GNC Comments on Agreement with Department of Justice

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC), a leading global specialty retailer of health and wellness products, issued the following statement today regarding its agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with the company's cooperation with the DOJ's investigation into USPlabs, LLC (USP Labs).

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the DOJ related to certain products manufactured by USP Labs which were removed from GNC's shelves years ago.  The DOJ and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded in the agreement that GNC relied on the representations and written guarantees of USP Labs that it was in full compliance with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and applicable state laws with respect to the ingredients contained in its products.  Ultimately, the DOJ found sufficient evidence that USP Labs provided false assurances and information and fake documentation to third parties, including GNC.  The DOJ AND FDA also concluded that GNC was unaware of any information that the products manufactured by USP Labs violated the FDCA, while recognizing GNC's representation that it did not knowingly sell products that violated the FDCA.

"Under the agreement, GNC will take a number of actions to broaden industry-wide knowledge of prohibited ingredients and improve compliance by vendors of third party products. These actions are in keeping with the leadership role GNC has always taken in setting industry quality and compliance standards.  GNC remains committed to maintaining robust compliance policies and procedures and holding third party vendors and suppliers accountable for those standards.

"We are pleased to have put this matter behind us and remain committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products available, using the purest and most effective ingredients, to help them live healthier lives."

About GNC Holdings, Inc.

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

The Company's foundation is built on 80 years of superior product quality and innovation. GNC connects customers to their best selves by offering a premium assortment of health, 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 - including Mega Men®, Ultra Mega®, Total LeanTM, Pro Performance®, Pro Performance® AMP, Beyond Raw®, GNC Puredge®, GNC GenetixHD®, Herbal Plus® - 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, 2016, GNC had more than 9,000 locations, of which more than 6,700 retail locations are in the United States (including 2,347 Rite Aid franchise store-within-a-store locations) and franchise operations in approximately 50 countries.

Contacts

Investors: 
Amy Greene, Vice President Investor & Government Relations, [phone] 

Media: 
Sard Verbinnen & Co. 
Bryan Locke/Bob Rendine/Ellen Davis, 212-687-8080 
[e-mail] 
[e-mail] 
[e-mail] 

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gnc-comments-on-agreement-with-department-of-justice-300374657.html

SOURCE GNC Holdings, Inc.

Copyright 2016 PR Newswire