GNC had faced a springing maturity date of 16 May for payments to reduce its debt of more than $865m in convertible notes and other debts from credit facilities to less than $50m.

GNC's 30 trading-day average closing share price through 21 April was 56 cents and the average market capitalization was around $47.3m; the firm's last reported stockholders’ equity through December 2019 was a debt of around $207.3m.

GNC announces "significant" store and management staff furloughs and other cost-cutting moves "to protect the long-term prospects for the business." Vitamin Shoppe told customers that its stores remain open though it reduced business hours.

GNC hires Josh Burris as chief US officer; Clasado BioSciences adds Bellchambers as commercial director; and Barentz plans expansion with Cinven investment.