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DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS  
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS

 

8.DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS

 

Amounts received pursuant to new and/or amended distribution agreements entered into with certain distributors, relating to the costs associated with terminating agreements with the Company’s prior distributors, have been accounted for as deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and are recognized as revenue ratably over the anticipated life of the respective distribution agreement, generally 20 years. Revenue recognized was $7.8 million, $8.4 million and $8.2 million for years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

The Company incurred termination amounts (net of adjustments to estimated amounts previously accrued) to certain of its prior distributors amounting to a credit of ($0.2) million and an expense of $10.8 million and $1.5 million in aggregate for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Such termination amounts have been expensed in full and are included in operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

As part of the TCCC Transaction, the amended distribution coordination agreements to be entered into with TCCC will provide for the transition of third parties’ rights to distribute the Company’s products in most territories in the U.S. and Canada to members of TCCC’s distribution network, which consists of owned or controlled bottlers/distributors and independent bottling/distribution partners. On February 9, 2015 in accordance with its existing agreements with the applicable third-party distributors, the Company sent notices of termination to certain affected third-party distributors, including the majority of the Company’s Anheuser-Busch distributors (the “AB Distributors”) in the U.S., providing for the termination of their respective distribution agreements, to be effective at various dates beginning in March 2015.  The associated distribution rights will be transitioned to TCCC’s distribution network in each applicable territory as of the effective date of the termination of the applicable third party’s rights in such territory. The Company estimates the termination costs associated with the transition of its distribution arrangements to be approximately $280.0 million, the majority of which will be recognized in the first quarter of 2015 in accordance with ASC No. 420 “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations.” Actual termination amounts may differ materially from those estimated, which could have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity. The Company anticipates that approximately $38.2 million of deferred revenue will be recognized into income in the first quarter of 2015 associated with the terminated AB Distributors. As a result, this amount has been classified as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2014.