Document


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): October 31, 2019
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-2 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))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
LOCO
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC







Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b- 2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☒






Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On October 31, 2019, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., issued a press release announcing certain financial results for its third quarter ended September 25, 2019. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1and is incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section and shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
 
Exhibit Number
  
Description
99.1
  





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: October 31, 2019
 
/s/ Laurance Roberts
Laurance Roberts
Chief Financial Officer



Exhibit


Exhibit 99.1
 https://cdn.kscope.io/45ed08215f3d2c56b1dc2718d44e6355-gablea03.jpg
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Announces
Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results
 
 
COSTA MESA, CA – October 31, 2019 – El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: LOCO) today announced financial results for the 13-week period ended September 25, 2019.
Highlights for the third quarter ended September 25, 2019, compared to the third quarter ended September 26, 2018 were as follows:
 
Total revenue was $112.1 million compared to $112.2 million.
System-wide comparable restaurant sales increased 1.1%, including a 1.6% increase for company-operated restaurants, and a 0.6% increase for franchised restaurants.
Net income was $6.4 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share. During the third quarter of 2019 the Company incurred legal expenses related to securities litigation of $0.2 million. During the third quarter of 2018 the Company incurred legal expenses related to securities litigation of $3.7 million and received insurance proceeds of $2.0 million related to the reimbursement of certain legal expenses paid in prior years for the defense of securities lawsuits.
Pro forma net income(1) was $7.2 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to $7.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share.
Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $15.9 million, compared to $16.3 million.
(1) Pro forma net income and adjusted EBITDA are not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and are defined below under "Key Financial Definitions." A reconciliation of GAAP net income to pro forma net income and adjusted EBITDA is included in the accompanying financial data. See also “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Bernard Acoca, President and Chief Executive Officer of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., stated, "Our third quarter results were highlighted by accelerating sales momentum as our Transformation Agenda continues to gain traction. Despite a slow start to the quarter, the expansion of our delivery capabilities, focus on value and improved company operations drove system-wide comparable restaurant sales growth of 1.1%, representing our fifth straight quarter of positive system-wide comp growth. In fact, the month of September was our strongest month of the year to-date in terms of sales, with system comparable restaurant sales of 4.2% driven by positive traffic, which is particularly impressive given the 3% growth comparison from last year. We’re pleased to see our momentum continue into the fourth quarter as both system wide comparable sales and traffic remain positive in October.”

Acoca added, “During the quarter, we continued our focus on simplifying in-store operations to reduce back of house complexity and virtually completed the roll-out of a new inventory management system, which will enable our employees to spend more time delivering an exceptional customer experience. Looking ahead, we are particularly excited by our first ever holiday-themed promotion that promises to be special for both our customers





and employees alike. We continue to believe our strategic initiatives, renewed focus on product innovation and ongoing efforts to elevate the El Pollo Loco brand will further strengthen our foundation, allowing us to grow our business profitably and responsibly over the long-term.”

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results
Company-operated restaurant revenue in the third quarter of 2019 was $99.1 million, compared to $100.0 million in the same period last year. The decline in company-operated restaurant sales was primarily due to a $4.4 million decrease in revenue from the closure of five restaurants during or subsequent to the third quarter of 2018 and the sale of eleven company-operated restaurants to franchisees earlier this year. This restaurant sales decrease was partially offset by 1.6% increase in company-operated comparable restaurant sales, the six new restaurants opened during and subsequent to the third quarter of 2018 and $0.5 million related to an increase in revenue recognized from our loyalty points program.
Comparable company-operated restaurant sales in the third quarter increased 1.6%, driven by a 2.0% increase in average check, partially offset by a 0.4% decrease in transactions.
Franchise revenue in the third quarter of 2019 increased 9.1% to $7.3 million, compared to $6.7 million in the third quarter of 2018. This increase was primarily due to a 0.6% increase in franchise comparable restaurant sales, the eleven restaurants sold by the company to franchisees and the opening of seven new franchised restaurants during or after the prior year quarter. This was partially offset by the closure of three franchise locations during the same period.
Net income for the third quarter of 2019 was $6.4 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2018. Pro forma net income was $7.2 million, or $0.20 per diluted share during the third quarter of 2019, compared to $7.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share during the third quarter of 2018.
During the third quarter of 2019 the Company incurred legal expenses related to securities litigation of $0.2 million. The third quarter of 2018 included legal expenses related to securities lawsuits of $3.7 million and insurance proceeds of $2.0 million related to the reimbursement of certain legal expenses paid in prior years for the defense of securities lawsuits.
Restaurant contribution was $18.4 million or 18.6% of company-operated restaurant revenue, compared to $18.3 million, or 18.3% of company-operated restaurant revenue in the third quarter of 2018. The increase was largely due to price increases, partially offset by the impact of wage increases in California, increased delivery fees, related to the roll-out of new delivery service providers, and higher commodity inflation. Restaurant contribution is a non-GAAP measure defined below under "Key Financial Definitions." A reconciliation of GAAP income from operations to restaurant contribution is included in the accompanying financial data. See also “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

2019 Outlook
Based on current information, the Company is updating its earnings guidance for fiscal year 2019.
Excluding the impact of potential share repurchases, the Company expects 2019 pro forma diluted net income per share ranging from $0.71 to $0.74. Pro forma net income guidance for fiscal year 2019 is based, in part, on the following annual assumptions:
 
System-wide comparable restaurant sales growth of approximately 1.0% to 2.0%;
The opening of 2-3 new company-owned restaurants and 2-3 new franchised restaurants;
Restaurant contribution margin of 18.2% to 18.6%;
G&A expenses of between 8.1% and 8.3% of total revenue excluding legal fees related to securities related litigation;
Pro forma income tax rate of 26.5%; and
Adjusted EBITDA of between $61.0 and $63.0 million.






Reconciliations of our 2019 expected pro forma diluted net income per share range, our expected 2019 Adjusted EBITDA range, our expected 2019 restaurant contribution margin and our 2019 expected pro forma income tax rate to their corresponding GAAP measures have not been provided as we cannot determine the probable significance or timing of certain reconciling items which are outside of our control and therefore cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, we do not provide guidance for these various reconciling items. These reconciling items such as asset impairment and closed store reserves, securities lawsuit related legal expenses and gain or loss on disposal of assets impact the timing and amount of the quarterly recognition of GAAP net income. Therefore, reconciliations of the differences between these forward-looking information items to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are not available without unreasonable effort.
Key Financial Definitions
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 and excludes restaurants that were closed during the applicable period. At September 25, 2019, there were 198 restaurants in our comparable company-operated restaurant base and 462 restaurants in our comparable system 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 excludes certain costs, such as general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, asset impairment and closed-store reserves, loss on sale of restaurants, recovery of securities lawsuits related legal expenses and other costs that are considered normal operating costs. Accordingly, restaurant contribution is not indicative of overall Company results and does not accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders because of the exclusion of certain corporate-level 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 represents net income adjusted for (i) costs (or gains) related to loss (or gains) on disposal of assets or assets held for sale and asset impairment and closed store costs, (ii) amortization expense and other estimate adjustments (whether expense or income) incurred on the Tax Receivable Agreement completed at the time of our IPO, (iii) legal costs associated with securities class action litigation, (iv) legal settlement costs, (v) insurance proceeds received related to securities class action legal expenses, (vi) costs associated with the transition of our CEO and (vii) provision for income taxes at a normalized tax rate of 26.5% for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019 and September 26, 2018, 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.”
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss financial results for the third quarter of 2019 today at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Bernard Acoca, President and Chief Executive Officer and Larry Roberts, Chief Financial 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 844-512-2921 or for international callers by dialing 412-317-6671; the passcode is 13694249. The replay will be available until Thursday, November





14, 2019. 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 (Nasdaq:LOCO) is the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain renowned for its masterfully citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken and handcrafted entrees using fresh ingredients inspired by Mexican recipes. With more than 480 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana. El Pollo Loco is expanding its presence in key markets through a combination of company and existing and new franchisee development. Visit us on our website at ElPolloLoco.com.

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 could 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 that could cause outcomes to differ materially from our expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to: the adverse impact of economic conditions on our (i) operating results and financial condition, (ii) ability to comply with the terms and covenants of our debt agreements, and (iii) ability to pay or refinance our existing debt or to obtain additional financing; vulnerability to changes in consumer preferences and economic conditions; vulnerability to conditions in the greater Los Angeles area; vulnerability to natural disasters given the geographic concentration and real estate intensive nature of our business; ability to open new restaurants in new and existing markets, including difficulty in finding sites and in negotiating acceptable leases; delayed or canceled future restaurant openings; restaurant closures, due to financial performance or otherwise; increases in chicken and other input costs; and other risks set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including under Item 1A, Risk Factors in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2018, which such filings are available online at www.sec.gov, at 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 which include supplemental measures of operating performance of our restaurants. Our calculations of supplemental measures and other non-GAAP financial measures indicated above may not be comparable to those reported by other companies. These measures have limitations as analytical tools, and 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 and to evaluate our restaurants' financial performance against our competitors' performance. 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. These non-GAAP financial measures may also assist investors in evaluating our business and performance relative to industry peers and provide greater transparency with respect to the Company's financial condition and results of operation.
Investor Contact:
Fitzhugh Taylor, ICR
fitzhugh.taylor@icrinc.com
714-599-5200
Media Contact:
Hanna Gray, Edible
hannah.gray@edible-inc.com
323-202-1477






EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except share data)
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company-operated restaurant revenue
99,052

 
88.4

 
100,024

 
89.2

 
296,341

 
88.5

 
294,204

 
89.3

Franchise revenue
7,273

 
6.5

 
6,665

 
5.9

 
21,635

 
6.5

 
19,324

 
5.8

Franchise advertising fee revenue
5,742

 
5.1

 
5,489

 
4.9

 
16,808

 
5.0

 
16,039

 
4.9

Total revenue
112,067

 
100.0

 
112,178


100.0

 
334,784

 
100.0

 
329,567

 
100.0

Costs of operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Food and paper cost (1)
27,512

 
27.8

 
28,349

 
28.3

 
82,550

 
27.9

 
84,265

 
28.6

Labor and related expenses (1)
29,292

 
29.6

 
29,164

 
29.2

 
88,140

 
29.7

 
84,682

 
28.8

Occupancy and other operating expenses (1)
23,844

 
24.1

 
24,187

 
24.2

 
70,103

 
23.7

 
69,019

 
23.5

Company restaurant expenses (1)
80,648

 
81.5

 
81,700

 
81.7

 
240,793

 
81.3

 
237,966

 
80.9

General and administrative expenses
9,539

 
8.5

 
12,186

 
10.9

 
30,235

 
9.0

 
37,862

 
11.5

Franchise expenses
7,006

 
6.3

 
6,342

 
5.7

 
20,692

 
6.2

 
18,424

 
5.6

Depreciation and amortization
4,343

 
3.9

 
4,507

 
4.0

 
13,558

 
4.0

 
13,063

 
4.0

Loss on disposal of assets
35

 

 
140

 
0.1

 
213

 
0.1

 
193

 
0.1

Recovery of securities lawsuits related legal expenses

 

 
(2,036
)
 
(1.8
)
 
(10,000
)
 
(3.0
)
 
(6,099
)
 
(1.9
)
Asset impairment and closed-store reserves
367

 
0.3

 
(153
)
 
(0.1
)
 
1,241

 
0.4

 
6,629

 
2.0

Loss on disposition of restaurants
11

 

 

 

 
5,062

 
2.3

 

 

Total expenses
101,949

 
91.0

 
102,686

 
91.5

 
301,794

 
90.1

 
308,038

 
93.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations
10,118

 
9.0

 
9,492

 
8.5

 
32,990

 
9.9

 
21,529

 
6.5

Interest expense, net of interest income
973

 
0.9

 
840

 
0.7

 
2,754

 
0.8

 
2,688

 
0.8

Income tax receivable agreement income
(197
)
 
(0.2
)
 
(571
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(120
)
 
0.0

 
(777
)
 
(0.2
)
Income before provision for income taxes
9,342

 
8.3

 
9,223

 
8.2

 
30,356

 
9.1

 
19,618

 
6.0

Provision for income taxes
2,940

 
2.6

 
2,388

 
2.1

 
8,954

 
2.7

 
5,202

 
1.6

Net income
6,402

 
5.7

 
6,835

 
6.1

 
21,402

 
6.4

 
14,416

 
4.4

Net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
0.18

 
 
 
0.18

 
 
 
0.57

 
 
 
0.37

 
 
Diluted
0.18

 
 
 
0.17

 
 
 
0.56

 
 
 
0.37

 
 
Weighted average shares used in computing net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
35,859,502

 
 
 
38,602,658

 
 
 
37,484,372

 
 
 
38,516,792

 
 
Diluted
36,397,368

 
 
 
39,205,090

 
 
 
38,173,097

 
 
 
39,102,130

 
 
 
(1)
Percentages for line items relating to cost of operations and company restaurant expenses are calculated with company-operated restaurant revenue as the denominator. All other percentages use total revenue.





EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED SELECTED BALANCE SHEETS AND SELECTED OPERATING DATA
(dollar amounts in thousands)
 
 
As of
 
September 25, 2019
 
December 26, 2018
Selected Balance Sheet Data:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
12,069

 
$
6,969

Total assets
635,428

 
450,226

Total debt
101,000

 
74,184

Total liabilities
395,414

 
184,990

Total stockholders’ equity
240,014

 
265,236

 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
Selected Operating Data:
 
 
 
Company-operated restaurants at end of period
201

 
212

Franchised restaurants at end of period
284

 
271

Company-operated:
 
 
 
Comparable restaurant sales growth
1.2
%
 
(0.6
)%
Restaurants in the comparable base
198

 
195






EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
(dollar amounts in thousands)
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
Adjusted EBITDA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income, as reported
$
6,402

 
$
6,835

 
$
21,402

 
$
14,416

Provision for income taxes
2,940

 
2,388

 
8,954

 
5,202

Interest expense, net
973

 
840

 
2,754

 
2,688

Depreciation and amortization
4,343

 
4,507

 
13,558

 
13,063

EBITDA
14,658

 
14,570

 
46,668

 
35,369

Stock-based compensation expense (a)
668

 
377

 
1,797

 
820

Loss on disposal of assets (b)
35

 
140

 
213

 
193

Recovery of securities lawsuits related legal expense (c)

 
(2,036
)
 
(10,000
)
 
(6,099
)
Asset impairment and closed-store reserves (recovery) (d)
367

 
(153
)
 
1,241

 
6,629

Loss on disposition of restaurants (e)
11

 

 
5,062

 

Expenses related to selling shareholders
(197
)
 
(571
)
 
(120
)
 
(777
)
Income tax receivable agreement income (f)
179

 
3,659

 
2,809

 
10,532

Securities class action legal expense (g)
158

 
276

 
193

 
699

Executive transition costs (i)
51

 
31

 
151

 
1,050

Adjusted EBITDA
$
15,930

 
$
16,293

 
$
48,014

 
$
48,416

(a)
Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation.
(b)
Loss on disposal of assets includes the loss on disposal of assets related to retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements or equipment.
(c)
During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, we received insurance proceeds of $10.0 million related to the settlement of the securities class action lawsuit and during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018, we received insurance proceeds of $2.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively, related to the reimbursement of certain legal expenses paid in prior years for the defense of securities lawsuits. See Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, Legal Matters.
(d)
Includes costs related to impairment of long-lived assets and closing restaurants. During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively, primarily related to the carrying value of the assets of one restaurant in California. We recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $0.1 million and $1.8 million for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018, respectively, primarily related to the carrying value of the assets of one restaurant in Arizona.

During the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2018, we closed one restaurant in California and one restaurant in Arizona. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018,we closed six restaurants, including four locations in Texas, one in California and one in Arizona, and decided not to move forward with the development of a third location in Texas. All four Texas locations were previously impaired during the third quarter of 2017. This resulted in a closed-store reserve recovery of $0.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2018 and closed-store reserve expense of $4.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018.
(e)
During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, we completed the sale of four company-operated restaurants within the San Francisco area to an existing franchisee and seven company-operated restaurants in the Phoenix area to another existing franchisee. These sales resulted in cash proceeds of $4.8 million and a net loss on sale of restaurants of $5.1 million. These restaurants are now included in our franchised restaurant totals.
(f)
On July 30, 2014, we entered into the TRA. This agreement calls for us to pay to our pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that we realize in our taxes as a result of utilizing our net operating losses and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019 and September 26, 2018, income tax receivable agreement income consisted of the amortization of interest expense and changes in estimates for actual tax returns filed, related to our total expected TRA payments.
(g)
Consists of costs related to the defense of securities lawsuits. See "Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, Legal Matters."
(h)
Pre-opening costs are a component of general and administrative expenses, and consist of costs directly associated with the opening of new restaurants and incurred prior to opening, including management labor costs, staff labor costs during training, food and supplies used during training, marketing costs, and other related pre-opening costs. These are generally incurred over the three to five months prior to opening. Pre-opening costs also include occupancy costs incurred between the date of possession and the opening date for a restaurant.
(i)
Includes costs associated with the transition of our CEO, such as executive recruiter costs, CEO sign-on bonus, and former CEO stock modification expense.






EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO PRO FORMA NET INCOME
(dollar amounts in thousands, except share data)
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
Pro forma net income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income, as reported
$
6,402

 
$
6,835

 
$
21,402

 
$
14,416

Provision for taxes, as reported
2,940

 
2,388

 
8,954

 
5,202

Loss on disposition of restaurants
11

 

 
5,062

 

Income tax receivable agreement income
(197
)
 
(571
)
 
(120
)
 
(777
)
Loss on disposal of assets
35

 
140

 
213

 
193

Recovery of securities lawsuits related legal expenses

 
(2,036
)
 
(10,000
)
 
(6,099
)
Asset impairment and closed-store reserves
367

 
(153
)
 
1,241

 
6,629

Securities lawsuits related legal expenses
179

 
3,659

 
2,809

 
10,532

Executive transition costs
51

 
31

 
151

 
1,050

Provision for income taxes
(2,594
)
 
(2,728
)
 
(7,874
)
 
(8,254
)
Pro forma net income
$
7,194

 
$
7,565

 
$
21,838

 
$
22,892

Pro forma weighted-average share and per share data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro forma net income per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.20

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.58

 
$
0.59

Diluted
$
0.20

 
$
0.19

 
$
0.57

 
$
0.59

Weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net income per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
35,859,502

 
38,602,658

 
37,484,372

 
38,516,792

Diluted
36,397,368

 
39,205,090

 
38,173,097

 
39,102,130









EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF INCOME FROM OPERATIONS TO RESTAURANT CONTRIBUTION
(dollar amounts in thousands)
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
 
September 25, 2019
 
September 26, 2018
Restaurant contribution:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations
$
10,118

 
$
9,492

 
$
32,990

 
$
21,529

Add (less):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  General and administrative expenses
9,539

 
12,186

 
30,235

 
37,862

  Franchise expenses
7,006

 
6,342

 
20,692

 
18,424

  Depreciation and amortization
4,343

 
4,507

 
13,558

 
13,063

  Loss gain on disposal of assets
35

 
140

 
213

 
193

  Franchise revenue
(7,273
)
 
(6,665
)
 
(21,635
)
 
(19,324
)
  Franchise advertising fee revenue
(5,742
)
 
(5,489
)
 
(16,808
)
 
(16,039
)
  Recovery of securities lawsuits related legal expenses

 
(2,036
)
 
(10,000
)
 
(6,099
)
  Asset impairment and closed-store reserves
367

 
(153
)
 
1,241

 
6,629

Loss on sale of restaurants
11

 

 
5,062

 

Restaurant contribution
$
18,404

 
$
18,324

 
$
55,548

 
$
56,238

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company-operated restaurant revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue
$
112,067

 
$
112,178

 
$
334,784

 
$
329,567

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Franchise revenue
(7,273
)
 
(6,665
)
 
(21,635
)
 
(19,324
)
  Franchise advertising fee revenue
(5,742
)
 
(5,489
)
 
(16,808
)
 
(16,039
)
Company-operated restaurant revenue
$
99,052

 
$
100,024

 
$
296,341

 
$
294,204

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restaurant contribution margin (%)
18.6
%
 
18.3
%
 
18.7
%
 
19.1
%