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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 25, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Overview
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. Holdings and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein “we,” “us” or the “Company.” The Company’s activities are conducted principally through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“EPL”), which develops, franchises, licenses, and operates quick-service restaurants under the name El Pollo Loco® and operates under one operating segment. At September 25, 2019, the Company operated 201 and franchised 284 El Pollo Loco restaurants.
On August 2, 2018, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had authorized a stock repurchase program. The Company entered into a stock repurchase plan on August 28, 2018 (the “2018 Stock Repurchase Plan”), which allowed for the repurchase of up to $20.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The 2018 Stock Repurchase Plan commenced on November 6, 2018 and terminated on June 26, 2019.
On April 30, 2019, as part of the Company’s focus on stockholder returns, the Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase program. The Company entered into a stock repurchase plan May 17, 2019 (the “2019 Stock Repurchase Plan”), which allowed for the repurchase up to $30.0 million of the Company's common stock. The 2019 Stock Repurchase Plan commenced on June 27, 2019, and will terminate on March 25, 2020, if not exhausted or terminated sooner pursuant to the provisions of the 2019 Stock Repurchase Plan.
Under the 2019 Stock Repurchase Plan, the Company may repurchase its common stock from time to time, in amounts and at prices that the Company deems appropriate, subject to market conditions and other considerations. The Company’s repurchases may be executed using open market purchases, including pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and/or through privately negotiated transactions.
For the thirteen weeks ended September 25, 2019, the Company repurchased 2,825,896 shares of common stock under the 2019 Stock Repurchase Plan, using open market purchases, for total consideration of approximately $29.9 million. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, the Company repurchased 1,558,836 shares of common stock under the 2018 Stock Repurchase Plan and 2,825,896 shares of common stock under the 2019 Stock Repurchase Plan, using open market purchases, for total consideration of approximately $48.3 million. The common stock repurchased under both the 2018 Stock Repurchase Plan and the 2019 Stock Repurchase Plan was retired upon repurchase.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full year. The condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes do not include all information and footnotes required by GAAP for annual reports. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2018.
The Company uses a 52- or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Wednesday of the calendar year. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarter includes 13 weeks of operations; in a 53-week fiscal year, the first, second and third quarters each include 13 weeks of operations, and the fourth quarter includes 14 weeks of operations. Every six or seven years, a 53-week fiscal year occurs. Fiscal 2019 and 2018 are both 52-week years, ending on December 25, 2019 and December 26, 2018, respectively. Revenues, expenses, and other financial and operational figures may be elevated in a 53-week year.
Holdings has no material assets or operations. Holdings and Holdings’ direct subsidiary, EPL Intermediate, Inc. (“Intermediate”), guarantee EPL’s 2018 Revolver (as defined below) on a full and unconditional basis (see Note 4), and Intermediate has no subsidiaries other than EPL. EPL is a separate and distinct legal entity and has no obligation to make funds available to Intermediate. EPL and Intermediate may pay dividends to Intermediate and to Holdings, respectively, subject to the terms of the 2018 Revolver.
 
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Holdings and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and revenue and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates include estimates for impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property and equipment, insurance reserves, lease accounting matters, closed-store reserves, stock-based compensation, income tax receivable agreement liability, contingent liabilities and income tax valuation allowances.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly-liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Liquidity
The Company’s principal liquidity and capital requirements are new restaurants, existing restaurant capital investments (remodels and maintenance), interest payments on our debt, lease obligations and working capital and general corporate needs. At September 25, 2019, the Company’s total debt was $101.0 million. The Company’s ability to make payments on its indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures depends on available cash and its ability to generate adequate cash flows in the future, which, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond the Company’s control. Based on current operations, the Company believes that its cash flow from operations, available cash of $12.1 million at September 25, 2019, and available borrowings under the 2018 Revolver (see Note 4) will be adequate to meet the Company’s liquidity needs for the next twelve months from the filing of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recovery of Securities Class Action Legal Expense
During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, the Company received insurance proceeds of $10.0 million related to the settlement of a securities class action lawsuit. During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018, the Company received insurance proceeds of $2.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively, related to the reimbursement of certain legal expenses paid in prior years for the defense of securities lawsuits. See Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies, Legal Matters.

Loss on Disposition of Restaurants
During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, the Company completed the sale of four company-operated restaurants within the San Francisco area to an existing franchisee and seven company-operated restaurants in the Phoenix area to another existing franchisee. The Company has determined that these restaurant dispositions represent multiple element arrangements, and as a result, the cash consideration received was allocated to the separate elements based on their relative selling price. Cash proceeds included upfront consideration for the sale of the restaurants and franchise fees, as well as future cash consideration for royalties and lease payments. The Company considered the future lease payments in allocating the initial cash consideration received. The cash consideration per restaurant for franchise fees is consistent with the amounts stated in the related franchise agreements, which are charged for separate standalone arrangements. The Company initially defers and subsequently recognizes the franchise fees over the term of the franchise agreement. Future royalty income is also recognized in revenue as earned.
These sales resulted in cash proceeds of $4.8 million and a net loss on sale of restaurants of $5.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019. These restaurants are now included in the total number of franchised El Pollo Loco restaurants.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2018, the SEC adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10532, “Disclosure Update and Simplification, amending certain disclosure requirements that were redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded.  In addition, the amendments expanded the disclosure requirements on the analysis of stockholders' equity for interim financial statements.  Under the amendments, an analysis of changes in each caption of stockholders' equity presented in the balance sheet must be provided in a note or separate statement.  The analysis should present a reconciliation of the beginning balance to the ending balance of each period for which a statement of comprehensive income is required to be filed.  The Company adopted SEC Release No. 33-10532 as of December 27, 2018. See “Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity” above.
In June 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-07, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”, (“ASU 2018-07”) which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees. ASU 2018-07 is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and for the interim periods therein. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 as of December 27, 2018 and it did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging," which refines and expands existing hedge accounting guidance. The Company adopted ASU 2017-12 as of December 27, 2019. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases”, (“Topic 842”). Topic 842 establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU Asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods therein. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, which provides an alternative transition method that allows entities to apply the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company adopted Topic 842, and all related ASU’s as of December 27, 2018. See “Changes in Accounting Policies” below for further details.
Subsequent Events
Subsequent to September 25, 2019, the Company completed the sale of five company-operated restaurants within the Dallas area to an existing franchisee. This sale did not result in any cash proceeds or gain or loss on sale of restaurants, as the fixed assets of all five locations were fully impaired in prior periods. Additionally, the Company closed one restaurant in Texas, which is expected to result in closed-store reserve expense of $0.8 million.
The Company evaluated subsequent events that have occurred after September 25, 2019, and determined that there were no other events or transactions occurring during this reporting period that require recognition or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Concentration of Risk
Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, these balances may exceed federally-insured limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances.
The Company had two suppliers for which amounts due totaled 14.6% and 10.2% of the Company’s accounts payable at September 25, 2019. As of December 26, 2018, the Company had one supplier for which amounts due totaled 36.0% of the Company’s accounts payable. Purchases from the Company’s largest supplier totaled 29.0% and 28.9% of total expenses for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, respectively, and 29.4% and 28.8% of total expenses for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018, respectively.
Company-operated and franchised restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area generated, in the aggregate, approximately 71.5% and 70.0% of total revenue for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, respectively, and 69.3% and 69.0% for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018.
Revenue Recognition
In the first quarter of 2018 the Company implemented Topic 606 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers". Revenue is measured based on a consideration specified in a contract with a customer. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a customer. Topic 606 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle. Refer to Note 10, “Revenue From Contracts With Customers” for further details on the Company’s revenue recognition policy.
Goodwill and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets
The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trademarks. Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of net identified assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. The Company does not amortize its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Goodwill resulted from the acquisition of certain franchise locations.
Upon the sale or closure of a restaurant, the Company evaluates whether there is a decrement of goodwill. The amount of goodwill included in the cost basis of the asset sold is determined based on the relative fair value of the portion of the reporting unit disposed of compared to the fair value of the reporting unit retained. The Company determined there was no decrement of goodwill related to the disposition of restaurants during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019.
The Company performs annual impairment tests for goodwill during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.
The Company reviews goodwill for impairment utilizing either a qualitative assessment or a fair value test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. If the Company decides that it is appropriate to perform a qualitative assessment and concludes that the fair value of a reporting unit more likely than not exceeds its carrying value, no further evaluation is necessary. If the Company performs the fair value test, the Company will compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
The Company performs annual impairment tests for indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. An impairment test consists of either a qualitative assessment or a comparison of the fair value of an intangible asset with its carrying amount. The excess of the carrying amount of an intangible asset over its fair value is recognized as an impairment loss.
The assumptions used in the estimate of fair value are generally consistent with the past performance of the Company’s reporting segment and are also consistent with the projections and assumptions that are used in current operating plans. These assumptions are subject to change as a result of changing economic and competitive conditions.
The Company did not identify any indicators of potential impairment of its goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019 or September 26, 2018, and therefore did not record any impairment during the respective periods.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
Level 1: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2: Observable prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs or significant value drivers are observable.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs used when little or no market data is available.
During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, the Company entered into an interest rate swap, which is required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value was determined based on Level 2 inputs, which include valuation models, as reported by the Company's counterparty. These valuation models use a discounted cash flow analysis on the cash flows of the derivative. The key inputs for the valuation models are observable market prices, discount rates, and forward yield curves. See Note 4 for further discussion regarding our interest rate swaps. The following table presents fair value for the interest rate swap at September 25, 2019 (in thousands):
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Other assets - Interest rate swap
$
171

 
$

 
$
171

 
$


The Company had no assets or liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 26, 2018 or any prior interim period.
Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. In other words, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment).
The following non-financial instruments were measured at fair value, on a nonrecurring basis, as of and for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, reflecting certain property and equipment assets for which an impairment loss was recognized during the corresponding periods, as discussed immediately below under "Impairment of Long-Lived Assets." Amounts in the table below are presented in thousands.
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at September 25, 2019 Using
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended September 25, 2019
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 25, 2019
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Impairment Losses
 
Impairment Losses
Property and equipment owned, net
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
56

 
$
283



The following non-financial instruments were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of and for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018, reflecting certain property and equipment assets for which an impairment loss was recognized during the corresponding periods, as discussed immediately below under "Impairment of Long-Lived Assets." Amounts in the table below are presented in thousands.
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at June 27,2018 Using
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended September 26, 2018
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 26, 2018
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Impairment Losses
 
Impairment Losses
Property and equipment owned, net
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
84

 
$
1,791


Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of certain assets may not be recoverable. The Company considers a triggering event to have occurred related to a specific restaurant if the restaurant’s cash flows for the last twelve months are less than a minimum threshold or if consistent levels of undiscounted cash flows for the remaining lease period are less than the carrying value of the restaurant’s assets. If the Company concludes that the carrying value of certain assets will not be recovered based on expected undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment loss is recorded to reduce the assets to their estimated fair value. The fair value is measured on a nonrecurring basis using unobservable (Level 3) inputs. There is uncertainty in the projected undiscounted future cash flows used in the Company’s impairment review analysis, which requires the use of estimates and assumptions. If actual performance does not achieve the projections, or if the estimates and assumptions used change in the future, the Company may be required to recognize impairment charges in future periods, and such charges could be material. Based on the results of the analysis, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, respectively, primarily related to the carrying value of the assets of one restaurant in California. The Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $0.1 million and $1.8 million for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018, respectively, primarily related to the carrying value of the assets of one restaurant in Arizona. Given the difficulty in projecting results for newer restaurants in newer markets, we are monitoring the recoverability of the carrying value of the assets of several restaurants on an ongoing basis. For these restaurants, if expected performance improvements are not realized, an impairment charge may be recognized in future periods, and such charge could be material.
Closed-Store Reserves
Prior to the adoption of Topic 842 “Leases,” when the Company closed a restaurant, it reviewed the future minimum lease payments and related ancillary costs from the date of the restaurant closure to the end of the remaining lease term and recorded a lease charge for the lease liabilities to be incurred, net of any estimated sublease recoveries. The estimates of future closed-store reserves were re-evaluated and adjusted each period based on information available as of the period. In addition, an impairment charge was recognized for any remaining carrying value of certain restaurant assets. During the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2018, the Company closed one restaurant in California and one restaurant in Arizona. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018, the Company closed six restaurants, including four locations in Texas, one in California and one in Arizona, and decided not to move forward with the development of a third location in Texas.  All four Texas locations were previously impaired during the third quarter of 2017. This resulted in a closed-store reserve recovery expense of $0.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2018 and $4.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018.
Subsequent to the adoption of Topic 842, the Company no longer recognizes a closed-store reserve when the Company closes a restaurant, as a lease liability related to the future lease payments is already recognized. Rather, when a restaurant is closed, the Company will evaluate the ROU Asset for impairment, based on anticipated sublease recoveries. The remaining value of the ROU Asset is amortized on a straight-line basis, with the expense recognized in closed-store reserve expense. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, the Company closed one restaurant in California and one in Texas and recognized $0.3 million and $1.0 million of closed-store reserve expense for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, respectively, primarily related to the amortization of ROU Assets for the two closed stores.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company uses an interest rate swap, a derivative instrument, to hedge interest rate risk and are not used for trading purposes. The derivative contract is entered into with financial institutions.
The Company records the derivative instrument on its condensed consolidated balance sheet at fair value. The derivative instrument qualifies as a hedging instrument in a qualifying cash flow hedge relationship, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. For any derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss will be recognized in earnings immediately. If a derivative previously designated as a hedge is terminated, or no longer meets the qualifications for hedge accounting, any balances in AOCI will be reclassed to earnings immediately.

As a result of the use of an interest rate swap, the Company is exposed to risk that the counterparty will fail to meet their contractual obligations. To mitigate the counterparty credit risk, the Company will only enter into contracts with major financial institutions, based upon their credit ratings and other factors, and will continue to assess the creditworthiness of the counterparty. As of September 25, 2019, the counterparty to the Company's interest rate swap has performed in accordance with their contractual obligation.
Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes, income taxes payable and deferred income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. On a periodic basis, the Company assesses the probability that its net deferred tax assets, if any, will be recovered. If, after evaluating all of the positive and negative evidence, a conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be recovered, a valuation allowance is provided by charging to tax expense to reserve the portion of deferred tax assets which are not expected to be realized.
The Company reviews its filing positions for all open tax years in all U.S. federal and state jurisdictions where the Company is required to file.
When there are uncertainties related to potential income tax benefits, in order to qualify for recognition, the position the Company takes has to have at least a “more likely than not” chance of being sustained (based on the position’s technical merits) upon challenge by the respective authorities. The term “more likely than not” means a likelihood of more than 50 percent. Otherwise, the Company may not recognize any of the potential tax benefit associated with the position. The Company recognizes a benefit for a tax position that meets the “more likely than not” criterion at the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon its effective resolution. Unrecognized tax benefits involve management’s judgment regarding the likelihood of the benefit being sustained. The final resolution of uncertain tax positions could result in adjustments to recorded amounts and may affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had no accrual for interest or penalties at September 25, 2019 or at December 26, 2018, and did not recognize interest or penalties during the thirteen or thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019 or September 26, 2018, since there were no material unrecognized tax benefits. Management believes no material changes to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will occur within the next twelve months.
On July 30, 2014, the Company entered into the income tax receivable agreement (the "TRA"), which calls for the Company to pay to its pre-IPO stockholders 85% of the savings in cash that the Company realizes in its income taxes as a result of utilizing its net operating losses and other tax attributes attributable to preceding periods. For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 25, 2019, the Company recorded income tax receivable agreement income of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, and for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2018, we recorded income tax receivable agreement income of $0.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to the amortization of interest expense related to our total expected TRA payments and changes in estimates for actual tax returns filed and future forecasted taxable income.

Changes in Accounting Policies
Except for the changes below, the Company has consistently applied the accounting policies to all periods presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements.
The Company adopted Topic 842 with a date of initial application of December 27, 2018. As a result, the Company has changed its accounting policy for leases as detailed below.
The Company’s operations utilize property, facilities, equipment and vehicles owned by the Company or leased from others, the majority of which are operating leases. Additionally, the Company has various contracts with vendors that have been determined to contain an embedded lease in accordance with Topic 842. As of the date of adoption, the Company recognized a ROU Asset and lease liability equal to the present value of these leases within its consolidated balance sheet for any leases with terms longer than 12 months. The Company also has three finance leases, subleases facilities to certain franchises and is the lessor for certain property, facilities and equipment owned by the Company. The adoption of Topic 842 did not have an impact on our current accounting policies for these items. Furthermore, the adoption of this standard did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations or the consolidated statement of cash flows.
The Company applied Topic 842 using the effective date method, which allowed the Company to apply the standard as of the adoption date, and to recognize the cumulative effect of initially applying Topic 842 as an adjustment to retained earnings at December 27, 2018, if applicable. Therefore, the comparative information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under Topic 840. However, the Company did not have any impact to its retained earnings.

Additionally, the Company elected to apply the package of practical expedients, which allowed for carryforwards of 1) historical lease classifications, 2) determination of whether a contract contains a lease under the new definition of a lease and 3) whether previously capitalized initial direct costs qualify for capitalization. See Note 11, "Leases," for further details.