Sec Form 4 Filing - Kehler Dean C @ El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. - 2019-05-08

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Kehler Dean C 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. [ LOCO] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director X __ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O TRIMARAN CAPITAL PARTNERS, 1325 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 25TH FLOOR 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 05/08/2019 (Street) NEW YORK, NY10019 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 05/08/2019 A 5,232 ( 1 ) A $ 0 10,518 D Common Stock 16,746,544 I See footnote ( 2 )

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Kehler Dean C C/O TRIMARAN CAPITAL PARTNERS 1325 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, 25TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY10019 X X Signatures /s/ Edith R. Austin, as attorney-in-fact 05/10/2019 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Consists of restricted shares granted under the 2018 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, vesting in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. ( 2 )Trimaran Capital, L.L.C. is the managing member of Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C. which is the direct owner of all shares reported herein. Mr. Kehler is a managing member of Trimaran Capital, L.L.C., and may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of shares of the issuer's common stock held by Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C., but disclaims beneficial ownership thereof, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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