COSTA MESA, Calif., Nov. 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. ("El Pollo Loco" and the "Company") (Nasdaq:LOCO) today announced that it has commenced a proposed public follow-on offering of its common stock (the "Offering"). In the Offering, which is subject to market and other conditions, certain of the Company's stockholders intend to offer 6,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock for sale. Additionally, certain of the Company's stockholders intend to grant the underwriters the option to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares of the Company's common stock. Jefferies and Morgan Stanley, the lead book-running managers in the Company's recent initial public offering, are waiving a lock-up restriction with respect to shares of the Company's common stock held by certain of the selling stockholders in the Offering, including certain directors and officers of the Company. The waiver will take effect on November 19, 2014, and the shares may be sold on or after such date. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. 

Jefferies and Morgan Stanley are acting as active joint book-running managers for the Offering.  Baird and William Blair are also acting as joint book-running managers for the Offering.  Stifel is acting as co-manager for the Offering.

The Offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus may be obtained from: Jefferies LLC, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, by emailing Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com, or by calling (877) 547-6340; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department; Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, 777 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, Attention: Syndicate Department, by emailing syndicate@rwbaird.com, or by calling (800) 792-2473; or William Blair & Company, L.L.C., 222 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention: Prospectus Department, by emailing prospectus@williamblair.com, or by calling (800) 621-0687.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time when the registration statement becomes effective. Copies of the registration statement can be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov.  

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor may there be any offer, solicitation or sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that state or jurisdiction.

About El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco is a differentiated and growing restaurant concept that specializes in fire-grilling citrus-marinated chicken in front of its customers. El Pollo Loco opened its first location on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, California, in 1980 and has grown to more than 400 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas and Utah. The Company's distinctive menu features its signature product - citrus-marinated fire-grilled chicken - and a variety of Mexican-inspired entrees that the Company and its franchisees create from that chicken.

CONTACT: Investor Contact:

         Fitzhugh Taylor, ICR

         (714) 599-5200

         investors@elpolloloco.com