LONG-TERM DEBT / INTEREST EXPENSE

Long-term debt consisted of the following:



	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
	(in thousands)
Term Loan Facility (net of $1.1 million and $1.6 million discount)	$	1,130,148		$	1,170,486
Revolving Credit Facility	48,000			127,000
Notes	253,330			245,273
Debt issuance costs	(1,572		)	(2,306		)
Total debt	1,429,906			1,540,453
Less: current maturities	(48,000		)	(12,562		)
Long-term debt	$	1,381,906		$	1,527,891

Senior Credit Facility

The Company maintains a $1.1 billion term loan facility that matures in March 2019 (the "Term Loan Facility") and a $300.0 million revolving credit facility that matures in September 2018 (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Senior Credit Facility”).

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the interest rate under the Term Loan Facility was 3.7% and 3.3%, respectively. The Revolving Credit Facility had a weighted average interest rate of 3.7% and 2.7% at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Company is also required to pay an annual fee of 2.75% on outstanding letters of credit and an annual commitment fee of 0.5% on the undrawn portion of the Revolving Credit Facility.

At September 30, 2017, the Company had $246.1 million available under the Revolving Credit Facility, after giving effect to $48.0 million of borrowings outstanding and $5.9 million utilized to secure letters of credit. Based on the results for the year ended December 31, 2016, the ratio on the Company's Consolidated Net Senior Secured Leverage Ratio required an excess cash flow payment on the outstanding term loan debt. On April 10, 2017, the Company made the excess cash flow payment totaling $39.7 million, of which $28.2 million was paid with borrowings on the Revolving Credit Facility and $11.5 million was paid with cash on hand.

The Senior Credit Facility contains customary covenants, including incurrence covenants and certain other limitations on the ability of GNC Corporation, General Nutrition Centers, Inc. ("Centers"), and Centers' subsidiaries to, among other things, make optional payments in respect of other debt instruments, pay dividends or other payments on capital stock and enter into arrangements that restrict their ability to pay dividends or grant liens. The Company is currently in compliance, and expects to remain in compliance over the next twelve months, with the terms of its Senior Credit Facility.

Convertible Debt

The Company maintains a $287.5 million principal amount of 1.5% convertible senior notes due in 2020 (the "Notes"). The Notes consisted of the following:



	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
	(in thousands)
Liability component
Principal	$	287,500		$	287,500
Conversion feature	(30,023		)	(37,179		)
Discount related to debt issuance costs	(4,147		)	(5,048		)
Net carrying amount	$	253,330		$	245,273

Interest Expense

Interest expense consisted of the following:



	Three months ended September 30,						Nine months ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2017		2016
	(in thousands)
Senior Credit Facility:
Term Loan Facility coupon	$	10,803		$	9,753		$	30,509	$	29,076
Revolving Credit Facility	1,188			1,359			3,982		3,420
Amortization of discount and debt issuance costs	550			591			1,800		1,775
Total Senior Credit Facility	12,541			11,703			36,291		34,271
Notes:
Coupon	1,078			1,078			3,210		3,234
Amortization of conversion feature	2,422			2,294			7,156		6,778
Amortization of discount and debt issuance costs	321			290			938		845
Total Notes	3,821			3,662			11,304		10,857
Other	(23		)	(5		)	705		(50		)
Interest expense, net	$	16,339		$	15,360		$	48,300	$	45,078