Long-term debt	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Long-term debt
Long-term debt	8 Long-term debt On June 14, 2013, the Company entered into a venture debt loan facility with Hercules, which was amended and restated on June 26, 2014, and again on May 6, 2016 (“2016 Amended Facility”). The 2016 Amended Facility extended the maturity date from September 30, 2018, to May 1, 2020. As at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, $20.0 million was outstanding. The interest rate is adjustable and is the greater of (i) 8.25% or (ii) 8.25% plus the prime rate less 5.25%. Under the 2016 Amended Facility, the interest rate will initially be 8.25% per annum with a back-end fee of 4.85% and a facility fee of 0.75% of the outstanding loan amounts. The interest-only payment period expires on November 2017, but can be extended to May 2018 upon the Company raising a cumulative $30.0 million in up-front corporate payments and/or proceeds from equity financings (“Raisings”), and further extended to November 2018 upon the Company raising a cumulative $50.0 million from such Raisings. The amortized cost of the 2016 Amended Facility, was $20.6 million as of September 30, 2017, compared to $20.2 million as of December 31, 2016, and is recorded net of discount and debt issuance costs. The foreign currency gain on the loan in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, was $0.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively, compared to a foreign currency loss of $0.2 million and $0.4 million during the same periods in 2016. The fair value of the loan approximates its carrying amount, as the loan is amortized at a market conforming interest rate and the impact of discounting is insignificant. Interest expense associated with the 2016 Amended Facility during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, was $0.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively, compared to $0.5 million and $1.7 million during the same periods in 2016. As a covenant in the 2016 Amended Facility, the Company has periodic reporting requirements and is required to keep a minimum cash balance deposited in bank accounts in the United States, equivalent to the lesser of the outstanding balance of principal due and 50% of worldwide cash reserves. This restriction on the cash reserves only relates to the location of the cash reserves, and such cash reserves can be used at the discretion of the Company. In combination with other covenants, the 2016 Amended Facility restricts the Company’s ability to, among other things, incur future indebtedness and obtain additional debt financing, to make investments in securities or in other companies, to transfer assets, to perform certain corporate changes, to make loans to employees, officers and directors, and to make dividend payments and other distributions. The Company secured the facilities by pledging the shares in its subsidiaries, substantially all its receivables, moveable assets as well as the equipment, fixtures, inventory and cash of uniQure Inc.

8 Long-term debt

On June 14, 2013, the Company entered into a venture debt loan facility with Hercules, which was amended and restated on June 26, 2014, and again on May 6, 2016 (“2016 Amended Facility”). The 2016 Amended Facility extended the maturity date from September 30, 2018, to May 1, 2020. As at September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, $20.0 million was outstanding. The interest rate is adjustable and is the greater of (i) 8.25% or (ii) 8.25% plus the prime rate less 5.25%. Under the 2016 Amended Facility, the interest rate will initially be 8.25% per annum with a back-end fee of 4.85% and a facility fee of 0.75% of the outstanding loan amounts. The interest-only payment period expires on November 2017, but can be extended to May 2018 upon the Company raising a cumulative $30.0 million in up-front corporate payments and/or proceeds from equity financings (“Raisings”), and further extended to November 2018 upon the Company raising a cumulative $50.0 million from such Raisings.

The amortized cost of the 2016 Amended Facility, was $20.6 million as of September 30, 2017, compared to $20.2 million as of December 31, 2016, and is recorded net of discount and debt issuance costs. The foreign currency gain on the loan in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, was $0.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively, compared to a foreign currency loss of $0.2 million and $0.4 million during the same periods in 2016. The fair value of the loan approximates its carrying amount, as the loan is amortized at a market conforming interest rate and the impact of discounting is insignificant.

Interest expense associated with the 2016 Amended Facility during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, was $0.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively, compared to $0.5 million and $1.7 million during the same periods in 2016.

As a covenant in the 2016 Amended Facility, the Company has periodic reporting requirements and is required to keep a minimum cash balance deposited in bank accounts in the United States, equivalent to the lesser of the outstanding balance of principal due and 50% of worldwide cash reserves. This restriction on the cash reserves only relates to the location of the cash reserves, and such cash reserves can be used at the discretion of the Company. In combination with other covenants, the 2016 Amended Facility restricts the Company’s ability to, among other things, incur future indebtedness and obtain additional debt financing, to make investments in securities or in other companies, to transfer assets, to perform certain corporate changes, to make loans to employees, officers and directors, and to make dividend payments and other distributions. The Company secured the facilities by pledging the shares in its subsidiaries, substantially all its receivables, moveable assets as well as the equipment, fixtures, inventory and cash of uniQure Inc.