INTEREST EXPENSE

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Interest Expense [Abstract]

INTEREST EXPENSE

14.    INTEREST EXPENSE

Interest expense comprised the following for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017		2016
Interest on long-term debt and other financing arrangements	$	22,321	$	32,652
Amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs	1,434		3,899
Amortization of debt issuance discount	—		12,603
Total interest expense	$	23,755	$	49,154

We paid cash interest (including mandatory cash-pay Guarantee Fees) of US$ 4.9 million and US$ 2.6 millionduring the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. In addition, we paid US$ 10.0 million of accrued Guarantee Fees during the three months ended March 31, 2016, for which we had the option to pay in kind.