mastercard incorporated notes to consolidated financial statements 2014 ( continued ) ( in thousands , except percent and per share data ) the company does not make any contributions to its postretirement plan other than funding benefits payments . the following table summarizes expected net benefit payments from the company 2019s general assets through 2019 : benefit payments expected subsidy receipts benefit payments .
what was the percent of the incremental severance expense in 2009
the company provides limited postemployment benefits to eligible former u.s . employees , primarily severance under a formal severance plan ( the 201cseverance plan 201d ) . the company accounts for severance expense by accruing the expected cost of the severance benefits expected to be provided to former employees after employment over their relevant service periods . the company updates the assumptions in determining the severance accrual by evaluating the actual severance activity and long-term trends underlying the assumptions . as a result of updating the assumptions , the company recorded incremental severance expense ( benefit ) related to the severance plan of $ 3471 , $ 2643 and $ ( 3418 ) , respectively , during the years 2009 , 2008 and 2007 . these amounts were part of total severance expenses of $ 135113 , $ 32997 and $ 21284 in 2009 , 2008 and 2007 , respectively , included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations . note 14 . debt on april 28 , 2008 , the company extended its committed unsecured revolving credit facility , dated as of april 28 , 2006 ( the 201ccredit facility 201d ) , for an additional year . the new expiration date of the credit facility is april 26 , 2011 . the available funding under the credit facility will remain at $ 2500000 through april 27 , 2010 and then decrease to $ 2000000 during the final year of the credit facility agreement . other terms and conditions in the credit facility remain unchanged . the company 2019s option to request that each lender under the credit facility extend its commitment was provided pursuant to the original terms of the credit facility agreement . borrowings under the facility are available to provide liquidity in the event of one or more settlement failures by mastercard international customers and , subject to a limit of $ 500000 , for general corporate purposes . the facility fee and borrowing cost are contingent upon the company 2019s credit rating . at december 31 , 2009 , the facility fee was 7 basis points on the total commitment , or approximately $ 1774 annually . interest on borrowings under the credit facility would be charged at the london interbank offered rate ( libor ) plus an applicable margin of 28 basis points or an alternative base rate , and a utilization fee of 10 basis points would be charged if outstanding borrowings under the facility exceed 50% ( 50 % ) of commitments . at the inception of the credit facility , the company also agreed to pay upfront fees of $ 1250 and administrative fees of $ 325 , which are being amortized over five years . facility and other fees associated with the credit facility totaled $ 2222 , $ 2353 and $ 2477 for each of the years ended december 31 , 2009 , 2008 and 2007 , respectively . mastercard was in compliance with the covenants of the credit facility and had no borrowings under the credit facility at december 31 , 2009 or december 31 , 2008 . the majority of credit facility lenders are members or affiliates of members of mastercard international . in june 1998 , mastercard international issued ten-year unsecured , subordinated notes ( the 201cnotes 201d ) paying a fixed interest rate of 6.67% ( 6.67 % ) per annum . mastercard repaid the entire principal amount of $ 80000 on june 30 , 2008 pursuant to the terms of the notes . the interest expense on the notes was $ 2668 and $ 5336 for each of the years ended december 31 , 2008 and 2007 , respectively. .