Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 4, 2014

 

 

EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36556   20-3563182

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100, Costa Mesa, California   92626
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (714) 599-5000

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On September 4, 2014, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., issued a press release announcing certain financial results for its second quarter ended June 25, 2014, and that management would discuss those results on a conference call that day at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information herein, including exhibit, is being furnished and not filed, including for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Nor shall it be otherwise subject to liability under that section. Nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except expressly.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description

99.1    Earnings press release, dated September 4, 2014

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

     

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

      (Registrant)
Date: September 4, 2014      
      /s/ Laurance Roberts
      Laurance Roberts
      Chief Financial Officer

 

2

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2014 Financial Results

COSTA MESA, CA – September 4, 2014 – El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LOCO) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 25, 2014.

Highlights for the second quarter ended June 25, 2014, compared to the second quarter ended June 26, 2013 were as follows:

 

    Total revenue increased 6.3% to $86.9 million

 

    System-wide comparable restaurant sales increased 5.4%, including a 5.0% increase for company-operated restaurants, and a 5.9% increase for franchised restaurants

 

    Net income was $6.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $410,000, or $0.01 per diluted share

 

    Pro forma net income(1) increased 10.0% to $6.1 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share

 

    Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased 7.6% to $16.6 million

 

(1) Pro forma net income and adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. A reconciliation of GAAP net income to each of these measures is included in the accompanying financial data. See also “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Steve Sather, President and Chief Executive Officer of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., stated, “We’re pleased with the consistent strength of our results, which included a 5.4% increase in system-wide comparable restaurant sales and a 10.0% increase in pro forma net income in the second quarter. Our success continues to be driven by our compelling value proposition and the growing appeal of healthier, better for you offerings found on our menu. Our signature, citrus marinated fire grilled chicken and hand chopped entrees offered at quick service price points reinforce our QSR plus positioning.”

Sather continued, “As a result of our successful IPO, we have strengthened our capital structure to provide the financial flexibility to accelerate the growth of our business, augment our competitive position, and further enhance our brand. We believe El Pollo Loco has significant


potential to grow its store base, including a substantial opportunity within our existing markets, as well as in new markets. We are particularly excited to open our first restaurant in the Greater Houston market this fall and recently signed a new agreement for the development of 12 franchised restaurants in the Greater Houston market over the next five years. We believe El Pollo loco is well positioned for future growth and are excited to satisfy the needs of consumers who are increasingly seeking real food, real fast at reasonable prices, while simultaneously building value for our shareholders.”

Initial Public Offering

On July 30, 2014, following the end of the second quarter of 2014, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. successfully completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) at $15.00 per share. The Company sold a total of 8,214,286 shares of common stock, including 1,071,429 shares sold pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. Total net proceeds to the Company from the offering, after deducting underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, were approximately $112.8 million. The Company used the proceeds primarily to repay in whole its $100 million Second Lien Term Loan.

Second Quarter 2014 Financial Results

Company-operated restaurant revenue increased 6.3% to $81.4 million from $76.5 million in the second quarter of 2013. Comparable company-operated restaurant sales increased 5.0% driven by a 2.8% increase in average check size and a 2.2% increase in traffic.

Franchise revenue increased 6.5% to $5.5 million, from $5.2 million in the second quarter of 2013. Franchised comparable restaurant sales increased 5.9% during the quarter.

Restaurant contribution increased 6.7% to $18.4 million from $17.2 million in the second quarter of 2013. As a percent of company-operated restaurant revenue, restaurant contribution margin improved to 22.6%, compared to 22.5% in the prior year quarter. An improvement in labor costs, driven by leverage of comparable company-operated restaurant sales growth, was largely offset by an increase in cost of sales as a result of higher commodity costs combined with a slight increase in occupancy and other operating expenses.

Net income for the second quarter of 2014 was $6.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $410,000, or $0.01 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2013.

Pro forma net income increased 10.0% to $6.1 million, or $0.16 per diluted share during the second quarter of 2014, compared to $5.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share during the second quarter of 2013. A reconciliation between GAAP net income and pro forma net income is included in the accompanying financial data.


2014 Outlook

The Company currently anticipates the following for its fiscal year 2014:

 

    System-wide comparable restaurant sales growth of approximately 5.5% to 6.0% including a 5.0% to 5.5% increase for company-operated restaurants;

 

    The opening of 9 to 11 new company-owned restaurants and 4 new franchised restaurants; and

 

    Restaurant contribution margin of 21.4% to 21.6%.

The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this release:

Comparable restaurant sales reflect the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable company, franchised and total system restaurant base. The comparable restaurant base is defined to include those restaurants open for 15 months or longer. At June 25, 2014, there were 163 restaurants, in our comparable company-operated restaurant base. At June 25, 2014, there were 228 restaurants, in our comparable franchised restaurant base.

Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. Restaurant contribution is defined as company-operated restaurant revenue less company restaurant expenses, which are food and paper costs, labor and related expenses and occupancy and other operating expenses. Restaurant contribution margin is defined as restaurant contribution as a percentage of net company-operated restaurant revenue. See also “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. EBITDA represents net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation, and amortization , and adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA before items that we do not consider representative of our ongoing operating performance, as identified in the GAAP reconciliation in the accompanying financial data. See also “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Pro forma net income is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. Pro forma net income reflects (i) the net decrease in interest expense resulting from our repayment of our second lien term loan facility with the proceeds from our IPO and the reduction in interest resulting from our refinancing of our debt facilities in 2013, as if these events occurred on December 27, 2012 (ii) the elimination of fees payable under the management agreement between us and affiliates of our sponsors (iii) an estimate of recurring incremental legal,


accounting, insurance and other compliance costs we expect to incur as a public company and the add-back of one-time costs incurred as a result of the IPO (iv) costs related to loss on disposal of assets and asset impairment and closed store costs and (v) provision for income taxes at a normalized tax rate of 40.5%, which reflects our estimated long-term effective tax rate, including both federal and state income taxes. See the GAAP reconciliation in the accompanying financial data and “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Pro forma weighted-average share and per share data reflects the 8,214,286 additional shares of common stock issued in the IPO as if they had been issued on December 27, 2012. See also “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss financial results for the second quarter of 2014 today at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Steve Sather, President and Chief Executive Officer, Larry Roberts, Chief Financial Officer, and Ed Valle, Chief Marketing Officer will host the call.

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 877-407-3982 or for international callers by dialing 201-493-6780. A replay will be available after the call and can be accessed by dialing 877-870-5176 or for international callers by dialing 858-384-5517; the passcode is 13589555. The replay will be available until Thursday, September 18, 2014. The conference call will also be webcast live from the Company’s corporate website at investor.elpolloloco.com under the “Events & Presentations” page. An archive of the webcast will be available at the same location on the corporate website shortly after the call has concluded.

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.


Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements because they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “should,” “can,” “can have,” “likely,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. They appear in a number of places throughout this press release and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which we operate. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected.

While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our final prospectus dated July 24, 2014, including the sections thereof captioned “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.” These filings and future filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.elpolloloco.com or upon request from El Pollo Loco.

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the ways that we expect. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use non-GAAP financial measures including those indicated above. These measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. We use non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. We believe that they provide useful information about operating results, enhance understanding of past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. The non-GAAP measures used in this press release may be different from the measures used by other companies.

Investor Contact:

Fitzhugh Taylor, ICR

fitzhugh.taylor@icrinc.com

714-599-5200


EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
     June 25, 2014     June 26, 2013     June 25, 2014     June 26, 2013  
     $     %     $     %     $     %     $     %  

Revenue:

                

Restaurant revenue

   $ 81,358        93.6   $ 76,520        93.6   $ 157,571        93.6   $ 148,589        93.6

Franchise revenue

     5,546        6.4     5,207        6.4     10,760        6.4     10,133        6.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenue

     86,904        100.0     81,727        100.0     168,331        100.0     158,722        100.0

Costs of operations:

                

Food and paper cost (1)

     25,930        31.9     24,207        31.6     49,953        31.7     46,903        31.6

Labor and related expenses (1)

     20,102        24.7     19,218        25.1     39,415        25.0     38,288        25.8

Occupancy and other operating expenses (1)

     16,945        20.8     15,874        20.7     32,989        20.9     31,398        21.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Company restaurant expenses (1)

     62,977        77.4     59,299        77.5     122,357        77.7     116,589        78.5

General and administrative expenses

     6,835        7.9     6,298        7.7     13,465        8.0     12,491        7.9

Franchise expenses

     943        1.1     981        1.2     1,926        1.1     1,950        1.2

Depreciation and amortization

     2,752        3.2     2,541        3.1     5,347        3.2     4,945        3.1

Loss on disposal of assets

     215        0.2     391        0.5     491        0.3     581        0.4

Asset impairment and closed store reserves

     340        0.4     36        0.0     393        0.2     101        0.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     74,062        85.2     69,546        85.1     143,979        85.5     136,657        86.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     12,842        14.8     12,181        14.9     24,352        14.5     22,065        13.9

Interest expense, net

     5,703        6.6     9,800        12.0     11,326        6.7     19,580        12.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

     7,139        8.2     2,381        2.9     13,026        7.7     2,485        1.6

Provision for income taxes

     (570     -0.7     (1,971     -2.4     (987     -0.6     (2,135     -1.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 6,569        7.6   $ 410        0.5   $ 12,039        7.2   $ 350        0.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income per share:

                

Basic

   $ 0.23        $ 0.01        $ 0.42        $ 0.01     

Diluted

   $ 0.21        $ 0.01        $ 0.39        $ 0.01     

Wighted average shares used in computing net income per share:

                

Basic

     28,715,485          28,712,622          28,714,053          28,712,622     

Diluted

     30,596,998          28,999,093          30,595,565          28,999,093     

 

(1) As a percentage of restaurant revenue.


EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

UNAUDITED SELECTED BALANCE SHEETS AND SELECTED OPERATING DATA

(dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     As of  
     June 25,
2014
     December 25, 2013  

Balance Sheet Data:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 27,134       $ 17,015   

Total assets

     433,168         416,942   

Total debt

     288,346         289,242   

Total liabilities

     372,283         368,406   

Total stockholder’s equity

     60,885         48,536   

 

     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
     June 25,
2014
    June 26, 2013  

Selected Operating Data:

    

Company-owned restaurants at end of period

     168        167   

Franchise restaurants at end of period

     233        231   

Company-owned:

    

Comparable restaurant sales

     5.2     6.8

Units in the comparable base

     164        162   


EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

(dollar amounts in thousands)

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended      Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
     June 25,
2014
     June 26,
2013
     June 25,
2014
     June 26,
2013
 

Adjusted EBITDA:

           

Net income, as reported

   $ 6,569       $ 410       $ 12,039       $ 350   

Provision for income tax

     570         1,971         987         2,135   

Interest expense, net

     5,703         9,800         11,326         19,580   

Depreciation and amortization

     2,752         2,541         5,347         4,945   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

     15,594         14,722         29,699         27,010   

Stock-based compensation expense

     169         30         338         115   

Management fees

     134         169         292         324   

Loss on disposal of assets

     215         391         491         581   

Impairments and closures

     340         36         393         101   

Pre-opening costs

     103         43         211         147   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 16,555       $ 15,391       $ 31,424       $ 28,278   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 


EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO PRO FORMA NET INCOME

(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
     June 25,
2014
    June 26,
2013
    June 25,
2014
    June 26,
2013
 

Pro forma net income:

        

Net income, as reported

   $ 6,569      $ 410      $ 12,039      $ 350   

Provision for taxes, as reported

     570        1,971        987        2,135   

Interest expense, as reported

     5,703        9,800        11,326        19,580   

Pro forma interest expense

     (3,108     (3,108     (6,135     (6,135

IPO costs

     134        —          134        —     

Ongoing public company costs

     (365     (365     (816     (816

Management fees

     125        125        250        250   

Loss on Disposal of Assets

     215        391        491        581   

Asset Impairment and Closed Store Costs

     340        36        393        101   

Provision for income taxes

     (4,124     (3,750     (7,561     (6,499
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net income

   $ 6,059        5,510        11,108        9,547   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma weighted-average share and per share data:

        

Pro forma net income per share

        

Basic

   $ 0.16      $ 0.15      $ 0.30      $ 0.26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 0.16      $ 0.15      $ 0.29      $ 0.26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Wieghted-average shares used in computing pro forma net income per share

        

Basic

     36,929,771        36,926,908        36,928,339        36,926,908   

Diluted

     38,811,284        37,213,379        38,809,851        37,213,379