INTEREST EXPENSE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Interest Expense [Abstract]

INTEREST EXPENSE

INTEREST EXPENSE

Interest expense comprised the following for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014:

	For The Year Ended December 31,
	2016		2015		2014
Interest on long-term debt and other financing arrangements	$	110,127	$	114,730	$	104,570
Amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs	9,152		15,484		18,297
Amortization of debt issuance discount	12,945		41,230		19,138
Total interest expense	$	132,224	$	171,444	$	142,005

We paid cash interest (including mandatory cash-pay Guarantee Fees) of US$ 54.0 million, US$ 18.5 millionandUS$76.2 million for years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. In addition, we paid US$ 37.4 million of Guarantee Fees during the year ended December 31, 2016, for which we had the option to pay in kind.