIM investment advisory accounts of clients. The individual clients, none of whom individually owns beneficially more than 5% of the total class of such securities, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of the shares of the Common Stock.

(e) Not Applicable

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.

January 11, 2019

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(Date)

/s/ Richard S. Pzena, CEO

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(Name/Title)

Attention. Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute federal Criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001).

ESSENDANT INC SC 13D/A