SEC asks for data on Hansen option grants

Hansen Natural Corp., the Corona-based maker of Monster Energy drinks, on Tuesday joined the list of companies under investigation about option grant practices.

Hansen said the Securities and Exchange Commission asked for documents on option grants to employees since 1996. The inquiry doesn’t say any rules were violated, the company said in a statement.

More than 150 companies have disclosed internal or federal probes into possible manipulation of option grants.

Hansen shares, which plunged in August after the company missed second-quarter sales forecasts, rose 41 cents to $31.75 on Tuesday.