Hansen Natural Corp. said Monday that it has named a special committee and outside legal counsel to investigate certain stock-option grants that company has made and will likely be forced to delay the release of its third-quarter earnings.

Hansen said last week that it had received a letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission requesting information about its stock option grant practices. The Corona-based drink maker was scheduled to announce earnings on Nov 9.

More than 150 companies have been mentioned, questioned or charged in options probes. More than a half-dozen are here in the L.A. area, including KB Home, Cheesecake Factory Inc., THQ Inc. and Activision Inc.

Shares in Hansen closed were down $1.91 to $28.37 in early trading Monday.