Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time in the normal course of business, the Company is named in litigation, including labor and employment matters, personal injury matters, consumer class actions, intellectual property matters and claims from prior 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 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, and any related insurance reimbursements. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, no loss contingencies were included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

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On September 29, 2022, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (the “District Court”) awarded Monster Energy Company (“MEC”) approximately $293 million in damages in its false advertising and trade secrets case against Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“VPX”), the maker of Bang Energy. The jury found VPX and its chief executive officer to have falsely advertised the “Super Creatine” ingredient of Bang Energy and to have acted willfully and deliberately in violating the federal Lanham Act. The jury also found that VPX stole trade secrets and interfered with MEC’s contracts over shelf space with certain key vendors. The parties are currently briefing post-verdict issues, including MEC’s motion for a permanent injunction relating to “Super Creatine” and request for enhanced and punitive damages.

In April 2022, MEC and Orange Bang, Inc. (“Orange Bang”) filed a joint motion in the District Court to confirm a final arbitration award against VPX that awarded MEC and Orange Bang $175.0 million and a 5% royalty on all future sales of VPX’s Bang Energy drink and other Bang-branded products as well as certain fees and costs. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement between MEC and Orange Bang, the award and future royalties will, after accounting for MEC’s expended fees and costs, be shared equally between MEC and Orange Bang. The arbitration arose from a settlement agreement that VPX entered into in 2010 with Orange Bang, a family-owned beverage business. Pursuant to the terms of that agreement, VPX is only permitted to use the Bang mark on “creatine-based” products or on Bang products that are marketed and sold

only in the vitamin and dietary supplement sections of stores. On September 29, 2022, the District Court entered final judgment confirming the award. On October 28, 2022, VPX filed a notice of appeal of the District Court’s final judgment confirming the award.

On October 10, 2022, VPX, along with certain of its domestic subsidiaries and affiliates, filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Southern District of Florida. Due to such ongoing proceedings, VPX’s appeal of the District Court’s final judgment confirming the final arbitration award is stayed. While reserving all rights to appeal, VPX made its first royalty payment of $3.6 million on February 14, 2023, which is for sales of Bang Energy drinks and other Bang-branded products from October 10, 2022 through December 31, 2022. This payment is subject to potential claw back if, among other things, the judgment and final arbitration award are overturned on appeal or VPX becomes administratively insolvent. In addition, per ASC 450 “Contingencies”, the Company will not recognize the September 2022 jury award or April 2022 arbitration award until the awards are realized or realizable. As of March 1, 2023, the proceedings have yet to progress to a stage where there is sufficient information for an accurate timeline of when the awards, including any royalty payments received, will be realized or realizable, if at all.

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