NATURE OF BUSINESS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

NATURE OF BUSINESS

NATURE OF BUSINESS

        GNC Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings,” and collectively with its subsidiaries and, unless the context requires otherwise, its and their respective predecessors, the “Company”), is a global health and wellness brand with a diversified, omni-channel business. The Company's assortment of performance and nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbs and greens, health and beauty, food and drink and other general merchandise features innovative private-label products as well as nationally recognized third-party brands, many of which are exclusive to GNC. 

        The Company's operations consist of three reportable segments, U.S. and Canada, International, and Manufacturing / Wholesale (refer to Note 13, "Segments" for more information). Corporate retail store operations are located in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Ireland and, prior to the joint venture transaction with Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd ("Harbin") in February 2019, China. Franchise locations exist in the United States and approximately 50 other countries. Products can also be purchased through GNC.com, Amazon.com and other marketplaces and select wholesale partners. Additionally, the Company licenses the use of its trademarks and trade names. Prior to the formation of the manufacturing joint venture with International Vitamin Corporation ("IVC") (the "Manufacturing JV") in March 2019, the Company purchased raw materials, manufactured products and sold the finished products through its reportable segments. Refer to Note 8. "Equity Method Investments" for more information of the Company's joint ventures.

Going Concern

As further discussed below, the Company has an accelerated maturity payment due on May 16, 2020 (the “Springing Maturity Date”) that it does not have the ability to pay. Since the Company has not refinanced the $738.7 million of Tranche B-2 Term Loan (the "Tranche B-2 Term Loan), FILO Term Loan (the "FILO Term Loan") and Revolving Credit Facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility") that will become due on the Springing Maturity Date, management has concluded there is substantial doubt regarding the Company's ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the issuance date of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Failure to complete a refinancing or other restructuring, obtain an extension of the Springing Maturity Date as defined in the Credit Agreements, reach an agreement with required lender groups under the Credit Agreements prior to May 16, 2020 or to reach an agreement with the Company's stakeholders on the terms of an out-of-court restructuring would have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity, financial condition and results of operations and may result in filing a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in order to implement a restructuring plan. As of March 31, 2020, the Company's outstanding indebtedness has been classified as current on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. In addition, the Company accelerated the amortization of original issuance discount and deferred financing fees for the Tranche B-2 Term Loan, FILO Term Loan and the Revolving Credit Facility of $12.4 million to the Springing Maturity Date.

The Company has continued to experience negative same store sales and declining gross profit. The Company has closed underperforming stores under its store optimization strategy and implemented cost reduction measures to help mitigate the effect of these declines and improve its financial position and liquidity. At March 31, 2020, the Company has substantial indebtedness including $156.4 million of outstanding indebtedness under the Notes issued under that certain Indenture dated as of August 10, 2015, among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A, maturing on August 15, 2020 (the "Notes") and $434.8 million of outstanding indebtedness under the Amended and Restated Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2018, among GNC Corporation, GNC Nutrition Centers, Inc., as Borrower, the lenders and agents parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Tranche B-2 Term Loan Credit Agreement" and the term loan thereunder, the "Tranche B-2 Term Loan"). The Company made an excess cash flow payment of $25.9 million that was due in April 2020 which reduced the outstanding amount of the Tranche B-2 Term Loan. The Tranche B-2 Term Loan becomes due on the earlier to occur of (i) the maturity date of March 4, 2021 or (ii) May 16, 2020 if more than $50 million of the Notes are outstanding on such date. Each of the Revolving Credit Facility under the Credit Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2018, among GNC Corporation, GNC Nutritional Centers, Inc., as Administrative Borrower, certain of its subsidiaries, as subsidiary borrowers, the lenders and agents parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “ABL Credit Agreement,” and together with the Tranche B-2 Term Loan Credit Agreement, the "Credit Agreements") and the FILO Term Loan under the ABL Credit Agreement, which otherwise mature in August 2022 and December 2022 respectively, also include an accelerated maturity date of May 16, 2020 if more than $50 million of the Notes are outstanding on such

date. The Company does not have the ability to reduce the outstanding balance on the Notes from $156.4 million to below $50 million with projected cash on hand and new borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, assuming such borrowings remain available.

The outbreak of novel strain of coronavirus COVID-19 ("COVID-19") caused business disruption in the International segment beginning in January 2020. In late February 2020, the situation escalated as the scope of the COVID-19 outbreak worsened to directly impact areas outside of the Asia-Pacific region, with Europe and the United States recognizing outbreaks of COVID-19. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had temporarily closed approximately 30% of the U.S. and Canada company-owned and franchise stores as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is significant uncertainty on the Company’s business going forward due to various global macroeconomic, operational and supply chain risks as a result of COVID-19.

The Company was in compliance with the debt covenant reporting and compliance obligations under the Credit Agreements as of March 31, 2020. Management does not believe that the Company has the ability to comply with the financial covenants under the Senior Credit Facility Agreements over the next twelve months given the current circumstances stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Company is in the process of reviewing a range of refinancing options to refinance the Company’s outstanding indebtedness. The Company has been working with an independent committee of the Board supported by independent financial and legal advisors to conduct its review and has had a series of discussions with financing sources in the United States and Asia. The Company will continue to explore all options to refinance and restructure its indebtedness. While the Company continues to work through a number of refinancing alternatives to address its upcoming debt maturities, the Company cannot make any assurances regarding the likelihood, certainty or exact timing of any alternatives.

Reporting requirements under both the Tranche B-2 Term Loan and the Credit Agreement require the Company to provide annual audited financial statements accompanied by an opinion of an independent public accountant without a "going concern" or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit (other than a “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Tranche B-2 Term Loan or the Notes). Management believes the Company satisfied this requirement in the 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 25, 2020 (the "2019 10-K"). If the lenders take a contrary position, (a) they could decide to instruct the administrative agent under the Senior Credit Agreements to deliver a written notice thereof to the borrower, and if the alleged default continued uncured for 30 days thereafter it would become an alleged event of default (unless waived by the lenders) and (b) the Company intends to contest such position and any action the lenders may attempt to take as a result thereof. If the lenders were to prevail in any such dispute, the required lenders could instruct the administrative agent to exercise remedies under the Senior Credit Agreements, including accelerating the maturity of the loans, terminating commitments under the revolving credit facility under the ABL Credit Agreement and requiring the posting of cash collateral in respect of outstanding letters of credit issued under the Revolving Credit Facility ($4.5 million at March 31, 2020). If this were to occur, management would enter into discussions with the lenders to waive the default or forebear from the exercise of remedies. Failure to obtain such a waiver, complete a refinancing or other restructuring, obtain an extension of the Springing Maturity Date as defined in the Credit Agreements or to reach an agreement with required lender groups under the Credit Agreements prior to May 16, 2020 or to reach an agreement with the Company's stakeholders on the terms of an out-of-court restructuring would have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity, financial condition and results of operations and may result in filing a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in order to implement a restructuring plan.

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2020 are being prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business.