PITTSBURGH, Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC) (the "Company") reported consolidated revenue of $609.5 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared with consolidated revenue of $628.0 million in the third quarter of 2016.

Same store sales increased 1.3% in domestic company-owned stores (including GNC.com sales) in the third quarter of 2017. In domestic franchise locations, same store sales decreased 1.7%.

For the third quarter of 2017, the Company reported net income of $21.5 million compared with $32.4 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") was $0.31 for the third quarter of 2017 compared with $0.47 in the prior year quarter. Adjusted EPS was $0.32 and $0.59 in the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The impact of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria are estimated to have resulted in a $0.02 reduction to Adjusted EPS in the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

"GNC made good progress in the third quarter, retuning to positive same store sales. Transactions, the e-commerce business and enrollment in our new loyalty programs continued to improve, and it is clear that our strengthened model is creating a solid foundation for growth," said Ken Martindale, chief executive officer. "This year, the team laid a strong foundation for us to build upon. Going forward, we will continue to focus on growing sales and on giving customers innovative, highly differentiated products and experiences."

"After spending time over the past few weeks with Ken, I am more confident than ever that we have the right person to lead the GNC team in the execution of the One New GNC strategy while adjusting as necessary to deliver the optimum results for our shareholders," said Bob Moran, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Key Updates


    --  Transaction growth continued in the third quarter, up 12.4%, resulting
        in positive same store sales of 1.3%.
    --  As of October 25, 2017, 9.6 million consumers had joined the Company's
        loyalty programs, of which approximately 585,000 were enrolled in the
        PRO Access membership.
    --  As an element of the Company's omnichannel strategy, early in 2017, the
        Company launched a GNC storefront on Amazon which continues to exceed
        the Company's expectations.
    --  Supply chain focus in 2017 reduced overall enterprise inventory
        including lower weeks of supply while maintaining in-stocks.
    --  The Company continues to take steps to improve the customer experience
        through technology to make it easier for store associates to engage with
        the customer. For example, the tablets can now be used by store
        associates to enroll customers into the loyalty programs and facilitate
        product recommendations supporting customer regimens.

Sale of Lucky Vitamin

In order for the Company to focus on its strategic plan around the One New GNC, it completed an asset sale of Lucky Vitamin on September 30, 2017 for $7.1 million, resulting in a loss of $1.7 million. The proceeds were received in October 2017. Excluding this loss on sale and $19.4 million of long-lived asset impairments recorded in the second quarter of 2017, Lucky Vitamin revenue and operating loss was $66.2 million and $0.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, of which $20.8 million and $0.1 million relates to the third quarter of 2017.

Segment Operating Performance

U.S. & Canada

Revenues in the U.S. and Canada segment decreased $18.4 million, or 3.5%, to $507.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $525.5 million in the prior year quarter. E-commerce sales were 10.2% of U.S. and Canada revenue in the quarter ended September 30, 2017 compared with 8.2% in the prior year quarter. GNC.com sales were up 41.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as we anniversary significant changes in our e-commerce pricing and promotion strategy in August 2016, which eliminated channel conflict and bulk sales. These changes allowed GNC to successfully launch on Amazon in January 2017 and position the Company for meaningfully positive same store e-commerce sales again in the fourth quarter. In addition, the recently completed re-platforming of the website from a third-party to a cloud-based solution provides more flexibility and control for new features and enhancements including advanced personalization capability, improved merchandising and opportunity for omnichannel expansion, which is creating the ability to better optimize the e-commerce business.

The decrease in revenue compared with the prior year quarter was primarily due to the discontinuation of the Gold Card Member Pricing program in the U.S. and the introduction of the Company's new loyalty programs, which resulted in lower revenue of $12.0 million, and a decrease in sales to franchisees of $7.5 million, partially offset by an increase in same store sales of 1.3% for company-owned stores, including GNC.com.

Operating income decreased $35.6 million to $29.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $65.3 million for the same period in 2016. Excluding non-cash impairment charges, the loss on the sale of Lucky Vitamin and gains on refranchising as detailed in the table below, operating income was $35.1 million in the current quarter or 6.9% of segment revenue compared with $68.0 million in the prior year quarter or 13.0% of segment revenue. The decrease in operating income rate compared with the prior year quarter was primarily due to lower domestic retail product margin rate resulting from the impact of loyalty program changes associated with the One New GNC, expense deleverage associated with lower sales, higher salaries and benefits of $5.2 million and higher marketing expense of $1.8 million related to incremental online advertising.

International

Revenues in the International segment increased $8.0 million, or 19.3%, to $49.1 million in the current quarter compared with $41.1 million in the prior year quarter. Revenues from the China business increased by $4.8 million in the current quarter compared with the prior year quarter and revenues from international franchisees increased by $2.8 million.

Operating income increased $2.1 million, or 14.3%, to $16.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $14.7 million in the prior year quarter. Operating income was 34.2% of segment revenue in the current quarter compared with 35.7% in the prior year quarter.

Manufacturing / Wholesale

Revenues in the Manufacturing / Wholesale segment, excluding intersegment sales, decreased $8.0 million, or 13.1%, to $53.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $61.3 million in the prior year quarter. Third-party contract manufacturing sales decreased $5.4 million, or 14.9%, to $31.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $36.6 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to lower demand associated with decreased sales for certain customers. Sales to wholesale partners decreased $2.6 million, or 10.5% from $24.7 million in the prior year quarter to $22.1 million in the current quarter primarily due to lower demand from certain customers and the termination of Drugstore.com that occurred in September 2016. Intersegment sales increased $5.0 million from $53.0 million in the prior year quarter to $58.0 million in the current quarter reflecting the Company's increasing focus on proprietary products.

Operating income increased $2.1 million, or 12.1%, to $19.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $17.4 million in the prior year quarter, and as a percentage of segment revenue was 17.5% and 15.2%, respectively, primarily due to higher intersegment sales, which resulted in favorable manufacturing variances.

Year-to-Date Performance

For the first nine months of 2017, the Company reported consolidated revenue of $1,895.3 million, a decrease of 3.8% compared with consolidated revenue of $1,970.1 million for the first nine months of 2016. Revenue decreased 4.0% and 10.3% in the U.S. and Canada and Manufacturing / Wholesale (excluding intersegment sales) segments, partially offset by an increase of 9.1% in the International segment.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company reported net income of $61.0 million, compared with net income of $147.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and EPS of $0.89 and $2.10, respectively. Adjusted EPS was $1.10 in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $2.07 in the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Operating Metrics

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had 3,468 corporate stores in the U.S. and Canada, 1,126 domestic franchise locations, 2,414 Rite Aid franchise store-within-a-store locations and 2,075 international locations. The Company now has 9,083 store locations worldwide.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company generated net cash from operating activities of $76.7 million, a 97.4% increase compared with the prior year quarter of $38.9 million. The increase was primarily due to lower inventory (which increases free cash flow) through supply chain optimization. The Company launched a supply chain initiative at the end of 2016 which is now delivering quantifiable results. The initiatives include reductions in lead time, addressing slow moving items, and strengthening forecasting practices. Additional focus has also been placed on consistency of in-stocks across all channels and testing store service improvements. Going forward, management sees ongoing opportunity to optimize inventory.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company generated net cash from operating activities of $149.6 million and invested $26.2 million in capital expenditures. The Company generated free cash flow of $124.8 million (which it defines as cash provided by operating activities less cash used in investing activities excluding acquisitions except for store acquisitions).

As of September 30, 2017, the Company's cash and cash equivalents were $40.1 million, long-term debt was $1.4 billion and the Company had $246.1 million available under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Conference Call

GNC has scheduled a live webcast to report its third quarter 2017 financial results on October 26, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. To participate on the live call listeners in North America may dial (888) 778-9065 and international listeners may dial (719) 325-2281. In addition, a live webcast of the call will be available on www.gnc.com via the Investor Relations section under "About GNC." A replay of this webcast will be available through November 26, 2017.

About Us

GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC) - Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA - is a leading global specialty health, wellness and performance retailer.

GNC connects customers to their best selves by offering a premium assortment of heath, wellness and performance products, including protein, performance supplements, weight management supplements, vitamins, herbs and greens, wellness supplements, health and beauty, food and drink and other general merchandise. This assortment features proprietary GNC and nationally recognized third-party brands.

GNC's diversified, multi-channel business model generates revenue from product sales through company-owned retail stores, domestic and international franchise activities, third-party contract manufacturing, e-commerce and corporate partnerships. As of September 30, 2017, GNC had approximately 9,000 locations, of which approximately 6,800 retail locations are in the United States (including approximately 2,400 Rite Aid franchise store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in approximately 50 countries.

Forward-Looking Statements Involving Known and Unknown Risks and Uncertainties

This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Company's financial condition, results of operations and business that is not historical information. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "subject to," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "should," "can," the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions, or by discussions regarding dividend, share repurchase plan, strategy and outlook. While GNC believes there is a reasonable basis for its expectations and beliefs, they are inherently uncertain. The Company may not realize its expectations and its beliefs may not prove correct. Many factors could affect future performance and cause actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by forward-looking statements, including but not limited to unfavorable publicity or consumer perception of the Company's products; costs of compliance and any failure on management's part to comply with new and existing governmental regulations governing our products; limitations of or disruptions in the manufacturing system or losses of manufacturing certifications; disruptions in the distribution network; or failure to successfully execute the Company's growth strategy, including any inability to expand franchise operations or attract new franchisees, any inability to expand company-owned retail operations, any inability to grow the international footprint, any inability to expand the e-commerce businesses, or any inability to successfully integrate businesses that are acquired. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results could differ materially from those described or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a listing of factors that may materially affect such forward-looking statements, please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Same store sales for company-owned stores include point-of-sale retail sales from all domestic stores which have been operating for twelve full months following the opening period. The Company is an omnichannel retailer with capabilities that allow a customer to use more than one channel when making a purchase, including in-store and through e-commerce channels which include its wholly-owned website GNC.com and third party websites (the sales from which are included in the GNC.com business unit) where product assortment and price are controlled by the Company, in which purchases are fulfilled by direct shipment to the customer from one of the Company's distribution facilities as well as third party e-commerce vendors. In-store sales are reduced by sales originally consummated online or through mobile devices and subsequently returned in-store. Sales of membership programs, including the new PRO Access loyalty program and former Gold Card program, which is no longer offered in the U.S., as well as the net change in the deferred points liability associated with the myGNC Rewards program, are excluded from same store sales.

Same store sales are calculated on a daily basis for each store and exclude the net sales of a store for any period if the store was not open during the same period of the prior year. When a store's square footage has been changed as a result of reconfiguration or relocation in the same mall or shopping center, the store continues to be treated as a same store. If, during the period presented, a store was closed, relocated to a different mall or shopping center, or converted to a franchise store or a company-owned store, sales from that store up to and including the closing day or the day immediately preceding the relocation or conversion are included as same store sales as long as the store was open during the same period of the prior year. Corporate stores are included in same store sales after the thirteenth month following a relocation or conversion to a company-owned store.

The Company also provides retail comparable same stores sales of its franchisees as well as its Canada business if meaningful to current results. While retail sales of franchisees are not included in the Company's Consolidated Financial statements, the metric serves as a key performance indicator for its franchisees, which ultimately impacts wholesale sales and royalties and fees received from franchisees. The Company computes same store sales for its franchisees and Canada business consistent with the description of corporate same store sales above. Same store sales for international franchisees and Canada exclude the impact of foreign exchange rate changes relative to the U.S. dollar.

Management has included non-GAAP financial measures in this press release because it believes they represent an effective supplemental means by which to measure the Company's operating performance. Management believes that net income and earnings per share, adjusted to exclude impairment charges on long-lived assets, gains on refranchising and certain other expenses as reflected in this release, and free cash flow are useful to investors as they enable the Company and its investors to evaluate and compare the Company's results from operations in a more meaningful and consistent manner by excluding specific items which are not reflective of ongoing operating results. However, these measures are not measurements of the Company's performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to earnings per share, net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to GAAP cash flow from operating activities, or as a measure of the Company's profitability or liquidity. For more information, see the attached reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures.




                                                                        GNC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                                         Consolidated Statements of Income
                                                                     (in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                                                                Three months ended                              Nine months ended
                                                                                                  September 30,                                   September 30,

                                                                                        2017                     2016             2017                           2016
                                                                                        ----                     ----             ----                           ----

                                                                                                                      (unaudited)

    Revenue                                                                                     $609,469                               $627,964                       $1,895,301  $1,970,087

    Cost of sales, including warehousing, distribution and occupancy                 412,663                              412,556                1,272,801              1,280,136
                                                                                     -------

    Gross profit                                                                     196,806                              215,408                  622,500                689,951

    Selling, general, and administrative                                             150,961                              148,392                  465,575                430,448

    Gains on refranchising                                                             (230)                               (383)                   (384)              (18,283)

    Long-lived asset impairments                                                       3,861                                3,045                   23,217                  3,045

    Other loss (income), net                                                           1,769                                (539)                     274                  (441)
                                                                                       -----                                 ----                      ---                   ----

    Operating income                                                                  40,445                               64,893                  133,818                275,182

    Interest expense, net                                                             16,339                               15,360                   48,300                 45,078

    Income before income taxes                                                        24,106                               49,533                   85,518                230,104

    Income tax expense                                                                 2,643                               17,179                   24,544                 82,907

    Net income                                                                                   $21,463                                $32,354                          $60,974    $147,197
                                                                                                 =======                                =======                          =======    ========

    Earnings per share:

    Basic                                                                                          $0.31                                  $0.47                            $0.89       $2.11

    Diluted                                                                                        $0.31                                  $0.47                            $0.89       $2.10

    Weighted average common shares outstanding:

    Basic                                                                             68,354                               68,190                   68,296                 69,808

    Diluted                                                                           68,569                               68,315                   68,411                 69,939


                                                                                                                              GNC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                                                                  Reconciliation of Net Income and Diluted EPS to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS
                                                                                                                             (in thousands, except per share data)


                                                                                                                                                                        Three months ended
                                                                                                                                                                           September 30,

                                                                                                                                                                2017                                                   2016

                                                                                                                                          Net                  Diluted                       Net                       Diluted
                                                                                                                                        Income                   EPS                       Income                        EPS
                                                                                                                                        ------                   ---                       ------                        ---

                                                                                                                                                                        (unaudited)

    Reported                                                                                                                                        $21,463                                          $0.31                                           $32,354                                          $0.47

    Gains on refranchising                                                                                                                 (230)                                  -                             (383)                                    -

    Long-lived asset impairments (1)                                                                                                       3,861                                0.06                              3,045                                  0.04

    Loss on sale of Lucky Vitamin                                                                                                          1,696                                0.02                                  -                                    -

    SG&A (2)                                                                                                                               4,062                                0.06                              9,526                                  0.14

    Tax effect of items above                                                                                                            (2,671)                             (0.04)                           (4,394)                               (0.06)

    Reduction to valuation allowance on DTA (3)                                                                                          (5,953)                             (0.09)                                 -                                    -

    Adjusted                                                                                                                                        $22,228                                          $0.32                                           $40,148                                          $0.59
                                                                                                                                                    =======                                          =====                                           =======                                          =====


    Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding                                                                                    68,569                                                    68,315



                                                                                                                                                                     Nine months ended
                                                                                                                                                                       September 30,

                                                                                                                                                                2017                                                   2016

                                                                                                                                          Net                  Diluted                       Net                       Diluted
                                                                                                                                        Income                   EPS                       Income                        EPS
                                                                                                                                        ------                   ---                       ------                        ---

                                                                                                                                                                        (unaudited)

    Reported                                                                                                                                        $60,974                                          $0.89                                          $147,197                                          $2.10

    Gains on refranchising                                                                                                                 (384)                             (0.01)                          (18,283)                               (0.26)

    Long-lived asset impairments (1)                                                                                                      23,217                                0.34                              3,045                                  0.05

    Loss on sale of Lucky Vitamin                                                                                                          1,696                                0.02                                  -                                    -

    SG&A (2)                                                                                                                               6,159                                0.09                              9,526                                  0.13

    Tax effect of items above                                                                                                           (10,552)                             (0.14)                             3,261                                  0.05

    Reduction to valuation allowance on DTA (3)                                                                                          (5,953)                             (0.09)                                 -                                    -
                                                                                                                                          ------                               -----                                ---                                  ---

    Adjusted                                                                                                                                        $75,157                                          $1.10                                          $144,746                                          $2.07
                                                                                                                                                    =======                                          =====                                          ========                                          =====


    Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding                                                                                    68,411                                                    69,939


    (1) Current quarter relates to under-performing stores, generally defined as those with historical and expected future losses or stores that management intends on closing in the near term, and includes the impact of Hurricane Maria on stores located in Puerto Rico.  Prior year quarter relates to
     under-performing stores. Current year-to-date period includes $19.4 million in charges related to Lucky Vitamin.


    (2) Current quarter includes $2.8 million of executive placement costs primarily related to make-whole stock-based compensation awards including the impact of accelerated vesting associated with a Section 83(b) tax election.  Prior year quarter includes $4.5 million of severance expense
     associated with the departure of the former CEO.  Current quarter and prior year quarter also include $1.3 million and $5.1 million in legal-related charges, respectively.  Current year-to-date period also includes a $2.1 million legal-related charge.


    (3) Relates to a a reduction to a valuation allowance based on a change in circumstances, which caused a change in judgment about the realizability of a deferred tax asset ("DTA") related to net operating losses.


                                                            GNC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                  U.S. Company-Owned Same Store Sales (including GNC.com)


                                                                               2017                                2016

                                                Q1                      Q2                    Q3            Q1          Q2              Q3
                                                3/31                     6/30                   9/30        3/31         6/30             9/30
                                                                         ----                                                             ----

    Total same store sales                    (3.9)%                             (0.9)%                     1.3%              (2.3)%           (3.9)%     (8.6)%

    Drivers of same store sales:

    Number of transactions                      9.3%                              12.3%                    12.4%              (4.1)%           (5.5)%     (6.6)%

    Average transaction amount               (12.1)%                            (11.8)%                   (9.9)%                1.8%             1.7%     (2.2)%

    Contribution to same store sales:

    Domestic retail same store sales          (3.6)%                             (0.5)%                   (1.2)%              (1.9)%           (3.4)%     (6.5)%

    GNC.com contribution to same store sales  (0.3)%                             (0.4)%                     2.5%              (0.4)%           (0.5)%     (2.1)%
                                                                                  -----                       ---

    Total same store sales                    (3.9)%                             (0.9)%                     1.3%              (2.3)%           (3.9)%     (8.6)%
                                               =====                               =====                       ===                =====             =====       =====





                                  GNC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                      Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                            (in thousands)


                                        September 30,                 December 31,

                                                 2017                              2016
                                                 ----                              ----

                                                          (unaudited)

    Current assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                               $40,118                          $34,464

    Receivables, net                          133,111                             129,178

    Inventory                                 534,427                             583,212

    Prepaid and other current
     assets                                    41,683                              39,400
                                               ------                              ------

      Total current assets                    749,339                             786,254

    Long-term assets:

    Goodwill                                  165,231                             176,062

    Brand name                                720,000                             720,000

    Other intangible assets, net              101,485                             111,229

    Property, plant and
     equipment, net                           207,578                             232,292

    Other long-term assets                     25,398                              30,005
                                               ------                              ------

      Total long-term assets                1,219,692                           1,269,588
                                            ---------                           ---------

    Total assets                                         $1,969,031                       $2,055,842
                                                         ==========                       ==========

    Current liabilities:

    Accounts payable                                       $152,513                         $179,933

    Revolving credit facility                  48,000                                   -

    Current portion of term loan
     facility                                       -                             12,562

    Deferred revenue and other
     current liabilities                      107,176                             115,171
                                              -------                             -------

    Total current liabilities                 307,689                             307,666

    Long-term liabilities:

    Long-term debt                          1,381,906                           1,527,891

    Deferred income taxes                     248,538                             259,203

    Other long-term liabilities                55,607                              56,129
                                               ------                              ------

      Total long-term liabilities           1,686,051                           1,843,223


    Total liabilities                       1,993,740                           2,150,889
                                            ---------                           ---------

    Stockholders' deficit:

    Common stock                                  115                                 114

    Additional paid-in capital                928,460                             922,687

    Retained earnings                         777,457                             716,198

    Treasury stock, at cost               (1,725,349)                        (1,725,349)

    Accumulated other
     comprehensive loss                       (5,392)                            (8,697)
                                               ------                              ------

      Total stockholders' deficit            (24,709)                           (95,047)
                                              -------                             -------

    Total liabilities and
     stockholders' deficit                               $1,969,031                       $2,055,842
                                                         ==========                       ==========


    The Company reclassified $12.9
     million of deferred income
     taxes within total current
     assets to deferred income taxes
     within total long-term
     liabilities at December 31,
     2016 to conform to the current
     year presentation in connection
     with the adoption of Accounting
     Standards Update 2015-17,
     which requires an entity to
     classify deferred tax assets
     and liabilities as noncurrent
     on the balance sheet.


                               GNC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                          (in thousands)


                                                   Nine months ended
                                                     September 30,

                                           2017                    2016
                                           ----                    ----

                                                    (unaudited)

    Cash flows from operating
     activities:

    Net income                                     $60,974                         $147,197

    Adjustments to reconcile
     net income to net cash
     provided by operating
     activities:

     Depreciation
     and
     amortization
     expense                             43,688                             43,547

     Amortization
     of debt
     costs                                9,893                              9,419

    Stock-
     based
     compensation                         6,025                              7,191

    Long-lived
     asset
     impairments                         23,217                              3,045

    Gains on
     refranchising                        (384)                          (18,283)

    Changes in assets and
     liabilities:

    Decrease in
     receivables                          1,204                              3,519

    Decrease
     (Increase)
     in
     inventory                           43,468                           (71,760)

    (Increase)
     in prepaid
     and other
     current
     assets                             (2,502)                           (5,342)

    (Decrease)
     Increase
     in
     accounts
     payable                           (19,732)                            35,700

    (Decrease)
     Increase
     in
     deferred
     revenue
     and
     accrued
     liabilities                       (18,769)                            13,515

    Other
     operating
     activities                           2,486                              1,999
                                          -----                              -----

    Net cash
     provided
     by
     operating
     activities                         149,568                            169,747
                                        -------                            -------


    Cash flows from investing
     activities:

    Capital
     expenditures                      (26,210)                          (35,368)

     Refranchising
     proceeds                             3,410                             30,306

    Store
     acquisition
     costs                              (1,930)                           (1,918)
                                         ------                             ------

    Net cash
     used in
     investing
     activities                        (24,730)                           (6,980)
                                        -------                             ------


    Cash flows from financing
     activities:

    Borrowings
     under
     revolving
     credit
     facility                           177,500                            197,000

    Payments on
     revolving
     credit
     facility                         (256,500)                         (103,000)

    Payments on
     term loan
     facility                          (40,853)                           (3,412)

    Debt
     issuance
     costs                                    -                           (1,712)

    Proceeds
     from
     exercise
     of stock
     options                                  -                               343

    Gross
     excess tax
     benefit
     from
     stock-
     based
     compensation                             -                               162

    Minimum tax
     withholding
     requirements                         (252)                           (1,126)

    Cash paid
     for
     treasury
     stock                                    -                         (229,169)

    Dividends
     paid to
     shareholders                             -                          (41,613)
                                            ---                           -------

    Net cash
     used in
     financing
     activities                       (120,105)                         (182,527)
                                       --------                           --------


    Effect of
     exchange
     rate
     changes on
     cash and
     cash
     equivalents                            921                                501
                                            ---                                ---

    Net
     increase
     (decrease)
     in cash
     and cash
     equivalents                          5,654                           (19,259)

    Beginning
     balance,
     cash and
     cash
     equivalents                         34,464                             56,462
                                         ------                             ------

    Ending
     balance,
     cash and
     cash
     equivalents                                   $40,118                          $37,203
                                                   =======                          =======


                                        GNC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow

                                                  (in thousands)


                                                          Nine months ended
                                                            September 30,

                                                  2017                     2016
                                                  ----                     ----

                                                           (unaudited)


    Net
     cash
     provided
     by
     operating
     activities                                           $149,568                               $169,747

     Capital
     expenditures                             (26,210)                            (35,368)

     Refranchising
     proceeds                                    3,410                               30,306

     Store
     acquisition
     costs                                     (1,930)                             (1,918)
                                                ------                               ------

           Free
            cash
            flow                                          $124,838                               $162,767
                                                          ========                               ========





                                                         GNC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                                               Segment Financial Data
                                                                    (in thousands)


                                                             Three months ended                               Nine months ended
                                                                                                               September 30,
                                                             September 30,

                                                     2017                     2016             2017                            2016
                                                     ----                     ----             ----                            ----

                                                                                   (unaudited)

    Revenue:

    U.S. and Canada                                          $507,108                               $525,505                        $1,603,447  $1,671,048

    International                                  49,057                               41,118                   132,105                121,037

    Manufacturing / Wholesale:

       Intersegment revenues                       58,037                               53,016                   175,335                172,603

       Third-party                                 53,304                               61,341                   159,749                178,002

    Subtotal Manufacturing / Wholesale            111,341                              114,357                   335,084                350,605

       Total reportable segment revenues          667,506                              680,980                 2,070,636              2,142,690

       Elimination of intersegment revenues      (58,037)                            (53,016)                (175,335)              (172,603)

    Total revenue                                            $609,469                               $627,964                        $1,895,301  $1,970,087
                                                             ========                               ========                        ==========  ==========

    Operating income:

    U.S. and Canada                                           $29,730                                $65,292                          $112,336    $256,142

    International                                  16,768                               14,676                    46,908                 41,428

    Manufacturing / Wholesale                      19,505                               17,395                    53,989                 53,719

       Total reportable segment operating income   66,003                               97,363                   213,233                351,289

    Unallocated corporate costs and other        (25,558)                            (32,470)                 (79,415)              (76,107)
                                                  -------                              -------                   -------                -------

    Total operating income                                    $40,445                                $64,893                          $133,818    $275,182
                                                              =======                                =======                          ========    ========


                                            GNC HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                             Consolidated Store Count Activity


                                                                                        Nine months ended
                                                                                          September 30,

                                                                                    2017                     2016
                                                                                    ----                     ----

    U.S. & Canada

    Company-owned(a):

    Beginning of period balance                                                    3,513                              3,584

       Store openings                                                                 47                                 46

       Acquired franchise stores(b)                                                   46                                 16

       Franchise conversions(c)                                                      (2)                              (96)

       Store closings                                                              (136)                              (38)
                                                                                    ----                                ---

    End of period balance                                                          3,468                              3,512

    Domestic Franchise:

    Beginning of period balance                                                    1,178                              1,084

       Store openings                                                                 22                                 21

       Acquired franchise stores(b)                                                 (46)                              (16)

       Franchise conversions(c)                                                        2                                 96

       Store closings                                                               (30)                              (16)
                                                                                     ---                                ---

    End of period balance                                                          1,126                              1,169
                                                                                   -----                              -----

    International(d):

    Beginning of period balance                                                    1,973                              2,095

       Store openings (e)                                                            207                                 61

       Store closings                                                              (105)                             (165)
                                                                                    ----                               ----

    End of period balance                                                          2,075                              1,991

    Store-within-a-store (Rite Aid):

    Beginning of period balance                                                    2,358                              2,327

       Store openings                                                                 62                                 29

       Store closings                                                                (6)                               (9)
                                                                                     ---                                ---

    End of period balance                                                          2,414                              2,347
                                                                                   -----                              -----

    Total Stores                                                                   9,083                              9,019
                                                                                   =====                              =====


    (a) Includes Canada.


    (b) Stores that were acquired from franchisees and subsequently converted into company-owned stores.


    (c) Company-owned store locations sold to franchisees.


    (d) Includes franchise locations in approximately 50 countries (including distribution centers where sales are made) and
     company-owned stores located in Ireland (The Health Store) and China.


    (e) Includes 145 stores-within-a-store in South Africa not formerly included in the store count due to being distribution
     points. Effective at the end of the third quarter of 2017, these stores were subject to royalties on retail sales and as a
     result, have been included in the store count.


    Contacts:

                                   Matt Milanovich, Senior
                                    Director -Investor
                                    Relations, Analysis &
                                    Strategy , (412) 402-7260;
    Investors:                      or

                                    John Mills, Partner -ICR,
                                    (646) 277-1254

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SOURCE GNC Holdings, Inc.