<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-18-034437.txt : 20180619
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-18-034437.hdr.sgml : 20180619
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180518150033
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-18-034437
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180518

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Monster Beverage Corp
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000865752
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BOTTLED & CANNED SOFT DRINKS CARBONATED WATERS [2086]
		IRS NUMBER:				471809393
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 MONSTER WAY
		CITY:			CORONA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92879
		BUSINESS PHONE:		909-739-6200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 MONSTER WAY
		CITY:			CORONA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92879

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANSEN NATURAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIPAC CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">May&nbsp;18, 2018</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">VIA EDGAR</font></u></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Division of Corporation Finance</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">100 F Street, N.E.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Attention:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mr.&nbsp;Steve Lo</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mr.&nbsp;Raj Rajan</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Re:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Monster Beverage   Corporation</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;10-K For   Fiscal Year Ended December&nbsp;31, 2017</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Filed March&nbsp;1,   2018</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Form&nbsp;8-K</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Filed February&nbsp;28,   2018</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">File No.&nbsp;001-18761</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dear Mr.&nbsp;Lo and Mr.&nbsp;Rajan:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">This letter is being furnished on behalf of Monster Beverage Corporation (the &#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Company</i></b>&#148;) in response to comments received from the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the &#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Staff</i></b>&#148;) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;<b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Commission</i></b>&#148;) by letter dated May&nbsp;9, 2018, regarding the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2017 that was filed with the Commission on March&nbsp;1, 2018 (the <i>&#147;<b>Form&nbsp;10-K</b>&#148;</i>) and&#160; the Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K that was filed with the Commission on February&nbsp;28, 2018 (the <i>&#147;<b>Form&nbsp;8-K</b>&#148;</i>) (File No.&nbsp;001-18761).</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The text of the Staff&#146;s comment has been included in bold and italics for your convenience, and we have numbered the paragraph below to correspond to the number in the Staff&#146;s letter.&nbsp; For your convenience, we have also set forth the Company&#146;s response immediately below the numbered comment.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Form&nbsp;10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December&nbsp;31, 2017</font></u></i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Item 7.&#160; Management&#146;s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations</font></u></i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Results of Operations, page&nbsp;44</font></u></i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><b><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">1.</font></i></b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><i style="font-weight:bold;">We note the amount of segment contribution margin disclosed in your results of operations equals the amounts reported as segment operating income at Note 18, Segment Information.&#160; Please revise to define segment contribution margin and clarify if true, that segment contribution margin and segment operating income are the same measures of segment performance.&#160; Alternatively, revise your disclosure in MD&amp;A to discuss the segment performance measures disclosed in Note 18.</i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Response</font></u></i></b>:</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the Staff&#146;s comment, the Company advises the Staff that segment contribution margin and segment operating income are the same measures of segment performance.&#160; In the Company&#146;s most recent Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2018, filed with the Commission on May&nbsp;10, 2018 (&#147;Form&nbsp;10-Q&#148;), operating income was consistently used as a measure of segment performance in both the footnotes to the condensed consolidated financial statements as well as in MD&amp;A.&#160; In future filings, where applicable, the Company will consistently refer to segment operating income as a measure of segment performance.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements</font></u></i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">1.&#160; Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</font></u></i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Cost of Sales, page&nbsp;84</font></u></i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><b><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">2.</font></i></b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><i style="font-weight:bold;">Please disclose whether you allocate a portion of your payroll costs and depreciation and amortization to cost of sales.&#160; Refer to ASC 330-10-30-1 through 30-8.&#160; In this regard, please refer to your letter dated April&nbsp;13, 2017 in response to comment 1 of our letter dated March&nbsp;31, 2017.</i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Response</font></u></i></b>:</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the Staff&#146;s comment, the Company advises the Staff that a portion of its payroll costs, depreciation and amortization related to the direct manufacture of certain flavors by American Fruits&nbsp;&amp; Flavors LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, is allocated to cost of sales.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company advises the Staff that the Company inadvertently did not update its Form&nbsp;10-K as indicated in the Company&#146;s letter dated April&nbsp;13, 2017 (response to comment 1).&#160; In future filings, where applicable, the Company will revise the disclosure of significant accounting policies set forth in the notes to the Company&#146;s financial statements.&#160; Below is an example of our proposed revised disclosure:</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;"><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;">Cost of Sales</font></i> &#151; Cost of sales consists of the costs of concentrates and/or beverage bases, the costs of raw materials utilized in the manufacture of products, co-packing fees, repacking fees, in-bound freight charges, as well as certain internal transfer costs, warehouse expenses incurred prior to the manufacture of the Company&#146;s finished products and certain quality control costs.&#160; In addition, the Company includes certain costs such as depreciation, amortization and payroll costs that relate to the direct manufacture by the Company of certain flavors.&#160; Raw materials account for the largest portion of the cost of sales.&#160; Raw materials include cans, bottles, other containers, flavors, ingredients and packaging materials.</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Form&nbsp;8-K Filed February&nbsp;28, 2018</font></u></i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit&nbsp;99.1</font></u></i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.25in;"><b><i><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">3.</font></i></b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><i style="font-weight:bold;">We note you present gross sales as a non-GAAP measure for the fourth quarter and year ended December&nbsp;31, 2017.&#160; Please provide the quantitative reconciliations of your non GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures as required by Item 10(e)(i)&nbsp;of Regulation S-K or tell us why this guidance does not apply to you.&#160; Please revise or advise.</i></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:1.0in;"><b><i><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Response</font></u></i></b>:</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In response to the Staff&#146;s comment, the Company advises the Staff that both its Form&nbsp;10-K and&#160; Form&nbsp;10-Q included a quantitative reconciliation of gross sales (a non-GAAP measure) to net sales (the most directly comparable GAAP measure) under the heading &#147;Non-GAAP Financial Measures.&#148;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company acknowledges the Staff&#146;s comment with respect to press releases and will include quantitative reconciliations in future press releases which contain non GAAP financial measures.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">As requested by the Staff, the following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measure of gross sales with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure of net sales for the three- and twelve-months ended:</font></p>
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<tr>
<td width="42%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="33%" colspan="5" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Three-Months&nbsp;Ended<br>   December&nbsp;31,</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Percentage<br>   Change</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">In&nbsp;thousands</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">2017</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">2016</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">17&nbsp;vs.&nbsp;16</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Gross sales, net of discounts and returns</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.4%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.58%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">934,804</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.58%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">848,832</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">%</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Less: Promotional and other allowances</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">124,449</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">95,067</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">30.9</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">%</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Net Sales</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.4%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.58%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">810,355</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.58%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">753,765</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">7.5</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">%</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="80%" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-left:.5in;">
<tr>
<td width="42%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="33%" colspan="5" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Twelve-Months&nbsp;Ended<br>   December&nbsp;31,</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Percentage<br>   Change</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">In&nbsp;thousands</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">2017</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">2016</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">17&nbsp;vs.&nbsp;16</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.1pt;text-indent:-10.1pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Gross sales, net of discounts and   returns</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.4%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.58%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3,861,368</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.58%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3,485,463</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.8</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">%</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.1pt;text-indent:-10.1pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Less: Promotional and other   allowances</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">492,323</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">436,070</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">12.9</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">%</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="42%" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.94%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.1pt;text-indent:-10.1pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Net Sales</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.4%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.58%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3,369,045</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="1%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:1.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">$</font></p>    </td>
<td width="13%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.58%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3,049,393</font></p>    </td>
<td width="3%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.12%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="15%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.0%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.5</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF" style="background:#CCEEFF;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.7%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">%</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">We appreciate the Staff&#146;s time and attention and we hope that the foregoing has been responsive to the Staff&#146;s comments.&nbsp; If you have any further questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact the undersigned at (951)739-6200 at your convenience.</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Sincerely,</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Hilton H.   Schlosberg</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Hilton H. Schlosberg</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Vice Chairman of the   Board of Directors,</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">President and Chief   Financial Officer</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">cc:</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Farzad F. Damania</p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
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