<!--Enhanced HTML document created with Toppan Merrill Bridge  9.11.0.85--><!--Created on: 9/20/2021 07:25:01 PM (UTC)--><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"><html><head><meta charset="UTF-8"><title></title></head><body><div style="margin-top:30pt;"></div><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="margin-top:13.5pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on&#160;September 20, 2021.</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:right;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:right;margin:0pt 0pt 5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Registration No. 333-</b></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:-0.9989319%;width:101.99%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:3.75pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;border-bottom:3pt double #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:3.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;">___________________</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM S-8</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">UNDER</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;">___________________</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-size:18pt;font-weight:bold;">EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 5pt 0pt;">___________________</p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:-0.91880417%;width:101.83%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.59%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:0.8%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.6%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.59%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Delaware</b></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:0.8%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.6%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">20-356182</b></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.59%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</b></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:0.8%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:49.6%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</b></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Costa Mesa, California 92626</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:12pt;"><a name="_Hlk78384708"></a></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">(Full title of the plan)</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;">___________________</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Laurance Roberts</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Chief Financial Officer</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:12pt;"><a name="_Hlk79677766"></a></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Costa Mesa, California 92626</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">(714) 599-5000</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">(Name and address of agent for service) (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;">___________________</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;"><font style="font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Copies to</font><b style="font-weight:bold;">:</b></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:50.51%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:72pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:72pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Anne Jollay<br>Chief Legal Officer<br>El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.<br>3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100<br>Costa Mesa, California 92626<br> (714) 599-5000</b></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="margin-top:13.5pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt 0pt 5pt 0pt;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;smaller reporting company,&#8221; and &#8220;emerging growth company&#8221; in Rule 12b&#8211;2 of the Exchange Act.</font></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:-0.99786377%;width:101.99%;" align="center"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.13%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:52.16%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:23.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.13%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">Large accelerated filer</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">&#9744;</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:52.16%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:23.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">Accelerated filer</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Segoe UI Symbol';">&#9746;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:5.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.13%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:5.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:5.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:52.16%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:5.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:23.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:5.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:5.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.13%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">Non-accelerated filer</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Segoe UI Symbol';">&#9744;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:52.16%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:23.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">Smaller reporting company</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Segoe UI Symbol';">&#9744;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:6pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.13%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:6pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:6pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:52.16%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:6pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:23.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:6pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:6pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:15pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.13%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:52.16%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:23.12%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">Emerging growth company</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:2.78%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:15pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;text-align:center;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Segoe UI Symbol';">&#9744;</font></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:9pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;">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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  </font><font style="font-family:'Segoe UI Symbol';">&#9744;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 0pt 6pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</b></p><div align="left"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;width:102.15%;"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:25.44%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:17.27%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:18.39%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.2%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.68%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:50.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:25.44%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:3pt double #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.15pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:50.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Title of Securities to be Registered</b></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:17.27%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-left:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:3pt double #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.15pt 0pt 2.15pt;"><div style="height:50.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Amount to be Registered</b><sup style="font-size:7.5pt;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:top;">(1)</sup></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:18.39%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-left:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:3pt double #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.15pt 0pt 2.15pt;"><div style="height:50.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share</b><sup style="font-size:7.5pt;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:top;">(2)</sup></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.2%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-left:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:3pt double #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.15pt 0pt 2.15pt;"><div style="height:50.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price</b><sup style="font-size:7.5pt;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:top;">(2)</sup></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.68%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-left:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:3pt double #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.15pt;"><div style="height:50.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">Amount of</b><font style="font-size:12pt;"><br></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">Registration Fee</b><sup style="font-size:7.5pt;font-weight:bold;vertical-align:top;">(2)</sup></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:24.75pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:25.44%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.15pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:24.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:17.27%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-left:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0.25pt 0pt 2.15pt;"><div style="height:24.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">750,000</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:18.39%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-left:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.15pt 0pt 2.15pt;"><div style="height:24.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">$17.07</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.2%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-left:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.15pt 0pt 2.15pt;"><div style="height:24.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">$12,802,500.00</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.68%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;border-left:1.0pt solid #000000;border-top:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0.75pt 0pt 2.15pt;"><div style="height:24.75pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;text-align:center;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">$1,396.75</p></div></div></td></tr></table></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;table-layout:fixed;text-align:justify;width:100%;border:0pt;"><tr><td style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:10pt;vertical-align:text-top;white-space:nowrap;width:18pt;padding:0pt;">(1)</td><td style="padding:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:justify;">Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;), this Registration Statement will also cover any additional shares of the common stock of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221; or the &#8220;Registrant&#8221;) that become issuable under the El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;), by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar transaction effected that results in an increase to the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant&#8217;s common stock. </font></td></tr></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse:collapse;font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;table-layout:fixed;text-align:justify;width:100%;border:0pt;"><tr><td style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:10pt;vertical-align:text-top;white-space:nowrap;width:18pt;padding:0pt;">(2)</td><td style="padding:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:justify;">Estimated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant&#8217;s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on September 16, 2021. </font></td></tr></table><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="margin-top:13.5pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:12pt;"><a name="Section2"></a></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">EXPLANATORY NOTE</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="display:inline-block;text-indent:0pt;width:36pt;"></font><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;">This Registration Statement is filed by the Registrant to register additional securities issuable pursuant to the Plan and consists of only those items required by General Instruction E to Form S-8.  </font>In accordance with General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the Company&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form S-8 previously filed with the Commission on <a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001606366/000119312518239777/d521839ds8.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">August 6, 2018</font></a> (File No. 333-226621) are incorporated herein by reference.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:12pt;"><a name="Section3"></a></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">PART I</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="display:inline-block;text-indent:0pt;width:36pt;"></font><font style="font-size:10pt;">The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Securities Act Rule 428(b)(1).</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:12pt;"><a name="Section4"></a></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">PART II</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:12pt;"><a name="Section5"></a></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF CONTENTS OF</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;padding-left:67.5pt;text-indent:-67.5pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12pt 2.25pt;"><font style="display:inline-block;text-indent:0pt;width:66.75pt;"><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">Item 3.</b></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-indent:36pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;">The following documents of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) are incorporated herein by reference:  </font></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td style="width:36pt;padding:0pt;"></td><td style="vertical-align:text-top;white-space:nowrap;width:36pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;">(a)</font></p></td><td style="padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;">The Company&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 30, 2020, filed with the Commission on</font><b style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;"> </b><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000015/loco-20201230x10k.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">March 15, 2021</font></a><font style="font-size:10pt;"> (Commission File No. 001-36556);</font></p></td></tr></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td style="width:36pt;padding:0pt;"></td><td style="vertical-align:text-top;white-space:nowrap;width:36pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;">(b)</font></p></td><td style="padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;">The Company&#8217;s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2021, and June 30, 2021, filed with the Commission on </font><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000031/loco-20210331x10q.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">May 7, 2021</font></a><font style="font-size:10pt;"> and </font><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000054/loco-20210630x10q.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">August 6, 2021</font></a><font style="font-size:10pt;">, respectively (each Commission File No. 001-36556); </font></p></td></tr></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td style="width:36pt;padding:0pt;"></td><td style="vertical-align:text-top;white-space:nowrap;width:36pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;">(c)</font></p></td><td style="padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;">The Company&#8217;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on </font><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000034/loco-20210602x8k.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">June 3, 2021</font></a><font style="font-size:10pt;"> and </font><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000042/loco-20210608x8k.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">June 14, 2021</font></a><font style="font-size:10pt;"> (Commission File No. 001-36556, and only as to the information &#8220;filed&#8221; with the Commission thereunder for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), and not as to information &#8220;furnished&#8221; thereunder); and</font></p></td></tr></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td style="width:36pt;padding:0pt;"></td><td style="vertical-align:text-top;white-space:nowrap;width:36pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;">(d)</font></p></td><td style="padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;">The description of the Company&#8217;s Common Stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on </font><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000134100414000622/form8a12b.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">July 22, 2014</font></a><font style="font-size:10pt;"> (Commission File No. 333-197001), as modified by the description of the Company&#8217;s Common Stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to the Company&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 30, 2020, filed with the Commission on </font><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001606366/000160636620000004/exhibit41description_ofxca.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">March 15, 2021</font></a><font style="font-size:10pt;"> (Commission File No. 001-36556), and any other amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. </font></p></td></tr></table><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;">All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with Commission rules shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.  Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</font><font style="font-size:12pt;"> </font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="margin-top:13.5pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;padding-left:67.5pt;text-indent:-67.5pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12pt 2.25pt;"><font style="display:inline-block;text-indent:0pt;width:66.75pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;"><a name="Section6"></a></font><b style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.43;text-align:left;">Item 5.</b></font><b style="font-weight:bold;">Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-indent:36pt;margin:0pt 0pt 12pt 0pt;">Not applicable.</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td style="vertical-align:text-top;white-space:nowrap;width:36pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-align:justify;"><a name="Section7"></a><b style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8.</b></p></td><td style="padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-align:justify;"><b style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibits.</b></p></td></tr></table><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-indent:36pt;margin:0pt 0pt 5pt 0pt;">The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference as part of this Registration Statement:</p><div align="left"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;width:101.99%;"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:12.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:87.81%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:12.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Exhibit No.</b></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:87.81%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Description</b></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:12.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">4.1</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:87.81%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000119312514332367/d779664dex31.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (1)</font></a></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:12.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">4.2</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:87.81%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000119312514332367/d779664dex32.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">Amended and Restated By-Laws of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (2)</font></a></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:12.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">4.3</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:87.81%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636621000042/loco-20210608ex1014922db.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">Equity Incentive Plan (3)</font></a></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:17.1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:12.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:17.1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">5.1</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:87.81%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:17.1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="loco-20210920ex51c2ebcc6.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">Opinion of V</font><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">edder</font><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">Price P.C.</font></a></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:12.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">23.1</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:87.81%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="loco-20210920ex2311f1184.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">Consent of BDO USA LLP</font></a></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:top;width:12.18%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;">23.2</p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:87.81%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="position:absolute;top:0pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><a style="-sec-extract:exhibit;" href="loco-20210920ex51c2ebcc6.htm"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;">Consent of Counsel (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)</font></a></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;">(1) Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 5, 2014 (File No. 001-36556) and incorporated herein by reference.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;">(2) Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 5, 2014 (File No. 001-36556) and incorporated herein by reference.</p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="white-space:pre-wrap;">(3)  Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 14, 2021 (File No. 001-36556) and incorporated herein by reference.</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="display:none;font-size:12pt;line-height:0pt;text-align:justify;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';"><a name="Section8"></a></font><font style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:0pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="margin-top:13.5pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 2.25pt 10pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt 0pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="display:inline-block;text-indent:0pt;width:36pt;"></font><font style="font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in City of Costa Mesa, State of California, on September&#160;20, 2021.</font></p><div style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1.92%;width:47.24%;"><div align="right"><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:auto;width:100%;"><tr style="height:1pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:10.04%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:89.96%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:1pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:1pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:17.25pt;"><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;width:100%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:17.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><b style="color:#231f20;font-weight:bold;">EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.</b></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:10.04%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:89.96%;border-bottom:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="line-height:1.2;white-space:pre-wrap;">/s/  Laurance Roberts</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:10.04%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="line-height:1.2;">By:</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:89.96%;border-top:1.0pt solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;margin:1.64pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="line-height:1.2;">Laurance Roberts</font></p></div></div></td></tr><tr style="height:14.25pt;"><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:10.04%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:89.96%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2.65pt 0pt 2.65pt;"><div style="height:14.25pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;position:relative;"><div style="bottom:0pt;position:absolute;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;margin:2.65pt 0pt 1.5pt 0pt;"><font style="line-height:1.2;">Chief Financial Officer</font></p></div></div></td></tr></table></div></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:10pt 4.5pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="display:inline-block;text-indent:0pt;width:36pt;"></font><font style="font-family:'Arial','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;margin-right:0pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:10pt 4.5pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Arial','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;margin-right:0pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-family:'Arial','Helvetica','sans-serif';font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;margin-bottom:13.5pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-bottom:30pt;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:always;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"><div style="max-width:100%;padding-left:11.76%;padding-right:11.76%;position:relative;"><div style="margin-top:13.5pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;max-width:100%;position:relative;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;line-height:1.43;text-align:center;margin:0pt 2.25pt 10pt 0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;">POWER OF ATTORNEY</b></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:10pt 4.5pt 10pt 0pt;"><font style="display:inline-block;text-indent:0pt;width:36pt;"></font><font style="font-size:10pt;">Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Laurance Roberts and Anne Jollay as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, including any and all post-effective amendments, exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</font></p><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;line-height:1.43;margin:0pt 0pt 5pt 0pt;"><font style="display:inline-block;text-indent:0pt;width:36pt;"></font><font style="font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.</font></p><div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;font-size:16pt;height:max-content;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-left:0pt;padding-right:0pt;width:100%;" align="center"><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Name</b></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Title</b></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;margin:0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 3pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:8pt;text-align:center;margin:0pt;"><b style="font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#000000;">Date</b></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ Bernard Acoca</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Bernard Acoca</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ Laurance Roberts</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer)</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Laurance Roberts</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ Michael G. Maselli</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Chairman and Director</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Michael G. Maselli</p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ Douglas J. Babb</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Director</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Douglas J. Babb</p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ Samuel N. Borgese</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Director</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Samuel N. Borgese</p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ Mark Buller</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Director</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Mark Buller</p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ William R. Floyd</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Director</p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">William R. Floyd</p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ Dean C. Kehler</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Director</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Dean C. Kehler</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 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style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:20.19%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;width:20.19%;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">/s/ John M. Roth</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">Director</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">September 20, 2021</p></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;width:20.19%;border-top:1px solid #000000;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 2pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:10pt;margin:0pt;">John M. Roth</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:1.92%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="display:none;vertical-align:bottom;width:55.76%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:2.88%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:19.23%;margin:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 0pt 3pt;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="font-size:10pt;visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></td></tr></table></div><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div><div style="clear:both;margin-bottom:13.5pt;width:100%;"><p style="font-family:'Times New Roman','Times','serif';font-size:12pt;margin:0pt;"><font style="visibility:hidden;">&#8203;</font></p></div></div><hr style="background-color:#000000;clear:both;color:#000000;height:2pt;line-height:0;margin-left:11.76%;margin-right:11.76%;margin-top:30pt;page-break-after:avoid;width:76.47%;border-width:0;"></body></html>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "loco-20210920xs8.htm", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 107382}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.", "cik": "0001606366", "assigned-sic": "5812", "irs-number": "203563182", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1229"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-259661", "film-number": "211263209"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3535 HARBOR BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "COSTA MESA", "state": "CA", "zip": "92626", "phone": "7145995000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3535 HARBOR BOULEVARD", "street2": "SUITE 100", "city": "COSTA MESA", "state": "CA", "zip": "92626"}}
​
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 2021.
​
Registration No. 333-
​
​
​
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
___________________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
___________________
EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
___________________
​
​
​
Delaware
​
20-356182
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
​
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
​
3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100
Costa Mesa, California 92626
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)
___________________
Laurance Roberts
Chief Financial Officer
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100
Costa Mesa, California 92626
(714) 599-5000
(Name and address of agent for service) (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
___________________
Copies to
:
​
Anne Jollay
Chief Legal Officer
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 100
Costa Mesa, California 92626
(714) 599-5000
​
​
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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.
​
​
​
​
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Large accelerated filer
☐
​
Accelerated filer
☒
​
​
​
​
​
Non-accelerated filer
☐
​
Smaller reporting company
☐
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
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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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
☐
​
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Securities to be Registered
Amount to be Registered
(1)
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share
(2)
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price
(2)
Amount of
Registration Fee
(2)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
750,000
$17.07
$12,802,500.00
$1,396.75
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement will also cover any additional shares of the common stock of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (the "Company" or the "Registrant") that become issuable under the El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, or other similar transaction effected that results in an increase to the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant's common stock.
(2)
Estimated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on September 16, 2021.
​
​
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EXPLANATORY NOTE
​
This Registration Statement is filed by the Registrant to register additional securities issuable pursuant to the Plan and consists of only those items required by General Instruction E to Form S-8.
In accordance with General Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 previously filed with the Commission on
August 6, 2018
(File No. 333-226621) are incorporated herein by reference.
​
PART I
​
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE
SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
​
The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Securities Act Rule 428(b)(1).
​
PART II
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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF CONTENTS OF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8
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Item 3.
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
The following documents of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated herein by reference:
(a)
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 30, 2020, filed with the Commission on
March 15, 2021
(Commission File No. 001-36556);
(b)
The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2021, and June 30, 2021, filed with the Commission on
May 7, 2021
and
August 6, 2021
, respectively (each Commission File No. 001-36556);
(c)
The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on
June 3, 2021
and
June 14, 2021
(Commission File No. 001-36556, and only as to the information "filed" with the Commission thereunder for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and not as to information "furnished" thereunder); and
(d)
The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on
July 22, 2014
(Commission File No. 333-197001), as modified by the description of the Company's Common Stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 30, 2020, filed with the Commission on
March 15, 2021
(Commission File No. 001-36556), and any other amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with Commission rules shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.  Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
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Item 5.
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
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The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference as part of this Registration Statement:
Exhibit No.
Description
4.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (1)
4.2
Amended and Restated By-Laws of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (2)
4.3
Equity Incentive Plan (3)
5.1
Opinion of V
edder
Price P.C.
23.1
Consent of BDO USA LLP
23.2
Consent of Counsel (included as part of Exhibit 5.1)
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(1) Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 5, 2014 (File No. 001-36556) and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on September 5, 2014 (File No. 001-36556) and incorporated herein by reference.
(3)  Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 14, 2021 (File No. 001-36556) and incorporated herein by reference.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in City of Costa Mesa, State of California, on September 20, 2021.
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EL POLLO LOCO HOLDINGS, INC.
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/s/  Laurance Roberts
By:
Laurance Roberts
​
Chief Financial Officer
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POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Laurance Roberts and Anne Jollay as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, including any and all post-effective amendments, exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name
Title
Date
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/s/ Bernard Acoca
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Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)
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September 20, 2021
Bernard Acoca
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/s/ Laurance Roberts
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Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer)
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September 20, 2021
Laurance Roberts
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/s/ Michael G. Maselli
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Chairman and Director
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September 20, 2021
Michael G. Maselli
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/s/ Douglas J. Babb
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Director
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September 20, 2021
Douglas J. Babb
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/s/ Samuel N. Borgese
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Director
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September 20, 2021
Samuel N. Borgese
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/s/ Mark Buller
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Director
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September 20, 2021
Mark Buller
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/s/ William R. Floyd
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Director
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September 20, 2021
William R. Floyd
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/s/ Dean C. Kehler
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Director
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September 20, 2021
Dean C. Kehler
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/s/ Carol Lynton
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Director
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September 20, 2021
Carol Lynton
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/s/ John M. Roth
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Director
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September 20, 2021
John M. Roth
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