10-Q 1 a16-20895_110q.htm 10-Q

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016 | Commission File Number 001-18761

MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

| Delaware | 47-1809393
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.)

1 Monster Way

Corona, California 92879

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(951) 739 – 6200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes X No __

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes X No __

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer x |  | Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if smaller reporting company) |  | Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ___ No X

The Registrant had 190,324,886 shares of common stock, par value $0.005 per share, outstanding as of October 20, 2016.

Table of Contents

MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

INDEX

Part I. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | Page No.
Item 1. | Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) |
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 | 3
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three- and Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 | 4
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three- and Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 | 5
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 | 6
| Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 8
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 33
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 54
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 54
Part II. | OTHER INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 54
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 54
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 54
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 54
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 55
Item 5. | Other Information | 55
Item 6. | Exhibits | 55
| Signatures | 56

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 AND DECEMBER 31, 2015

(In Thousands, Except Par Value) (Unaudited)

|  | September 30, 2016 |  | December 31, 2015
ASSETS |  |  |  |
CURRENT ASSETS: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 341,526 |  | $ | 2,175,417
Short-term investments |  | 257,653 |  | 744,610
Accounts receivable, net |  | 467,348 |  | 352,955
TCCC Transaction receivable |  | 125,000 |  | 125,000
Inventories |  | 167,840 |  | 156,121
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  | 35,016 |  | 26,967
Prepaid income taxes |  | 155,641 |  | 18,462
Total current assets |  | 1,550,024 |  | 3,599,532
INVESTMENTS |  | 9,519 |  | 15,348
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net |  | 144,625 |  | 97,354
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES |  | 142,116 |  | 140,468
GOODWILL |  | 1,283,643 |  | 1,279,715
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net |  | 1,080,813 |  | 427,986
OTHER ASSETS |  | 25,691 |  | 10,874
Total Assets |  | $ | 4,236,431 |  | $ | 5,571,277
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |  |  |  |
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |  |  |  |
Accounts payable |  | $ | 172,159 |  | $ | 144,763
Accrued liabilities |  | 91,819 |  | 81,786
Accrued promotional allowances |  | 140,952 |  | 115,530
Accrued distributor terminations |  | 5,650 |  | 11,018
Deferred revenue |  | 34,407 |  | 32,271
Accrued compensation |  | 21,820 |  | 22,159
Income taxes payable |  | 5,835 |  | 2,750
Total current liabilities |  | 472,642 |  | 410,277
DEFERRED REVENUE |  | 365,389 |  | 351,590
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 11) |  |  |  |
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY: |  |  |  |
Common stock - $0.005 par value; 240,000 shares authorized; 207,384 shares issued and 190,426 outstanding as of September 30, 2016; 207,019 shares issued and 202,900 outstanding as of December 31, 2015 |  | 1,037 |  | 1,035
Additional paid-in capital |  | 4,036,204 |  | 3,991,857
Retained earnings |  | 1,934,601 |  | 1,394,863
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | (14,534) |  | (21,878)
Common stock in treasury, at cost; 16,958 shares and 4,119 shares as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively |  | (2,558,908) |  | (556,467)
Total stockholders’ equity |  | 3,398,400 |  | 4,809,410
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity |  | $ | 4,236,431 |  | $ | 5,571,277

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE THREE- AND NINE-MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 AND 2015

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

|  | Three-Months Ended |  | Nine-Months Ended |
|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
NET SALES |  | $ | 787,954 |  | $ | 756,619 |  | $ | 2,295,628 |  | $ | 2,077,131 |
COST OF SALES |  | 284,979 |  | 291,143 |  | 851,741 |  | 848,191 |
GROSS PROFIT |  | 502,975 |  | 465,476 |  | 1,443,887 |  | 1,228,940 |
OPERATING EXPENSES |  | 212,600 |  | 174,038 |  | 610,277 |  | 725,205 |
GAIN ON SALE OF MONSTER NON-ENERGY |  | - |  | - |  | - |  | 161,470 |
OPERATING INCOME |  | 290,375 |  | 291,438 |  | 833,610 |  | 665,205 |
INTEREST and OTHER EXPENSE, net |  | (1,037) |  | (3,362) |  | (651) |  | (3,144) |
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES |  | 289,338 |  | 288,076 |  | 832,959 |  | 662,061 |
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES |  | 97,695 |  | 113,502 |  | 293,221 |  | 254,070 |
NET INCOME |  | $ | 191,643 |  | $ | 174,574 |  | $ | 539,738 |  | $ | 407,991 |
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:* |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | $ | 1.01 |  | $ | 0.85 |  | $ | 2.72 |  | $ | 2.22 |
Diluted |  | $ | 0.99 |  | $ | 0.84 |  | $ | 2.67 |  | $ | 2.17 |
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS:* |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | 190,379 |  | 205,051 |  | 198,073 |  | 184,098 |
Diluted |  | 194,431 |  | 208,094 |  | 202,093 |  | 188,131 |

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

*On October 14, 2016, Monster Beverage Corporation announced that its Board of Directors approved a 3-for-1 stock split of its common stock to be effected in the form of a 200% stock dividend. The additional shares will be distributed on November 9, 2016 to stockholders of record at the close of business (Eastern Time) on October 26, 2016. The Company anticipates its common stock to begin trading at the split-adjusted price on November 10, 2016. See Note 19 – Subsequent Events for pro-forma earnings per share information adjusted retroactively to reflect the stock split.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE THREE- AND NINE-MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 AND 2015

(In Thousands) (Unaudited)

|  | Three-Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine-Months Ended September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
Net income, as reported |  | $ | 191,643 |  | $ | 174,574 |  | $ | 539,738 |  | $ | 407,991 |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment |  | (57) |  | (1,778) |  | 7,344 |  | (9,398) |
Available-for-sale investments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in net unrealized gains |  | - |  | - |  | - |  | - |
Reclassification adjustment for net gains included in net income |  | - |  | - |  | - |  | - |
Net change in available-for-sale investments |  | - |  | - |  | - |  | - |
Other comprehensive income (loss) |  | (57) |  | (1,778) |  | 7,344 |  | (9,398) |
Comprehensive income |  | $ | 191,586 |  | $ | 172,796 |  | $ | 547,082 |  | $ | 398,593 |

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE NINE-MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 AND 2015

(In Thousands) (Unaudited)

|  | Nine-Months Ended |
|  | September 30, 2016 |  | September 30, 2015 |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 539,738 |  | $ | 407,991 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  | 29,874 |  | 21,757 |
Gain on disposal of property and equipment |  | (171) |  | (212) |
Gain on sale of Monster Non-Energy |  | - |  | (161,470) |
Stock-based compensation |  | 33,735 |  | 23,689 |
Deferred income taxes |  | (1,652) |  | (115,098) |
Effect on cash of changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions: |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable |  | (100,233) |  | (132,614) |
Distributor receivables |  | (21,034) |  | 393 |
Inventories |  | 18,355 |  | (9,076) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  | (8,805) |  | (6,863) |
Prepaid income taxes |  | (136,899) |  | (83,276) |
Accounts payable |  | 21,795 |  | 75,142 |
Accrued liabilities |  | 8,303 |  | 29,296 |
Accrued promotional allowances |  | 23,411 |  | 15,196 |
Accrued distributor terminations |  | (5,466) |  | 7,706 |
Accrued compensation |  | (346) |  | 2,414 |
Income taxes payable |  | 3,340 |  | 312,750 |
Deferred revenue |  | 16,757 |  | (35,991) |
Net cash provided by operating activities |  | 420,702 |  | 351,734 |
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |  |  |  |  |
Maturities of held-to-maturity investments |  | 892,453 |  | 998,762 |
Sales of available-for-sale investments |  | 2,993 |  | 4,001 |
Sales of trading investments |  | - |  | 2,625 |
Proceeds from the transfer of distribution rights to TCCC |  | - |  | 179,658 |
Purchases of held-to-maturity investments |  | (378,254) |  | (1,760,178) |
Purchases of available-for-sale investments |  | (24,405) |  | - |
Purchases of property and equipment |  | (67,527) |  | (25,627) |
Proceeds from the sale of Monster Non-Energy |  | - |  | 198,008 |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |  | 705 |  | 484 |
Purchases of AFF Assets, net |  | (688,485) |  | - |
Increase in intangibles |  | (4,255) |  | (5,352) |
Decrease (increase) in other assets |  | 56 |  | (1,039) |
Net cash used in investing activities |  | (266,719) |  | (408,658) |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |  |  |  |  |
Principal payments on debt |  | (1,731) |  | (807) |
Issuance of common stock |  | 10,615 |  | 1,691,051 |
Purchases of common stock held in treasury |  | (2,002,441) |  | (758,974) |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |  | (1,993,557) |  | 931,270 |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |  | 5,683 |  | (3,952) |
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |  | (1,833,891) |  | 870,394 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period |  | 2,175,417 |  | 370,323 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period |  | $ | 341,526 |  | $ | 1,240,717 |
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid during the period for: |  |  |  |  |
Interest |  | $ | 54 |  | $ | 21 |
Income taxes |  | $ | 429,371 |  | $ | 141,184 |

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE NINE-MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 AND 2015

(In Thousands) (Unaudited) (Continued)

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ITEMS

The Company entered into capital leases for the acquisition of promotional vehicles of $2.2 million and $1.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Included in accrued liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and 2015 were $2.3 million and $3.1 million, respectively, related to additions to other intangible assets.

Included in accounts payable as of September 30, 2015 are treasury stock purchases of $40.7 million.

During the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, the Company issued 11.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for KO Energy (see Note 2).

During the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, the Company cancelled 41.5 million shares of treasury stock. Amounts previously recorded as treasury stock were netted against common stock and retained earnings.

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Reference is made to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, in Monster Beverage Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (“Form 10-K”) for a summary of significant accounting policies utilized by the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and other disclosures, which should be read in conjunction with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”).

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations applicable to interim financial reporting. They do not include all the information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The information set forth in these interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, is unaudited and reflects all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments and which in the opinion of management are necessary to make the interim condensed consolidated financial statements not misleading. Results of operations for periods covered by this report may not necessarily be indicative of results of operations for the full year.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP necessarily requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Adjustment – Subsequent to the issuance of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, management concluded that its presentation of prepaid income taxes, deferred income taxes and income taxes payable should be adjusted to conform to its filed 2015 United States (“U.S.”) Federal income tax return. As a result of such adjustments, prepaid income taxes increased by $16.9 million, deferred income taxes decreased by $120.8 million and income taxes payable decreased by $103.9 million in the comparable condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015.

During the second quarter of 2016, the Company renamed and revised its reportable segments to reflect management’s current view of the business and to align its external financial reporting with its operating and internal financial model. Historical segment information has been revised to reflect the effect of this change. See Note 17 for additional information about the Company’s reporting segments.

2. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

American Fruits & Flavors

On April 1, 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of flavor supplier and long-time business partner American Fruits & Flavors (“AFF”), in an asset acquisition that brought the Company’s primary flavor supplier in-house, secured the intellectual property of the Company’s most important flavors in perpetuity and further enhanced its flavor development and global flavor footprint capabilities (the “AFF Transaction”). Pursuant to the terms of the AFF Transaction, the Company purchased AFF for $688.5 million in cash after adjustments.

The Company accounted for the AFF Transaction in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805 “Business Combinations”.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the preliminary fair value allocations of the AFF Transaction consideration:

|  | Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed |  | Consideration Transferred |
Intangibles - flavor formulas (non-amortizing)¹ |  | $ | 618,000 |  | $ | - |
Intangibles - flavor formulas (amortizing) |  | 641 |  | - |
Intangibles - customer relationships (amortizing) |  | 30,100 |  | - |
Intangibles - trademarks (amortizing) |  | 500 |  | - |
Intangibles - other (amortizing) |  | 200 |  | - |
Working capital (excluding inventory) |  | 1,861 |  | - |
Inventory |  | 27,600 |  | - |
Property and equipment, net |  | 1,175 |  | - |
Favorable leases |  | 4,480 |  | - |
Goodwill |  | 3,928 |  | - |
Cash |  | - |  | 688,485 |
Total |  | $ | 688,485 |  | $ | 688,485 |

1 Represents proprietary formulas for the Company’s principal products.

The fair value analysis has yet to progress to a stage where there is sufficient information for a definitive measurement of the respective fair values. Accordingly, the respective fair value allocations are preliminary and are based on valuations derived from estimated fair value assumptions used by management. The Company expects to complete its fair value analysis at a level of detail necessary to finalize the underlying fair value allocation as soon as practicable, but no later than twelve months from the closing of the AFF Transaction. The final respective fair value allocations and the preliminary estimates of management may differ substantially. However, the impact of any such differences on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and liquidity would not be material.

The Company determined the estimated fair values as follows:

· Flavor formulas (non-amortizing) – multi-period excess earnings method

· Flavor formulas (amortizing) – replacement cost method

· Customer relationships – multi-period excess earnings method

· Trademarks – relief-from-royalty method

· Inventory – comparative sales method and replacement cost method

· Property and equipment, net – replacement cost method

· Favorable leases – discounted cash flow method

The preliminary book value of the working capital (excluding inventory) approximates fair value.

The Company has determined goodwill in accordance with ASC 805-30-30-1, “Business Combinations,” which requires the recognition of goodwill for the excess of the aggregate consideration over the net amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

For tax purposes, the AFF Transaction was recorded as an asset purchase. As such, the Company received a step-up in tax basis of the AFF assets, net, equal to the purchase price.

In accordance with Regulation S-X, pro forma unaudited condensed financial information for the AFF Transaction has not been provided as the impact of the transaction on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and liquidity was not material.

The Coca-Cola Company

On June 12, 2015, the Company completed the transactions contemplated by the definitive agreements entered into with The Coca-Cola Company (“TCCC”) on August 14, 2014 (the “TCCC Transaction”), which provided for a long-term strategic relationship in the global energy drink category.

In consequence of the TCCC Transaction, (1) the Company issued to TCCC 34,040,534 newly issued Company common shares representing approximately 16.7% of the total number of outstanding Company common shares (after giving effect to such issuance) at such time and TCCC appointed two individuals to the Company’s Board of Directors, (2) TCCC transferred all of its rights in and to TCCC’s worldwide energy drink business (“KO Energy”) to the Company, (3) the Company transferred all of its rights in and to its non-energy drink business (“Monster Non-Energy”) to TCCC, (4) the Company and TCCC amended the distribution coordination agreements previously existing between them to govern the transition of third parties’ rights to distribute the Company’s energy products in most territories in the U.S. to members of TCCC’s distribution network, which consists of owned or controlled bottlers/distributors and independent bottling/distribution partners, and (5) TCCC and one of its subsidiaries made an aggregate net cash payment to the Company of $2.15 billion, $125.0 million of which was held in escrow through June 17, 2016, subject to release upon the achievement of milestones relating to the transition of distribution rights to TCCC’s distribution network.

Under the terms of the escrow agreement and the transition payment agreement entered into in connection therewith, if the distribution rights in the U.S. transitioned to TCCC’s distribution network represented case sales in excess of the following percentages of a target case sale amount agreed to by the parties, amounts in the escrow fund in excess of the applicable amounts below would be released to the Company:

Percentage Transitioned |  | Escrow Release
40% |  | Amounts in excess of $375 million
50% |  | Amounts in excess of $312.5 million
60% |  | Amounts in excess of $250 million
70% |  | Amounts in excess of $187.5 million
80% |  | Amounts in excess of $125 million
90% |  | Amounts in excess of $62.5 million
95% |  | All remaining amounts

As of September 30, 2016, distribution rights in the U.S. representing approximately 89% of the target case sales had been transitioned to TCCC’s distribution network. As a result, on the one-year anniversary of the closing of the TCCC Transaction, the then-remaining escrow amount of $125 million was released to TCCC. Going forward TCCC will directly pay to the Company the amounts described above that become payable as a result of future target case sale transitions. The Company expects to transition sufficient additional distribution rights to receive all such amounts.

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented as if the

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

TCCC Transaction had closed on January 1, 2015:

|  | Three-Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
|  |  |  |  |  | Pro Forma Adjustments |  |  |
|  | Monster Beverage Corporation as reported ¹ |  | KO Energy |  | Disposal of Monster Non- Energy |  | Other |  | Pro Forma Combined |
Net sales |  | $ | 756,619 |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 756,619 |
Net income |  | 174,574 |  | - |  | - |  | 180 |  | 174,754 |
|  | Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
|  |  |  |  |  | Pro Forma Adjustments |  |  |
|  | Monster Beverage Corporation as reported ² |  | KO Energy ³ |  | Disposal of Monster Non- Energy 4 |  | Other |  | Pro Forma Combined |
Net sales |  | $ | 2,077,131 |  | $ | 138,127 |  | $ | (60,824) |  | $ | 6,803 |  | $ | 2,161,237 |
Net income |  | 407,991 |  | 100,575 |  | (101,881) |  | (36,487) |  | 370,198 |

1 Includes net sales of $69.9 million and net income of $27.4 million (tax affected) related to the acquired KO Energy assets for the three-months ended September 30, 2015.

2 Includes net sales of $82.9 million and net income of $32.9 million (tax affected) related to the acquired KO Energy assets from June 12, 2015 (the date of acquisition) through September 30, 2015.

3 Includes results through June 12, 2015, the date the TCCC Transaction was finalized. The $100.6 million of net income for KO Energy for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, is presented before tax. The associated estimated provision for income taxes is included in the “Other” category. Net income for KO Energy includes only net revenues and direct operating expenses, rather than full “carve-out” financial statements, because such financial statements would not be meaningful given that it is not possible to provide a meaningful allocation of business unit and corporate costs, interest or tax in respect of KO Energy.

4 Includes results through June 12, 2015. Net income includes the gain recognized on the sale of Monster Non-Energy of $161.5 million.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

Pro-Forma Adjustments – Other include the following:

|  | Three-Months Ended September 30, 2015 |  | Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
Net sales: |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of deferred revenue |  | $ | - |  | $ | 6,803 |
Net income: |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of deferred revenue |  | $ | - |  | $ | 6,803 |
To record sales commissions |  | - |  | (15,470) |
To record amortization of definite lived KO Energy intangibles |  | - |  | (3,126) |
To eliminate TCCC Transaction expenses |  | 292 |  | 15,425 |
Estimated provision for income taxes on pro forma adjustments |  | (112) |  | (1,398) |
Estimated provision for income taxes on KO Energy income |  | - |  | (38,721) |
Total |  | $ | 180 |  | $ | (36,487) |

For purposes of the unaudited pro forma financial information, a combined U.S. Federal and state statutory tax rate of 38.5% has been used. This rate does not reflect the Company’s expected effective tax rate, which includes other tax charges and benefits, and does not take into account any historical or possible future tax events that may impact the combined company.

The unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for information purposes only and is not intended to represent or be indicative of the combined results of operations that the Company would have reported had the TCCC Transaction been completed as of the date and for the periods presented, and should not be taken as representative of the Company’s consolidated results of operations following the completion of the TCCC Transaction. In addition, the unaudited pro forma financial information is not intended to project the future financial results of operations of the combined company. The unaudited pro forma combined financial information does not reflect any cost savings, operational synergies or revenue enhancements that the combined company may achieve as a result of the TCCC Transaction, or the costs to combine the operations or costs necessary to achieve cost savings, operating synergies and revenue enhancements.

3. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)”. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-15 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”. The accounting standard changes the methodology for measuring credit losses on financial instruments and the timing when such losses are recorded. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-13 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

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In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”, which changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The new guidance identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, and certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. The update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods with early application permitted. The Company early adopted the standards update effective January 1, 2016, electing (i) retrospective adjustment in the statement of cash flows and (ii) continued recognition of stock compensation based on estimated forfeitures. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, net cash provided by operating activities increased and net cash provided by financing activities decreased by $303.9 million, respectively, as a result of such retrospective adjustment. For the three-and nine-months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded $3.5 million and $7.1 million of excess tax benefits in net income that previously would have been recorded in additional paid-in-capital. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. This update is intended to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This update is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-02 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes (Topic 740), Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes”. The amendments under the new guidance require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the classified balance sheets. The guidance is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Earlier application is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company adopted the standards update effective December 31, 2015, electing to apply it retrospectively to all periods presented.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory”. ASU No. 2015-11 requires entities to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. ASU No. 2015-11 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-11 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which supersedes previous revenue recognition guidance. ASU No. 2014-09 requires that a company recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. In applying the new guidance, a company will (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU No. 2014-09 was to be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. However, on July 9, 2015, the FASB voted to approve a one-year deferral of the effective date. This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning January 1,

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2018 and can be adopted using either a full retrospective or modified approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2014-09 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

4. INVESTMENTS

The following table summarizes the Company’s investments at:

September 30, 2016 |  | Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Holding Gains |  | Gross Unrealized Holding Losses |  | Fair Value |  | Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months |  | Continuous Unrealized Loss Position greater than 12 Months
Held-to-Maturity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commercial paper |  | $ | 28,318 |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 28,318 |  | $ | - |  | $ | -
Municipal securities |  | 181,843 |  | - |  | 222 |  | 181,621 |  | 222 |  | -
U.S. government agency securities |  | 26,080 |  | 1 |  | 3 |  | 26,078 |  | 3 |  | -
Long-term: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal securities |  | 9,519 |  | - |  | 19 |  | 9,500 |  | 19 |  | -
Available-for-Sale: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable rate demand notes |  | 21,412 |  | - |  | - |  | 21,412 |  | - |  | -
Total |  | $ | 267,172 |  | $ | 1 |  | $ | 244 |  | $ | 266,929 |  | $ | 244 |  | $ | -
December 31, 2015 |  | Amortized Cost |  | Gross Unrealized Holding Gains |  | Gross Unrealized Holding Losses |  | Fair Value |  | Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months |  | Continuous Unrealized Loss Position greater than 12 Months
Held-to-Maturity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commercial paper |  | $ | 3,978 |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 3,978 |  | $ | - |  | $ | -
Municipal securities |  | 709,207 |  | 63 |  | 192 |  | 709,078 |  | 192 |  | -
U.S. government agency securities |  | 23,369 |  | - |  | 58 |  | 23,311 |  | 58 |  | -
U.S. Treasuries |  | 8,056 |  | - |  | 13 |  | 8,043 |  | 13 |  | -
Long-term: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal securities |  | 11,071 |  | - |  | 8 |  | 11,063 |  | 8 |  | -
U.S. government agency securities |  | 4,277 |  | - |  | 25 |  | 4,252 |  | 25 |  | -
Total |  | $ | 759,958 |  | $ | 63 |  | $ | 296 |  | $ | 759,725 |  | $ | 296 |  | $ | -

During the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, realized gains or losses recognized on the sale of investments were not significant.

The Company’s investments at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 in commercial paper, municipal securities, U.S. government agency securities, variable rate demand notes (“VRDNs”) and/or U.S. Treasuries carried investment grade credit ratings. VRDNs are floating rate municipal bonds with embedded put options that allow the bondholder to sell the security at par plus accrued interest. All of the put options are secured by a pledged liquidity source. While they are classified as marketable investment securities, the put option allows the VRDNs to be liquidated at par on a same day or more generally, on a seven day settlement basis.

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The following table summarizes the underlying contractual maturities of the Company’s investments at:

|  | September 30, 2016 |  | December 31, 2015 |
|  | Amortized Cost |  | Fair Value |  | Amortized Cost |  | Fair Value |
Less than 1 year: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commercial paper |  | $ | 28,318 |  | $ | 28,318 |  | $ | 3,978 |  | $ | 3,978 |
Municipal securities |  | 181,843 |  | 181,621 |  | 709,207 |  | 709,078 |
U.S. government agency securities |  | 26,080 |  | 26,078 |  | 23,369 |  | 23,311 |
U.S. Treasuries |  | - |  | - |  | 8,056 |  | 8,043 |
Due 1 -10 years: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Municipal securities |  | 9,519 |  | 9,500 |  | 11,071 |  | 11,063 |
U.S. government agency securities |  | - |  | - |  | 4,277 |  | 4,252 |
Variable rate demand notes |  | 6,003 |  | 6,003 |  | - |  | - |
Due 11 - 20 years: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable rate demand notes |  | 8,005 |  | 8,005 |  | - |  | - |
Due 21 - 30 years: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable rate demand notes |  | 4,002 |  | 4,002 |  | - |  | - |
Due 31 - 40 years: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable rate demand notes |  | 3,402 |  | 3,402 |  | - |  | - |
Total |  | $ | 267,172 |  | $ | 266,929 |  | $ | 759,958 |  | $ | 759,725 |

5. FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

ASC 820 provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures regarding fair value measurements. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received on the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The three levels of inputs required by the standard that the Company uses to measure fair value are summarized below.

· Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

· Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities.

· Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

ASC 820 requires the use of observable market inputs (quoted market prices) when measuring fair value and requires a Level 1 quoted price to be used to measure fair value whenever possible.

The following tables present the Company’s held-to-maturity investments at amortized cost and the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, segregated among the appropriate levels within the fair value hierarchy at:

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September 30, 2016 |  |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total |
Cash |  |  | $ | 267,056 |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 267,056 |
Money market funds |  |  | 27,784 |  | - |  | - |  | 27,784 |
Certificates of deposit |  |  | - |  | 4,908 |  | - |  | 4,908 |
Commercial paper |  |  | - |  | 43,503 |  | - |  | 43,503 |
Variable rate demand notes |  |  | - |  | 21,412 |  | - |  | 21,412 |
Municipal securities |  |  | - |  | 217,955 |  | - |  | 217,955 |
U.S. government agency securities |  |  | - |  | 26,080 |  | - |  | 26,080 |
Foreign currency derivatives |  |  | - |  | 105 |  | - |  | 105 |
Total |  |  | $ | 294,840 |  | $ | 313,963 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 608,803 |
Amounts included in: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  | $ | 294,840 |  | $ | 46,686 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 341,526 |
Short-term investments |  |  | - |  | 257,653 |  | - |  | 257,653 |
Accounts receivable, net |  |  | - |  | 231 |  | - |  | 231 |
Investments |  |  | - |  | 9,519 |  | - |  | 9,519 |
Accrued liabilities |  |  | - |  | (126 | ) | - |  | (126 | )
Total |  |  | $ | 294,840 |  | $ | 313,963 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 608,803 |
December 31, 2015 |  |  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total |
Cash |  |  | $ | 255,723 |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 255,723 |
Money market funds |  |  | 664,005 |  | - |  | - |  | 664,005 |
Certificates of deposit |  |  | - |  | 85,007 |  | - |  | 85,007 |
Commercial paper |  |  | - |  | 430,605 |  | - |  | 430,605 |
U.S. Treasuries |  |  | - |  | 260,035 |  | - |  | 260,035 |
Municipal securities |  |  | - |  | 731,744 |  | - |  | 731,744 |
U.S. government agency securities |  |  | - |  | 508,256 |  | - |  | 508,256 |
Foreign currency derivatives |  |  | - |  | (217 | ) | - |  | (217 | )
Total |  |  | $ | 919,728 |  | $ | 2,015,430 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 2,935,158 |
Amounts included in: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  | $ | 919,728 |  | $ | 1,255,689 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 2,175,417 |
Short-term investments |  |  | - |  | 744,610 |  | - |  | 744,610 |
Accounts receivable, net |  |  | - |  | 371 |  | - |  | 371 |
Investments |  |  | - |  | 15,348 |  | - |  | 15,348 |
Accrued liabilities |  |  | - |  | (588 | ) | - |  | (588 | )
Total |  |  | $ | 919,728 |  | $ | 2,015,430 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 2,935,158 |

All of the Company’s short-term investments are classified within Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s valuation of its Level 1 investments, which include money market funds, is based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical securities. The Company’s valuation of its Level 2 investments, which include municipal securities, commercial paper, U.S. Treasuries, certificates of deposit, variable rate demand notes and U.S. government agency securities, is based on other observable inputs, specifically a market approach which utilizes valuation models, pricing systems, mathematical tools and other relevant information for the same or similar securities. The Company’s valuation of its Level 2 foreign currency contracts is based on quoted market prices of the same or similar instruments, adjusted for counterparty risk. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 measurements during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 or the year ended December 31, 2015, and there were no changes in the Company’s valuation techniques.

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6. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks related primarily to its foreign business operations. During the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company entered into forward currency exchange contracts with financial institutions to create an economic hedge to specifically manage a portion of the foreign exchange risk exposure associated with certain consolidated subsidiaries’ non-functional currency denominated assets and liabilities. All foreign currency exchange contracts of the Company that were outstanding as of September 30, 2016 have terms of one month or less. The Company does not enter into forward currency exchange contracts for speculation or trading purposes.

The Company has not designated its foreign currency exchange contracts as hedge transactions under ASC 815. Therefore, gains and losses on the Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts are recognized in interest and other (expense) income, net, in the condensed consolidated statements of income, and are largely offset by the changes in the fair value of the underlying economically hedged item.

The notional amount and fair value of all outstanding foreign currency derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheets consist of the following at:

September 30, 2016
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20 |  | Notional Amount |  | Fair Value |  | Balance Sheet Location
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency exchange contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |
Receive USD/pay GBP |  | $ | 16,283 |  | $ | 46 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Receive EUR/pay USD |  | 30,682 |  | 31 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay AUD |  | 17,978 |  | 63 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay ZAR |  | 19,861 |  | 65 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay BRL |  | 3,046 |  | 26 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency exchange contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |
Receive CAD/pay USD |  | $ | 20,609 |  | $ | (14) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay MXN |  | 27,360 |  | (65) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay NZD |  | 3,119 |  | (11) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay SEK |  | 1,856 |  | (1) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay CLP |  | 3,435 |  | (10) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay COP |  | 2,041 |  | (21) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive SGD/pay USD |  | 2,571 |  | (4) |  | Accrued liabilities

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December 31, 2015
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20 |  | Notional Amount |  | Fair Value |  | Balance Sheet Location
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency exchange contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |
Receive USD/pay GBP |  | $ | 18,146 |  | $ | 168 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay ZAR |  | 17,411 |  | 144 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay RUB |  | 2,173 |  | 9 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay BRL |  | 2,478 |  | 49 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay COP |  | 1,351 |  | 1 |  | Accounts receivable, net
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency exchange contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |
Receive EUR/pay USD |  | $ | 39,578 |  | $ | (429) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay AUD |  | 14,040 |  | (82) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay CAD |  | 2,804 |  | (15) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay JPY |  | 2,495 |  | (2) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay MXN |  | 8,122 |  | (15) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive SGD/pay USD |  | 3,837 |  | (30) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay NZD |  | 1,978 |  | (3) |  | Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay CLP |  | 3,519 |  | (12) |  | Accrued liabilities

The net gains (losses) on derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated statements of income were as follows:

|  |  |  | Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives
|  |  |  | Three-months ended
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20 |  | Location of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives |  | September 30, 2016 |  | September 30, 2015
Foreign currency exchange contracts |  | Interest and other expense, net |  | $ | (882) |  | $ | 3,552

|  |  |  | Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives
|  |  |  | Nine-months ended
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20 |  | Location of gain (loss) recognized in income on derivatives |  | September 30, 2016 |  | September 30, 2015
Foreign currency exchange contracts |  | Interest and other expense, net |  | $ | (424) |  | $ | 1,634

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7. INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following at:

|  | September 30, 2016 |  | December 31, 2015 |
Raw materials |  | $ | 68,860 |  | $ | 52,043 |
Finished goods |  | 98,980 |  | 104,078 |
|  | $ | 167,840 |  | $ | 156,121 |

8. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment consist of the following at:

|  | September 30, 2016 |  | December 31, 2015 |
Land |  | $ | 46,597 |  | $ | 6,792 |
Leasehold improvements |  | 2,726 |  | 2,804 |
Furniture and fixtures |  | 3,607 |  | 3,551 |
Office and computer equipment |  | 11,538 |  | 11,080 |
Computer software |  | 3,203 |  | 2,530 |
Equipment |  | 107,704 |  | 93,465 |
Buildings |  | 41,943 |  | 39,848 |
Vehicles |  | 31,737 |  | 29,804 |
|  | 249,055 |  | 189,874 |
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization |  | (104,430) |  | (92,520) |
|  | $ | 144,625 |  | $ | 97,354 |

In September 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of approximately 49 acres of land, located in Rialto, CA, for a purchase price of approximately $39.1 million. The Company intends to build an approximately 1,000,000 square-foot building to replace its current leased warehouse and distribution space located in Corona, CA.

9. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following is a roll-forward of goodwill for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 by reportable segment:

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|  | Monster Energy® Drinks |  | Strategic Brands |  | Other |  | Total |
Balance at December 31, 2015 |  | $ | 641,716 |  | $ | 637,999 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 1,279,715 |
Acquisitions |  | 3,928 |  | - |  | - |  | 3,928 |
Balance at September 30, 2016 |  | $ | 645,644 |  | $ | 637,999 |  | $ | - |  | $ | 1,283,643 |

Intangible assets consist of the following at:

|  | September 30, 2016 |  | December 31, 2015 |
Amortizing intangibles |  | $ | 71,227 |  | $ | 35,263 |
Accumulated amortization |  | (11,574) |  | (3,899) |
|  | 59,653 |  | 31,364 |
Non-amortizing intangibles |  | 1,021,160 |  | 396,622 |
|  | $ | 1,080,813 |  | $ | 427,986 |

Amortizing intangibles primarily consist of customer relationships. All amortizing intangibles have been assigned an estimated finite useful life and such intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over the number of years that approximate their respective useful lives, generally five to seven years. Total amortization expense recorded was $3.0 million and $1.8 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Total amortization expense recorded was $7.7 million and $2.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

10. DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS

In accordance with ASC No. 420 “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations”, the Company expenses distributor termination costs in the period in which the written notification of termination occurs. The Company incurred termination costs of $4.7 million and $2.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company incurred termination costs of $33.4 million and $220.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Such termination costs have been expensed in full and are included in operating expenses for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

In the normal course of business, 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, are accounted for as deferred revenue and are recognized as revenue ratably over the anticipated life of the respective distribution agreement, generally 20 years. Revenue recognized was $8.4 million and $8.2 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. There was no acceleration of deferred revenue in the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Revenue recognized was $28.6 million and $54.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Included in the $28.6 million of revenue recognized for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, was $5.0 million related to the accelerated amortization of the deferred revenue balances associated with certain of the Company’s prior distributors who were sent notices of termination during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. Included in the $54.7 million of revenue recognized for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 was $39.8 million related to the accelerated amortization of the deferred revenue balances associated with certain of the Company’s prior distributors who were sent notices of termination during the nine-months ended September 30, 2015.

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11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company had purchase commitments aggregating approximately $55.0 million at September 30, 2016, which represented commitments made by the Company and its subsidiaries to various suppliers of raw materials for the production of its products. These obligations vary in terms, but are generally satisfied within one year.

The Company had contractual obligations aggregating approximately $140.9 million at September 30, 2016, which related primarily to sponsorships and other marketing activities.

The Company had operating lease commitments aggregating approximately $18.6 million at September 30, 2016, which related primarily to warehouse and office space.

In July 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire an approximately 75,425 square foot, free standing, three-story office building, including the real property thereunder and improvements thereon, located in Corona, CA adjacent to its current corporate headquarters, for a purchase price of approximately $12.6 million. The purchase is subject to various conditions precedent that must be satisfied prior to the closing. If the Company ultimately acquires the building, it intends to complete any necessary improvements and occupy the building as an extension of its existing corporate headquarters at some time in the future.

In September 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of approximately 49 acres of land, located in Rialto, CA, for a purchase price of approximately $39.1 million. The Company intends to build an approximately 1,000,000 square-foot building to replace its current leased warehouse and distribution facilities located in Corona, CA. The Company has entered into an approximately $36.8 million guaranteed maximum price construction contract for the construction of the building.

Legal Proceedings

Litigation – The Company has been named a defendant in numerous personal injury lawsuits, claiming that the death or other serious injury of the plaintiffs was caused by consumption of Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege strict product liability, negligence, fraudulent concealment, breach of implied warranties and wrongful death. The Company believes that each complaint is without merit and plans a vigorous defense. The Company also believes that any damages, if awarded, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

State Attorney General Inquiry – In July 2012, the Company received a subpoena from the Attorney General for the State of New York in connection with its investigation concerning the Company’s advertising, marketing, promotion, ingredients, usage and sale of its Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. Production of documents pursuant to that subpoena was completed in approximately May 2014.

On August 6, 2014, the Attorney General for the State of New York issued a second subpoena seeking additional documents and the deposition of a Company employee. On September 8, 2014, the Company moved to quash the second subpoena in the Supreme Court, New York County. The motion was fully briefed and was argued on March 17, 2015. No decision has been rendered. It is unknown what, if any, action the state attorney general may take against the Company, the relief which may be sought in the event of any such proceeding or whether such proceeding could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

San Francisco City Attorney Litigation – On October 31, 2012, the Company received a written request for information from the City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco concerning the Company’s advertising and marketing of its Monster Energy® brand energy drinks and specifically concerning the safety of its products for consumption by adolescents. In a letter dated March 29, 2013, the San Francisco City Attorney threatened to bring suit against the Company if it did not agree to take the following five steps immediately: (i) “Reformulate its products to lower the caffeine content to safe levels”; (ii) “Provide adequate warning labels”; (iii) “Cease promoting over-consumption in marketing”; (iv) “Cease use of alcohol and drug references in marketing” and (v) “Cease targeting minors.”

(i) The Company Action – On April 29, 2013, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Monster Energy Company, filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against the San Francisco City Attorney (the “Company Action”) in United States District Court for the Central District of California (the “Central District Court”), styled Monster Beverage Corp., et al. v. Dennis Herrera. The Company sought a declaration from the Central District Court that the San Francisco City Attorney’s investigation and demands are impermissible and preempted, subject to the doctrine of primary jurisdiction, are unconstitutional in that they violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments’ prohibitions against compelled speech, content-based speech and commercial speech, are impermissibly void-for-vagueness and/or violate the Commerce Clause. On June 3, 2013, the City Attorney filed a motion to dismiss the Company Action, arguing in part that the complaint should be dismissed in light of the San Francisco Action (described below) filed on May 6, 2013. On August 22, 2013, the Central District Court granted in part and denied in part the City Attorney’s motion. On October 17, 2013, the City Attorney filed a renewed motion to dismiss the Company Action and on December 16, 2013, the Central District Court granted the City Attorney’s renewed motion, dismissing the Company Action. The Company filed a Notice of Appeal to the Ninth Circuit on December 18, 2013 and on May 17, 2016, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the Central District Court’s order.

(ii) The San Francisco Action – On May 6, 2013, the San Francisco City Attorney filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief, civil penalties and restitution for alleged violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law, Business & Professions Code sections 17200, et seq., styled People Of The State Of California ex rel. Dennis Herrera, San Francisco City Attorney v. Monster Beverage Corporation, in San Francisco Superior Court (the “San Francisco Action”). The City Attorney alleges that the Company (1) mislabeled its products as a dietary supplement, in violation of California’s Sherman Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law, California Health & Safety Code sections 109875, et. seq.; (2) is selling an “adulterated” product because caffeine is not generally recognized as safe due to the alleged lack of scientific consensus concerning the safety of the levels of caffeine in the Company’s products and (3) is engaged in unfair and misleading business practices because its marketing (a) does not disclose the health risks that energy drinks pose for children and teens, (b) fails to warn against and promotes unsafe consumption, (c) implicitly promotes mixing of energy drinks with alcohol or drugs and (d) is deceptive because it includes unsubstantiated claims about the purported special benefits of its “killer” ingredients and “energy blend.” The City Attorney sought a declaration that the Company has engaged in unfair and unlawful business acts and practices in violation of the Unfair Competition Law, an injunction from performing or proposing to perform any acts in violation of the Unfair Competition Law, restitution and civil penalties.

After a motion to strike filed by the Company was granted in part, on March 20, 2014, the City Attorney filed an amended complaint, adding allegations supporting the theory for relief as to which the Court had granted the motion to strike. On April 18, 2014, the Company filed a renewed motion to strike, as well as a motion asking the Court to bifurcate and/or stay claims relating to the safety of Monster Energy® brand energy drinks, pending resolution of the ongoing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) investigation of the safety and labeling of food products to which caffeine is added. On May 22, 2014, the Court denied the Company’s motion to strike and motion to bifurcate and/or stay claims relating to safety.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

On September 5, 2014, the City Attorney filed a second amended complaint, adding Monster Energy Company as a defendant. The Company and Monster Energy Company filed answers to the second amended complaint on October 4, 2014 and November 10, 2014, respectively. Discovery is ongoing.

The Court has set the case for a bench trial which is scheduled to take place April 10-21, 2017.

The Company denies that it has violated the Unfair Competition Law or any other law and believes that the City Attorney’s claims and demands are preempted and unconstitutional, as alleged in the action the Company filed in the Central District Court. The Company intends to vigorously defend against this lawsuit. At this time, no evaluation of the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or range of potential loss can be expressed.

The actions or investigations described above have not progressed to a point where a reasonably possible range of losses associated with their ultimate outcome can be estimated at this time. If the final resolution of any such litigation or proceedings is unfavorable, the Company’s financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially affected.

In addition to the above matters, the Company has been named as a defendant in various false advertising putative class actions and in a private attorney general action. In these actions, plaintiffs allege that defendants misleadingly labeled and advertised Monster Energy® brand products that allegedly were ineffective for the advertised benefits (including, but not limited to, an allegation that the products do not hydrate as advertised because they contain caffeine). The plaintiffs further allege that the Monster Energy® brand products at issue are unsafe because they contain one or more ingredients that allegedly could result in illness, injury or death. In connection with these product safety allegations, the plaintiffs claim that the product labels did not provide adequate warnings and/or that the Company did not include sufficiently specific statements with respect to contra-indications and/or adverse reactions associated with the consumption of its energy drink products (including, but not limited to, claims that certain ingredients, when consumed individually or in combination with other ingredients, could result in high blood pressure, palpitations, liver damage or other negative health effects and/or that the products themselves are unsafe). Based on these allegations, the plaintiffs assert claims for violation of state consumer protection statutes, including unfair competition and false advertising statutes, and for breach of warranty and unjust enrichment. In their prayers for relief, the plaintiffs seek, inter alia, compensatory and punitive damages, restitution, attorneys’ fees and, in some cases, injunctive relief. The Company regards these cases and allegations as having no merit. Furthermore, the Company is subject to litigation from time to time in the normal course of business, including intellectual property litigation and claims from terminated distributors.

Although it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of such litigation, based on the facts known to the Company, management believes that such litigation in the aggregate will likely not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

The Company evaluates, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings and other matters that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the liability that is accrued, if any, or in the amount of any related insurance reimbursements recorded. As of September 30, 2016, the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet includes accrued loss contingencies of approximately $2.1 million.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

12. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component, after tax, for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 are as follows:

|  | Currency Translation Losses |
Balance at December 31, 2015 |  | $ | 21,878 |
Other comprehensive (gain) before reclassifications |  | - |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | - |
Net current-period other comprehensive (gain) |  | (7,344) |
Balance at September 30, 2016 |  | $ | 14,534 |

13. TREASURY STOCK

On August 2, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program for the repurchase of up to $250.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “August 2016 Repurchase Plan”). From August 2, 2016 to September 30, 2016, no shares had been repurchased under the August 2016 Repurchase Plan. Subsequent to September 30, 2016, the Company purchased 0.1 million shares at an average purchase price of $142.82 per share, pursuant to the August 2016 Repurchase Plan.

On April 28, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to commence a “modified Dutch auction” tender offer to repurchase up to $2.0 billion of its outstanding shares of common stock. The repurchase was authorized under the Company’s existing share repurchase authority and was funded with cash on hand. The Company commenced the tender offer in May 2016. On June 15, 2016, the Company accepted for payment an aggregate of 12,820,512 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $156.00 per share, for a total amount of $2.0 billion (excluding commissions), which exhausted the availability under all previously authorized share repurchase plans. Such shares of common stock are included in common stock in treasury in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2016.

During the three-months ended September 30, 2016, 1,200 shares of common stock were purchased from employees in lieu of cash payments for options exercised or withholding taxes due for a total amount of $0.2 million. While such purchases are considered common stock repurchases, they are not counted as purchases against the Company’s authorized share repurchase programs. Such shares are included in common stock in treasury in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2016.

14. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company has two stock-based compensation plans under which shares were available for grant at September 30, 2016: the Monster Beverage Corporation 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the 2009 Monster Beverage Corporation Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

The Company recorded $12.1 million and $8.9 million of compensation expense relating to outstanding options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units during the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company recorded $33.7 million and $23.7 million of compensation expense relating to outstanding options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

The excess tax benefit for tax deductions from non-qualified stock option exercises, disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options, vesting of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $3.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively. The excess tax benefit for tax deductions from non-qualified stock option exercises, disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options, vesting of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $7.1 million and $303.9 million, respectively. As a result of the Company’s early adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 effective January 1, 2016, the Company recorded excess tax benefits of $3.5 million and $7.1 million in net income for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016. The excess tax benefits for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2015 of $3.6 million and $303.9 million, respectively, were recorded in additional paid-in-capital.

Stock Options

Under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, all stock options granted as of September 30, 2016 were granted at prices based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Company records compensation expense for employee stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing formula with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company records compensation expense for non-employee stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options as of the earlier of (1) the date at which a commitment for performance by the non-employee to earn the stock option is reached or (2) the date at which the non-employee’s performance is complete, using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing formula with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company uses historical data to determine the exercise behavior, volatility and forfeiture rate of the options.

The following weighted-average assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of options granted during:

|  | Three-Months Ended September 30, |  |  | Nine-Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Dividend yield |  | 0.0% |  |  | 0.0% |  |  |  | 0.0% |  |  | 0.0% |
Expected volatility |  | 36.3% |  |  | 36.7% |  |  |  | 36.1% |  |  | 37.1% |
Risk-free interest rate |  | 1.1% |  |  | 1.5% |  |  |  | 1.4% |  |  | 1.6% |
Expected term |  | 6.4 years |  |  | 6.1 years |  |  |  | 6.3 years |  |  | 5.8 years |

Expected Volatility: The Company uses historical volatility as it provides a reasonable estimate of the expected volatility. Historical volatility is based on the most recent volatility of the stock price over a period of time equivalent to the expected term of the option.

Risk-Free Interest Rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option.

Expected Term: The Company’s expected term represents the weighted-average period that the Company’s stock options are expected to be outstanding. The expected term is based on expected time to post-vesting exercise of options by employees. The Company uses historical exercise patterns of previously granted options to derive employee behavioral patterns used to forecast expected exercise patterns.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its stock option plans as follows:

Options |  | Number of Shares (In thousands) |  | Weighted- Average Exercise Price Per Share |  | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (In years) |  | Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2016 |  | 6,590 |  | $ | 50.85 |  | 5.6 |  | $ | 646,497
Granted 01/01/16 - 03/31/16 |  | 961 |  | $ | 132.06 |  |  |  |
Granted 04/01/16 - 06/30/16 |  | 219 |  | $ | 138.53 |  |  |  |
Granted 07/01/16 - 09/30/16 |  | 14 |  | $ | 157.80 |  |  |  |
Exercised |  | (284) |  | $ | 37.34 |  |  |  |
Cancelled or forfeited |  | (88) |  | $ | 98.28 |  |  |  |
Outstanding at September 30, 2016 |  | 7,412 |  | $ | 64.14 |  | 5.6 |  | $ | 613,113
Vested and expected to vest in the future at September 30, 2016 |  | 7,011 |  | $ | 60.94 |  | 5.4 |  | $ | 602,318
Exercisable at September 30, 2016 |  | 4,359 |  | $ | 31.77 |  | 3.7 |  | $ | 501,457

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $59.21 per share and $51.14 per share, respectively. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $50.82 per share and $50.20 per share, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $9.1 million and $11.9 million, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $30.6 million and $841.5 million, respectively.

Cash received from option exercises under all plans for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was approximately $2.4 million and $1.9 million, respectively. Cash received from option exercises under all plans for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was approximately $10.6 million and $43.6 million, respectively.

At September 30, 2016, there was $100.3 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested options granted to employees under the Company’s share-based payment plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.0 years.

Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units

Stock-based compensation cost for restricted stock awards and restricted stock units is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. In the event that the Company has the option and intent to settle a restricted stock unit in cash, the award is classified as a liability and revalued at each balance sheet date.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to non-vested restricted stock awards and non-vested restricted stock units as follows:

|  | Number of Shares (in thousands) |  | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value |
Non-vested at January 1, 2016 |  | 178 |  | $ | 99.58 |
Granted 01/01/16- 03/31/16 |  | 82 |  | $ | 131.96 |
Granted 04/01/16- 06/30/16 |  | 12 |  | $ | 148.94 |
Granted 07/01/16- 09/30/16 |  | - |  | $ | - |
Vested |  | (81) |  | $ | 95.62 |
Forfeited/cancelled |  | (1) |  | $ | 57.45 |
Non-vested at September 30, 2016 |  | 190 |  | $ | 118.68 |

No restricted stock units or restricted stock awards were granted during the three-months ended September 30, 2016. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards granted during the three-months ended September 30, 2015 was $147.36 per share. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards granted during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was $134.14 per share and $136.50 per share, respectively. As of September 30, 2016, 0.2 million of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards are expected to vest over their respective terms.

At September 30, 2016, total unrecognized compensation expense relating to non-vested restricted stock awards and non-vested restricted stock units was $16.7 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

15. INCOME TAXES

The following is a roll-forward of the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax benefits, not including interest and penalties, for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016:

|  | Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits |
Balance at December 31, 2015 |  | $ | 471 |
Additions for tax positions related to the current year |  | - |
Additions for tax positions related to the prior year |  | - |
Decreases related to settlement with taxing authority |  | (462) |
Balance at September 30, 2016 |  | $ | 9 |

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had no accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. If the Company were to prevail on all uncertain tax positions, the resultant impact on the Company’s effective tax rate would not be significant. It is expected that the change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months will not be significant.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as to income tax in multiple state and foreign jurisdictions.

On August 7, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) began its examination of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013. On October 18, 2016, the IRS began its examination of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The Company is in various stages of examination with certain states and certain foreign jurisdictions. The 2012 through 2015 U.S. federal income tax returns are subject to examination by the IRS. State income tax returns are subject to examination for the 2011 through 2015 tax years.

16. EARNINGS PER SHARE

A reconciliation of the weighted-average shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per common share computations is presented below:

|  | Three-Months Ended |  | Nine-Months Ended |
|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
Weighted-average shares outstanding: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | 190,379 |  | 205,051 |  | 198,073 |  | 184,098 |
Dilutive |  | 4,052 |  | 3,043 |  | 4,020 |  | 4,033 |
Diluted |  | 194,431 |  | 208,094 |  | 202,093 |  | 188,131 |

For the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, options and awards outstanding totaling 1.9 million shares and 1.1 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculations as their effect would have been antidilutive. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, options and awards outstanding totaling 1.7 million shares and 0.9 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculations as their effect would have been antidilutive.

17. SEGMENT INFORMATION

During the second quarter of 2016, the Company renamed and revised its reportable segments to reflect management’s current view of the business and to align its external financial reporting with its operating and internal financial model. Historical segment information has been revised to reflect the effect of this change.

The Company has three operating and reportable segments, (i) Monster Energy® Drinks segment (“Monster Energy® Drinks”), which is comprised of the Company’s Monster Energy® drink products (previously the Finished Products segment) as well as Mutant TM Super Soda drink products, (ii) Strategic Brands (“Strategic Brands”), which include the various energy drink brands acquired from TCCC as a result of the TCCC Transaction (previously the Concentrate segment) and (iii) Other, (“Other”) the principal products of which include the non-energy brands disposed of as a result of the TCCC Transaction as well as certain products acquired as part of the AFF Transaction that are sold to independent third-parties.

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(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

The Company’s Monster Energy® Drinks segment generates net operating revenues by selling ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks to full service beverage distributors, retail grocery and specialty chains, wholesalers, club stores, drug chains, mass merchandisers, convenience chains, health food distributors, food service customers and the military.

The Company’s Strategic Brands segment primarily generates net operating revenues by selling “concentrates” and/or “beverage bases” to authorized bottling and canning operations. Such bottlers generally combine the concentrates and/or beverage bases with sweeteners and water, which are then filled in authorized containers bearing the Company’s respective trademarks and sold to customers directly (or in some cases through wholesalers or other bottlers). To a lesser extent, the Company’s Strategic Brands segment generates net operating revenues by selling ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks to full service beverage distributors, retail grocery and specialty chains, wholesalers, club stores, drug chains, mass merchandisers, convenience chains, health food distributors, food service customers and the military.

Generally, the Monster Energy® Drinks segment generates higher per case net operating revenues, but lower per case gross profit margins than the Strategic Brands segment.

Corporate and unallocated amounts that do not relate to a reportable segment have been allocated to “Corporate & Unallocated.” No asset information, other than goodwill and other intangible assets, has been provided for in the Company’s reportable segments as management does not measure or allocate such assets on a segment basis.

The net revenues derived from the Company’s reportable segments and other financial information related thereto for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

|  | Three-Months Ended |  | Nine-Months Ended |
|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
Net sales: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Monster Energy® Drinks(1) |  | $ | 710,130 |  | $ | 686,684 |  | $ | 2,075,511 |  | $ | 1,933,467 |
Strategic Brands |  | 72,138 |  | 69,935 |  | 207,990 |  | 82,913 |
Other |  | 5,686 |  | - |  | 12,127 |  | 60,751 |
Corporate and unallocated |  | - |  | - |  | - |  | - |
|  | $ | 787,954 |  | $ | 756,619 |  | $ | 2,295,628 |  | $ | 2,077,131 |
|  | Three-Months Ended |  | Nine-Months Ended |
|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
Operating Income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Monster Energy® Drinks(1) (2) |  | $ | 308,493 |  | $ | 289,544 |  | $ | 874,822 |  | $ | 596,716 |
Strategic Brands |  | 40,075 |  | 45,291 |  | 127,169 |  | 54,375 |
Other(3) |  | 1,186 |  | (283) |  | 1,528 |  | 165,377 |
Corporate and unallocated |  | (59,379) |  | (43,114) |  | (169,909) |  | (151,263) |
|  | $ | 290,375 |  | $ | 291,438 |  | $ | 833,610 |  | $ | 665,205 |

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(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

|  | Three-Months Ended |  | Nine-Months Ended |
|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
Income before tax: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Monster Energy® Drinks(1) (2) |  | $ | 308,612 |  | $ | 289,649 |  | $ | 875,024 |  | $ | 597,084 |
Strategic Brands |  | 40,073 |  | 45,275 |  | 127,141 |  | 54,359 |
Other(3) |  | 1,186 |  | (284) |  | 1,528 |  | 165,376 |
Corporate and unallocated |  | (60,533) |  | (46,564) |  | (170,734) |  | (154,758) |
|  | $ | 289,338 |  | $ | 288,076 |  | $ | 832,959 |  | $ | 662,061 |

(1) Includes $8.4 million and $8.2 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the recognition of deferred revenue. Includes $28.6 million and $54.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the recognition of deferred revenue.

(2) Includes $4.7 million and $2.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to distributor termination costs. Includes $33.4 million and $220.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to distributor termination costs.

(3) Includes $161.5 million gain on the sale of Monster Non-Energy for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015.

|  | Three-Months Ended |  | Nine-Months Ended |
|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
Depreciation and amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Monster Energy® Drinks |  | $ | 5,974 |  | $ | 5,408 |  | $ | 17,651 |  | $ | 15,556 |
Strategic Brands |  | 1,777 |  | 1,757 |  | 5,325 |  | 2,102 |
Other |  | 1,151 |  | - |  | 2,305 |  | 232 |
Corporate and unallocated |  | 1,522 |  | 1,341 |  | 4,593 |  | 3,867 |
|  | $ | 10,424 |  | $ | 8,506 |  | $ | 29,874 |  | $ | 21,757 |

|  | September 30, 2016 |  | December 31, 2015 |
Goodwill and other intangible assets: |  |  |  |  |
Monster Energy® Drinks |  | $ | 1,331,931 |  | $ | 699,346 |
Strategic Brands |  | 1,003,355 |  | 1,008,355 |
Other |  | 29,170 |  | - |
Corporate and unallocated |  | - |  | - |
|  | $ | 2,364,456 |  | $ | 1,707,701 |

Corporate and unallocated expenses for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 include $33.2 million of payroll costs, of which $12.1 million was attributable to stock-based compensation expense (see Note 14, “Stock-Based Compensation”), as well as $16.9 million attributable to professional service expenses, including accounting and legal costs, and $9.3 million of other operating expenses. Corporate and unallocated expenses for the three-months ended September 30, 2015 include $27.1 million of payroll costs, of which $8.9 million was attributable to stock-based compensation expense (see Note 14, “Stock-Based Compensation”), as well as $10.3 million attributable to professional service expenses, including accounting and legal costs, of which $0.3 million was attributable to TCCC Transaction expenses, and $5.7 million of other operating expenses.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

Corporate and unallocated expenses for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 include $92.7 million of payroll costs, of which $33.7 million was attributable to stock-based compensation expense (see Note 14, “Stock-Based Compensation”), as well as $52.4 million attributable to professional service expenses, including accounting and legal costs, of which $4.5 million was attributable to AFF Transaction expenses, and $24.8 million of other operating expenses. Corporate and unallocated expenses for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 include $83.9 million of payroll costs, of which $23.7 million was attributable to stock-based compensation expense (see Note 14, “Stock-Based Compensation”), as well as $46.6 million attributable to professional service expenses, including accounting and legal costs, of which $15.4 million was attributable to TCCC Transaction expenses, and $20.8 million of other operating expenses.

TCCC, through certain wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “TCCC Subsidiaries”), accounted for approximately 41% and 42% of the Company’s net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The TCCC Subsidiaries accounted for approximately 43% and 41% of the Company’s net sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Net sales to customers outside the United States amounted to $190.8 million and $170.6 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Net sales to customers outside the United States amounted to $540.2 million and $435.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

18. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

As a result of the TCCC Transaction, TCCC controls more than 10% of the voting interests of the Company. TCCC, through the TCCC Subsidiaries and through certain of its affiliated companies (the “TCCC Affiliates”) purchases and distributes certain of the Company’s products both domestically and in certain international territories. The Company also pays TCCC a commission based on certain sales within the TCCC distribution network.

TCCC commissions, based on sales to the TCCC Affiliates for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, were $8.1 million and $7.7 million, respectively. TCCC commissions, based on sales to the TCCC Affiliates for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, were $19.0 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

TCCC commissions, based on sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries, are accounted for as a reduction to revenue and are reported in net sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries. Net sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were $321.9 million and $315.9 million, respectively. Net sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were $981.0 million and $845.8 million, respectively.

The Company also purchases concentrates from TCCC which are then sold to both the TCCC Affiliates and the TCCC Subsidiaries. Concentrate purchases from TCCC were $6.2 million and $8.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Concentrate purchases from TCCC were $20.9 million and $9.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Certain TCCC Subsidiaries also contract manufacture certain of the Company’s Monster Energy® brand energy drinks as well as Mutant TM Super Sodas. Contract manufacturing expenses were $2.2 million and $1.8 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Contract manufacturing expenses were $6.0 million and $5.3 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

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MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Tabular Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)

Accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued promotional allowances related to the TCCC Subsidiaries are as follows at:

|  | September 30, 2016 |  | December 31, 2015 |
Accounts receivable, net |  | $ | 198,245 |  | $ | 172,201 |
Accounts payable |  | $ | (67,838) |  | $ | (58,579) |
Accrued promotional allowances |  | $ | (33,586) |  | $ | (27,544) |

Two directors and officers of the Company and their families are principal owners of a company that provides promotional materials to the Company. Expenses incurred with such company in connection with promotional materials purchased during the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were $0.6 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Expenses incurred with such company in connection with promotional materials purchased during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were $0.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

19. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 11, 2016, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.005 per share (“Common Stock”), from 240,000,000 shares to 1,250,000,000 shares.

On October 14, 2016, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a 3-for-1 stock split of its Common Stock to be effected in the form of a 200% stock dividend. The additional shares will be distributed on November 9, 2016 to stockholders of record at the close of business (Eastern Time) on October 26, 2016. The Company anticipates its common stock to begin trading at the split-adjusted price on November 10, 2016.

The following pro-forma earnings per share information has been adjusted retroactively to reflect the stock split:

|  | Three-Months Ended |  | Nine-Months Ended |
|  | September 30, |  | September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
NET INCOME |  | $ | 191,643 |  | $ | 174,574 |  | $ | 539,738 |  | $ | 407,991 |
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | $ | 0.34 |  | $ | 0.28 |  | $ | 0.91 |  | $ | 0.74 |
Diluted |  | $ | 0.33 |  | $ | 0.28 |  | $ | 0.89 |  | $ | 0.72 |
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | 571,138 |  | 615,153 |  | 594,219 |  | 552,294 |
Diluted |  | 583,293 |  | 624,282 |  | 606,280 |  | 564,393 |

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Our Business

When this report uses the words “the Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our”, these words refer to Monster Beverage Corporation and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. Based in Corona, California, Monster Beverage Corporation is a holding company and conducts no operating business except through its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company’s subsidiaries primarily develop and market energy drinks as well as Mutant TM Super Sodas.

Stock Repurchase

On April 28, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized us to commence a “modified Dutch auction” tender offer to repurchase up to $2.0 billion of our outstanding shares of common stock (the “Stock Repurchase”). The Stock Repurchase was authorized under our existing share repurchase authority and was funded with cash on hand. We commenced the tender offer in May 2016. On June 15, 2016, we accepted for payment an aggregate of 12,820,512 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $156.00 per share, for a total amount of $2.0 billion (excluding commissions), which exhausted the availability under all share repurchase plans. Such shares of common stock are included in common stock in treasury in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2016.

Acquisitions and Divestitures

On April 1, 2016, we completed our acquisition of flavor supplier and long-time business partner American Fruits & Flavors (“AFF”), in an asset acquisition that brought our primary flavor supplier in-house, secured the intellectual property of our most important flavors in perpetuity and further enhanced our flavor development and global flavor footprint capabilities (the “AFF Transaction”). Pursuant to the terms of the AFF Transaction, we purchased AFF for $688.5 million in cash.

We accounted for the AFF Transaction in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805 “Business Combinations”. Inventory purchased under the AFF Transaction was recorded at fair value. Raw material cost savings from the AFF Transaction were approximately $23.3 million in the three-months ended September 30, 2016.

There were no AFF Transaction related expenses for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. We incurred $4.5 million in AFF Transaction related expenses for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016.

On June 12, 2015, we completed the transactions contemplated by the definitive agreements entered into with The Coca-Cola Company (“TCCC”) on August 14, 2014, which provided for a long-term strategic relationship in the global energy drink category (the “TCCC Transaction”).

In accordance with ASC No. 420 “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations”, we expense distributor termination costs in the period in which the written notification of termination occurs. We incurred termination costs of $4.7 million and $2.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We incurred termination costs of $33.4 million and $220.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Such termination costs have been expensed in full and are included in operating expenses for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. There was no accelerated amortization of deferred revenue balances associated with certain of our prior distributors who were sent notices of termination during the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We recognized as income $5.0 million and $39.8 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the accelerated amortization of the deferred revenue balances associated with certain of our prior distributors who were sent notices of termination during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

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We incurred $0.3 million and $15.4 million in TCCC Transaction related expenses for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

The following table summarizes the financial impact of the transactions discussed above for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

Income Statement Items (in thousands): |  | Three-Months Ended September 30, 2016 |  | Three-Months Ended September 30, 2015 |  | Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2016 |  | Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
Included in Net Sales: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accelerated recognition of deferred revenue |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 4,963 |  | $ | 39,761 |
Included in Operating Expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Repurchase expenses |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | (1,556) |  | $ | - |
AFF Transaction expenses |  | - |  | - |  | (4,483) |  | - |
Distributor termination costs |  | (4,712) |  | (2,471) |  | (33,413) |  | (220,658) |
TCCC Transaction expenses |  | - |  | (292) |  | - |  | (15,426) |
Gain on sale of Monster Non-Energy |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | - |  | $ | 161,470 |
Net Impact on Operating Income |  | $ | (4,712) |  | $ | (2,763) |  | $ | (34,489) |  | $ | (34,853) |

Overview

We develop, market, sell and distribute energy drink beverages, sodas and/or concentrates for energy drink beverages, primarily under the following brand names:

· Monster Energy® | · Nalu®
· Monster Rehab® | · NOS®
· Monster Energy Extra Strength Nitrous Technology® | · Full Throttle®
· Java Monster® | · Burn®
· Muscle Monster® | · Mother®
· Mega Monster Energy® | · Ultra®
· Punch Monster® | · Play® and Power Play®
· Juice Monster® | · Gladiator®
· M3® | · Relentless®
· Übermonster® | · Samurai®
· BU® | · BPM®
· Mutant TM Super Soda |

Our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks, which represented 89.8% and 90.8% of our net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, primarily include the following:

· Monster Energy® | · Java Monster® Kona Blend
· Lo-Carb Monster Energy® | · Java Monster® Loca Moca®
· Monster Assault® | · Java Monster® Mean Bean®
· Juice Monster® Khaos® | · Java Monster® Vanilla Light
· Juice Monster® Ripper® | · Java Monster® Irish Blend®

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· Juice Monster® Pipeline Punch® | · Java Monster® Salted Caramel
· Monster Energy Absolutely Zero® | · Mega Monster Energy®
· Monster Energy® Import | · Monster Energy Extra Strength Nitrous
· Punch Monster® Baller’s Blend® (formerly Dub Edition) | Technology® Super Dry™
· Punch Monster® Mad Dog (formerly Dub Edition) | · Monster Energy Extra Strength Nitrous
· Monster Rehab® Tea + Lemonade + Energy | Technology® Anti-Gravity®
· Monster Rehab® Raspberry Tea + Energy (formerly Rojo) | · M3® Monster Energy® Super Concentrate
· Monster Rehab® Green Tea + Energy | · Monster Energy Zero Ultra®
· Monster Rehab® Tea + Orangeade + Energy | · Monster Energy Ultra Blue®
· Monster Rehab® Tea + Pink Lemonade + Energy | · Monster Energy Ultra Red®
· Monster Rehab® Peach Tea + Energy | · Monster Energy Ultra Black®
· Muscle Monster® Vanilla | · Monster Energy Ultra Sunrise®
· Muscle Monster® Chocolate | · Monster Energy Ultra Citron®
· Muscle Monster® Strawberry | · Monster Energy® Unleaded®
· Muscle Monster® Banana | · Übermonster® Energy Brew™
· Monster Energy® Gronk | · Monster Energy® Valentino Rossi

We have three operating and reportable segments, (i) Monster Energy® Drinks segment (“Monster Energy® Drinks”), which is comprised of our Monster Energy® drink products (previously the Finished Products segment) as well as Mutant TM Super Soda drink products, (ii) Strategic Brands (“Strategic Brands”), which include the various energy drink brands acquired from TCCC as a result of the TCCC Transaction (previously the Concentrate segment) and (iii) Other, (“Other”) the principal products of which include the non-energy brands disposed of as a result of the TCCC Transaction as well as certain products acquired as part of the AFF Transaction that are sold to independent third-parties (the “AFF Products”).

During the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, we continued to expand our existing energy drink portfolio and further develop our distribution markets. During the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, we introduced the following products:

· Java Monster® Salted Caramel (January 2016)

· Monster Energy® Gronk (February 2016)

· Mutant TM Super Soda (September 2016)

In the normal course of business we discontinue certain products and/or product lines. Those products and/or product lines discontinued during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, either individually or in aggregate, did not have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Our net sales of $788.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 represented record sales for our third fiscal quarter. The vast majority of our net sales are derived from our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. Net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks were $707.4 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. Net sales of our Strategic Brands acquired as part of the TCCC Transaction were $72.1 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016.

Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on net sales in the Monster Energy® Drinks segment of approximately $1.6 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe and Mexico, partially offset by our operations in Japan. Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on net sales in the Strategic Brands segment of approximately $1.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe.

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Our Monster Energy® Drinks segment represented 90.1% and 90.8% of our consolidated net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our Strategic Brands segment represented 9.2% of our consolidated net sales for both the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Our Other segment represented 0.7% of our consolidated net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. There were no net sales for the Other segment during the three-months ended September 30, 2015.

Our sales and marketing strategy for all our beverages is to focus our efforts on developing brand awareness through image enhancing programs and product sampling. We use our branded vehicles and other promotional vehicles at events where we offer samples of our products to consumers. We utilize “push-pull” methods to enhance shelf and display space exposure in sales outlets (including racks, coolers and barrel coolers), advertising, in-store promotions and in-store placement of point-of-sale materials to encourage demand from consumers for our products. We also support our brands with prize promotions, price promotions, competitions, endorsements from selected public and sports figures, personality endorsements (including from television and other well-known sports personalities), sampling and sponsorship of selected causes, events, athletes and teams. In-store posters, outdoor posters, print, radio and television advertising (directly and through our sponsorships and endorsements) and coupons may also be used to promote our brands.

We believe that one of the keys to success in the beverage industry is differentiation, making our brands and products visually distinctive from other beverages on the shelves of retailers. We review our products and packaging on an ongoing basis and, where practical, endeavor to make them different, better and unique. The labels and graphics for many of our products are redesigned from time to time to maximize their visibility and identification, wherever they may be placed in stores, which we will continue to reevaluate from time to time.

All of our beverage products are manufactured by various third-party bottlers and co-packers situated throughout the United States and abroad, under separate arrangements with each party.

Our growth strategy includes expanding our international business. Gross sales to customers outside the United States amounted to $232.8 million and $207.8 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Such sales were approximately 26% and 24% of gross sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on gross sales to customers outside the United States of approximately 2% for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 primarily due to our operations in Europe and Mexico, partially offset by our operations in Japan.

Our customers are primarily full service beverage bottlers/distributors, retail grocery and specialty chains, wholesalers, club stores, drug chains, mass merchandisers, convenience chains, food service customers and the military. Gross sales to our various customer types for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are reflected below. Such information includes sales made by us directly to the customer types concerned, which include our full service beverage bottlers/distributors in the United States. Such full service beverage bottlers/distributors in turn sell certain of our products to some of the same customer types listed below. We limit our description of our customer types to include only our sales to our full service bottlers/distributors without reference to such bottlers/distributors’ sales to their own customers.

|  | Three-Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine-Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
U.S. full service bottlers/distributors |  | 65% |  | 65% |  | 65% |  | 65%
Club stores, drug chains & mass merchandisers |  | 7% |  | 9% |  | 8% |  | 9%
International full service bottlers/distributors |  | 26% |  | 24% |  | 25% |  | 23%
Retail grocery, specialty chains and wholesalers |  | 1% |  | 1% |  | 1% |  | 2%
Other |  | 1% |  | 1% |  | 1% |  | 1%

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Our customers include Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc., Coca-Cola Bottling Company, CCBCC Operations, LLC, United Bottling Contracts Company, LLC, Swire Coca-Cola, USA and certain other TCCC independent bottlers, Coca-Cola European Partners, Coca-Cola Hellenic, Coca-Cola FEMSA, Coca-Cola Amatil, Asahi, Kalil Bottling Group, Wal-Mart, Inc. (including Sam’s Club), Costco and certain Anheuser Busch distributors (“AB Distributors”). In February 2015, in accordance with our then existing agreements with the applicable AB Distributors, we sent notices of termination to the majority of the AB Distributors in the U.S. for the termination of their respective distribution agreements. The associated distribution rights relating to such terminated distribution agreements have been transitioned to TCCC’s network of owned or controlled bottlers/distributors and independent bottlers/distributors as of the effective date of termination of the affected AB Distributors’ rights in the applicable territories. As of November 7, 2016, distribution rights in the U.S. representing approximately 89% of the target case sales have been transitioned to TCCC’s distribution network. A decision by any large customer to decrease amounts purchased from us or to cease carrying our products could have a material negative effect on our financial condition and consolidated results of operations. TCCC, through certain wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “TCCC Subsidiaries”), accounted for approximately 41% and 42% of our net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. TCCC, through the TCCC Subsidiaries, accounted for approximately 43% and 41% of our net sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth key statistics for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

(In thousands, except per share amounts) |  | Three-Months Ended September 30, |  | Percentage Change |  | Nine-Months Ended September 30, |  | Percentage Change |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 16 vs. 15 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 16 vs. 15 |
Net sales¹ |  | $ | 787,954 |  | $ | 756,619 |  | 4.1% |  | $ | 2,295,628 |  | $ | 2,077,131 |  | 10.5% |
Cost of sales |  | 284,979 |  | 291,143 |  | (2.1%) |  | 851,741 |  | 848,191 |  | 0.4% |
Gross profit*¹ |  | 502,975 |  | 465,476 |  | 8.1% |  | 1,443,887 |  | 1,228,940 |  | 17.5% |
Gross profit as a percentage of net sales¹ |  | 63.8% |  | 61.5% |  |  |  | 62.9% |  | 59.2% |  |  |
Operating expenses ²,³ |  | 212,600 |  | 174,038 |  | 22.2% |  | 610,277 |  | 725,205 |  | (15.8%) |
Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales |  | 27.0% |  | 23.0% |  |  |  | 26.6% |  | 34.9% |  |  |
Gain on sale of Monster Non-Energy |  | - |  | - |  |  |  | - |  | 161,470 |  |  |
Operating income ¹,²,³ |  | 290,375 |  | 291,438 |  | (0.4%) |  | 833,610 |  | 665,205 |  | 25.3% |
Operating income as a percentage of net sales |  | 36.9% |  | 38.5% |  |  |  | 36.3% |  | 32.0% |  |  |
Interest and other expense, net |  | (1,037) |  | (3,362) |  | (69.2%) |  | (651) |  | (3,144) |  | (79.3%) |
Income before provision for income taxes ¹,²,³ |  | 289,338 |  | 288,076 |  | 0.4% |  | 832,959 |  | 662,061 |  | 25.8% |
Provision for income taxes |  | 97,695 |  | 113,502 |  | (13.9%) |  | 293,221 |  | 254,070 |  | 15.4% |
Income taxes as a percentage of income before taxes |  | 33.8% |  | 39.4% |  |  |  | 35.2% |  | 38.4% |  |  |
Net income ¹,²,³ |  | $ | 191,643 |  | $ | 174,574 |  | 9.8% |  | $ | 539,738 |  | $ | 407,991 |  | 32.3% |
Net income as a percentage of net sales |  | 24.3% |  | 23.1% |  |  |  | 23.5% |  | 19.6% |  |  |
Net income per common share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | $ | 1.01 |  | $ | 0.85 |  | 18.2% |  | $ | 2.72 |  | $ | 2.22 |  | 23.0% |
Diluted |  | $ | 0.99 |  | $ | 0.84 |  | 17.5% |  | $ | 2.67 |  | $ | 2.17 |  | 23.2% |
Case sales (in thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(in 192-ounce case equivalents) |  | 82,767 |  | 81,274 |  | 1.8% |  | 242,994 |  | 207,090 |  | 17.3% |

¹ Includes $8.4 million and $8.2 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the recognition of deferred revenue. Includes $28.6 million and $54.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the recognition of deferred revenue. There was no acceleration of deferred revenue in the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Included in the $28.6 million recognition of deferred revenue for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, is $5.0 million related to the accelerated amortization of the deferred revenue balances associated with certain of the Company’s prior distributors who were sent notices of termination during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. Included in the $54.7 million recognition of deferred revenue for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 is $39.8 million related to the accelerated amortization of the deferred revenue balances associated with certain of the Company’s prior distributors who were sent notices of termination during the nine-months ended September 30, 2015.

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²Includes $4.7 million and $2.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, of distributor termination costs. Includes $33.4 million and $220.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, of distributor termination costs.

3 Includes $4.5 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, of AFF Transaction related expenses. There were no AFF Transaction related expenses incurred for the three-month ended September 30, 2016. Includes $0.3 million and $15.4 million for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, of TCCC Transaction related expenses. Includes $1.6 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 of modified Dutch auction stock repurchase expenses. There were no modified Dutch auction stock repurchase expenses during the three-months ended September 30, 2016.

*Gross profit may not be comparable to that of other entities since some entities include all costs associated with their distribution process in cost of sales, whereas others exclude certain costs and instead include such costs within another line item such as operating expenses. We include out-bound freight and warehouse costs in operating expenses rather than in cost of sales.

Results of Operations for the Three-Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to the Three-Months Ended September 30, 2015.

Net Sales. Net sales were $788.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $31.3 million, or 4.1% higher than net sales of $756.6 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks represented approximately $20.7 million of the overall increase in net sales. Net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks increased partially due to increased sales by volume as a result of increased domestic and international consumer demand. Net sales of our Strategic Brands were $72.1 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, as compared with $69.9 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. Net sales of the AFF Products were $5.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. There were no net sales of the AFF Products for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. No other individual product line contributed either a material increase or decrease to net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. Our net sales of $756.6 million for the comparative three-months ended September 30, 2015 were impacted by advance purchases made by our customers due to a pre-announced price increase that became effective on August 31, 2015 (the “Advance Purchases”) on certain of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. We estimate that net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2015 were increased by approximately $11.0 million as a result of such advance purchases. Net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, after adjusting comparative net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2015 for the Advance Purchases, increased by 5.7%.

Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on net sales in the Monster Energy® Drinks segment of approximately $1.6 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe and Mexico, partially offset by our operations in Japan. Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on net sales in the Strategic Brands segment of approximately $1.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe.

Case sales, in 192-ounce case equivalents, were 82.8 million cases for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately 1.5 million cases or 1.8% higher than case sales of 81.3 million cases for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The overall average net sales per case (excluding AFF Products net sales of $5.7 million as these sales do not have unit case equivalents) increased to $9.45 for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, which was 1.5% higher than the average net sales per case of $9.31 for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The higher average net sales price per case was primarily attributable to the changes in product mix.

Net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment were $710.1 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $23.4 million, or 3.4% higher than net sales of $686.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. No other individual product line contributed either a material increase or decrease to net sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. Our net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment of $686.7 million for the comparative three-months ended September 30, 2015 were impacted by the Advance Purchases on certain of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. We

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estimate that net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment for the three-months ended September 30, 2015 were increased by approximately $11.0 million as a result of such advance purchases. Net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, after adjusting comparative net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment for the three-months ended September 30, 2015 for the Advance Purchases, increased by 5.1%.

Net sales for the Strategic Brands segment were $72.1 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $2.2 million, or 3.2% higher than net sales of $69.9 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015.

Net sales for the Other segment were $5.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. There were no net sales for the Other segment for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. Net sales for the Other segment for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 are comprised of sales of the AFF Products.

Gross Profit. Gross profit was $503.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $37.5 million, or 8.1% higher than the gross profit of $465.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 63.8% for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 from 61.5% for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in gross profit dollars was primarily the result of the $20.7 million increase in net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks as well approximately $23.3 million of r aw material cost savings from the AFF Transaction. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was primarily attributable to (i) the r aw material cost savings from the AFF Transaction and (ii) changes in product sales mix.

Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses were $212.6 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $38.6 million, or 22.2% higher than total operating expenses of $174.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased payroll expenses of $10.6 million (of which $3.3 million was related to an increase in stock-based compensation), increased expenditures of $8.7 million for sponsorships and endorsements, increased expenditures of $7.1 million of professional service costs, including legal and accounting fees, increased expenditures of $3.1 million for other marketing expenses and increased expenditures of $2.2 million associated with distributor terminations.

Contribution Margin. Contribution margin for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment was $308.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $18.9 million, or 6.5% higher than contribution margin of $289.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in contribution margin for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment was primarily the result of the $20.7 million increase in net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks as well as approximately $23.3 million of r aw material cost savings from the AFF Transaction.

Contribution margin for the Strategic Brands segment was $40.1 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of approximately $5.2 million, or 11.5% lower than contribution margin of $45.3 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease in contribution margin for the Strategic Brands segment was primarily due to an increase in operating expenses.

Contribution margin for the Other segment was $1.2 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 as compared to contribution margin of ($0.3) million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015.

Operating Income. Operating income was $290.4 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of approximately $1.1 million, or 0.4% lower than operating income of $291.4 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. Operating income as a percentage of net sales decreased to 36.9% for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 from 38.5% for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease in operating income in dollars and as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to the $38.6 million increase in operating expenses for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. Operating income was $22.0 million and $26.2 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, in relation to our operations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

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Interest and Other Expense, net. Interest and other expense, net, was $1.0 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to interest and other expense, net of $3.4 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. Foreign currency transaction losses were $1.5 million and $4.2 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Interest income was $0.4 million and $0.8 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Provision for Income Taxes. Provision for income taxes was $97.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $15.8 million or 13.9% lower than the provision for income taxes of $113.5 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The effective combined federal, state and foreign tax rate decreased to 33.8% from 39.4% for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the increase in the domestic production deduction and stock compensation deduction in the three-months ended September 30, 2016 as well as a one-time tax benefit related to a prior period domestic production deduction.

Net Income. Net income was $191.6 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $17.1 million or 9.8% higher than net income of $174.6 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in net income was primarily due to the $37.5 million increase in gross profit and the $15.8 million decrease in the provision for income taxes. The increase in net income was partially offset by the increase in operating expenses of $38.6 million.

Results of Operations for the Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2016 Compared to the Nine-Months Ended September 30, 2015.

Net Sales. Net sales were $2,295.6 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $218.5 million, or 10.5% higher than net sales of $2,077.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks represented approximately $139.4 million of the overall increase in net sales. Net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks increased partially due to increased sales by volume as a result of increased domestic and international consumer demand. Net sales of our Strategic Brands were $208.0 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, as compared with $82.9 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 (effectively from June 13, 2015 to September 30, 2015). There were no net sales during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 for the non-energy brands disposed of as a result of the TCCC Transaction on June 12, 2015, which resulted in a decrease in net sales of $60.8 million from the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Net sales of our AFF Products were $12.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. There were no net sales of our AFF Products for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. No other individual product line contributed either a material increase or decrease to net sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. Our net sales of $2,077.1 million for the comparative nine-months ended September 30, 2015, were impacted by the Advance Purchases on certain of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. We estimate that net sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 were increased by approximately $11.0 million as a result of such advance purchases. Net sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, after adjusting comparative net sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 for the Advance Purchases, increased by 11.1%.

Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on net sales in the Monster Energy® Drinks segment of approximately $14.4 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe, Mexico, Canada and South Africa, partially offset by our operations in Japan. Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on net sales in the Strategic Brands segment of approximately $4.6 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe.

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Case sales, in 192-ounce case equivalents, were 243.0 million cases for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately 35.9 million cases or 17.3% higher than case sales of 207.1 million cases for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The overall average net sales per case (excluding AFF Products net sales of $12.1 million as these sales do not have unit case equivalents) decreased to $9.40 for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, which was 6.3% lower than the average net sales per case of $10.03 for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The lower net sales per case was primarily attributable to sales of concentrates and/or beverage bases in the Strategic Brands segment, which generally generate lower net operating revenues than those products within the Monster Energy® Drinks segment.

Net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment were $2,075.5 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $142.0 million, or 7.3% higher than net sales of $1,933.5 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. No other individual product line contributed either a material increase or decrease to net sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. Our net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment of $1,933.5 million for the comparative nine-months ended September 30, 2015, were impacted by the Advance Purchases on certain of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. We estimate that net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 were increased by approximately $11.0 million as a result of such advance purchases. Net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, after adjusting comparative net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 for the Advance Purchases, increased by 8.0%.

Net sales for the Strategic Brands segment were $208.0 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $125.1 million, or 150.9% higher than net sales of $82.9 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 (effectively from June 13, 2015 to September 30, 2015).

Net sales for the Other segment were $12.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of approximately $48.6 million, or 80.0% lower than net sales of $60.8 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Net sales for the Other segment for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 are comprised of sales of the AFF Products. Net sales for the Other segment for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 are comprised of sales of the non-energy brands disposed of as a result of the TCCC Transaction on June 12, 2015 (effectively from January 1, 2015 to June 12, 2015).

Gross Profit. Gross profit was $1,443.9 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $214.9 million, or 17.5% higher than the gross profit of $1,228.9 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 62.9% for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 from 59.2% for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in gross profit dollars was primarily the result of the $139.4 million and $125.1 million increase in net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks and our Strategic Brands, respectively. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was primarily attributable to (i) the Strategic Brands segment, which generally has higher gross margins than the Monster Energy® Drinks segment, (ii) no sales in the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 for the non-energy brands disposed of as a result of the TCCC Transaction on June 12, 2015, which generally had lower gross margins than the Monster Energy® Drinks segment, (iii) lower costs of certain raw materials, (iv) the r aw material cost savings from the AFF Transaction and (v) changes in product sales mix.

Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses were $610.3 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of approximately $114.9 million, or 15.8% lower than total operating expenses of $725.2 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to the $187.3 million decrease in costs associated with distributor terminations. To a lesser extent, the decrease in operating expenses was also due to decreased expenditures of $15.4 million of professional service costs and transaction expenses related to the TCCC Transaction as well as decreased expenditures of $6.5 million for distribution costs. The decrease in operating expenses was partially offset by increased expenditures of $19.6 million for sponsorships and endorsements, increased expenditures of $16.4 million for professional service costs (exclusive of expenditures related to the Stock Repurchase, the AFF

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Transaction and the TCCC Transaction), including legal and accounting fees, increased payroll expenses of $17.2 million (of which $10.0 million was related to an increase in stock-based compensation, partially offset by a $9.7 million decrease in payroll taxes due in part to payroll taxes related to the exercise of certain stock options in the nine-months ended September 30, 2015), increased expenditures of $7.6 million for other marketing expenses, $6.0 million of professional service costs and transaction expenses related to the Stock Repurchase and the AFF Transaction, increased expenditures of $5.8 million for commissions and increased expenditures of $4.1 million for premiums.

Contribution Margin. Contribution margin for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment was $874.8 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $278.1 million, or 46.6% higher than contribution margin of $596.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in contribution margin for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment was primarily the result of the $187.3 million decrease in costs associated with distributor terminations as well as the $139.4 million increase in net sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. The increase in contribution margin for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment was partially offset by the $39.8 million of accelerated amortization of deferred revenue during the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 related to distributor terminations.

Contribution margin for the Strategic Brands segment was $127.2 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $72.8 million, or 133.9% higher than contribution margin of $54.4 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 (effectively from June 13, 2015 to September 30, 2015).

Contribution margin for the Other segment was $1.5 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to contribution margin of $165.4 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Included in contribution margin for the Other segment for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 was the $161.5 million gain on the sale of Monster Non-Energy.

Operating Income. Operating income was $833.6 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $168.4 million, or 25.3% higher than operating income of $665.2 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Operating income as a percentage of net sales increased to 36.3% for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 from 32.0% for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in operating income in dollars was primarily due to the $187.3 million decrease in costs associated with distributor terminations as well as the $214.9 million increase in gross profit. The increase in operating income was partially offset by the $161.5 million gain on the sale of Monster Non-Energy for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Operating income was $76.9 million and $50.2 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, in relation to our operations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

Interest and Other Expense, net. Interest and other expense, net was $0.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, as compared to interest and other expense, net of $3.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Foreign currency transaction losses were $4.3 million and $5.0 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Interest income was $3.5 million and $1.5 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Provision for Income Taxes. Provision for income taxes was $293.2 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $39.2 million or 15.4% higher than the provision for income taxes of $254.1 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The effective combined federal, state and foreign tax rate decreased to 35.2% from 38.4% for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the increase in the domestic production deduction and the stock compensation deduction in the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 as well as a one-time benefit related to a prior period domestic production deduction. The decrease in the effective tax rate was partially offset by the release of the valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets of certain foreign jurisdictions in the nine-months ended September 30, 2015.

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Net Income. Net income was $539.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $131.7 million or 32.3% higher than net income of $408.0 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in net income was primarily attributable to the $187.3 million decrease in costs associated with distributor terminations as well as the increase in gross profit of $214.9 million. The increase in net income was partially offset by the $161.5 million gain on the sale of Monster Non-Energy for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 and an increase in the provision for income taxes of $39.2 million.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Gross Sales**. Gross sales were $913.3 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $50.9 million, or 5.9% higher than gross sales of $862.4 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in gross sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks represented approximately $42.4 million of the overall increase in gross sales. Gross sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks increased partially due to increased sales by volume as a result of increased domestic and international consumer demand. Gross sales of our Strategic Brands were $77.1 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, as compared with $77.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. Gross sales of our AFF Products were $5.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. There were no gross sales of our AFF Products for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. No other individual product line contributed either a material increase or decrease to gross sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016. Our gross sales of $862.4 million for the comparative three-months ended September 30, 2015, were impacted by the Advance Purchases on certain of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. We estimate that gross sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2015 were increased by approximately $12.0 million as a result of such advance purchases. Gross sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, after adjusting comparative gross sales for the three-months ended September 30, 2015 for the Advance Purchases, increased by 7.4%. Promotional and other allowances, as described in the footnote below, were $125.3 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $19.6 million, or 18.5% higher than promotional and other allowances of $105.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2015. Promotional and other allowances as a percentage of gross sales increased to 13.7% from 12.3% for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on gross sales in the Monster Energy® Drinks segment of approximately $3.7 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe and Mexico, partially offset by our operations in Japan. Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on gross sales in the Strategic Brands segment of approximately $1.1 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe.

Gross Sales**. Gross sales were $2,636.6 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of approximately $274.1 million, or 11.6% higher than gross sales of $2,362.5 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in gross sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks represented approximately $218.5 million of the overall increase in gross sales. Gross sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks increased partially due to increased sales by volume as a result of increased domestic and international consumer demand. Gross sales of our Strategic Brands were $225.5 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, as compared with $90.9 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 (effectively from June 13, 2015 to September 30, 2015). There were no gross sales during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 for the non-energy brands disposed of as a result of the TCCC Transaction on June 12, 2015, which resulted in a decrease in gross sales of $68.5 million from the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Gross sales of our AFF Products were $12.3 million for the nine-month ended September 30, 2016. There were no sales of our AFF Products for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. No other individual product line contributed either a material increase or decrease to gross sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. Our gross sales of $2,362.5 million for the comparative nine-months ended September 30, 2015, were impacted by the Advance Purchases on certain of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks.

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We estimate that gross sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 were increased by approximately $12.0 million as a result of such advance purchases. Gross sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, after adjusting comparative gross sales for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 for the Advance Purchases, increased by 12.2%. Promotional and other allowances, as described in the footnote below, were $341.0 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $55.7 million, or 19.5% higher than promotional and other allowances of $285.3 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. Promotional and other allowances as a percentage of gross sales increased to 12.9% from 12.1% for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on gross sales in the Monster Energy® Drinks segment of approximately $20.4 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe, Mexico, Canada and South Africa. Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on gross sales in the Strategic Brands segment of approximately $4.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, primarily due to our operations in Europe.

**Gross sales are used internally by management as an indicator of and to monitor operating performance, including sales performance of particular products, salesperson performance, product growth or declines and overall Company performance. The use of gross sales allows evaluation of sales performance before the effect of any promotional items, which can mask certain performance issues. We therefore believe that the presentation of gross sales provides a useful measure of our operating performance. The use of gross sales is not a measure that is recognized under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net sales, which is determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be used alone as an indicator of operating performance in place of net sales. Additionally, gross sales may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, as gross sales has been defined by our internal reporting practices. In addition, gross sales may not be realized in the form of cash receipts as promotional payments and allowances may be deducted from payments received from certain customers.

The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measure of gross sales with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure of net sales:

(In thousands) |  | Three-Months Ended |  | Percentage |  | Nine-Months Ended |  | Percentage |
|  | September 30, |  | Change |  | September 30, |  | Change |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 16 vs. 15 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 16 vs. 15 |
Gross sales, net of discounts and returns |  | $ 913,277 |  | $ 862,363 |  | 5.9% |  | $ 2,636,631 |  | $ 2,362,478 |  | 11.6% |
Less: Promotional and other allowances*** |  | 125,323 |  | 105,744 |  | 18.5% |  | 341,003 |  | 285,347 |  | 19.5% |
Net Sales |  | $ 787,954 |  | $ 756,619 |  | 4.1% |  | $ 2,295,628 |  | $ 2,077,131 |  | 10.5% |

***Although the expenditures described in this line item are determined in accordance with GAAP and meet GAAP requirements, the presentation thereof does not conform with GAAP presentation requirements. Additionally, our definition of promotional and other allowances may not be comparable to similar items presented by other companies. Promotional and other allowances primarily include consideration given to the Company’s bottlers/distributors or retail customers including, but not limited to the following: (i) discounts granted off list prices to support price promotions to end-consumers by retailers; (ii) reimbursements given to the Company’s bottlers/distributors for agreed portions of their promotional spend with retailers, including slotting, shelf space allowances and other fees for both new and existing products; (iii) the Company’s agreed share of fees given to bottlers/distributors and/or directly to retailers for advertising, in-store marketing and promotional activities; (iv) the Company’s agreed share of slotting, shelf space allowances and other fees given directly to retailers; (v) incentives given to the Company’s bottlers/distributors and/or retailers for achieving or exceeding certain predetermined sales goals; (vi) discounted or free products; (vii) contractual fees given to the Company’s bottlers/distributors related to sales made by the Company direct to certain customers that fall within the bottler’s/distributors’ sales territories; and (viii) commissions paid to our customers. The presentation of promotional and other allowances facilitates an evaluation of their impact on the determination of net sales and the spending levels incurred or correlated with such sales. Promotional and other allowances constitute a material portion of our marketing activities. The Company’s promotional allowance programs with its numerous bottlers/distributors and/or retailers are executed through separate agreements in the ordinary course of business. These agreements generally provide for one or more of the arrangements described above and are of varying durations, ranging from one week to one year. The primary drivers of our promotional and other allowance activities for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 were (i) to increase sales volume and trial, (ii) to address market conditions, and (iii) to secure shelf and display space at retail.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash flows provided by operating activities. Cash provided by operating activities was $420.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, as compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $351.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015.

For the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to net income earned of $539.7 million and adjustments for certain non-cash expenses, consisting of $33.7 million of stock-based compensation and $29.9 million of depreciation and other amortization. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, cash provided by operating activities also increased due to a $23.4 million increase in accrued promotional allowances, a $21.8 million increase in accounts payable, an $18.4 million decrease in inventories, a $16.8 million increase in deferred revenue, an $8.3 million increase in accrued liabilities and a $3.3 million increase in income taxes payable. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, cash used in operating activities was the result of a $136.9 million increase in prepaid income taxes, a $100.2 million increase in accounts receivable, a $21.0 million increase in distributor receivables, an $8.8 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets, a $5.5 million decrease in accrued distributor terminations and a $0.3 million decrease in accrued compensation.

For the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to net income earned of $408.0 million and adjustments for certain non-cash expenses, consisting of $23.7 million of stock-based compensation and $21.8 million of depreciation and other amortization. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, cash provided by operating activities also increased due to a $312.8 million increase in income taxes payable, a $75.1 million increase in accounts payable, a $29.3 million increase in accrued liabilities, a $15.2 million increase in accrued promotional allowances, a $7.7 million increase in accrued distributor terminations and a $2.4 million increase in accrued compensation. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, cash used in operating activities was due to a $115.1 million change in deferred income taxes, a $132.6 million increase in accounts receivable, an $83.3 million increase in prepaid income taxes, a $36.0 million decrease in deferred revenue, a $9.1 million increase in inventories, and a $6.9 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets.

Cash flows used in investing activities. Cash used in investing activities was $266.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 as compared to cash used in investing activities of $408.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015.

For the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, cash used in investing activities was primarily related to the $688.5 million purchase of AFF.

For the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, cash used in investing activities was primarily attributable to the AFF Transaction and purchases of held-to-maturity investments. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, cash used in investing activities was primarily attributable of purchases of held-to-maturity investments. For both the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, cash provided by investing activities was primarily attributable to maturities of held-to-maturity investments. For both the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, cash used in investing activities also included the acquisitions of fixed assets consisting of vans and promotional vehicles, coolers and other equipment to support our marketing and promotional activities, production equipment, furniture and fixtures, office and computer equipment, computer software, equipment used for sales and administrative activities and certain leasehold improvements. We expect to continue to use a portion of our cash in excess of our requirements for operations for purchasing short-term and long-term investments, leasehold improvements, the acquisition of capital equipment (specifically, vans, trucks and promotional vehicles, coolers, other promotional equipment, merchandise displays, warehousing racks as well as items of production equipment required to produce certain of our existing and/or new products and to develop our brand in international markets) and for other corporate purposes. From time to time, we may also use cash to purchase additional real property related to our beverage business and/or acquire compatible businesses.

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Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities. We used $1,993.6 million of cash in financing activities for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 as compared to cash provided by financing activities of $931.3 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The cash flows used in financing activities for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily the result of the repurchases of our common stock. The cash flows provided by financing activities for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 was primarily the result of the issuance of our common stock to TCCC during the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 in connection with the TCCC Transaction.

Purchases of inventories, increases in accounts receivable and other assets, acquisition of property and equipment (including real property and coolers), leasehold improvements, advances for or the purchase of equipment for our bottlers, acquisition and maintenance of trademarks, payments of accounts payable, income taxes payable and purchases of our common stock are expected to remain our principal recurring use of cash.

Cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments. At September 30, 2016, we had $341.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and $267.2 million in short and long-term investments. We have historically invested these amounts in U.S. Treasury bills, U.S. government agency securities and municipal securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, variable rate demand notes and money market funds meeting certain criteria. We maintain our investments for cash management purposes and not for purposes of speculation. Our risk management policies emphasize credit quality (primarily based on short-term ratings by nationally recognized statistical organizations) in selecting and maintaining our investments. We regularly assess market risk of our investments and believe our current policies and investment practices adequately limit those risks. However, certain of these investments are subject to general credit, liquidity, market and interest rate risks. These market risks associated with our investment portfolio may have an adverse effect on our future results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.

Of our $341.5 million of cash and cash equivalents held at September 30, 2016, $206.9 million was held by our foreign subsidiaries. No short-term or long-term investments were held by our foreign subsidiaries at September 30, 2016. We do not intend, nor do we foresee a need, to repatriate undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries other than to repay certain intercompany debt owed to our U.S. operations. Under current tax laws, if funds in excess of intercompany amounts owed were repatriated to our U.S. operations we would be required to accrue and pay additional income taxes on such excess funds at the tax rates then in effect.

We believe that cash available from operations, including our cash resources and access to credit, will be sufficient for our working capital needs, including purchase commitments for raw materials and inventory, increases in accounts receivable, payments of tax liabilities, expansion and development needs, purchases of capital assets, purchases of equipment and properties and purchases of shares of our common stock, through at least the next 12 months. Based on our current plans, at this time we estimate that capital expenditures, including the purchases of real property, are likely to be less than $150.0 million through September 30, 2017. However, future business opportunities may cause a change in this estimate.

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The following represents a summary of the Company’s contractual commitments and related scheduled maturities as of September 30, 2016:

|  | Payments due by period (in thousands) |
|  |  |  | Less than |  | 1-3 |  | 3-5 |  | More than |
Obligations |  | Total |  | 1 year |  | years |  | years |  | 5 years |
Contractual Obligations ¹ |  | $ | 140,858 |  | $ | 77,739 |  | $ | 47,028 |  | $ | 16,091 |  | $ | - |
Capital Leases |  | 1,309 |  | 1,309 |  | - |  | - |  | - |
Operating Leases |  | 18,620 |  | 5,275 |  | 3,031 |  | 1,948 |  | 8,366 |
Purchase Commitments ² |  | 55,035 |  | 55,035 |  | - |  | - |  | - |
Construction Contract ³ |  | 36,767 |  | 36,767 |  | - |  | - |  | - |
|  | $ | 252,589 |  | $ | 176,125 |  | $ | 50,059 |  | $ | 18,039 |  | $ | 8,366 |

¹Contractual obligations include our obligations related to sponsorships and other commitments.

²Purchase commitments include obligations made by us and our subsidiaries to various suppliers for raw materials used in the production of our products. These obligations vary in terms, but are generally satisfied within one year.

3In September 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of approximately 49 acres of land, located in Rialto, CA, for a purchase price of approximately $39.1 million. The Company intends to build an approximately 1,000,000 square-foot building to replace its current leased warehouse and distribution facilities located in Corona, CA. The Company has entered into an approximately $36.8 million guaranteed maximum price construction contract for the construction of the building.

In addition, approximately $0.01 million of unrecognized tax benefits have been recorded as liabilities as of September 30, 2016. It is expected that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will not significantly change within the next 12 months. As of September 30, 2016, we had no accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits.

Sales

The table below discloses selected quarterly data regarding sales for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Data from any one or more quarters or periods is not necessarily indicative of annual results or continuing trends.

Sales of beverages are expressed in unit case volume. A “unit case” means a unit of measurement equal to 192 U.S. fluid ounces of finished beverage (24 eight-ounce servings). Unit case volume means the number of unit cases (or unit case equivalents) of finished products or concentrates as if converted into finished products sold by us.

Our quarterly results of operations reflect seasonal trends that are primarily the result of increased demand in the warmer months of the year. It has been our experience that beverage sales tend to be lower during the first and fourth quarters of each calendar year. However, our experience with our energy drink products suggests they may be less seasonal than the seasonality expected from traditional beverages. In addition, our continued growth internationally may further reduce the impact of seasonality. Quarterly fluctuations may also be affected by other factors including the introduction of new products, the opening of new markets where temperature fluctuations are more pronounced, the addition of new bottlers, customers and distributors, changes in the sales mix of our products and changes in advertising and promotional expenses.

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(In thousands, except average |  | Three-Months Ended |  | Nine-Months Ended |
net sales per case) |  | September 30, |  | September 30, |
|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
Net sales ¹ |  | $ | 787,954 |  | $ | 756,619 |  | $ | 2,295,628 |  | $ | 2,077,131 |
Less: AFF third-party sales |  | (5,686) |  | - |  | (12,127) |  | - |
Adjusted net sales ² |  | $ | 782,268 |  | $ | 756,619 |  | $ | 2,283,501 |  | $ | 2,077,131 |
Case sales by segment: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Monster Energy® Drinks |  | 66,870 |  | 63,564 |  | 192,887 |  | 175,543 |
Strategic Brands |  | 15,897 |  | 17,710 |  | 50,107 |  | 20,346 |
Other ² |  | - |  | - |  | - |  | 11,201 |
Total case sales |  | 82,767 |  | 81,274 |  | 242,994 |  | 207,090 |
Average net sales per case |  | $ | 9.45 |  | $ | 9.31 |  | $ | 9.40 |  | $ | 10.03 |

1 Includes $8.4 million and $8.2 million for the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the recognition of deferred revenue. Includes $28.6 million and $54.7 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, related to the recognition of deferred revenue. There was no acceleration of deferred revenue in the three-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Included in the $28.6 million recognition of deferred revenue for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016, is $5.0 million related to the accelerated amortization of the deferred revenue balances associated with certain of the Company’s prior distributors who were sent notices of termination during the nine-months ended September 30, 2016. Included in the $54.7 million recognition of deferred revenue for the nine-months ended September 30, 2015 is $39.8 million related to the accelerated amortization of the deferred revenue balances associated with certain of the Company’s prior distributors who were sent notices of termination during the nine-months ended September 30, 2015.

2 Excludes Other segment net sales of $5.7 million and $12.1 million for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, comprised of sales of our AFF Products to independent third parties as these sales do not have unit case equivalents.

See Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Our Business” for additional information related to the increase in sales.

Critical Accounting Policies

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies from the information provided in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 (“Form 10-K”).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)”. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-15 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”. The accounting standard changes the methodology for measuring credit losses on financial instruments and the timing when such losses are recorded. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-13 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

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In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”, which changes how companies account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The new guidance identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, and certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. The update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual reporting periods with early application permitted. The Company early adopted the standards update effective January 1, 2016, electing (i) retrospective adjustment in the statement of cash flows and (ii) continued recognition of stock compensation based on estimated forfeitures. For the nine-months ended September 30, 2015, net cash provided by operating activities increased and net cash provided by financing activities decreased by $303.9 million, respectively, as a result of such retrospective adjustment. For the three-and nine-months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded $3.5 million and $7.1 million of excess tax benefits in net income that previously would have been recorded in additional paid-in-capital. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. This update is intended to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This update is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-02 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Income Taxes (Topic 740), Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes”. The amendments under the new guidance require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in the classified balance sheets. The guidance is effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Earlier application is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company adopted the standards update effective December 31, 2015, electing to apply it retrospectively to all periods presented.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory”. ASU No. 2015-11 requires entities to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. ASU No. 2015-11 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-11 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which supersedes previous revenue recognition guidance. ASU No. 2014-09 requires that a company recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. In applying the new guidance, a company will (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the contract’s performance obligations; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. ASU No. 2014-09 was to be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. However, on July 9, 2015, the FASB voted to approve a one-year deferral of the effective date. This new guidance is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018 and can be adopted using either a full retrospective or modified approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2014-09 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

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Inflation

We believe inflation did not have a significant impact on our results of operations for the periods presented.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this report may constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (the “Exchange Act”) regarding the expectations of management with respect to revenues, profitability, adequacy of funds from operations and our existing credit facility, among other things. All statements containing a projection of revenues, income (loss), earnings (loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items, a statement of management’s plans and objectives for future operations, or a statement of future economic performance contained in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, including statements related to new products, volume growth and statements encompassing general optimism about future operating results and non-historical information, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “thinks,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Management cautions that these statements are qualified by their terms and/or important factors, many of which are outside our control, and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the statements made including, but not limited to, the following:

· Our ability to recognize any and/or all of the benefits from the TCCC Transaction and the AFF Transaction;

· The effect of our extensive commercial arrangements with TCCC on our future performance;

· The effect of TCCC becoming one of our significant shareholders and the potential divergence of TCCC’s interests from those of our other shareholders;

· Our ability to successfully transfer the distribution of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks in certain existing domestic and international territories to bottlers/distributors within the TCCC distribution system on terms beneficial to us;

· Our ability to successfully enter into new distribution agreements with bottlers/distributors within the TCCC distribution system for new international territories;

· Disruption in distribution or sales and/or decline in sales due to the termination and/or appointment of existing and/or new domestic and/or international distributors;

· Lack of anticipated demand for our products in domestic and/or international markets;

· Unfavorable regulations, including taxation requirements, product registration requirements, tariffs, trade restrictions, container size limitations and/or ingredient restrictions;

· The effect of inquiries from and/or actions by state attorneys general, the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), the FDA, municipalities, city attorneys, other government agencies, quasi-government agencies and/or government officials, including members of Congress, into the advertising, marketing, promotion, ingredients, sale and/or consumption of our energy drink products, including voluntary and/or required changes to our business practices;

· Our ability to achieve profitability from certain of our operations outside the United States;

· Our ability to manage legal and regulatory requirements in foreign jurisdictions, potential difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, potentially higher incidence of fraud or corruption and credit risk of foreign customers and distributors;

· Our ability to produce our products in international markets in which they are sold, thereby reducing freight costs and/or product damages;

· Our ability to effectively manage our inventories and/or our accounts receivables;

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· Our foreign currency exchange rate risk with respect to our sales, expenses, profits, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, which will continue to increase as foreign sales increase;

· Changes in accounting standards may affect our reported profitability;

· Reduction and/or disallowance in whole or in part and/or total elimination of the Internal Revenue Code Section 199 domestic production deduction;

· Any proceedings which may be brought against us by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the FDA, the FTC or other governmental agencies or bodies;

· The outcome and/or possibility of future shareholder derivative actions or shareholder securities litigation filed against us and/or against certain of our officers and directors, and the possibility of other private shareholder litigation;

· The outcome of product liability litigation and/or class action litigation regarding the safety of our products and/or the ingredients in and/or claims made in connection with our products and/or alleging false advertising, marketing and/or promotion, and the possibility of future product liability and/or class action lawsuits;

· The current uncertainty and volatility in the national and global economy;

· Our ability to address any significant deficiencies or material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting;

· Our ability to continue to generate sufficient cash flows to support capital expansion plans and general operating activities;

· Decreased demand for our products resulting from changes in consumer preferences and/or from decreased consumer discretionary spending power;

· Changes in demand that are weather related and/or for other reasons, including changes in product category consumption;

· Competitive products and pricing pressures and our ability to gain or maintain our share of sales in the marketplace as a result of actions by competitors;

· Our ability to introduce new products;

· An inability to achieve volume growth through product and packaging initiatives;

· Our ability to sustain the current level of sales and/or increase the sales of our Monster Energy® brand energy drinks and/or our other products, including the Strategic Brands acquired from TCCC;

· The impact of criticism of our energy drink products and/or the energy drink market generally and/or legislation enacted, whether as a result of such criticism or otherwise, that restrict the sale of energy drinks (including prohibiting the sale of energy drinks at certain establishments or pursuant to certain governmental programs), limit caffeine content in beverages, require certain product labeling disclosures and/or warnings, impose excise and/or sales taxes, limit product sizes or impose age restrictions for the sale of energy drinks;

· Our ability to comply with and/or resulting lower consumer demand for energy drinks due to proposed and/or future U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations and/or proposed or existing laws and regulations in certain foreign jurisdictions and/or any changes therein, including changes in taxation requirements (including tax rate changes, new tax laws, new and/or increased excise and/or sales and/or other taxes on our products and revised tax law interpretations) and environmental laws, as well as the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act, including as amended by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, and regulations made thereunder or in connection therewith, as well as changes in any other food, drug or similar laws in the United States and internationally, especially those that may restrict the sale of energy drinks (including prohibiting the sale of energy drinks at certain establishments or pursuant to certain governmental programs), limit caffeine content in beverages, require certain product labeling disclosures and/or warnings, impose excise taxes, impose sugar taxes, limit product sizes, or impose age restrictions for the sale of energy drinks, as well as laws and regulations or rules made or enforced by the FDA, and/or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, and/or the FTC;

· Our ability to satisfy all criteria set forth in any model energy drink guidelines, including, without limitation, those adopted by the American Beverage Association, of which the Company is a member, and/or any international beverage association and the impact on the Company of such guidelines;

· Disruptions in the timely import or export of our products and/or ingredients due to port strikes and related labor issues;

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· The effect of unfavorable or adverse public relations, press, articles, comments and/or media attention;

· Changes in the cost, quality and availability of containers, packaging materials, aluminum, the Midwest and other premiums, raw materials and other ingredients and juice concentrates, and our ability to obtain and/or maintain favorable supply arrangements and relationships and procure timely and/or sufficient production of all or any of our products to meet customer demand;

· The impact of corporate activity among the limited number of suppliers from whom we purchase certain raw materials on our cost of sales;

· Our ability to pass on to our customers all or a portion of any increases in the costs of raw materials, ingredients, commodities and/or other cost inputs affecting our business;

· Our ability to achieve both internal domestic and international forecasts, which may be based on projected volumes and sales of many product types and/or new products, certain of which are more profitable than others; there can be no assurance that we will achieve projected levels of sales as well as forecasted product and/or geographic mixes;

· Our ability to penetrate new domestic and/or international markets and/or gain approval or mitigate the delay in securing approval for the sale of our products in various countries;

· Economic or political instability in one or more of our international markets;

· The effectiveness of sales and/or marketing efforts by us and/or the distributors of our products, most of whom distribute products that may be regarded as competitive with our products;

· Unilateral decisions by distributors, convenience chains, grocery chains, mass merchandisers, specialty chain stores, club stores and other customers to discontinue carrying all or any of our products that they are carrying at any time, restrict the range of our products they carry and/or devote less resources to the sale of our products;

· The costs and/or effectiveness, now or in the future, of our advertising, marketing and promotional strategies;

· The success of our sports marketing endeavors both domestically and internationally;

· Unforeseen economic and political changes;

· Possible recalls of our products and/or defective production;

· Our ability to make suitable arrangements for the co-packing of any of our products both domestically and internationally and/or the timely replacement of discontinued co-packing arrangements;

· Our ability to make suitable arrangements for the timely procurement of non-defective raw materials;

· Our inability to protect and/or the loss of our intellectual property rights and/or our inability to use our trademarks and/or trade names or designs and/or trade dress in certain countries;

· Volatility of stock prices which may restrict stock sales, stock purchases or other opportunities;

· Provisions in our organizational documents and/or control by insiders which may prevent changes in control even if such changes would be beneficial to other stockholders;

· The failure of our bottlers and/or contract packers to manufacture our products on a timely basis or at all;

· Exposure to significant liabilities due to litigation, legal or regulatory proceedings;

· Any disruption in and/or lack of effectiveness of our information technology systems, including a breach of cyber security, that disrupts our business or negatively impacts customer relationships; and

· Recruitment and retention of senior management, other key employees and our employee base in general.

The foregoing list of important factors and other risks detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC is not exhaustive. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties. Those factors and the other risk factors described therein are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, our actual results could be materially different from the results described or anticipated by our forward-looking statements, due to the inherent uncertainty of estimates, forecasts and projections and may be better or worse than anticipated. Given these uncertainties, you should not rely on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date that they were made. We expressly disclaim any duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, and the estimates and assumptions associated with them, after the date of this report, in order to reflect changes in circumstances or expectations or the occurrence of unanticipated events except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in our market risk during the three-months ended September 30, 2016 compared with the disclosures in Part II, Item 7A of our Form 10-K.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures – Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13(a)-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in rules and forms of the SEC and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2016, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies: Legal Proceedings in Part I, Item 1, of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our risk factors are discussed in our Form 10-K. There have been no material changes with respect to the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

During the three-months ended September 30, 2016, 1,200 shares were purchased from employees in lieu of cash payments for options exercised or withholding taxes due for a total amount of $0.2 million. While such purchases are considered common stock repurchases, they are not counted as purchases against the Company’s authorized share repurchase programs.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

3.1* Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, including Amendment of Certification, dated October 11, 2016.

31.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2* Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101* The following financial information from Monster Beverage Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three-and nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

* Filed herewith

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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, thereunto duly authorized.

| MONSTER BEVERAGE CORPORATION
| Registrant
Date: November 7, 2016 | /s/ RODNEY C. SACKS
| Rodney C. Sacks
| Chairman of the Board of Directors
| and Chief Executive Officer

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