RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

19.RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

TCCC controls approximately 18% of the voting interests of the Company. TCCC, through the TCCC Subsidiaries and through certain TCCC 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 years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, were $45.0 million, $28.2 million and $18.0 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 years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $594.1 million, $1,259.7 million and $1,151.7 million, respectively. As part of the North America Refranchising, the territories of certain TCCC Subsidiaries have been transitioned to certain independent/non wholly-owned TCCC bottlers/distributors. Accordingly, the Company’s net sales classified as sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries decreased for year ended December 31, 2017.

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 $26.2 million, $26.2 million and $16.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Certain TCCC Subsidiaries also contract manufacture certain of the Company’s Monster Energy® brand energy drinks as well as Mutant® Super Soda drinks. Contract manufacturing expenses were $11.8 million, $9.6 million and $6.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

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

	December 31, 2017		December 31, 2016

Accounts receivable, net	$	32,607	$	151,756
TCCC Transaction receivable	$	-	$	125,000
Accounts payable	$	(45,465)	$	(41,210)
Accrued promotional allowances	$	(5,884)	$	(27,056)

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 years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $2.2 million, $1.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively.