UNITED STATES 
 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 13, 2017

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-36197	46-3340980	
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)	(Commission
File Number)	(IRS Employer
Identification No.)	

25521 Commercentre Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630
(Address of Principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
(949) 462-9300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
⃞ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
⃞ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02      Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On March 13, 2017, Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. issued a press release announcing results for the fiscal quarter and year ended January 3, 2017.
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto is being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise be subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01      Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)  Exhibits

Exhibit No.	 	Description of Exhibit	
Exhibit 99.1		Press Release issued on March 13, 2017 announcing fourth quarter and year ended January 3, 2017 financial results	

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 	 	DEL TACO RESTAURANTS, INC.		
	 					
 	 		By:	/s/ Steven L. Brake		
		Name:	Steven L. Brake		
		Title:	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	

Date: March 13, 2017

Exhibit 99.1
Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. Announces Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Results
Company Operated and System-wide comparable restaurant sales growth of 5.3% and 5.5%, respectively, in Fiscal Fourth Quarter;
Provides Guidance for Fiscal Year 2017
Conference call and webcast will be held at 8:00 a.m. ET today
LAKE FOREST, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2017--Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. (“Del Taco” or the “Company”), (NASDAQ:TACO), the second largest Mexican-American QSR chain by units in the United States, operating restaurants under the name Del Taco, today announced fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2016 financial results. The Company also provided guidance for fiscal year 2017.
The fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2016 ended January 3, 2017 consisted of a 17 and 53 week period, respectively. The fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2015 ended December 29, 2015 consisted of a 16 and 52 week period, respectively. Comparable restaurant sales growth for the 17 th and 53 rd week in the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year 2016 was calculated by comparing it to the “like week” in the prior year.
Del Taco became a public company when it completed a business combination with Levy Acquisition Corp. on June 30, 2015. This resulted in a fiscal year 2015 financial statement presentation that includes a predecessor period for the twenty-six weeks ended June 30, 2015 followed by a successor period for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2015. The financial results for fiscal year 2015 referenced herein have been aggregated to reflect, on a pro forma basis, the combined successor and predecessor periods for the fifty-two weeks ended December 29, 2015.
Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2016 Highlights
·	System-wide comparable restaurant sales growth of 5.5% and company-operated comparable restaurant sales growth of 5.3%, marking the 13 th and 18 th consecutive quarter of gains, respectively;
·	Company-operated comparable restaurant sales growth comprised average check growth of 3.3%, including nearly 1% of menu mix growth, and a transaction increase of 2.0%;
·	Total revenue of $150.2 million, representing 12.6% growth from the fiscal fourth quarter 2015. On a comparable 16-week basis, total revenue increased 6.4%;

·	Company restaurant sales of $144.4 million, representing 12.8% growth from the fiscal fourth quarter 2015. On a comparable 16-week basis, restaurant sales increased 6.5%;
·	Net income increased to $8.0 million, representing diluted earnings per share of $0.20, compared to $4.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter 2015, representing diluted earnings per share of $0.12. Fiscal fourth quarter 2016 results included an estimated $0.01 benefit to diluted earnings per share from the additional operating week;
·	Restaurant contribution margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, of 21.5%, an improvement of approximately 30 basis points from the fiscal fourth quarter 2015;
·	Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased to $25.3 million from $21.2 million in the fiscal fourth quarter 2015, representing 19.4% growth. Adjusted EBITDA in the fiscal fourth quarter 2016 included an estimated $1.1 million benefit from the additional operating week in the quarter. On a comparable 16-week basis, Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.1%; and
·	The opening of seven restaurants system wide, including five company-operated and two franchised restaurants.
Fiscal Year 2016 Highlights
·	System-wide comparable restaurant sales growth of 4.8% and company-operated comparable restaurant sales growth of 4.7%, marking the 4 th consecutive year of gains;
·	Company-operated comparable restaurant sales growth comprised average check growth of 4.5%, including approximately 1% of menu mix growth, and a transaction increase of 0.2%, marking the 4 th consecutive fiscal year with transaction growth;
·	Total revenue of $452.1 million, representing 6.6% growth from fiscal year 2015. On a comparable 52-week basis, total revenue increased 4.7%;
·	Restaurant sales of $434.1 million, representing 6.5% growth from fiscal year 2015. On a comparable 52-week basis, restaurant sales increased 4.5%;
·	Net income increased to $20.9 million, representing diluted earnings per share of $0.53, compared to $4.8 million in fiscal year 2015. Fiscal year 2016 results included an estimated $0.01 benefit to diluted earnings per share from the additional operating week;
·	Restaurant contribution margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, of 20.6%, an improvement of approximately 60 basis points from fiscal year 2015;
·	Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased to $71.4 million from $65.0 million in fiscal year 2015, representing 9.9% growth. Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal year 2016 included an estimated $1.1 million benefit from the additional operating week in the year. On a comparable 52-week basis, adjusted EBITDA increased 8.2%; and
·	The opening of 13 restaurants system wide, including 8 company-owned and 5 franchised restaurants.
Paul J.B. Murphy, III, Chief Executive Officer of Del Taco, commented, “Our solid fourth quarter results capped another successful year at Del Taco as we exceeded our annual guidance for comparable restaurant sales, total revenue, restaurant contribution margin and adjusted EBITDA, and delivered on our expectations for diluted earnings per share. We believe that these achievements are a testament to our brand strength, our diverse menu and marketing capabilities, and our restaurant teams who deliver great guest experiences.”

Murphy continued, “Our improving restaurant execution and progress on strategic objectives underpins our journey to cement Del Taco’s QSR+ value oriented positioning through Fresh Combined Solutions. For 2017, we have established four key catalysts for both sales and brand growth: 1) improving operational consistency and ease of execution; 2) driving trial and awareness of The Del Taco; 3) growing a new premium occasion with Platos; and 4) delivering new product news to keep the brand fresh. We are optimistic that these initiatives will enable us to take share from QSR, grow share among fast casual occasions, and move closer to our goal of $1.5 million in average unit volume by 2018.”
Murphy concluded, “Our development strategy is centered on quality of growth, and is balanced between existing and emerging markets, and across company restaurants as well as both established and new franchise partners. We are open to accretive transactions such as opportunistic franchise repurchases particularly when coupled with a new unit growth opportunity, as well as strategic refranchising paired with a franchise development opportunity. Our development pipeline reinforces our path to mid-single-digit restaurant growth in 2017 and paves the way towards high-single-digit growth beyond 2018.”
Review of Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Results
The Company's fiscal fourth quarter 2016 included 17 weeks compared to 16 weeks in the fiscal fourth quarter 2015. Total revenue was $150.2 million, an increase of 12.6% compared to $133.4 million in the fiscal fourth quarter 2015. The growth in revenue was driven by a 12.8% increase in Company restaurant sales and a 9.7% increase in franchise revenue. Total revenue attributed to the additional operating week was approximately $8.3 million. Total company restaurant sales attributed to the additional operating week was approximately $8.0 million.
Comparable restaurant sales increased 5.5% system-wide for the fiscal fourth quarter 2016, resulting in an impressive 11.3% increase on a two-year basis. The Del Taco system has now generated comparable restaurant sales growth for 13 consecutive quarters. Company-operated comparable restaurant sales increased 5.3%, marking the 18 th consecutive quarter of comparable restaurant sales growth. Franchise comparable restaurant sales increased 5.8%.
Net income was $8.0 million, representing $0.20 per diluted share, compared to $4.8 million in the fiscal fourth quarter 2015, representing $0.12 per diluted share. Fiscal fourth quarter 2016 results included an estimated $0.01 benefit to diluted earnings per share from the additional operating week.
Restaurant contribution, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased 14.6% year-over-year to $31.1 million. Fiscal fourth quarter 2016 results included an estimated $1.4 million benefit to restaurant contribution from the additional operating week. On a comparable 16-week basis, restaurant contribution increased 9.4%.
As a percentage of Company restaurant sales, restaurant contribution increased approximately 30 basis points year-over-year to 21.5%. The increase was driven by an approximately 90 basis point improvement in food and paper costs and an approximately 90 basis point improvement in occupancy and other operating expenses, partially offset by an approximately 150 basis point increase in labor and related expenses. A reconciliation between restaurant contribution and the nearest GAAP financial measure is included in the accompanying financial data .

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased 19.4% to $25.3 million compared to $21.2 million in the previous year’s fiscal fourth quarter. Adjusted EBITDA in the fiscal fourth quarter 2016 included an estimated $1.1 million benefit from the additional operating week. On a comparable 16-week basis, Adjusted EBITDA increased 14.1%. A reconciliation between adjusted EBITDA and the nearest GAAP financial measure is included in the accompanying financial data .
Restaurant Portfolio
During the fiscal fourth quarter 2016, Del Taco opened five company-operated and two franchised restaurants, and acquired five franchised restaurants in and around Bakersfield, CA. Two franchised restaurants were closed. For fiscal year 2016, Del Taco opened a total of 13 system-wide restaurants.
During the fiscal first quarter 2017, Del Taco sold two company-operated restaurants in San Diego, CA to a new franchisee that had previously signed a development commitment in the San Diego market. The Company also announced the signing of a new franchise development agreement for West Palm Beach, FL. These transactions reflect targeted and strategic opportunities to help accelerate system development.
Repurchase Program for Common Stock and Warrants
During the fiscal fourth quarter 2016, the Company repurchased 212,510 shares at an average price per share of $11.16 and 222,201 warrants at an average price per warrant of $3.45 for an aggregate of $3.1 million.
For fiscal year 2016, the Company repurchased 1,347,300 shares at an average price per share of $10.00 and 699,007 warrants at an average price per warrant of $2.54 for an aggregate of $15.2 million. As of the end of fiscal 2016 there was approximately $34.8 million remaining under the $50 million repurchase authorization.
Fiscal Year 2017 Guidance
The Company is providing the following guidance for fiscal year 2017, the 52-week period ending January 2, 2018 and currently expects the following for fiscal year 2017:
·	System-wide same store sales growth of approximately 2.0% to 4.0%;
·	Total revenue between $466 million and $476 million;
·	Total company-operated restaurant sales between $448 million and $458 million;
·	Restaurant contribution margin between 19.8% and 20.3%;

·	General and administrative expenses of between approximately 8.1% and 8.5% of total revenue, including incremental public company costs to support compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404(b) requirement during fiscal 2018;
·	Effective tax rate of approximately 40.0%;
·	Diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.52 to $0.55;
·	Adjusted EBITDA between $71.0 million and $73.5 million;
·	23 to 26 new system-wide restaurant openings; and
·	Net capital expenditures totaling approximately $43.0 million to $46.0 million including approximately $16.0 to $17.0 million for new unit construction, approximately $12.5 to $13.5 million for capitalized maintenance, approximately $7.5 to $8.5 million for discretionary investment in equipment, technology and remodels, and up to approximately $7.0 million for land acquisition for development after 2017.
We have not reconciled guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to the corresponding GAAP financial measure because we do not provide guidance for the various reconciling items. We are unable to provide guidance for these reconciling items because we cannot determine their probable significance, as certain items are outside of our control and cannot be reasonably predicted due to the fact that these items could vary significantly from period to period. Accordingly, a reconciliation to the corresponding GAAP financial measure is not available without unreasonable effort.
Conference Call
A conference call and webcast to discuss Del Taco’s financial results is scheduled for 8:00 a.m. ET today. Hosting the conference call and webcast will be Paul J.B. Murphy, III, Chief Executive Officer; John D. Cappasola, Jr., President and Chief Brand Officer; and Steven L. Brake, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Interested parties may listen to the conference call via telephone by dialing 1-201-689-8562. A telephone replay will be available shortly after the call has concluded and can be accessed by dialing 1-412-317-6671. The passcode is 13654200.
The webcast will be available at www.deltaco.com under the investors section and will be archived on the site shortly after the call has concluded.
Key Financial Definitions
Comparable restaurant sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable company, franchise and total system restaurant base. Restaurants are included in the comparable store base in the accounting period following its 18 th full month of operations and excludes restaurant closures.

Restaurant contribution is defined as company restaurant sales less restaurant operating expenses, which are food and paper costs, labor and related expenses and occupancy and other operating expenses. Restaurant contribution margin is defined as restaurant contribution as a percentage of company restaurant sales. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are supplemental measures of operating performance of restaurants and the calculations thereof may not be comparable to those reported by other companies. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Management believes that restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are important tools for investors because they are widely-used metrics within the restaurant industry to evaluate restaurant-level productivity, efficiency and performance. Management uses restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin as key performance indicators to evaluate the profitability of incremental sales at Del Taco restaurants, to evaluate restaurant performance across periods and to evaluate restaurant financial performance compared with competitors. A reconciliation between restaurant contribution and the nearest GAAP financial measure is included in the accompanying financial data .
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income/loss prior to interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, as adjusted to add back certain charges, such as stock-based compensation expense and transaction-related costs, as these expenses are not considered an indicator of ongoing company performance. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or net income/loss as a measure of operating performance or cash flows or as measures of liquidity. Non-GAAP financial measures are not necessarily calculated the same way by different companies and should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. We believe Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons from period to period by isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies. These potential differences may be caused by variations in capital structures (affecting interest expense), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses) and the age and book depreciation of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense). We also present Adjusted EBITDA because (i) we believe this measure is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, (ii) we believe investors will find this measure useful in assessing our ability to service or incur indebtedness, and (iii) we use Adjusted EBITDA internally as a benchmark to compare performance to that of competitors. A reconciliation between Adjusted EBITDA and the nearest GAAP financial measure is included in the accompanying financial data .
About Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
Del Taco (NASDAQ: TACO) offers a unique variety of both Mexican and American favorites such as burritos and fries, prepared fresh in every restaurant’s working kitchen with the value and convenience of a drive thru. Del Taco’s menu items taste better because they are made with quality ingredients like freshly grated cheddar, hand-chopped pico de gallo, sliced avocado, slow-cooked beans made from scratch, and fresh-grilled marinated chicken and carne asada. The brand’s UnFreshing Believable® campaign further communicates Del Taco’s commitment to provide guests with the best quality and value for their money. Founded in 1964, today Del Taco serves more than three million guests each week at its more than 550 restaurants across 15 states. For more information, visit  www.deltaco.com .

Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this release may contain a number of “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, information concerning Del Taco’s possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities and the effects of regulation. These statements are based Del Taco’s management’s current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “target,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose,” “preliminary,” “guidance,” “on track” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Del Taco’s management’s control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks included, without limitation, consumer demand, our inability to successfully open company-operated or franchised restaurants or establish new markets, competition in our markets, our inability to grow and manage growth profitably, adverse changes in food and supply costs, our inability to access additional capital, changes in applicable laws or regulations, food safety and foodborne illness concerns, our inability to manage existing and to obtain additional franchisees, our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, our inability to profitably expand into new markets, changes in, or the discontinuation of, the Company’s repurchase program, and the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in Del Taco’s reports filed with the SEC, including under Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2015, and available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Company’s website at www.deltaco.com .
Forward-looking statements included in this release speak only as of the date of this release. Del Taco undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or otherwise.

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.	
Consolidated Balance Sheets	
(In thousands, except share and per share data)	
	 		 		
		Successor	
		January 3, 2017		December 29, 2015	
Assets					
Current assets:					
Cash and cash equivalents		$	8,795		$	10,194		
Accounts and other receivables, net			4,141			3,220		
Inventories			2,718			2,806		
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		 	4,204		 	3,545	 	
Total current assets			19,858			19,765		
Property and equipment, net			138,320			114,030		
Goodwill			320,025			318,275		
Trademarks			220,300			220,300		
Intangible assets, net			24,782			28,373		
Other assets, net		 	3,872		 	2,829	 	
Total assets		$	727,157		$	703,572	 	
Liabilities and shareholders' equity					
Current liabilities:					
Accounts payable		$	16,427		$	16,831		
Other accrued liabilities			36,653			32,897		
Current portion of capital lease obligations and deemed landlord financing liabilities		 	1,588		 	1,725	 	
Total current liabilities			54,668			51,453		
Long-term debt, capital lease obligations and deemed landlord financing liabilities, excluding current portion, net			173,743			167,968		
Deferred income taxes			91,273			79,523		
Other non-current liabilities		 	30,140		 	36,251	 	
Total liabilities			349,824			335,195		
				 	
Shareholders' equity:					
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding			—			—		
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 39,153,503 shares issued and outstanding at January 3, 2017; 38,802,425 shares issued and outstanding at December 29, 2015			4			4		
Additional paid-in capital			360,131			372,260		
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			172			—		
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)		 	17,026		 	(3,887	)	
Total shareholders' equity		 	377,333		 	368,377	 	
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	727,157		$	703,572	 	

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.	
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	
(Unaudited)	
(In thousands, except share and per share data)	
	 		 		
		Successor	
		17 Weeks Ended
January 3, 2017		16 Weeks Ended
December 29, 2015	
Revenue:					
Company restaurant sales		$	144,424		$	128,065		
Franchise revenue			5,085			4,634		
Franchise sublease income		 	726		 	716	 	
Total revenue			150,235			133,415		
Operating expenses:					
Restaurant operating expenses:					
Food and paper costs			40,055			36,696		
Labor and related expenses			44,944			37,936		
Occupancy and other operating expenses			28,348			26,310		
General and administrative			12,148			11,677		
Depreciation and amortization			6,954			6,986		
Occupancy and other - franchise subleases			673			703		
Pre-opening costs			509			325		
Restaurant closure charges, net			556			1,996		
Loss on disposal of assets		 	121		 	2	 	
Total operating expenses		 	134,308		 	122,631	 	
Income from operations			15,927			10,784		
Other expenses, net:					
Interest expense			2,038			1,927		
Other income			—			(220	)	
Transaction-related costs		 	50		 	994	 	
Total other expenses, net		 	2,088		 	2,701	 	
Income from operations before provision for income taxes			13,839			8,083		
Provision for income taxes		 	5,800		 	3,244	 	
Net income			8,039			4,839		
Other comprehensive income:					
Change in fair value of interest rate cap, net of tax		 	294		 	—	 	
Total other comprehensive income, net		 	294		 	—	 	
Comprehensive income		$	8,333		$	4,839	 	
Earnings per share:					
Basic		$	0.21		$	0.12		
Diluted		$	0.20		$	0.12		
Weighted-average shares outstanding					
Basic			39,164,127			38,802,425		
Diluted			40,357,955			39,513,814		

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.	
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	
(In thousands, except share and per share data)	
	 		 		 	 		
		Successor			Predecessor	
		53 Weeks Ended
January 3, 2017		26 Weeks Ended
December 29, 2015		26 Weeks Ended
June 30, 2015	
Revenue:								
Company restaurant sales		$	434,064		$	206,939				$	200,676		
Franchise revenue			15,676			7,328					6,693		
Franchise sublease income		 	2,343		 	1,183	 			 	1,183	 	
Total revenue			452,083			215,450					208,552		
Operating expenses:								
Restaurant operating expenses:								
Food and paper costs			120,116			59,263					57,447		
Labor and related expenses			135,725			61,448					61,120		
Occupancy and other operating expenses			88,908			43,191					43,611		
General and administrative			37,220			17,501					14,850		
Depreciation and amortization			23,129			11,276					8,252		
Occupancy and other - franchise subleases			2,207			1,140					1,109		
Pre-opening costs			731			366					276		
Restaurant closure charges, net			435			2,015					94		
Loss on disposal of assets		 	312		 	3	 			 	99	 	
Total operating expenses		 	408,783		 	196,203	 			 	186,858	 	
Income from operations			43,300			19,247					21,694		
Other expenses, net:								
Interest expense			6,327			3,652					11,491		
Other income			—			(220	)				—		
Transaction-related costs			731			12,972					7,255		
Debt modification costs			—			78					139		
Change in fair value of warrant liability		 	—		 	—	 			 	(35	)	
Total other expenses, net		 	7,058		 	16,482	 			 	18,850	 	
Income from operations before provision for income taxes			36,242			2,765					2,844		
Provision for income taxes		 	15,329		 	112	 			 	740	 	
Net income			20,913			2,653					2,104		
Other comprehensive income:								
Change in fair value of interest rate cap, net of tax			172			—					(24	)	
Reclassification of interest rate cap amortization included in net income		 	—		 	—	 			 	58	 	
Total other comprehensive income, net		 	172		 	—	 			 	34	 	
Comprehensive income		$	21,085		$	2,653	 			$	2,138	 	
Earnings per share:								
Basic		$	0.54		$	0.07				$	0.38		
Diluted		$	0.53		$	0.07				$	0.37		
Weighted-average shares outstanding								
Basic			38,725,541			38,802,425					5,492,417		
Diluted			39,274,649			40,249,993					5,610,859		

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.	
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA	
(Unaudited)	
(In thousands)	
	 		 		
		Successor	
		17 Weeks Ended
January 3, 2017		16 Weeks Ended
December 29, 2015	
Net income		$	8,039			$	4,839		
Non-GAAP adjustments:					
Provision for income taxes			5,800				3,244		
Interest expense			2,038				1,927		
Depreciation and amortization		 	6,954	 		 	6,986	 	
EBITDA		 	22,831	 		 	16,996	 	
Stock-based compensation expense (a)			1,466				1,352		
Loss on disposal of assets (b)			121				2		
Restaurant closure charges, net (c)			556				1,996		
Amortization of favorable and unfavorable lease assets and liabilities, net (d)			(187	)			(221	)	
Transaction-related costs (f)			50				994		
Pre-opening costs (h)			509				325		
Other income (i)		 	—	 		 	(220	)	
Adjusted EBITDA		$	25,346	 		$	21,224	 	

(a) Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation.		
(b) Loss (gain) on disposal of assets includes the loss or gain on disposal of assets related to sales-leaseback transactions, sales, retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures or equipment in the ordinary course of business, net of amortization of deferred gains on assets sales associated with sale-leaseback transactions and gains from disposal of assets related to eminent domain.	
(c) Includes costs related to future obligations associated with the closure or net sublease shortfall of a restaurant.	
(d) Includes amortization of favorable lease assets and unfavorable lease liabilities.	
(f) Includes costs related to the offer to exchange the Company's common stock for each outstanding Company warrant in August 2016, the strategic sale process which commenced during 2014 and resulted in the March 2015 Stock Purchase Agreement with the Levy Newco Parties and the June 2015 Business Combination consummated pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and costs related to the secondary offering of common stock completed in October 2015.	
(h) Pre-opening costs consist of costs directly associated with the opening of new restaurants and incurred prior to opening, including restaurant labor, supplies, cash and non-cash rent expense and other related pre-opening costs. These are generally incurred over the three to five months prior to opening.	
(i) Gain of $0.2 million recorded in fiscal 2015 based on the amount of the liquidating distribution received in excess of our investment in four public partnerships.	

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.	
Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA	
(Unaudited)	
(In thousands)	
	 		 		 	 		
		Successor			Predecessor	
		53 Weeks Ended
January 3, 2017		26 Weeks Ended
December 29, 2015		26 Weeks Ended
June 30, 2015	
Net income		$	20,913			$	2,653				$	2,104		
Non-GAAP adjustments:								
Provision for income taxes			15,329				112					740		
Interest expense			6,327				3,652					11,491		
Depreciation and amortization		 	23,129	 		 	11,276	 			 	8,249	 	
EBITDA		 	65,698	 		 	17,693	 			 	22,584	 	
Stock-based compensation expense (a)			4,096				1,498					532		
Loss on disposal of assets (b)			312				3					99		
Restaurant closure charges, net (c)			435				2,015					94		
Amortization of favorable and unfavorable lease assets and liabilities, net (d)			(607	)			(364	)				3		
Debt modification costs (e)			—				78					139		
Transaction-related costs (f)			731				12,972					7,255		
Change in fair value of warrant liability (g)			—				—					(35	)	
Pre-opening costs (h)			731				366					276		
Other income (i)		 	—	 		 	(220	)			 	—	 	
Adjusted EBITDA		$	71,396	 		$	34,041	 			$	30,947	 	

(a) Includes non-cash, stock-based compensation.		
(b) Loss (gain) on disposal of assets includes the loss or gain on disposal of assets related to sales-leaseback transactions, sales, retirements and replacement or write-off of leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures or equipment in the ordinary course of business, net of amortization of deferred gains on assets sales associated with sale-leaseback transactions and gains from disposal of assets related to eminent domain.	
(c) Includes costs related to future obligations associated with the closure or net sublease shortfall of a restaurant.	
(d) Includes amortization of favorable lease assets and unfavorable lease liabilities.	
(e) Includes costs associated with debt refinancing transaction in August 2015 and March 2015.	
(f) Includes costs related to the offer to exchange the Company's common stock for each outstanding Company warrant in August 2016, the strategic sale process which commenced during 2014 and resulted in the March 2015 Stock Purchase Agreement with the Levy Newco Parties and the June 2015 Business Combination consummated pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and costs related to the secondary offering of common stock completed in October 2015.	
(g) Relates to fair value adjustments to the warrants to purchase shares of common stock of DTH that had been issued to certain of DTH's equity shareholders, all of which were exchanged for shares of common stock of DTH on March 20, 2015.	
(h) Pre-opening costs consist of costs directly associated with the opening of new restaurants and incurred prior to opening, including restaurant labor, supplies, cash and non-cash rent expense and other related pre-opening costs. These are generally incurred over the three to five months prior to opening.	
(i) Gain of $0.2 million recorded in fiscal 2015 based on the amount of the liquidating distribution received in excess of our investment in four public partnerships.	

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.	
Reconciliation of Company Restaurant Sales to Restaurant Contribution	
(Unaudited)	
(In thousands)	
	 		 		
		Successor	
		17 Weeks Ended
January 3, 2017		16 Weeks Ended
December 29, 2015	
Company restaurant sales		$	144,424			$	128,065		
Restaurant operating expenses		 	113,347	 		 	100,942	 	
Restaurant contribution		$	31,077	 		$	27,123	 	
Restaurant contribution margin		 	21.5	%		 	21.2	%	

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.	
Reconciliation of Company Restaurant Sales to Restaurant Contribution	
(Unaudited)	
(In thousands)	
	 		 		 	 		
		Successor			Predecessor	
		53 Weeks Ended
January 3, 2017		26 Weeks Ended
December 29, 2015		26 Weeks Ended
June 30, 2015	
Company restaurant sales		$	434,064			$	206,939				$	200,676		
Restaurant operating expenses		 	344,749	 		 	163,902	 			 	162,178	 	
Restaurant contribution		$	89,315	 		$	43,037	 			$	38,498	 	
Restaurant contribution margin		 	20.6	%		 	20.8	%			 	19.2	%	

Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.	
Restaurant Development	

		17 Weeks Ended		16 Weeks Ended		53 Weeks Ended		52 Weeks Ended	
		January 3, 2017		December 29, 2015		January 3, 2017		December 29, 2015	
Company-operated restaurant activity:								
Beginning of period		300			306			297			304		
Openings		5			3			8			6		
Closures		—			(12	)		(1	)		(13	)	
Purchased from franchisee		5	 		—	 		6	 		—	 	
Restaurants at end of period		310	 		297	 		310	 		297	 	
Franchise-operated restaurant activity:								
Beginning of period		246			241			247			243		
Openings		2			6			5			6		
Closures		(2	)		—			(5	)		(2	)	
Restaurants sold to Company		(5	)		—	 		(6	)		—	 	
Restaurants at end of period		241	 		247	 		241	 		247	 	
Total restaurant activity:									
Beginning of period		546			547			544			547		
Openings		7			9			13			12		
Closures		(2	)		(12	)		(6	)		(15	)	
Restaurants at end of period		551	 		544	 		551	 		544	 	

CONTACT:
Media:
Julia Young, 646-277-1280
julia.young@icrinc.com
or
Investor Relations:
Raphael Gross, 203-682-8253
investor@deltaco.com