LONG-TERM DEBT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

LONG-TERM DEBT.

LONG-TERM DEBT

7. LONG-TERM DEBT

On July 27, 2022, the Company refinanced pursuant to a credit agreement (the “2022 Credit Agreement”) among EPL, as borrower, the Company and Intermediate, as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender, and letter of credit issuer, the lenders party thereto, and the other parties thereto, which provides for a $150.0 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility (the “2022 Revolver”).

The 2022 Revolver includes a sub limit of $15.0 million for letters of credit and a sub limit of $15.0 million for swingline loans. The obligations under the 2022 Credit Agreement and related loan documents are guaranteed by Holdings and Intermediate. The obligations of Holdings, EPL and Intermediate under the 2022 Credit Agreement and related loan documents are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of their respective assets subject to certain customary exceptions.

Under the 2022 Revolver, Holdings is restricted from making certain payments such as cash dividends, except that it may, inter alia, (i) pay up to $1.0 million per year to repurchase or redeem qualified equity interests of Holdings held by past or present officers, directors, or employees (or their estates) of the Company upon death, disability, or termination of employment, (ii) pay under its TRA, and (iii) so long as no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing, (a) make non-cash repurchases of equity interests in connection with the exercise of stock options by directors, officers and management, provided that those equity interests represent a portion of the consideration of the exercise price of those stock options, (b) pay up to $0.5 million in any 12 month consecutive period to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire equity interests of any subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary from any holder of equity interest in such subsidiary, (c) pay up to $2.5 million per year pursuant to stock option plans, employment agreements, or incentive plans, (d) make up to $5.0 million in other restricted payments per year, and (e) make other restricted payments, subject to its compliance, on a pro forma basis, with (x) a lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio not to exceed 4.25 times and (y) the financial covenants applicable to the 2022 Revolver. 

Borrowings under the 2022 Credit Agreement (other than any swingline loans) bear interest, at the borrower’s option, at rates based upon either the secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) or a base rate, plus, for each rate, a margin determined in accordance with a lease-adjusted consolidated leverage ratio-based pricing grid. The base rate is calculated as the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (b) the published Bank of America prime rate, or (c) Term SOFR with a term of one-month SOFR plus 1.00%. For Term SOFR loans, the margin is in the range of 1.25% to 2.25%, and for base rate loans the margin is in a range of 0.25% to 1.25%. Borrowings under the 2022 Revolver may be repaid and reborrowed. For borrowings under the 2022 Revolver during fiscal 2025, the interest rate range was 5.3%

to 7.75%. For borrowings under the 2022 Revolver during fiscal 2024, the interest rate range was 5.7% to 7.0%. The interest rate under the 2022 Revolver was 5.3% at December 31, 2025 and 5.7% at December 25, 2024. For the years ended December 31, 2025, December 25, 2024 and December 27, 2023, the Company had interest expense of $3.9 million, $5.4 million and $4.4 million, respectively, under the 2022 Revolver.

The 2022 Credit Agreement contains certain financial covenants. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at December 31, 2025.

At December 31, 2025, $10.3 million of letters of credit and $51.0 million of borrowings were outstanding under the 2022 Revolver. The amount available under the 2022 Revolver was $88.7 million at December 31, 2025. At December 25, 2024, $10.3 million of letters of credit and $71.0 million of borrowings were outstanding under the 2022 Revolver.

Maturities

The 2022 Revolver and 2022 Credit Agreement will mature on July 27, 2027. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company borrowed $9.0 million and paid down $29.0 million on its 2022 Revolver. During the year ended December 25, 2024, the Company borrowed $14.0 million and paid down $27.0 million on its 2022 Revolver. There are no required principal payments prior to maturity for the 2022 Revolver.