Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)


☒			QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 8, 2020


☐			TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-36197

DEL TACO RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

46-3340980

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

25521 Commercentre Drive

Lake Forest,

California

92630

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(949)

462-9300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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, $0.0001 Par Value

TACO

The Nasdaq Stock Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer

Accelerated Filer

Non-Accelerated Filer

Smaller Reporting Company

☐

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 ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of October 12, 2020, there were 37,324,593 shares of the registrant’s common stock issued and outstanding.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Index


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 8 , 2020 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2019			1
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Twelve and T hirty -Six Weeks Ended September 8 , 2020 and the Twelve and T hirty -Six Weeks Ended September 10 , 2019			2
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Twelve and T hirty -Six Weeks Ended September 8 , 2020 and the Twelve and T hirty -Six Weeks Ended September 10 , 2019			3
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the T hirty -Six Weeks Ended September 8 , 2020 and the T hirty -Six Weeks Ended September 10 , 2019			5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)			6
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			23
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			43
Item 4. Control and Procedures			45

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings			46
Item 1A. Risk Factors			46
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			46
Item 6. Exhibits			48

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements


Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

	September 8, 2020		December 31, 2019
Assets	(Unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	5,359	$	1,421
Accounts and other receivables, net	3,731		3,580
Inventories	2,640		3,123
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,541		2,289
Assets held for sale	1,495		8,411
Total current assets	15,766		18,824
Property and equipment, net	147,569		156,921
Operating lease right-of-use assets	250,154		258,278
Goodwill	108,979		192,739
Trademarks	208,400		220,300
Intangible assets, net	10,202		10,827
Other assets, net	4,610		4,568
Total assets	$	745,680	$	862,457
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	17,616	$	19,652
Other accrued liabilities	45,690		34,577
Current portion of finance lease obligations and other debt	199		220
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	20,116		17,848
Total current liabilities	83,621		72,297
Long-term debt, finance lease obligations and other debt, excluding current portion, net	123,380		144,581
Operating lease liabilities, excluding current portion	253,121		257,361
Deferred income taxes	61,466		69,510
Other non-current liabilities	16,274		16,601
Total liabilities	537,862		560,350
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding	—		—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 37,324,593 shares issued and outstanding at September 8, 2020; 37,059,202 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019	4		4
Additional paid-in capital	336,285		333,379
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	—		(52)
Accumulated deficit	(128,471)		(31,224)
Total shareholders’ equity	207,818		302,107
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	745,680	$	862,457

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents


Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

	12 Weeks Ended						36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019		September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019
Revenue:
Company restaurant sales	$	109,522	$	111,059	$	305,116	$	329,142
Franchise revenue	5,169		4,490		14,080		13,193
Franchise advertising contributions	4,001		3,458		9,995		10,048
Franchise sublease and other income	2,090		1,191		5,971		3,472
Total revenue	120,782		120,198		335,162		355,855
Operating expenses:
Restaurant operating expenses:
Food and paper costs	29,051		30,761		82,988		90,434
Labor and related expenses	35,450		36,304		101,995		108,542
Occupancy and other operating expenses	25,302		25,386		72,099		73,522
General and administrative	10,841		10,421		30,139		31,735
Franchise advertising expenses	4,001		3,458		9,995		10,048
Depreciation and amortization	6,055		5,941		18,477		17,661
Occupancy and other - franchise subleases and other	1,766		1,011		5,088		2,858
Pre-opening costs	63		465		359		720
Impairment of goodwill	—		—		87,277		—
Impairment of trademarks	—		—		11,900		—
Impairment of long-lived assets	—		1,407		8,287		5,101
Restaurant closure charges, net	413		588		1,406		1,718
Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net	140		7,906		697		8,790
Total operating expenses	113,082		123,648		430,707		351,129
Income (loss) from operations	7,700		(3,450)		(95,545)		4,726
Other expense (income), net
Interest expense	941		1,663		3,730		5,169
Other income	—		—		—		(201)
Total other expense, net	941		1,663		3,730		4,968
Income (loss) from operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes	6,759		(5,113)		(99,275)		(242)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	962		2,556		(2,028)		3,910
Net income (loss)	5,797		(7,669)		(97,247)		(4,152)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in fair value of interest rate cap, net of tax	—		(75)		—		(345)
Reclassification of interest rate cap amortization included in net income, net of tax	—		32		52		79
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	—		(43)		52		(266)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	5,797	$	(7,712)	$	(97,195)	$	(4,418)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.16	$	(0.21)	$	(2.62)	$	(0.11)
Diluted	$	0.15	$	(0.21)	$	(2.62)	$	(0.11)
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic	37,293,390		37,023,287		37,152,419		37,000,331
Diluted	37,420,043		37,023,287		37,152,419		37,000,331

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents


Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share data)

								Accumulated		Retained
						Additional		Other		Earnings		Total
	Preferred		Common Stock					Paid-in		Comprehensive		(Accumulated		Shareholders’
	Stock		Shares	Amount		Capital		Income (Loss)		Deficit)		Equity
Balance at January 1, 2019	$	—	37,305,342	$	4	$	336,941	$	180	$	85,149	$	422,274
Adjustment for adoption of new lease standard, net of tax			—	—		—		—		1,912		1,912
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		1,425		1,425
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	—		—	—		—		(118)		—		(118)
Comprehensive income												1,307
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		1,577		—		—		1,577
Issuance of vested restricted stock, net of shares withheld for tax withholding	—		13,172	—		(84)		—		—		(84)
Exercise of stock options	—		1,500	—		16		—		—		16
Repurchase of common stocks and warrants	—		(270,874)	—		(4,306)		—		—		(4,306)
Balance at March 26, 2019	—		37,049,140	4		334,144		62		88,486		422,696
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		2,092		2,092
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	—		—	—		—		(105)		—		(105)
Comprehensive income												1,987
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		1,677		—		—		1,677
Issuance of vested restricted stock, net of shares withheld for tax withholding	—		48,499	—		—		—		—		—
Exercise of stock options	—		1,500	—		15		—		—		15
Repurchase of common stocks and warrants	—		(303,607)	—		(3,067)		—		—		(3,067)
Balance at June 18, 2019	—		36,795,532	4		332,769		(43)		90,578		423,308
Net loss	—		—	—		—		—		(7,669)		(7,669)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	—		—	—		—		(43)		—		(43)
Comprehensive loss												(7,712)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		1,347		—		—		1,347
Issuance of vested restricted stock, net of shares withheld for tax withholding	—		254,670	—		(2,518)		—		—		(2,518)
Exercise of stock options	—		9,000	—		89		—		—		89

Balance at September 10, 2019	$	—	37,059,202	$	4	$	331,687	$	(86)	$	82,909	$	414,514

Table of Contents




Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share data)

								Accumulated
						Additional		Other				Total
	Preferred		Common Stock					Paid-in		Comprehensive		Accumulated		Shareholders’
	Stock		Shares	Amount		Capital		Income (Loss)		Deficit		Equity
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	—	37,059,202	$	4	$	333,379	$	(52)	$	(31,224)	$	302,107
Net loss	—		—	—		—		—		(102,468)		(102,468)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	—		—	—		—		45		—		45
Comprehensive loss												(102,423)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		1,225		—		—		1,225
Issuance of vested restricted stock, net of shares withheld for tax withholding	—		21,758	—		(105)		—		—		(105)
Balance at March 24, 2020	—		37,080,960	4		334,499		(7)		(133,692)		200,804
Net loss	—		—	—		—		—		(576)		(576)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	—		—	—		—		7		—		7
Comprehensive loss												(569)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		1,413		—		—		1,413
Issuance of vested restricted stock, net of shares withheld for tax withholding	—		42,016	—		—		—		—		—
Balance at June 16, 2020	—		37,122,976	4		335,912		—		(134,268)		201,648
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		5,797		5,797

Comprehensive income												5,797
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		1,267		—		—		1,267
Issuance of vested restricted stock, net of shares withheld for tax withholding	—		201,617	—		(894)		—		—		(894)
Balance at September 8, 2020	$	—	37,324,593	$	4	$	336,285	$	—	$	(128,471)	$	207,818

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents


Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

	36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019
Operating activities
Net loss	$	(97,247)	$	(4,152)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	15		—
Depreciation and amortization	18,477		17,661
Amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discount and interest rate cap	251		376
Amortization of operating lease assets	15,200		14,886
Stock-based compensation	3,905		4,601
Impairment of goodwill	87,277		—
Impairment of trademarks	11,900		—
Impairment of long-lived assets	8,287		5,101
Deferred income taxes	(8,059)		1,210
Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net	697		8,790
Restaurant closure charges	92		118

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables, net	(166)		394
Inventories	483		55
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,071		(330)
Other assets	(252)		(124)
Accounts payable	(365)		1,293
Operating lease liabilities	(14,513)		(13,584)
Other accrued liabilities	13,148		2,307
Other non-current liabilities	(678)		161
Net cash provided by operating activities	39,523		38,763
Investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment	(16,335)		(28,440)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment, net	1,440		14,130
Purchases of other assets	(1,094)		(1,051)
Acquisition of franchisees	—		(4,833)
Proceeds from sale of company-operated restaurants	2,558		2,090
Net cash used in investing activities	(13,431)		(18,104)
Financing activities

Repurchase of common stock and warrants	—		(7,373)
Payment of tax withholding related to restricted stock vesting	(999)		(2,602)
Payments on finance leases and other debt	(155)		(389)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	65,000		27,000
Payments on revolving credit facility	(86,000)		(36,000)




Proceeds from exercise of stock options	—		120
Net cash used in financing activities	(22,154)		(19,244)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	3,938		1,415
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,421		7,153
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	5,359	$	8,568
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	$	3,255	$	4,720
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	1,060		1,764
Supplemental schedule of non-cash activities:
Accrued property and equipment purchases	$	1,783	$	5,768
Write-offs of accounts receivables	—		21
Amortization of interest rate cap into net income, net of tax	52		79
Change in other asset for fair value of interest rate cap recorded to other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	—		(345)
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations	13,139		262,369
Finance lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations	—		1,185
Impairment on operating lease right-of-use assets related to the adoption of new accounting pronouncements	—		3,116

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

1. Description of Business

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Lake Forest, California. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Del Taco”). The Company develops, franchises, owns, and operates Del Taco quick-service Mexican-American restaurants. At September 8, 2020, there were 295 company-operated and 301 franchise-operated Del Taco restaurants located in 15 states, including one franchise-operated unit in Guam. At September 10, 2019, there were 312 company-operated and 274 franchise-operated Del Taco restaurants located in 14 states, including one franchise-operated unit in Guam.

2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). For additional information, these unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 ("2019 Form 10-K").

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Tuesday closest to December 31. Fiscal year 2020 is a fifty-two week period ending December 29, 2020. Fiscal year 2019 is the fifty-two week period ended December 31, 2019. In a fifty-two week fiscal year, the first, second and third quarters each include twelve weeks of operations and the fourth quarter includes sixteen weeks of operations. For fiscal year 2020, the Company’s accompanying financial statements reflect the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020. For fiscal year 2019, the Company’s accompanying financial statements reflect the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly and majority owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management believes that such estimates have been based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and the resulting estimates are reasonable for use in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The Company’s significant estimates include estimates for impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment, valuations provided in business combinations, insurance reserves, restaurant closure reserves, stock-based compensation, contingent liabilities, certain leasing activities and income tax valuation allowances.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standard Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing the following exceptions: (1) exception to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or gain from other items; (2) exception to the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a subsidiary becomes an equity method investment; and (3) exception to the general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. Furthermore, ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by doing the following: (1) requiring

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

that an entity recognize a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income as an income-based tax and account for any incremental amount incurred as a non-income-based tax; (2) requiring that an entity evaluate when a step up in the tax basis of goodwill should be considered part if the business combination in which the book goodwill was originally recognized and when it should be considered a separate transaction; (3) specifying that an entity is not required to allocate the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense to a legal entity that is not subject to tax in its separate financial statements; and (4) requiring that an entity reflect the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Statements - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which requires companies to measure credit losses utilizing a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires a consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. There was no material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures as a result of adopting this standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract, which clarifies the accounting implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. There was no material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures as a result of adopting this standard.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

There have been no changes to our significant accounting policies described in the 2019 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020 that have had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related notes.

3. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Restaurant Closure Charges

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for indicators of impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The Company considers a triggering event to have occurred related to a specific restaurant if the restaurant’s cash flows are less than a minimum threshold or if consistent levels of undiscounted cash flows for the remaining lease period are less than the carrying value of the restaurant’s assets. Long-lived assets are grouped and evaluated for impairment at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. The Company evaluates such cash flows for individual restaurants and franchise agreements on an undiscounted basis. If it is determined that the carrying amounts of such long-lived assets are not recoverable, the assets are written down to their estimated fair values. We generally estimate fair value using the discounted value of the estimated cash flows associated with the respective restaurant or agreement, using Level 3 inputs. The impairment charges represent the excess of each operating lease right-of-use asset, furniture, fixtures and equipment and leasehold improvement's carrying amount over its estimated fair value.

During the twelve and thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company evaluated certain restaurants having indicators of impairment based on operating performance, taking into consideration the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on forecasted restaurant performance, which resulted in elevated impairment charges for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020. No impairment charges were recorded during the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020. During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge totaling $8.3 million related to eight restaurants based on the estimate of future recoverable cash flows.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

During the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019, the Company evaluated certain restaurants having indicators of impairment based on operating performance and recorded an impairment charge totaling $1.4 million related to one restaurant based on the estimate of future recoverable cash flows. During the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, the Company evaluated certain restaurants having indicators of impairment based on operating performance and recorded an impairment charge totaling $5.1 million related to three restaurants based on the estimate of future recoverable cash flows.

Restaurant Closure Charges

The restaurant closure liability was $0.5 million and $0.4 million at September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, and relates to the non-lease executory costs associated with company-operated restaurants that were closed during the fourth quarter of 2015. A summary of the restaurant closure liability activity for these closed restaurants consisted of the following (in thousands):


	36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019
Beginning Balance	$	437	$	2,092
Reclassified to operating lease right-of-use assets	—		(1,900)
Cash payments	(2)		(192)
Adjustments to estimates based on current activity	—		118
Accretion	16		—
Ending Balance	$	451	$	118

During the thirty-six weeks weeks ended September 10, 2019, in connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases, the Company reclassified $1.9 million of the lease-related restaurant closure liability to offset the respective operating lease right-of-use assets.

The current portion of the restaurant closure liability was $0.2 million and $0.1 million as of September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, and is included in other accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The non-current portion of the restaurant closure liability was $0.3 million as of both September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, and is included in other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The restaurant closure liability is expected to be settled by 2022.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

4. Summary of Refranchising and Franchise Acquisitions

Refranchising

In connection with the sale of company-operated restaurants to franchisees, the Company typically enters into several agreements, in addition to an asset purchase agreement, with franchisees including franchise and lease agreements. The Company typically sells restaurants’ inventory and equipment and retains ownership of the leasehold interest to the real estate to sublease to the franchisee. The Company has determined that its restaurant dispositions usually represent multiple-element arrangements, and as a result, the cash consideration received is allocated to the separate elements based on their relative selling price. Cash consideration generally includes up-front consideration for the sale of the restaurants and franchise fees and future cash consideration for royalties and lease payments. The Company considers the future lease payments in allocating the initial cash consideration received. The Company compares the stated rent under the lease and/or sublease agreements with comparable market rents, and the Company records sublease assets/liabilities with a corresponding offset to the gain or loss on the sale of the company-operated restaurants. Sublease assets represent subleases with stated rent above comparable market rents. Sublease assets are amortized to sublease income over the term of the related sublease. Sublease liabilities represent subleases with stated rent below comparable market rents and are amortized to sublease income over the term of the related sublease. Both sublease assets and sublease liabilities arise from the sale of company-operated restaurants to franchisees. The cash consideration per restaurant for franchise fees is consistent with the amounts stated in the related franchise agreements, which are charged for separate standalone arrangements. The Company initially defers and subsequently recognizes the franchise fees over the term of the franchise agreement. Future royalty income is also recognized in franchise revenue as earned.

The Company sold six company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and 13 company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. The following table summarizes the net loss recognized related to these transactions (dollars in thousands):


	36 Weeks Ended September 8, 2020		36 Weeks Ended September 10, 2019
Company-operated restaurants sold to franchisees	6		13

Proceeds from the sale of company-operated restaurants, net of selling costs	$	2,558	$	2,090
Net assets sold (primarily furniture, fixtures and equipment) ^(a)	(2,086)		(2,051)
Goodwill related to the company-operated restaurants sold to franchisees	(1,196)		(83)
Allocation to deferred franchise fees	(193)		(281)
Sublease assets, net	220		260
Gain on lease termination	40		—

Loss on sale of company-operated restaurants, net ^(b)	$	(657)	$	(65)

^(a) Of the net assets sold during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, $0.7 million was included in assets held for sale as of December 31, 2019. The net assets sold during the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019 were all included in assets held for sale as of January 1, 2019.

^(b)Of the loss related to the company-operated restaurants sold during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, $0.6 million was previously recognized during the fifty-two weeks ended December 31, 2019 as a fair value adjustment to the assets held for sale balance. The loss on sale of company-operated restaurants is included in loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale includes the net book value of property and equipment for company-operated restaurants that the Company plans to sell within the next year to new or existing franchisees. Long-lived assets that meet the held for sale criteria are held for sale and reported at the lower of their carrying value or fair value, less estimated costs to sell.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

As of December 31, 2019, the Company classified 19 company-operated restaurants as held for sale. During the twelve weeks ended March 24, 2020, the Company sold five of these restaurants as discussed in the Refranchising section above and determined that the remaining 14 company-operated restaurants would not be sold within the next year and therefore reclassified the related long-lived assets back to held for use. The Company reclassified the assets back to held for use at their carrying amount before they were classified as held for sale, adjusted for depreciation expense that would have been recognized had the assets been continuously classified as held for use. As such, the Company recognized a loss of $0.5 million related to the reclassification which is included in loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss). As of September 8, 2020, the Company classified the land and building related to a previously closed company-operated restaurant as held for sale and recorded a $0.2 million adjustment to assets held for sale in order to recognize the assets at their estimated net realizable value less estimated costs to sell. The estimated fair value of assets held for sale is based upon Level 2 inputs, which include previous negotiations with a third party. Assets held for sale at September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019 consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 8, 2020		December 31, 2019
Land	$	561	$	—
Building	934		—
Other property and equipment	—		4,025
Goodwill	—		4,386
	$	1,495	$	8,411

Franchise Acquisitions

There were no franchise acquisitions during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020. The Company acquired four franchise-operated restaurants during the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. The Company accounts for the acquisition of franchise-operated restaurants using the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The purchase price allocations were based on fair value estimates determined using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3). The goodwill recorded primarily relates to the market position and future growth potential of the markets acquired and is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The following table provides detail of the combined acquisitions for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019 (dollars in thousands):


	36 Weeks Ended September 10, 2019
Franchise-operated restaurants acquired from franchisees	4

Goodwill	$	4,302
Restaurant and other equipment and leasehold improvements	660

Operating lease right-of-use assets	2,006
Operating lease liabilities	(2,006)
Unfavorable lease liabilities	(130)
Total consideration	$	4,832

The unfavorable lease liability of $0.1 million was recorded as an adjustment to the respective operating lease right-of-use asset.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):


	Goodwill
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	192,739
Goodwill reclassified from held for sale	3,517
Impairment of goodwill	(87,277)
Balance as of September 8, 2020	$	108,979

The decrease in goodwill was primarily due to an impairment of $87.3 million during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020. In March 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted authorities in most jurisdictions where the Company operates to issue stay-at-home orders, leading to an unexpected significant disruption to the Company's business requiring the Company to close restaurant dining rooms and operate with only drive-thru, take-out and delivery orders. As such, the consequences of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with a sustained decline in the Company's stock price were determined to be indicators of impairment. As such, using Level 3 inputs, the Company performed a quantitative goodwill impairment assessment during the first quarter of 2020 using both the discounted cash flow method and guideline public company method to determine the fair value of its reporting unit. Significant assumptions and estimates used in determining fair value include future revenues, operating costs, working capital changes, capital expenditures, a discount rate that approximates the Company's weighted average cost of capital and a selection of comparable companies. Based on the quantitative assessment, the Company determined that the fair value of its reporting unit was less than its carrying value and recognized a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $87.3 million, equal to the excess of the reporting unit's carrying value above its fair value. The impairment charge was recorded in impairment of goodwill on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Since June 30, 2015, the date of the business combination between Del Taco and Levy Acquisition Corporation, accumulated goodwill impairment losses were $205.6 million and $118.3 million as of September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

In conjunction with the quantitative goodwill impairment assessment during the first quarter of 2020, the Company also performed a quantitative impairment assessment of its indefinite-lived trademarks. Using Level 3 inputs, the Company used the relief from royalty method to determine the fair value of its trademarks. Significant assumptions and estimates used in determining fair value include future revenues, the royalty rate, franchise attrition, brand maintenance expenses and a discount rate that approximates the Company's weighted average cost of capital. Based on the quantitative assessment, the Company determined the fair value of its trademarks was less than its carrying value and recognized a non-cash impairment charge of $11.9 million during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, equal to the excess of the trademarks' carrying value above their fair value. The impairment charge was recorded in impairment of trademarks on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

The Company’s other intangible assets at September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019 consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 8, 2020										December 31, 2019
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net
Sublease assets	$	1,820	$	(157)	$	1,663	$	1,340	$	(82)	$	1,258
Franchise rights	13,995		(6,118)		7,877		14,298		(5,465)		8,833
Reacquired franchise rights	943		(281)		662		943		(207)		736
Total amortized other intangible assets	$	16,758	$	(6,556)	$	10,202	$	16,581	$	(5,754)	$	10,827

The Company recorded sublease assets of $0.5 million and $1.0 million during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively, in connection with the sale of company-operated restaurants (see Note 4 for more information).

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company wrote off $0.3 million of franchise rights associated with the closure of five franchise-operated restaurants. During the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, the Company reclassified $0.5 million of franchise rights as reacquired franchise rights related to the Company's acquisition of four franchise-operated restaurants and wrote off $11,000 of franchise rights associated with the closure of one franchise-operated restaurant.

6. Debt and Obligations Under Finance Leases

The Company’s long-term debt, finance lease obligations and other debt at September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019 consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 8, 2020		December 31, 2019
Senior Credit Facility, as amended, net of unamortized debt discount of $197 and $231 and deferred financing costs of $888 and $1,038 at September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively	$	122,915	$	143,731
Total outstanding indebtedness	122,915		143,731
Obligations under finance leases and other debt	664		1,070
Total debt	123,579		144,801
Less: amounts due within one year	199		220
Total amounts due after one year, net	$	123,380	$	144,581

At September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company assessed the amounts recorded under the Senior Credit Facility and determined that such amounts approximated fair value.

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company wrote off a finance lease obligation of $0.3 million related to the modification of a lease from a finance lease to an operating lease.

Senior Credit Facility

On August 4, 2015, the Company refinanced its then existing senior credit facility and entered into a new credit agreement (the “Senior Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility, which was to mature on August 4, 2020, provided for a $250 million revolving credit facility.

In September 2019, the Company refinanced the Senior Credit Facility, pursuant to Amendment No. 4 to the Credit Agreement among Del Taco, as borrower, the Company and its subsidiaries, as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent and letter of credit issuer, the lenders party thereto, and other parties thereto, which provides for a $250 million five-year senior secured revolving facility. The Senior Credit Facility, as amended, includes a sub limit of $35 million for letters of credit. The Senior Credit Facility, as amended, will mature on September 19, 2024.

The Senior Credit Facility, as amended, contains certain financial covenants, including the maintenance of a consolidated total lease adjusted leverage ratio and a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants as of September 8, 2020. Substantially all of the assets of the Company are pledged as collateral under the Senior Credit Facility.

At September 8, 2020, the weighted-average interest rate on the outstanding balance of the Senior Credit Facility, as amended, was 2.16%. At September 8, 2020, the Company had a total of $108.7 million of availability for additional borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility, as amended, as the Company had $124.0 million of outstanding borrowings and $17.3 million of letters of credit outstanding, which reduce availability under the Senior Credit Facility, as amended.

7. Leases

The Company's material leases consist of restaurant locations and its executive offices with expiration dates through 2044. In general, the leases have remaining terms of 1-20 years, most of which include options to extend the leases for additional five-

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

year periods. The lease term is generally the minimum noncancelable period of the lease. The Company does not include option periods unless the Company determines that it is reasonably certain of exercising the option at inception or when a triggering event occurs.

The Company has subleased certain properties to other third parties where the Company remains primarily liable to the landlord for the performance of all obligations in the event that the sublessee does not perform its obligations under the lease. As a result of the sublease arrangements, future rental commitments under operating leases will be offset by sublease amounts to be paid by the sublessee. In general, the terms of the sublease are similar to the terms of the master lease.

The components of lease cost for the twelve and thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):


	Classification	Twelve Weeks Ended September 8, 2020		Thirty-Six Weeks Ended September 8, 2020
Operating lease cost	Occupancy and other operating expenses, Occupancy and other - franchise subleases and other, Pre-opening costs, Restaurant closure charges, net and General and administrative	$	9,251	$	28,060
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right of use assets	Depreciation and amortization	33		123
Interest on lease liabilities	Interest expense	5		23
Short-term lease cost	Occupancy and other operating expenses	71		238
Variable lease cost	Occupancy and other operating expenses, Occupancy and other - franchise subleases and other and Restaurant closure charges, net	440		1,097
Sublease income	Franchise sublease and other income	(1,716)		(4,988)
Total lease cost		$	8,084	$	24,553

The components of lease cost for the twelve and thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):


	Classification	Twelve Weeks Ended September 10, 2019		Thirty-Six Weeks Ended September 10, 2019
Operating lease cost	Occupancy and other operating expenses, Occupancy and other - franchise subleases and other, Pre-opening costs, Restaurant closure charges, net and General and administrative	$	8,792	$	26,196
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right of use assets	Depreciation and amortization	86		329
Interest on lease liabilities	Interest expense	21		72
Short-term lease cost	Occupancy and other operating expenses	53		231
Variable lease cost	Occupancy and other operating expenses, Occupancy and other - franchise subleases and other and Restaurant closure charges, net	444		1,282
Sublease income	Franchise sublease and other income	(1,125)		(3,261)
Total lease cost		$	8,271	$	24,849

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

Supplemental balance sheet information related to the Company's operating and finance leases (noting the financial statement caption each is included with) as of September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was as follows (in thousands):


	September 8, 2020		December 31, 2019
Operating lease assets:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	250,154	$	258,278
Operating lease liabilities:
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	$	20,116	$	17,848
Operating lease liabilities, excluding current portion	253,121		257,361
Total operating lease liabilities	$	273,237	$	275,209

Finance lease assets:
Buildings under finance leases	$	441	$	871
Accumulated depreciation	(240)		(334)
Finance lease assets, net	$	201	$	537
Finance lease obligations:
Current portion of finance lease obligations and other debt	$	138	$	162
Long-term debt, finance lease obligations and other debt, excluding current portion, net	70		412
Total finance lease obligations	$	208	$	574


Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (in years)						September 8, 2020
Operating leases						12.5
Finance leases						2.1


Weighted Average Discount Rate	September 8, 2020
Operating leases	6.58	%
Finance leases	10.44	%

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows (in thousands):


	Thirty-Six Weeks Ended September 8, 2020		Thirty-Six Weeks Ended September 10, 2019
Cash paid for amounts in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows used for operating leases	$	25,529	$	22,617
Operating cash flows used for finance leases	$	23	$	72
Financing cash flows used for finance leases	$	119	$	353

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

The estimated future lease payments as of September 8, 2020, are as follows (in thousands):


	Finance Lease Liabilities		Operating Lease Liabilities		Operating Subleases		Net Lease Commitments
2020	$	38	$	9,957	$	(1,562)	$	8,433
2021	138		39,240		(6,140)		33,238
2022	19		41,029		(6,678)		34,370
2023	17		35,892		(6,005)		29,904
2024	16		30,076		(5,358)		24,734
Thereafter	4		253,707		(59,927)		193,784
Total lease payments	$	232	$	409,901	$	(85,670)	$	324,463
Amounts representing interest	(24)		(136,664)				(136,688)
Present value of lease obligations	$	208	$	273,237			$	187,775

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company entered into one sale-leaseback arrangement with a third party private investor during the first quarter of 2020. The sale-leaseback transaction does not provide for any continuing involvement by the Company other than a normal lease where the Company intends to use the property during the lease term. The lease has been accounted for as an operating lease. The net proceeds from the transaction totaled approximately $1.4 million. Under the arrangement, the Company sold the land and building of an existing restaurant and leased it back for a term of 20 years. The sale of this property resulted in a gain of approximately $0.6 million which is included in loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, the Company entered into three sale-leaseback arrangements with third party private investors, with two arrangements occurring during the first quarter of 2019 and one during the second quarter of 2019. These sale-leaseback transactions do not provide for any continuing involvement by the Company other than normal leases where the Company intends to use the property during the lease term. The leases have been accounted for as operating leases. The net proceeds from the transactions totaled approximately $12.7 million. Under two of the arrangements, the Company sold the land and buildings related to restaurants constructed during 2018 and leased them back for a term of 20 years. Under one of the arrangements, the Company sold the land related to a restaurant constructed during 2018 and leased it back for a term of 20 years. The sale of these properties resulted in a net loss of approximately $0.2 million which is included in loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). The assets sold were included in assets held for sale as of January 1, 2019.

During the twelve weeks ended June 16, 2020, following the sale of a company-operated restaurant to a franchisee, the related lease was assigned to the franchisee. The Company is a guarantor on the lease which has a remaining term of 19 years, expiring in 2039, and remaining lease payments total approximately $1.6 million. The Company would remain a guarantor of the lease in the event the lease is extended for any established renewal periods. As of September 8, 2020, the Company does not anticipate any material defaults under the forgoing lease, and therefore, no liability has been provided.

Additionally, another Del Taco franchisee has a direct sublease with a third party where the Company is a guarantor on the sublease. The lease has a remaining term of 11 years, expiring in 2031, and remaining lease payments total approximately $1.6 million. The Company would remain a guarantor of the lease in the event the lease is extended for any established renewal periods. In 2019, the franchisee defaulted on the lease payments. The Company had a liability of $0.04 million and $0.08 million as of September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, representing the estimated payments that the Company will be liable for until it is able to find a new franchisee or convert the restaurant to a company-operated restaurant.

During the twelve weeks ended June 16, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company negotiated temporary deferrals of certain rent payments until future periods. As permitted by recent FASB staff guidance, the Company elected to not evaluate whether these concessions were considered lease modifications and adopted a policy to not account for these concessions as lease modifications. As such, the Company continued to account for the related lease liabilities and right-of-use assets using the rights and obligations of the existing leases and included $1.3 million related to temporary rent payment

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

deferrals in accounts payable in the consolidated balance sheet as of June 16, 2020. The Company repaid these deferrals during the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020.

8. Derivative Instruments

2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement

In June 2016, the Company entered into an interest rate cap agreement, which became effective July 1, 2016, to hedge cash flows associated with interest rate fluctuations on variable rate debt, with a termination date of March 31, 2020 ("2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement"). The 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement had an initial notional amount of $70.0 million of the Senior Credit Facility that effectively converted that portion of the outstanding balance of the Senior Credit Facility from variable rate debt to capped variable rate debt, resulting in a change in the applicable interest rate from an interest rate of one-month LIBOR plus the applicable margin (as provided by the Senior Credit Facility) to a capped interest rate of 2.00% plus the applicable margin. During the period from July 1, 2016 through the expiration on March 31, 2020, the 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement had no hedge ineffectiveness.

To ensure the effectiveness of the 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement, the Company elected the one-month LIBOR rate option for its variable rate interest payments on term balances equal to or in excess of the applicable notional amount of the interest rate cap agreement as of each reset date. The reset dates and other critical terms perfectly match with the interest rate cap reset dates and other critical terms during fiscal year 2020 through the expiration on March 31, 2020.

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company reclassified approximately $67,000 of interest expense related to the hedges of these transactions into earnings.

The effective portion of the 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement through the expiration on March 31, 2020 was included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

9. Fair Value Measurements

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities approximate their carrying amounts due to their short maturities. The carrying value of the Senior Credit Facility, as amended, approximated its fair value. The 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement was recorded at fair value in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company held certain assets and liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis, including a derivative instrument related to interest rates. The Company determined the fair value of the interest rate cap contract based on counterparty quotes, with appropriate adjustments for any significant impact of nonperformance risk of the parties to the interest rate cap contracts. Therefore, the Company categorized these interest rate cap contracts as Level 2 fair value measurements. The 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement expired on March 31, 2020. The fair value of the 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement was $0.0 million at December 31, 2019 and was included in other assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

The Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

December 31, 2019

Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)

Observable Inputs (Level 2)

Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement

—

Total assets measured at fair value

—

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

10. Other Accrued Liabilities and Other Non-current Liabilities

A summary of other accrued liabilities follows (in thousands):


	September 8, 2020		December 31, 2019
Employee compensation and related items	$	15,212	$	10,008
Accrued income tax	6,575		1,605
Accrued insurance	5,389		5,900
Accrued sales tax	4,475		4,099
Accrued advertising	3,249		1,345
Accrued real property tax	2,708		1,652
Accrued rent and related items	1,451		1,382
Deferred gift card income	1,218		1,585
Accrued property and equipment purchases	915		3,190
Restaurant closure liabilities	198		129
Other	4,300		3,682
	$	45,690	$	34,577

A summary of other non-current liabilities follows (in thousands):


	September 8, 2020		December 31, 2019
Insurance reserves	$	8,325	$	8,110
Deferred development and initial franchise fees	4,510		4,241
Sublease liabilities	1,409		1,223
Deferred gift card income	733		1,474
Restaurant closure liability	253		308
Unearned trade discount, non-current	128		320
Other	916		925


	$	16,274	$	16,601

11. Stock-Based Compensation

The Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) was approved by shareholders to offer eligible employees, directors and consultants cash and stock-based incentive awards. Awards under the 2015 Plan are generally not restricted to any specific form or structure and could include, without limitation, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, other stock-based awards, other cash-based compensation and performance awards. Under the plan, there were 3,300,000 shares of common stock reserved and authorized. At September 8, 2020, there were 172,422 shares of common stock available for grant under the 2015 Plan.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The total compensation expense related to the 2015 Plan was $1.3 million for both the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively, and $3.9 million and $4.6 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

Restricted Stock Awards

A summary of outstanding and unvested restricted stock activity as of September 8, 2020 and changes during the period from December 31, 2019 through September 8, 2020 are as follows:


	Shares	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at December 31, 2019	1,142,718	$	12.92
Granted	614,518	6.36
Vested	(429,936)	12.52
Forfeited	(79,650)	12.64
Nonvested at September 8, 2020	1,247,650	$	9.85

For the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, the Company made payments of $1.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively, related to tax withholding obligations for the vesting of restricted stock awards in exchange for 164,545 and 204,494 shares withheld, respectively.

As of September 8, 2020, there was $8.6 million of unrecognized stock compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to restricted stock awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining period of 2.7 years. The fair value of these awards was determined based on the Company’s stock price on the grant date.

Stock Options

A summary of stock option activity as of September 8, 2020 and changes during the period from December 31, 2019 through September 8, 2020 are as follows:


	Options	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
				(in years)	(in thousands)
Options outstanding at December 31, 2019	412,750	$	11.71	3.8	$	—
Granted	236,453	6.40
Exercised	—	—
Forfeited/Expired	(74,250)	11.37
Options outstanding at September 8, 2020	574,953	$	9.57	4.7	$	443
Options exercisable at September 8, 2020	274,625	$	11.34	3.1	$	—
Options exercisable and expected to vest at September 8, 2020	499,064	$	9.91	4.5	$	319

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above is the amount by which the current market price of the Company's stock exceeds the exercise price on September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

As of September 8, 2020, there was $0.6 million of unrecognized stock compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to stock option grants that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average remaining period of 3.2 years.

12. Shareholders’ Equity

On February 26, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program covering up to $25.0 million in the aggregate of the Company's common stock and warrants which was effective immediately and expires upon completion of the repurchase program, unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors. On August 23, 2016, the Company announced that the Board of Directors increased the repurchase program by $25.0 million to $50.0 million. The Board of Directors

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

authorized an additional increase for the repurchase program effective July 23, 2018 of another $25.0 million to a total of $75.0 million. Purchases under the program may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions. During the twelve and thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company did not repurchase any shares or warrants. During the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019, the Company did not repurchase any shares or warrants. During the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, the Company repurchased (1) 574,481 shares of common stock for an average price per share of $10.17 for an aggregate cost of approximately $5.9 million, including incremental direct costs to acquire the shares, and (2) 846,441 warrants for an average price per warrant of $1.78 for an aggregate cost of approximately $1.5 million, including incremental direct costs to acquire the warrants.

As of September 8, 2020, there was approximately $22.3 million remaining under the share repurchase program. All of the Company's outstanding warrants expired on June 30, 2020. The Company has no obligations to repurchase shares under this authorization, and the timing and value of shares purchased will depend on the Company's stock price, market conditions and other factors.

13. Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic income per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to Del Taco’s common shareholders for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. In computing dilutive income per share, basic income per share is adjusted for the assumed issuance of all applicable potentially dilutive share-based awards, including warrants, restricted stock, common stock options and restricted stock units.

Below are basic and diluted net income per share for the periods indicated (amounts in thousands except share and per share data):


	12 Weeks Ended						36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019		September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019
Numerator:
Net income (loss)	$	5,797	$	(7,669)	$	(97,247)	$	(4,152)
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic	37,293,390		37,023,287		37,152,419		37,000,331
Dilutive effect of unvested restricted stock	126,653		—		—		—
Dilutive effect of stock options	—		—		—		—
Dilutive effect of warrants	—		—		—		—
Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted	37,420,043		37,023,287		37,152,419		37,000,331
Net income (loss) per share - basic	$	0.16	$	(0.21)	$	(2.62)	$	(0.11)
Net income (loss) per share - diluted	$	0.15	$	(0.21)	$	(2.62)	$	(0.11)
Antidilutive stock options, unvested restricted stock awards and warrants excluded from the computations	1,929,726		897,881		5,137,453		4,587,387

On June 30, 2020, the Company's 5,105,982 outstanding warrants expired. As such, the Company no longer has any outstanding warrants and will no longer have any potential dilutive impact to its earnings per share from outstanding warrants.

14. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates were 14.2% and (50.0)% for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The provision for income taxes was $1.0 million and $2.6 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The effective income tax rates were 2.0% and (1,615.7)% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The (benefit) provision for income taxes was $(2.0) million and $3.9 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

The income tax expense for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 is driven by the estimated effective income tax rate and consists of statutory federal and state tax rates based on estimated apportioned income for fiscal year 2020, the impact of non-tax deductible compensation to executives and the impact of lower stock compensation expense deductible for tax related to the June 30, 2020 vesting of certain restricted stock awards as compared to the cumulative amount recorded as stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by federal targeted job credits. The income tax expense for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019, despite a pre-tax loss, is primarily impacted by $14.8 million of non-tax deductible goodwill that was reclassified to assets held for sale, as well as statutory federal and state tax rates based on apportioned income and the impact of non-tax deductible compensation to executives, partially offset by federal targeted job credits.

The income tax benefit for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 is primarily impacted by impairment of non-tax deductible goodwill of $87.3 million and reclassification of $3.5 million of goodwill from held for sale, as well as statutory federal and state tax rates based on estimated apportioned income for fiscal year 2020, the impact of non-tax deductible compensation to executives and the impact of lower stock compensation expense deductible for tax related to the June 30, 2020 vesting of certain restricted stock awards as compared to the cumulative amount recorded as stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by federal targeted job credits. The income tax expense for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, despite a pre-tax loss, is primarily impacted by $14.8 million of non-tax deductible goodwill that was reclassified to assets held for sale, as well as statutory federal and state tax rates based on apportioned income and the impact of non-tax deductible compensation to executives, partially offset by federal targeted job credits.

Management believes it is more likely than not that all deferred tax assets will be realized, and therefore, no valuation allowance as of September 8, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is required.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") was signed into law. The CARES Act provides numerous tax provisions and other stimulus measures, including temporary changes regarding the prior and future utilization of net operating losses, temporary changes to the prior and future limitations on interest deductions, temporary suspension of certain payment requirements for the employer portion of social security taxes, the creation of certain refundable employee retention credits, and technical corrections from prior tax legislation for tax depreciation of certain qualified improvement property. The Company has benefited from the technical correction for qualified leasehold improvements eligible for 100% tax bonus depreciation, recognizing accelerated tax depreciation deductions of $1.2 million and $2.0 million for 2018 and 2019, respectively. Beginning with pay dates on and after April 14, 2020, the Company has elected to defer the employer-paid portion of social security taxes. The Company is also currently assessing its eligibility for certain employee retention tax credits.

15. Commitments and Contingencies

The primary claims in the Company’s business are workers’ compensation and general liabilities. These insurance programs are self-insured or high deductible programs with excess coverage that management believes is sufficient to adequately protect the Company. In the opinion of management, adequate provision has been made for all incurred claims up to the self-insured or high deductible limits, including provision for estimated claims incurred but not reported. Because of the uncertainty of the ultimate resolution of outstanding claims, as well as the uncertainty regarding claims incurred but not reported, it is possible that management’s provision for these losses could change materially. However, no estimate can currently be made of the range of additional losses.

Purchasing Commitments

The Company enters into various purchase obligations in the ordinary course of business, generally of a short-term nature. Those that are binding primarily relate to commitments for food purchases and supplies, amounts owed under contractor and subcontractor agreements, orders submitted for equipment for restaurants under construction, information technology service agreements and marketing initiatives, some of which are related to both company-operated and franchise-operated locations. The Company also has a long-term beverage supply agreement with a major beverage vendor whereby marketing rebates are provided to the Company and its franchisees based upon the volume of purchases for system-wide restaurants which vary according to demand for beverage syrup. This contract has terms extending into 2021. The Company’s future estimated cash payments under existing contractual purchase obligations for goods and services as of September 8, 2020 are approximately $28.6 million. The Company has excluded agreements that are cancellable without penalty.

Table of Contents

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Unaudited)

Litigation

In March 2014, a former Del Taco employee filed a purported class action complaint alleging that Del Taco has not appropriately provided meal breaks and failed to pay wages to its California hourly employees. Discovery is in process and Del Taco intends to assert all of its defenses to this threatened class action and the individual claims. Del Taco has several defenses to the action that it believes could prevent the certification of the class, as well as the potential assessment of any damages on a class basis. Legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, and the Company is not able to predict the ultimate outcome or cost of the unresolved matter. However, based on management’s current understanding of the relevant facts and circumstances, the Company does not believe that these proceedings give rise to a probable or estimable loss and should not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, operations or cash flows. Therefore, Del Taco has not recorded any amount for the claim as of September 8, 2020.

In September 2018, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) filed a complaint on behalf of an individual complainant and an additional class of individuals alleging that Del Taco engaged in unlawful employment practices on the basis of sex and retaliation in violation of Title VII and are seeking an unspecified amount of damages. The Company has tendered the claim to its insurance carrier under its employment practices liability insurance policy. The Company's insurance coverage and retention includes amounts incurred for legal defense and any potential settlement. The parties are engaged in settlement discussions which are now expected to give rise to a loss in excess of the Company's insurance retention, but less than the coverage limit, that is both probable and estimable. Therefore, the Company has recorded an expense for this overall action as of September 8, 2020. In the opinion of management, based on information currently available, and in consideration of the Company's insurance coverage, the ultimate liability with respect to this action will not have a material effect on the operating results, cash flows or financial position of the Company.

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to other legal proceedings incidental to their businesses, including claims alleging the Company’s restaurants do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In the opinion of management, based upon information currently available, the ultimate liability with respect to those other actions will not have a material effect on the operating results, cash flows or the financial position of the Company. However, due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in legal proceedings and litigation, actual results could differ from expectations.

Construction Defect Issues

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company identified various construction defects related to three closed restaurants in Texas. The Company believes the issues are attributable to defective construction performed by the same general contractor for all three restaurants. The Company plans to undertake voluntary rehabilitation of the three properties, and while the full extent of voluntary rehabilitation costs are not yet known, the Company is pursuing legal remedies against the general contractor to recover future incurred costs.

Table of Contents

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and related notes thereto, along with the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2020.

In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties such as the number of restaurants we intend to open and estimates of our effective tax rates. We use words such as “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose,” “preliminary,” “guidance” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and information available to us as of the date any such statements are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer demand, our inability to successfully open company-operated or franchise-operated restaurants or establish new markets, competition in our markets, our inability to grow and manage growth profitably, adverse changes in food and supply costs, our inability to access additional capital, changes in applicable laws or regulations, food safety and foodborne illness concerns, our inability to manage existing and to obtain additional franchisees, our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, our inability to profitably expand into new markets, changes in, or the discontinuation of the Company's repurchase program, and the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to these risks and uncertainties, as well as others, including, without limitation, those discussed in Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or any other reason.

Fiscal Year

We operate on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Tuesday closest to December 31 for financial reporting purposes. Fiscal year 2020 is the 52-week period ended December 29, 2020 ("Fiscal 2020"). Fiscal year 2019 is the 52-week period ended December 31, 2019 ("Fiscal 2019").

Overview

We are a nationwide operator and franchisor of restaurants featuring fresh and fast cuisine, including both Mexican inspired and American classic dishes. As of September 8, 2020, we have 596 Del Taco restaurants, a majority of these in the Pacific Southwest. In each of our restaurants, our food is made to order in working kitchens. We serve our customers fresh and high-quality food typical of fast casual restaurants but with the speed, convenience and value associated with traditional quick service restaurants (“QSRs”). With attributes of both a fast casual restaurant and a QSR — a combination we call QSR+ — we occupy a place in the restaurant market distinct from our competitors. With a menu designed to appeal to a wide variety of budgets and tastes and recently updated interior and exterior designs across most of our entire system, we believe that we are poised for growth, operating within the fastest growing segment of the restaurant industry, the limited service restaurant (“LSR”) segment. With an average system check of $8.06 during Fiscal 2019, we offer a compelling value proposition relative to both QSR and fast casual peers.

Significant Recent Developments Regarding COVID-19

During March 2020, a global pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization related to the rapidly spreading outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus designated COVID-19. The pandemic has significantly impacted economic conditions in the United States, where all except one of our restaurants are located. We first began to experience impacts from COVID-19 around the middle of March 2020 as federal, state and local governments began to react to the public health crisis by encouraging or requiring social distancing, instituting stay-at-home orders, and requiring, in varying degrees, restaurant dine-in limitations, capacity limitations or other restrictions that largely limited restaurants to take-out, drive-thru and delivery sales. Although we have experienced some recovery from the initial impact of COVID-19, the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the economy and on our business remains uncertain, the duration and scope of which cannot currently be predicted. Please refer to Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information.

Table of Contents

Highlights and Trends

Third Quarter 2020 Highlights

Our third quarter 2020 results and highlights include the following:

^•Total revenues increased 0.5% for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 to $120.8 million compared to $120.2 million for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019. Total revenues decreased 5.8% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 to $335.2 million compared to $355.9 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. The increase in the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 is primarily due to additional franchise-operated restaurants open during 2020 compared to 2019 due to our refranchising activity and positive company-operated and franchise-operated same store sales. This is partially offset by fewer company-operated restaurants open during 2020 compared to 2019 due to our refranchising activity. The decrease in the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 is primarily due to fewer company-operated restaurants open during 2020 compared to 2019 due to our refranchising activity and negative company-operated and franchise-operated same store sales primarily driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is partially offset by additional franchise-operated restaurants open during 2020 compared to 2019 due to our refranchising activity.

^•For the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, system-wide same store sales increased 4.1%, company-operated same store sales increased 2.0% and franchise-operated same store sales increased 6.5%. For the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, system-wide same store sales decreased 3.0%, company-operated same store sales decreased 4.4% and franchise-operated same store sales decreased 1.4%.

^•During the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, we opened one new company-operated restaurant, opened four new franchise-operated restaurants, and closed two franchise-operated restaurants. During the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019, we opened two new company-operated restaurants, opened two new franchise-operated restaurants, purchased one franchise-operated restaurant from a franchisee, and closed one company-operated restaurant.

•During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, we opened three new company-operated restaurants, opened five new franchise-operated restaurants, sold six company-operated restaurants to franchisees, closed two company-operated restaurants and closed six franchise-operated restaurants. During the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, we opened three new company-operated restaurants, opened eight new franchise-operated restaurants, purchased four franchise-operated restaurants from franchisees, sold thirteen company-operated restaurants to franchisees, closed four company-operated restaurants and closed one franchise-operated restaurant.

Same Store Sales

Same store sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the same store base. We include a restaurant in the same store base in the accounting period following its 18th full month of operations and exclude restaurant closures. The following table shows the same store sales growth for the twelve and thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019:


	12 Weeks Ended						36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019		September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019
Company-operated same store sales	2.0	%	0.4	%	(4.4)	%	0.5	%
Franchise-operated same store sales	6.5	%	1.8	%	(1.4)	%	1.7	%
System-wide same store sales	4.1	%	1.0	%	(3.0)	%	1.0	%

Restaurant Development

Del Taco restaurant counts at the end of the twelve weeks and thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, were as follows:

Table of Contents


	12 Weeks Ended			36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020	September 10, 2019	September 8, 2020	September 10, 2019
Company-operated restaurant activity:
Beginning of period	294	310	300	322
Openings	1	2	3	3
Closures	—	(1)	(2)	(4)
Purchased from franchisees	—	1	—	4
Sold to franchisees	—	—	(6)	(13)
Restaurants at end of period	295	312	295	312
Franchise-operated restaurant activity:
Beginning of period	299	273	296	258
Openings	4	2	5	8
Closures	(2)	—	(6)	(1)
Purchased from Company	—	—	6	13
Sold to Company	—	(1)	—	(4)
Restaurants at end of period	301	274	301	274
Total restaurant activity:
Beginning of period	593	583	596	580
Openings	5	4	8	11
Closures	(2)	(1)	(8)	(5)
Restaurants at end of period	596	586	596	586

The closures presented in the table above represent permanent closures of restaurants. Temporary closures, which can occur for a variety of reasons, are not reflected as a reduction in this table. Our franchisees are independent businesses and decisions to close restaurants can be impacted by numerous factors that are outside of our control, including but not limited to, franchisees' agreements with their landlords and lenders.

For the full year of 2020, we believe our initial expectations regarding net restaurant development and closures by our franchisees will be materially impacted by COVID-19. Following the fiscal third quarter, one new franchise-operated restaurant has opened, and we are currently evaluating the appropriate timing for the remainder of the originally planned fiscal 2020 system-wide openings. Given the significant uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the timing of lifting dine-in operating restrictions and various social-distancing and stay-at-home orders, customer re-engagement with our brand and the short- and long-term impact on consumer discretionary spending, we have previously withdrawn our 2020 net restaurant development and closure guidance issued on March 11, 2020.

Key Performance Indicators

In assessing the performance of our business, management utilizes a variety of financial and performance measures.

These key measures include company restaurant sales, same store sales, company-operated average unit volumes, restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin, number of new restaurant openings, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.

Company Restaurant Sales

Company restaurant sales consists of sales of food and beverages in company-operated restaurants net of promotional allowances, employee meals and other discounts. Company restaurant sales in any period are directly influenced by the number of operating weeks in such period, the number of open restaurants, same store sales and per restaurant sales.

Seasonal factors and the timing of holidays cause revenue to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Revenue per restaurant is typically lower in the first quarter due to reduced January traffic. As a result of seasonality, quarterly and annual results of operations and key performance indicators, such as company restaurant sales and same store sales, may fluctuate.

Table of Contents

Same Store Sales

We regularly monitor company, franchise and total system same store sales. Same store sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable company, franchise and total system restaurant base. We include a restaurant in the same store base in the accounting period following its 18th full month of operations and exclude restaurant closures. As of September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, there were 283 and 292 restaurants, respectively, in the comparable company-operated restaurant base. As of September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, there were 285 and 254 restaurants, respectively, in the comparable franchise-operated restaurant base. This measure highlights the performance of existing restaurants as the impact of new restaurant openings is excluded. Same store sales growth can be generated by an increase in the number of transactions and/or by increases in the average check resulting from a shift in menu mix and/or higher prices resulting from new products, promotions or menu price increases.

Company-Operated Average Unit Volumes

We measure company-operated average unit volumes ("AUVs") on both a weekly and an annual basis. Weekly AUVs are calculated by dividing the sales from comparable company-operated restaurants over a seven day period from Wednesday to Tuesday by the number of comparable restaurants. Annual AUVs are calculated by dividing sales for the trailing 52-week period for all company-operated restaurants that are in the comparable base by the total number of restaurants in the comparable base for such period. This measurement allows management to assess changes in consumer traffic and spending patterns at our company-operated restaurants and the overall performance of the restaurant base.

Restaurant Contribution and Restaurant Contribution Margin

Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Restaurant contribution is defined as company restaurant sales less restaurant operating 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 company restaurant sales. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are supplemental measures of operating performance of restaurants and the calculations thereof may not be comparable to those reported by other companies. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Management believes that restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are important tools for investors because they are widely-used metrics within the restaurant industry to evaluate restaurant-level productivity, efficiency and performance. Management uses restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin as key performance indicators to evaluate the profitability of incremental sales at Del Taco restaurants, to evaluate restaurant performance across periods and to evaluate restaurant financial performance compared with competitors. See the heading entitled "Management's Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for the reconciliation of restaurant contribution to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Number of New Restaurant Openings

The number of restaurant openings reflects the number of new restaurants opened by us and our franchisees during a particular reporting period. Before a new restaurant opens, we and our franchisees incur pre-opening costs, as described below. Some new restaurants open with an initial start-up period of higher than normal sales volumes, which subsequently decrease to stabilized levels. Typically, new restaurants experience normal inefficiencies in the form of higher food and paper, labor and other direct operating expenses and, as a result, restaurant contribution margins are generally lower during the start-up period of operation. Typically, the average start-up period after which new company restaurant sales and restaurant operating expenses normalize is approximately 26 to 52 weeks. In new markets, the length of time before average company restaurant sales and restaurant operating expenses for new restaurants stabilize is less predictable and can be longer as a result of limited knowledge of these markets and consumers’ limited awareness of our brand. When we enter new markets, we may be exposed to start-up times that are longer and restaurant contribution margins that are lower than typical historical experience, and these new restaurants may not be profitable and their sales performance may not follow historical patterns.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation, amortization and items that we do not consider representative of ongoing operating performance, as identified in the reconciliation table under the heading entitled "Management's Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Table of Contents

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as presented in this quarterly report are supplemental measures of performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss), income (loss) from operations or any other performance measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. In addition, in evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. Our presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Some of these limitations include but are not limited to:

(i)they do not reflect cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

(ii)they do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs;

(iii)they do not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on debt;

(iv)although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;

(v)they do not adjust for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in the statements of cash flows;

(vi)they do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of ongoing operations; and

(vii)other companies in the industry may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the U.S. GAAP amounts excluded from such non-GAAP financial measures. We further compensate for the limitations in the use of non-GAAP financial measures by presenting comparable U.S. GAAP measures more prominently.

We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period by isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies. These potential differences may be caused by variations in capital structures (affecting interest expense), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses) and the age and book depreciation of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense). We also present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because (i) we believe these measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in their industry, (ii) we believe investors will find these measures useful in assessing our ability to service or incur indebtedness, and (iii) we use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA internally as benchmarks to compare performance to that of competitors. See the heading entitled "Management's Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for the reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss).

Key Financial Definitions

Company Restaurant Sales

Company restaurant sales represents sale of food and beverages in company-operated restaurants, net of promotional allowances, employee meals and other discounts. Company restaurant sales in any period is directly influenced by the number of operating weeks in such period, the number of open restaurants, same store sales performance and per-restaurant sales.

Franchise Revenue

Franchise revenue consists of franchise royalty income from franchisees and, to a lesser extent, renewal fees and franchise fees from franchise owners for new franchise restaurant openings. Franchise fees are collected upon signing a franchise agreement and deferred and recognized as revenue over the term of the franchise agreement and renewal fees are deferred and recognized over the term of the renewal agreement. To a lesser extent, franchise revenue also includes pass-through fees for services, such as software maintenance and technology subscriptions, since we are considered the principal related to the purchase and sale of the services to the franchisee and have no remaining performance obligations. The related expenses are recognized in general and administrative expenses.

Table of Contents

Franchise Advertising Contributions

Franchise advertising contributions consist of a percentage of a franchise restaurant's net sales, typically 4%, paid to the Company for advertising and promotional services that the Company provides.

Franchise Sublease and Other Income

Franchise sublease income consists of rental income received from franchisees related to properties where we have subleased a leasehold interest to the franchisee but remain primarily liable to the landlord. The related expenses are recognized in Occupancy and Other - Franchise Subleases and Other. Franchise sublease income also includes rental income for closed restaurant properties where we have subleased to a third party but remain primarily liable to the landlord. The related expenses are recognized in Restaurant Closure Charges, Net. Franchise other income includes information technology hardware such as point of sale equipment, tablets, kitchen display systems, servers, scanners and printers that we occasionally purchase from third party vendors and then sell to franchisees. Since we are considered the principal related to the purchase and sale of the hardware to the franchisee and have no remaining performance obligations, the franchisee reimbursement is recognized as Franchise Sublease and Other Income upon transfer of the hardware. The related expenses are recognized in Occupancy and Other - Franchise Subleases and Other.

Food and Paper Costs

Food and paper costs include the direct costs associated with food, beverage and packaging of menu items. The components of food and paper costs are variable in nature, change with sales volume and are impacted by menu mix and are subject to increases or decreases based on fluctuations in commodity, distribution and transportation costs. Other important factors causing fluctuations in food and paper costs include seasonality, promotional activity and restaurant level management of food and paper waste. Food and paper are a significant expense and can be expected to grow proportionally as company restaurant sales grows.

Labor and Related Expenses

Labor and related expenses include all restaurant-level management and hourly labor costs, including wages, benefits, bonuses, workers’ compensation expense, group health insurance, paid leave and payroll taxes. Like other expense items, we expect labor and related expenses to grow proportionately as company restaurant sales grows. Factors that influence fluctuations in labor and related expenses include minimum wage, paid sick leave and payroll tax legislation, health care and workers compensation costs and the performance of Del Taco restaurants.

Occupancy and Other Operating Expenses

Occupancy and other operating expenses include all other restaurant-level operating expenses, such as rent, utilities, restaurant supplies, repairs and maintenance, credit and debit card processing fees, advertising, insurance, common area maintenance, real estate taxes, third party delivery fees and other restaurant operating costs.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses are comprised of expenses associated with corporate and regional supervision functions that support the operations of existing restaurants and development of new restaurants, including compensation and benefits, travel expenses, stock-based compensation expenses, legal and professional fees, information systems, corporate office occupancy costs and other related corporate costs. Also included are expenses above the restaurant level, including salaries for field management, such as area and regional managers, and franchise operational support. General and administrative expenses also include legal, accounting, insurance, investor relations and other expenses that are incurred as a public company.

Franchise Advertising Expenses

Franchise advertising expenses consist of the franchise portion of advertising expense.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses are periodic non-cash charges that consist of depreciation of fixed assets, including leasehold improvements and equipment, and amortization of various intangible assets primarily including franchise rights and capitalized software.

Table of Contents

Occupancy and Other – Franchise Subleases and Other

Occupancy and other – franchise subleases includes rent, property taxes and common area maintenance paid on properties subleased to franchisees where we remain primarily liable to the landlord, as well as other franchise expenses related to information technology hardware that we occasionally purchase from third party vendors and then sell to franchisees and recognize in Franchise Sublease and Other Income.

Pre-opening Costs

Pre-opening costs are incurred in connection with opening of new restaurants and incurred prior to opening, including restaurant labor related to the hiring and training of restaurant employees, as well as supplies, occupancy costs including cash and non-cash rent expense and other operating expenses directly associated with the opening of new restaurants. Pre-opening costs are expensed as incurred.

Impairment of Goodwill

Goodwill arises from the excess purchase price over acquired net assets, including identifiable intangible assets, in business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized, and is instead reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. The amount by which the carrying amount of the Company exceeds its fair value is recorded as impairment of goodwill.

Impairment of Trademarks

The Company's trademarks are not amortized, but instead are tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. When events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of the Company's trademarks may not be recoverable, an appropriate impairment charge is recorded. Impairments could increase if performance of the Company is not sufficient to recover the carrying amount of its trademarks.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We review long-lived assets such as leasehold improvements, equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets on a unit-by-unit basis for impairment. When events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable, an appropriate impairment charge is recorded. Impairments could increase if performance of company-operated restaurants is not sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the related long-lived assets.

Restaurant Closure Charges, Net

Restaurant closure charges, net, consist primarily of (1) rent expense related to previously closed restaurants; (2) non-lease executory costs for closed restaurants, including any positive or negative adjustments to these amounts as more information becomes available; and (3) direct costs related to restaurant closures.

Loss on Disposal of Assets and Adjustments to Assets Held For Sale, Net

Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net includes the loss on disposal of assets related to sales, retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures or equipment in the ordinary course of business, impairment losses to reduce the carrying amount for assets held for sale to estimated fair value less costs to sell, remeasurement losses for assets held for sale reclassified back to held for use, gains or losses associated with sale-leaseback transactions and gains or losses associated with the sale of company-operated restaurants to franchisees.

Interest Expense

Interest expense consists primarily of interest expense on outstanding debt including finance lease obligations and other debt. Deferred financing costs and debt discount are amortized at cost over the life of the related debt.

Other Income

Other income consists of insurance proceeds related to fires at company-operated restaurants.

Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes

Provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of federal and state current and deferred income tax expense.

Table of Contents

Results of Operations

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Twelve Weeks Ended September 8, 2020 and Twelve Weeks Ended September 10, 2019

The following table presents operating results for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019, in absolute terms and expressed as a percentage of total revenue (or company restaurant sales), as compared below:


	12 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020							September 10, 2019							Increase / (Decrease)
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	($)		(%)			($)		(%)			($)		(%)
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenue:
Company restaurant sales	$	109,522	90.7	%		$	111,059	92.4	%		$	(1,537)	(1.4)	%
Franchise revenue	5,169		4.3			4,490		3.7			679		15.1
Franchise advertising contributions	4,001		3.3			3,458		2.9			543		15.7
Franchise sublease and other income	2,090		1.7			1,191		1.0			899		75.5
Total revenue	120,782		100.0			120,198		100.0			584		0.5
Operating expenses
Restaurant operating expenses:
Food and paper costs	29,051		26.5		⁽¹⁾	30,761		27.7		⁽¹⁾	(1,710)		(5.6)
Labor and related expenses	35,450		32.4		⁽¹⁾	36,304		32.7		⁽¹⁾	(854)		(2.4)
Occupancy and other operating expenses	25,302		23.1		⁽¹⁾	25,386		22.9		⁽¹⁾	(84)		(0.3)
Total restaurant operating expenses	89,803		82.0		⁽¹⁾	92,451		83.2		⁽¹⁾	(2,648)		(2.9)
General and administrative	10,841		9.0			10,421		8.7			420		4.0
Franchise advertising expenses	4,001		3.3			3,458		2.9			543		15.7
Depreciation and amortization	6,055		5.0			5,941		4.9			114		1.9
Occupancy and other-franchise subleases and other	1,766		1.5			1,011		0.8			755		74.7
Pre-opening costs	63		0.1			465		0.4			(402)		(86.5)
Impairment of long-lived assets	—		—			1,407		1.2			(1,407)		(100.0)
Restaurant closure charges, net	413		0.3			588		0.5			(175)		(29.8)
Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net	140		0.1			7,906		6.6			(7,766)		(98.2)
Total operating expenses	113,082		93.6			123,648		102.9			(10,566)		(8.5)
Income (loss) from operations	7,700		6.4			(3,450)		(2.9)			11,150		*
Other expense, net
Interest expense	941		0.8			1,663		1.4			(722)		(43.4)

Total other expense, net	941		0.8			1,663		1.4			(722)		(43.4)
Income (loss) from operations before provision for income taxes	6,759		5.6			(5,113)		(4.3)			11,872		*
Provision for income taxes	962		0.8			2,556		2.1			(1,594)		(62.4)
Net income (loss)	$	5,797	4.8	%		$	(7,669)	(6.4)	%		$	13,466	*

(1)As a percentage of company restaurant sales.

*Immaterial/not meaningful

Table of Contents

Company Restaurant Sales

Company restaurant sales decreased $1.5 million, or 1.4%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to fewer company-operated restaurants open during 2020 compared to 2019 due to our refranchising activity, partially offset by the increase in company-operated same store sales of 2.0%. Delivery represented approximately 6% of company restaurant sales during the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and is expected to remain elevated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Franchise Revenue

Franchise revenue increased $0.7 million, or 15.1%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to additional franchise-operated restaurants open during 2020 compared to 2019 due to our refranchising activity and an increase in franchise-operated same store sales of 6.5%.

Franchise Advertising Contributions

Franchise advertising contributions increased $0.5 million, or 15.7%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and is directly related to franchise revenue.

Franchise Sublease and Other Income

Franchise sublease and other income increased $0.9 million, or 75.5%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to sublease income related to the sale of 18 company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the fourth quarter of 2019 and the sale of five company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the first quarter of 2020, in which we retained the leasehold interest to the real estate.

Food and Paper Costs

Food and paper costs decreased $1.7 million, or 5.6%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 due to the reduction in company restaurant sales, partially offset by commodity inflation. As a percentage of company restaurant sales, food and paper costs were 26.5% for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 27.7% for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019. This percentage decrease was the result of menu price increases, partially offset by commodity inflation.

Labor and Related Expenses

Labor and related expenses decreased $0.9 million, or 2.4%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to a decrease in company restaurant sales and a reduction in workers compensation expense based on lower payments and reserves related to underlying claims activity, partially offset by a California minimum wage increase on January 1, 2020. As a percentage of company restaurant sales, labor and related expenses were 32.4% for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 32.7% for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019. This percentage decrease resulted primarily from the impact of menu price increases, operational efficiencies related to less required staffing due to the closure of dining rooms due to COVID-19, and reduced workers compensation expense, partially offset by the impact of the increased California minimum wage discussed above.

Occupancy and Other Operating Expenses

Occupancy and other operating expenses decreased $0.1 million, or 0.3%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to a decrease in company restaurant sales and reduced advertising expense, mostly offset by increased third party delivery fees and direct costs related to COVID-19. As a percentage of company restaurant sales, occupancy and other operating expenses were 23.1% for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 22.9% for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019. This percentage increase was primarily related to the impact of increased third party delivery fees and direct costs related to COVID-19, partially offset by reduced advertising expense.

Table of Contents

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses increased $0.4 million, or 4.0%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to higher management incentive compensation for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 as compared to an insignificant amount during the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019, partially offset by lower legal and related expense, stock based compensation expense, salaries and executive transition costs. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense was 9.0% for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 8.7% for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019. The increase as a percent of total revenue was primarily due to higher management incentive compensation, partially offset by lower legal and related expense, stock based compensation expense, salaries and executive transition costs.

Franchise Advertising Expenses

Franchise advertising expenses increased $0.5 million, or 15.7%, for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and are directly related to franchise advertising expenses. These amounts offset against franchise advertising contributions included in revenue.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses were $6.1 million and $5.9 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The increase primarily reflects the addition of new assets, partially offset by the impact of refranchising. As a percentage of total revenue, depreciation and amortization expenses was 5.0% for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 4.9% for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019. The increase as a percent of total revenue was primarily due to the addition of new assets.

Occupancy and Other – Franchise Sublease and Other

Occupancy and other – franchise sublease and other was $1.8 million and $1.0 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The increase is primarily due to sublease expense related to the sale of 18 company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the fourth quarter of 2019 and the sale of five company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the first quarter of 2020, in which the Company retained the leasehold interest to the real estate.

Pre-opening Costs

Pre-opening costs were $0.1 million and $0.5 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The decrease was due to less restaurant opening activity during the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

There were no impairments of long-lived assets during the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020. The Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $1.4 million during the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019 related to the evaluation of long-lived assets underlying one restaurant in Georgia which had indicators of impairment.

Restaurant Closure Charges, Net

Restaurant closure charges, net, were $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The decrease was due to lower rent and property tax expense related to previously closed restaurants.

Loss on Disposal of Assets and Adjustments to Assets Held for Sale, Net

Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net was $0.1 million and $7.9 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. Current year net loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale primarily related to the write-off of certain restaurant equipment. Prior year net loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale primarily related to the adjustment to estimated net realizable value for assets reclassified as held for sale and the closure of one company-operated restaurant, partially offset by a gain on lease termination.

Table of Contents

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $0.9 million and $1.7 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The decrease is primarily due to lower weighted average interest rates and lower average outstanding balances during the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to the prior year.

Provision for Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 14.2% for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to (50.0)% for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019. The provision for income taxes was $1.0 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 and $2.6 million for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019. The income tax expense of $1.0 million for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020 was driven by our estimated annual effective income tax rate and consists of statutory federal and state tax rates based on estimated apportioned income for fiscal year 2020, the impact of non-tax deductible compensation to executives and the impact of lower stock compensation expense deductible for tax related to the June 30, 2020 vesting of certain restricted stock awards as compared to the cumulative amount recorded as stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by federal targeted job credits. The income tax expense of $2.6 million for the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019, despite a pre-tax loss, was primarily impacted by $14.8 million of non-tax deductible goodwill that was reclassified to assets held for sale, as well as statutory federal and state tax rates based on apportioned income and the impact of non-tax deductible compensation to executives, partially offset by federal targeted job credits.

Table of Contents

Results of Operations

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Thirty-Six Weeks Ended September 8, 2020 and Thirty-Six Weeks Ended September 10, 2019

The following table presents operating results for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, in absolute terms and expressed as a percentage of total revenue (or company restaurant sales), as compared below:


	36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020							September 10, 2019							Increase / (Decrease)
(Dollar amounts in thousands)	($)		(%)			($)		(%)			($)		(%)
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenue:
Company restaurant sales	$	305,116	91.0	%		$	329,142	92.5	%		$	(24,026)	(7.3)	%
Franchise revenue	14,080		4.2			13,193		3.7			887		6.7
Franchise advertising contributions	9,995		3.0			10,048		2.8			(53)		(0.5)
Franchise sublease and other income	5,971		1.8			3,472		1.0			2,499		72.0
Total revenue	335,162		100.0			355,855		100.0			(20,693)		(5.8)
Operating expenses
Restaurant operating expenses:
Food and paper costs	82,988		27.2		⁽¹⁾	90,434		27.5		⁽¹⁾	(7,446)		(8.2)
Labor and related expenses	101,995		33.4		⁽¹⁾	108,542		33.0		⁽¹⁾	(6,547)		(6.0)
Occupancy and other operating expenses	72,099		23.6		⁽¹⁾	73,522		22.3		⁽¹⁾	(1,423)		(1.9)
Total restaurant operating expenses	257,082		84.3		⁽¹⁾	272,498		82.8		⁽¹⁾	(15,416)		(5.7)
General and administrative	30,139		9.0			31,735		8.9			(1,596)		(5.0)
Franchise advertising expenses	9,995		3.0			10,048		2.8			(53)		(0.5)
Depreciation and amortization	18,477		5.5			17,661		5.0			816		4.6
Occupancy and other-franchise subleases and other	5,088		1.5			2,858		0.8			2,230		78.0
Pre-opening costs	359		0.1			720		0.2			(361)		(50.1)
Impairment of goodwill	87,277		26.0			—		—			87,277		*
Impairment of trademarks	11,900		3.6			—		—			11,900		*
Impairment of long-lived assets	8,287		2.5			5,101		1.4			3,186		62.5
Restaurant closure charges, net	1,406		0.4			1,718		0.5			(312)		(18.2)
Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net	697		0.2			8,790		2.5			(8,093)		(92.1)
Total operating expenses	430,707		128.5			351,129		98.7			79,578		22.7
(Loss) income from operations	(95,545)		(28.5)			4,726		1.3			(100,271)		*
Other expense (income), net
Interest expense	3,730		1.1			5,169		1.5			(1,439)		(27.8)
Other income	—		—			(201)		(0.1)			201		(100.0)
Total other expense, net	3,730		1.1			4,968		1.4			(1,238)		(24.9)
Loss from operations before (benefit) provision for income taxes	(99,275)		(29.6)			(242)		(0.1)			(99,033)		*
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(2,028)		(0.6)			3,910		1.1			(5,938)		*
Net loss	$	(97,247)	(29.0)	%		$	(4,152)	(1.2)	%		$	(93,095)	*

(1)As a percentage of company restaurant sales.

*Immaterial/not meaningful

Table of Contents

Company Restaurant Sales

Company restaurant sales decreased $24.0 million, or 7.3%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to fewer company-operated restaurants open during 2020 compared to 2019 due to our refranchising activity and the negative impact of COVID-19 on company-operated same store sales. Company-operated same store sales decreased 4.4%. Delivery represented approximately 6% of company restaurant sales during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to approximately 1% of company restaurant sales during the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. Delivery sales are expected to remain elevated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the addition of new delivery service providers.

Franchise Revenue

Franchise revenue increased $0.9 million, or 6.7%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to additional franchise-operated restaurants open during 2020 compared to 2019 due to our refranchising activity, partially offset by a decrease in franchise-operated same store sales of 1.4%.

Franchise Advertising Contributions

Franchise advertising contributions decreased $0.1 million, or 0.5%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and is directly related to franchise revenue. In addition, starting the last fiscal week of the first quarter of 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company decreased franchise advertising contributions from 4.0% to 2.5% of franchise restaurant net sales for eight weeks. The Company adjusted the advertising contribution percentage back to 4.0% starting with the eighth fiscal week of the second quarter of 2020.

Franchise Sublease and Other Income

Franchise sublease and other income increased $2.5 million, or 72.0%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to sublease income related to the sale of 18 company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the fourth quarter of 2019 and the sale of five company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the first quarter of 2020, in which we retained the leasehold interest to the real estate.

Food and Paper Costs

Food and paper costs decreased $7.4 million, or 8.2%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 due to the reduction in company restaurant sales, partially offset by commodity inflation. As a percentage of company restaurant sales, food and paper costs were 27.2% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 27.5% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. This percentage decrease was the result of menu price increases, partially offset by commodity inflation.

Labor and Related Expenses

Labor and related expenses decreased $6.5 million, or 6.0%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to a decrease in company restaurant sales and a reduction in workers compensation expense based on lower payments and reserves related to underlying claims activity, partially offset by a California minimum wage increase on January 1, 2020. As a percentage of company restaurant sales, labor and related expenses were 33.4% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 33.0% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. This percentage increase resulted primarily from the impact of the increased California minimum wage discussed above and impact from the negative same store sales including impact from COVID-19, partially offset by the impact of menu price increases, operational efficiencies related to less required staffing due to the closure of dining rooms due to COVID-19, and reduced workers compensation expense.

Occupancy and Other Operating Expenses

Occupancy and other operating expenses decreased $1.4 million, or 1.9%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to a decrease in company restaurant sales, reduced advertising expense, repairs and maintenance, credit card fees, insurance and utilities, partially offset by increased third party delivery fees and direct costs related to COVID-19. As a percentage of company restaurant sales, occupancy and other operating expenses were 23.6% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 22.3% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. This percentage increase was primarily related to increased third party delivery fees, direct costs related to COVID-19 and negative same store sales including impact from COVID-19, partially offset by reduced advertising expense.

Table of Contents

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased $1.6 million, or 5.0%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, primarily due to lower stock-based compensation, salaries and travel expense. As a percentage of total revenue, general and administrative expense was 9.0% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 8.9% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. The increase was primarily related to the impact of lower revenue.

Franchise Advertising Expenses

Franchise advertising expenses decreased $0.1 million, or 0.5%, for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and are directly related to franchise advertising expenses. These amounts offset against franchise advertising contributions included in revenue. Starting the last fiscal week of the first quarter of 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company decreased franchise advertising contributions from 4.0% to 2.5% of franchise restaurant net sales for eight weeks. The Company adjusted the advertising contribution back to 4.0% starting with the eighth fiscal week of the second quarter of 2020.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses were $18.5 million and $17.7 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The increase primarily reflects the addition of new assets, partially offset by the impact of refranchising. As a percentage of total revenue, depreciation and amortization expenses were 5.5% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to 5.0% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. The increase as a percent of total revenue was primarily due to the impact of lower revenue and the addition of new assets.

Occupancy and Other – Franchise Sublease and Other

Occupancy and other – franchise sublease and other was $5.1 million and $2.9 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The increase is primarily due to sublease expense related to the sale of 18 company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the fourth quarter of 2019 and the sale of five company-operated restaurants to franchisees during the first quarter of 2020, in which the Company retained the leasehold interest to the real estate.

Pre-opening Costs

Pre-opening costs were $0.4 million and $0.7 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The decrease was due to less restaurant opening activity during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to the twelve weeks ended September 10, 2019.

Impairment of Goodwill

The Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $87.3 million during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 related to an interim goodwill impairment assessment performed during the first quarter of 2020 in response to changes in business, market and economic conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with a sustained decline in the Company's stock price, which were indicators of potential goodwill impairment. No impairment charges were recorded during the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019.

Impairment of Trademarks

The Company also recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $11.9 million during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 related to an interim trademark impairment assessment performed during the first quarter of 2020 in response to changes in business, market and economic conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with a sustained decline in the Company's stock price, which were indicators of potential impairment. No impairment charges were recorded during the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $8.3 million during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 related to the evaluation of long-lived assets underlying eight restaurants in California, Nevada and Georgia which had indicators of impairment. The Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $5.1 million during the thirty-six weeks

Table of Contents

ended September 10, 2019 related to the evaluation of long-lived assets underlying three restaurants in California, Nevada and Georgia which had indicators of impairment.

Restaurant Closure Charges, Net

Restaurant closure charges, net, were $1.4 million and $1.7 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The decrease was due to lower rent and property tax expense related to previously closed restaurants.

Loss on Disposal of Assets and Adjustments to Assets Held for Sale, Net

Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net was $0.7 million and $8.8 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. Current year net loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale primarily related to an adjustment resulting from the reclassification of 14 company-operated restaurants from held for sale to held for use, losses on the closure of one company-operated restaurant, an adjustment to estimated net realizable value for assets reclassified as held for sale, the write-off of certain restaurant equipment, and losses on the sale of six company-operated restaurants, partially offset by a gain from one sale-leaseback transaction. Prior year net loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale primarily related to the adjustment to estimated net realizable value for assets reclassified as held for sale, the closure of four company-operated restaurants, the replacement of certain restaurant equipment, losses on the sale of 13 company-operated restaurants and losses on two sale sale-leaseback transactions, partially offset by gains on one sale-leaseback transaction and one lease termination.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $3.7 million and $5.2 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2019, respectively. The decrease is primarily due to lower weighted average interest rates, partially offset by higher average outstanding balances, during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to the prior year.

Other Income

There was no other income for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020. Other income was $0.2 million for the thirty-six ended September 10, 2019 and consisted of insurance proceeds related to a fire at a company-operated restaurant.

(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 2.0% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 compared to (1,615.7)% for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. The (benefit) provision for income taxes was $(2.0) million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 and $3.9 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019. The income tax benefit of $(2.0) million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020 was primarily impacted by the impairment of non-tax deductible goodwill of $87.3 million and reclassification of $3.5 million of goodwill from held for sale, as well as statutory federal and state tax rates based on estimated apportioned income for fiscal 2020, the impact of non-tax deductible compensation to executives and the impact of lower stock compensation expense deductible for tax related to the June 30, 2020 vesting of certain restricted stock awards as compared to the cumulative amount recorded as stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by federal targeted job credits. The income tax expense of $3.9 million for the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, despite a pre-tax loss, was primarily impacted by $14.8 million of non-tax deductible goodwill that was reclassified to assets held for sale, as well as statutory federal and state tax rates based on apportioned income and the impact of non-tax deductible compensation to executives, partially offset by federal targeted job credits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Potential Impacts of Market Conditions on Capital Resources

As sales declined from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we proactively implemented several actions to reduce cash outlays and expenses. On March 16, 2020, we borrowed $25.0 million under our Senior Credit Facility as a precautionary measure to enhance our financial flexibility. On March 30, 2020, we borrowed an additional $25.0 million under our Senior Credit Facility. As our efforts to reduce cash outlays and expenses proved effective and as our business began to stabilize, we subsequently repaid the $50.0 million of precautionary borrowings prior to the end of our second fiscal quarter.

Table of Contents

In our restaurants, we adjusted our operating expenses, which included adjusting labor hours to align with reduced demand and reducing non-essential controllable costs. We negotiated temporary rent deferrals with our landlords during the second quarter of 2020 and repaid the rent deferrals during the third quarter of 2020. During the second quarter of 2020, we also implemented voluntary salary reductions for our executive officers and all Vice Presidents and above and reduced board member compensation. During the third quarter of 2020, the compensation for all our executive officers and Vice Presidents and above, as well as board members, was restored to their previous levels. Additional actions taken during the second quarter of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic include elimination of all non-essential general and administrative expense, deferral or elimination of all open support center positions, a small reduction in force at the restaurant support center and deferral of certain planned non-essential capital expenditures.

We believe that cash from operations, together with our cash balance of $5.4 million and available borrowing capacity of $108.7 million at September 8, 2020, will be sufficient to meet ongoing debt service requirements, operating lease obligations, capital expenditures, working capital requirements and other needs for at least the next 12 months. Should our business take longer to recover than we currently anticipate, there are other actions we can take to further conserve liquidity.

Summary of Cash Flows

Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources have been cash provided from operations, cash and cash equivalents, and our senior secured credit facilities. Our primary requirements for liquidity and capital are new restaurants, existing restaurant capital investments (primarily maintenance), investments in infrastructure and information technology, interest payments on debt, lease obligations, income tax payments, purchases under our share repurchase program and working capital and general corporate needs. The working capital requirements are not significant since customers pay for their purchases in cash or by payment card (credit or debit) at the time of sale. Thus, we are able to sell many inventory items before we have to pay suppliers for such items since we typically have payment terms for our food and paper suppliers. Our company-operated restaurants do not require significant inventories.

The following table presents summary cash flow information for the periods indicated (in thousands).


	36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019
Net cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities	$	39,523	$	38,763
Investing activities	(13,431)		(18,104)
Financing activities	(22,154)		(19,244)
Net increase in cash	$	3,938	$	1,415

Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, cash flows provided by operating activities were $39.5 million. The cash flows provided by operating activities resulted from a net loss of $97.3 million, non-cash adjustments for goodwill impairment of $87.3 million, trademark impairment of $11.9 million, long-lived asset impairment of $8.3 million, asset depreciation and amortization of $18.7 million, amortization of operating lease assets of $15.2 million, stock-based compensation of $3.9 million, a loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net of $0.7 million, restaurant closure charges of $0.1 million, partially offset by a non-cash adjustment for deferred income taxes of $8.1 million and net working capital requirements of $1.2 million.

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, cash flows provided by operating activities were $38.8 million. The cash flows provided by operating activities resulted from a net loss of $4.2 million, non-cash adjustments for asset depreciation and amortization of $18.0 million, amortization of operating lease assets of $14.9 million, loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net of $8.8 million, impairment of long-lived assets of $5.1 million, stock-based compensation of $4.6 million, deferred income taxes of $1.2 million, and restaurant closure charges of $0.1 million, partially offset by net working capital requirements of $9.7 million.

Table of Contents

Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, cash flows used in investing activities were $13.4 million, which were primarily the result of purchase of property and equipment and other assets of $17.4 million, partially offset by proceeds from the sale of six company-operated restaurants of $2.6 million and proceeds from the disposal of property and equipment of $1.4 million.

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, cash flows used in investing activities were $18.1 million, which were primarily the result of purchase of property and equipment and other assets of $29.5 million and the acquisition of four franchise-operated restaurants for $4.8 million, partially offset by proceeds from the disposal of property and equipment of $14.1 million and proceeds from the sale of thirteen company-operated restaurants of $2.1 million.

Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, cash flows used in financing activities were $22.2 million. The cash flows used in financing activities were primarily the result of payments of tax withholding of $1.0 million related to restricted stock vesting and payments on finance leases totaling $0.2 million. In addition, during the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company borrowed $65.0 million on its revolving credit facility and made payments of $86.0 million on its revolving credit facility.

During the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, cash flows used in financing activities were $19.2 million. The cash flows used in financing activities were primarily the result of the repurchase of 574,481 shares of our common stock and 846,441 warrants for an aggregate purchase price of $7.3 million, including incremental direct costs to acquire the shares and warrants, payments of tax withholding of $2.6 million related to restricted stock vesting and payments on finance leases totaling $0.4 million, partially offset by proceeds from exercise of stock options of $0.1 million. In addition, during the thirty-six weeks ended September 10, 2019, the Company borrowed $27.0 million on its revolving credit facility and made payments of $36.0 million on its revolving credit facility.

Senior Credit Facility

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company refinanced the Senior Credit Facility, which provides for a $250 million five-year senior secured revolving facility. The Senior Credit Facility, as amended, includes a sub limit of $35 million for letters of credit. The Senior Credit Facility, as amended, will mature on September 19, 2024.

As of September 8, 2020, the weighted-average interest rate on the outstanding balance of the Senior Credit Facility was 2.16%. As of September 8, 2020, there were $124.0 million of borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility and letters of credit outstanding of $17.3 million. Unused borrowing capacity at September 8, 2020 was $108.7 million.

Hedging Arrangements

In June 2016, we entered into an interest rate cap agreement that became effective July 1, 2016, to hedge cash flows associated with interest rate fluctuations on variable rate debt, with a termination date of March 31, 2020 ("2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement"). The 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement had an initial notional amount of $70.0 million of the Senior Credit Facility that effectively converted that portion of the outstanding balance of the Senior Credit Facility from variable rate debt to capped variable rate debt, resulting in a change in the applicable interest rate from an interest rate of one-month LIBOR plus the applicable margin (as provided by the Senior Credit Facility) to a capped interest rate of 2.00% plus the applicable margin. During fiscal year 2020 through the expiration on March 31, 2020 the Company did not receive any payments related to the 2016 Interest Rate Cap Agreement.

Table of Contents

Stock Repurchase Program

In February 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which we may purchase up to $25.0 million in the aggregate of our common stock and warrants, which expires upon completion of the repurchase program, unless terminated earlier by the Board of Directors. On August 23, 2016, we announced that the Board of Directors increased the repurchase program by $25.0 million to $50.0 million. The Board of Directors authorized an additional increase for the repurchase program effective July 23, 2018 of another $25.0 million to a total of $75.0 million. Purchases under the program may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions. During the thirty-six weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company did not repurchase any common stock or warrants. As of September 8, 2020, there was approximately $22.3 million remaining under the share repurchase program. All of the Company's outstanding warrants expired on June 30, 2020. We have no obligations to repurchase shares under the share repurchase program, and the timing and value of shares purchased (if any) will depend on our stock price, market conditions and other factors.

Construction Defect Issues

During the second quarter of 2020, we identified various construction defects related to three closed restaurants in Texas. We believe the issues are attributable to defective construction performed by the same general contractor for all three restaurants. We plan to undertake voluntary rehabilitation of the three properties, and while the full extent of voluntary rehabilitation costs are not yet known, we are pursuing legal remedies against the general contractor to recover future incurred costs.

Management's Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

A reconciliation of company restaurant sales to restaurant contribution is provided below (in thousands):


	12 Weeks Ended									36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020			September 10, 2019			September 8, 2020			September 10, 2019
Company restaurant sales	$	109,522		$	111,059		$	305,116		$	329,142
Restaurant operating expenses	89,803			92,451			257,082			272,498
Restaurant contribution	$	19,719		$	18,608		$	48,034		$	56,644
Restaurant contribution margin	18.0		%	16.8		%	15.7		%	17.2		%

Table of Contents

A reconciliation of income (loss) from operations to restaurant contribution is provided below (in thousands):


	12 Weeks Ended									36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020			September 10, 2019			September 8, 2020			September 10, 2019
Income (loss) from operations	$	7,700		$	(3,450)		$	(95,545)		$	4,726
Less:
Franchise revenue	(5,169)			(4,490)			(14,080)			(13,193)
Franchise advertising contributions	(4,001)			(3,458)			(9,995)			(10,048)
Franchise sublease income and other	(2,090)			(1,191)			(5,971)			(3,472)
Plus:
General and administrative	10,841			10,421			30,139			31,735
Franchise advertising expenses	4,001			3,458			9,995			10,048
Depreciation and amortization	6,055			5,941			18,477			17,661
Occupancy and other - franchise subleases and other	1,766			1,011			5,088			2,858
Pre-opening costs	63			465			359			720
Impairment of goodwill	—			—			87,277			—
Impairment of trademarks	—			—			11,900			—
Impairment of long-lived assets	—			1,407			8,287			5,101
Restaurant closure charges, net	413			588			1,406			1,718
Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net	140			7,906			697			8,790
Restaurant contribution	$	19,719		$	18,608		$	48,034		$	56,644
Company restaurant sales	$	109,522		$	111,059		$	305,116		$	329,142
Restaurant contribution margin	18.0		%	16.8		%	15.7		%	17.2		%

Table of Contents

The following table sets forth reconciliations of net income (loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):


	12 Weeks Ended						36 Weeks Ended
	September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019		September 8, 2020		September 10, 2019
Net income (loss)	$	5,797	$	(7,669)	$	(97,247)	$	(4,152)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	962		2,556		(2,028)		3,910
Interest expense	941		1,663		3,730		5,169
Depreciation and amortization	6,055		5,941		18,477		17,661
EBITDA	13,755		2,491		(77,068)		22,588
Stock-based compensation expense (a)	1,267		1,347		3,905		4,601
Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net (b)	140		7,906		697		8,790
Impairment of goodwill (c)	—		—		87,277		—
Impairment of trademarks (d)	—		—		11,900		—
Impairment of long-lived assets (e)	—		1,407		8,287		5,101
Restaurant closure charges, net (f)	413		588		1,406		1,718
Amortization of favorable and unfavorable lease assets and liabilities, net (g)	(70)		(19)		(185)		44
Pre-opening costs (h)	63		465		359		720
Sublease income for closed restaurants (i)	(247)		(173)		(745)		(554)
Executive transition costs (j)	—		438		287		438
Other income (k)	—		—		—		(201)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	15,321	$	14,450	$	36,120	$	43,245

(a)Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation.

(b)Loss on disposal of assets and adjustments to assets held for sale, net includes adjustments to reduce the carrying amount for assets held for sale to estimated fair value less cost to sell, loss or gain on disposal of assets related to sales, retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements or equipment in the ordinary course of business, net gains or losses recorded associated with the sale of company-operated restaurants to franchisees, gains from the write-off of right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities related to the termination of leases and net gains or losses recorded associated with sale-leaseback transactions.

(c)Includes non-cash charges related to impairment of goodwill.

(d)Includes non-cash charges related to impairment of trademarks.

(e)Includes non-cash charges related to impairment of long-lived assets.

(f)Restaurant closure costs include rent expense, non-lease executory costs, other direct costs associated with previously closed restaurants and future obligations associated with the closure or net sublease shortfall of a restaurant.

(g)Includes amortization of favorable lease assets and unfavorable lease liabilities.

(h)Pre-opening costs consist of costs directly associated with the opening of new restaurants and incurred prior to opening, including restaurant labor, supplies, cash and non-cash rent expense and other related pre-opening costs. These are generally incurred over the three to five months prior to opening.

(i)Includes other sublease income related to closed restaurants that have been subleased to third parties.

(j)Includes costs associated with the transition of former Company executives, such as severance expense.

(k)During 2019, other income consists of insurance proceeds related to a fire at a company-operated restaurant.

Table of Contents

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our Senior Credit Facility, which currently bears interest at variable rates. As of September 8, 2020, we had outstanding variable rate borrowings of $124.0 million. A 100 basis point increase in the effective interest rate applied to this borrowing would result in a pre-tax interest expense increase of approximately $1.2 million on an annualized basis.

Commodity Price Risk

We purchase certain products that are affected by commodity prices and are, therefore, subject to price volatility caused by weather, market conditions, potential cross-border taxes and tariffs and other factors which are not considered predictable or within our control. Although these products are subject to changes in commodity prices, certain purchasing contracts or pricing arrangements used contain risk management techniques designed to minimize price volatility. In many cases, we believe we will be able to address material commodity cost increases by adjusting menu pricing or making other operational adjustments that increase productivity. However, increases in commodity prices, without adjustments to menu prices, could increase restaurant operating costs as a percentage of restaurant sales. We could also experience shortages of key ingredients if our suppliers need to close or restrict operations due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inflation

Inflation has an impact on food, paper, construction, utility, labor and benefits, rent, general and administrative and other costs, all of which can materially impact operations. We have a substantial number of hourly employees who are paid wage rates based on the applicable federal, state or local minimum wage, and increases in the minimum wage will increase our labor costs.

On July 1, 2014, the State of California (where most of our restaurants are located) increased its minimum wage to $9.00 per hour (from $8.00 per hour), and it increased to $10.00 per hour on January 1, 2016. On March 31, 2016, the California Legislature passed legislation which was designed to raise the statewide minimum wage gradually until it reaches $15.00 per hour in 2022 and it was signed into law on April 4, 2016. Under the new California law, minimum wage increased to $10.50 per hour on January 1, 2017, increased to $11.00 per hour on January 1, 2018, increased to $12.00 per hour on January 1, 2019, increased to $13.00 per hour on January 1, 2020 and will then increase by an additional dollar per hour each calendar year through 2022 when it reaches $15.00 per hour. Based on our current number of restaurants in California, this is expected to impact 327 restaurants in California of which 207 are company-operated and 120 are franchise-operated, excluding certain California restaurants with local minimum wage requirements that are accelerated compared to the California requirements.

In addition, in September 2015, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved increases to the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour by 2020 with the first phase of the wage increase to $10.50 effective on July 1, 2016, followed by an increase to $12.00 per hour on July 1, 2017, $13.25 per hour on July 1, 2018, $14.25 per hour on July 1, 2019 and finally to $15.00 per hour on July 1, 2020. Also, in June 2016, the Los Angeles City Council approved a sick paid leave ordinance to provide six days of paid sick leave per year, with carry-over of 72 hours, effective July 1, 2016. These local ordinances impacted 21 company-owned restaurants and 12 franchise-owned restaurants in the City of Los Angeles and in the unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles.

On March 14, 2016, the Pasadena City Council adopted an ordinance to increase Pasadena’s minimum wage. Beginning on July 1, 2016, employers with 26 or more employees must pay a minimum wage of $10.50 per hour to all employees who work at least 2 hours per week within Pasadena’s geographic bounds. The minimum wage increased to $12.00 per hour on July 1, 2017 and $13.25 per hour on July 1, 2018. This local ordinance impacted three company-operated restaurants.

On June 7, 2016, San Diego voters voted in favor of an ordinance to increase San Diego's minimum wage rate and allow employees working within the San Diego city limits to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. The San Diego City Council certified this minimum wage increase on July 11, 2016 with the increase taking effect on July 11, 2016. Under this ordinance, for any employee who works at least two hours within San Diego city limits, minimum wage increased to $10.50 per hour on July 11, 2016, $11.50 per hour on January 1, 2017, $12.00 per hour on January 1, 2019, $13.00 per hour on January 1, 2020, and the minimum wage rate will increase annually to an amount that corresponds to the prior year's increase, if any, in the cost of living. In addition, the ordinance provides up to five days of paid sick leave and allows unused sick leave to be carried over to the following year. This ordinance impacted five franchise-operated restaurants.

Table of Contents

On July 1, 2016, the Santa Monica minimum wage rates increased to $10.50 per hour and allow employees working within the Santa Monica city limits to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. The minimum wage increased to $12.00 per hour on July 1, 2017, $13.25 per hour on July 1, 2018, $14.25 per hour on July 1, 2019 and $15.00 per hour on July 1, 2020. This local ordinance impacted one company-operated restaurant.

On November 8, 2016, Arizona voters voted in favor to increase the state minimum wage to $10.00 per hour effective January 1, 2017 (from $8.05 per hour) and to allow employees to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked effective July 1, 2017. The minimum wage increased to $10.50 per hour in 2018, increased to $11.00 per hour in 2019 and increased to $12.00 per hour in 2020. The law provides up to five days of paid sick leave per year. The new law impacted 40 franchise-operated restaurants.

On June 13, 2019, the governor of Nevada signed a bill into law that increases the minimum wage to $8.00 per hour for employers that offer qualified health insurance and to $9.00 per hour for employers that do not offer qualified health insurance, effective July 1, 2020. The minimum wage will increase by $0.75 per hour each year until it reaches $11.00 per hour for employers that offer qualified health insurance and $12.00 per hour for employers that do not offer qualified health insurance in 2024. Additionally, it allows employees working within the state to accrue approximately 0.02 hours of paid leave for each hour worked, which translates to 40 hours of paid leave per year for full-time employees, effective January 1, 2020. This new law will impact 39 company-operated restaurants and nine franchise-operated restaurants.

Other municipalities may set minimum wages above the applicable federal or state standards. The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009. Additional federally-mandated, state-mandated or locally mandated minimum wages may be raised in the future. Furthermore, on July 1, 2015, the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 went into effect for California employees, which provides up to three days of paid sick leave for employees who work more than 30 days within a year.

Due to various federal, state and local regulations enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including enhanced sick leave benefits and relaxed eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, the Company expects to incur additional labor and related expenses for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We may be unable to increase our menu prices in order to pass future increased labor costs on to our customers, in which case our margins would be negatively affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if our menu prices are increased to cover increased labor costs, the higher prices could adversely affect sales and thereby reduce our margins and profitability.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We believe that such estimates have been based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and the resulting estimates are reasonable for use in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Our significant estimates include estimates for impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment, insurance reserves, restaurant closure reserves, stock-based compensation, contingent liabilities and income tax valuation allowances.

Accounting policies are an integral part of our financial statements. A thorough understanding of these accounting policies is essential when reviewing our reported results of operations and our financial position. Management believes that the critical accounting policies and estimates involve the most difficult management judgments due to the sensitivity of the methods and assumptions used. For a description of our critical accounting policies, refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates” in Item 7 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020. There have been no material changes in any of our critical accounting policies during the twelve week period ended September 8, 2020.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

See Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the notes to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, included elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, for a description of the recently issued accounting standards.

Table of Contents

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures which are based on assumptions. Additionally, even effective controls and procedures only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee that our controls and procedures will succeed or be adhered to in all circumstances.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our senior management, consisting of our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”).

Based on the above evaluation, the Company’s management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that as of the Evaluation Date our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, we have fully implemented the integrated comprehensive cloud-based human resource and payroll system which replaced our previous application but continue to periodically review our controls as part of the transition to ensure we adequately evaluate for any potential impacts of the new system on our financial statements.

No changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the third fiscal quarter of 2020 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

Table of Contents

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See Note 15, Commitments and Contingencies, of the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our legal matters.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The risk factor below updates the risk factors contained in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected and could continue to adversely affect our financial results, operations and outlook for an extended period of time.

The COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions imposed by federal, state and local governments in response to the outbreak have disrupted and will continue to disrupt our business. In many areas where we operate our restaurants, individuals are being encouraged to practice social distancing and are restricted from gathering in groups. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and government restrictions, we have closed all dining rooms system-wide and are continuing operations through limited contact or contactless channels such as drive-thru, takeout and delivery only. The stay-at-home orders and the sudden increase in unemployment caused by the closure of businesses in earlier response to the COVID-19 pandemic have adversely affected and will continue to adversely affect our guest traffic, which adversely impacts our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. Even after stay-at-home orders were loosened or lifted, some guests were still reluctant to return to restaurants, and the impact of lost wages due to COVID-19 related unemployment may dampen consumer spending for some time in the future.

Our restaurant operations could be further disrupted if a significant number of our employees are unable or unwilling to work, whether because of illness, quarantine, restrictions on travel or fear of contracting COVID-19. Restaurant closures or modified hours of operation due to staffing shortages could further materially adversely affect our liquidity, financial position and results of operations. In certain areas, face coverings for all restaurant employees are required, and to support our employees and protect the health and safety of our employees and guests, we have offered enhanced health and welfare benefits, provided bonuses to restaurant employees, and purchased additional sanitation supplies and personal protective materials. These measures have and will continue to increase our operating costs and adversely affect our liquidity.

The COVID-19 pandemic may also adversely affect the ability of our suppliers to fulfill their obligations to us, which may negatively affect our restaurant operations. These suppliers include third parties that supply and/or prepare our ingredients, packaging and other necessary operating materials, distribution centers, and logistics providers. If our suppliers are unable to fulfill their obligation to us, we could face shortages of food items or other supplies at our restaurants, and our operations and sales could be adversely impacted.

We have also modified our plans for opening new restaurants and remodeling existing restaurants due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To preserve our liquidity, we have delayed planned capital expenditures. These changes may adversely affect our ability to grow our business, particularly if these projects are delayed for a significant amount of time.

As more business and activities have shifted online due to restrictions on congregating and physical movements, we have seen an increase in cyber security threats and attempts to breach our security networks.

We cannot predict how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last or if it will recur, if new government restrictions and mandates will be imposed or how long they will be effective, or how quickly, if at all, guests will return to their pre-COVID-19 purchasing behaviors, so we cannot predict how long our results of operations and financial performance will be adversely impacted.

The COVID-19 pandemic may also have the effect of heightening other risks disclosed in the Risk Factors section included in our Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2020, such as, but not limited to, those related to cybersecurity threats, consumer behavior, supply chain interruptions and labor availability and cost.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On March 7, 2016, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which we may purchase up to $25.0 million in the aggregate of our common stock and warrants. On August 23, 2016, we announced the Board of Directors increased the repurchase program by $25.0 million to $50.0 million. The Board of Directors authorized an additional increase for the repurchase program effective July 23, 2018 of another $25.0 million to a total of $75.0 million.

Table of Contents

Purchases under the program may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions and expires upon completion of the program, unless earlier terminated by our Board of Directors.

During the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2020, the Company did not repurchase any shares or warrants. As of September 8, 2020, there was approximately $22.3 million remaining under the share repurchase program. All of the Company's outstanding warrants expired on June 30, 2020. The amount and timing of additional share purchases (if any) will depend upon a number of factors, including the price and availability of our common stock and general market conditions.

Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits


Exhibit No.						Description

31.1						Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).

31.2						Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).

32.1						Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350.

32.2						Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. 1350.

101.INS						Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

101.SCH						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.LAB						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

101.DEF						Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

Table of Contents

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, thereunto duly authorized.


DEL TACO RESTAURANTS, INC.

Date: October 19, 2020

/s/ John D. Cappasola, Jr.
Name: John D. Cappasola, Jr.
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)

/s/ Steven L. Brake
Name: Steven L. Brake
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)